March 17-26, 2023
YYC Food & Drink Experience 2023
Various locations
Experience the best of Calgary’s favourite restaurants with these prix fixe menus. With 70 restaurants to choose from, you can explore Calgary’s culinary culture while showing your love for YYC restaurants and the talented chefs, sommeliers, bartenders, and local producers who make it thrive.
Scrumptious Lunches: $25/$35 per person
Delicious Three-course Dinners: $35/$45 per person
Gourmet Dinners (Minimum 5-course or Tasting-Style Menus), $65/$75 per person
For a complete list of restaurants, click here.
Special Events:
Thursday March 16
YYC EXP 2023 Kick-Off
Barbarella Bar, 240 8 Ave. S.W.
Contest / By Invitation
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Ten Days of Delectable Dining kicks off in style at Downtown Calgary’s newest hot spot: Barbarella Bar! Enjoy bites and sips inspired by the sun-drenched flavours of southern Italy. The only way to snag a ticket to this exclusive launch party — sponsored by Barbarella Bar and GFS — is by invitation, or by winning event tickets.
Friday, March 17
River Café hosts Vancouver’s St Lawrence for a feast of Québécois flavours.
River Café, 25 Princes Island Park S.W.
Cost: $195
Time: 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
River Café is one of Calgary’s most revered restaurants, beloved both for its beautiful location in Prince’s Island Park and for its philosophy of celebrating top-quality regional and seasonal ingredients with a taste of place. There is no better place to host celebrated French Canadian chef Jean-Christophe (J-C) Poirier, of Vancouver’s Michelin-starred St Lawrence. Together with River Cafe Executive Chef Scott MacKenzie they will transport guests on a culinary adventure to Quebec, with a collaborative menu that will pay homage to the annual tradition in la belle province of trekking to maple forests to enjoy habitant meals at the “Sugar Shacks” (Cabanes à Sucre). In addition, each couple will receive a signed copy of Chef Poirier’s new cookbook “Where the River Narrows: Classic French & Nostalgic Québécois Recipes From St. Lawrence Restaurant.
Saturday, March 18
Modern Steak Presents an Exclusive Rancher’s Dinner w/ Ex Nihilo Wine Pairings
Modern Steak – Stephen Ave, 100 8 Avenue S.E.
Cost: $173.75
Time: 6:00 p.m.– 9:00 p.m.
Discover the historic journey of the Munton family, farming in Warner, Alberta for over 100 years, while restauranteur and Modern Steak owner Stephen Deere shares their story of buying a bull together to create the best beef in the nation. Enjoy a four-course exclusive Modern Benchmark Alberta beef dinner paired with wines from one of British Columbia’s favourite wineries, Ex Nihilo Vineyards.
Tuesday, March 21
Fat Ox – A Northern Italian Pop-Up Dinner at Bonterra
Bonterra Trattoria, 1016 8 St. S.W.
Cost: $183
Time: 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Welcome to a one night only pop-up of ‘Fat Ox’, a play on the similarities of the Canadian Rockies and Northern Italy. Chefs Joseph Lavergne and Glen Manzer will transport you to the Apennine Mountains of Italy, showcasing our amazing local Canadian ingredients like seasonal game. Full of rich soulful flavours, each course will be complimented with Italian wine pairings from the upper regions of Italy.
Saturday, March 25
Clos de la Oyster Barre, YYC EXP edition w/ Chef Alex Chen, of Vancouver’s Boulevard
Teatro Ristorante, 200 8 Ave. S.E.
Cost: $225
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Experience a special YYC EXP edition of Teatro’s pop-up Clos de la Oyster Barre – with guest chef Alex Chen, who oversees Vancouver’s Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar and is an Iron Chef winner and Canadian Culinary champion. Together with Teatro’s Own David Leeder and Matthew Batey, these talented chefs will prepare a feast of delicious seafood, all to a soundtrack of old school hip hop. Expect a luxurious evening of meticulously prepared dishes, infused with just a touch of well-executed whimsy. Your ticket price includes a multi-course menu of seafood-focused dishes, a premium welcome drink, tax and gratuity. There will be a limited beverage menu available at an additional cost.
Sunday, March 26
YYC EXP Finale Brunch at Fortuna’s Row with Top Chef Canada Winner Tre Sanderson
Fortuna’s Row, 421 Riverfront Ave. S.E.
Cost: $85
Time: 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Enjoy an exclusive, multi-course brunch when Fortuna’s Row, YYC’s new contemporary Latin American brunch & supper club, and its Executive Chef Mikko Tamarra host Top Chef Canada winner Tre Sanderson. They will collaborate on a menu that will take guests on a culinary journey designed to delight the senses—this will be a brunch worth waking up for.
BBQ, Bourbon and Blues Finale at Charbar
Charbar, 618 Confluence Way S.E.
Cost: $49
Time: 2:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
With bites provided by Jane Bond BBQ, CHARCUT, Charbar and Chix Eggshop, and bourbon provided by Jack Daniels, celebrate YYC Food and Drink Experience! Come one and all for an afternoon of live blues, and don’t forget to bring your appetite for delicious BBQ, and award winning bourbon.
YYC Food & Drink Experience is Calgary’s premiere culinary festival, celebrating the city’s exciting food and beverage scene, along with the talented chefs, sommeliers, bartenders, and local producers who contribute to our city’s culinary culture. YYC EXP 2023 will include a diverse restaurant program featuring multi-course Prix Fixe menus at Calgary’s favourite chef-led restaurants, along with a rich schedule of curated event experiences. Get ready to show your love for YYC Restaurants, and mark your calendars. You won’t want to miss this celebration of Calgary’s culinary scene!
