I’m a part of two events this weekend – the 97 Street Night Market and the ImMACulate Garden Party. Hope you’re able to join us! On to this week’s food notes:
- It will be a busy weekend in Edmonton. Among events is the Driving Change for United Way event on August 22, from 5-9pm in Old Strathcona, featuring eight food trucks. A portion of all food sales will go to the United Way.
- On August 23, 2014, from 6-10pm, the second annual 97 Street Night Market will be taking place in Chinatown. I wrote more about it last week, but join us for food, free walking tours, vendors and a new vision for the neighbourhood.
- Drift is hosting another pop-up on the heels of their successful “pay the rent pop-up series”. This time, they’re offering brunch on Sunday, August 24, 2014, from 11am-2pm.
- Viva Italia’s annual festival takes place August 24, 2014, from 12-9pm in Giovanni Caboto Park. Enjoy live entertainment, wine and cheese and cooking demonstrations.
- The ImMACulate Garden Party takes over the gorgeous Hotel Macdonald terrace on August 24, 2014, from 2-5pm. Attendees are encouraged to dress in garden whites and pastels to enjoy tasty nibbles and a signature drink, play lawn games, and learn more about the history of one of Edmonton’s most iconic buildings. Tickets are $40 and must be purchased in advance.
- I love the idea behind the YEG Market District on Stony Plain Road – their first event on August 24, 2014 from 9am-5pm will transform a back alley into a stage, market and gathering place.
- El Cortez is now open! I’m sure it’s rockin’, and not only from the spillover from the Fringe.
- Cindy and Liane both visited Rostizado, the new spot from the Tres Carnales boys, last week. Can’t wait to check it out tomorrow!
- Sabor Divino is having a month-long seafood festival, running August 14-September 14. Check out the menu here.
- Bannock Burger on 124 Street was short lived – it is now closed. That said, the owners are looking for other options after the landlord decided not to renew their lease.
- The nearby Eden’s Market on 124 also announced that they have ceased operations, with August 10 having been their last market.
- Looking to have a picnic, but don’t have the time to put together a basket of eats? There’s now a service for that, called YEG Picnic.
- Happy to hear the backyard chickens pilot passed City Council today!
- Tim Horton’s debuted a new dark roast coffee on Friday, in an effort to target McDonald’s and Starbucks coffee drinkers. Mack tried it today, and commented that though it is better than their regular joe, it won’t be garnering his regular business.
- Speaking of Tim Horton’s, they’re seeking votes for this year’s Duelling Doughnuts contest (the winner receives $10,000 and sees their creation grace the café menus). Great to see an Edmontonian among the Ontario-based entries. Go, Judd and your lumberjack doughnut!
- Mother’s Market celebrated their grand opening on Sunday. It was buzzing, and busier than I’d ever seen it. Their rooftop patio on the second floor is great – in the warmer months, it’ll be perfect for pre-shopping breakfasts and lunches.
Mother’s Market
Rooftop patio
- I had lunch at Culina Muttart last week with colleagues. It’s been some time since I’ve been, but service was efficient, and the perogies were fried to perfection.
Marina’s cheddar perogi
- I joined Brittney and the Food Bloggers (wouldn’t that make a great band name?), Cindy, Andrea, Diane and Teresa at Shanghai 456 last week. It was our first visit to the new location, and boy, was their kitchen quick. The xiaolong bao were as delicious as I remembered.
Food, glorious food!
Only Here for the Food 
Mother’s Market actually has an Aboriginal cuisine-inspired vendor upstairs called Native Delights. I have yet to try it, but there was a good line when I passed by. This is not to say that Bannock Burger can be so easily replaced, but that there still is somewhere in the city that offers bannock burgers, bannock sandwiches, and even bannock hotdogs!