Food Notes for August 31, 2020

Sugared and Spiced to Re-Evaluate Business Model

Like many food businesses, bakery Sugared and Spiced pivoted early on in the pandemic this summer and began offering some take-and-bake items. This met a need for customers limiting trips outside the home, and was added as an option in addition to their fresh baked goods and cakes. But with the length of the pandemic, they announced a need to shift their business model further.

Co-owners Amy and Jeff Nachtigall shared an update on August 26, 2020:

“So many things have changed in our lives and our business over the last 5 months, and we need to take a moment to examine how we can make our shop viable. Our revenue comes from things like spontaneous activity, well-planned gatherings and events, discretionary spending, and summer festival spillover. All of these are down, and some are non-existent.”

In response, the shop is closed for walk-ins until September 4, 2020 to provide the business time to re-evaluate. This will include some menu changes and finalizing an online ordering system.

So far, Sugared and Spiced has been “inundated with orders” after posting the update, and hope to have their new online system up soon.

COVID-19-related News

• Katy Ingraham of Cartago and Fleish shared an unpleasant experience with a customer who refused to wear a mask.
• Starbucks Canada announced that all customers will be required to wear face coverings in all company-owned cafes starting September 14, 2020.
• A Tim Hortons location in Edmonton at 14204 23 Avenue is temporarily closed due to a positive case of COVID-19.

Openings

• There’s a new brewery called Trial & Ale Brewing in Edmonton specializing in “long-aged mixed fermentations, Brett saisons and fruited sour and wild ferments”. Jason Foster shared their story on CBC Radioactive.
• Vintage Fork, formerly with a restaurant based at Rutherford House, has transitioned into offering online tea sales.
• Joey’s Restaurant has added a location in Ellerslie, at #9238 Ellerslie Road SW.

Upcoming Events

• Le Cheeseburger Week takes place from September 1-7, 2020, with a national search for Canada’s best cheeseburger. The event benefits Centraide and United Way, with proceeds with select burgers donated to food, housing and skills training programs. While most entries are concentrated in Quebec, Edmonton has one entrant: Cafe Rista.
• Canada’s Great Kitchen Party will be hosted virtually in Edmonton on October 23, 2020 with three-course meals delivered to ticket holders. Tickets are $195 per person. The Tomato has a run-down of the six chefs competing.

Reviews

• Lydia shared a sponsored post about Rice Bowl Deluxe.

Local News

• The Edmonton Journal’s Liane Faulder submitted her farewell column – her voice will be missed in the local food scene.
• Chartier out in Beaumont has re-opened after some renovations.
• Ernest’s at NAIT will re-open in September.
• Food truck Smoke & Ash was broken into last week.
• Pink Gorilla Pizzeria continues the trend of heat-and-eat items with their Grab n Go Calzones.
• CBC Radioactive went on a hunt for mini doughnuts, in lieu of cancelled festivals this summer. They found them at Fatburger.
• Long-standing Black Box Hospitality Group Chef Allan Suddaby is departing the company – best wishes Allan!
• CJSR podcast That’s Food launched their second season with a doughnut-focused episode, sampling their way through Bliss Baked Goods, Take 5, Italian Bakery, Ohana, and Safeway.
• Parts 3 and 4 of the Let’s Find Out series focusing on former restaurant Mirama are now available.

Beyond Edmonton

• KFC has suspended their “finger lickin’ good” slogan in light of the pandemic.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• Chatsworth Farm, located about two hours east of Edmonton, has started a Chatsworth Farm Through the Season subscription. Participants will be able to visit the farm at five prime times through the year, including harvest, calving season, and lambing season. 15 spots are available and the deadline to sign up is September 21, 2020.

What I Ate

• Art of Charcuterie has teamed up with Meuwly’s to offer handmade boxes that will feature their house-made cured meats alongside other local products. We were fortunate enough to have been gifted a sample over the weekend, and can attest to how stunning they are.

Art of Charcuterie box

• Mack, Emily, and I celebrated the end of summer (since every glorious day at this point may be the last one) with another picnic on Friday. It was time for our annual Burger’s Priest binge on their Vatican City burger (made with two grilled cheese sandwich “buns”).

Vatican City from Burger’s Priest