readers` choice 2011-12

readers’ choice 2011-12
Breaking news at calgaryherald.com
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 RA25
Esthetica Salon & Spa
Taj Mahal
Customer experience comes first
Indian cuisine with deep roots in Calgary
T
here are few things that can beat the
feeling of looking in the mirror after having your hair freshly cut and
styled, and seeing exactly the look you hoped
for. It’s that feeling that has kept Calgarians
coming back to Esthetica Salon and Spa for
more than 30 years.
From the pre-styling head massages and
the no-tipping policy to the huge menu of options, every facet of Esthetica has been crafted
with the customer experience in mind.
Owner Shirley Sherbut says as a business built
on service, being named a winner in the Hair
Salon category of the Calgary Herald Readers’
Choice Awards is particularly rewarding.
“We’re grateful to have the support from the
community that we do. Without that support
in the community you don’t have anything, so
this means everything to us,” she says.
One thing that sets Esthetica apart from the
competition is the long-term commitment of
its employees, many of whom have been with
the salon for over a decade.
Owner Jack Howey says this longevity
provides an opportunity for both keeping
customers and bringing in new clients.
“It was a pleasant surprise for us to be presented with a Readers’ Choice award. We are
grateful for the continued support of our loyal
clientele, and look forward to pampering
them in the coming season,” Howey says.
Along with providing a solid foundation of
experience, the salon and spa also takes pains to
stay on the cutting edge of contemporary style.
“We do a lot to educate our staff and to
keep them up to date with looks and with
what’s going on with esthetics, and what’s going on with hair,” Howey says.
Esthetica’s two locations include Glenmore
Landing as well as he newly relocated stateof-the-art facility on the corner of Southland
Drive and Acadia Drive.
“We’re just starting. Maybe 35 years in
business is a long time, but as far as I’m concerned, we’re just starting, it’s just beginning,” Sherbut says.
For more information, visit
www.estheticasalonandspa.com
I
f you’ve ever driven Macleod Trail
toward downtown, you can’t miss it —
the spectacular façade of the Taj Mahal
Restaurant, a winner in the 2011-12 Readers’
Choice Awards Indian Restaurant category.
But it has taken more than a beautiful
painting of an iconic landmark to make Taj
Mahal an iconic landmark of its own on
Calgary’s food scene.
For nearly 40 years, Taj Mahal has prided
itself on making authentic, made-fromscratch Indian cuisine like no other restaurant in town.
It was the first of its kind in Calgary.
“My dad was actually a motorcycle mechanic,” says manager Sunny Chandna. His
father, Bass Chandna, came to Calgary from
London in the early 1970s.
“A friend of his started a restaurant, and
the next thing he knew, his friend went to
India and never came back ­— so my father
ended up in the restaurant business.”
Sunny’s mom, Amrit, continues to share
her kitchen secrets with the staff (“She
knows when something’s not right,” says
Sunny), as Taj Mahal draws regular customers with its daily buffets and Sunday
brunch, and authentic dishes ranging
from traditional lamb and beef curries
to contemporary twists such as butter
chicken pizza.
And if you want to replicate the Taj Mahal experience at home, the restaurant has
launched its own frozen food line, taken
from its diverse menu.
Chandna says he and his staff are grateful
to Calgary Herald Readers’ Choice voters
who continue to honour their service and
fine food.
“We’re not perfect, but we do try our best,
and we thank Calgarians once again for voting for us and supporting us over the last 39
years,” he says, adding Taj Mahal is looking
forward to celebrating 40 years of service.
Taj Mahal is located at 4816 Macleod Tr.
S.W. Its menu is online at tajmahalcalgary.
com, where you’ll also find information
about catering and gift certificates.
Broken Plate
Rhythms of Dance
Greek dining with a contemporary flair
Expert instruction and fun for all ages
T
he Broken Plate offers smashingly
great Greek dining that combines traditional dishes with a contemporary
atmosphere. This enthusiastically Mediterranean restaurant has become a staple of
both the Calgary dining scene and the annual
Readers’ Choice Awards.
The Broken Plate has been named the
Readers’ Choice Gold award winner in
the Greek Restaurant category nine times
straight — each year since its second year of
operation. It’s an impressive streak, and the
Broken Plate’s Nick Alefantis says it’s an honour each and every year.
“It means that we are doing something
right in the marketplace, that the market does
enjoy our product, they enjoy our Greek hospitality, our fresh food and the ambience of
our restaurants,” he says.
Even in today’s competitive market, the
Broken Plate has remained committed to
cooking with only the freshest ingredients
and hiring top-quality chefs.
The array of entrees and appetizers on offer
make it an ideal location for everything from
a business lunch to a family gathering.
While the menu does focus on simple
dishes using traditional Greek ingredients
such as feta, olives, tomatoes, and eggplant,
there is a diversity that reflects the educated
tastes of today’s diners, Alefantis says.
This commitment to offering a range of
dishes is reflected in the restaurants’ newly
expanded menu, which features a kids’ selection as well as some exciting new choices.
“Diversity is the key; you have to offer
more than just souvlaki at a Greek restaurant.
I think we’ve done a really good job with
that, and Calgary has responded — and we’re
thankful for it,” he says.
The Broken Plate has four locations in
Calgary: Ranchlands, Willow Park Village,
Aspen Landing and the newly renovated
original location in Kensington.
For more information, visit the Broken PLlate website at www.brokenplate.ca.
W
hether you’re in the mood to
learn ballroom dancing, swing,
ballet or a country two-step,
husband-and-wife team and award-winning
professional teachers Cindy and Richard
Tymko are here to help.
The Tymkos own Rhythms of Dance, a
Calgary dance studio that offers a variety of
services, and has been recognized by Readers’ Choice voters as a winner in the Dance
Studio category.
“It’s an honour to have been chosen,” says
Cindy Tymko.
Rhythms of Dance operates out of a
number of Calgary locations. Classes range
from beginner group classes to competitive dance, along with private lessons for
couples, small groups, bridal parties and
even businesses.
“We often teach corporate parties how to
swing, line-dance or country two-step for
Stampede,” she says.
When Cindy, who started dancing before
kindergarten, met Richard in the mid 1990s,
the pair competed on the swing and country
dance circuits.
They started teaching together shortly after they met, and have both since been honoured with prestigious Top Teacher awards
at world championships. The couple also
started a dance team that finished first at the
1999 United Country Western Dance Council world championships, which featured 22
teams from around the world.
Today, the couple’s four-year-old daughter has begun entering dance competitions.
She and other students travel with the Tymkos across North America and compete in
the Pro-Am circuit.
“It’s just like Dancing with the Stars, except
they’re just the average Calgarian. They’re all
different levels, from beginner to advanced
and all different ages from four to 84,” Cindy
says. “Dance is getting to move to great music,
while getting your daily exercise.”
Visit the website at rhythmsofdance.com
CELEBRATING 39 YEARS!
C
READER’S
CHOICE
AWARD WINNER
T hank Y
Thank
You
ou
ou Calgary
Calgary
FOR VOTING FOR ESTHETICA SALON & SPA!
SP
A!
PA!
PA
P
Thank you for Voting Us A Winner
Esthetica Salon and Spa has been serving the City of Calgary and area for over 30 years. Esthetica
offers professional hair styling and spa experiences for both men and women at two convenient locations.
Our award winning stylists and estheticians are our greatest assets. We are proud of the longevity of our
staff; some have been with us for over 20 years.
Come see the Taj Mahal without going to India.
An actual 4 foot replica of the New world’s 7th wonder!
SERVICES INCLUDE
INCLUDE:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hair Services
Laser Skin Enhancing
ing Treatments
Microdermabrasion
Facials
Massage & Body Treatments
Spa Packages
Hair Removal (laser and waxing)
• Daily fresh, delicious luncheon buffet
• Special Monday evening buffet
• Extensive à la Carte menu available
•
•
•
•
Makeup & Brow Services
Hand & Foot Care
St. Tropez Sunless Tanning
Men’s Services
(separate salon for men)
• Bridal Services
• Couples Packages
Esthetica
het
Salon
lon & Spa
611 Acadia Drive SE
(corner of Southland Drive and Acadia Drive SE)
Tel: 403-278-2525
Esthetica
het
Salon & Spa
Glenmore Landing
90th Avenue & 14th Street SW
Tel 403-252-2800
Lunch: Mon-Fri
11:30am - 2:00pm
Saturday Lunch:
Closed
Sunday Brunch:
11:30am - 2:00pm
Dinner: Mon-Thurs
5:00pm - 10:00pm
Fri-Sat
Sun
5:00pm - 11:00pm
5:00pm - 9:00pm
Monday Night Buffet: 5:00pm - 9:00pm
(open until 10:00pm)
Readers’ Choice Award Winner - 17 Years Running 1995-2011
www.estheticasalonandspa.com
TAJ MAHAL’S NEW TAKE IT AND GO.
FROZEN FOODS & SPICES
Enjoy easy to prepare
frozen entres in 30 min.
Same great selection in the
comfort of your own home!
4816 Macleod Tr. S.W.
243-6362
www.tajmahalcalgary.com
DISCOVER FOR YOURSELF WHAT MAKES US SO SPECIAL
CIAL
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