The food culture in Canada is best defined by its diversity, blending a variety of culinary traditions and practices with fresh ingredients straight from our country’s vast terroirs. Nowhere is this philosophy more apparent than in Shokunin, a traditional Japanese restaurant in Mission, where lead Chef Darren Maclean applies his expertise in the tenets and flavours of Japanese dining to the highest quality ingredients available to Calgary.
Locals of Calgary will agree that our streets are lined with notable businesses offering the favourites of Japanese cuisine, so the question becomes what about Shokunin – one of the several dozen Japanese restaurants in the city – stands out among the rest. First off, it is hard to imagine a better place to experience Japanese cuisine at its most authentic. The dining room at Shokunin is incredibly limited, causing not only a demand for reservations but an intimate environment in which the sense of community is truly felt between diners and staff. A semi-open kitchen and bar extends your view behind the scenes where fresh cuts of sushi are seared, ramen broth simmers, and chefs move with intention as they push out dishes at a remarkably consistent pace while retaining quality.
Then, there is the fact that Shokunin has been ranked as one of Canada’s top 50 restaurants for the last 7 years. Only good things can come when you combine a great dedication to the elevated culinary traditions of Japan and locally sourced ingredients from Canada’s backyard. Paying homage to the key tenets of Japanese dining, the menu at Shokunin balances innovation with a deep respect for tradition. Take the wide selection of chicken skewers for example; each cut is grilled using traditional methods on a Japanese-style Robata Grill. From the popular chicken breast to more adventurous cuts like the heart, neck, and thyroid, the chickens are butchered daily and served only while quantities last for that night – so it is advised that you act fast if sampling this traditional “yakitori” method is on your list.
It is always a good sign when the menu fits on a single page. At Shokunin, the quantity of dishes is on the sparser side, but what the menu lacks in numbers it makes up for tenfold in quality of ingredients and diversity of flavours. Nearly every dish on the menu stands out as its own highlight, adding to the rich and nuanced mosaic of Japanese cuisine. And, unlike so many other sushi establishments in Calgary, you will not find a bottle of soy sauce accompanying your sushi, nor will you find a dollop of imitation wasabi. The sushi at Shokunin – the selection of which is always rotating depending on availability – is perfectly seasoned and garnished with everything you’ll need in a single bite. In short, Chef Darren Maclean puts a lot of faith in the quality of the fish, allowing its natural flavours to sing uninhibited by condiments on the side. It goes to testify that the menu is designed without a superfluous ingredient in sight, with each item on your plate having been placed there completely by design.
The limited seats at Shokunin fill up fast, so if paying a visit here is on your list it is recommended that you act well in advance. On their website, you have the option of booking a regular reservation, but those looking for an extra bit of adventure should consider the 15 course Yakitori Omakase experience, where diners are seated directly in front of the grill and treated to a full view as chefs curate delicious skewers of chicken and veggies. This special experience also guarantees that guests will be able to try every bit of the chicken – including all the rare cuts that don’t last in the kitchen for long.
It is clear after a night dining at Shokunin that a great amount of care and attention to detail is applied to every aspect of the restaurant – whether it’s curating the ambience, a menu that successfully pays homage to the traditions of Japanese cuisine, or providing guests with an elevated experience they are sure to remember. It is a great fortune to us Calgarians that an establishment like Shokunin exists within our neighbourhoods.
