Scavenger Hunt Encourages North Edge Exploration
The North Edge, a Business Improvement Area located just north of Downtown and Oliver, has created a unique way to encourage exploration of more than a dozen of their food-related establishments.
YEG Takeout is offering a total of $750 in Visa gift cards for those keen to solve clues related to 14 different businesses in the area, or at least take the time to visit at least one location during the specified time frame. The contest runs from September 11-25, 2020. Participating businesses include The Art of Cake, Uproot Food Collective, The Lingnan, and Blue Nile Restaurant.
The scavenger hunt was put together by Vinson Luong of Food Search Inc. Early on in the pandemic back in March, Vinson had put together a popular Google Doc listing over 500 restaurants who were offering take-out and delivery.
COVID-19-related News
- Bodega’s 124 Street has been voluntarily closed until September 15, 2020 due to one staff having tested positive for COVID-19.
- The owners behind Cafe Neo and 7 Summit Snacks share their experiences of launching businesses during a pandemic.
- Sugared and Spiced has re-opened to walk-ins Friday to Sunday.
- The Sunterra location in Commerce Place has re-opened.
- Get Cooking will be resuming in-person classes starting September 17, 2020.
Openings
- Hanjan is opening a third location in Oliver on September 18, 2020. Find it at 10166 114 Street.
- Eritrean restaurant Weini opened in August 2020 at 10514 111 Street.
- New Italian restaurant Del Posto opened up back in July in the former Pho Langs space at 10056 107 Street.
- Thanks to Linda for the heads-up about a new Mexican restaurant in Spruce Grove called El Taco Loco (307 McLeod Avenue).
- Two new establishments will be opening up in Riverdale later this year by the current owners of Little Brick: savoury bakery Bread and Butter Bakery and pub Dogpatch.
Upcoming Events
- A trio of amazing chefs (Edgar Gutierrez, Roel Canafranca, Ariel del Rosario) are collaborating to cook up a Filipino-inspired brunch on September 20, 2020 at Filistix.
- The Telus World of Science is hosting a virtual fundraising event called the Lumen Kitchen Party on October 16, 2020. Tickets are $20 and include live performances and food-themed science experiments. There is also the option for a dinner and wine-pairing from RGE RD or Guru (starting at $43 per person).
Local News
- Why Not started a pre-order take-out only initiative called Backstairs Burger (a take on the “alley burgers” of the past). They’re serving up some of “the craziest burgers in YEG”.
- I Heart Edmonton created a Foodie Edition of a #TrueEdmontonian list that went viral last week. This list includes 50 food businesses, some of which are no longer in business. These types of lists are always subjective, and others have offered their own lists in response.
- Sharman Hnatiuk put together a great gluten-free restaurant guide over at Explore Edmonton.
- In the same vein as In the Weeds, Chef Steven Brochu of MilkCrate launched MilkCrate Listens in June 2020. It’s meant to “encourage more conversations about mental health, particularly within the restaurant and hospitality industries.”
- True North Picnic will continue to offer outdoor picnics as long as the temperature remains above 0C. Their fall picnic experiences take place at fire pits.
- Kristina Botelho of kb&co is a finalist for the Alberta Women Entrepreneurs Emerging Entrepreneur Award.
- Calgary and Edmonton top take-out numbers in all of Canada, according to Skip the Dishes (though it doesn’t specify whether this is per capita or volume). Over at DoorDash, it appears the most popular item are fries.
- Pizza 73, which originated in Edmonton in 1985, is celebrating 35 years in business.
- Grocery delivery service Inabuggy has launched Inabuggy-Mart in Edmonton that will offer 30-minute delivery from convenience stores, flower shops and butchers.
Beyond Edmonton
- Plant-based Impossible Burger is now available in Canada, but unfortunately, not currently in Edmonton. 13 restaurants in Canada are serving up their products; locals will have to drive to Calgary’s CHARCUT to taste it for now.
What I Ate
- Mack, Emily, and I headed to Drumheller last week for another staycation. As with our other break earlier this summer, we brought frozen dishes sourced locally, including pies from South Island Pies, TV dinners from Culina To Go, and pizzas from Love Pizza (unfortunately, they’ve pivoted away from the frozen pies).
Meatatarian take-and-bake from Love Pizza
- Having meals at our AirBnB is a symptom of having a two-year old but also an effort to limit necessary trips indoors. WE made one exception for a stop at Black Mountain Roasters, to sample some local coffee and fresh cinnamon buns.
Cinnamon bun from Black Mountain Roasters
- We are so grateful to everyone who was involved in getting a market back #on4th this summer. Emily is old enough now to look excitedly out the window on Saturday mornings and exclaim that the market is here. We were regulars at Riverbend Gardens (we look forward to their corn every August), Steve & Dan’s, and Sunworks, and look forward to the possibility that the market may return again next summer. Check out the final Al Fresco Market of the season on September 19, from 11am-4pm.
Emily will miss the market
Only Here for the Food 