Elite Event: The deVille Is In The Details

Great party thanks Wendy!

First of all, the event was well done by our Unilocal Team Brittany and Wendy! The loot was great and so was that card game. The deVille is in the details of what was presented and how well it was received. First of all being my first Unilocal Event, I was totally amazed at the sheer number of people who arrived on time or a little after.
My Plus One was a friend who loves all things classy and new. She had a great time and was still talking about it days later, so that was a very good sign. I enjoyed meeting new friends with impeccable taste and a few friends I was surprised to see outside of our neighborhood! Isn’t it fun to realize you have a life outside ‘the hood’?
Our servers deserved huge kudos for balancing and dodging and still coming up smiling. It’s not a large place, so serving and making sure everyone was given an opportunity to sample and keeping up with the glass retrieval .
The Deville is is wonderful in terms of it’s lighting and location. Bridgeland is in transition from the old country businesses with few shops (a lot being Italian and European) to some bright new places such as Deville. Appearance and coziness are created by the colour and the long bar facing out on to the street was a good choice for people watching.
On to the food and drink. It was, like the deVille, a very quirky take on «of the City’ simple sophisticated and unique.
First the two open faced spreads on the bread, they were both tasty, but I missed the spike that would take them form good to great. I was impressed with the techniques, but I love appetizers and hors d’oeuvres so I look for just that bit more when I’m out. While I was searching for the truffle oil in hummus, I realized it went very well with the Chenin Blanc and would definitely be a good companion with the Temparillo too. I had a second serving thanks to our very cool server and I did taste the truffle. Tastier was the lovely tomato with sugared balsamic reduction nearer-​to-​traditional antipasto but the bread was a bit soggy making my lovely treat messier than I’d anticipated. But those feathery aged Parmesan curls were very pretty and enough to have me order it again.
I’m a huge Chenin Blanc Fan of several decades, so I was very pleased to see the ‘den’ Chenin Blanc, which I just read here is Painted Wolf’s Den. I like red wine but it doesn’t like me so I tried only one red, the Rioja Bordon Temparillo at my girlfriend’s suggestion. It was smooth with a lovely light dryness but not arid or acrid in the least!
And really was that a duck leg or duck wing? It looked like a leg but it was not nearly as dark as the leg meat should be and it was not nearly as ‘ducky’. A hint of sweet maple syrup complimented the rich, but light meatiness of what I truly believe was a very big duck wing.
Crab cakes are always welcome and the small, evenly cooked, crunchy on the outside, crab-​licious on the inside would have been even better with tiny lemon dip or drizzle.
And my favourite … oh the exquisite totally Vegan stacked Polenta. The Polenta was homemade, soaked in vegetable stock, baked, the lightly fried to bring out the texture. The mushroom cap fit perfectly. If I could suggest one thing it would be to make the polenta just a bit thinner.
I like that there are non-​dairy, gluten free alternatives at DeVille.
I snagged a menu and bought a drink at the end of our night. I wanted to see what they had for ‘real’ in their cellar, and how big the regular portions are.
Seriously, we are treated to a taste of everything but if I’m going back, which I will be, I want to know how much a couple of glasses of wine will cost me. And … I got to try the pride of the whites and something I would NEVER expect from Argentina, a light, fruity-​floral varietal Called Terrazas a Torontes form Salta, Argentina. Yummedy Yum! I am going to find a bottle of that wine and share it with my Moscato swilling GFs.
My companion and I eyed the menu as we sipped our wine. She was impressed by the «Morning Cocktails». I was impressed by more duck! MORE Duck on the menu! Oooo I want to try the Duck Pastrami! A Different Latte would pick me up after a long day and if it really is true, I could go for a Life Changing Tuna sandwich! I betcha my Pesky-​tarian daughter will like this place even more than I do!
I am impressed and the DeVIlle is not Cruela, she is Bella!

It’s been a few months since I reviewed anything (or has it been a few months since I’ve been anyplace new and cool enough to review!?). Whatever the case, that trend stops here * cracks knuckles * here we go:
As Unilocal touts, it’s «neat to be elite», and at no other event has this been more evident than this past one at deVille. You may be saying, «How can you say that! All the events are great!» Hold your horses, dear reader, and allow me to explain.
The deVille is in the Details event was the first I have been to in some time that was so well attended by such a diverse group of people. I got to catch up with all my very excellent current Elite friends plus meet more than a handful of new ones. I usually meet new people at these events, but this time there were more new faces than old and that created a dynamic energy new to YYC Elite events.
Nearly everyone was sporting an interesting detail, mostly everyone entered the draw to win jewelery and absolutely everyone participated in the card matching game, making for an event full of happiness and participation.
With the help of deVille’s delicious snacks, great wine selection and inviting, bright space; this event was testament to how far the Unilocal community has come in the last couple years, and a great preview into all the wonderful places it could go.
T.

It is quite neat to be Elite!
I was fortunate enough to have been able to attend the Elite party on Tuesday and it was a great experience. Bringing my favorite arm candy (my boyfriend) and great friends in tow, we were anxious to see what Unilocal had in store for us. First off, having it take place in Bridgeland was awesome. I love that area and it’s perfect location for Deville. This venue was considerably bigger than the other locations, which was not only great for the party, but is going to be accommodating for this up and coming neighborhood.
Upon arriving at the party there was a little bit of a line to get in, however we were greeted with the wonderful smell of the food! It smelt nothing short of delicious and now my friends and I couldn’t wait to get inside. We were delighted with drink tickets right at the door, given by none other than Wendy and immediately got to partake in the card game! It was a nice touch to get fellow Unilocalers to mingle!
I loved that most of our fellow Unilocalers were up for socializing and meeting new people. It’s always fun to connect with people that you’ve discovered online and find out that you have a lot more in common than you think!
The food was on point and i’m sure fellow Unilocalers can agree and it actually came out at a really good pace. The polenta slider (delicious), duck wings and crab cakes were my absolute favorite! The wine was delicious too… mind you, i’m a bit of a lush! Haha.
Overall, great experience and cant wait till the next one!

Why have I taken so long to come to an Elite Event? Because seriously, they are a blast!
When I saw on my GPS (because I’m bad with directions) that this joint was in Bridgeland I was stoked, I love the area — it’s so hip yet has a nostalgic feel to it. The deVille itself is a lovely restaurant, very modern and a great first date type of place. The staff was super friendly, everyone had on a genuine smile which I found refreshing because honestly catering sucks. I also loved that they really wanted people to try their food and didn’t judge you if you had like 5 of each h’orderves. Which I definitely did.
My favourtie things I consumed that night were the glasses of Painted Wolf — Den Chenic Blanc (because of this I have a new found love for white wine), the hummus covered bruschettas, the glazed duck wings (it literally melted off the bone) and the crab cakes because you can’t go wrong with crab cakes! Also loved the free cookies after it all, what a great way to top it off.
It was amazing meeting so many beauitful, cool people who appreciate food and socializing as much as I do. Shout out to Wendy for the great party, excellent job! And thanks again deVille.

It was my first elite Unilocal party and what a gathering it was! I was amazed at how many people attended the event. It’s always nice to see Calgarians out and about town checking out the new restaurants and hang outs, which Deville is definitely going to be.
An amazing update of the space that was once Heartland Café. Gone is the old café style, instead the interior has been updated to become homey and relaxed all at once. The food they served was delicious! I really enjoyed the truffled hummus, I don’t think I want to eat hummus any other way. Everything was very inventive with twists on your conventional café fare and raising up to restaurant level quality. I can’t wait to come back and try some of the other items they also featured including the maple glazed duck wing, crab cakes with sambal, veggie slider, etc.
Another great Unilocal event and thanks to Wendy for organizing and inviting me!

I feel like such a crank saying this, but while I loved seeing everyone again, and the food and drink was terrific quality… it felt like DeVille was being a bit stingy with the amounts of it. I know we’re not supposed to leave full, but I’m pretty sure only two plates of the duck legs ever made it out to a room of approximately 75 people, and I’ve never before heard people leaving an Elite event before saying they were really hungry still. Yes, it was sampling vs meals, but if the event is over the dinner hour, so you should expect attendees to be hungry — and not yell at people for raiding the cookies mid-​party (which I saw happen to another Unilocaler).
That said, it’s a gorgeous location, and it was a terrific event. Fascinators off to Wendy for organizing such a smooth event & for the little quirks to the evening — discovering which card and what detail everyone else was wearing made for great conversation starters!
I just doubt I’ll go back to deVille again.

This was fun. It’s been awhile since I attended and event. I thought the location was great. I got there early before it became too packed so I was able to grab a seat. I also got a really great story about one of the white wines from the wine guys which was great AND helpful because I actually still remember the name of the wine.
I do agree that the food seemed a bit scare… maybe it was hard to get it around to the whole room. What I did eat was tasty though. Like really tasty. I heart crab cakes. And duck.
It would have been great to have a spot for coats too but we survived without one so I guess that would have been a luxury. Other than that, it was fun and I thought the evening had a great vibe to it. Well done!

Be gentle, this is my first time
…to a Unilocal Elite Party that is!
Last night was a great time. I had a lot of fun circulating the room and becoming acquainted with some new faces. In fact, I enjoyed socializing so much that I didn’t even gorge on the food that was being graciously moved around the room from our most accommodating servers. I did, however, get to taste the bruschetta, polenta slider, crab cake and the duck leg. Thumbs up all around! The star of the show was the Tempranillo. I can’t say I’ve tried the grape before but it was to my liking.
I’ve got to give another shout out to Wendy for how awesome of a job she did as our host for the evening. I can tell a lot of work went into the planning and execution of the party and it was a monumental success in my books. Thank you deVille for you’re exceptional service and delicious food.
I have posted a few photos of the event for your enjoyment. It was great meeting some of you and if we didn’t meet this time hopefully I’ll get a chance next time.

This was a great gathering… Like Sarah Louise said, it’s amazing how the Calgary Unilocal community is growing so quickly. I saw a lot of new faces, which is fantastic.
I love the abundance of light and simple décor of the newest DeVille location.
Its nice to have another late night hang out that isnt a bar, or movie theatre.
If the service and food we had is the standard going forward, DeVille will be packed at all hours of the day.
I thought it was a nice touch that the chef himself was helping serve the food. He gave us a rundown on how the duck legs were prepared, and you can tell he put a lot of love into it and all the other beautiful eats we were served.
Thanks Wendy for another job well done!

This was my first time at deVille and it won’t be my last. DeVille reminds me of Scuie in Vancouver. It’s a nice but casual space that has the quality food/​wines of a restaurant. Good option if you want to enjoy some wine and good food without the formality of a sit down restaurant.
I really enjoyed the wines, can anyone remember the name of the heavier red wine? The one that wasn’t the pinot? Of the white wines, my favourite was the Painted Wolf — Den Chenic Blanc. Of the appetizers, I loved the crab cakes and the duck wings. Also good to know, the Bridgeland location offers an ever changing list of wines by the glass for $ 6.00.
As for the party, deVille and Wendy know how to do it up. There was so much food, lots of wine and cool Unilocal swag. Add in the fact it was a free event, I am one appreciative guest. Thanks for a great night.

What a party! There was wine, food, fancy hats and in such a beautiful location.
This Deville location is gorgeous and has convinced me I need to trek over to Bridgeland more often, as I am missing out. Especially with its diverse menu of lunch/​appetizer offerings.
I stuck to the white wine offerings as I refuse to drink red for it gives me wine teeth (aka. zombie mouth), I really enjoyed the10,000 mile New Zealand Cabernet Sauvigon Blanc. I could envision myself coming down to this Deville location, with a book, a nice glass of wine and a smile. They also offer St. Ambroise beer on tap. Bonus!
Can I take a minute to speak about the food, that white truffle hummus is TO DIE FOR. I only got one duck wing the whole evening, I don’t know who was hoarding those, but sharing is caring people. The duck wings were awesome, the maple glaze had me licking my fingers and the bone. The vegetarian offering: polenta, mushroom and other delectable veggies, and the crab cakes and bruschetta.
Beautiful space, great location, AWESOME staff and a great party by Wendy and the new Unilocal Intern, Brittany.
I also made new Unilocal friends! Props to Jenny C, Christine L and Chris!

So I kind of sorta maybe… crashed this party.
I didn’t mean to! I thought I hit «RSVP/​SUBMIT/​CONFIRM» I was there like a bear, but instead I wasn’t like a… croissant?
Well after some slight confusion Wendy did let me in through the floor to mingle and jingle with fellow Elites. I didn’t quite understand the rules of the party so given that I was going to train after I just brought my belt as party detail. But it was a fun idea, more of these please!
I’ll be sure to check out deVille again at a later date. Their food was great and my particular favorite were the sliders. The tricky part about eating at these Elite events is that it’s non-​stop talking, so I apologize to everyone that found out what I was eating the inappropriate way.

Looking for this place, I was momentarily flummoxed when Maps lead me to a house, but all I had to do was see a fellow Unilocaler across the street and find Wendy and Brittany’s 99 Red Balloons :).
I’m so glad to be a part of a community of friendly welcoming people that keeps growing, getting more acquainted and familiar and the general hug o’ war these events get to become. Because I’d rather play at hug o’ war! And thanks to the card-​deck matchup game and «party details» bit, I got to meet a lot of rad new faces.
DeVille did an amazing job hosting, and Unilocalers were extremely helpful in letting me know which appetizers were Tea-​friendly (hi-​fve, guys!), and I even found a white wine I didn’t totally hate (does this mean I’m a grown-​up?)! The staff were extremely helpful, genuinely nice and adept at manoeuvring trays of food amidst a crowded sea of gaping maws.
Hi-​five, Wendytron and Brittanybot!

That was a blast, great meeting some of you (as well as a few random run-​ins!)

I hadn’t been to a Unilocal related event in awhile, and The deVille Is In The Details did not disappoint!
Loved the selection of wines (my favourite was the 12,000 mile Pinot noir). Also, after I mentioned being vegan one of the lovely staff (Kat?!) totally took it upon herself to take care of my friend and I. I was thrilled everytime she would hunt us down with offerings of hummus, and bruschetta specifically with the cheese left off! She even brought us our own little plate of veganized portobello polenta sliders. I hadn’t had polenta in awhile and it was fantastic. I have never been this spoiled at a Unilocal Elite event and really appreciated the efforts of deVille’d staff even with such a busy room of people!!!
I enjoyed seeing everyone’s «details» and meeting so many new folks! Everytime I go to one of these events I notice how rapidly Calgary’s Unilocal community is growing and it’s fantastic. Well done on a fantastic event, as always, Wendy. Cheers!

Maple glazed duck legs? That is off the hook.
I have only previously been to the Art Central deVille and thought it was just a coffee joint. But it was a pleasant surprise to see (and eat) such awesome food, with wine to go along with it too.
Now I know where to go for coffee when I am in Bridgeland. Beats giving money to the multinational corporation (ahem, Starbucks).

So much fun to try some of the amazing little samples. I loved the duck legs with maple and whisky sauce, as well as the white truffle oil hummus.
Great time mingling with fellow Unilocalers and having delicious wine.
Much thanks to the super friendly staff and bartenders who were super efficient and courteous even when they were packed busy!