Wild Sage

200 Barclay Parade SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, XX - (403) 234-9191

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Posted By Michael Stern on 7/20/2002 3:32:00 AM

In the unlikely location of a shopping center food court, chef Dany Lamote makes amazing things to eat. Dedicated to supporting local producers and organic farms, he offers a menu that ranges from pan-seared pike over fiddlehead ferns to grilled salmon and fried oysters on elegant lengths of baguette. All of this is presented across a counter that is pretty much like any mall’s fast-food establishment and is eaten at wobbly tables past which shoppers stroll.

It is a joy to stand up front and watch Wild Sage sandwiches made. We ordered roast pork with ginger relish and jicama on sourdough rye, and watched the cook create a beautiful bouquet of purple and amber; and we got a gorgeous grilled vegetable sandwich, which was an olive baguette loaded with mushrooms, asparagus, eggplant, and carrots with Havarti cheese. On the side, an heirloom tomato salad with feta cheese proved as elegant as anything we ate in Calgary’s finest dining rooms … although it was served on disposable dishware.

Beyond excellent sandwiches and salads, Wild Sage offers hot meals suitable for taking home: rotisserie beef with risotto, lobster lasagna, country lane chicken. And there are shelves stocked with Wild Sage marmalade, chipotle chile horseradish, and rhubarb-raisin chutney.

We also appreciate the beverage selection, which includes Hemp-C brand gingerberry soda. Made from the essence of the marijuana plant (although non-mood-altering), Hemp C’s slogan is, Let’s put the pop back in pop.

Scorecard

Overall: One of the Best - Worth a Trip

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Reviewers Photos [Upload Your Photos]

"Roast pork with blueberry ginger relish"
Michael Stern

"Sandwiches are presented wrapped in paper, ready to carry away. The beverage is Hemp-C, a supersweet soda pop."
Michael Stern

"This heirloom tomato salad is a reminder of just how delicious a real tomato can be."
Michael Stern

"It's a pleasure to watch Wild Sage sandwiches constructed at the counter. The quality and variety of ingredients is remarkable, especially for a food-court quick-eats shop."
Michael Stern

"This is a modest cafe with serious purpose."
Michael Stern

"Wild Sage is a casual cafe located in the bustling Eau Claire Market, where you can buy everything from Royal Canadian Mounted Police souvenirs to a half-hour at an oxygen bar."
Michael Stern