Openings
- MSSM (Masaki Saito Sushi Master), offering omakase experienced curated by 2-star Michelin Chef Masaki Saito, opened this weekend in Edmonton at 10111 104 Avenue, #118 (previously occupied by Cacao 70 in the Edmonton Tower). The 14-course menu cost is $98 per person.
- Labo, Edmonton’s newest cafe, is now open at 10546 82 Avenue (which formerly housed Sorellina Coffee).
- Speaking of Sorellina, which closed its Old Strathcona cafe back in January, they will be re-opening a tasting room and roastery this November in the Mercer Warehouse.
- Another ramen franchise is opening in Edmonton, this time Toronto-based, called Midori Ramen.
- Offering a “taste of India”, Sankalp Restaurant is now open at 3727 99 Street.
- Rangoli Kitchen and Bar opened in mid-August at 1011 Keswick Drive SW.
- BeaverTails has opened its second Edmonton location in West Edmonton Mall.
Closures
- Tryst in St. Albert announced their closure: “It’s become too hard to maintain our focus and our standards with many many other things happening in our lives.” Their last day of service will be September 15. In 2022, Tryst was named one of Edify’s Best New Restaurants that year, and co-owner Zach Eaton said that while the magazine helped drive in some traffic, the work was in bringing them back again.
Local News
- Katy Ingraham shared some thoughts about the closure of her restaurant Fleisch Delikatessen, which shut its doors in the spring.
- The latest Fav Eats feature in Edify spotlights a relative newcomer – Flat Boy Burgers served at Shiddy’s.
- Also from Edify, more about Epic Market’s concept.
- I talked to Edmonton AM last week about American chains like Chick-fil-A that have opened recently in the city, and mentioned a couple of local alternatives for fried chicken sandwiches.
- CTV talked to local forager Kevin Kossowan about how to prepare invasive crayfish available to harvest from the North Saskatchewan River.
What I Ate
- I have been wanting to support a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for years, but without pickup points Downtown, it wouldn’t have been convenient for us to do so. Riverbend Gardens introduced a couple of different Downtown pick-up options this year, so we decided to split a smaller CSA share with friends of ours that live down the block. It’s been great so far! It is always a surprise as to what vegetables we will be receiving, but we knew we would be happy with the quality of the produce given we’ve been buying from Riverbend Gardens for a long time. They offer a late season CSA for those interested that starts in October.
One week’s smaller CSA share from Riverbend Gardens
- It’s become tradition for us to have a Jack’s Burger Shack picnic every summer. It may not be proven, but I think food tastes better when eaten outside.
Burger picnic
- Our family hosted our first Simply Supper Lemonade Stand in support of the Stollery Children’s Hospital on Saturday. We set up on our front porch, and had the benefit of foot traffic from the farmers’ market. Thanks to those market-goers, neighbours, friends, and family, we were able to raise $675. Emily had such a great experience she has already asked to do it again next year!
The Century Squeeze (our Lemonade Stand!)
- Ellie and I had a great time at the Summer Festival in Chinatown on Sunday, and enjoyed a sweet treat at Little Bon Bon to cap off our afternoon. I especially loved the vanilla cookie crumbs.
Ellie is an ice cream fiend
Only Here for the Food 