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There have been few native success tales over the previous couple of years as spectacular because the evolution of Lina’s Italian Market. Since new possession took over, the corporate has remodeled from a captivating decades-old specialty grocery retailer on Centre Road right into a sequence of foodie locations all through the town. Lina’s progress been a pleasure to look at and, much more importantly, has introduced scrumptious Italian-style merchandise and to-go meals to a bigger swath of the town.
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Probably the most attention-grabbing factor about Lina’s growth hasn’t simply been the ambition of scope, however the model’s willingness to attempt new concepts. Proprietor Joe Dand, an area entrepreneur who purchased the corporate just a few years in the past, signified his plans in 2020 when he opened Lina’s Italian Supermercato, a super-sized Lina’s within the deep southeast. That was adopted by the extra boutique Lina’s Italian Mercato in Britannia, and now, Lina’s Italian Piazza, a brand new idea within the former Chew Grocer house in Inglewood. Every location has its personal flavour, and the brand new Piazza is not any exception.
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Lina’s Italian Piazza is laid out very similar to the outdated Chew, with Italian grocery facilities on the entrance and a counter-service cafe house in the direction of the again. The largest differentiator right here is the inclusion of Sapore, Lina’s first full-service sit-down restaurant, situated behind the café on the south finish of the constructing.
Lina’s secret weapon is its govt chef Christopher Hyde, an Australian-born pasta wizard who moved to Calgary just a few years in the past after working in Edmonton with restaurateur Daniel Costa, the place he landed after sharpening his abilities at varied top-tier eating places in Australia, New York, London, and, after all, Italy. Hyde’s hiring at Lina’s initially got here as a little bit of a shock, however he’s carved out a distinct segment for himself (and a uncommon slice of labor/life steadiness). On the flip facet, Lina’s is making correct use of his skills and experience.
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“I’ve been fortunate to work around the globe and have had the chance to do phases with Michelin-starred eating places,” Hyde says. “It was necessary for me approaching board to nonetheless have my voice as a chef whereas giving Lina’s a top quality of meals.”
That mindset is clear at Sapore, a convivial room that focuses on exquisitely ready, although comparatively informal fare. The breakfast dishes are attention-grabbing, with picks like a provolone and egg breakfast sandwich ($12) and cured bresaola (air-cured beef) with poached eggs ($21), however the true attraction is the lunch and dinner menu, which is designed for family-style sharing. There are a sequence of Roman-style oval flatbreads, often called pinsa ($22-$26), in addition to pastas that are inclined to skew in the direction of richer flavours, with picks like a ricotta gnocchi carbonara ($27) and rigatoni in a spicy sausage ragu ($25).
From there, relying on how many individuals they’ve introduced alongside, company can transfer into plates of prosciutto-stuffed veal Milanese topped with crispy sage ($46) or salmon with burnt butter and Marcona almonds ($30). Don’t miss out on the antipasti – Hyde’s pickled fennel salad ($12) cuts the richness of the pastas and meats fantastically – or the playful desserts.
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If that isn’t sufficient, Lina’s Piazza additionally hosts two after-hours weekly pop-ups. On Wednesday nights, pizzaiolo Scott Heine drops in with Pizza And Destroy, that includes ultra-thick Detroit-style pizzas topped with mind-blowing mixtures like inexperienced apple and charred pumpkin seed pesto with roasted pork shoulder or smoked paprika potato chips and scorching honey. Then, on Thursdays, Hyde hosts his personal Pasta Boy From Ouncespop-up, the place he actually runs wild along with his culinary creations.
Whereas Sapores is the shiniest new jewel in Lina’s crown, the shops have lots of different issues happening. Famend chef Giuseppe Di Gennaro is operating particular month-to-month chef’s desk dinners out of the Britannia location (the place he additionally acts as basic supervisor), celebrating completely different areas of Italy. And there’s extra to return: search for a brand new Lina’s Italian meals corridor idea to open in Deerfoot Metropolis within the coming months.
The brand new Lina’s Piazza and Sapore restaurant is situated at 1023 ninth Ave. S.E. The restaurant is open day by day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For extra info on Sapore and different Lina’s areas and experiences, go to linasmarket.com.
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In different meals information, the very talked-about Brewery and the Beast pageant is coming to Calgary for the seventh time this summer time, with the date set for Aug. 27 at Fort Calgary. That may be a methods off, however this occasion at all times sells out properly upfront and tickets went on sale this previous weekend. As at all times, the fest will characteristic meat-centric dishes from greater than 50 of Alberta’s favorite eating places, with choices from the likes of Bridgette Bar, Pat and Betty, River Cafe, the Teatro Group and plenty of others.
For the uninitiated, the out of doors pageant consists of meals stations representing every restaurant and drink stations providing beer, cider, wines, and cocktails. The $135 admission ticket grants entry to all the meals and eight alcoholic drinks. V.I.P. Packages are additionally out there. For tickets and extra info, go to breweryandthebeast.com.
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Wild Rose Brewery is as soon as once more launching its seasonal brew for a trigger – Sunday Fuzz. This yr, it has teamed up with Chimo Animal Assisted Wellness and Studying Society to help psychological well being packages in Alberta. Beginning Might 4, 25 cents from each four-pack of Sunday Fuzz gross sales will help CAAWLS’ animal-assisted remedy and studying packages. By quite a lot of packages, CAAWLS canine go to seniors, Ok-12 faculties, post-secondary establishments, unhoused individuals, and companies because it seeks to enhance individuals’s psychological well being by the human-animal bond.
Elizabeth Chorney-Sales space could be reached at [email protected]. Observe her on Instagram at @elizabooth.
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