Who’s behind it
Alessandro Chinea, Jaden Kanomata and Kayla Blomquist
When it opened
April 2024
The dish to eat
Prawn toast, creamy prawn salad served between thick slices of buttery toast.
This is not your average fish ‘n’ chip shop — in fact, it’s not a fish ‘n’ chip shop at all (anymore). When D.O.P. alumni Alessandro Chinea, Jaden Kanomata and Kayla Blomquist set out to open a place of their own, they envisioned a welcoming, unpretentious neighbourhood spot where people could come to eat great food and drink nice wine. With the help of a friend, the trio completely overhauled the interior of the former Halibut Hut on Edmonton Trail N.E. (keeping the original sign as a cheeky nod to the building’s past), and transformed it into an intimate 20-seat micro dining spot. It didn’t take long for Bar Gigi to become the talk of town. It has since garnered even more attention after earning a coveted spot on enRoute’s 2024 longlist of 30 Best New Restaurants.
The secret to its success has been the eatery’s tiny size, so the trio are in control of everything. Chefs Chinea and Kanomata head up the kitchen, while Blomquist expertly runs the front-of-house and curates wines that pair perfectly with the food. If you’re lucky enough to score a reservation, expect to find a concise menu of approachable share plates that pack a flavourful punch. Standouts include the crave-worthy buttery prawn toast, cacio e pepe raviolini sheet, and charred cabbage skewers bathed in a sesame vinaigrette and a dab of Japanese hot mustard for added kick. That said, part of the charm of dining at Bar Gigi is in the delicious weekly specials that come from this small team of creative culinary minds.
336 9 Ave. N.E., 403-612-4487, @_bargigiyyc