I just want to take a minute to thank the Alefantis Brothers of The Broken Plate Group of Restaurants for the invite to last Saturday's inaugural Greek Poker Tourny. All of the profits went to benefit the Calgary Hellenic Society's Special Projects Fund.

Now... being a poker virgin, I was a little hesitant to sit down at the tables. But after hearing that the 4th place player had never played before, and had a set of rules in his pocket, I am bound and determined to play next time!

The cast of characters...

Doing our best to get in a little "no kids/date time" last week, my wife and I managed to escape for a few hours and enjoy some patio time on Stephen Ave. With the weather as warm as it was, the patios were packed, but we were glad to get a space at Divino's. We enjoyed a number of appetizer plates (the House Made Rabbit Sausage was outstanding!), and a great bottle of wine (2007 Robert Weil Riesling). Our server Brett was very well versed on the menu and wine list and made the evening.

While we were...

Well it was another reason to hire a babysitter and explore the Calgary food scene, my lovely wife's birthday! When our close friends Oliver and Meg Malana (Oliver is the GM of Canadian Linen here in Calgary) heard the reason for the proposed night out, they quickly called one of Oliver's accounts and made reservations. This was my first visit to Il Sogno, so the anticipation was high to sample the culinary artistry I had heard so much about.

We arrived a few minutes early and were greeted with a...

It was an amazing night of music, food and friendship at the University of Calgary Theatre on Monday night as the AHEPA Family, The Broken Plate Restaurants and the Alefantis Family sponsored an evening of music to benefit FARA and the search for a cure for Friedreich's Ataxia. This debilitating disease has recently touched the Greek community in Calgary and they rallied to raise as much money as possible to aid in researching a treatment and hopefully a cure. Dana and I were very grateful to be invited...

Got an email this morning from my buddy Rob Hilditch of the Joey's Only group of companies, telling me he is growing a moustache (Texas handlebar with a soul patch I was later informed) to raise money for Prostate Cancer research. So after I stopped shaking with laughter and found my Blackberry on the floorboard of my truck, (all the while trying not to drive off the road) I fired up the laptop and donated $50 bucks to this physically impossible, yet very good cause on behalf of Rob's efforts.

Now...

On Saturday night I met some friends at 1600 World Bier Haus, in the Glenmore Landing Shopping Centre at 90th Ave and 14thStreet SW, to celebrate a birthday. Now, it was a short notice kinda thing, so when it was put together, I got a call asking if there was anyway I might be able to help out with getting us a table. (I know a couple of people in the restaurant and pub biz I guess was the rationale for the call, LOL)

Well... I sheepishly called my good friend George Haralabakos to...

Once again, Twitter has lead me to another unique find, a Blog by a local Calgary foodie!

If you are into eatin', loungin' or just plain hangin out, this is a great look at the Calgary food scene from the eyes of a local lover of food and traveler. Take a minute and scroll through the tastes and textures of ugonnaeatthat.com. I enjoyed it, and I know you will too!

Cheers!

Bootleggers Sports Bar & Karaoke
3444 - 32 Ave NE,
Calgary, AB T1Y 6G8

Having known Rob for more than 20 years, we can say without reservation that he is one of the most honest and hardworking people we know.

Rob’s has a long and proven history in the Food and Beverage Industry and leverages that knowledge every time he works with a client. He has proven this through his work with many of Calgary’s most prominent hospitality groups, including us at...

Well my trip to Edmonton was very positive for a number of different reasons, but one of which is VERY interesting.

I stopped into West Edmonton Mall after a meeting to grab a bite. As I walked down Bourbon Street, feeling like I was back in Vegas, I decided to park myself at a table in Hudson's. Now this is not my first time at Hudson's, but it was at this location, and it's beautiful! Lot's of TV's, a warm inviting atmosphere and very friendly service proved that I made the right choice. I looked...

Well.. needless to say it was another rockin evening in Calgary's Pumphill district, as the 11th Annual Red Meat Party surged into the night. Countless friends, colleagues and client's of Kahane Law enjoyed the Studio 54 themed festivities with bell bottom jeans, Afro's of every color and description and the best collection of platform shoes I have seen since watching re-runs of Starsky and Hutch.

The food was once again indescribable, as every type of red meat you can think of was BBQ'd, smoked and...