INTERVIEW: The Chef behind one of Calgary’s best menus

Yellow Door Bistro has been a staple in Calgary’s Beltline since its opening in 2013. Over the past 6 years, they have collected numerous awards and accolades, and for good reason. We spoke with resident Chef de Cuisine, Chef Scott Redekopp, for an exclusive look into the creative minds that make Yellow Door what it is.

The Inspiration

Chef Scott’s inspiration at Yellow Door Bistro? The Chef’s Choice menu which changes daily. For $40 a person, diners are taken on a culinary journey that breaks down all boundaries while opening them up to a truly unique foodie-experience.

The Execution

The Chef’s Choice features three and five-course dinner creations that are drawn from different inspirations, techniques, ingredients at peak seasonality, or something as simple as a dish that his wife likes. A big part of it is pulling inspiration from all things normal, and adding a creative twist to it.

Chef Scott emphasized how the Chef’s Choice is really a team effort. It’s an opportunity for each member of the kitchen staff to express their own unique creativity. Every day is a new adventure, where the team gets to learn, adapt and understand.

It’s all about seeing something in the learning and seizing the moment to explore a new culinary offering. From the time a young Saucier had a dream about Carrot Cavatelli, to the days that Chef Scott wanted to level-up his wife’s favourite dish.

The Experience

The multi-course menu provides an opportunity to try things out and break down boundaries. The team is constantly playing to their strengths while continuing to expand their techniques. Chef Scott points out that simplicity is key, yet often the hardest thing to master.

It’s difficult not to overcomplicate techniques, but once he finds that sweet balance, the result is…well, delicious!

The Chef’s Choice menu is a great way for the team to put together an initial idea, and if it goes over well, they often incorporate it into the menu. Like Yellow Door Bistro’s popular Moroccan Salad.

The inspiration behind this dish came from Chef Scott’s wife’s love of canned tuna… Obviously, Chef Scott had to class it up a bit. He and the team cures and then oil poaches Albacore tuna themselves, then shreds it over a kale salad with tahini and tops it with fried chickpeas.

The flexibility of Chef’s Choice gives Chef Scott a culinary playground. It allows him to use only the freshest ingredients, always keeping the menu seasonal. When you order the Daily Chef’s Choice- you’re embarking on an adventure of the season’s finest cuisine.

Diners might find themselves hesitant to try the ever-changing Chef’s Choice, but Chef Scott encourages even the pickiest of eaters with this sample adage “You only live once. You might as well enjoy it, and put a knob of butter in it.” Hey- we can get behind that (well, TBH we can get behind anything that has butter in it).

Chef Scott is also always willing to make adjustments to his dishes to accommodate dietary restrictions and special requirements. For one particular week, they prepared a special vegan Chef’s Choice that was very popular. At the end of the day, the team wants each and every customer to enjoy their experience, and to open up their palates.

Sometimes it’s really about taking people by the hand, showing them what’s happening behind the scenes of a dish, and introducing them to wondrous new flavours and offerings.

To Chef Scott, cooking for customers is a very personal thing. The Yellow Door Bistro menu is an expression of who they are as a kitchen. Giving an intimate glimpse into their minds, their creativity, and ultimately their passion. Anyone willing to open themselves up to a new experience will really find themselves surprised and pleased.

So Calgary, get out there and break down your culinary boundaries. Yellow Door is waiting!

Yellow Door Bistro

Where: Hotel Arts, 119 12 Ave SW