Foodie Finds: Saskatoon, Canada – Ayden Kitchen & Bar
Ayden Kitchen & Bar
Foodie Finds: Saskatoon, Canada – Ayden Kitchen & Bar
Saskatoon’s Culinary Boutique of Canadian Products Served with an International Flair
By Muna Salloum and Habeeb Salloum
As an avid fan of Top Chef Canada, I made a promise to myself that the next time I visited Saskatoon I would try out Chef Dale MacKay’s restaurant. Winner of Season I, Chef MacKay made Saskatchewan proud on July 4, 2011 as Canada’s first champion in this competition. A native of Saskatoon, the winds and the mystic lure of Saskatchewan beckoned him home and on November 15, 2013, Chef MacKay opened his new Ayden Kitchen & Bar to his home-welcoming community.
True to my word, in April 2014, I followed up on my own promise. Taking a cab from my hotel accompanied by my father Habeeb Salloum, a well-established cookbook author, I asked the driver to take me to Ayden. He had no idea where the restaurant was or who Chef MacKay was. “Well, this is not a good sign,” I thought to myself. After the driver called his dispatch to ask for directions, we headed to 3rd Avenue South where the restaurant is located. However, the driver still had trouble finding it. Lodged amidst other unassuming buildings, Ayden suddenly appeared. Feeling a rush of excitement, especially because this was my first venture into lunching at an establishment owned by a Top Chef, I entered a little bit hesitant worried that I was not dressed appropriately in my jeans.
Ayden Kitchen & Bar
An open-concept restaurant with the kitchen staff busily chopping, slicing and stirring, the hostess greeted us as if we were old friends, asking if we had any preferences for seating. My father quickly responded that a table with good light would be the best. Knowing my father well, I understood his line of thinking – always look at what you are eating because a dim-lit area is conducive to false conclusions. As it turned out, we had our choice of seating anywhere since the restaurant was well-lit. It was apparent that the Chef was not afraid to have his clientele see his culinary creations.
The server approached our table, welcoming us in a friendly manner. She presented a lunch menu that was not overdone, yet presented a variety of options. From Starters, to the Lunch Rush and Entrees, the choices represented the best of Canadian and international gastronomy. We opted for the Thai Wings, Popcorn Prawns and the Daily Sandwich.
While waiting for the meal, I surveyed the simple yet elegant grey and white décor, classy yet funky – comfortable and welcoming for any age group. Within a half hour of opening, the tables were all full, some at the bar while others at the tables scanning their menus. Although the tables are small, one does not feel crowded even with a full house.
And then it happened – the server presented our appetizers and their presentation was phenomenal. The wings, hot off the fryer, were spiced perfectly and their sauce, made from Kaffir lime, lemongrass, fresh coriander and garlic oil, tasted heavenly while the prawns coated very lightly with tempura batter were accompanied by a lime and garlic aioli, an unforgettable culinary experience. We could barely stop ourselves from gulping them down. I looked at my father, the food critic of the family, trying to assess his opinion of the meal thus far but could not judge as he was busy chewing. I then asked him point blank, ‘Well, what do you think?” He smiled and said ‘excellent’ which to me meant ‘superb’.
Ayden Burgers
The rest of the meal was no different. For example, the combination of avocado, house-sauce, chicken and greens in our sandwiches made me understand what makes Chef Dale a winner. Not just this but the other options available for lunch. The dinner menu is just as impressive. From braised duck with a Korean barbecue sauce, served with crispy rice and spiced pickled vegetables, to European sea bass (Branzino) pan roasted with pesto, artichokes, asparagus, chickpeas, and a tomato butter sauce or Grilled Pork, served with prawns, cheddar grits, kale, roasted red peppers and gremolata (a chopped herb condiment), you end up wanting to come back to try everything. There are only a few dessert items on the menu such as Panna Cotta and warm citrus-flavoured Madeleines served with a chocolate dipping sauce. These are so rich and opulent that they are a must for ending a wonderful meal. Diet-guilt has no boundaries when indulging in the food of Ayden.
Pork, Shrimp & Grits
Just as the restaurant advertises itself, the dishes are really comfort foods that are internationally-inspired but made with locally grown ingredients. From their presentation to their textures and tastes, meals at home will never be the same after dining at Ayden.
After lunch, Chef Dale came over to our table to ask whether we enjoyed the meal. Without hesitation my father stood up and shook his hand, telling him that he has made Canada proud. And one can see the pride that the Chef has in his own creations. It is indeed his passion to create and prepare wonderful dishes, no doubt the envy of others. As he explained, he had enjoyed every minute of his experience in Top Chef Canada where he was able to craft his culinary ideas and present his art.
Ayden Kitchen & Bar – Nathan Guggenheimer and Dale MacKay
Chef MacKay should re-consider spelling the name from Ayden to Eden. It indeed was a heavenly experience!
IF YOU GO:
Ayden Kitchen & Bar
265 3rd Avenue South
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 1M3
Telephone: 306-954-2590
READ MORE FROM HABEEB AND MUNA:
BIO:
Habeeb Salloum
Habeeb Salloum is a Canadian author who grew up in Saskatchewan, joined the RCAF during the Second World War, and then worked for the Canadian Department of National Revenue for 36 years. For the last 30 years he has been a full-time freelance writer and author specializing in food, history and travel. Besides 7 books and 20 chapters in books, he has had hundreds of articles about culture, food, travel, history and homesteading in western Canada appear in such publications as the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, the Western Producer, Contemporary Review, Forever Young, Vegetarian Journal and Saveur.
Habeeb was awarded the 2013 Saskatchewan Tourism Travel Media Award by the Saskatchewan Tourism on April 10, 2014 for his literary work on travel, tourism and the culinary arts of that province.
