Food Notes for February 7, 2022

Take-Home Valentine’s Day Options Abound

So many people (including me!) have become homebodies as we enter our third year of the pandemic that it’s not a surprise that for Valentine’s Day, many hospitality businesses will be offering take-home options for those celebrating the occasion. This is by no means an exhaustive list (and keep in mind most require pre-ordering by certain deadlines), but hopefully it provides some ideas for how you can commemorate the day while supporting local independent businesses!

Savoury

• Some restaurants are opening up just to offer curbside pick-up on February 14, as is the case with Tzin’s menu for two, 5-courses plus sparkling wine for $150.
• The four kitchens at the 5th Street Food Hall have each put together 3-course dinners available for pick-up and dine-in, ranging in price from $80-90.
• Including kids in your at-home Valentine’s plans? Chartier has you covered, with kids meals to add to their take-out game dinners starting at $6.
• If you’re looking for a heat-and-serve option, May is offering a $145 3-course dinner for two, which includes a bottle of wine.
• Kitchen by Brad is offering two different options – a breakfast in bed package including their house-made bagels, and a bacon bouquet.
• Meuwly’s is offering a more complete package, bundling charcuterie, flowers, and sparkling wine for $210.
• Buok’s dinner package for two, including three courses, is among the most affordable options at $39.99.
• For another great deal, don’t forget about LovePizza – 2 signature pizzas are $25 on Mondays. And their epic mac & cheeza is still available in February!

Sweet

• If your Valentine prefers variety, the Sugared and Spiced Valentine’s Box might be right up up their alley – which of course includes their amazing brownies.
• Bread and Butter Bakery in Riverdale also has some pretty treats in smaller quantities for pre-order, including heart-shaped cinnamon love buns.
• Farrow has also dressed up their doughnut cake just for the occasion.
• For something more interactive, The Art of Cake has Valentine’s Day decorating kits available.
• Technically both salty and sweet, Zwick’s Pretzels is offering two options for heart-shaped pretzels through Public Food Hub.
• Also both sweet and savoury, Breadlove is sampling two of their loves also through the Public Food Hub.

COVID-19-related News

• Premier Jason Kenney announced last week that the province will be lifting restrictions within the month, including ending the Restrictions Exemption Program. More details will be announced this week. Toast Culture and RGE RD were interviewed about what REP ending might mean for their businesses, while Kris Harvey, the co-chair of the Edmonton Independent Hospitality Community, is concerned lifting restrictions too soon could lead to further restrictions in the future.
• Although there are likely reasons other than just COVID-19 that have prevented Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw from dining out, it was still somewhat surprising to hear that she hasn’t eaten at a restaurant in two years.
• Campio Brewing is offering free 6-packs of beer for healthcare workers and first responders.

Openings

• Dookbaeki opened their second location at West Edmonton Mall on Level Two near T & T Supermarket.
• Asian Flame Indian Kitchen and Bar is now open at 8505 109 Street.
• Calgary-based cafe Deville Coffee is expanding to Edmonton. The first location will be on campus at MacEwan University.
• Home Town Pizza is now open at 2203 47 Street.

Upcoming Events

• Old Strathcona’s Sweet Treats & Latte Festival is back, with 17 participating businesses serving up a hot drink or sweet treat from February 7-27, 2022.
• Beb’s Bagels will be popping up at Wilfred’s for their first-ever Beb’s Brunch on February 19-21, 2022.

Local News

• Sweet Pea Cafe & Playhouse distanced themselves from former partner Jamie Sale who has been publicly supporting the convoy.
• Some of the businesses located around the Alberta Legislature, including District Cafe and Buok, decided to remain closed on Saturday in order to protect their staff from potential harassment from the convoy protesters.
• In an unrelated incident, The Common had their restaurant windows and doors smashed.
• Edify checked out the relaunched Honey Jam in Old Strathcona.
• Boxer Kitchen and Bar changes up their menu seasonally.
• The Kitchen at the Stanley Milner Library is not yet open, but Chef Doreen Prei filmed a segment there sharing her three favourite kitchen tools.
• Julie Van Rosendaal’s project to offer virtual cooking classes to children and youth has grown into a separate website. It’s password protected, but DM Julie to obtain the password!

Beyond Edmonton

• The family that owns Earls has acquired full ownership interest in Cactus Club.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• The Vermeer Dairy Farm, east of Camrose, is providing the public with an opportunity to see how milk and butter gets to the table.
• The most recent episode of That’s Food features Maryann Borch from Good Note Community Farm.

What I Ate

• We could not pass up the Jack’s Burger Shack special of Vietnamese fried chicken sandwiches offered on Lunar New Year. The portions were huge, crispy, and so, so delicious. I especially loved the pickled veggies!

Vietnamese fried chicken sandwiches from Jack’s Burger Shack

• We made a stop at Kind Ice Cream on the way home this weekend after spending some much-needed time outdoors. To our surprise, out of all of their flavours to choose from, Emily picked salted caramel. I’d like to think she has good taste!

Ice cream from Kind