Food Notes for October 30, 2017

In spite of the rain on Vancouver Island, it was nice to be in an area where fall is still very much in full swing. There is a lot to catch up on though – here is a super-sized version of food notes:

• This year’s Chili Cook-Off is shifting to 104 Street on November 3, 2017 from 11:30am-1:30pm.
• Blue Rose Vegan’s latest YEG Snacks is themed around Netflix – pre-order for pick-up on November 3, 2017.
• The Friends of the Royal Alberta Museum Society has organized Ale-Beer-Ta, a session and tasting to explore the beer brewing heritage of Alberta. The event runs November 7, 2017 and tickets are $20.
• Pip, the third establishment from the folks behind The Next Act and Meat, opens on October 31, 2017 at 10403 83 Avenue.
• Food4Good is hosting a Harvest Market on November 14, 2017. Expect a fruit and veggie sale, energy bite workshop, and learn about their vision for Edmonton’s first Community Food Centre. Food4Good is also looking for new committee members.
• Montreal Hotdogs has announced their revised opening date – November 3, 2017.
• London Local, the new English-inspired restaurant co-owned by Chef Lindsay Porter (formerly of El Cortez and Woodwork), is now open in the former Cured space in south Edmonton (2307 Ellwood Drive). Liane and Graham preview of what to expect.
• Revel, which has taken over the Alberta Hotel restaurant space, opened this month. Liane tried a few dishes during the media preview.
• Mayday Dogs in the Mercer Warehouse is finally open! Check out their menu here.
• It’s great to hear that the Rutherford House (11153 Saskatchewan Drive) is home to another restaurant. Vintage Fork opened in October and serves breakfast and lunch.
• There’s a new mobile coffee vendor in town called Lui-Chi’s Espresso and Fine Treats – Cindy has the lo-down.
• Parkallen Restaurant has refreshed their menu.
• Destination Doughnuts is coming soon to 10548 124 Street.
• Forthcoming is Kanto, a Filipino eatery to open in Chinatown.
• Also in Chinatown, Liuyishou Hotpot has replaced Urban Shabu in Pacific Rim Mall.
• Let’s Grill Sushi & Izakaya will open in place of Arabia at 10709 Jasper Avenue.
• Chris Buyze says Korean food store H-Mart will be moving into the shell that was never Whole Foods on Calgary Trail.
• Chef Levi Biddlecombe has left Packrat Louie and in December will be opening ?!Why Not¡¿ Cafe & Bar in the former Boardr space located at 8534 109 Street.
• Seafood chain The Captain’s Boil will open in South Edmonton Common at 2051 98 Street.
• The big news in October was the fact that three Edmonton restaurants made it into the top 10 of Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants list this year – congrats to Clementine, Cafe Linnea, and the Alder Room!
• Also on the list front, Edmonton landed on a Thrillist countdown of “11 underrated world cities you have to visit for the food”, alongside metropolises like Mumbai, Cape Town, and Guadalajara.
• Cindy is among the first to review Kiwado, a welcome ramen addition to central Edmonton.
• Graham immensely enjoyed his meal at The Bedouins, offering North African cuisine.
• Linda has an early review of An Chay, located in the former Pita-ghetti spot on 11203 Jasper Avenue.
• Both the Journal and Twyla reviewed The Butternut Tree (and both had to mention parking – why is the assumption that everyone drives?).
• Jonny is the latest to write about vegetarian Good Stock Restaurant, tried several of the offerings at Let Eat Snow, and also raved about Zwick’s Pretzels.
• Crystal paid a visit to Blaze Pizza.
• Vue Weekly went on a seafood binge, reviewing Takami and Grandin Fish ‘n’ Chips.
• Cathy shares her experience of Sunday brunch at Fort Edmonton Park.
• Sharman recaps the most recent Taste Alberta dinner at Canteen.
• Great story from Edmonton Made about a trio of restaurant groups that are “owning the block”.
• How did Edmonton reach its current culinary stride? Jennifer Cockrall-King seeks to answer that question.
• Another restaurant delivery service has launched in Edmonton – we can now order from Foodora, where 70% of their deliveries are done via bicycle.
• As you would expect, there are pros and cons of running a restaurant near Rogers Place.
• Buco’s Matteo Cesarotto won the Canadian Pizza Show last week, and will compete at the 2018 International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas.
• Rebecca Grant of The Violet Chocolate Company made Avenue Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 2017 list.
• Congratulations to Jennifer Cockrall-King who was recognized with a Taste Canada gold award for her excellent Food Artisans of the Okanagan guide.
• Perfect for the season, YEG Cider has some cider and Halloween candy pairing suggestions.
• Already planning for Christmas? Duchess has issued an updated version of their bestselling cookbook, and will be offering their first-ever holiday cookie box to pre-order.
• To ease back into routine, Mack and I headed to Cafe Amore for their daily pasta special.

Pesto alfredo from Cafe Amore

• It was also necessary for a trip to Pho Tau Bay – no other pho hits the spot for me.

Our usuals at Tau Bay