This page, top
photo: Divine chef
Darren Nixon.
Bottom photo:
Bistro Provence
chef Nicolas
Desinai and wife,
Catherine.
Opposite page,
bottom photo:
The Best of New
Orleans chef Tim
Kierstead.
decade.;It;shows;in;the;relationships;they’ve;built;with
the;local;suppliers;who;are;proudly;identified;in;every
dish,;whether;it’s;oven-roasted;Bowden;chicken;with
a;Chinook;honey;and;chipotle;glaze,;marinated;Poplar
Bluff;potato;and;green;bean;salad,;or;a;Driview;Farms
lamb;shank,;slow;braised;in;Indian;tikka;sauce;with
housemade;tamarind;chutney;and;local;yogurt.
Nixon;and;Penny;use;local;products;in;their;creative
and;eclectic;dishes,;many;with;a;Mediterranean;or
Asian;flair.
“The;things;I;love;are;braised;things,;comfort;foods,
and;Asian;foods,;like;Thai;and;Indian;flavours,”;says
Nixon,;who;is;in;the;kitchen;every;day,;and;changes
the;menu;constantly;to;make;sure;everything;is;fresh,
seasonal;and;new.;“We;do;what;we;want;to;do,;and;we
have;a;good;time;cooking.”
The;food;here;is;definitely;eclectic,;but;the
ingredients;read;like;a;who’s;who;of;local;farms
–;Broek;Acres;pork,;Sylvan;Star;Gouda,;Kayben;Farms
black;currants,;Winter’s;Turkey,;Windy;Ridge;Bison.
A;notice;on;the;front;door;advises;potential;patrons
that;Divine;is;not;a;restaurant;for;a;quick;bite,;rather
a;spot;to;slow;down;and;enjoy;food;that’s;cooked;from
scratch.
“Good;food;takes;time,”;says;Nixon.
BISTRO PROVENCE
Chef;Nicolas;Desinai;is;the;executive;chef;and;owner
of;this;small;French;bistro,;set;in;the;circa.;1882;Sheep
Creek;Post;Office;(52;North;Railway;St.).
Compact;and;simple,;it’s;a;space;that;once;housed;the
popular;Le;P’tite;Table;and;when;you;cross;the;threshold,
you;might;imagine;you’ve;stepped;inside;a;little;family
restaurant;in;France,;not;in;cowboy;country.;And;it;truly
is;a;family;affair.;The;entire;operation;is;run;by;Desinai
and;his;personable;wife;Catherine.
Like;the;previous;owner/chef,;Desinai;is;from;France
—;Brittany,;to;be;exact;—;but;the;food;at;this;casual
spot;reflects;his;homeland;in;its;entirety.;From;thin-
crust;pizza;to;panini;and;baguette;sandwiches
topped;with;duck;and;pistachio;pate;with;mustard
or;ham;and;brie;cheese,;quiches;with;salmon;and
spinach;or;duck;confit;salad,;there’s;plenty;to;tempt
you;for;a;leisurely;lunch.
Dinner;is;a;bit;more;upscale;but;the;tiny;room
is;still;casual;—;kids;are;welcome;and;there’s;no
dress;code.;But;the;menu;expands,;including;tomato
bisque,;escargot;with;garlic;and;parsley;butter,;goose
liver;mousse;with;smoked;duck;breast,;duck;rillette
and;pistachio;pate,;rack;of;lamb;with;balsamic;and
thyme;sauce,;or;steak;in;a;peppercorn;sauce.
Save;room;for;dessert;—;whether;it’s;pavlova,
chocolate;fondue;for;two;or;French;crepes,
flambéed;with;Grand;Marnier;and;topped;with
bananas;and;chocolate;sauce,;Desinai’s;sweets
don’t;disappoint.
Bistro;Provence;attracts;locals;and;urbanites;to
Okotoks;with;the;kind;of;classic;French;cooking
he;previously;served;up;at;the;Priddis;Greens;golf
course.;There’s;also;a;take-out;“marche”;—;where
you;can;buy;Desinai’s;food;and;other;French
products.
VIVA SEVENTY-NINE
When;Okotoks Living;hooked;up;with;Carmello
Sangregorio;this;summer,;his;restaurant;was;in
total;renovation;mode.
