Un souper décontracté à Calgary, AB

For low-income Calgarians, nutritious food can become more luxury than necessity. On Oct. 18, participating restaurants in the Restaurants for Change initiative raise proceeds for Community Food Centres Canada and its local outlets that help make healthy eating accessible for our most vulnerable. Here are participating Calgary restaurants where patrons can help do some good by simply dining out. [Photo: River Cafe]

Besides being polite and helping others, few things are more Canadian than poutine – so indulge in your national pride during Calgary Poutine Week 2017, scheduled to run from April 21 to 29. Best of all, each poutine sold at a participating restaurant during the week sends a free meal to a person in need by Mealshare. Here are seven places – one for every day of the week – to grab some poutine during this charitable time.

Whether you’re a diehard foodie or a hungry passerby, the news of a restaurant opening offers diners exciting and new possibilities and experiences. While it’s impossible to keep track of all of the new eateries popping up in our fair city, here are just a few of the most talked-about in 2017. Photo credit: Kevin Yang for Provision Restaurant

Calgarians are known to do three things once temperatures soar above zero: don their best flip-flops, dig their summer shorts out of storage and head to the nearest outdoor patio. Here are some of our favourite patios that are ideal for grabbing a casual drink. Photo by Michael Trudeau courtesy of Blanco Cantina.

Feeling a little peckish during happy hour? Nothing in the world complements that glass of wine quite as well as a chic cheese selection! Explore the world of cheese within reach of home at these restaurants offering top-notch cheese boards.

When Calgarians want healthy, tasty restaurant food that’s priced to move, they choose Vietnamese. While there are many, many Vietnamese restaurants in the city, they’re not so plentiful in the central core. The following Vietnamese restaurants are located between the Bow River and 17th Avenue Southwest.

There’s a tidy handful of restaurants orbiting the Calgary International Airport – you just need to know where to look. This list will take you from the tarmac to Canadian-contemporary, Chinese and Mediterranean spots in and around nearby hotels as well as in the immediately adjacent neighbourhoods of Falconridge, Country Hills and Castleridge.

Nothing beats a warm, flaky serving of sweet pie topped with a mountainous scoop of vanilla ice cream or a heaping cloud of rich whipped cream. A select few city restaurant serve just such sweet slices. Whether you’re looking to feed a traditional apple pie craving or want to get more adventurous with a French-toast pie or pie milkshake, here are the places to go to get your fill of crust and filling.

While the bacon phenomenon is still going strong (long live bacon!), the other parts of the pig are best utilized when cooked low and slow, with some kind of sauce to hold everything together. The second that tender meat hits the plate and falls apart, mouths start watering and a fork frenzy follows. Here is a list of some of the best places in Calgary that serve this slow-cooked wonder on a bun, in breakfast hash and beyond.

Though BYOW hasn’t caught on in Calgary on the scale it has in other Canadian cities, many restaurants are open to uncorking vino supplied by patrons. Corkage fees are typical and range from modest to pricey, and low-to-no corkage nights are common. These eateries welcome outside wine at dinnertime.

Thai food is the perfect tropical indulgence on a crisp winter day or as a spicy summer feast. The city is home to a handful of well-established Thai restaurants, each with a loyal clientele. From sour papaya salads to the best red curry, these restaurants deliver heat, flavour and a pleasant, easy-going atmosphere.

Food and a film is a great combo, however, the annual Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) makes dinner and a movie extra special from September 21 to October 2. Launched with a gala party and film screening at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, it’s followed by more than 200 screenings at Eau Claire Market Cinemas and Globe Cinema. Make CIFF movie nights memorable at these eateries.