Few things are more synonymous with the city of Calgary than the legacy of the Hart family. Dating all the way back to 1951, the historical Hart House produced more than just a legion of successful professional wrestlers; it produced a wide-spanning family whose veins spread throughout the very bloodline of Calgary’s pulsing culture.
Today, the Hart family legacy continues to have a positive impact on the city of Calgary in a multitude of ways. Most recently, Alex--the youngest daughter of Bret Hart--opened the doors to Hart Healthy Food as a way to give back to the city that’s shown her family so much love.
Hart family dinners were as important--if not more important--than the legendary training sessions that took place downstairs in the fabled Hart Dungeon. Alex explains that the made-from-scratch family-style feasts were the foundation for her passion for community, and filled not just the belly but the heart and soul too.
“Food in my mind has always been the foundation to bring family together and I wanted to give Calgarians a place where they could come eat and feel like a part of our family,” says Alex. “I'm thanked often for the things my family has gone on to accomplish for themselves and for what they've given to the city. What most people don't realize is how thankful we as the Hart family are for what the city has given to us. Food is a way for myself and my family to provide our gratitude and a way for us to hopefully bring people together."
Located in Calgary’s eclectic East Village, on a site that once housed BJ’s Gym, Hart Healthy Food provides patrons with a fast and convenient selection of locally-sourced, farm-to-table offerings from protein-packed power bowls to multigrain toast spreads, to daily soups, created in house by chef Sherin Samuel.
In keeping with its core values of giving back, Hart Healthy Food offers dairy-, gluten-, vegan-, and vegetable-friendly options, as well as cooking classes and catering services.
“My hope for Hart Healthy Food is to provide another outlet to unite people in my home town of Calgary and build community around while providing people wholesome and healthy food options,” Alex explains. “My ultimate goal is to serve food that comes from local producers, that supports our local economy. I want the individuals and families who eat our food to take comfort in knowing that we are filling their bellies with real, high quality ingredients.”
Hart Healthy Food is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on weekends.
