Food Notes for October 9, 2023

Openings

• Hirondelle Bakery returns to a storefront location after a hiatus. On October 15 and 29 will be their soft opening at 16753 84 Street.
• Stephanie shared that a new ramen restaurant called Shiawase Ramen has opened in Cameron Heights at 623 Cameron Heights Drive NW.
• Caribbean Latino Finger Licking Chicken has opened at 8702 118 Avenue.

Upcoming Events

• Strathcona County is hosting Bread Planet, a “global carb adventure with samples from around the world”. The event includes Q & A sessions with chefs and food writers. Admission is free to the October 14 event, but it is recommended you arrive early.
• The next Eats on 118 will take place on October 19. Tickets are $60 and include visits and tastings at three Alberta Avenue businesses.
• Feed the Soul and Secret Ingredient YEG are collaborating to put on the Behind the Apron Series, with workshops “to create an inclusive and diverse space for people to experience the passion and stories that drive the great food you can find at local Farmers Markets and retailers in Edmonton.” The first event is a canning session with Johwanna Alleyne of Mojo Jojo Pickles on October 24. Tickets are $79.67.

Local News

• Fuss Cupcakes held a grand opening at their relocated west end location on the weekend. Find them at 16956 111 Avenue.
• The Common has re-opened for lunch on Thursdays and Fridays as of September 29.
• Edify checked out Hanan’s Kitchen and Boxcar Coffee Shop.
• Forest Heights mainstay Hilltop Pub has closed again after a fire. This closure is especially difficult given the pub only reopened in December after a fire in 2021.
• NAIT’s Culinary Program prepared 800 Thanksgiving meals that were served by Boyle Street Community Services and Bissell Centre.
• Love with Humanity has set up an outdoor food bank in the neighbourhood of Kensington. They have set up nine similar food banks in Calgary.
• The newest episode of the Well Endowed Podcast explores “the nuances around accessing food and why our goal should be to help people thrive, not just survive.”

What I Ate

• Returning to the office will mean many more arepas from El Fogon are in my future. They’re so good.

Shredded beef and gouda arepa from El Fogon

• I was very fortunate to have been #hosted at the Fairmont Macdonald’s Confederation Lounge last week. Poppy Barley launched their new collection of knitwear with a dinner that highlighted the sustainability practices of both companies. We enjoyed three courses from the new fall/winter menu, including a delicious green pea risotto that used the last of summer’s bounty. The menu also includes a special cocktail called Knitwear – $1 from every drink sold will be donated to the YWCA’s youth programs.

Green pea risotto from Confederation Lounge

• With such gorgeous weather over the weekend, it seemed like a waste not to take advantage of this extended al fresco season. The kids loved people watching on Northern Chicken’s patio, and the Doritos mac and cheese (as always) was the family favourite.

Brisket sandwich and Doritos mac and cheese from Northern Chicken