“We do what we want to
do, and we have a good
time cooking.”
its;address;on;historic;Elizabeth;Street);earlier;this;year
and;is;putting;his;own;stamp;on;the;intimate;space,
keeping;the;same;relaxed,;contemporary,;atmosphere,
but;with;an;Italian;menu.
Bringing;his;experience;as;owner;of;both;the;popular
La;Tavola;and;Q;Haute;Cuisine;at;La;Caille;in;Calgary,
Sangregorio;says;he’ll;have;the;only;fine;Italian
dining;room;in;Okotoks.;He’s;retaining;Seventy-Nine’s
former;chef;but;will;also;be;cooking;himself,;and;has
reworked;the;space;to;include;a;cosy;dining;room;up
front,;with;high-backed;chairs;and;quiet;corners,
and;a;comfortable;lounge;and;patio,;with;a;rustic
“spaghetti;western”;theme.
He’s;even;planning;to;change;the;name,;but;only
slightly.;“I’m;calling;it;Viva;Seventy-Nine;—;long;live
Seventy-Nine,”;he;says.
Expect;the;kind;of;Italian;dishes;Sangregorio
served;at;La;Tavola;—;his;homemade;agnolotti
filled;with;pork;and;spinach;and;served;in;a;creamy
butter;sauce;with;wild;mushrooms;and;lemon;zest,
fresh;gnocchi;and;risotto.
“I;want;a;good;mix;of;traditional;and;modern
Italian,;and;hope;to;use;a;lot;of;the;good;local;products;from
the;area,”;he;says.
Since;his;move;to;Okotoks;two;years;ago,;Sangregorio;says
he’s;enjoyed;getting;involved;in;the;local;soccer;association;for
his;kids,;and;living;in;a;town;that;is;“like;Calgary;used;to;be.”
And;to;make;sure;his;upscale;restaurant;serves;local;families
too,;he’s;offering;Family;Night;every;Sunday,;with;platters
of;meatballs;and;sausages,;family;style;pasta;dishes,;and
homemade;breads;and;desserts;(made;by;his;Italian;mother).
THE BEST OF NEW ORLEANS
With;live;music;and;exotic;southern
cuisine,;Tim;and;Sandra;Kierstead
have;brought;a;bit;of;Cajun;country;to
southern;Alberta;at;The;Best;of;New
Orleans;(97;Elizabeth;Street).
There;aren’t;many;places;where
you;can;order;alligator,;but;it’s;on;the
menu;here,;along;with;Tim’s;own;spicy
Andouille;sausages,;a;New;Orleans-style
cobb;salad;with;blackened;chicken,
classic;gumbo;served;over;rice,;shrimp
remoulade;with;sweet;potato;fries;and
Cajun;dipping;sauce,;or;muffuletta
sandwiches,;big;French;loaves;stuffed;with;layers;of;ham,
salami,;mortadella;and;provolone;cheese.;Kierstead;is;also
famous;for;his;Po’;Boy;sandwiches,;ranging;from;vegetarian;or
roast;beef;Po’;Boys;to;those;filled;with;cornmeal-crusted;fried
shrimp;and;Creole;mustard.
And;that’s;just;lunch.
The;dinner;menu;will;take;you;right;back;to;the;bayou,;with
chicken,;shrimp;and;andouille;sausage;jambalaya,;red;beans
and;rice;with;smoked;ham;hocks;and;andouille,;crawfish
etouffee,;or;blackened;sirloin;steak.
Set;in;an;historic;house;in;downtown;Okotoks,;the;restaurant
is;divided;into;three;distinct;areas;-;the;open;kitchen;and;dining
bar;call;the;French;Quarter,;the;Jazz;&;Blues;Room,;and;the;Mardi
Gras;Room.
“
Everything;here;is;fresh,”;says;Kierstead,;pointing;to;the;house-brand;coffee;roasted;for;him;by;Blends;in;Calgary,;and;the;sausage
made;to;his;specifications;by;Hirsche;Fraser;Meats;in;Okotoks.
Kierstead;is;originally;from;Ontario;and;worked;as;a;chef;for;CP
and;Hilton;hotels;before;opening;a;Cajun;restaurant;in;Missouri.
He;created;The;Best;of;New;Orleans;in;Okotoks;just;last;summer
and;says;his;customers;come;“from;all;over;the;foothills”;to;dine.
“This;is;fresh;Cajun;and;Creole;cuisine,;cooked;to;order,”;he;says.
“My;ettouffee;is;better;than;any;in;Louisiana.;Everyone;loves;it
here.”
Friday;nights;are;jazz;nights;so;come;for;the;music;and;some
authentic;Cajun;cuisine.;OL
