CALGARY — The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) recently met with Calgary mayoral candidates to talk about the city’s restaurant industry.

CRFA chairman Gerard Curran, president and CEO Garth Whyte and vice-president of Western Canada, Mark von Schellwitz, met with candidates Ric McIver, Joe Connelly and Craig Burrows to discuss the role of Calgary’s restaurant industry in the city’s community and economy.

“The restaurant industry is a key part of Calgary’s economic growth and job creation,” said Whyte in a press release. “This is the message we are sharing with Calgary’s mayoral candidates, and in turn, we’re inviting them to tell us what they envision for our industry.”

CALGARY — In celebration of 25 years of serving seafood, from Cranbrook to Cornwall, Joey’s Restaurants is giving eligible Canadian residents a chance to submit a community project or idea for a $25,000 cash prize.

The first step is to find a project that could help revive a community, group, facility or charity and have a lasting benefit on others. Next, the nominee must give their permission for a nomination, a short YouTube-type video should be prepared and a short story, about why the project in question should win, must be submitted with some photos.

CALGARY — Just as we prepare to usher in a new season, Calgary’s Vin Room is preparing to introduce Claire Cameron as its new executive chef who will bring a globally inspired menu to fruition in mid-September.

The toque will use her love for quality local ingredients to create small plates inspired by countries like Spain, Korea, India and France and made to complement the Vin Room’s award-winning wine list.

"Our team is excited to bring tapas, spiced with global flavours, back to the plates of Calgarians," Phoebe Fung, the restaurant owner, says. "It's a natural next step to complement Vin Room's international wine list."

MONCTON, N.B. — The first Bâton Rouge Restaurant and Bar in Western Canada has opened in the new development of Quarry Park, located in the southeast region of Calgary.

“As a Canadian restaurant brand, Bâton Rouge is thrilled about its first restaurant opening in Western Canada,” Kevin Friesen, chief operating officer, Bâton Rouge restaurants, said of the  Moncton, N.B.-based Imvescor Restaurant Group franchise. He added in a press release, “Bâton Rouge restaurants is currently offering interesting investment prospects as well as stimulating franchising opportunities. People can soon expect to see the Bâton Rouge name stretch from coast to coast.”