Food Notes for June 25, 2012

I can’t believe how fast the summer is just flying by – it’s July next week! Hope you’re out enjoying the outdoors when you can! On to this week’s food notes:

• I’m looking forward to participating in next week’s DIYalogue Talks Food, a “cultural mix-and-mingle” with people involved in the local food scene. Join us at the Blackdog Freehouse (10425 Whyte Avenue) on July 4, 2012 from 6:30-8:30pm! Filistix will be providing the catering. Get your tickets here.
• Savour Strathcona County is a good reason as any to head over to Sherwood Park to sample food prepared by local restaurants. Advance tickets to the July 15, 2012 event are available now.
• Drift has won their appeal, and can remain in their spot on 108 Street. In other food truck-related news, Councillor Don Iveson filed an inquiry with administration to look further into what the City can do to further refine the street vending policy. Expect a report in the fall.
• The You Gotta Eat Here segment on Tres Carnales was amazing! I think it showcased so well what Chef Edgar and the restaurant is doing for Mexican cuisine in Edmonton. It sounds like the show will be back for more filming in Edmonton this summer, with The Dish on tap.
• You can now satisfy your sweet tooth before leaving for your destination: Mack sent me a link about Coney Island Candy’s new shop in the Departures wing of the Edmonton International Airport. It’s great to see local businesses infiltrating EIA!
• Although I’m in favour of reducing the amount of bottled water served at restaurants, for a city like Edmonton with such a top notch water filtration system, I think the investment into Q Water by Hardware Grill isn’t necessary. Maybe it isn’t fair to expect Hardware Grill to be the cheerleaders behind our local water system, but wouldn’t it be ideal if one of Edmonton’s most respected restaurants took a stand and told the world that yes, our tap water is as good if not better than the bottled stuff?
• Metro axed its weekly review column, with the last write-up by Christopher Thrall appearing this week.
• Both Valerie and Liane filed great reports about this year’s Okanagan Food and Wine Writers Workshop, put on by Jennifer Cockrall-King. Looks like some great eats!
• Valerie announced that she and several others are putting together a Cheesepalooza Project, a 9 to 10 month Artisan Cheesemaking adventure where they will use Mary Karlin’s Artisan Cheese Making at Home as a guide and all make the same cheeses to a specific schedule. If this is something you’re interested in, leave a comment on Valerie’s post.
• On Friday, Mack and I joined a good crowd on Manasc Issac’s new rooftop patio for an after work drink. We need more of these in Edmonton!

On the roof at Manasc Issac

• Mack and I headed to Calgary this weekend for a bit of a birthday getaway. We were able to hit up quite a few restaurants I had on my list, but they deserve a separate post. A few bits and bobs:

Loved this map of the Calgary Farmers’ Market – I recognize that this is a permanent, year-round market, but it definitely helps customers navigate through the aisles. Could the City Market consider printing copies of their maps housed online?

At the Kingsland Farmers’ Market, we spotted the parked (and sadly, closed) Naaco Truck. We loved its bright colouring, and even more, the edible garden on its roof!

We also had to make an obligatory Phil & Sebastian’s stop – this time at the Chinook Centre location (love that they’re doing an outdoor pop-up cafe this summer).

• Join us for our last Truck Stop in Old Strathcona this Wednesday, June 27, from 5-8pm in McIntyre Park. Check out the menu here.

Nomad’s pulled pork sandwich from the June 20 Truck Stop