Latest news with #Gatsby's
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Chorney-Booth: Fantastically fine dining and glamour abound at the new Gatsby's
When it came time for the Vintage Group to tweak the lineup of its restaurants in the Oliver Building, it was faced with the choice to go high or go low. The restaurant group was already operating several brands within the building (collectively known as 'The Fleetwood Group'), including Luca, Fleetwood Lounge and Pazzi Pizza. The closure of the Treno coffee and prosecco bar left a gap within the building's culinary offerings and a prime space to fill. Article content Article content To fill that gap, management could have taken the easier route with a casual Italian eatery, but Calgary already has plenty of those. But to go higher-end than the already opulent Luca, they'd have to reach into an echelon of fussier food and service rarely seen in the relaxed dining rooms of Western Canada. Sensing a gap in that market, Vintage decided to take the gamble with Gatsby's, the newly opened, jazz-age style restaurant hidden behind a curtain next to Luca's hostess stand. Article content Article content Article content Article content Let's get this out of the way: Gatsby's is an incredibly fancy joint. While Calgary has its fair share of luxurious and expensive restaurants, most of us aren't used to a European-style degustation menu in these parts. Sure, you absolutely could happily drop hundreds of dollars per person on a lavish dinner with fine wines at a place like Teatro or Rouge (and, of course, we also have an excellent but more modern tasting menu-only restaurant with the impossible to get into Eight), but Gatsby's takes the concept of fine dining to a more formal level. And it's a level worth experiencing if you're up for the splurge. Article content Article content The restaurant is a two-level golden jewel box, with chef de cuisine Asher Wilson's kitchen gleaming from the back of the room. Even though there are only 36 seats, there are always multiple staff members buzzing around the room, meticulously attending to each guest's needs. Article content The rock star treatment is certainly a hallmark of this style of fine dining, but it's all wasted if the food isn't up to snuff. After more than a decade as an instructor at SAIT, last year, much-celebrated local chef Michael Dekker became the culinary director for the Fleetwood Group restaurants, and he and Wilson have intentionally set up Gatsby's as one of the city's premier culinary experiences. This is a set menu-only affair with both six-course (priced at $180 or $165 for the vegetarian version) and nine-course ($240) options, plus the opportunity to add items like Acadian emerald sturgeon caviar service ($240) or a selection of Canadian cheese (market price), as well as two different levels of wine pairings and exclusive Scotch flights from House of Hazelwood. It might all feel like a bit much, but ultimately, the price tag is comparable to coveted concert or hockey tickets.
Calgary Herald
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Parker: Gatsby's bringing Roaring '20s-style fine dining to The Oliver in downtown Calgary
When the Luca Restaurant opened in The Oliver, it quickly became recognized for its upscale dining environment and its premium Italian fare. On May 22, The Fleetwood Group will welcome diners to another venue in The Oliver — Gatsby's. Article content Gatsby's is an intimate dining establishment that can best be described as ultra fine dining offered within the age of top service. The décor reflects the era of seeking new wealth, pleasures and changing societal norms that F. Scott Fitzgerald captured in his famous novel, The Great Gatsby. Article content Article content A reflection of the quality is in its House of Hazelwood Scotch. Phil Keene, director of Hazelwood, says Gatsby's is the only restaurant in the world accredited to exclusively offer The Old Confectioner's 44-year-old aged, walnut coloured Scotch whisky. Article content Generations of the Gordon family have carefully laid down stocks of whisky for personal occasions and personal consumption for almost 100 years. For the first time, this once private collection is being offered to those outside the immediate family, in small batches hand-selected for release. The youngest Hazelwood available in the Launch Collection at Gatsby's is 39 years old. Article content Article content On the same floor as the cocktail bar are just two tables with chairs for eight guests, and down the elegant stairway you will find seating for another 26. Article content Intimate and exclusive for sure, as Gatsby's has its own kitchen where Fleetwood's culinary director Michael Dekker is pleased to introduce Gatsby's chef de cuisine, Asher Wilson. Article content Born in Calgary, Wilson moved to Toronto to attend university for his degree in political science, but working during his studies as a busboy, he enjoyed the hospitality industry. Article content After further studies in sustainability and environmental stewardship in Copenhagen, Wilson worked for a time in an urban farming project in Canada but then decided his passion was in the restaurant business. He took an apprenticeship and joined La Banane, a Michelin Guide Restaurant in Toronto, as a line cook. Article content He worked his way up to be chef de cuisine during the time it was judged in the top 100 Canadian restaurants. Article content His brand-new kitchen at Gatsby's is small but well designed, incorporating a Japanese charcoal grill. Wilson and his five staff intend to explore Canadian cuisine with a French influence, seasonally inspired with the best ingredients from farmers across Western Canada.
South China Morning Post
07-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Karis Teetan set to ride Gatsby's in Group One Newmarket Handicap at Flemington
Karis Teetan heads to Australia to ride in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on Saturday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Karis Teetan will chase Group One glory in Australia when he teams up with talented colt Gatsby's in Saturday's Newmarket Handicap (1,200m) at Flemington. The Hong Kong-based Mauritian rider will make his fourth trip to Melbourne after riding in Group Ones the Melbourne Cup (3,200m), Cox Plate (2,040m) and Caulfield Cup (2,400m) late last year. While he didn't boot home a winner on those trips, with a second at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day his best result, Teetan put himself on the radar of Australian trainers as a lightweight option for major races. That led to the opportunity from champion trainer Chris Waller to ride Gatsby's, who carries just 50kg as a three-year-old under weight-for-age conditions in the Newmarket. The son of Snitzel has won two of his eight starts, with a dominant victory in last year's Listed Rosebud (1,100m) at Rosehill the highlight. He also has experience down the Flemington straight, running a solid fifth to Switzerland in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1,200m) last November, and returned from a spell with a fast-finishing third in the Group Three Eskimo Prince Stakes (1,200m) at Randwick last month. 'He's a pretty handy horse, he ran very well in the Coolmore back in the spring and he's a multiple Group winner,' Waller said. 'He gets his opportunity with a light weight.' That's a MORE than great win to Gatsby's in the Listed Rosebud today! 🌹@cwallerracing @mcacajamez — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 17, 2024 Gatsby's has drawn barrier 15, which can be an advantage down the Flemington straight. He is expected to start a double-figure chance, while Waller will also saddle up one of the leading contenders in Joliestar. The Group One-winning mare has had no luck in recent starts, including last time out when she was checked and stranded wide without cover when third in the Group Two Expressway Stakes (1,200m) at Randwick. She has not raced down the Flemington straight but appeared to handle it well in a jump-out last week when she beat Traffic Warden and Gatsby's. Newmarket Handicap contenders Traffic Warden, Joliestar & Gatsby's familiarised themselves with the Flemington straight this morning ahead of next Saturday's Group 1 👀@FlemingtonVRC — (@Racing) February 27, 2025 'She just needs a bit of confidence and a bit of luck, so we thought bringing her down to Flemington to run in the Newmarket would be a good idea,' Waller said. 'She is certainly good enough in our opinion. Obviously it's a different style of racing, but one that she should adapt to.' The Newmarket is one of 12 overseas races simulcast by the Jockey Club on Saturday, with five races from New Zealand Derby day at Ellerslie and four races from the Canterbury Stakes meeting at Randwick also among the offering for betting. The Group One All-Star Mile (1,600m) will also attract plenty of attention at Flemington, with Mr Brightside chasing a 10th victory at the elite level before a likely trip to Hong Kong for Champions Day in April.
