Really, Really Long Table

Put on by City Palate magazine in celebration of their 20^th anniversary, the Really, Really Long Table is a spectacular display of food and wine in Calgary’s downtown.
As the name suggests, the dinner revolves around a really, really long table; specifically a table that stretches from Center to 1^st street SW along Stephen Avenue. Because of the proximity of the table itself, seven local restaurants on the block were each in charge of a course — so the 240 guests seated at the long table got a sampling from Catch, Trib Steakhouse, Charcut, the Belvedere, Blink, Divino and Teatro respectively.
Each course was a testament to the style and excellence of that individual restaurant, from fresh oysters from Catch to classic deserts from Teatro, with wine to match, we got an amazing sampling of a wide variety of dishes that prove Calgary is a foodie haven.
Besides the food, the atmosphere was excellent. All the guests were jovial and social and the weather cooperated perfectly with a warm, golden sunset evening complete with light glinting off our prosecco glasses. It was also a delight to watch the 50-​odd servers, all clad in black, parade in and out of each partner restaurant armed with large platters for the table. As each course came and the wine kept flowing, happy new friends chatted and laughed while a four piece band walked up and down the block playing jazz; at some point between course five and six, someone started the wave causing 240 people to cheer as if in a stadium. I hope City Palate considers making this a regular fundraising event because I would attend every time, rain or shine.
If anything, the Really, Really Long Table event proves Calgary is on the cusp of something wonderful in its culture. We are ready for interesting and surprising events that celebrate who we are and what we love. I, for one, am excited to see Calgary relax and think outside the mahogany-​clad office. Inevitably, the conversation in our section of the table turned to exactly that, and one nurse and wife of an oil engineer said, «Five years ago, this kind of event would never have happened in Calgary, people would have turned up their noses and thought it impossible.» I agreed with her, and as I finished my wine, thought about what a relief it is that Calgary is not like that any more.
T.