Downtown Dining Week Returns

Downtown Dining Week, an annual event organized by the Edmonton Downtown Business Association (EDBA), returns as more staff are anticipated to resume working in offices.

Running March 30 – April 10, 2022, this iteration sees a record sixty restaurants participating. A dozen establishments are involved for the first time, including several restaurants that opened during the pandemic such as 5th Street Food Hall, Envie, Jack’s Burger Shack, and May. Restaurants range from fast casual eateries to more formal dining options, offering multi-course dinner, lunch, and brunch menus for $20, $35, $50, and $65.

The focus of this year’s event is on staff returning to the core. “Many workers returning to the office are looking forward to socializing with their coworkers and going for lunch at an old favourite or new spot,” said Tracy Hyatt, marketing and communications manager with the EDBA. “If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that people crave that face-to-face interaction and restaurants are so important for socializing.”

Last year’s Downtown Dining Week coincided with the start of indoor dining restrictions, so the event had to be reconfigured entirely for take-out and delivery. With the lifting of restrictions earlier in March, the vast majority of participating restaurants this year are highlighting table service options. “Profit margins are super slim for restaurants, so nothing beats dine-in where people can order a drink and also try something off the regular menu,” said Hyatt.

Still, there are some options for those looking for alternatives to dining indoors, including several restaurants that are equipped with heated patios, such as The Cask & Barrel, Rocky Mountain Icehouse, and The Common, and fast-casual eateries, including A Bite of Brazil, Buok Fresh Korean Kitchen, and District Cafe, that will offer take-out. Hyatt also recommends checking with individual restaurants that offer table service to confirm if their menus are available for take-out.

Hyatt is hopeful that the community will rally around local restaurants. “Everyone is eager to support our Downtown businesses given what they’ve been through for the past two years and this is a great opportunity to do it.”

Openings

• Felice, a new cafe, is opening soon at Stadium Yards.
• Vancouver-based Community Taps and Pizza has opened a location in Edmonton in the former Have Mercy space (8232 Gateway Blvd).
• Hello Mochi, which started out as a vendor at farmers’ markets, has opened a brick and mortar shop at 6191 Currents Drive.
• Alberta Donair, which also started as a vendor at a farmers’ market, has opened a location for pick-up and take-out at 9235 35 Avenue.
• Bent Stick Brewing’s tap room is now open on Happy Beer Street at 9926 78 Avenue.
• Calgary-based Blanco Cantina Tequila Bar will be opening an Edmonton location.

Upcoming Events

• Five Edmonton restaurants are participating in the first ever Filipino Restaurant Month in April, organized by the Philippine Department of Tourism and the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary. The five restaurants are: Bro’Kin Yolk, Cebuchon & BBQ, Filistix, Manila Grill, and Max’s Restaurant.

Local News

• Some businesses on Alberta Avenue, including Koultures Afro-Continental Restaurant are struggling due to construction on the street.
• Edify checks out new restaurant Flame & Barrel in Windermere, Smoke BBQ Downtown, and Meat the Bun on the south side.
• Phil’s latest Best Dish column focuses on Otto.
• The Griff looks at ghost kitchens in Edmonton.
• The Carrot experienced a break-in but has since re-opened, and Meuwly’s was also impacted by a break-in and theft of cash.
• Home baker Tara Smith Kratzmann spoke to Edmonton AM about competing on Food Network’s Wall of Bakers.
• Allen Gao from Kasey Ramen was interviewed on CBC Radioactive.
• Congratulations to this year’s winners of the High School Culinary Challenge.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• The Global Garden at the Urban Farm (adjacent to the Expo Centre) is looking for immigrant gardeners.

What I Ate

• I met up with some friends for lunch at La Bosco Cafe for the first time. It was much busier than I expected, but I liked the casual vibe of the place, as we lingered over a long conversation undisturbed. I also brought home some sweets to enjoy, including this delectable strawberry danish, which tasted as good as it looks!

Strawberry danish from La Bosco Cafe

Kasey Ramen Grows With Help from the Community

In just 16 months, upstart Kasey Ramen has transitioned from a home-based business offering ramen kits to hosting pop-ups in an Edmonton restaurant.

Kasey Ramen proprietor Allen Gao has had a keen interest in food for years. “Since high school, I’ve had friends over and cooked food for them,” said Gao. “It’s my way of showing that I care about them.”

After graduating from the University of Alberta in 2020 with an environmental engineering degree, Gao was unable to secure a job in his field. So, while working in engineering-adjacent positions, he started to further explore his passion for food.

“Ramen was the one food that stumped me,” said Gao. “All other times I could crack open a recipe and make it work. But I couldn’t crack ramen. And ramen was one of my favourite foods growing up.”

Gao then stumbled upon a YouTube channel called Way of Ramen that changed everything for him. “Ryan Esaki was the first person on the internet making really good videos of how to make ramen,” said Gao. “Through Way of Ramen I was able to discover a whole community of online ramen makers doing it professionally or at home.”

In November 2020, Gao made his first ramen kits under the Kasey Ramen banner (“Kasey” is the sound of the initials in Gao’s Chinese name, “Kechao”). He gave 15 kits out to friends as samples, and sold 15 more to individuals he was connected to on social media. Once it grew to a point where he was selling to people he didn’t know, he knew he had to move into a commercial kitchen.

In September 2021, the folks behind District Café offered him in-kind use of their bakery space to make his noodles. A month later, he was connected to Ark Café, which had commercial kitchen space available for rent. Both businesses now serve as pickup locations for his ramen kits, which sell out every week within hours of being posted online.

“The limiting factor was actually being able to make enough noodles,” said Gao. “Prepping at District has allowed me to grow exponentially. I did 40 servings a week in September, and then 60, and now I’m doing 150.”

Kasey Ramen will host its first pop-up at District Cafe on March 27 and 28. “I’m excited to serve people and see people eat the ramen,” Gao said. “I’ve only seen online feedback, and sometimes it’s difficult when it’s just through a screen.”

Gao defines ramen as “any noodle dish that has some sort of Japanese flavouring, like soy sauce or salt, that has some sort of alkaline noodles.” His approach involves pairing his scratch-made noodles to the soup being served. For instance, for a recent kit that included ground pork instead of pork slices, Gao made a softer, chewier noodle, so it could better grip the sauce.

After Gao was laid off from his job in November 2021, he focused on Kasey Ramen full-time. While he is the sole employee, he credits the support he has received from friends and family, from designer Ivy Mak, who creates each kit’s illustrated instruction sheet, to his girlfriend Shannon Wong, who bakes the treats offered alongside each week’s kit. Still, he acknowledges the challenges of making such a business sustainable.

“The last thing I want to do is sacrifice my integrity to make a bad product,” said Gao. “I could see how it could be tempting to use the shortcuts that some restaurants use. I feel like for me, the entire brand is about accessibility and craftsmanship.”

Gao hopes to host one pop-up a month, but will continue with the ramen kits when possible. Ultimately, he would like to open his own restaurant, and help further educate diners to want better ramen. And though it hasn’t been easy, he couldn’t imagine doing it anywhere else.

“It’s really scary to think about my own ramen shop, but in a city like Edmonton where the community is so supportive, I am not afraid of failing.”

COVID-19-related News

• Duchess has brought back indoor seating to their 124 Street location.

Openings

• Selfishly, it’s always great to have another coffee shop within walking distance of our house, and even better when it is located in a heritage home! Stopgap coffee is now open in at 9749 111 Street.
• Smokin’ Barrels Cocina Latina is a new Latin American restaurant that opened on March 21, 2022 at 13119 156 Street.
• Social Canadian House is now open at 15845 97 Street.
• Ancaron is a shop that opened recently in Old Strathcona at 10336 82 Avenue, offerings frozen Korean macarons.
• Waffloos is the latest in a string of Calgary imports to open in Edmonton this year. Find them at West Edmonton Mall in Phase III.

Closures

• Nourishak opened their Downtown location in early March, but it looks like they are closing their west-end pop-up.

Upcoming Events

• After a two-year hiatus, the Friends of the Royal Alberta Museum (FRAMS) is resuming their Dining with Friends events with a twist, called Dining with Authors. Although the March 29, 2022 event is now sold out, involving a conversation with an author alongside a paired meal, keep your eyes peeled for future events now that they’re back.

Local News

• Ben Staley of Restaurant Yarrow shared in a lengthy Instagram post that he will be leaving his position in May to pursue a career in design/architecture.
• 142 Bistro Bar is the latest restaurant to offer a menu item in support of the Ukrainian crisis.
• Restaurants are gearing up for Downtown Dining Week, which runs March 30-April 10, 2022, including Continental Treat Fine Bistro, a newcomer to the event.
• Stephanie recently hosted a birthday party in the private space at Brew and Bloom (her rental and decor fees were covered by the restaurant).
• Popular products at T-Rex Distillery include their garlic pickle vodka and vodka garlic pickles.
• Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteers for both meal prep and delivery.

What I Ate

• • We hit up some of our favourite Chinatown haunts over the weekend, including Ying Fat, Shan Shan Bakery, and King Noodle House for #PhoToGo! Every day is the perfect day for soup.

Bun Bo Hue from King Noodle House

Hayloft Reimagines the Steakhouse in Southwest Edmonton

Chef Paul Shufelt has opened Hayloft Steak and Fish and a third location of Woodshed Burgers in the southwest Edmonton neighbourhood of Cameron Heights, adding to the Robert Spencer Hospitality stable alongside Workshop Eatery and The Greenhouse.

In Shufelt’s words, the new development came about through “dumb luck and persistence.” Last fall, a customer who resides in Cameron Heights was insistent that Shufelt take a look at a vacant building in his area. Eventually, Shufelt agreed to meet the landlord for a walk-through.

“I immediately saw the potential,” he said. “I would compare it to how a chef would respond when you give him a black box of ingredients and his mind starts racing on how to put everything together.”

Although some suggested that Shufelt should simply replicate Workshop Eatery in a new spot, he didn’t want to take away from the original. “We wanted to complement Workshop Eatery and maintain true to what we do and the relationships with our farmers,” said Shufelt. “This is how Hayloft Steak and Fish came to be.”

Still, Shufelt recognized the restaurant would have to be tailored to meet the needs of the neighbourhood. “It’s one thing to do the thing you want, but will the community take to that?” he said. Factoring in the design of the space, which features a lounge on one side, pairing a higher-end restaurant with a more affordable offering made sense.

“I like to go out for a nice steak dinner, but I can’t afford to do that every day,” said Shufelt. “Maybe you’re celebrating a special occasion, and you go to the steakhouse side one day, but a week later, you’re stopping in with the kids and grabbing a burger after a hockey game or when you don’t feel like cooking.”

Combining Hayloft and Woodshed Burgers in one place also has the benefit of upholding company’s philosophy. “It allows us to hold true to ‘use the whole animal’,” said Shufelt. “Traditional steakhouses leave much of the animal behind with the farmer. This would help us move the lesser known cuts of beef.”

At its core, Hayloft seeks to offer something different from a traditional steakhouse. “We’re trying to redefine what a steakhouse is, and get away from the conventional expectation that you’re going to have the same cuts of beef every night,” said Shufelt.

Exclusively serving Nonay beef from Lakeside Dairy, the steak selections will change on a daily basis. “We will try to be mindful of selecting cuts based on night of the week,” said Shufelt. “On Sunday nights, we might do a cross-rib roast for a traditional Sunday dinner feel. On Monday or Tuesday, we will have value cuts, versus Friday or Saturday nights, when we might offer the 90-day aged rib-eye, or wagyu tenderloin.” Similarly, the fish program is based entirely on seasonal catch brought in by fishmonger Effing Seafoods.

Shufelt acknowledges that opening up a more formal restaurant right now is a risk, especially given the pandemic-related growth over the past two years of more casual eateries with take-out ready options. But he believes the community is finally ready to embrace dining out in greater numbers.

“People miss gathering socially,” said Shufelt. “How many special occasions have we missed over the last couple of years? People are ready to get out of the house and dine again. It’s always darkest before the dawn, and I feel that the dawn is around the corner.”

My partner and I were among those hosted by Hayloft Steak + Fish at the media launch last week.

COVID-19-related News

• Northern Chicken has re-opened for dine-in during their regular hours, instead of just at lunch.

Closures

• Forest Heights’ Pho & Bun has announced their closure: “After being opened for 14+ years, today we are sorry to announce the retirement of our family business. I know this may come as a shock to many as we were looking for a new building to move our restaurant to, but unfortunately we were not able to find a place that worked for us.” They don’t have a set closing date yet, but have listed their business for sale.

Upcoming Events

• On March 19, 2022, some of the Black Owned Market YEG vendors will be popping up at the Token Bitters storefront at 10047 108 Street.
• Pei Pei Chei Ow will be hosting a pop-up at Whiskeyjack Art House. Tickets are $200 and include a multi-course dinner, drumming performance, talk, and an art piece by Indigenous artist Mackenzie Brown (Kamamak).
• Awn Kitchen is launching a Dinner Club on March 26, 2022, with proceeds to benefit the Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis. Tickets are $125 per person.
• On March 28, 2022, three Get Cooking chefs will be taking over Dalla Tavola Zenari. Tickets are $20 and includes a welcome drink, flight of canapes and the opportunity to order a la carte small plates from Addie Raghavan, Mai Nguyen, and Kathryn Joel.

Local News

• More hospitality businesses are running Ukraine-related relief campaigns, including Awn Kitchen, Glass Monkey, and Seitan’s Kitchen in the 5th Street Food Hall.
• The Public is offering another round of pre-ordered drop-offs at designated outposts in the Edmonton area on March 28, 2022. This drop features three Whyte Avenue businesses: Drift, Flirt, and Sugared & Spiced.
• If last week’s story about Edmonton Public Library’s new learning and community kitchen wasn’t enough, listen to EPL’s latest podcast which is all about The Kitchen.
• The latest Best Dish column highlights Awash Ethiopian Restaurant.
• Edify’s Best Restaurants edition highlighted Tiramisu Bistro’s pandemic pivot which continues to endure, and also featured the stories behind independent cafes Candid Coffee Roasters and Woodrack Cafe.
• Edify also sampled some dim sum from Tasty Noodle.
• Edmonton restaurant Baekjeong Korean BBQ House will be opening a location in Calgary.
• Local butcher shop MeatHead has begun offering delivery to accommodate customers.
• Savvy Mom has a list of Alberta-based delivery boxes (including food and drink subscriptions) to consider.
• NAIT developed a guide to bread and pastries in Edmonton, which features the businesses started by their graduates.
• The Italian Centre shared the sad news of the passing of Rina Spinelli last week, wife of the late Frank Spinelli and mother to Teresa.
• Alberta Food Tours published a list of 30 women-led Alberta food businesses in honour of International Women’s Day, and Explore Edmonton highlighted women entrepreneurs, including Seble Isaac of Tiramisu Bistro and Kirsta Franke of The Public.
• Women in the brewing industry continue to face an uphill battle.

What I Ate

• Mack and I were very fortunate to be hosted at Hayloft on Thursday. The skirt steak and tenderloin we tried were perfectly prepared, and the sides were decadent for such a grand night out (our first as a couple in two years!). Thanks again to Paul and his team for a great evening.

Our spread from Hayloft

• I tried take-out from Thien An for the first time last week. While the grilled chicken wasn’t quite as good as T & D Noodle House (RIP), it was a serviceable vermicelli bowl. The spring roll was especially crispy and satisfying.

Grilled chicken vermicelli from Thien An

• It’s been too long since my last visit to Mama Asha but I can report that it was as tasty as I remembered! Their chicken suqaar wrap is such a huge serving, and the sabayad bread is worth seeking out alone. I’m also happy their coconut cake was available, and was big enough to share with five people! Such a gem in the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood.

The chicken suqaar wrap and coconut cake from Mama Asha

Downtown Library Prepares to Open Community Kitchen

The Kitchen, a learning and community kitchen facility located on the second floor of the Stanley A. Milner Library, is finally ready to open to the public this month.

The in-person grand opening celebration will take place on March 16, while a virtual tour will run March 19.

Although the renovated downtown branch of the Edmonton Public Library has been open since September 2020, many of its plans for group-based, in-person activities were postponed due to the pandemic. Now, with the further lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, The Kitchen can operate as intended.

“The primary objective of The Kitchen is to create learning opportunities to help increase knowledge and grow interest in food literacy and nutrition, and to teach skills that would be transferable into a home kitchen environment,” said Karen Chidiak, the EPL’s manager of marketing and communications.

The facility will offer courses in cooking, baking, and other food-related matters either directly or through partner organizations. “We also want to make The Kitchen available to community groups and others looking to build connections or share cultural practices with food,” Chidiak said. “Finally, we hope to make our space available to entrepreneurs looking to explore starting food-related businesses and in need of space and equipment to help them start out.”

The 2,100 square feet of space can accommodate up to 36 participants at workstations, and it is equipped with commercial-grade ovens and ventilation systems alongside more traditional at-home appliances like stand mixers.

Pre-registration is required for the virtual sneak peek sessions running March 19 and 20. So far, workshops featuring Fox Burger‘s Sean O’Connor on pancakes and Pei Pei Chei Ow‘s chef Scott Iserhoff on Indigenous potato pancakes already have waitlists, and sessions on preparing a Spanish-themed supper, brownie baking, and cocktails are filling up fast.

More than two dozen hospitality professionals from restaurants and food-related businesses have already donated their time and expertise to help get The Kitchen up and running, and the library is open to including others. “Many Edmonton chefs and community experts are passionate about bringing culinary literacy skills to Edmontonians and offered to share their knowledge, expertise and platforms,” said Chidiak. “As we identify the types of classes that help create a culture of learning through cooking, we expect more contributions from local experts.”

The intended audience for The Kitchen is broad. “The primary focus is helping everyday Edmontonians be more informed and comfortable with cooking, nutrition, and food preparation,” Chidiak said. “We will also be offering some entry-level cooking classes that can act as a precursor or step towards more advanced learning.”

While virtual classes are free of charge, The Kitchen may charge fees that reflect the cost of ingredients as it adds in-person classes beginning in April. Chidiak acknowledged the challenges some participants may have on cost, and said the library is trying to minimize these barriers. “For example, thanks to a grant received by Pei Pei Chei Ow, they will provide grocery cards to support the purchase of ingredients for low-income families.”

Chidiak noted that staff will be reflecting in six months on how The Kitchen is meeting the needs of its customers, and noted it has the flexibility to explore different types of classes and partnerships. “The Kitchen is another example of EPL’s commitment to providing creative spaces and places for people to learn through hands-on experiences, collaborate and build community connections,” said Chidiak. “We hope to become a resource for multifaceted access to food-related learning, community-building and entrepreneurship.”

Openings

• Pizza continues to be the rage in Edmonton – Toast Culture is the latest to sling pies under sub-brand Birch & Bear Pizza.
• SSP America’s Upper Crust (not to be confused with the longstanding Edmonton-based Upper Crust) is now open at the Edmonton International Airport.

Closures

• It looks like T & D Noodle House has already permanently closed.

Upcoming Events

• The next Nosh Food Fest, featuring over 80 food and beverage producers, is taking place March 19-20, 2022 in Sherwood Park.
• Chef Table Living will be leading 124 Street Food Walks from March 19-April 9, 2022. Tickets start at $55.
• Aditya Raghavan will be popping up at Restaurant Yarrow on March 20-21, 2022 for YEG Curry Nights, a 10-course paired meal. Tickets are $150.
• Save the date for Downtown Dining Week, which returns March 30-April 10, 2022, with 58 participating restaurants offering $20, $35, $50 and $65 multi-course meals. The menus are already up for your perusing pleasure.

Local News

• Edify released their full Best Restaurants list (disclosure: I was on the judging panel this year).
• The Tomato also released their Top 100 Best Things to Eat and Drink in Edmonton.
• Many local businesses in the last week have stepped up to fundraise for Ukrainian relief efforts. Some have since passed, but active campaigns include Backstairs Burgers, Otto, and Roasti Coffee.
• Local business H & T Food Products was affected by a fire last week, and the family has started a crowdfunding campaign to help them get back on their feet.
• Flava Cafe re-opened on March 1, 2022 after a break-in at the restaurant.
• The Journal has the story behind Beb’s Bagels and Waffle Bird.
• Local butcher Elyse Chatterton competed on the Food Network Canada series Wall of Bakers. Her episode will air on April 11, 2022.
• Sea Change will be releasing a beer brewed in collaboration with Yego.Death.
• Alcohol will again be permitted at certain picnic sites this summer.
• Blush Lane Organic Market staff will be trained on using naloxone kits.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• The City of Edmonton is accepting applications for this summer’s pop-up community garden sites until March 31, 2022.

What I Ate

• We grabbed Burger Brawl take-out on Friday and it was super satisfying! I enjoyed the Juicy Lucinda burger, and it was great that the shoestring fries and onion rings were still crispy after the trek home. We’ll definitely be ordering it again!

Burger Brawl order

• It was our first time trying Kasey Ramen and it won’t be our last. We slurped up every last bit of the excellent tonkotsu broth, and loved the chew in the noodles. The kits sell out fast when they are released every week, so you have to be on top of it to order!

Spicy tonkotsu ramen from Kasey Ramen