Women-led kitchens in Calgary
Long the domain of male chefs, restaurant kitchens are no longer an exclusive boys’ cookery club. Here's just a few of the city’s most talented culinary stars who just happen to be female. [Feature photo: Vero Bistro Moderne]
Vero Bistro Moderne
209 10 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1V5Consistently a top-rated destination locally and at the national level, Jenny Chan’s Euro-contemporary Kensington restaurant continues to make a name for itself. Vero Bistro Moderne regulars would rather keep this tiny, ultra-cozy place all to themselves. Book a reservation well in advance, and sit down to housemade pasta dishes, seafood entrees and a constantly changing array of plates featuring Alberta meat and produce.
CHARCUT Roast House
101-303 Centre St SW, Calgary, AB T2G 2B9One half of the chef-owner team behind CHARCUT Roast house, chef Connie DeSousa is one of Calgary’s best-known restaurateurs, and the eatery is often cited as one of the nation’s best. Described as urban-rustic, Alberta ingredients feature prominently in CHARCUT’s ever-evolving menu. Bestselling dishes include pig-head mortadella and spit-roasted, smoked rotisserie chicken and prime rib as well as poutine with truffle-chicken gravy. The partners have also launched Charbar, an Argentine-inspired barbecue restaurant in the East Village.
Shef's Fiery Kitchen
510 77 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2H 1C3A fixture at the Calgary Farmers’ Market, Shefali Somani and her sister Sharon operate Shef’s Fiery Kitchen. Chef Shef (gesundheit!) studied her spicy craft in Thailand and Bali. Returning to Calgary, she established her own food kiosk serving hot as well as frozen, take-home Thai and Indian food. Shef’s signature dishes include naanzzas (naan pizzas), butter chicken and various Tandoor and curry dishes. You can also find her curries at Calgary Co-op stores.
Nicole Gourmet
8001 11 Street SE, Calgary, AB T2H 0B8A 2013 competitor on Top Chef Canada, Nicole Gomes is a familiar face on Calgary’s culinary scene. The seasoned chef and entrepreneur runs the smashingly successful Nicole Gourmet, a catering service that takes on the planning and service of mealtime events from house parties to large corporate functions. A graduate of Vancouver’s Dubrulle French Culinary School, she has notably worked in the kitchens of Mercato and Catch.
Charbar Restaurant Inc
618 Confluence Way Se, Calgary, AB T2G 0G1Jessica Pelland began her culinary climb at the acclaimed CHARCUT under chefs Connie DeSousa and John Jackson. A winning contestant on Food Network’s Chopped Canada, she is now co-owner and executive chef of Charbar, CHARCUT’s sister spinoff, where her considerable butchery and cooking skills are put to work, including steering the restaurant’s catering operations.
