Pastiche Wine Bar Coming to Calgary This July

The team behind Love Damian—one of Calgary's most talked-about pop-ups—is going permanent. Chef Kyle Opel and sommelier Jason Exton announced Pastiche, a new chef-driven wine bar launching in July 2026. Details are still under wraps (including the exact location), but expect shared plates and an epic wine list that reflects Exton's expertise.

Love Damian, which has been running as a residency at Meat & Bread, helped establish Opel's reputation for refined, playful cooking and strong wine pairings. The pop-up has built a loyal following among Calgary's food-obsessed crowd—people who'll line up for intimate dinners built on seasonal ingredients and surprise.

Pastiche signals Opel and Exton are ready to plant roots. A permanent wine bar gives them the chance to build a wine program deeper than what a pop-up allows, and to create a space where people linger—not just eat and leave. The shared-plates format suggests small bites, meant for tasting multiple dishes, sipping multiple wines, and spending an evening with friends.

Love Damian's final service is May 29, which gives the team a few weeks to finish build-out. The wine list will be the centrepiece. Exton, who brings real sommelier credentials (not just Instagram energy), has the taste to source natural wines, small-production bottles, and unexpected producers that pair with chef-driven food. That combination—serious wine, creative cooking, small plates—is the exact formula that gets food people excited right now. Pastiche sounds like it's worth the wait.