In the last decade, the effect of The Food Network on popular culture has been quite drastic. This seemingly benign television channel has metamorphosed moms - who, at one time, contented themselves by slinging a meatloaf at their hubbie and 3 kids, picking up a Harlequin and calling it a night - into Nigella-inspired gourmands who won’t put dinner on the table until it is sufficiently “kicked up” to the highest “notch.”

But now, even recipes dreamed-up by the celebro-chefs of TFN are not esoteric enough for the gen-foodie homemaker. And so enters Richard Desnoyers, former chef of Belvedere restaurant in Calgary & Executive Chef of the Rimrock Hotel in Banff, with his new gastrophile’s groceteria and specialty deli, Flavours of the world, which – easy nay-sayers – is actually unique.

Desnoyer’s, modus operandi is to bring out the inner chef in the philistine foodie by providing him/her access to obscure ingredients. Even massive food snobs (myself included) would be hard-pressed to independently locate any of Desnoyer's selection of rare meats and cheeses or the strange jewels that Desnoyer proudly carries in his spicy treasure trove. Ingredients such as Mastic tears – a honey-textured spice, most commonly used in North African cuisine – or, dried akudjura – rare bush tomatoes from South Africa – are just a sampling of Desnoyer’s piquant and exotic line-up.

For those more interested in impressing their family and friends without actually working for it, Desnoyer has a continually shifting roster of “bistro-to-go” items from around the world. Though Desnoyer is French, he does not necessarily harp on preparing French items; his menu ranges from India to Russia, from Italy to Morocco to Spain and, no matter what, depends on “what is fresh, what is in season or what he is in the mood for when he wakes up in the morning.” - E.H

Flavours of the world, 2116, 380 Canyon meadows Drive SE
Calgary, AB
403- 278-6670