Food Notes for November 23, 2020

Specialty Spirit and Mead On Order

The pandemic hasn’t halted the development and production of new alcoholic beverages. Strathcona Spirits, even in the midst of their escalating production of hand sanitizer, found the time to create absinthe.

Distiller Adam Smith learned the craft in Europe two years ago, and worked his way through the process. Smith shared with the Edmonton Journal:

“It takes an immense amount of botanicals. We used European wormwood in the initial maceration (mashing), and then we did a secondary one using different botanicals, including local wormwood and mint. It was a long and very tiring process.”

Although the limited run bottles have since sold out, Smith has committed to making more in the future.

High Water Honey & Mead will be the Edmonton area’s first craft meadery when it opens next August. It will be based out of an old firehall in New Sarepta, Leduc County, opened by couple Will and Mika Munsey.

Like Smith at Strathcona Spirits, Munsey required some experimentation to create a consistent product, including adding in locally-sourced herbs and berries to flavour the batches. They also have big plans for the space,

“It won’t only be a meadery. We’d have space for local artisans, music nights, farmer’s markets. There’s a lot of creativity in these parts, and a lot of hard working people. We need to be taking advantage of these aspects, even if it’s a scary time to open a business.”

COVID-19-related News

• Love Pizza voluntarily closed their St. Albert location after a staff tested positive for COVID-19.
• Northern Chicken also voluntarily closed due to a positive COVID-19 case on staff. They plan to re-open on November 29, 2020 at the earliest for take-out and delivery.
• The Dapper Beaver has chosen to remove in-store seating at the shop.
• Hookah bar Mist has been closed by Alberta Health Services due to protocol violations related to COVID-19 management.

Openings

• RGE RD’s sister business The Butchery opened last week at 12229 107 Avenue.
• After the season was cancelled, an Edmonton Football player Diego Viamontes opened a cafe called Ch at 14802 Stony Plain Road in the fall. They serve Brave Fox coffee (roasted in Beaumont) and serve Mexican chocolate.
• Damso Izakaya is the city’s newest izakaya at 10352 82 Avenue (the space formerly occupied by Hanaichi Express in Old Strathcona).
• Arcadia Brewing had to postpone their soft launch in Manchester Square this weekend due to a COVID-19 positive case on their staff. When they are ready, find them at 10712 120 Street.

Upcoming Events

• Biera opened up a pop-up shop in the Bottle Room of Ritchie Market on November 19, 2020 featuring Biera-made products in addition to other locally-sourced gifts.
• The St. Albert Indoor Christmas Market runs Saturdays from November 21 – December 19, 2020 at The Enjoy Centre. The Green Onion Cake Man is among the vendors.
• Filistix is hosting their first two installments of Filistix: After Dark on November 27 and 28, 2020, a platform to “try out new recipes, experiment with various flavours and techniques, and encourage us to step out of our comfort zone.” Take-out is available in addition to dining in.
• Cafe Lavi is hosting an Indonesian food pop-up on December 5, 2020.
• Ernest’s next Virtual Culinary Series will take place December 10, 2020. Tickets start at $133, and include the option for a cooking kit in place of shopping for your own ingredients.

Reviews

• Sharon was invited to try a hosted dinner at Del Posto Italian Kitchen.

Local News

• Congratulations to Linda and her second #AdoptAShop initiative, where nearly 250 people committed to spend over $17,000 at 64 small businesses in Edmonton.
• Hilton Dinner, who purchased Bon Ton Bakery in 1998, passed away earlier this month.
• Edmonton Conference Centre Executive Chef Serge Belair has launched a YouTube series called French-ie Cuisine so home cooks can learn some techniques and recipes from a professional.
• Effing Seafood now offers consumer delivery in Edmonton and some surrounding areas through Effing Fresh.
• Jason Foster talks about the politics behind XhAle Brew Co.’s new Impeachable beer.
• Twyla Campbell’s column on Edmonton AM this week focused on local cookbooks – just in time for Christmas.
• Padmanadi is answering the call of some Edmontonians in need by delivering free groceries to those who ask.
• Food insecurity continues to impact Edmontonians, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. On a related note, Edmonton’s Food Bank is hosting a 50/50 that runs until December 11, 2020.
• 5% of online gift cards purchased from Sorrentino’s from November 13 – December 18, 2020 will be donated to the Christmas Bureau and Santa’s Anonymous.

Beyond Edmonton

• Calgary has its first owner-operated food delivery company called Best of Calgary Foods. It is made up of 24 Calgary and area food and beverage companies who offer delivery for a flat $10 fee.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• Global featured local cheesemaker Lakeside Dairy, based in Sturgeon County about 45 kilometers north of Edmonton. It is owned by Jeff Nonay, known in Edmonton for his beef.

What I Ate

• While it wasn’t an official #AdoptAShop entry, it really had been too long since my last visit to Battista’s Calzone Co. We rectified that Friday with take-out. The shop is open just Friday through Sunday now, and is cash/e-transfer only, but the food quality hasn’t changed. The New York Mama is still my go-to!

New York Mama from Battista’s Calzone Co.

• Nothing says the weekend like a box of Rosewood Foods sweet and savoury treats! Their online ordering system also makes pre-ordering for pick-up a breeze.

Treats from Rosewood Foods