My sister Amanda is telling me that Toronto’s boasting temperatures in the mid-20s this week, but I’m still feeling pretty good about the weather here. It’s hard not to love a March where we’re not trudging through knee-deep snow! On to this week’s food notes:
- Liane posted about a pop-up tea house taking place in McCauley on March 24, 2012, organized by the Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative, the Edmonton City Centre Church Corporation (E4C) and a team of volunteers. The menu will celebrate a variety of cultures and has been designed by immigrant women. Sounds like a great idea!
- Mark your calendar: this year’s Indulgence is taking place on June 11, 2012.
- It was a sad week for Edmonton’s food scene: both Kerstin’s Chocolates and D’Lish announced that they would be closing their doors. They will both be missed.
- Looks like Tres Carnales has a new neighbour: Crepe Symphony! Check them out at 10115 100A Street.
- The Bothy will be opening up a second location on 124 Street! Mack is excited that their chicken and leek pies will be only a hop, skip and jump away from our condo.
- Five Guys has announced another Edmonton location in South Common (to join their forthcoming outlet in Windermere). They really are a suburban chain – where’s the love for downtown?
- Graham Hicks paid a visit to Murrietta’s, with Chef Shane Chartrand now at the kitchen’s helm. Although the menu hasn’t yet been changed over, he still gives the restaurant a thumbs up.
- Kevin’s newest KevinTV episode highlights backyard chickens. Speaking of backyard chickens, the River City Chickens Co-op is meeting on March 24, 2012.
- There were many rumours about what would be going into the space on 104 Street vacated by Fiji Tan, but wonder no more: Evoolution, offering olive oils, vinegars and a tasting bar is coming soon.
Evoolution
- A new bubble tea and banh mi place just opened up on March 16, 2012 near Kingsway Mall called Fresh Bubble Tea & Sandwich Bar (10611 Kingsway Avenue) Although it’s on a main thoroughfare, with all the construction in the area, it’s easy to miss – but the photos posted on Facebook make it seem worth the effort to find.
Fresh Bubble Tea
- Is this space cursed? Sports bars and piano bars have come and gone – maybe The Marquee (10304 111 Street) can make it work?
The Marquee
- At the City Market this weekend, we came upon the Fruits of Sherbrooke for the first time. They sound very similar to Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton, in terms of “rescuing fruit”, except they are based in just one neighbourhood. They were selling preserves made from some of the fruit they picked this year. We bought a jar of raspberry rhubarb jam to try.
Fruits of Sherbrooke
- Mack and I were at Ikea this weekend to pick up some things, and ended up staying for lunch. Though we typically just grab something at the kiosk on the way out, we decided to visit the cafeteria this time around. It’s been a while since we’ve had a “full” meal there, but perhaps there’s a good reason for that. The dining area was in need of a good cleaning, and Mack used the word “slop” to describe his food. Guess we can’t be picky when we’re choosing to eat at a furniture store, but is it just us or has it gone downhill?
Ikea food
Only Here for the Food 
Got some Cherry Chocolate Jelly from Fruits of Sherbrooke at Seedy Sunday this weekend. It’s divine! They make great products!
You aren’t imagining it. Ikea’s cafeteria has become … disappointing … and even gross. It used to be a “fun” thing to do and now we just ignore it and have coffee/lunch elsewhere. The seating area is often dirty, and the food the last time around was cold and hard where it was supposed to hot and crispy. I realize a person shouldn’t expect anything fancy at those prices, but I do expect the basics like cleanliness and palatable.
I kind of wish they had that on sample that day! Will have to try it next time.
Yeah, it’s hard to expect “great”, but basics would be nice! I think Mack and I will stick to guilty pleasure of ice cream and cinnamon buns at the kiosk :).