Who’s Behind It
Chef/owner Mikko Tamarra, Syndicate Hospitality Group
The Dish to Eat
The grilled Alberta rib-eye served with a warm and earthy enchilada sauce, paired with duck-fat mashed potatoes
Fortuna’s Row has energized the Calgary dining scene since it opened in 2022 with modern Latin American fusion fare, but it has really hit its stride in the past year. Chef Mikko Tamarra prides himself on an ever-evolving menu, influenced by his experience in the world’s most-renowned Latin American restaurants, like Pujol in Mexico City and Astrid y Gastón in Lima, Peru. The dishes Tamarra crafts take you on a tour of unique flavours and ingredients found in places like Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Peru, for a menu that doesn’t stop serving up surprises.
The menu may seem intimidating at first, with dishes far beyond the average taco night, but you can trust the knowledgeable servers to guide your choices. There is a can-do attitude that prevails in the kitchen, no matter your dietary preferences or allergy profile. A feast awaits diners, ranging from dishes most will recognize like beef empanadas and scallop ceviche, to more unique dishes, like chancho, a contemporary take on a Latin American dish celebrating pork, or parihuela, a take on a classic Peruvian soup with poached halibut, lobster, fried calamari and potatoes. For adventurous diners, or those overwhelmed by choice, just say “feed me” and let the kitchen take you on a culinary tour of its choosing.
Bread and dessert lovers are also in for a treat with pastry chef Teisha Huff’s creations. Bread choices are always rotating, but have included delights such as a flatbread layered with garlic oil and panela (a Mexican fresh cheese) or marraqueta Chilean buns, served with jalapeño butter and haskap blueberry compote. To quell your sweet tooth, Huff continues to draw inspiration from Latin ingredients to create unique desserts like the tres leches cake with pandan, piloncillo (raw cane sugar) and coconut.
Anton Kovalenko leads the bar team, giving a fresh Latin American spin on popular cocktails, such as the chabacano, a Peruvian take on a Moscow mule. And, if you’re into brunch, Fortuna’s Row should not be missed with its selection of old favourites and new creations. Try the bandeja paisa, a traditional Colombian dish, or Huff’s famed ugly cornbread.
421 Riverfront Ave. S.E., 403-243-0069, fortunasrow.com, @fortunas.row