Canada 2013: Birthday Meal at Thomsons, Calgary

As if we hadn't had more than our fair share of Calgarian hospitality, already, the lovely people at Tourism Calgary offered us restaurant suggestions on Twitter before we arrived. To my delight they tweeted us a gift card to try out a restaurant that sources local ingredients. I'm all for shopping local of course so happily agreed. That's my birthday meal sorted at Thomsons.

What we'd been offered was an eye-popping meal made with local ingredients, backed with amazing service from the person who made the booking, our server and one of the managers who spotted it was my birthday and bought over a couple of glasses of bubbles. I was looking at the Canadian wines on the menu but the lightweight that I am, I can only really take one glass so the wine will wait for next time! We ate our perfect 3-course meal with a beautiful amuse bouche for good measure in modern surroundings but with beautiful old school charm. We had huge wrought iron chandeliers above us and I had to get a photo taken (not shown) with the large canvasses depicting Calgary's traditional ranching lifestyle and cowboy heritage by local artist Joanne Meeker.I've since found out the building used to be a book store. I so want to go back.Overall, 5* for food, service and ambience. One of the meals of the year (and we've had some great ones in different countries!)More info on Tourism Calgary here or follow @CalgaryMore info on Thomsons Restaurant here or follow @ThomsonsCalgaryFollow me on Twitter for more travel exploits @RickieWrites