Calgary is, indisputably, a city of brunch eaters. We collectively love our brunch and are seemingly more than willing to (these days, virtually) line up for plates of eggs or fluffy French toast and an excuse to day drink on the weekend. Part of the magic of brunch-hour menu items is their ability to take on a variety of flavours and cultural influences – your typical eggs benny can be transformed into something new and exciting by swapping out the bread, the protein or the sauce, all without becoming intimidating or wildly unfamiliar.
It’s with this in mind that several smart chefs are bringing global flavours to traditional Western brunch items, with Asian, Indian, Latin American and Indigenous-influenced brunch options popping up around the city. The newest restaurant to take on the brunch game is Ahinke, a Nigerian spot located in Forest Lawn. Chef Kunbi Olalre launched the restaurant as Ahinke’s Kitchen in late 2019 shortly before the pandemic started to bring traditional cuisine to Calgary’s growing Nigerian community.
The timing of the opening forced Olalre to constantly tweak her concept, fighting for her restaurant’s survival by offering catering, a summer youth camp, a soup subscription, and even an online cooking show. Through all of it, Olalre was thinking about how to further stand out, finally landing on the idea of a Nigerian-themed brunch, something she’s never seen at another restaurant either in Canada or Nigeria. “Nigerians don’t eat a spec.
