Be Mine in Edmonton: 14 Alternatives to a Valentine’s Day Dinner

When Mack and I first started dating, our approach to Valentine’s Day was pretty traditional – Mack bought me flowers and chocolates, and we went out for dinner. Over the past few years though, we’ve opted to stay in, choosing to save our entertainment dollars on a night not dominated by prix-fixe menus, timed table turnovers, and the air of a perfunctory meal.

That said, many restaurants do still offer a first-rate experience even in such a climate, but given the number of Valentine’s Day alternatives I’ve stumbled upon this year, I think there is a general appetite to shrug off the dinner standard in favour of something a little different. For us, this means a paired wine and chocolate tasting put on by Baseline Wines and Jacek Chocolate Couture the week prior to Valentine’s Day.

So for your planning pleasure (Valentine’s Day is just two weeks away!), here are fourteen alternatives to dinner with your sweetheart. Note, some of the events do take place before or after the big day, but are noted as such:

For the romantics

What’s more romantic than a moonlit stroll with your valentine? And since February falls during our winter season, it only makes sense that this stroll would be done on snowshoes. The John Janzen is running this special after-dark event on February 1 and 8, 2013. Participants will look for animal tracks, warm up with apple cider, and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride to end the evening! Tickets are $20 each.
An inexpensive way to take advantage of our winter wonderland is to make use of one of the City’s many public rinks and skate under the stars. Although the picturesque Victoria Oval is closed to the public on February 14, there are numerous other rinks that will be open. Skate to your heart’s content!
Serenade your sweetheart with songs from none other than Irving Berlin. On February 8, 2013, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra takes on his well-known songbook which features songs like “Cheek to Cheek” and “Falling In Love Is Wonderful”. Tickets from $20.

For the food and wine inclined

I wondered why Baseline and Jacek weren’t offering the wine and chocolate pairing on Valentine’s Day itself, but I soon found out why: they’re booked to lead the same tasting at the Muttart Conservatory on February 14! Tickets are $79 each.
Is there a saying that a couple that cooks together, stays together? There must be, given that couple’s cooking classes seem to be all the rage. The Pan Tree in Sherwood Park picks up on this trend, offering up their recipe for romance: a three course dinner featuring mussels, rack of lamb and a chocolate crème brulee. Registration is $75.
I know there’s more than a few people out there who would proclaim bacon their valentine if given the opportunity. Shovel & Fork is teaching a class on February 17, 2012 on how you can make your own bacon and other cured meats – why not learn this skill with your sweetie? The buy in is $80 per person.
For chocoholics, making your own sweet treats may be more up your alley. Get your hands dirty and learn how to make your own chocolate with the City Arts Centre. Registration is $45 per person.
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival is hoping to inspire romance and raise money at their Brunch o’ Love at the Hotel MacDonald on February 10, 2013. Attendees will enjoy an elegant brunch and champagne, and have the opportunity to bid on silent auction items. Tickets are $85.
For the Love of Wine, deVine’s stand-up wine tasting on Valentine’s Day highlights several love-themed wines, including Red Lips and Saint Armour. Tickets are $30.
The Art Gallery of Alberta has organized a new Valentine’s-themed event called Cold Night, Hot Date. The food alone makes it a worthwhile event (I love the idea of a build-your-own cheeseboard), but with romantic shorts, old world carnival games, and exhibition tours, it sounds like it will be a great night! Tickets are $95 each.

For the cynics

The High Street Social Club is organizing an Anti-Valentine’s Day party to take place on February 17, 2013 at the Manor Cafe. Expect a menu where you can literally eat your heart out (beef heart tartare) and be cheeky (cherry cola and chilies with braised beef cheek). Tickets are $55 each.

For the unconventional

How about a blind date for your valentine? The Citadel’s popular show Blind Date is back, just in time for February 14! One lucky man in the audience gets pulled on stage for an evening of improvised fun. Tickets from $35.
For more improv, Rapid Fire Theatre is hosting its annual Wildfire Festival from February 12 – March 2, 2013. The student improv festival celebrates the talent Alberta has to offer.
Spend Valentine’s Day exploring your Star Wars identity at the Telus World of Science. It’s a wonderful exhibition for those who love the films, but also those who appreciate the art of moviemaking.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Culinary Q & A with Gail Hall

Occupation: Chef, Educator and Food Writer

What did you eat today?

It’s Saturday and I love sleeping in and going to Credo for an American Misto and one of their fabulous raisin bran muffins. Also had some homemade granola with Greek yogurt (Liberté is one of my standby yogurts) topped with homemade stewed rhubarb. An early dinner of Battista Calzones (pesto chicken and Italian meat and shared with my husband) and accompanied with a homemade Caesar salads. The salad is one of my favourites and uses a dressing that I’ve been making for over 30 years!

What do you never eat?

Head cheese!

What is your personal specialty?

This is a difficult question to answer as I love cooking and baking anything. But I guess my specialty would be developing recipes from dishes I’ve discovered when hosting my International culinary tours to ones back home using local ingredients!

Complete this sentence: In my refrigerator, you will always find:

Lots of condiments (mustards, hot sauces, chutneys, marmalades), local cheeses, local organic eggs, goat milk, organic juices, fresh fruit and vegetables.

What is your weekday meal standby?

An omelette or homemade soup.

What is your favourite kitchen item?

My Haruyuiki Tsuchime knife from Knifewear.

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

Oh goodness…it’s going to be a combo of foods I remember from childhood and remarkable dishes discovered on my culinary tours. Here goes:

Crostini using Baguette from Saigon topped with Rocamadour goats cheese from les Causses France (you could twist my arm here and I’d be happy to use Fairwinds goat cheese or The Cheesiry’s Fresco!) with a glass of Prosecco

Arancini stuffed with spinach or ragu and a side of Eleonora Consoli’s Caponata from Sicily with a glass of Pinot Grigio

My mom’s beef knishes

Cassoulet from Carcassonne with a black wine from the Cahors

Dessert would have to be my mom’s chocolate marble cake – it was always the mainstay at our birthdays growing up and it always makes me smile when I think of it (especially when I could lick the icing off the beaters!)

An Americano Misto from Credo

Where do you eat out most frequently?

We don’t eat out a lot, but if I did, it would be Corso 32, Tres Carnales and Sofra.

Where’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

Ah….for me that would be Corso 32! Check back with me in a few months and I’m sure there will be more added to the list as great local restaurants are popping up everywhere in Edmonton!

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat?

Italy will always be my favourite country to travel to and it not just about the food – the people are so genuine, kind and so proud of their food. Definitely lots of antipasti like the arancini and caponata mentioned above, prosciutto di Parma with cheeses from the area…some fresh pasta topped with anything you’d find on pasta in Italy…fresh fruit and gelati and a shot of Lemoncello for dessert.

You can find Gail’s cooking class and food tour information on Seasoned Solutions.

Edmonton Opera Brunch: “Les Contes d’Hoffmann”

Two Sundays ago Mack and I were invited as guests to attend Edmonton Opera’s Opera Brunch for its upcoming mainstage production of Les Contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffman). Though we’ve attended the opera and related events before (most recently, Storm the Stage last fall), this was our first time attending an event that would introduce us, in recital format, to the artists that would be performing in the show.

Held in one of the banquet rooms at the Sutton Place Hotel, we were told that the buffet brunch would feature some dishes inspired by the production – namely, the circus setting where this production of Hoffman takes place. We were looking forward to seeing what the kitchen had in store.

Table setting

The first few chafing dishes revealed some summer fair favourites, including soft pretzels, corn dogs, fries and popcorn. But for those who wanted more traditional breakfast and lunch dishes, there was an overwhelming amount to choose from, ranging from eggs benedict, sausages and bacon to cold salads, roast chicken and perogies.

It became obvious that some items fared better than others in the chafing dishes – the scrambled eggs remained fluffy and light, while poached eggs became overcooked, for example. The throwback to circus fare was also a mixed bag – we weren’t convinced the kitchen handmade the pretzels (and if they had, why wouldn’t they have sized them down into half or quarter portions?), while the corn dogs were of the Pogo variety. I have to say the kitchen disappointed me that day – given we were told the food would be connected to the opera’s theme, I didn’t expect these feature dishes to come from a box.

Mack’s plate

The service staff, on the other hand, were fabulous from beginning to end. We started out the morning with a mimosa (the champagne was topped up generously), and the coffee kept on coming.

The performances began about an hour into the event. We would be treated to a total of ten songs, as well as some words from the Director, Designer and Maestro of Hoffman.

Opera is often said to be pretentious, or at least inaccessible. Part of that is the language of opera, to be sure, but part of it too may be the physical distance between the players and the audience. Compared with a smaller, more intimate theatre production, it can be more difficult to connect with the performers. For me, the Opera Brunch helped erase some of that distance.

Teiya Kasahara dashed into the audience

Each of the ten artists chose to sing a song of their choosing, and many of them, surprisingly, were in English – no need for supertitles here! Before starting their song, they provided the audience with a bit of context (the scene preceding the song, the general storyline of the opera), so we were able to understand the character’s frame of mind, or the humour in the lyrics. What amazed me, sitting so close to the stage, was seeing the theatricality of the performers; their physical transformation into the character as soon as the music began – a hunch, a scowl – was a subtlety that sitting in the rafters at the Jubilee, I would never have noticed. And I don’t think anyone will disagree that the finale from Hoffman himself, David Pomeroy, who performed “Danny Boy”, was so wrought with emotion that there were more than a few handkerchiefs out at its conclusion.

Krisztina Szabo on stage

We also relished the opportunity to find out more about Hoffman, from the words of those working on it behind the scenes. The passion from Director Joel Ivany in particular was evident, as he described the difference between opera in North America and in Europe – in the former, it is presented as entertainment, in the latter, it is discussed and debated in the culture pages. As Ivany shared his vision for the opera, it convinced us that we should go and see Hoffman – I’m curious to see how the opera manifests itself.

All told, the Opera Brunch was the best Edmonton Opera event I’ve ever attended. We were able to learn more about the forthcoming production, get to know the artists a bit more and listen to some wonderful music, all in an informal setting. I know the EO has tried to target a younger audience with the Explorer’s Club and Storm the Stage, but I think the framework of this event, transposed into an evening wine and cheese, would do more to help those 18-35 connect with opera.

Thanks again to Edmonton Opera for the invitation!

Les Contes d’Hoffmann runs at the Jubilee Auditorium on February 1, 3, 5 and 7, 2013.

Food Notes for January 28, 2013

In the past few months this blog has experienced a noticeable drop in posts when I’m a) sick or b) overwhelmed at work. This past week was a bit of both, but Mack and I have some fun things to attend in the upcoming period that should balance things out nicely. Hope you have an equally good week! On to this week’s food notes:

The Tomato has held over the deadline to contribute to their list of “100 best things to eat in Edmonton”. Make sure your voice is heard here, by January 31, 2013!
Staff Meal Edmonton have released the details of their next event – a tea party with multiple seatings on February 3, 2013 at Cally’s Teas. Tickets are $45.
The next Dishcrawl event, which aims to explore restaurants in a particular neighbourhood, is set for February 19 and 20, 2013. This time, they will be leading diners through four High Street and Westmount establishments. Tickets are $50.
Liane’s taking her next food tour to Italy in May! It sounds like it will be an amazing trip.
Liv shares some of the food trends and concepts she’d like to see in our city (mentioned in the post that I didn’t know – Bistro La Persaud has since closed).
Craving Canteen’s bread pudding? With this recipe from City and Dale, you can now replicate it at home!
Quinoa, the superfood that everyone can’t get enough of, was in the news last week – it is now becoming so valuable that the Bolivians and Peruvians who grow it can no longer afford to eat it themselves.
Every so often, another story about photography bans at restaurants is released. This week, it was from the New York Times.
I love the visuals by Jill Stanton on Nomad’s butcher paper window dressing (announcing their storefront at 10132-100 Street), but for those just walking by not knowing what’s to come, it probably would be helpful to have the words “Nomad” somewhere on the pages.

Nomad: coming soon

When Mack had a sudden craving for ginger beef and special fried rice on the weekend, we headed to Pagolac in Chinatown to satisfy it. We used to be regulars at the southside location until we moved downtown and became less reliant on a car (and, well, I discovered Pho Tau Bay). Still, it was comforting to return to an old standby.

Ginger beef and special fried rice

Pho with medium sliced beef and brisket

Culinary Q & A with Michelle Peters-Jones

Occupation: Sous Chef and Chief Leftover Scrounger at Get Cooking Edmonton.

What did you eat today?

A whole box of Walkers ginger biscuits, leek and pancetta risotto and a moscato zabaglione with moscato poached pears.

What do you never eat?

I eat mostly everything, but I am not a huge fan of kale.

What is your personal specialty?

Home cooked Indian food, especially from South India.

Complete this sentence: In my refrigerator, you will always find:

Milk and eggs.

What is your weekday meal standby?

Bulgur wheat or spiced quinoa salads with lots of fresh vegetables.

What is your favourite kitchen item?

My battered Le Creuset dutch oven, and my Wusthof chef’s knife.

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

My grandmother’s festival-special pork and offal curry with steamed rice cakes or sannas.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Kathir on 34 Ave do great dosas.

Where’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

The Marc. Love the food and the ambience.

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat?

The streets of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, small hilltop villages in Italy, the back alleys of Old Delhi, the beaches of Bombay and the roadside eateries in Kerala. Oh, and the tearooms on the Wirral near Liverpool.

Michelle blogs at The Tiffin Box.

Portland: A City of Parks and Public Spaces

Though I did a lot of reading and research about Portland prior to our trip, the vast number and variety of public parks and green spaces was not obvious to me until we started to explore the city in person. Especially downtown, it seemed as if we came across another park or public space every few blocks! In that way, Portland was very welcoming to a weary tourist – we were always within stumbling distance of a beautiful rest stop.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square is described as “Portland’s living room”. For a city of their size (metro 2.2 million), it actually was quite small, about half the size of Edmonton’s Churchill Square. But it is constructed in a similar way, amphitheatre-style stairs, a water feature, an on-site cafe, and a tourist information centre (whereas we have a ticket office/souvenir shop). We loved the story of how the Square came to be: citizens, adamant that the design of the square remain open and publically accessible, rallied and contributed to the space, one brick at a time. Ironically, we were told that the park is actually closed for ticketed functions for much of the summer months (as it was when we were visiting).

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Still, the history of the Square speaks to the progressive nature of Portland as a whole, and their appetite to preserve and protect public spaces.

The block or so around the Pioneer Courthouse itself also features decorative fountains, and several different bronze wildlife statues. Mack decided to befriend one of them.

Being one with the otter

Keller Fountain Park

Keller Fountain Park, also downtown, was not far from Portland State University (the site of their huge Saturday Farmers’ Market). Less a park than a massive water feature, it still provided a picturesque escape in the middle of the city – there’s something about the sound of flowing water that is naturally soothing.

Keller Fountain Park

I will say that parts of the fountain itself had the unfortunate odour of urine, but when we made our way to the sweet spot of the fountain where a platform enables you to stand behind the curtain of water, it was pretty magical.

Behind the falls

Jamison Square

The Pearl District may be more well known for its retail and hospitality sides, but we stumbled across two of its park gems. We learned later that all water features in Portland’s parks are chlorinated, making them built-in play features for children, seamlessly integrated into the neighbourhood landscape. Jamison Square in the Pearl was thus a family attraction, even on that particularly overcast day.

Jamison Square

Tanner Springs Park

Tanner Springs Park was even more interesting, created out of reclaimed industrial land. Designers wanted to return the area to its natural wetlands environment, but also incorporated functional seating features into the park.

Tanner Springs Park

To us, being in the park took us out of the urban landscape, as the space promoted quiet reflection and a sense of calm.

Director Park

Director Park, about a block away from Pioneer Square, reminded us of a smaller, more functional Churchill Square. In one section was an operational water feature (chlorinated, of course for spray park fun), and on the other, scattered patio sets. A glass canopy provided some sheltered seating next to a small cafe, which seemed more successful at taking advantage of its prime location than Edmonton’s Three Bananas equivalent.

Director Park

Mill Ends Park

Of course, a discussion about Portland’s parks must include Mill Ends Park, which has the distinction of being the world’s smallest park, according to the Guinness Book of Records. It is located along a median between two streets.

Mill Ends Park

The story of how the park came to be (a journalist created mythology that the weed-run hole was actually the home of a leprechaun) is actually more interesting than the park itself, though given Portland’s penchant for being “weird”, it fits right into the city.

Forest and Washington Parks

Prior to arriving in Portland, we knew about their biking opportunities, but had no idea there were extensive hiking options until we came across Forest and Washington Parks. They feature over 24 kilometres of hiking trails, and covers over 400 acres of land.

In Forest Park

After visiting Pittock Mansion, we decided to walk to the International Rose Test Garden. Google Maps indicated it was a 30 minute distance, but that would only have been possible if a direct route existed. Instead, we followed the Wildwood Trail, which took about an hour.

Wildwood Trail

It was an absolutely rejuvenating walk, and made us feel like we had travelled far from the city, while in reality, we were still in the thick of it. The trails were peaceful, and we only ran into the occasional dog walker, so it was easy to feel like we were the only ones in the park.

Surrounded by nature

The Hoyt Arboretum is one of the features of Washington Park, a living museum of trees. Every now and then we would come across a small plaque denoting the name of a tree species. It turns out schools groups use the arboretum as a teaching centre; what a natural way for children to learn more about the great outdoors.

In the Hoyt Arboretum

We made it!

International Rose Test Garden

The most visually stunning park that we visited was without a doubt the International Rose Test Garden. Over 7,000 plants representing over 500 varieties are spread out over the 4.5 acre garden. Best of all, admission is free!

International Rose Test Garden

The flowers bloom from about April to October, and though we were visiting towards the end of September, most of the vines were still bursting with blossoms. The fragrance in the air was almost overwhelming, as we made our way through thicket after thicket of roses.

Roses

There are numerous benches and water features placed around the greenery to encourage visitors to linger and contemplate.

Walking the paths

Mack loves those bronze statues

The garden is also host to numerous outdoor events, as they have an amazing amphitheatre built into the side of a grassy hill.

Gorgeous outdoor amphitheatre

If you’re ever in Portland during the rose season, this is one attraction you can’t pass up – the pictures don’t do the garden justice.

More roses

Peninsula Park Rose Garden

Portland is also known as the “City of Roses” – that nickname isn’t contained to one garden alone! One day, when exploring Portland on bikes, we cycled to a smaller garden not far from the Mississippi Avenue district, called Peninsula Rose Garden.

Peninsula Rose Garden

It did not have the awe-inducing scale of the International Rose Test Garden, but it made up for that with charm. We loved the fountain and gazebo, and of course, the walking paths between rows of well-tended flowers.

Peninsula Rose Garden

I love gazebos

I know Mack and I are very fortunate to live so close to Edmonton’s beautiful river valley, but there’s just something about the spectrum of colours in the manicured public garden that made me a bit envious of Portlanders.

Paths

Waterfront Park and Eastbank Esplanade

Mack is always quick to point out to those who say Edmonton’s river valley is our defining feature that most cities are built around rivers, so this doesn’t make us unique. I love our river valley as much as the next person, but for many, there is an attitude that we need to preserve its natural state to the point where it cannot be easily accessed and enjoyed. What’s the point of having such a great asset if it cannot be taken advantage of?

Geese love parks!

Portland’s riverfront is much different than Edmonton’s, in the sense that the gradient is far shallower. But it was, on a brilliantly clear day, amazing to see just how many people were making use of the waterside paths.

Waterfront Park

We explored both sides of the parks lining the Willamette River on numerous occasions, on foot and by bike. The Eastbank Esplanade, a pedestrian and bicycle path, even features a 1200 foot floating walkway.

The Eastbank Esplanade during the day

The Eastbank Esplanade at night

The view from the Esplanade

Sometimes, the best thing about travelling are the unintended discoveries. For me, parks and public spaces were definitely a wonderful surprise we found in Portland.

Food Notes for January 21, 2013

Jennifer attended the media preview for Sage’s January 24, 2013 Mushroom Festival – she sums it up perfectly: “Five courses in honour of a food that peaks in darkness and chill of winter.” What more can one ask for?
Liv enjoyed the Italian fare at Massimo’s – I’ll have to stop by myself after picking up groceries next door one day!
Vue Weekly favourably reviewed The Makk on 124.
Is the new Delux in Magrath too small for its own good? (I had no idea it took over a former Wok Box storefront.)
Andrea visited the Underground Tap and Grill recently, and found its pub fare worth returning for.
Marlow Moo had a disappointing experience at the rebranded Cafe Select.
Karlynn shows us how fun it is to cook with a professional chef – in this case, with ZINC’s Chef David Omar.
Did you read Liane’s piece on skinny chefs? No, it’s not an oxymoron – chefs can lead both active and indulgent lives!
Have you ever played phone stacking? I haven’t, but it doesn’t seem like a bad idea to put aside our technological devices for the span of a meal (not sure I will ever get Mack on board with the game, however…).
Vue reports on Edmonton’s (okay, technically, St. Albert’s) newest brewery, Hog’s Head. Interesting to note, they will be packaging their beer in cans as opposed to bottles.
Calgary’s CHARCUT is continuing their popular series of pop-up restaurant events on January 26, 2013, with Charpopluck. Wish I could be there!
Everyone’s been buzzing about Coca Cola’s new ad that sees the soda behemoth take some responsibility for the obesity epidemic in America – at least in the first half of the commercial.
Mack and I were lucky enough to be invited by Edmonton Economic Development Corporation to attend An Evening with Oprah, which took place tonight at Rexall Place. Though I did not watch her talk show religiously, I felt her presence in our house as my Mum was a fan. I wasn’t sure what to expect at the event, but Oprah delivered an inspiring talk laced with stories from her childhood and career. I particularly appreciated her thread on “surrendering” – sometimes we just have learn to be at peace with the situations we encounter. Mack wrote a much lengthier post on the night here.

Oprah!

The Cooking Chronicles: More from Smitten Kitchen

Mack always teases me that I have my “phases”. He says that I’m currently in my smoothies-for-breakfast phase and my Scandal phase, though based on our cooking schedule recently, I think he’d also say I’m in a Smitten Kitchen phase.

Over the holidays, I didn’t feel too inspired to try new recipes, but browsing through Deb’s website and new cookbook, I immediately bookmarked a handful of recipes. We tried a few more last week.

Mushroom Lasagna

Though the mushroom lasagna is actually Ina Garten’s recipe, I came across it through the Smitten Kitchen website. The idea of a lighter, meatless lasagna was really appealing, as was the prospect of leftovers.

Mushroom lasagna

The recipe worked out really well, and my only quibble was recommending 3/4 lb of pasta instead of a full box. Deb mentions that not layering the pasta resulted in uniform slices, but I would have preferred not having leftover pasta. We probably also could have done with a melty mozzarella crust on top.

Lunch portion!

But as a whole, it was a lovely pasta, with a luxurious combination of bechemel and sautéed mushrooms. It would make an excellent vegetarian main course.

Honey Harissa Farro Salad

It seems like it was only a few years ago that I learned that salad did not have to be comprised of greens alone. Since then, we’ve made and enjoyed salads that have included everything from couscous to lentils. The honey harissa farro salad in The Smitten Kitchen cookbook looked interesting for that reason, though I have to say I was a little apprehensive about experimenting with farro, as our experience with another grain-based salad (bulgur) did not go well.

We found farro in the bulk section at Planet Organic. The grains resembled rice in their shape, but ranged in colour from light brown to golden. As directed by the recipe, we prepared the farro by boiling it (in stock on this occasion), and simmering it for 20 minutes. The cooked grain then puffed up, though surprisingly, did not take on much of the stock’s flavour, but resembling barley in its chewiness.

We combined the farro with roasted Kuhlmann’s parsnips and Greens, Eggs and Ham carrots and tossed it in a dressing made from olive oil and harissa. The salad was topped with fresh mint, and some Smoky Valley goat cheese.

Honey harissa farro salad

We probably should have stuck to the recipe on the cheese front (it had recommended feta), as the goat cheese overwhelmed the flavours. Mack also couldn’t get used to the interaction between the spicy dressing and the mint. I was really impressed by how the addition of farro really “bulked” up the salad (Deb’s word), as it really did transform the dish into a meal in itself.

I’m not done with Smitten Kitchen just yet – I still have the rest of the book to cook through!

Small Plates, Japanese-Style: Izakaya Tomo

Some meals are more than just the food on the table and the company you are with – they are experiences. Our dinner at Guu in Toronto, my first taste of an izakaya (a Japanese pub), was one such experience. It was loud and boisterous, with most of the cacophony of voices originating from the staff. The dozen servers and chefs would yell greetings at patrons whenever they entered or exited the restaurant. Though I’m sure it could get trying after a while, for us, it was still novel; for me, Guu was memorable because of the infectious energy and vibrant atmosphere. When I heard Edmonton finally landed its own izakaya, I was excited to see if it could replicate that experience. Mack and I had dinner there last Saturday, before a movie at South Edmonton Common.

Though it would have been nice to see Izakaya Tomo amongst an established hospitality district instead of a vehicle-driven strip, no one can deny the attractive rent differential. And walking in, the interior also made us forget about the location – the earthy tones and wooden fixtures made us feel immediately at ease, on top of, of course, the warm, vocal welcome from staff. With the relatively small size of Izakaya Tomo (nine tables) and corresponding staff size, there was definitely a less frenetic pace than compared with Guu, to the point where a comparison almost couldn’t be warranted.

Interior

Izakaya Tomo does serve sushi (the chef previously worked at Mikado), but we focused our orders on cooked dishes, which ranged in price from $3.95-$11.95). Our server recommended we order 4-5 dishes, so we took her advice (I have to note the obvious but charming directive printed on the menu, which reads “Please order whatever you want”).

The deep fried tofu ($4.95) came out first, a nice starter, though the breading didn’t hold together as well as we would have hoped for.

Deep fried tofu

Next came the dish we were most curious about, a carbonara udon ($11.95), combining Japanese and Italian ingredients in a way we’d never seen before. But we were hooked – the udon noodles seemed right at home in the creamy, peppery sauce, so much so we wondered why we had never encountered the combination before (a friend of ours who we ran into at the restaurant that night commented that the carbonara reminded him of the heavenly pastas he’d sampled in Italy – high praise for a fusion dish from a Japanese establishment!).

Carbonara udon

The tonpei yaki ($8.95) is Izakaya Tomo’s version of an okonomiyaki. Instead of a flat pancake, the dish was made up of a pork and cabbage-filled egg crepe drizzled with Japanese mayo. Though I probably prefer the pancake version, Mack was more than amused at the swaying bonito flakes.

Tonpei yaki

The server must have misheard me, as we intended to order the chicken kara-age ($7.95), and didn’t realize until we received the bill that the dish we actually received was the chicken teriyaki ($10.95). That explained why the chicken wasn’t as crispy as we expected. We really appreciated the side of cabbage and bell peppers, which helped balance out the heavier items.

Chicken teriyaki

The beef shogayaki ($10.95), was a ginger-fried beef, shredded paper thin. It was Mack’s favourite dish, with forward, but not overwhelming ginger flavour.

Beef shogayaki

Service was friendly and attentive, and we were never left wanting anything. The food also came out lightning fast, to the point where we could barely keep up!

With the continued trend of share plate dining, Izakaya Tomo is entering the Edmonton food scene at the right time. And given it is our favourite way to eat out, sampling our way through numerous dishes, we look forward to trying the rest of the menu, and of course, to receiving another warm welcome!

Izakaya Tomo
3739 99 Street
(780) 440-9152

Food Notes for January 14, 2013

While I appreciate the warmer weather (it makes going out for winter walks much less of a chore), it’d be better if things stayed below freezing. It’s going to be hard to keep my pants clean with cars entering the splash zone…Onto this week’s food notes:

In conjunction with International Week, the University of Alberta Office of Sustainability is hosting Raj Patel, who will be speaking on food cultures for sustainability on January 30, 2013. Admission is free.
Fork Fest, which runs from January 20-24 and 27-31, 2013, has started to post their menus. Prix fixe menus are not consistently priced, which makes it a bit more difficult to browse, but given the range of casual to more upscale eateries participating, perhaps it suits individual establishments better.
A new wine bar opened up in the Illuminada 2 last Thursday, called Jono’s Bar (11931 Jasper Avenue).
Vue Weekly has a great profile on Canteen, brought to you by Frank and Andrea Olson of the Red Ox Inn. I love that their menu is built around sharing!
Vue Weekly reviewed Panciteria de Manila (9653 102 Ave). Sounds like a great, inexpensive option downtown!
Marianne wrote about her recent visits to Canteen, Sloppy Hogs Roed Hus and The Underground Tap and Grill.
Cindy reviewed the recently opened north side location of Pho Hoan Pasteur.
The craft beer market is heating up in Edmonton, with Calgary’s Craft Beer Market set to invade our city in the spring.
I was remiss in not linking to Valerie’s thorough post on 2013 trends, which covers the continued rise in local food and urban agriculture, food education, food writing and social networking. A must read!
#yegfood was the #3 hashtag employed by local users in 2012!
At Deep Freeze this weekend, Mack and I opted to try empanadas from Paraiso Tropical (9136 118 Ave), a Latin food market. We were able to get 4 empanadas for just $10, and they were the perfect snack enjoyed by a warm fire. The red corn empanada was particularly good.

Empanadas Paraiso Tropical

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