For the Love of...: ...Blink Restaurant & Bar (Calgary)

Overall - 9/10
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Food -  8.5/10
Service - 9/10
Ambiance- 9/10

Blink Restaurant provided one of the most enjoyable Calgary dining experiences we've had in recent memory.  The food highlighted seasonal ingredients with fresh and simple elegance.  The finesse in the plating of each course was reflected in the modern decor of the restaurant: off-white wooden trimmed facade featuring large windows, hardwood flooring, exposed brick wall, chocolate brown and nautical blue wall accents.  Service was well-timed and attentive. 

Their drink menu featured a variety of martinis from which I chose the "ice wine-tini" featuring grey goose vodka, icewine, chambord and bubbles.  Amazing.  Darrin had a bottled beer, Wildrose IPA.

Alongside, we ordered foie gras and sea scallops as appetizers.  The foie gras was exceptionally creamy and smooth, served with a rhubarb chutney.  Scallops were grilled perfectly and served with a fine balance of minced tomato, onion, cilantro and micro-greens. 

 For our mains, we ordered the BC halibut on a pea risotto and the red wine braised short ribs served with a side of house made french fries.  The pea risotto brought out the delicate flavour of the halibut and the truffles added a hint of nutty richness to the dish.  The short ribs had great depth in flavour, and were tender but just a tad over cooked.  The fries were a delicious twist on the potato side and were perfect for soaking up the red wine sauce.  Very addictive!

We could not pass up the dessert course when I spotted the pistachio creme brulee.  The custard was not as sweet as others I've had in the past, which allowed the pistachio come through with a wonderful nutty flavour. 



I am casting a shadow! Oops!

 Finally the pièce de résistance, the cheese platter.  Normally by the time the dessert menu comes around, we are too stuffed to consider a full cheese platter and when we do, we suffer a mild case of regret following a cheese induced coma.  This cheese platter however, was just the right size, just enough for you and your table mate to have 2 or 3 bites of each cheese.  Our favourite was a Salt Spring Island chevre and an English blue stilton.  The cheese was served with honeycomb, apple/mustard chutney and walnuts.

Blink demonstrated a distinctly refined palette and balanced fresh flavours.  We highly recommend this restaurant and look forward to going back again.