Following a series of fond farewells on social media after closing the doors to its longstanding 17th Avenue location last fall, Calgary’s Market restaurant hinted that they wouldn’t be gone for long–and they weren’t kidding.
From providing handcrafted artisan chocolates through their online shop to exclusive charitable-minded collaborations with pastry chef Arin Hiebert and Una Pizza and Wine, Market’s presence has continued to persevere throughout the pandemic. The latest creative pivot from the culinary institution comes in the form of Market Vagabond, a hybrid food truck and roaming restaurant concept (think small-scale caterer) that will offer Calgarians the opportunity to enjoy an authentic Market restaurant experience in the comfort of their own backyards.
“We did a lot of reflecting and realized that what really made Market special was our guests and the ability to connect with them and provide genuine hospitality [and] service. During our hiatus we would get messages from people asking about our return and encouraging us to reopen,” Market owner Vanessa Salopek explains. “Our guests really made Market special and so we decided our next ‘home’ would be wherever our guests were and find a way to bring the restaurant experience to them safely without compromising the service, food and hospitality we provided.”
Roaming restaurant reservations will be available beginning June 1 starting at $60 per person with a minimum spend of $300 for dinner and $150 for lunch. Each reservation comes complete with all the amenities needed to transform an outdoor space into a full-service eatery, including tables, chairs, plates, cutlery, and glassware.
Between reservations, Market Vagabond will also be popping up in various neighbourhoods throughout the city. The food truck’s inaugural pop-up is set to take place on June 1 at Eau Claire Park from 12 to 4 p.m., offering a selection of a la carte signature dishes such as gnocchi, Brussels sprouts, fried chicken, wagyu burgers, and more.
Both the food truck calendar and information on how to book roaming restaurant reservations can be found online.
