As a resident of Calgary, I've dashed into the Plaza theatre in Kensington on many an occasion, but have never taken the time to explore the neighbourhood's many shops and cafes. The Craving Kensington tour seemed a perfect way to check out what I've been missing, with the help of a knowledgeable host.
And what a host, Karen proved to be! Her insight and passion for Calgary's burgeoning food scene was clearly evident, as was her genuine relationship with the vendors and their community. The tour began with a brief historical intro to Calgary to provide a context for the neighbourhood, and included background on some of the architectural gems that still exist in Kensington. The chosen venues provided a well-balanced mix of offerings (see website for details), and the vendors were welcoming and knowledgeable and generous with their food and drink.
This is not an inexpensive tour, but each of the venues is paid for its products (no free samples), and given the prices in Calgary and the quality of the offerings, I believe the tour is good value. The relaxed pace provided plenty of time to converse with the vendors and with my fellow foodies.
I discovered some new "go-to" food destinations in Calgary and have since returned to them for more of their tasty offerings and unique accessories. This is an excellent tour for both locals and visitors - I've recommended it to my friends and plan to add it to the "to-do" list of my out-of-town visitors.