Openings
- It looks like the third of Daniel Costa’s new restaurants in the Citizen on Jasper (10110 120 Street), Mimi, is now open.
- Birch and Bear has opened a third Edmonton location in the former Fleisch space in Forest Heights, at 8210 106 Avenue.
- It’s great to see that Fox Burger is adding a third location. It will be located in Westmount on 124 Street.
- Popular Calgary-based pizzeria UNA opened in Edmonton in South Edmonton Common, 1708 99 Street on November 2. Outside of Calgary, UNA also has a location in Saskatoon.
- Fawkes Coffee has closed its pop-up location in the Great West Saddlery Building and will be opening their permanent spot in the same building on November 5.
- Nuestra Coffee Shop, located opposite Borden Park, is opening on November 13 at 7601 112 Avenue.
- New Vietnamese bakery and dessert spot Ăn Vặt opened on November 1 at 3555 Gateway Boulevard (the name translates to “to eat between meals” in Vietnamese). They offer banh mi, snacks, and treats.
- Mai Mai has opened a location based out of Sea Change Brewing’s Edmonton taproom, located at 9850 62 Avenue.
- The Backyard Smokehouse, based in Ontario, is opening its Edmonton location on November 9.
Closures
- It was a surprise to learn that after 7 years, Biera will be closing at the end of December: “due to changes to market conditions, we feel the restaurant is in need of a revamp, but we’re not going to be the ones to do it. Our goal is to find a worthy successor with fresh ideas and energy that will continue to serve customers in the existing space.” Blind Enthusiasm’s Market Brewery will close along with Biera. The Monolith Taproom will continue operations, and Biera Market will operate until the end of the year and will re-open in the new year offering many of the same products.
- Nomiya is closing its Ellerslie location after 11 years on November 27. Nomiya’s original location on Calgary trail will remain open, as well as its sister Ellerslie restaurant, Chan Can Wok.
Upcoming Events
- The Polar Patio Club, celebrating winter patios, launches on November 6 at the Rocky Mountain Ice House at 5pm.
- Sisters Dialogue is hosting an event focusing on Uyghur cuisine, and “how food can serve as an act of resistance, community, and liberation.” The event takes place on November 9, and tickets are $10.
- Out of Bounds Restaurant is hosting a series of pop-up dinners in November, including a Modern Polish Feast on November 9 with chef Julia Kundera and A Night In Mexico on November 28.
- The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald is hosting a community tree lighting ceremony on November 14 from 12-1pm. It is open to the public and they will be serving up cookies and hot chocolate.
Local News
- It’s always great to see hospitality trailblazers recognized on Edify’s Top 40. This year’s class includes Doug Checknita, The Monolith’s head brewer, and Winnie Chen, executive chef and operating partner at Fu’s Repair Shop.
- Connected Kitchen Project, offering food production space for micro- to medium-sized food businesses, opened in the former EPIC Market space downtown on November 1.
- Square 1 Coffee and The Stone & Wheel Pizzeria is aiming to raise $500,000 through gift cards with bonus values to bring the businesses to Sherwood Park.
- Good Goods, who closed its downtown storefront in September, will launch a new partnership with Little Brick on November 8.
- La Prosciutteria is under new ownership.
- Edify profiled Callie Draper, who was the winner of this year’s World’s 50 Best Bars Roku Scholarship.
- It’s too bad none of the three Edmonton restaurants recognized on the longlist of Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants made the top ten, released today.
- Chefs Allan Suddaby and Chael MacDonald talk all about Edmonton food chains on their Food Court podcast.
What I Ate
- Linda and I visited Out of Bounds Restaurant, located at the Cattail Crossing Golf & Winter Club, for the first time. The crispy broccoli was a great appetizer, fried but not heavy at all.
Crispy broccoli from Out of Bounds
Only Here for the Food 