Food Notes for May 11, 2015

Spring is (finally) here – hope you’re out and about enjoying the beautiful weather! On to this week’s food notes:

• Get thee to an outdoor farmers’ market – Callingwood was among the first to open on May 3, and the South Common Market this past weekend on May 9 & 10. But my favourites are coming up – the 124 Grand Market on Thursday nights from 4-8pm starting May 14, and of course, the City Market on Saturdays from 9am-3pm beginning May 16. Check out the full list of Alberta Farmers’ Market Association markets here.
• Northlands is kicking off a series of their Urban Farm tours on May 15, with several more being offered throughout the summer. It’s a free look at their farm and beekeeping operations.
• Have you RSVP’d to our first What the Truck?! event of the season yet, taking place at Churchill Square on May 23? There are over 8,000 people expected already.
• The Capital Care Foundation is hosting a unique long table dinner on the field of Commonwealth Stadium called Feast on the Field. Taking place on August 12, it is a fundraiser for seniors in care. Tickets are $140 each.
• Parkallen’s new west end location, located at 10804 170 Street, opened on May 10, 2015.
• I can only hope this is true – Three Boars might be opening up a second location in the space vacated by Moriarty’s downtown (10150 100 Street).
• Phil breaks down what you can expect from Chef Lindsay Porter’s new menu at El Cortez.
• NongBu has been getting a lot of online love: this week, from Jonny.
• Congratulations to Phil (aka Baconhound), who not only won the 2014 Yeggie for Best in Food, but also took home the medal for Best Twitter Persona. Congrats to Phil and to the rest of the winners!
• Speaking of accolades, Vue Weekly released the results of their annual Golden Forks Awards last week – check if your favourites made the cut.
• Also from Vue – did you know that Knifewear offers a knife skills class?
• The rumours have been rampant for a long time, but it’s finally confirmed – south Edmonton is finally getting its own T & T Supermarket, located in the old Future Shop at 3451 Calgary Trail.
• Loblaws will be linking their new rewards program with incentives for purchasing healthy products – though we’ll see how big the net will be in defining “healthy”.
• It’s been a while since we’ve been to the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market, but we were delighted to come across Mo-Na Food’s booth. They’re still waiting to hear back if they’ll be vending past the end of May.

Mo-Na at OSFM

• I had a hankering for Bun Bo Hue on Friday, and was saddened to encounter a closed King Noodle House that evening. Mack and I eventually had to settle for Pagolac’s version across the street.

Bun Bo Hue from Pagolac

• Before the Yeggies on Saturday, Mack and I had a bite to eat at Café Bicyclette. The serving was as generous as I remembered, though the gravy was a little on the sweet side this time around.

Poutine from Café Bicyclette

See you at the City Market!