If there’s one upside to the decreasing hours of daylight, it’s that Christmas is drawing ever-closer. Let’s see if this is the year I convince Mack to put up the tree before American Thanksgiving…On to this week’s food notes:
- If you’re in denial about the impending winter, the Holiday Light Up on November 14, 2015 might be the place to go, where 8 food trucks will be serving up food to help attendees keep warm on Churchill Square. It’s one of my favourite pre-Christmas events, so check it out if you haven’t been before, and stay for the fireworks!
- Perhaps the most surprising news last week was learning that Westin Hotel Chef Ryan O’Flynn, last year’s Gold Medal Plates winner, will be leaving Edmonton for Toronto’s O & B in December. Given O & B is consulting on the Ice District, we may see Chef O’Flynn again in the future.
- Watch for the opening of Chef Paul Shufelt’s new restaurant, Workshop Eatery, on November 16, 2015.
- Good news on the burger front for Edmonton – Jack’s Burger Shack, a popular St. Albert restaurant, announced that they’ll be opening a location in the city.
- Ikki Izakaya received a mostly positive review from the Journal.
- Vue Weekly throws the spotlight on the Fijian-Indian cuisine offered at a long-established restaurant, The Curry House.
- Second Cup announced that their baked goods will now be supplied by the Italian Centre. You may remember that they used to source their bakery items from Bee Bell Bakery, so it’s nice to see their return to supporting local.
- Jason Foster would like local breweries to more prominently tell the story of our beer history.
- Phil’s latest Off Menu podcast is an interview with cookbook author Emily Richards.
- I like the idea of an alternative to the office lunch: Chef Brad Smoliak offers one such option, a two hour Express Cooking Class, combining holiday cheer with a lesson in food.
- If you haven’t already heard, the 2016 Sexy Men of YEG Food calendar is out, with another twelve men from the local food scene to admire. The proceeds from the $20 calendar go to the Food Bank.
- There are many ways to give back this holiday season – one is a campaign to Think Outside the Chocolate Box. In lieu of purchasing sweets for the office, consider diverting that cash to the Edmonton Food Bank, to support those less fortunate.
- On a similar note, Elaine Wilson has spearheaded Bake-A-Batch for Wings of Providence. She hopes to meet the need of collecting 400 dozen baked treats to be provided to women and children staying at the shelter who are fleeing domestic violence.
- I will miss reading Mark Bittman’s columns in the New York Times, but they had a nice tribute featuring ten of his most popular recent stories.
- Just in time for Christmas, the Le Creuset shop is poised to open in Southgate Centre this month.
Le Creuset – coming soon
- It’s that time of year (and the only holiday-related item that Mack tolerates in November) – Starbucks’ Red Cup. “Controversy” aside, I actually prefer a busier design, but to each their own.
The Red Cup is back!
- After a meeting at La Cite Francophone last week, I stayed for lunch at Café Bicyclette. It’s quite the hub during the day, and I found the $9 soup and quiche lunch (with a pain au chocolate included) very reasonable.
Quiche and seafood chowder from Café Bicyclette
- Padmanadi is frequented by my office a lot because of its proximity and ability to accommodate many dietary needs. They also make a killer ginger “beef”.
Ginger beef from Padmanadi
Only Here for the Food 