Resurrection

If you should find yourself in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and you're looking for a truly worthwhile dining experience, then make your way to The Block Kitchen & Lounge in the city's Northwest. The Block occupies the space that was home to Rembrandt's Pub & Grill for 27 years or so. The less said about that place the better, but know that it was very tired and needed to be put to rest. The new venue is fresh, inviting, and decorated with a deft touch that feels both casual and elegant at the same time.

Inviting Environment

With luck, you'll run into Kai Salimäki, your energetic and outgoing restaurateur, and what appears to be the driving force behind this outstanding operation. This is not Kai's first rodeo, and it shows. I really didn't want to write this post as a review at all, and instead wanted to use this new restaurant in a rapidly redeveloping neighborhood as a springboard for a treatise on urban rebirth. Travellers rarely see this process in action, but often benefit from it. Unfortunately for me as a writer, Kai kept setting food of such distinction in front of us that I've been robbed of my first plan, and have now been forced to expound on the food. Damn him!

Coolest Light Bulbs EVER - But I Digress...

The older you get, the harder it is to be surprised. There is no greater honor that can be bestowed upon a chef than to say that he or she surprised you. To taste a forkful of something and not have a ready-made dusty pigeonhole of past taste memories to file it in, is as good as it gets. The Lobster Ravioli for instance needed a shiny new spot on the shelf of food experiences in my mind. It featured a subtle and delicate combination of flavors that let the easily overpowered taste of lobster hold the spotlight.

Lobster Ravioli - Wow, that's...NEW!

Vicky had the Steak Sandwich, which held down the fort at the opposite end of the taste spectrum with a powerhouse explosion of "umami". (For those of you not glued to the Food Network all day, umami is a word borrowed from Japanese -- roughly translated as "deliciousness" -- and is the fifth taste. It's often described as savory, meaty, and satisfying). Once again, neither Vicky nor I had ever tasted anything quite like it. Two for two.

A Surprising Steak Sandwich

Then came the Calamari (expertly cooked, and the pickled red onion was a well chosen counterpoint). We rank it in the top three we've ever had, and that number includes the Calamari at the incomparable Sorrisi in Cozumel, Mexico. Trust us, this is high praise.

Calamari - Crunchy Outside, Tender Inside

We also sampled the Deep Fried Pickle Chips (piping hot, perfectly acidic, and slightly spicy) and on an earlier visit, a Cubano Flatbread Sandwich lunch special (a fiesta of contrasts in texture, temperature, and taste), as well as the Prawn Po' Boy. All hits - no misses.

Fried Dill Pickle Chips

There are plenty of great options for the craft beer fan and we thoroughly enjoyed the St Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, and the heavily hopped Wild Rose IPA, both on tap, as well as the Village Blacksmith in a bottle. You'll find an extensive and varied wine list here as well. While our visits were during quiet times of the day, we found the staff to be happy, pleasant, and clearly invested in making the place a success.

The Wine Selection

While what's taken Rembrandt's place is completely different in every way that matters, a single gene was passed onto The Block from it's deceased ancestor. Like Rembrandt's, The Block has VLT's (Video Lottery Terminals, which is Government-Speak in Canada for slot machines). Do NOT let this throw you. We've been there twice, and we still haven't seen them. We have no idea where they are, and we don't care. (Gambling is just a tax levied against people that can't do math anyway).

The real "payoff" here for you and me is that the presence of the VLT's (wherever they are) means that minors are utterly forbidden to be on the premises. Period. So those adults among us that -- for whatever reason -- would prefer to enjoy their dining experience only in the company of other adults, are safe at The Block. (Insert dreamy, contented, sigh of happiness here).

The Menu Of The Moment - Expect Regular Updates

There's real value to be had at The Block, but remember that value doesn't necessarily imply inexpensive. That said, any day that I can put something brand new into my mental collection of taste experiences is a day, and a restaurant tab, well spent.

Fox & Vicky

Thursday Night Rodeo & A Little BBQ

Come with us for a visit to the weekly rodeo at the Blue Moon Nightclub near Columbia Falls, Montana. It's almost 7 PM, and the crowd is gathering as they do every Thursday night during the summer. As we park, we see there's already a line to to pay the $10 price of admission. There's an even longer line at the hamburger shack and the beer vendor. Lets grab a couple of tall cans of beer and head over to the bleachers. We'll climb to the top for a good view, and take a seat in the warm, summer evening sun.

An idyllic scene sets the stage for the coming evening.

It's comforting to know that this Western way of life, with a tradition of horsemanship that stretches back well over a hundred years is still alive and well. Out here, nobody has forgotten that real life is all 3D, big screen, and high definition.

8 seconds must seem like a LONG time.

There's just no substitute for a small town rodeo. While it might lack the polish of the big leagues (like you might see at the finals of the Calgary Stampede) at least there's a real chance of getting some dirt kicked on you here, and you won't need any binoculars to see the action.

Horse and rider aren't always adversaries.

This isn't some huge sports stadium where the players are limited to a privileged few on multi-million dollar contracts. The competitors here are paying to compete. (See the difference there?) These men, women, boys, and girls are all here for the same thing; to test their mettle in challenges based on the real world skills that have put food on your table for generations.

Rider: "I'm stayin' on" - Horse: "No you're not"

Now let's crack that ice cold beer and settle in to watch a pageant unfold that hasn't changed to speak of for the better part of a century.

More than 2000 pounds of bull with all four hooves in the air!

We're reminded that both the riders and the animals here are considered to be athletes, and whether we see them perform in an event that places the two in concert, or in combat, it's a beautiful sight.

A pretty Barrel Racer pours it on in a tight turn.

I never cease to marvel at the almost unbelievable bravery demonstrated by the rodeo "clown" (at top right below, and anything but a clown) and we'll see him save more than one life tonight.

Uh-oh...that bull looks pretty pissed off....

The sun is getting low now, and its golden rays are turning the clouds of dust around the riders into halos of smoke and fire. The bulls look as if they've been ridden straight up out of the ground from Hell.

Devil Bull

It's over almost before we know it, and the riders and stock will soon be off to the next town, and the next rodeo, risking their lives again to chase that perfect 8 second ride in the warm, summer sun.

While you're in the neighborhood, don't miss your chance to visit the Back Room of the Nite Owl in Columbia Falls for some of the best BBQ you've ever had. It's probably wise to go for dinner before the rodeo though, since they close at 9 PM. And if you're not keen on waiting in a line that stretches out the door, down the stairs, and into the parking lot, then you'd best show up before 5 PM. Word is out about this place, and it's always jam packed with rib lovers.

Nothin' fancy...the focus is on the food.

The restaurant has a folksy, country-kitchen atmosphere and looks like it's been that way for a long time. The ceiling is studded with playing cards (The Back Room - get it?) bearing the signatures of past patrons.

How'd they get 'em up there?

We suggest that you save time and skip browsing the menu. Just order the "Country Ribs" (Trust us on this one). The ribs are nearly boneless pieces of tender, juicy, slow roasted, pork that almost melt in your mouth. (They cook 800 lbs a day!)

It's best to arrive hungry and Thirsty.

They're served with a sauce that's tasty without being overpowering, and come with all the trimmings: baby red potatoes, cole slaw, baked beans and a big piece of fry bread. You'll find a squeeze bottle of honey on the table to anoint the fry bread to sweet perfection. If you leave the Back Room hungry, it's your fault. You'll likely want a cold beverage to wash it all down, and our suggestion is a jug of Bitter Root Brewery's "Nut Brown Ale". This cola colored, local craft brew has the bold taste that you'll need to stand up to the smoky BBQ. Look for notes of coffee, roasted malts, and chocolate in this flavorful beer that's reminiscent of a Porter.

Fox & Vicky