The European meets west coast feel of Alforno may entice you to make it one of your regular haunts year-round.
A little taste of Italy has arrived in Calgary. Alforno Bakery and Café, owned and operated by the Teatro Restaurant Group, is adding both sweet and savoury flavour to YYC’s Eau Claire district. The European meets west coast feel of Alforno may entice you to make it one of your regular haunts year-round.
Situated along 7th street and 2nd ave SW, Alforno’s Italian café presence, complete with an air pump for cyclists built into the exterior of it’s European-inspired patio, is a welcome addition to those who enjoy sipping coffee, indulging in delicious pasta and pizza, and savouring fresh in-house baked pastries.
But Alforno also has a distinctly west-coast feel to it with a selection of health-conscious options such as its oat and quinoa cookie, and fresh-pressed juice. The interior boasts a hip, relaxed attitude with an upstairs area that includes comfy couches for “Central Perk” dates for your and your friends, smaller tables for going solo, comfy leather armchairs to curl up in, and long wooden tables ideal for group meetings and meals.
Want to catch up with a friend over Mimosas? The quaint patio, overseeing its Eau Claire surroundings is the perfect place to chat about your latest exploits while perhaps indulging in some of the exquisite artisan pastries created by Executive Pastry Chef, Leah Gamache.
Need a glass of H2O or some milk or cream for your hot beverage? Forget water pitchers and milk and cream canisters. Alforno’s water and coffee station features a row of water, milk and cream taps, similar to beer taps that dispense draft beer.
Add to the fact that Alforno’s breakfast selection, which includes three different types of Eggs Benny, is served until 2 p.m. on weekends, and Alforno could be one of your new fav places to chill. The nicely presented food, pretty interior and flood of natural light pouring in through the ceiling-high windows definitely makes this place Insta worthy, so be prepared for Alforno to soon be blowing up your newsfeed.
You can also bring some of Alforno’s influence into your kitchen. Alforno sells items such as yummy jams, marmalade, coffee beans, olive oil and hand-rolled pasta, as well as kitchenware such as teapots and cutting boards, all of which will add some Italian flavour to your next dinner party. And if you’re a dinner party guest, why not stop by the bakery counter on your way to the party to pick up some blueberry and cream cheese-filled creampuffs or cookies and cream macaroons for your host?
So go ahead and treat yourself to a piece of Italy in YYC, because everyone deserves a little Italian charm in their life. Ciao!
Visit Alforno’s website for more information.