Grant Van Gameren teams up with Top Chef Canada’s Connie DeSousa for Calgary pop-up

Grant Van Gameren, former chef and owner of The Black Hoof and currently the chef at Enoteca Sociale, has teamed up with Connie DeSousa, the second runner-up from season one of Top Chef Canada and co-executive chef and owner of Charcut, for what is apparently Calgary’s first pop-up restaurant, Charpop. The full-service restaurant will operate at a secret Cowtown location for three days only, from January 15 to 17, serving “an à-la-carte menu that promises to surprise and satiate with creative, memorable items,” according to John Jackson, Charcut’s other co-chef and owner. Menu items will include lardo-topped rabbit pie, bison heart steak and cinnamon buns baked in cast iron with spiced rum and raisin gelato. Aviv Fried, a Calgary baker who delivers his artisanal loaves by bicycle, is also involved. Reservations for the 60 bookings went on sale today, and a return flight to Calgary can be had for a mere $518 at the moment.