Honouring Edmonton’s Best in Food
March is the season of food lists in Edmonton, with both the food issue of Avenue Edmonton and The Tomato’s Top 100 Best Things to Eat or Drink dropping on the same day.
Avenue’s “Best Overall” category saw Biera take the top spot, followed by RGE RD, Cibo Bistro, Bundok, and Uccellino. It’s also worth noting that a couple of ethnic eateries – Kanto 98 St. and An Chay – are included in the “Best New” category.
The Tomato’s list placed RGE RD’s blood sausage as their top item, followed by dishes from Uccellino, The Butternut Tree, Corso 32, and Cibo Bistro.
Openings
- Melt Sandwiches is set for their soft opening on March 5, 2019. From the folks behind Cookie Love, their newest venture in the former Daily Planet space on the second floor of the Bell Tower is all about gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and soups.
- There’s a crowdfunding campaign underway for Glass Bookshop, which hopes to be Edmonton’s newest bookstore and wine bar in the Quarters.
- The folks behind the Little Brick Cafe development are adding a “cousin” in Riverdale called Umphreville Block, promising a bistro pub, among other things.
Upcoming Events
- Knosh Catering hosts semi-regular afternoon teas at their Crestwood Curling Club location. Their next event is a Dr. Who-themed tea on March 17, 2019. The cost is $35 per person, and reservations are required.
Reviews
- Lydia offers a photolog of her recent meal at Al Centro.
- Graham wasn’t as floored as other reviewers have been with Formosa Bistro.
- Don’t click on Sharon’s photolog about OEB if you’re hungry!
- Crystal paid a visit to The Provincial Kitchen & Bar, and particularly enjoyed their doughnut grilled cheese.
Local News
- Kind Ice Cream, a small-batch ice cream shop that hopes to open in Ritchie in the spring, has launched a Kickstarter campaign. They aim to raise $15,000.
- This Postmedia piece highlights Shane Chartrand’s restaurant in the River Cree Resort, along with some details about his forthcoming cookbook called Tawaw: Progressive Indigenous Cuisine.
- Where Edmonton recommends new-ish restaurant Three Vikings.
- Club House for Chefs interviewed a number of local chefs, including The Marc’s Spencer Thompson, Baijiu’s Alexei Boldireff, SC at River Cree’s Shane Chartrand, and Wishbone’s Brayden Kozak.
- It was great news to hear City Council went ahead with funding for the Wild Heart Collective Program today. Taproot Edmonton has a summary about the program in their latest Council Roundup – they have plans for a 15,000 square foot food incubation hub called The Public, located at 10560 107 Street. The space includes commercial kitchens to support small food businesses, and they hope to open in October 2019. There is an option to build a year-round, multi-day public market in the future as well. The Journal also covered the story.
- There’s some fascinating oat-based products coming out of NAIT’s research kitchens, such as ice cream, yogurt, pastas, and even cheese.
Urban Agriculture and Farming
- Seedy Sunday is returning on March 17, 2019, from 11am-4pm at the Central Lions Seniors’ Centre at 11113 113 Street. There will be presentations on a variety of topics, including soil health, mushroom growing, and yes, cannabis cultivation, and lots of vendors for those already planning their gardens for the year.
Only Here for the Food 