Outdoor Dining Returns In Alberta’s “Open for Summer Plan”

Last week, Premier Kenney announced the new metrics that would phase in Alberta’s “Open for Summer Plan”, tied to vaccination rates and declining hospitalizations. Stage one will allow outdoor dining to return on June 1, 2021 with a maximum of 4 people per table, made up of one household or two close contacts for those living alone.

Stage two is projected to come into effect in mid-June, and would permit indoor dining along with a maximum of 6 people per table.

Many restaurants have embraced the return to in-person dining, and have been preparing patio spaces to welcome the return of patrons. As of May 27, 2021, the City of Edmonton has approved 125 requests for temporary patios or outdoor retail spaces.

NongBu Korean Eatery has chosen to remain take-out and delivery only. Northern Chicken shared that they have made a similar decision:

“We’re going to put our staff and customers safety first, and stay takeout/delivery only for a while.”

Both restaurants have remained closed to in-person dining since November, even when restrictions permitting indoor dining lifted in February.

COVID-19-related News

• With the projected reopening plan, many summer festivals may get the go-ahead to take place. The Heritage Festival is among those planning the changes required to carry out a large in-person event safely. Other festivals including the Taste of Edmonton and K-Days have also announced they are moving forward with their events this year.

Openings

• Half Shell Cafe will be setting up shop in Burrow’s former kiosk located at the Central LRT Station. They are aiming for a July opening.
• The parking lot at 124 Street and 107 Avenue has been branded “The Lot” and is the new home of food kiosk Dick’s Tater Ship. They had begun operating last fall in Old Strathcona, but had to cut their season short due to weather. It looks like The Lot also hosts food trucks from time to time, too.
• Hey Croffle added a second location at West Edmonton Mall.
• Capital Coffeehouse will be taking over the former Good Earth location at 110, 9942 108 Street.
• International chain Earl of Sandwich is opening a branch at South Edmonton Common next week (2055 98 Street).
• The Downtown location of Popeyes is now open at 10188 109 Street (formerly Swiss Chalet).

Closures

• Due to the ongoing pandemic and issues related to their building, DeRose Bros Meats has permanently closed. The business had been in operation since 1977. The family does hint at a possibility of continuing in the food scene on a catering basis, however.

Upcoming Events

• The Zebra Centre is hosting a virtual whisky tasting fundraiser on June 18, 2021. Tickets are $150.

Local News

• Grandin Fish and Chips will be undergoing a rebrand, in the wake of the discovery of the graves of 215 children at a former residential school in Kamloops, BC. They posted on their Instagram page: “we are aware of Bishop Grandin’s involvement in residential schools and work to actively harm our Indigenous brothers, sisters and folx. It is heartbreaking, wrong, and we don’t condone it in any way.”
• Karen Anderson featured Chef Scott Jonathan Iserhoff’s story of reigniting his passion for cooking when it allowed him to connect with his Indigenous roots. He will be opening up a Pei Pei Chei Ow food kiosk at the Edmonton Downtown Market.
• The pilot permitting alcohol consumption at specific picnic sites in Edmonton officially began last week.
• Coffee Pass is back for its second iteration with drinks at 28 local cafes included. The pre-sale for the $39 pass is now on; the pass can be redeemed until October 31, 2021.
• Linda interviewed Larry Harris of Bonne Vie Bakery to learn how he got into baking and about his time on the Great Canadian Baking Show.
• Several Southeast Asian restaurants, including Kanto 98 St., are featured in this Globe & Mail article.
• CBC focused on the rise of Filipino cuisine in Alberta, including the desserts of Yelo’d in Edmonton.
• EDify samples the Somali fare at Mareeg Cafe and Restaurant on Alberta Avenue.
• Curiocity has a listicle about 10 of the best burgers in Edmonton.
• Faaiza Ramji partnered with Fort Saskatchewan’s Fort Distillery to create a pea-based liqueur flavoured with botanicals called Don’t Call Me Sweet Pea. It isn’t yet commercially available, but Ramji hopes it will be on store shelves soon.
• It’s really unfortunate that interventions like this are necessary, but it’s wonderful to see a fully stocked community freezer at Brightview School that allows those in need to access food with dignity.

Beyond Edmonton

• CBC featured several families behind some of the small town Asian restaurants that are ubiquitous across the Prairies.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• A three-year pilot with YEG Honeycomb will see six sites across Edmonton, including Mercer Warehouse, host urban hives. The pilot is supported by the City of Edmonton.
• The Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board is working on its first master agricultural plan, which aims to conserve prime agricultural lands over the next thirty years.

What I Ate

• When leftovers just won’t cut it, I appreciate that I have a multitude of options right outside our door. Last week, we hit up Ramen Misoya for some comforting noodle soup for lunch, and it hit the spot.

Take-out from Ramen Misoya

• My annual Burger’s Priest craving came up early this year, so we indulged in their Vatican City burgers over the weekend. There’s just something about those grilled cheese buns.

Burger’s Priest Vatican City and fries (and Emily’s hand!)

Local Business Prairie Catering Takes Over Art Gallery of Alberta Restaurant

Prairie Catering has partnered with the Art Gallery of Alberta to exclusively operate their food service, events, and facility bookings. This will include the space that houses Zinc Restaurant.

In the press release, Prairie Catering owner Jimmy Shewchuk said:

“Our goal with the new space is to inspire and usher in a new wave of hospitality concepts in Edmonton. Considering the disruption throughout the pandemic to the hospitality industry, I believe we have a unique opportunity for new ideas to emerge as we experience yet another hospitality renaissance.”

When public health guidelines permit, Prairie Catering plans to host food pop-ups.

Prairie Catering operates Say Uncle, and has been providing food and beverage services at the Edmonton Valley Zoo since 2019. In April, they announced that all areas of the Zoo where food and beverages are permitted are now licensed for alcohol consumption.

When it first opened in 2010, Zinc was operated by The Compass Group, a multi-national company that provides foodservices in various sectors including universities, hospitals, and work camps. When the pandemic shuttered restaurants in March 2020, Zinc temporarily shut its doors, but never did reopen even after restrictions lifted in the summer. The last chef who helmed the restaurant, Doreen Prei, shared in October 2020 that the restaurant had permanently closed.

Openings

• There’s another ghost kitchen in Edmonton called Waffle Bird. It operates out of the High Level Diner on Friday and Saturday nights from 8pm-midnight, and serves up chicken and waffles.
• Iland Vybes Cafe, serving up Jamaican food, is now open at 10027 106 Street (formerly Beans Cafe and Bistro).
• Awn Kitchen has announced an opening date of June 9, 2021. They are located at 104, 5124 122 Street.
• I missed the opening of New Gurkha Indian Restaurant and Bar last fall, in the space that formerly housed Thai Orchid at 4005 Gateway Blvd.

Upcoming Events

• On June 1, 2021, the Edmonton Public Library’s Capital City in Conversation focuses on the eBook launch of Edmonton Eats. Attending the event is free but pre-registration is required.
• For gardeners looking for some tips on everything from worm-based composting to developing better soil, check out the schedule for the upcoming Edmonton Resilience Festival, running June 2-13, 2021 online.

Local News

• Calle Mexico will be rolling out taco stands onto the streets of Edmonton soon!
• You may have heard that the reunion of Friends is airing later this week; local catering company A Capella has jumped on the bandwagon and is offering a Friends-inspired take-and-bake special. The order deadline is May 26 at noon.
• If you needed an excuse to visit Doughnut Party, $1 from each half dozen order will be donated to Edmonton Cat Fest on May 27 and 28, 2021.
• Biera and Blind Enthusiasm have supported 24 charities so far through a weekly curated charcuterie and beer box. Each box sells for $65 (delivery is extra) and $20 from each box is donated to a local charity.
• Simply Supper pivoted last March to exclusively offer pre-assembled meal kit services (dropping their in-person assembly option) and hasn’t looked back.
• EDify checked out the Dosi-Rock food truck.
• Boyle McCauley News had pastries from Shan Shan delivered.
• Alberta quick-service restaurant The Mash has allegedly faced difficulties with the City of Edmonton’s permitting process. They hope to open a restaurant in Edmonton this year.
• #Eat124StBingo, an initiative of Meuwly’s and 124 Grand Market, was featured on CTV.
• Speaking of Meuwly’s, Eat North has a short piece about the story behind their name.
• The Real Estate News EXchange featured Gather Co., the company that owns and has revitalized a number of heritage buildings throughout central Edmonton, including those that house Chef Daniel Costa’s restaurants.
• Alley Kat’s Full Squeeze beer returns, with partial proceeds to be donated to the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose, an organization that supports the LGBTQ2S+ community.
• CBC’s mocktail columnist JoAnne Pearce talked about zero-proof spirits from Western Canadian producers.
• Edmonton’s Nabati Foods started at a farmers’ market and recently just expanded into a larger production facility.
• The John Humphrey Centre created an online emergency food supports map, showing locations of LoveGood Boxes, drop-in food pantries and free food access points, among others.
• The “Pandemic Planting Project” is running a second year; last year, volunteers helped produce nearly 100 pounds of food for Edmonton’s Food Bank. David Benjestorf has expanded the garden this year.
• Domino’s Pizza will make a $5 donation to Edmonton’s Food Bank with the purchase of a combo online using a coupon code.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• Good Worm Garden Program, sometimes called “Tinder for gardening”, is a yard-sharing program that matches yards with gardeners who may not have their own space to grow food.
• The Young Agrarians farm listing map is a website designed to help young and new farmers find farms to rent or buy.

What I Ate

• • Long weekends are made for picnics! We grabbed take-out from Grandin Fish ‘N’ Chips, picked a sunny spot on the Leg grounds, and revelled in the fact that public washrooms are back (porta potties, but still), and that the fountains on the plaza are on for the first time since 2019! Hope you all had an enjoyable long weekend, too.

Dinner for two from Grandin Fish ‘N’ Chips

The Backyard and #Eat124StBingo Highlight Small Businesses

The drive to support local continues, and two new initiatives seek to highlight small businesses.

The Backyard, established in a vacant lot at 10004 103A Avenue, seeks to create a new gathering space Downtown. Using art, lighting, and seating to create a sense of place, the centrepiece of The Backyard are its repurposed sea cans that can operate as a bar, pop-up kiosk, and washrooms. During the pandemic, the patio will be able to accommodate up to 150 people.

“The Backyard believes that supporting local is more than a statement,” said Peter Stetsko, owner & operations manager of The Backyard. “It’s a lifestyle.”

They’ve partnered with a number of local food and drink providers to ensure patrons shop small. “There will be up to two food trucks on site when The Backyard is open,” said Stetsko. “To name a few, local favorites such as Coast Lunchbox, Sosyal Scoops, Drift, Casa 12 Doce, Smokehouse BBQ, and Laker Coffee will be onsite this summer.”

The Backyard’s food and snack menu, sold out of one of the retrofitted sea cans, also features local purveyors. “[We’ve] partnered with Toast Culture and Coast Lunchbox to provide a small roster of salads, sandwiches and wraps, which are only available at The Backyard,” said Stetsko. “In addition, we’ve curated our favourite snack items such as Caramunchies, Zwick’s pretzels, and chips and salsa from La Patrona restaurant in Sherwood Park to sell at The Backyard.”

Alcoholic beverages will be sourced from Sea Change and Strathcona Spirits, and Stetsko promises a seasonal cocktail program.

While no official opening date has been announced yet, Stestko is hopeful for a late May or early June launch.

Over on 124 Street, Meuwly’s and the 124 Grand Market are spearheading a campaign to support neighbouring businesses. Inspired by a similar initiative led by Empire Provisions in Calgary, #Eat124StBingo seeks to encourage social media shares for a chance to win a grand prize valued at over $1,000.

Until June 15, 2021, people are encouraged to complete as many bingo squares as possible, with each post or tagged story earning one entry into the prize draw. Those who complete a bingo line will be provided with a small prize pack until supplies last, which could include gift cards, packaged food products, and branded apparel.

To put together the list of businesses, Peter Keith, the general manager of Meuwly’s, reached out to 30 businesses in total, and included the first fifteen respondents (the sixteenth being Meuwly’s). “The goal was to include a nice mix of different types of food businesses from all over the neighborhood, and I definitely tried to reach out to some of the smaller family run businesses that have less of a digital presence,” said Keith. He hasn’t ruled out organizing a second round of bingo later in the year, but is also hopeful the 124 Street Business Association could take that on.

While #Eat124StBingo just launched over the weekend, Keith shared that about five people have already completed a bingo line. “I am hoping we can get a few hundred entries and twenty or thirty ‘bingo’ scores over the next month,” said Keith.

Like all businesses, Meuwly’s has been impacted by the pandemic, related to decreased foot traffic and less restaurant wholesale orders. However, they’ve also made some successful shifts. “We’ve made some great progress on our e-commerce presence and other special packages like the meat club, our D.I.Y. charcuterie kits, and our partnership with Art of Charcuterie,” said Keith.

He is optimistic that this initiative will spotlight the 124 Street food community in this challenging time. “It’s also just a fun morale booster for all of us as small business owners to see the excitement from our audience online,” said Keith.

COVID-19-related News

• On the heels of Northern Chicken’s vaccine discount, Woodshed Burgers entered the fray, offering a free side with the purchase of a burger.
• DOSC has debuted heat-and-serve Bentos to go, and for those seeking brunch picnics, brunch dishes packed into bento boxes.
• Mae’s Kitchen, also a restaurant in Mirror, Alberta (home to the controversial Whistle Stop Cafe), has been quietly following all public health restrictions.
• The service industry has been hit with significant job losses, though Filistix believes there will be “some sort of renaissance” within the food and restaurant industry” when restrictions lift.
• Restaurants Canada is lobbying for a sector-specific support package of rent and wage subsidies.

Openings

• Did you know Fox Burger has a food truck? They’re set up at Root 107 until Tuesday, May 18.
• Soho, a new restaurant that pays homage to 1970s New York, will open at Jasper Avenue and 114 Street.

Reviews

• Sharon offers a photolog of the dishes she’s tried at Damso Izakaya.

Local News

• Local BBQ experts Motley Que’s Sticky Fixx sauce was recently named the best in the world at the American Royal World’s Series of Barbecue in Kansas City.
• CBC’s latest Best Dishes column focuses on the burger pivot The Local Omnivore was forced to make in the pandemic.
• Also on CBC, Jason Foster profiled Spruce Grove’s first brewery, Talking Dog Brewing.
• Linda appeared on a Cityline segment with ideas for an eco and pandemic-friendly BBQ, and featured products from RGE RD, Meuwly’s, and El Beso.
• The Journal’s Food Notes covers the backstory behind Groove by Fleisch, and the brunch boxes available at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden.
• Northern Chicken’s foundation of diversity and inclusion and community initiatives are highlighted in St. Albert Today.
• The 124 Street Grand Market celebrates a decade in operation this year.
• To Do Canada has a listicle of businesses offering picnic-perfect meals.
• DailyHive offers a listicle of bars and restaurants offering cocktail kits.
• Porkapalooza has been postponed until August 14-15, 2021.
• Meals on Wheels is spearheading YEG Hot Dog Fest, running for the month of August. Participating restaurants will be putting their dogs forward to compete for the titles of Edmonton’s Top Dog, Wackiest Dogs, and Relished Dog. $1.50 from each weenie sold will go towards Meals on Wheels.
• Edmonton company Nabati Foods opened their new facility in the city to expand their plant-based product capacity.
• Beyond Meat will be available at Edmonton locations of Pizza Hut.

What I Ate

• I had another breakfast date with Mack last week and enjoyed one of the best deals in #yegdt – the egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich from A Bite of Brazil (on their delicious cheese bread, no less), is a steal at under $5! It was super filling, and the service is always so friendly. The sandwich is available until 11am on weekdays and all day on weekends.

Breakfast sandwich from A Bite of Brazil

• Winner, winner, chicken dinner: on Friday, we had the fried chicken feast from Rosewood Foods and it was even better than I expected. We loved the crispy, juicy lemon and thyme buttermilk chicken, salsa verde kale salad, and scallion buttermilk biscuits (we saved Mack’s favourite carrot cakes for later). We added a side of potatoes for Emily, who polished off more than her share. We’ll definitely be ordering this again!

Fried chicken dinner from Rosewood Foods

Northern Chicken Offers Vaccine Discount

Several local businesses have stepped up to create incentives to encourage Edmontonians to get the COVID-19 jab. This includes 10% off at Glass Bookshop for a “celebratory vaccine order”, and Fleisch, which is accepting vaccine selfies as entries for a chance to win a $100 gift card.

On May 7, Northern Chicken jumped into the fray, offering 5% off meals with proof, valid on the day of the vaccination. Co-owner Andrew Cowan credits his partner Matt Phillips with the idea. “It’s a small incentive to get people to get vaccinated,” said Cowan. “We talked about it, and it fits with who we are and what we do.”

Northern Chicken was an early adopter of voluntarily shifting to a take-out and delivery only model in November, prior to provincial restrictions limiting in-person dining introduced in early December. Even when indoor dining restrictions lifted in February, Northern Chicken chose to remain closed to in-person dining, citing a need to minimize risk to their staff.

Since introducing the incentive, over 30 people have claimed the discount. Cowan isn’t sure how long the promotion will be offered, but is optimistic that greater vaccination rates will help move things forward. He shared that nearly half his staff have already been vaccinated. “The quicker we can get people vaccinated, restaurants and businesses can get back to normal,” said Cowan.

Although they are doing a reasonable amount of take-out and delivery orders, Cowan is looking forward to the day when it is safe to welcome diners back again. “We’re itching to get people back into the restaurant,” said Cowan, without committing to a timeline or a trigger for when he would feel comfortable with in-person dining again. “It’s social with staff but it’s nice to have new people come in, having friends and family come by,” said Cowan. “I miss it.”

COVID-19-related News

• Alberta restaurants had to close patio dining, effective May 9 at 11:59pm. These restrictions will be in place for at least three weeks. Many restaurant owners are frustrated with the restrictions and the investments they have made in their patios.
• The NDP is calling for additional supports for restaurants in light of the new restrictions, including reimbursement for patio investments.
• Last week, Alberta Health Services physically closed the Whistle Stop Cafe in Mirror for their inability to comply with indoor dining restrictions.

Upcoming Events

• Root 107, a pop-up park with seating at 107 Street and Jasper Avenue, has extended its run. They are continuing to host food trucks daily; check the schedule here. Even though outdoor gathering restrictions are now limited to 5 people between two households, the event can continue.

Local News

• The 124 Grand Market kicks off its season on May 13, 2021. Their Sunday market returns on June 6, 2021.
• Speaking of the 124 Grand Market, The Nook will be vending their baked goods and iced beverages on Thursday evenings.
• Linda wrote a sponsored post about 10 must-visit vendors at the Callingwood Farmers’ Market.
• Edmonton AM interviewed the creators of Groove by Fleisch, and how their creative soft serve came to be.
• An EDify writer braved the lines at Pablo Cheese Tart to sample its products.
• Also from EDify, pieces on how the rise of High Dough and pasta start-up bell’uovo.
• Chef Shane Chartrand has joined the leadership team at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse as executive chef, helping with programs to feed the community and educating youth about healthy eating.
• A new podcast called the Field Guide to Eating in Canada features an interview with Chef Shane Chartrand.
• Congratulations to Paraiso Tropical on their 30th anniversary.
• The St. Viateur Bagel fundraiser is only 60+ dozen away from their goal of 1,440 bagels. The deadline to order is May 17, 2021.
• The Globe featured Prairie cheesemakers, including those from Lakeside Farmstead in Alberta.
• The Safeway in Jasper Gates and Sobeys in Lewis Estates will close for renovations in the fall and reopen as FreshCo locations in spring 2022.
• The Edmonton Food Council is recruiting new members. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2021.
• Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton (OFRE) and The Leftovers are partnering to transfer OFRE’s backyard fruit rescue program. The transition will enable growers with excess fruit to sign up for free support online.
• Edmonton charity Food for Thought, which serves meals for students in 15 schools, served its millionth meal this school year.

What I Ate

• Tau Bay is offering $5 delivery within a 5km radius during their regular business hours. Of course we had to try it out, with Friday’s drizzly conditions making it the perfect day for soup. It tasted just like I remembered.

Our usual orders from Tau Bay

• The new feature Butter Chicken-zas from Love Pizza sounded so delicious, we had to try both versions! The shahi chicken and paneer were super tasty, and highly recommended. We were also able to redeem the gift card we received some months back from the ATB Financial and Linda’s #AdoptAShopYEG initiative, so it felt like a treat! The feature pizza is only available until the end of May.

Butter chicken pizzas from Love Pizza

Edmonton Approves New Places To Enjoy Alcoholic Beverages Outdoors

This summer, Edmontonians can look forward to enjoying a cold one at a local park or at the zoo.

On Monday, City Council approved a pilot permitting alcohol at 47 designated picnic sites in seven parks. Running May 28-October 11, 2021, certain sites in Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Whitemud, William Hawrelak, Government House, Victoria, Gold Bar, and Rundle Parks will allow alcohol. Sites include both bookable and “first-come, first-served” sites, and permit responsible alcohol consumption from 11am to 9pm daily.

A survey had been conducted earlier this year that found 71% of respondents were favourable to alcohol consumption in parks. Councillor Jon Dziadyk was among those in favour of the pilot.

“For a city of a million people with a short summer, but a beautiful summer, I think this is one way to get out and enjoy parks,” Dziadyk said.

Last week, Prairie Catering, operators of Sandwich & Sons and 40 Acres Cafe at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, received a license permitting the consumption of alcohol at the Zoo anywhere where food and beverages are allowed.

Prairie Catering owner Jimmy Shewchuk believes this will make the Zoo more appealing to a wider demographic, and brings the facility in line with broader trends.

“You see events like music festivals moving away from strict consumption zones every year,” said Shewchuk. “Being able to walk around and enjoy your beverage at your own pace is much more in line with responsible consumption. I think it will help the Zoo become a new date night hot spot.”

The Edmonton Valley Zoo is currently open with restrictions.

COVID-19-related News

• The Butchery debuted their patio over the weekend!
• It’s great to see when restaurants lean into their locations, like The Butternut Tree offering picnic-style food to be enjoyed at Constable Ezio Farone Park across the street.
• Restaurants continue to be frustrated with how they are expected to enforce in-person household dining restrictions.

Openings

• The local craft breweries just keep on coming – the latest to open is Longroof Brewing, located at #104, 9916 72 Avenue.
• Hoang Long’s Rice and Noodle Shop location at 10350 124 Street (in the former Prairie Noodle Shop) opened in April.
• Bodega just announced that they will be opening an outpost in Sherwood Park at 410 Baseline Road.

Closures

• Graziano’s Catering is closing on May 31, 2021.

Upcoming Events

• La Pizza Week (from the folks behind La Poutine Week) is on from May 1-7, 2021. 39 Edmonton-area restaurants are participating, and you can vote for your favourite on the website.

Local News

• Whimsical Cake Studio owner Darcy Scott appeared on The Food Network’s baking competition show The Big Bake last week.
• Glenora restaurant Upper Crust Cafe has joined the Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market as a vendor.
• El Gringo Foods is offering a Cinco de Mayo sampler box featuring 1 bag of chips and 6 jars of salsa. Proceeds from each purchase will result in meals provided to 2.5 families in need. Orders include free delivery in Edmonton.
• Another way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is with cochinita pibil from Tres Carnales. Twyla wrote a sponsored post about the special tacos, quesadillas, burritos and tortas available that day.
• The latest episode of CBC’s Best Dishes column focuses on Kind Ice Cream.
• To recognize their positive experience working with City of Edmonton staff, Remedy Cafe is providing a 10% discount to all City employees in the month of May.
• Happy 15th birthday to Downtown stalwart Sofra.
• Linda interviewed Rochelle Ignacio of Black Owned Market Edmonton. She has some great insights on how to support BIPOC-owned businesses: “Are there new local artists you can support? Can you try a new restaurant? Can you find a gift for a friend at a business you aren’t frequently visiting? Challenge yourself to spread out your dollars.”
• The latest episode of Startup Edmonton’s podcast The Get Started Show features Vinson Luong of Food Search Inc.
• Two concepts from Miami-based chef Michael Lewis will be available in Edmonton starting May 6, 2021. Food from breakfast concept Laid Fresh and Chikin (offering Korean Fried Chicken) will be available on Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes, and Door Dash through ghost kitchen Reef Kitchens.
• Outdoor farmers’ markets are back! The first to return is Callingwood Farmers’ Market.
• An Edmonton location of Sobeys has an in-store vertical farm, providing fresh herbs and greens year-round.
• The St. Albert Food Bank held its inaugural food drive over the weekend.

Beyond Edmonton

• On the heels of Epicurious’ announcement that they have since phased out beef-related content, world-renowned New York restaurant Eleven Madison Park will be going entirely plant-based moving forward.

What I Ate

• We picked up a pair of chicken parm sandwiches from Bar Bricco’s new take-out concept Zio’s on Friday. We loved the focaccia bun and the generous portion of fried chicken, but found by the end the sauces impeded our ability to enjoy the lovely, crispy breading. We hope to try the baked pasta some time though!

Chicken parm sandwich from Zio’s

• We also hit up the Root 107 pop-up park for a snack over the weekend. The poutine from Smokehouse BBQ hit the spot! For a food truck fix this weekend, check out Free Wheelin’ Food Truck Fest at Kingsway Mall on Friday, May 7 from 3-8pm.//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

Pulled pork poutine from Smokehouse BBQ