Bravo's Top Chef Trail Through Calgary
Go behind-the-scenes of Bravo’s Top Chef Season 22 to the very places the cheftestants, judges – and you! – can visit in Calgary.
Olympic Plaza (Credit: Bravo)
Rise to a Stampede-worthy pancake breakfast
The Quickfire Challenge* in Episode 11 kicked off with cheftestants cooking up handheld flapjacks for 50 locals, tipping a spatula to Calgary’s century-old Stampede pancake culture . The tradition of serving pancakes during Stampede dates back to 1923 when they were given out of the back of chuckwagons by cowboys on Stephen Avenue.
Now during the Calgary Stampede - which happens every year in early July - churches, parking lots, and community centres are the venues for 150+ free pancake breakfasts. If you can’t make it during Stampede, these are some local spots that will satisfy your pancake cravings:
*The filming of the Quickfire Challenge took place at Olympic Plaza which is currently undergoing a massive renovation until 2028.
The garden at Rouge (Credit: Bravo)
The garden at Rouge (Credit: Roth & Ramberg)
Garden-to-table magic at Rouge
The showdown plate-up unfolded inside the historic Cross House — home to award-winning restaurant, Rouge . Co-owner and guest judge Paul Rogalski grows as much as a quarter of the menu right on-site in an heirloom orchard and half-acre kitchen garden.
Rouge is a destination on its own, but it's also located in Calgary’s oldest, and probably coolest, neighbourhood – Inglewood. Before your meal, do some shopping at the boutiques along 9th Avenue and after, check out one of the nearby breweries like Cold Garden or Highline Brewing.
Smash-burger intermission at Class Clown
Before tackling their beef-and-berries Elimination Challenge, host Kristen Kish treated the cast to lunch at Class Clown Hamburgers —a retro, wood-panelled den slinging cult-favourite smash burgers, crinkle fries, and craft beers.
Grab the mustard-griddled California Classic or aptly named Donald McRonald, then walk it off along the nearby Elbow River.
Judge Connie De Sousa’s Calgary hits
Cheftestant-turned-celebrity judge, Connie De Sousa, has made a huge impact on Calgary’s food scene. Check out one, or all, of her restaurants during your visit.
CHARCUT – a back-to-basics restaurant inspired by Italian and Portuguese traditions and best known for their house-cured meats.
charbar – the Argentine wood-fired grill is at the heart of this modern restaurant located in the river-side Simmons Building.
Connie & John’s Pizza – fun and delicious, paying homage to both Detroit and New York-style pizza.
Chix Eggshop – a “Fast-Fine Diner” inspired by the three moms of the women who run it.
The grill is always firing at charbar (Photo Credit: Travel Alberta/charbar Restaurant)
The cheftestants touring with Cree/ Iroquois knowledge-keeper Brenda Holder (Photo Credit: Bravo).
Forage & fire in the foothills
Episode 12 whisked the final five chefs into the forests around Canmore, where Cree/ Iroquois knowledge-keeper Brenda Holder and forager-chef Tracy Little taught them to gather rosehips, juniper, and even thatching ants. Back in Calgary they cooked over open flame; Shuai Wang’s rosehip-glazed pork belly with ant togarashi earned the win.
You can book your own guided plant medicine walk with Brenda’s company Mahikan Trails to learn traditional uses of local botanicals.
Create your own Top Chef day
Retrace the steps of the cheftestants in one day with this tasty itinerary:
Breakfast – Free pancake breakfast (if visiting during Stampede) or a buttermilk stack at Blue Star Diner .
Lunch – Smash burger and natural orange wine at Class Clown .
Evening – Gathered & Foraged Chef's Menu at Rouge .
Overnight – Dreams of pancakes at the Fairmont Palliser hotel.
