Phoebe Fung was on sabbatical from her job in the oil and gas industry when she was walking along 4th Street SW and came across an old heritage building. “I saw it and said I’m going to create a wine bar out of it,” she recalls. Restoring the 1905 building was the first step to what is now one of Calgary’s premier wine bars, Vin Room. “While I was on sabbatical I was exploring passions and one of my passions was food and wine so I thought, why not? Wine is one of these multi-generational drinks that people can enjoy, whether you’re young or old.”
Jumping into the food and beverage industry may have been seen as an unusual career choice for a self-described oil and gas geek, but it didn’t stop her. Phoebe had hosted wine and tapas parties at her house so she understood how wine and food can bring people closer together. “The social aspect of dining is important,” she says. “You’re dining because you want to spend time with your family and friends. If you can create that sharing aspect in your food and in your wine then you have just elevated that experience for the diner.” The Vin Room creates that experience at all three of their Calgary locations.
Potato and Bacon Soup
Chili Oil
Pairing: 2011 Paul & Philippe Zinck Terroir Pinot Gris
(Alsace, France)
2oz
Venison Stew
Creamy Kennebec Scalloped Potatoes
Pairing: 2012 Joffre Pasión 4 Bonarda
(Mendoza, Argentina)
4oz
Free Form Tiramisu
Dark Cherry, Mascarpone
Pairing: N/V Niepoort White Port (Douro Valley, Portugal)
1oz
Caprese Salad
bocconcini, basil pesto
Pairing: Backhouse Pinot Grigio (California, United States)
2oz
Honey and Lemon Glazed Grilled Chicken Breast
garlic roasted potatoes, grilled asparagus
Pairing: Montevicor Garnacha (Calatayud, Spain)
4oz
Vanilla Crème Brulée
Pairing: 2012 Andrew Quady (California, United States)
1oz
Housemade Kennebec Potato Chips
Rosemary and sea salt
Fried Green Chickpeas
Citrus salt and chili
Lemongrass Chicken Meatballs
Chili jam
Applewood Smoked Cheddar & Pancetta Croquettes
Sage, apple butter, chili jam
Citrus Marinated Humboldt Squid Salad
Fennel, fresh herbs, sweet pepper drops, crostini
Eggplant Chips
Mint yogurt, pomegranate molasses
Wild Boar Ragu Dip
Grilled potato rosemary crostini, grana padano, fried sage
Lobster Nachos
Pico de gallo, fontina cheese, valentina hot sauce
Soy-Maple Braised Pork Belly
Green onion and corn cakes, green papaya slaw
Merguez Meatballs
Driview lamb, dates, red pepper purée, mint yogurt
Pan Seared Scallops
Candied bacon, celery root puree, chili oil
Smoky Chipotle Pork Short Ribs
Yam puree, fried baby kale, scallions
Fennel and Radicchio Salad
Grilled plums, black mission fig balsamic vinaigrette, goat cheese
Paprika Grilled Prawns
Roasted tomato sesame sauce, salsa verde
Albacore Tuna “Poke
Soy sauce, togarashi spice, sesame oil, watercress, avocado purée, shrimp chips
Grilled AAA Flatiron Steak
Mushroom and baby kale saute, confit potatoes, red wine demi-glace
Pan Roasted Duck Breast
Quinoa salad, maple roasted acorn squash, red plum demi-glace
Pan Seared Organic King Salmon
Roasted brussel sprouts, frisee, smoked paprika potatoes,
honey mustard vinaigrette
Meadow Creek Sausage Mixed Grill
Elk and pork Saskatoon berry, beer bratwurst, bison bourbon garlic,
accompaniments, potato-rosemary loaf
Curried Driview Farm Lamb Kebabs
Apricot chutney, roasted rep pepper purée, confit potatoes, frisee salad
SWEETS
DARK CHOCOLATE & HAZELNUT PRALINE TART
Salted caramel gelato, honeycomb
Suggested Pairing: 2010 Domaine Pouderoux Vin Doux Naturel (Maury, France) 2oz
FEATURE CRÈME BRULEE **
Suggest Pairing: 2005 Isole e Olena Vin Santo (Tuscany, Italy) 2oz
MORELLO CHERRY & ST. ANDREW CHEESECAKE **
Graham crumb crust, white chocolate ganache
Suggested Pairing: 2010 Eden Heritage Ice Cider (Vermont, United Stated) 2oz
WARM SPICED PUMPKIN BREAD PUDDING
Sicilian pistachio gelato, rum caramel cream
Suggested Pairing: 2003 Niepoort White Port (Douro Valley, Portugal) 2oz
SELECTION OF FAISCO GELATO & SORBETTO
ESPRESSO & ASSORTED TEA SELECTIONS
Single espresso or Americano $3.5, latté & cappuccino $4.5, pot of tea $4
Altesino Grappa di Brunello (Italy)
Braulio Bormio Amaro Alpino (Italy)
Nonino Grappa di Moscato (Italy)
Proprieta Sperino Cabernet Franc Grappa (Italy)
Poli Torcolato Grappa (Italy)
Lustau Dry Oloroso Sherry Don Nuño (Spain)
Marolo Distilleria Grappa di Barbera (Italy)
Hosts choice of two
House Artisan Greens
balsamic vinaigrette, tomatoe, cucumber, julienned carrot, red onion
Fennel and Radicchio Salad
grilled plum, black mission fig vinaigrette, goat cheese
Eggplant Chips
herbed yogurt, pomegranate molasses
Seared Scallops
candied bacon, celery root puree, chilli oil
Seasonal Soup
Hosts choice of two
Served with roasted potatoes & seasonal vegetables for the table
Grilled Flatiron
mushroom and tomato sauté
Pan Roasted Steelhead Trout
citrus gastriqué
Roasted Duck Breast
plum demi-glace
Vegetarian Pasta
chef’s daily creation
Drinks
wine
cocktail
CHEF'S CHARCUTERIE PLATTER
Chef's choice of cured meats & cheeses served with warm baguette and house made accompaniments
SELECTION OF 3 - $18
SELECTION OF 5 - $30
SELECTION OF 7 - $40
No substitutions please
MEAT
5 Spice Pork Rillette - Prepared in House
Foie Gras Pâté with Peppercorn Quince Jelly - Prepared in House
King Salmon Gravlax - Prepared in House
Feature Charcuterie (please refer to our Fresh Sheet)
CHEESE
Ermite blue, cow's milk - Quebec, Canada
Sylvan Star Grizzly Gouda firm, raw cow's milk, lactose free - Alberta, Canada
St. Andrew soft, cow's milk - Normandy, France
Manchego hard, sheep's milk - La Mancha, Spain
Feature Cheese (Please refer to our Fresh Sheet)
EXTRA ORDER OF BAGUETTE $3.
OYSTERS
East Coast / West Coast
Served with Classic Mignonette and Fresh Horseradish
$3 each, $2 each daily from 4-7pm, Sundays and Mondays all night
ADD ONS
Sundried Tomato Tapenade **
House Marinated Olives *
House Made Pickle Plate *
Potato Rosemary Bread
GLUTEN FRIENDLY BREAD OR CRACKERS AVAILABLE FOR $3.
Soup of the Day
Sandwich of the Day
Choice of soup, salad or Kennebec potato chips
Chef's Pasta
Chef's daily creation
Seasonal Salad
*Add Scallops $6, 5oz AAA Flatiron Steak for $12,
Organic King Salmon
**Gluten Friendly Bread Available
an automatic gratuity of 18% will be added to tables of 7 or more
Kennebec Potato Chips
Rosemary and sea salt
Fried Green Chickpeas
Citrus salt and chili
Applewood Smoked Cheddar & Pancetta Croquettes
Sage, apple butter, chili jam
Lemongrass Chicken Meatballs
Chili jam
Citrus-Marinated Humboldt Squid Salad
Fennel, fresh herbs, sweet pepper drops, crostini
Eggplant Chips
Herbed yogurt, pomegranate molasses
Wild Boar Ragu Dip
Grilled potato rosemary crostini, grana padano, fried sage
Lobster Nachos
Pico de gallo, fontina cheese, valentina hot sauce
Merguez Meatballs
Driview lamb, dates, red pepper puree, mint yogurt
Pan Seared Scallops
Candied bacon, celery root puree, chili oil
Paprika Grilled Prawns
Roasted tomato sesame sauce, salsa verde
Optional wine pairing for above $10 per person
House salad and bread to start
Appetizer, main course and dessert
Main course and dessert only
Appetizer and dessert only
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Even after all these years this is still a great place to meet some friends for a glass of wine and some appetizers.
The food was really good! However, a lot of the staff looked like they just rolled out of bed, while appearing to be pretentious. It is expensive, but that ok if the quality and service are good. Server/manager removed my drink before I was finished. Did not have proper garnishes for a 12 dollar drink. Honestly, appears that this place is trying to be something that its not.
South Silk Road is a Chinese restaurant but different from others. You will find many traditional Chinese dishes that you have never heard before,especially spicy food .
Me and my closest girlfriends came here last Friday and had a great time. It was happy hour sparkling wine, which was awesome and we shared two bottles of wine, both were delicious and well priced as far as wine goes in a resto. We ordered a ton of tapases and shared. By far the best were the eggplant chips. We sat on the patio which was fantastic on this autumn evening, so we will definately have to venture back one day next year during the summer! Our waiter was very friendly, his wine reccomendations were great and when it got a little chilly, he bought us some blankets to keep us warm!
Loved it! Great food, even better wine. Sat on their roof top patio and enjoyed the experience. Will be back.
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If mom is into fashion and food, take her to Vin Room Mission May 14 for a special brunch and fashion show in partnership with Hudson’s Bay Calgary. The fashion show features the latest fashion trends for spring at The Bay and may give you a few leads on some fashionable belated Mother’s Day gifts. The event features a three-course brunch with wine pairings that includes a cheese and fruit plate with muffins, ham Florentine quiche with BLT salad and strawberry crepes. The event also includes complimentary makeup touch-ups by MAC and gift bags from The Bay and Yann Haute Patisserie. Admission is $60 for adults and $30 for children ages 12 and under. Tickets to the event are available online.
View this Smart ListWhile this tapas lounge and wine bar doesn’t offer a specific pairing menu, it’s known that Vin Room is one of the prime places to go for stellar pairing recommendations. Whether you’re ordering up a charcuterie, or an assortment of small plate bites, Vin Room’s expert staff will be able to recommend a wine pairing for each plate you order. Get experimental and order up the eggplant chips or gnocchi with suggested pairings.
View this Smart ListTapas and wine make for a mighty fine time at Vin Room. Its flagship location in an old bike shop on Fourth Avenue Southwest is cozy and intimate inside. In warm weather, its rooftop patio, which overlooks the activity of the avenue, can’t be beat. The venue’s Enomatic Wine System makes sampling superb.
View this Smart List