Restaurants and Events Prepare for Stage 3
Premier Jason Kenney announced that Alberta would be moving forward with Stage 3 of its Open for Summer Plan on July 1, 2021. Stage 3 will see all restrictions lifted, including the general indoor provincial mask mandate. Edmonton City Council will be voting on potentially repealing its temporary mandatory face coverings bylaw on June 22.
In preparation for this phase, some restaurants are scrambling to staff their establishments in order to meet the anticipated demand. Many business owners are finding that candidates are hard to come by, with many choosing to leave the service industry altogether.
Fleisch co-owner Katy Ingraham, and spokesperson for the Canadian Restaurant Workers Coalition, isn’t surprised that some restaurants are struggling to fill positions due to low wages and the potential for unsafe working conditions.
“Restaurant work is work that needs to be valued and respected with a living wage…Frankly, many of them are leaving the industry because they don’t see that change happening fast enough, or at all,” said Ingraham.
Meanwhile, some Edmonton summer festivals are preparing to move ahead with their large scale outdoor events. Pre-sale tickets for the Taste of Edmonton are available until the event begins. Running July 22-August 1, 2021 at Churchill Square, the event will feature 33 restaurants and 12 food trucks.
The Heritage Festival also confirmed it will be taking place in Hawrelak Park from July 31-August 2, 2021. Free timed-entry passes are now available to be booked, and this year, no food tickets will be sold. Instead, food and goods can only be purchased directly from pavilions by credit or debit.
COVID-19-related News
- NongBu and The Local Omnivore have since reopened their indoor dining.
Openings
- Phoenix Diner is now open in the former Doppio Zero space, at 10803 Jasper Avenue.
- There is now another ramen option in town called Ramen House, located at 10430 61 Avenue.
Closures
- It looks like Maria has completely taken over Haweli’s space on the Boardwalk, at 10220 103 Street. Haweli’s South Edmonton Common location remains open.
Upcoming Events
- Kingsway Mall is hosting another Food Truck Fest on June 25, 2021 from 3-8pm.
- MLA Rakhi Pancholi is hosting a virtual Taste of Edmonton-Whitemud on June 27, 2021. Those who purchase tickets will receive a delivery of a sampling from area restaurants for the event. Tickets are $75.
- Awn Kitchen is organizing farm tours on July 17 to Rosy Farms and on July 24 to Lazuli and Grey Arrow Farms. Tickets range from $55-75.
- The Edmonton Craft Beer Festival has been rescheduled again to October 22-23, 2021.
Local News
- Grandin Fish ‘N’ Chips, which committed to rebranding on May 31, has chosen a new name: Prairie Fish ‘N’ Chips.
- EDify continued their Best Things to Eat posts with the brussels sprouts at DOSC and the churro ice cream sandwich at El Beso.
- If you’re looking to take advantage of the weather this week, check out NAIT’s guide to patio dining, featuring restaurants staffed by NAIT graduates.
- A “random act of life threatening violence” occurred outside of the Black Dog, resulting in one of their staff becoming hospitalized. The bar chose to close for the day to provide staff with the opportunity to process the trauma.
- Restaurants, including RGE RD, have noticed a significant increase in food costs. Lobby group Restaurants Canada, citing a survey of its members, indicates that food costs are among the top three challenges restaurants are facing.
- Fleisch celebrated their first birthday over the weekend.
- Several Edmonton-based food business owners have been nominated for an Alberta Women Entrepreneurs award, including Cat Lee-Hannley of Nai Nai Mie, Chrysta Morkeberg of Food In The Nud, and Colleen Heidecker of Colleen’s Chocolates.
- The Journal covered Uproot Food Collective’s partnership with the Edmonton International Airport to expand their food processing capacity.
- While the first issue of Hungry Zine is in the process of being printed, they’re also accepting submissions for their next issue. They’re looking for art and writing on the theme of “preserve”: “How do we continue to preserve our cultures, traditions, and relationships to food? What do you preserve? What does your harvest include? How is preservation linked to power?”
- Food4Good is expanding their free delivery service.
Urban Agriculture and Farming
- Taproot Edmonton published a story about those in Edmonton spurned on by the pandemic to grow more of their own food.
What I Ate
- Summer just isn’t the same without mini donuts! We returned to #Root107 on Friday to kick off the weekend with Jackie O’s Street Treats.
Cinnamon sugar mini donuts from Jackie O’s
- It’s been dangerous to have pho at my fingertips with Tau Bay now available via delivery. #patiopho is something I can get used to.
Steak and brisket pho from Pho Tau Bay
- With my parents now fully vaccinated, Mack and I were able to get away for a brunch date at Chartier over the weekend! It was a beautiful day to enjoy a patio, and though we will continue to support restaurants primarily via take-out, it sure was nice to enjoy a fully-serviced meal with real dinnerware and cutlery.
Breakfast poutine from Chartier
Only Here for the Food 