If Tex-Mex cooking, complemented by tequila and cervezas make your mouth water, Blanco on the 17th Avenue Southwest shopping and dining strip is the place to visit. Inspired by the Tex-Mex food from cities in Texas, Southern California and Western Mexico, co-owner Cliff Harvey and his partners wanted to translate the essence of their cuisine-travel experiences to Calgary. The owners of Añejo Restaurant, they had dreamed of opening a laid-back, "younger brother" of the successful contemporary Mexican restaurant.
“Our Mexico is more like Sayulita, Guadalajara or Tlaquepaque, not resort Mexico,” says Cliff. “We wanted our food to reflect that. We do street-style tacos – sourcing locally made tortilla shells and chips, and preparing all the meats and marinades in house.” Blanco’s tacos are indeed like those found in Mexico. Soft corn tortillas, they're served with pork, chicken or beef. And, the spacious, rustic cantina is appropriately decked out with wood-plank walls, neon signs and sugar skulls.
The menu’s “big ass burritos” are one-pound behemoths modelled after the southern Mexican-American variety. The quesadillas and fajitas, as well, follow authentic formulas rather than popularized versions.
So determined were they to get it right, the Blanco chefs were put on reconnaissance duty in Texas and Mexico. “We sent our guys to Jalisco Mexico and Houston Texas to talk to the chefs, find out what they were doing, and get the authenticity of the place,” says Cliff.
On the establishment's outdoor patio, which overlooks the avenue, people sun themselves as they dig into big ass burritos and plates of housemade nachos con mucho gusto.
EARLY TOMATO MINESTRONE
spring vegetables | cheese tortellini | cold pressed canola
SEARED SCALLOPS
cauliflower | apples | curried raisins | almond granola | pickled apple foam | apple caramel
SALT SPRING ISLAND MUSSELS
leeks | fresh herbs | white wine | pomme frites | lemon garlic aioli
GRILLED VEGETABLE GNOCCHI
parmesan nage | feta (fairwinds farm)
SPRING ONION VERDE FLATBREAD
leek soubise | nettle puree | spring vegetables | frisée | lime vinaigrette,slow poached egg | feta, parmesan & buffalo mozzarella | shaved potato
WILD MUSHROOM FLATBREAD
whole wheat crust | roasted wild mushrooms | white gold fior di latte | arugula | truffle oil
LOBSTER POUTINE
pomme frites│lobster nage│mascarpone │herbs
DUCK AND WILD MUSHROOM SPRING ROLLS
duck confit │mushrooms │celery │carrots │cauliflower purée│red wine gastrique
FARMSTEAD SALAD
artisan greens | crispy salami | herb croutons | roasted garlic dressing | soft boiled eggs
PEAR SALAD
arugula | frisée | stilton | candied pecans | compressed pears | balsamic vinaigrette
BEET CURED TROUT SALAD
chevré (fairwinds farm) | arugula | frisée | sourdough crostini | beet chip | nettle pistou | lemon vinaigrette
EARLY SPRING TUNA SALAD
coriander crusted albacore tuna | frisée | arugula | chick peas | radish | cucumber | lime vinaigrette | fairwinds goat cheese | nettle purée | soft boiled eggs
ALBERTA PORK BOARD (FOR TWO)
schnitzel | chop | glazed pork belly | roasted potatoes | radish slaw | local vegetables | fried egg
CRISPY DUCK LEG
confit | barley risotto | kale | cherries (B.C.) | cherry gastrique | poached duck egg | pistachios
CRISPY BUTTERMILK CHICKEN
double breaded fried chicken | kale succotash | mushroom jus | roasted potatoes
WILD PACIFIC HALIBUT
spring vegetable risotto | kale | leeks | stinging nettle pistou | mountain view farms cold pressed canola
GRILLED HANGER STEAK
heritage angus hanger steak | fingerling potatoes | chorizo | corn | roasted peppers | local vegetables | crispy poached egg | beef jus
BRAISED BEEF CAVATELLI
beef cheek | tomato | spinach | parmesan | aged cheddar
ROASTED MUSHROOM AND CAULIFLOWER RISOTTO
pearl barley | hand-foraged mushrooms | cauliflower purée | fresh herbs | grana padano
EARLY TOMATO MINESTRONE
spring vegetables | cheese tortellini | cold pressed canola
SEARED SCALLOPS
cauliflower | apples | curried raisins | almond granola | pickled apple foam | apple caramel
SALT SPRING ISLAND MUSSELS
leeks | fresh herbs | white wine | pomme frites | lemon garlic aioli
GRILLED VEGETABLE GNOCCHI
parmesan nage | feta (fairwinds farm)
SPRING ONION VERDE FLATBREAD
leek soubise | nettle puree | spring vegetables | frisée | lime vinaigrette,slow poached egg | feta, parmesan & buffalo mozzarella | shaved potato
WILD MUSHROOM FLATBREAD
whole wheat crust | roasted wild mushrooms | fior di latte (white gold) | arugula| truffle oil
LOBSTER POUTINE
pomme frites | lobster nage | mascarpone cheese | herbs
FARMSTEAD SALAD
winter greens | crispy salami | herb croutons | roasted garlic dressing
PEAR SALAD
arugula | frisée | stilton cheese | house candied pecans | compressed pears | balsamic vinaigrette
BEET CURED TROUT SALAD
chevré (fairwinds farm) | arugula | frisée | sourdough crostini | beet chip | nettle pistou | lemon vinaigrette
EARLY SPRING TUNA SALAD
coriander crusted albacore tuna | frisée | arugula | chick peas | radish | cucumber | lime vinaigrette | fairwinds goat cheese | nettle purée | soft boiled eggs
BRAVA BURGER
angus beef | brioche bun | mostarda | aioli | white cheddar | butter lettuce | tomato | pomme frites
HOT PRESSED BRAISED BEEF SANDWICH
house spicy pickles | garlic aioli | barbecue sauce
BUTTERMILK CRISPY CHICKEN SANDWICH
kale slaw | jalapeno honey aioli | brioche bun
DUCK TORTILLAS
yellow corn tortillas | shredded duck | cucumber slaw | asian vinaigrette | crispy wontons
STEAK SANDWICH
heritage angus flat iron steak | roasted garlic | garlic aioli | white cheddar | ciabatta
ROASTED TURKEY CLUB
house made sourdough | mostarda | lettuce | tomato | red onion | avocado | brava bacon | aged cheddar
Drink
BUBBLY,FRENCH GERMAN AUSTRIAN WHITE,MEDITERRANEAN WHITE,NEW WORLD WHITE,Chardonnay,Unique Grapes & Blended Whites from the New World,NEW WORLD RED,Pinot Noir,Syrah & Shiraz,Cabernet Sauvignon,Unique Varietals & Blended Reds,FRENCH RED,SPANISH RED,ITALIAN RED,CELLAR SELECTIONS
White,Red
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With lush greenery on the walls and brightly coloured patio furniture decorating its 30-seat patio, this 17 Avenue hot-spot’s outdoor space screams fun and vibrancy, which makes sense when you consider that Blanco Cantina specializes in Tex-Mex tacos and inventive margaritas. Few things complement patio weather better than margaritas and tacos, and here you can experience them all in perfect harmony while taking a break from shopping the area’s boutiques.
View this Smart ListSister Mexican restaurant to Añejo, Blanco Cantina exudes Mexican rec-room chic with a garage door wall that opens to the sun in summer, turning the whole place into an indoor patio. For snacking or starters, begin with spicy wings, house-made guacamole and quesadillas. The tacos are tops, but the burritos are big: the beef brisket-filled El Demonio weighs a pound. Pair with any of 50 tequilas, Latin cocktails and beach-party-apropos beer cocktails.
View this Smart ListLocated in the old Brava Bistro spot on 17th Avenue Southwest, Blanco Cantina rides the warm and wonderful wave of contemporary Mexican cuisine that’s engulfing this town. A delightful Mexi mix up, its Deep Fried Guacamole Burger features a guac-stuffed(!) patty breaded with spicy corn chips. Condiments include barbecue sauce, ketchup, crisped onions and salsa fresca.
View this Smart List