Oliver Neighbourhood Food Exchange Box First in Edmonton
Edmonton has its first food exchange box, located in the Oliver area. Quinn Wade spearheaded the idea, inspired by the Little Free Library movement, which promotes book sharing. The box functions on the generosity of strangers – people contribute what they have to give, and those in need take from the box. Wade shared that people have been considerate of others:
“One of things that COVID has really done is (show) there’s a lot of good in this world and there’s a lot of really good people.”
More boxes to house donations in other neighbourhoods are currently in the works.
COVID-19-related News
- More restaurants continue to open up for dine-in service in June, including Sofra, Green Onion Cake Man’s Downtown location, and the Union Bank Inn.
- Liane featured Rosewood Foods in a story about an example of a restaurant opening up in a pandemic.
- Since restaurants re-opened to dine-in service, patrons have been asked to observe some new rules.
- Looking for a patio that is open Downtown? The Downtown Business Association has you covered.
- Sorrentino’s has re-launched their in-person cooking classes, with limits to 6 people per class, and physical distancing in effect.
- Kudos to DOSC, Japonais Bistro, and Dorinku Osaka who are donating care packages to workers in a hospital unit once a week.
- The Africa Centre is among 10 groups in Edmonton’s African community to assist those in need with food hampers and other support programs.
- Edmonton-based Earth Group is hoping to provide 50,000 meals to families in need, and has partnered with the Italian Centre to extend the money raised.
Openings
- Shack A Patate, serving up burgers and fries, opens in Sherwood Park on June 2, 2020 at #122, 270 Baseline Road.
- The Greenhouse’s second location at the Riverside Golf Course opened last weekend.
Closures
- The Gamers’ Lodge on 124 Street has closed permanently.
Upcoming Events
- The next Food Truck Drive-Thru will be on June 3, 2020 from 4-8pm at the WECA Church parking lot (6315 199 Street), featuring Drift, Casa 12 Doce and Jackie O’s.
- Chef Levi Biddlecombe is the next local contestant on Food Network’s FireMasters. The episode featuring his competition airs on June 11, 2020, and he will be hosting a viewing party at The Provincial Kitchen & Pub to celebrate. Tickets are $21 plus fees, and includes a drink and some food.
Local News
- Sabor is offering a to-go Swine and Dine dinner for two on June 4, 2020. The cost is $70.
- Congratulations to Milk Crate and The Baker’s Son for celebrating their one year anniversaries!
- The Public, a forthcoming food business incubator and market, has launched some pre-set food boxes called Public Offering Boxes that can be picked up from the 124 Market or from The Public each week.
- Sharon tried another new delivery-based food business called Graham’s Jerkhouse.
- The current episode of podcast Don’t Call Me A Guru explores how some local businesses, including Milk Crate and the Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market, are using social media during the pandemic.
- The second season of CJSR’s That’s Food podcast kicks off by focusing on some easy to make dishes at home.
- Cathy shares her love of the waffle puck from Old Strathcona and Bountiful Farmers’ Market vendor Cookie Crumbs.
- Avenue interviewed Scott Messenger about his book, Tapping the West: How Alberta’s Craft Beer Industry Bubbled Out of an Economy Gone Flat.
- Peter Keith of Meuwly’s has joined the Board of Directors of the Culinary Federation.
Urban Agriculture and Farming
- Congratulations to The Organic Box for marking ten years in business!
- Edmonton-based company Future Fields is working on lab-grown meat, aka “cultivated meat”.
What I Ate
- Thanks to The Glass Monkey for gifting me one of their beautiful sourdough loaves this weekend! They recommend pre-ordering for those interested.
Sourdough from Glass Monkey
- Craving pizza, this week’s take-out was from Campio Brewing. Though the toppings were great (I loved their cheekily named “PB & J” – pineapple, bacon, and jalapenos), the Detroit-style crust could have used more time in the oven.
PB & J pizza from Campio Brewing
Only Here for the Food 