For the brief two weeks between March 3rd and the 15th Calgary will become Canada’s food mecca. With Toronto’s Winterlicious long gone and Montreal’s food fest just wrapping up, the torch will soon be passed to cow town.

The two weeks in question have a busier schedule than a double-tongued whore. Well-renowned chefs and sommeliers will be in attendance for the variety of gala suppers, seminars and cooking demonstrations. I’ve picked out a few goodies from the bunch to get you started.

The restaurant critic that gets owners on their toes, John Gilcrest, is hosting a slew of lunches at his picks for Calgary’s best restaurants. Tickets are available to join John for lunch at the River Café, Bonterra Trattoria or Brava Bistro. John will dish out the behind-the-scenes gossip as the talented chefs dish out their succulent cuisine. Find out which server is sleeping with the owner’s ex-wife as you dig in to the best food in the city.

It is common knowledge that if one is looking to heighten the stimulation levels of a sense, say smell for example, another sense must be shut off completely. If a person’s ears are plugged their sense of smell will become more acute etc. Hence, the Miguel Torres Blind Dinner Experience. Blindfolded guests will enjoy Torres wines paired with cuisine from the Hotel Arts Executive Chef Duncan Ly. The pairings will be made by Miguel Torres’ top sommelier Toni Batet. “It’s like there’s a party in my mouth!”

The idea of selecting one sense to obliterate with pleasure at the starvation of all others is an interesting idea, but what if it was taken a step further? What if the goal was to accost all five senses with pleasure through gastronomic means? If you’d like to find out take a gander over to the Art Gallery of Calgary for an evening of art and wine. Feast your eyes on the exhibit while sipping on imported Australian wines and food by the chefs of Alloy, The Belvedere, Blink Restaurant & Bar, Blowfish Sushi Lounge, Nectar Desserts, Opus on 8th and Raw Bar. And they even give you a free tasting glass as a keepsake when the night is over.

To find out more about these events and others go to www.savourcalgary.com or call 403-781-1780.