Food Notes for July 15, 2019

H-Mart Opens to Large Crowds

H-Mart, an American-based Asian grocer specializing in Korean products, opened in Edmonton on July 11, 2019. Located at 570, 3803 Calgary Trail, it took over the space that had been vacant for some time after Whole Foods cancelled their plans for its first store in Edmonton.

South Park Centre is becoming a hub for Asian groceries and food, with the city’s first Jollibee location to open soon, and a T & T Supermarket a few blocks south.

Openings

• Franchise Ramen Misoya’s Edmonton location opened over the weekend at 10148 104 Street.
• Bean Around the World, a BC-based coffee chain, opened its first location outside of BC in Edmonton at 10510 111 Street.
• Golden Cafe (the rebranded Garden Bakery at 10019 106 Avenue) is now open.

Closures

• Salz is now closed; they decided not to renew their lease, but indicate that they are “on the lookout for a bigger, better shop from which to sling bratwurst and pour Alberta craft beer.” (Thanks to Sharman for the heads up!)

Upcoming Events

• The next Food4Good low-cost fruit and vegetable sale is taking place at The Big Picture Block Party on July 25, 2019 at Butler Memorial Park (15715 Stony Plain Road).
• Sabor’s annual Seafood Festival runs August 3-30, 2019. They’ll have a number of special ticketed dinners. including a Food Day Canada collaboration kick-off dinner on August 3, 2019 with Julie Van Rosendaal and Emily Richards.
• Alberta on the Plate is a new culinary festival “celebrating Alberta local food and drink”, and runs August 9-18, 2019. Participating restaurants will be offering multi-course fixed priced menus highlighting local producers.
• Farm open house and culinary experience details are now up on the Alberta Open Farm Days website. The event runs August 17-18, 2019.
• The annual Culinaire Treasure Hunt returns to Edmonton on September 7, 2019. Teams of two can register for $75, and individuals for $47.50.

Reviews

• The Journal had a positive experience at Say Uncle.
• Graham has much praise for Mimi’s.
• YEGventures offers a brief review on Hungry Birds.
• Crystal posted about her recent visit to Malt and Mortar.

Local News

• St. Albert Today has an article about Chef Paul Shufelt commitment to purchasing whole animals from local farmer Jeff Nonay that ultimately developed into an idea for Woodshed Burgers. The pair were also on Global Edmonton promoting their partnership.
• Canada’s Great Kitchen Party has announced the chefs participating in the October 10, 2019 cooking competition.
• Some local food and drink products made it onto the Made in Alberta Awards list of finalists, including Jacek, Hansen and Strathcona Spirits Distilleries, and Gold Forest Grains. You can vote for your favourite until July 31, 2019.
• Sharman wrote a guide to gluten-free restaurants for Explore Edmonton.
• Crystal posted a guide to 124 Street, including places to eat, drink, and play.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• RGE RD’s Chef Blair Lebsack provides insight into four edible weeds intrepid local foragers can harvest and consume.

What I Ate

• Mack, Emily and I had the privilege of attending a media event at Melt Sandwich Co. last week. Located on the pedway level of the Bell Tower, Melt was opened by the folks behind Cookie Love back in February, and serves up breakfast and lunch. We were able to try nearly all of the sandwiches they offer. My favourite was the burger melt (one of their best-sellers, along with the dill fried chicken and the Cubano), while Mack continues to have a soft spot for their mac and cheese sandwich.

Burger melt from Melt Sandwich Co.

• Last week, I had lunch with colleagues at Mama Asha, a Somali restaurant just off 118 Avenue. Their chicken suqaar wrap at $10 is a great value; most of us struggled to finish it. My favourite part was that it was made with sabayad, a delicious flatbread similar to roti.

Chicken suqaar wrap at Mama Asha

• A go-to for work lunches, I was back at T & D Noodle House today. My usual is their 2-colour vermicelli bowl with grilled chicken and spring rolls.

My regular at T & D Noodle House

• Ritual, an app that allows diners to pre-order food at cafes and restaurants, has launched in Edmonton. To celebrate, they are running a $1 Food Fest Downtown, with more than two dozen participating establishments. Mack and I have been eating our way through the deals, but the best one has to be La Mision’s “small” burrito – an incredible steal at just $1. The Food Fest runs until July 19.

Picnic at Alex Decoteau Park with our burritos (Emily is not impressed I interrupted her dinner)