Food Notes for May 4, 2020

Food Establishments May Re-open Next Week

The Government of Alberta released its Relaunch Strategy last week, and indicated that some restrictions on cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars may be lifted as soon as May 14, 2020.

Dependent on the approval of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, stage one would allow food establishments to re-open for public seating at 50% capacity.

Patrick Saurette of The Marc responded to this possibility in an interview with City TV, and indicated that although it may be permitted, his restaurant may decide not to open because staff and diners may not feel safe.

In other COVID-19-related news:

• Cartago has started selling cocktail kits.
• Vaticano Cucina will be opening for curbside pick-up and delivery starting May 7, 2020.
• Global published a story about Rosewood Foods and Wing Snob, new businesses that have had to pivot from in-person dining because of the pandemic. CBC has a similar story on the same businesses.
• The Tomato wrote about several local businesses that have adjusted their services for curbside pick-up and delivery, including Cibo Bistro, Filistix, Corso 32, and Glass Monkey.
• CBC featured The Grizzlar, Sea Change Brewing, and Kind Ice Cream on how they’ve changed to remain open.
• Food trucks will be permitted to operate this summer, as long as they adhere to certain guidelines to maintain public health.
• Duchess has been able to donate $1000 to the Bissell Centre last week; their drivers are taking donations in lieu of tips for the charity.
• DaVinci Gelato (which started making its own alcohol last year to make alcohol-infused gelato), switched production gears to start producing hand sanitizer last month.
• Pierogerie, a vendor at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market, is offering pierogi making kits for home use.
• Press’d has also gone the route of opening up their pantry and is offering flour and yeast for sale at their shops.
• There is another grocery delivery service available in the Edmonton area called Fresh Forward.
• More than half a dozen businesses, including Crave, have banded together to create the YEG Community Box, which offers a collection of “tiny treats, relaxing items, or small activities.”
• Edmonton’s Food Bank continues to adapt to high demand, especially in light of the cancellation of the Heritage Festival, one of its biggest food drives of the year.

Openings

• Sister cafe to Sugarbowl Eleanor & Laurent is now open next door (10926 88 Avenue), and offers French pastry and fresh breads.
• Century Hospitality has expanded their ghost kitchens to include concepts Nooch, offering protein bowls, and Chuck, offering burgers and milkshakes.
• Brew and Bloom is a forthcoming cafe opening this summer. In the meantime, they are offering 25% off their food items for delivery.
• A new food business called Malay Bakery is offering Malaysian curry puffs and rolled pandan for delivery.
• Nico’s Cookie Co., run by a 10 year old boy, is also a relatively new business that offers porch pick-up in Parkland County.

Closures

• Jacek has announced that they’ve closed their 104 Street shop (but will be maintaining their location in Sherwood Park).
• The Table Top Cafe has closed their 124 Street location.

Upcoming Events

• The next #EatWithMeYEG takes place on May 6, 2020 and will feature The Local Good’s current #LocalGoodnessYEG project which highlights small businesses.
• The Food Truck Drive Thru returns with its second edition and six trucks on May 9, 2020 in the parking lot of Southgate Centre.

Local News

• Chef Alexei Boldireff has left Baijiu.
• For those looking to spoil their mamas with a special home-cooked brunch or dinner, there are many restaurants to choose from who have put together meal kits, including RGE RD, Jack’s Burger Shack, Central Social Hall, and Century Hospitality.
• For others seeking something more ready-made, Filistix has Mother’s Day feasts, The Butternut Tree, Reinette Cafe, and Knosh are selling high tea orders, Brio and Sugared and Spiced have Mother’s Day gift boxes, and The Marc has put together picnic baskets.
• Several local businesses have also collaborated for food and flower gift packs, including: Splash Poke, Caramunchies, and Lovella and The Art of Cake and FaBLOOMosity. Get Cooking and Prairie Gardens are offering virtual cooking classes, with an accompanying basket of greens and vegetables (and the potential to add on flowers).
• The Local Good is featuring ways to support small businesses this month. The first week is all about food and drink, including local bakeries and farmers’ markets.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• Northlands, through its Alberta Flavour initiative, is conducting a survey to determine how the current disruptions in the food system can be managed.
• Liane wrote about a number of local community supported agriculture projects that have escalated in popularity in recent weeks, including Sparrow’s Nest, Prairie Gardens, and Riverbend Gardens.
• Local farmers, including Rock Ridge Dairy and potato growers, are feeling the effects of the pandemic on their bottom line.
• “Meat is the new toilet paper” – or so say some Alberta meat producers who have seen their demand increase as meat packing plants have been forced to close, impacting supplies at grocery stores.

What I Ate

• We love having so many restaurants within a five minute walk of our place – many that we’re finally getting to for the first time! Friday night take-out was from Bao Bao – we especially enjoyed the traditional pan-fried bao (with pork bone soup inside) and the sweet and sour pork rib dry noodle. They also accept phone orders to bypass third-party apps for pick-up!

Our order from Bao Bao

• On Saturday, after meeting a friend’s baby for the first time (through a window!), we swung by Jack’s Burger Shack on the way home. It wasn’t planned, but we decided to eat our meal while it was still hot at a nearby park. The hangover burger really hit the spot, and Emily loved the fries!

A quick picnic with Jack’s