When it comes to Cafe Amore Bistro’s Spicy Marsala Pasta, Caley Suliak — actress, comedian, writer, and one-third of comedy sketch group Girl Brain — isn’t just a fan, she’s a connoisseur. “You could say I’m maybe a little bit biased,” Suliak laughs, “but I worked at Cafe Amore Bistro on and off for like 10 years. And that sauce, is the most incredible sauce I’ve ever had.”
While some people suffer from serving nightmares, Suliak’s dreams are much more delicious. “I actually had a dream about this sauce,” she confesses. “I hadn’t had it in a couple of days, and, in my dream, I was just eating this sauce like it was soup. I woke up and thought, ‘This is the best serving dream I’ve ever had.’ So, naturally, it was time to go back for the Spicy Marsala.” You know what they say — when sauce seeps into your subconscious, that’s amore.
For Suliak, the secret to Cafe Amore’s magic isn’t just in the sauce; it’s in the family. “It’s a family-run business,” she explains. “Cristo [Crudo] and his wife, Maria, treat everyone like family. I went out to dinner with them the other day.”
Her journey with Cafe Amore began with a date night many moons ago. “The whole reason I worked there is because my boyfriend at the time took me there on a date,” she says. “I liked it so much that I ended up dropping off a resume the next week.” That romance may have cooled off, but Suliak’s love for Cafe Amore never did. In fact, it’s only grown stronger.
The dish that has captured Suliak’s heart features fresh strozzapreti pasta topped with a mushroom and chicken breast in a habanero Marsala cream sauce. The result? A plate of pure, pasta-bilities that have kept Suliak — and countless others — coming back for more.
Cafe Amore Bistro
Central McDougall | 10807 106 Ave. NW, Edmonton | 780.477.7896 | cafeamorebistro.ca
