Openings

• Alternate Route Coffee has launched a coffee bar in Leduc County’s Business Entrepreneur Centre, open every Thursday and Friday alongside Chartier’s Mother Bakery. It is located at 606 18 Avenue, Nisku.
• Fuzion Donuts is building out their second location, to be found at 12866 97 Street.

Closures

• Community Taps + Pizza is closing on October 18.

Upcoming Events

• The annual Edmonton Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Fest returns to the Edmonton Convention Centre on November 3-4, 2023. General admission tickets start at $35.68.

Local News

• On the heels of The Common re-offering lunch on Thursdays and Fridays, Bundok also announced that they will be resuming lunch service on October 25. It’s great to see these small signs of growth in the right direction downtown.
• Speaking of downtown, four small businesses, including The Growlery Beer Co., and Good Goods, were chosen by the Downtown Business Association to receive grants of up to $250,000 to open up locations downtown. Specific location details or timelines have yet to be announced.
• Congratulations to the winners of the Edmonton qualifier of the Great Kitchen Party: JP Dublado of Red Deer Resort and Casino won gold, silver went to Winnie Chen of Fu’s Repair Shop, and Bri Campbell took home the bronze and the People’s Choice award. Dublado will be representing Edmonton in the finals in Ottawa in February.
• After seven years, the owners of Hansen Distillery have put their business up for sale: “we can no longer devote the same time and energy to our business that it deserves, without compromising our values and our time with our family.” No changes to hours or products will take place while the distillery is up for sale.
• Northern Chicken’s 104 Street location had their window broken this week.
• Edify checked out Links Woodfire Sausage Co. in St. Albert.
• Happy fifth birthday to Roasti Coffee!
• John Lance has joined the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald as its new executive chef.
• It’s hard to believe Jacek Chocolate Couture has been making their popular advent calendars for a decade! They are now available for pre-order, and are guaranteed to sell out.
• The Local Good, which in its time had organized Green Drinks and the Resilience Festival, has decided to dissolve the organization after 16 years.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• Elmwood School is the first elementary in Edmonton to hire a gardener-in-residence.
• Alberta pumpkin growers had to persevere through dry conditions this year.

What I Ate

• I stopped by Happy and Olive while in the neighbourhood and picked up their caramel apple pop tart. It was as good as it looked.

Caramel apple pop tart from Happy and Olive

• We satisfied a craving for Chinese food with take-out from Spirit Bistro on the weekend. We had loads of leftovers, which always makes me happy.

Take-out from Spirit Bistro

• The Italian Centre was bustling when Su and I met up for an early dinner on Saturday before an event. Their Il Capo pizza, with bechamel, roasted potatoes, smoked pancetta, leeks, mozzarella, and honey was so tasty.

Il Capo pizza from the Italian Centre

• Su and I attended Lit Fest’s Food Matters event, held at Zocalo this year. The greenhouse was a lovely and unique venue, with twinkly lights over the bistro tables. We listened to Twyla Campbell and Dan Clapson speak about the process behind their cookbook Prairie, while we noshed on some of their recipes, including a rice casserole called kuppershnuck, and a vegetarian tourtiere prepared by chef Steve Brochu of MilkCrate. Tickets to LitFest’s A Brunch of Writers on October 22 are still on sale.

Bites from Prairie

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

I will be returning to my day job later this week, after a little over a year on maternity leave. While it will be my intention to keep up with the original reporting that you read here (and republished on Taproot Edmonton), it may take me some time to determine how I can meet all of my responsibilities and stay sane in the process! As always, thanks for reading and supporting local.

Openings

• Daniel Costa’s latest venture sees him partnering with the Henry Singer Fashion Group to open Bar Henry inside their new flagship store in Ice District, to open later this year. The location will serve coffee by day, and wine and cocktails alongside snacks in the evening.
• Little Wolf opened in the former Three Boars space at 8424 109 Street two weeks ago. The restaurant is the brainchild of Shaun Hicks, whose resume includes Woodwork, Three Boars, and La Petite Iza.
• Congratulations to Italian Bakery for re-opening their Chinatown location on October 2! I interviewed owner Rosaly DeVenz about their return to that neighbourhood last month.
• La French Taste has opened in Norwood next to Otto at 11401 95 Street (formerly occupied by La Favourite). La French Taste has been vending at farmers’ markets most recently.
• Crumbl Cookies’ second storefront in the Edmonton area will open in Sherwood Park on October 6 at 390 Baseline Road, #228.
• A new Indian restaurant called Mezbaan Indian Bistro has opened at 431 36 Street SW.
• KB & Company is slated to open their 8th location this winter at new development the Mercury Block (123 Street and 102 Avenue).

Closures

• Shojo announced that they are closing permanently: “We’re not willing to compromise on our values and cut certain corners to be more profitable. A major part of why we are successful is our people. We truly believe we have some of the best guests and staff around.” Their last day of service is October 7.
• After ten years, Kaeng Thai Bistro in Old Strathcona announced their permanent closure. Their final day of service was September 28.
• While not a full closure, Zwick’s announced that due to demand on the wholesale side of their business, they have decided to close their retail storefront, effective September 24. They are still accepting pre-orders though, for those with a hankering for their soft pretzels!

Local News

• It’s always great to see local restaurants like Rosewood Foods putting their money where their mouth is and donating proceeds to a local Indigenous organization on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
• After teasing the possibility of being saved by an angel investor, Chartier confirmed last week that their lease on life has been extended: “An investor – a community member right here in Beaumont who wishes to remain anonymous – stepped forward and invested enough into Chartier to allow us to keep moving forward and keep feeding Albertan families.” They will reopen after October 22 to rest and reset.
• Amidst these announcements, Filistix poignantly shared the message: “don’t wait until your favorite restaurant posts that they are closing…support them NOW when they really need it”.
• Nudoru Ramen in Old Strathcona closed back in August 2022, but will return as a pop-up in October at Yutaka.
• Edify checked out D’Amore’s Deli, Avila Arepa, Café Celeste in Sherwood Park, and chain Les Moulins La Fayette.
• Linda shared a sponsored guide for things to do and food to eat in St. Albert, which includes her recommendations on local restaurants to try.
• CityNews interviewed Ashford Pub and Transit Smokehouse and BBQ about how challenging it has been to stay afloat as customer numbers stagnate.
• The Journal covered how the local coffee roasting scene has grown over the decades.
• Edmonton chef Fred Isla will be competing again in Food Network’s new season of Halloween Wars.
• Leduc resident Kathy Neiman will be competing in the current season of The Great Canadian Baking Show.
• Congratulations to Omar Mouallem for winning the 2023 Alberta Film & Television (Rosie) Award for his production The Lebanese Burger Mafia.
• Atco’s Blue Flame Kitchen has introduced a line of ready-to-eat meals called BFK Express that are now available at Circle K, Blush Lane, and spud.ca, among other locations.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• It may be a bit too late for this year, but combating climate change can start with harvesting fruit on public lands, says this St. Albert Gazette piece.

What I Ate

• I had a couple of great meals at Rosewood over the last few weeks. This included an excuse to have the always delicious patty melt.

Patty melt from Rosewood Foods

• After writing a story about Happy and Olive a couple of weeks ago, I knew I wanted to go back and sample the fare. The latke and burger were both delicious, but that fried angel food cake was a surprising stunner.

Lunch at Happy and Olive

• It’s interesting to note how wine bars serving up simple fare have been popping up all over Edmonton (with Bibo in the Strathcona Hotel to rejoin the fray soon). Mack and I checked out the newest – Nowhere Wine Bar – over the weekend. We appreciated the people-watching perch.

Onion dip and wine at Nowhere Wine Bar

• We also celebrated our wedding anniversary at RGE RD, and finally decided to indulge in the Road Trip (the blind multi-course tasting menu). We did not regret that decision.

Mack at RGE RD

Happy and Olive embraced by community in Crestwood

The four hospitality veterans behind a new restaurant in central-west Edmonton have been thrilled by the neighbourhood response so far.

Happy and Olive is the brainchild of Frank and Andrea Olson, who operated Red Ox Inn for 25 years and Canteen for 10 years, and Dave and Ann Jackson, who ran The Wired Cup for 10 years. The restaurant (named after Frank Olson’s great uncle and his wife) opened on July 13 at 9640 142 Street NW in Crestwood Centre, and it has been busy ever since.

“The day we got our permits and turned on our open sign, we had incredible traffic because people were waiting, peering into the windows,” Andrea Olson said. Added Frank: “We have done zero advertising and have been terrible about promoting. But people were hungry. It was like they hadn’t eaten in five years.”

The Wired Cup closed in 2019, nudged to closure due to the LRT construction in Strathearn, and Red Ox Inn never re-opened after the pandemic, when the Olsons chose to focus on Canteen. When negotiations to extend the lease for Canteen fell through last year, the Olsons started to explore life outside of the restaurant business, and Andrea obtained a real estate licence. But when the vacancy in Crestwood came up, the opportunity was too enticing not to proceed.

“Frank and I saw the space and thought, ‘What a space, what a neighbourhood, what a patio,'” said Andrea. “Never did I think for Frank and I that we had another restaurant in us.”

They made a call to their longtime friends, the Jacksons; Frank and Dave have known each other since high school, and Red Ox Inn and The Wired Cup were neighbouring businesses. “We had entertained the idea of opening up a small place again,” said Dave Jackson. “This is a juggernaut, but we were ready.”

The Jacksons’ participation made the prospect palatable for the Olsons. “We wouldn’t have done this without a partnership,” said Frank. “It takes some pressure off.”

The concept behind Happy and Olive is ambitious. Open seven days a week, Dave and Ann lead the café service on weekday mornings. Frank and Andrea arrive to support lunch, happy hour, and dinner service. Weekends offer brunch, happy hour, and dinner. All four have been putting in 12-hour days.

“You strike while the iron is hot,” said Dave. After the pandemic era, the long hours are welcome, suggested Frank. “People can come any time. It’s really good, after COVID especially. We got tired of opening, closing. Everybody is tired of that.”

Their landlord has told them Happy and Olive has been a boon for the other retail shops in the complex. “He heard from our fellow tenants that they’ve had an uptick in traffic throughout the day,” said Andrea.

(From left) Frank and Andrea Olson and Dave and Ann Jackson

The menu has taken a few elements from the previous establishments, such as the muffins and the brekkie sandwich from The Wired Cup, the lamb chops from Canteen, and bacon jam from Red Ox Inn. But much of the preparation has been streamlined. “We’ve simplified it. The menu shares things with other parts of the menu. And there are no tweezers and meat glue,” laughed Frank.

The latkes, topped with mushroom, Montreal smoked meat, or smoked salmon, have been a runaway hit. Ann Jackson said the rosemary parmesan fries are “addictive,” while her husband called the burger, topped with the aforementioned bacon jam, a “revelation.”

Still, given Happy and Olive has only been open for two months, some things are still a work in progress. Diners can expect menu tweaks as the cooler weather sets in, and the restaurant has plans for a covered patio, in an effort to extend al fresco options into the shoulder seasons.

Given the decades of industry experience between the two couples, it isn’t surprising Happy and Olive has been well received so far. While they all agree the location has been one factor in that success, providing a dependable experience is also key. “The menu has to be executable consistently. That’s the business,” said Frank. “Plus a little innovation,” Andrea added.

There is also something to be said for good hospitality provided directly by the owner-operators, noted Dave. “Any time people come into an establishment that you own, you are fostering that relationship. You are going to care more than your best employee. And it’s great if you can remember their name, especially at our age!”

The owners of Happy and Olive are hopeful that this restaurant, like their previous businesses, can contribute to what makes the city unique. “At The Wired Cup, people were always telling us, ‘This place reminds me of Victoria or Vancouver,'” said Dave. “Why can’t it remind you of Edmonton?”

Openings

• Often Restaurant and Bar hosted their grand opening on September 16. It fills the vacant space in the McLeod Building (10009 101A Avenue), most recently occupied by Ra Bar.
• Odd Company Brewing opened its Ritchie Taproom on September 15 at 9959 76 Avenue. This is the company’s second location (the first located in the Oliver Exchange Building).
• Desi-licious is a new Indian restaurant that opened at 10010 104 Street (formerly occupied by a Basil Pasta Bar location). They are (if I am not mistaken), the first restaurant downtown to offer dosas!
• Vine Arts, a Calgary-based wine and spirits store, has opened an Edmonton location at 10961 124 Street.

Upcoming Events

• Leduc is hosting its first Downtown Dining Week from September 15-23, highlighting 11 restaurants.
• Blind Enthusiasm is hosting its inaugural Barrel Fest on September 23. The event features 15 breweries who “devotes significant production effort to barrel-aging and barrel-fermenting” beer, cider, and wine. Tickets are $40.54.
• NAIT’s Culinary Team is hosting Sunday lunches as the students practice for the 2024 IKA Culinary Olympics. Tickets are $25 for a 3-course meal, and dates run into January.
• This year’s Food Matters at LitFest will feature Prairie authors Dan Clapson and Twyla Campbell. Advance tickets are $37.53 and include light bites.

Local News

• Congratulations to the Italian Centre on the opening of their revamped bakery in its Little Italy location on September 17.
• The Journal has the story of how the Paris Baguette franchises came to be in Edmonton.
• Happy sixth birthday to Sugared and Spiced!
• The Moth experienced a break-in last week.
• Edify checked out Bianco.
• Sharman updated her guide to gluten-free eats in Edmonton, published on Linda’s blog. It’s a great resource!
• The Pandemic Planting Project, which started in 2020 as a way to give back to the community, continues. They are seeking volunteers to help harvest potatoes on September 23 and 24, with the vast majority going to Edmonton’s Food Bank.

Beyond Edmonton

• En Route’s Best New Restaurants 2023 longlist came out last week, and unfortunately, there isn’t any Edmonton representation this year. Three Calgary restaurants made the cut.

What I Ate

Small note to let readers know that there will be no Food Notes next week – we’re going to the mountains for the weekend. As always, subscribing to the Food Roundup at Taproot Edmonton is another option to keep on top of the city’s food and hospitality news!

• Our family had one last meal (and Ellie’s first) at Chartier this weekend. I had honestly forgotten just how good their poutine is. I’ll also miss their warm hospitality. There is a chance Chartier will have their business extended, but if not, get there before September 30 for one final visit.

Ellie eying up the poutine

• A friend and I met up at El Corazon to try it for the first time. We enjoyed the food (I appreciated the option for lamb tacos) but the music on a Friday was a tad loud for us to comfortably carry on a conversation. I realize putting that in writing makes me sound “old”.

Lamb barbacoa tacos from El Corazon

• CinnZeo has been my guilty pleasure since high school (a friend and I would go to the food court explicitly for a cinnamon bun). I don’t indulge often, but now when I do, some of that guilt is lifted when I’m able to snag a box through Too Good to Go.

CinnZeo FTW

Italian Bakery returns to its roots with rebuilt store in Chinatown

The Italian Bakery is finally ready to re-open in Chinatown with a brand-new building.

A fire devastated the original structure in 2020, after the company’s Beverly site had to be rebuilt after a fire in 2016. While undertaking another major construction project so soon was not ideal, owner Rosaly DeVenz said doing so was the only option.

“My parents (founders Antonio and Aurora Frattin) started this bakery here in 1962, and this was their home,” said DeVenz. “We rebuilt it for them.”

Construction was supposed to last only a year, but due to COVID-19, materials shortages, and contractor challenges, the timeline extended to three years. Unfortunately, both Antonio and Aurora passed away in 2022 and were not able to see the final result. The new build at 10644 97 Street NW included a customized apartment unit above the bakery that was intended for them. Still, DeVenz knows her parents would be pleased with the outcome.

“They would be happy that we rebuilt in this neighbourhood and will step up our game,” said DeVenz. “You have to make out of the rubble like a phoenix rising, and make it bigger and better.”

DeVenz is aiming for a soft opening later in September. Although the footprint of the new building is only slightly larger than the previous one, the design has significantly enlarged the retail area. This will allow the location to stock fresh produce, milk, eggs, and more grocery items than before, as well as accommodate a larger deli.

Rosaly DeVenz, owner of the Italian Bakery

In addition, DeVenz is excited about an expanded food menu. The bakery’s popular personalized sandwiches will be back, and new dine-in options will include fresh pasta, pizzas, soup, salads, and gelato, all made on-site. The shop will also offer a variety of prepared heat-and-serve meals, made in-house and by other local businesses such as Pazzo Pazzo and Sorrentino’s. While most of the bakery items will be produced at the larger facility in Beverly, DeVenz promised that doughnuts, Danishes, and buns will be made on location.

DeVenz acknowledged that the menu will be somewhat of an experiment at the start, given the business’s lengthy absence from the area. “The neighbourhood’s changed, our clientele has changed,” said DeVenz. “But we hope that bringing new people in through the store might help revitalize Chinatown.”

With that in mind, the shop has increased its seating area for customers, intended for shoppers to enjoy a meal or a drink from the café. “What we’re trying to do is create a place to go sit down and go for coffee,” said DeVenz. “After the pandemic, I think people are missing environments to socialize.”

In an effort to appeal to a broader customer base, DeVenz had an indoor bocce ball court installed. “You have to have ‘Instagrammable moments’ nowadays,” laughed DeVenz. “We wanted to do something different and bring something that instigates memories for people and their families.”

DeVenz is aware that some folks may be avoiding Chinatown because of the negativity surrounding the area. “People shouldn’t be scared,” she said. “The news puts images into people’s minds. This neighbourhood has had a lot of ups and downs. We’re due for an up.”

Openings

• Smoky Bear has announced that it will be relocating downtown, and their last day of service in the current Old Strathcona location will be October 21. Bella will open in its place, “an Italian (ish) restaurant.  Food inspired by the traditions and culture of Italy cooked with modern techniques and ingredients.  Produce chosen and cooked when it is shining the brightest.  Seasonal vegetables treated simply to showcase the quality.  A selection of handmade pastas made from Alberta flour.  Proteins in large format made for sharing just like at Nona’s table.”
• Lui-Chi’s has opened a second location at the base of the Stantec Tower downtown.
• Von’s has re-opened downtown at 10065 Jasper Avenue, Unit 101, in the space that formerly housed State and Main. Von’s had closed the Old Strathcona location earlier this year.

Upcoming Events

• The next Nosh Food Fest runs September 16-17 in Sherwood Park. More than 100 food and beverage vendors are expected.
• Workshop Eatery’s Bacon Day will return on September 22, with proceeds going to MS Canada. Tickets are $95 and include access to food and cocktail stations, a giant charcuterie board, and a bacon dessert cook-off between chef Paul Shufelt and a mystery chef.
• Eats on 118 is back on September 28. Tickets are $60 and include visits to three restaurants.
• Ice District will be hosting Western Canada’s largest Oktoberfest celebration from September 22-30. It will include a beer hall, German food, vendors, music, and games. Admission is $25.

Local News

• Chartier expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support in the wake of their closure announcement, and updated that “every day we’re getting closer to finding an investor that would allow our continued growth in Beaumont.”
• Taproot featured chef Joshua Nhan, the chef behind the Peruvian menu at Dolly’s.
• Edify profiled new restaurant Happy and Olive and forthcoming cafe Bar Oro Caffe and Roastery.
• Also from Edify, they checked out Sushi Cafe Madang and Dang Good.
• Lastly, Edify highlights the designs of Fu’s Repair Shop, Sherwood Park’s location of the Italian Centre, and Anohka Distillery.
• Congratulations to the Italian Centre on their tenth anniversary in West Edmonton.
• Local baker Marilou Honrado of Cloud Cakes by Auntie Lou returns to Food Network Canada’s Big Bake Halloween, with the episode airing on October 1.
• Uproot Food Collective has extended their equity-crowdfunding campaign.
• Alberta PrimeTimes focused on the connections learners build with one another at The Kitchen inside the Edmonton Public Library.
• Edmonton’s Food Bank continues to see a high demand for their services, especially as children return to school this month.

What I Ate

• It has literally been years since I’ve dined in Pho Tau Bay because of the pandemic (we’ve had a lot of take-out, though). It was so great to be back.

My usual at Tau Bay

• We finally hit up the 124 Street Grand Sunday Market on the weekend, and was happy to see Coast Lunch Box back as a vendor. I love their buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. There are only a few more weeks of outdoor markets left – get out to them if you can!

Coast Lunch Box’s fried chicken sandwich

Group behind El Jardin and El Corazon has String of Restaurants in Mind

The owners of the recently launched El Jardin have big plans to open several more restaurants in Edmonton.

The restaurant, whose name means “the garden” in Spanish, opened in the Mercer Warehouse in July. It’s a second venture from business partners Hifa Maleki and Percy Wiredu, who opened El Corazon in Glenora’s West Block in April 2022.

Maleki and Wiredu named their company 10 Hospitality Group, as they intend to open 10 restaurants, each with a unique concept, across Edmonton by 2027. They already have a third, named El Cielo (“the sky” in Spanish), slated for the Keswick neighbourhood in February 2024.

“We love Edmonton and want to see very exciting things done in the city,” Maleki told Taproot. “We have to be momentum shifters. We want to inspire more people to open businesses in our community.”

The space in the Mercer, which was formerly occupied by Rostizado, was an opportunity too good to pass up. Maleki said the landlord entertained 30 offers before selecting them.

“They wanted a restaurant to bring on a different clientele,” she said. “We told them that we’re going to do it justice, maintain the integrity of the building, and bring something classy.”

Maleki said all of their restaurant concepts are developed organically, influenced by the spaces they inhabit. “Our thought was because this space is hidden from the street it’s like a secret garden,” said Maleki. “All of our cocktails also have some kind of botanical in them — rosewater, saffron, basil, rosemary. Same with our food, we use aromatics unapologetically. It may not look like you’re in a garden, but it tastes like one.”

El Jardin co-owner Hifa Maleki and general manager Mehraz Soltani

The menu at El Jardin is similar to El Corazon’s in the way it highlights dishes from across the Latin American region. “We want to be influenced and inspired and incorporate more of a range of countries because it allows us to be more playful and offer more variety,” said Maleki.

However, Maleki points out that El Jardin has a slight focus on Peruvian items, especially cold seafood plates such as ceviches and aguachiles. One of the most popular dishes since opening is the tuna tiradito, a seared tuna with Latin and Asian flavours.

El Jardin is not the duo’s first venture downtown. Wiredu had been running El Beso for a few years before Maleki joined in on the ownership. Due to circumstances with the landlord beyond their control, they were forced to close El Beso in the same month El Jardin opened.

“We loved the brand and the location,” said Maleki. “It was heartbreaking to open another business while we were closing one. There’s a possibility we’ll revive El Beso in the future, but we would look for a space that would do it justice.”

Maleki is aware of the stigma surrounding downtown, but believes the spotlight has been disproportionately negative.

“There’s not enough focus on the great things that are going on downtown,” she said. “I am a female business owner and I am responsible for a lot of staff. If I thought they were at risk, I wouldn’t have opened a business here.”

While El Jardin has only been open for just over a month, feedback has been positive so far. “Everyone’s been very receptive,” said Maleki. “People are excited to see that there’s something new downtown.”

Openings

• Two locations of Paris Baguette, a South Korean bakery and cafe chain, are to open in Edmonton soon: at Southpark on Whyte (Unit #8, 10607 82 Avenue) and West Edmonton Mall.
• It looks like new life might be coming to the vacant space in the McLeod Building downtown, named Often.
• Quickly x Kokoriko, a bubble tea and Korean fried chicken shop has opened at 11013 26 Avenue NW.
• Butter Chicken & More opened up earlier this summer at 6875 Ad Astra Blvd NW.
• In May, Sushi Cafe Madang took over the space formerly occupied by Green Ash Cafe.

Upcoming Events

• A Culina Highlands throwback pop-up dinner is taking place at the Culina McCauley event space on September 14. Tickets are $59 and include a family-style dinner.
• On September 21, University of Alberta is hosting Dr. Michael Fakhri, a UN Special Rapporteur and Professor at the University of Oregon School of Law to discuss the fundamental right to food. The event is free but requires pre-registration.
• Mark your calendar for the next Chinatown After Dark event, on September 23, from 5-10pm in the alley behind China Marble (10566 97 Street). Expect tasty food and fun activities in an unusual location.

Local News

• After a brief closure for renovations, Bar Bricco has re-opened.
• Nepali restaurant Thamel Bistro has re-opened as Thamel Eatery in August at the same location, 12413 118 Avenue.
• Noodleholic has relocated from Chinatown to the southside, at 3350 Parsons Road (formerly Wow Chicken).
• Congratulations to Woodwork on a decade in business! To celebrate, they’re offering a throwback menu of cocktails and food from their original menu in September.
• Congratulations also to La Poutine for reaching their 12th anniversary.
• Edify checked out La Carraia’s gelato burger, and their latest Fav Eats is all about The Art of Cake.
• Fuge Sausage worked with a NWT evacuee who has a sausage shop in Yellowknife to replicate one of his sausage recipes. Proceeds from the sale of the sausages are going to the evacuee and wildfire relief.
• Two Yellowknife evacuees worked with local Pakistani organizations to provide hundreds of halal and vegetarian meals to fellow evacuees.
• It might be a little soon for some to be thinking about winter, but Baijiu is already preparing for its cold weather patio season. Baijiu shared that it will be installing a unique infrared heated structure for winter.
• The Journal featured the origins of a new coriander liqueur produced by Edmonton’s Above Average Drinks.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• Edmonton Public Library has decided to end its seed library program after only on year due to an inability to keep up with demand.
• The Alberta Motor Association is installing beehives at some of its locations, including the building on Calgary Trail, in order to raise awareness about pollinators.

What I Ate

• It’s become a bit of an end-of-summer tradition for us to dine on Dalla’s patio before the end of those warm weather nights. The di mamma continues to be my go-to pasta at Dalla.

Di mamma from Dalla

• Emily and I enjoyed the Symphony in the Square on the weekend. It was a busy night for the food trucks, but I joked with Ariel from Filistix that the crowd was a fraction of what they would have seen on the craziest What the Truck?! night (something long time readers may remember). The chori burger was so tasty – I think it’s one of the underrated burgers in the city.

Chori burger from Filistix

• It’s been a while since our last Kasey Ramen order (I hope to make it to one of their pop-ups sooner or later!), but their tonkotsu sure hit the spot this weekend.

Kasey Ramen tonkotsu at home

Openings

• La French Taste, a current vendor at Bountiful Farmers’ Market, will be opening up its own brick and mortar space at 11401 95 Street soon (formerly occupied by La Favourite).

Closures

• After 12 years of operation, South African-Indian restaurant Narayanni’s in Old Strathcona has closed.

Upcoming Events

• Taste of Asia is returning to the Currents of Windermere September 15-17, with street food vendors, entertainment, and other vendors.

Local News

• Chartier owners Darren and Sylvia Cheverie spoke to Edify to speak more to the factors that led to their closure announcement, but are holding out hope of the possibility of an angel investor stepping in to save Chartier. They have also posted some answers to frequently asked questions they have since received since the announcement.
• Also from Edify – they checked out newly-opened Leonardo’s Coffee and Sandwich House.
• Brotherhood of Plates posted about 5 lesser known sandwiches in Edmonton worth a try, including Espania Pizzeria, Sandwich & Burger Patch, Baltyk Meat & Deli, Western Sandwich Co., and Donna’s Eatery. The full write-up is in the first issue of Fn’zine.

Beyond Edmonton

• Chipotle’s first Alberta location is opening in Calgary on September 9.

What I Ate

• Mack and I are big fans of Momma Tong’s Bun Bo Hue meal kits (and this time, even Emily snuck more than a few bits of the noodles and meat). It’s always great to have some frozen options stashed away sourced from local businesses.

Bun Bo Hue from Momma Tong

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Openings

• King of Tarts, which started as a vendor at farmers’ markets, opened a brick and mortar shop at the beginning of August. They are located at 10051 152 Street.
• With Stopgap Coffee in the same neighbourhood, it’s great to see another business that has opened up in a restored heritage home – Leonardo’s Coffee and Sandwich House is now open at 9908 112 Street.
• La Prosciutteria, offering wine, charcuterie, coffee, pastries, and sandwiches, is opening on September 9 at 10906 105 Avenue.

Closures

• Chartier has announced their closure as of September 30: “The confluence of pandemic recovery, outstanding loans, rising food costs, and increasing interest rates has made our little homespun venture unsustainable.” Hopefully their new bakery venture Mother, located in Nisku, will be able to continue on.

Upcoming Events

• It’s great to see that Culina’s Little Italy event space is up and running, with two upcoming events: a Culina Millcreek Throwback pop-up dinner for $59 on August 24, serving up family-style dishes from that restaurant, and a buffet brunch for $33 on August 27.
• The next Filipino Sari Sari Market is taking place in the evening hours on August 26 from 4-10pm at 10104 32 Avenue.
• The annual Cocktails and Jerk Festival, a Caribbean festival showcasing street food, tropical cocktails, and entertainment, runs September 1-3 at Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park.

Local News

• Last week, White Rabbit Ice Cream’s storefront was broken into. They would appreciate support as they work to bounce back.
• Soho is offering BC and NWT fire evacuees a free beer.
• Edify checked out Caribbean restaurant ILand Vybes, and their latest Fav Eats highlights Franco’s Pizza.

Beyond Edmonton

• With Edmonton’s single use bylaw in effect as of July 1, it’s interesting to see Calgary locations of Alberta Bottle Depots are accepting Earthware Resuables take-out containers. This program will apparently roll out in Edmonton soon.

What I Ate

• Our Chinatown Dining Week crew met up at Xu Hue last week (yes, the event will be back again in January!). Not pictured is the rare beef salad, which I tried for the first time – I am now a convert! So fresh, and that citrus dressing was perfection. Their pho was pretty good too, but it is that salad that will have me coming back again soon.

Pho from Xu Hue

• We finally checked out Campio’s expanded patio last week – I’m always in favour of people-centred vs. vehicle-centred spaces. I enjoyed my shorty melt, but the service really left a lot to be desired.

Shorty melt from Campio

• It was great to see Rosewood so busy on Sunday for brunch, when we introduced Mack’s parents to one of our favourite restaurants. Our kids definitely eat well!

Our kids know a good brunch

Openings

• It looks like High Dough’s former Old Strathcona location will be opening as Little Wolf some time soon.
• Boxcar Coffee Shop is now open seven days a week, after its soft opening of weekend hours. Boxcar is located at 11926 129 Avenue.

Upcoming Events

• Prairie authors Dan Clapson and Twyla Campbell are celebrating the release of their cookbook at Otto on August 30. Tickets are $43.61 and include a signed copy of the book and a welcome cocktail and canape.

Local News

• Mother, Chartier’s standalone bakery in Nisku, is now offering pre-orders for pick-up in Edmonton, St. Albert, Nisku, and of course Beaumont.
• Edify paid a visit to Stingray, Century Hospitality’s newest restaurant in Crestwood, and their latest Fav Eats highlights the gluten-free options at The Lingnan.
• The Journal wrote about the story behind Fuzion Donuts.
• Barbacoa in Spruce Grove re-opened on August 14 after needing to renovate following a fire.
• If you’ve been following the saga of the donair costume being auctioned off by the Alberta Government, it has finally ended, with PrimeTime Donair and Poutine outbidding its competitors. They will pay $16,025 for the privilege of owning the donair costume.
• The Chinatown After Dark event last month was a successful grassroots initiative, involving many Chinatown restaurants.
• Since starting their food truck, El Mero Mero has donated $23,663 to various local charities.
• The latest episode of Edmonton Community Foundation’s Well Endowed podcast explores food security in Edmonton.

What I Ate

• I look forward to Sabor’s fish and chip Fridays every year! The pop-ups are a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House and Santa’s Anonymous. There are two more opportunities to grab some $15 fish and chips before the end of August.

Fish and chips from Sabor

• It’s been so great to have Confetti Fridays at Michael Phair Park. The diverse performers have been great, and the treats have been nice too. This week, we enjoyed some Fawkes donuts. Confetti Fridays continue until September 1.

When the sprinkles match the mural!

• We checked out the Alberta Avenue Night Market on Friday, which coincided with Battista’s Calzone Company’s re-opening. It was nice to see such positive energy in the neighbourhood. The night market has five additional dates until mid-September.

New York Mama from Battista’s Calzone

Openings

• Taiwan-based bubble tea brand Tiger Sugar will open their first location in Edmonton at 10075 109 Street on August 11.
• Pharaoh’s Restaurant, the first halal Egyptian restaurant in the city will open on August 19 at 5524 Calgary Trail.
• The second location of Calgary-based Jerusalem Shawarma opened in Edmonton on August 3 in Windermere (#1, 1297 Windermere Way SW).

Closures

• It looks like the long-standing Vicki’s Gourmet Bistro in the Citadel Theatre, is now closed.

Upcoming Events

• Alberta on the Plate returns August 11-20, 2023. There are 10 restaurants participating in the Edmonton area who will be highlighting locally-grown ingredients.
• Roasti Coffee is hosting a Flacos Tacos pop-up on August 25. Tickets are $35 and include tacos and a drink.
• In place of the usual festivities at Giovanni Caboto Park, the Piccola Festa, outdoor Italian festival, will be held at the Italian Cultural Centre on August 27, 2022, with food trucks, entertainment, and other activities.

Local News

• Founders of Brio Bakery Todd and Sian have decided to sell the business “to start a new chapter in their lives”. Brio will continue under new owners Milos and Mateja.
• City TV did a story about how “Instagrammable” businesses are on the rise in Edmonton, but made the point that while social media may get customers through the door, its the quality and experience that will bring them back again.
• Congratulations to Dream Tea House on their 20th anniversary. They currently have six locations in Edmonton.
• Edify paid a visit to the newly-relocated Ralph’s Fried Chicken.
• Also from Edify, their latest Fav Eats post highlights the spicy goma from Tokiwa Ramen.
• A sponsored post from Edmonton Made features the story behind Fat Man Little Kitchen, a hot sauce business based in Enoch Cree Nation.
• Congratulations to the winners of the Food Judge Awards at the Edmonton Heritage Festival, which included Nepal’s momos as the best main dish, Romania for best overall menu, and best dessert from Palestine.
• On a related note, as Heritage Days is the primary fundraiser for Edmonton’s Food Bank, the Food Bank shared that they continue to meet the high needs of their clients.

What I Ate

• Mack and I visited the last of Hotel Macdonald’s charity hot dog carts for the summer. While it hit the spot, it made me wonder where all the Fat Franks carts have been, as we haven’t seen one in ages.

Hot Dogs for charity from the Hotel Macdonald

• We finally tried the supreme croissants from Ayco Cafe. Mack didn’t mind the soft texture of the croissant, but I was expecting it to be crispier and more glazed on the outside.

Supreme Croissants from Ayco Cafe

• We grabbed take-out from Hanan’s Kitchen for a picnic on the nearby Legislature Grounds last week. Mack and I enjoyed our respective chicken shawarma and falafel wraps, but notable was how great the service was! The staff offered my kids tasters of their soft ice cream and it helped to make an extra positive impression.

Falafel wrap from Hanan’s Kitchen