Author: Sharon Yeo

Sharon is an Edmonton-based blogger who has been writing about food since 2006.

Teatro La Quindicina: “Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s!”

Last Wednesday, Mack and I attended the last Teatro La Quindicina performance of the season, a spirited musical comedy titled Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s! As with the last few years, the final play of their season highlights other local playwrights.

Mitzi’s was written as a tribute to the Edmonton supper club scene in the 1960s, cataloguing the romantic hijinx of staff in one particular establishment. The cast, made up of Teatro regulars and one recent graduate (Robyn Wallis) was solid, and the group definitely looked like they were having fun.

A band was up on stage and played through most of the production, which really helped to set the lighthearted tone. The songs were catchy and upbeat, and instead of simply being musical interludes, actually helped move the plot forward. My favourite was the duet featuring Tippi (Wallis) and Jack (Ryan Parker), if not only because it was the song most pleasing to my ear. The clever will-they-or-won’t-they duet between Mitzi’s staff Mitch (Andrew MacDonald Smith) and ‘Numbers’ (Jocelyn Ahlf) was also enjoyable.

The 60s-inspired costumes deserve a special mention as well <insert ubiquitous Mad Men reference here>, and in particular I thought Tippi’s wardrobe stole the show (she seemed to change outfits after every scene).

The play ended on a very optimistic note – one that sees the characters adopt a forward-looking stance on the city’s development, which is not unlike the outlook many citizens have on the current state of Edmonton. It was a fitting ending, and left me smiling as I left the theatre.

Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s runs until October 24.

Creations Grand Opening

A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from Sawridge Inn inviting me to the grand opening of their new dining space, Creations. Located in the former Holiday Inn on Gateway Boulevard, I was interested to see what they had done – the photos on the website seemed promising.

We were greeted with a jam-packed parking lot on Thursday evening about halfway through the event. I think we were both expecting a more intimate, personable opening, so we did not anticipate the crowd that was present. We are also among the youngest in the room, and definitely underdressed in jeans, as most of the attendees were in business attire. We didn’t recognize anyone, though I found out after the fact that Foodie Suz was also there!

Creations Lounge

We were made to feel welcome though as we walked into the hotel, directed to the coat check and oriented to the layout of the space. The Creations Gallery features art work by Canadian artists, with new pieces presented on an ongoing basis. The water feature separating the exhibition from the lounge was lovely.

Creations Gallery

The art theme continued in the dining space, with a focus on Aboriginal pieces. I loved the wood and stone accents, which helps separate the room from the bustling freeway outside. And though Creations isn’t large, the high ceiling helps make the space seem bigger.

Welcoming dream catcher

Dining room

Stunning 12 foot fireplace

Several food and drink stations were scattered throughout. Not only was wine poured, but champagne and spirits as well! We also helped ourselves to bite-size samples of several of their regular menu items. Mack’s favourite was the teriyaki scallops, while I loved the pork tenderloin with a blueberry and port compote.

Pork Tenderloin with Blueberry and Port Compote and Sherried Beef Caprese

Almond-encrusted Sole, Cranberry Chicken Breast and Flat Iron Steak

Dungeness Crab and Spinach Dip and Pistachio Lamb with Rhubarb Chutney

On the whole, I was impressed with the food. Considering everything had to be prepared in large batches and kept warm either with burners or heat lamps, I could still taste the quality.

Before we left, we were each given at $25 gift card. Even if they hadn’t provided us with this generous gift, I would have considered returning for a full meal anyway – the entrees are intriguing, and the menu prices are reasonable. We’ll be back, and I look forward to experiencing Creations on a regular night.

Creations (in Sawridge Inn Edmonton South)
4235 Gateway Blvd.
(780) 989-4439

The Cooking Chronicles: Curried Tofu Scramble with Chapati

I am one of those people who is afraid to cook without a recipe, at least for dishes I am trying my hand at for the first time. But after sampling my coworker’s curried tofu scramble (which I thought could pass for scrambled eggs), and asking her for the verbal recipe, she convinced me that the four ingredients (plus spices) would be difficult to mess up.

She had eaten the dish with chapati, an Indian flatbread. I did not get the chance to ask her for that recipe, but located one online that didn’t look too difficult. Using our brand spanking new food processor (which helped greatly), combining the whole wheat flour, salt, warm water and oil into dough was a snap. Once we had refrigerated the dough for the minimum thirty minutes, Mack proceeded to roll the dough out into flat discs, while I preheated the pan.

Mack rolling out dough

We’ve never made flatbread before, and I have to tell you I was almost giddy when I watched the chapati balloon. For some reason, I didn’t think such a simple ingredient base, preparation, and short time span would actually translate into a successful product.

A ballooning chapati!

Once the chapati were done, we set to make the curried tofu (having only one usable non-stick pan definitely slowed down our dinner preparation that night). To two softened medium onions, we crumbled in one package of extra firm tofu, and made sure to cook it until all of the tofu’s liquid had evaporated. We added turmeric and curry powder (completely forgetting about the salt and pepper), and then two medium diced tomatoes. Lastly, we threw in a handful of chopped parsley (my coworker had recommended cilantro, but we did not have any on hand).

The result? Not bad for a first try on both recipes. The chapati was much more dry than my coworker’s had been (expected for a variety of reasons – technique, old flour, etc.), but was all right. The curried tofu was also okay, with a notable texture unlike any tofu I ever had before, but lacked a certain something beyond salt and pepper. Mack commented that the tomatoes made the dish for him.

Curried Tofu Scramble (a shade of radioactive yellow!)

After we made this, I read a post over at the Little Red Kitchen that may help us with future scrambles. Anyway, I love a recipe that can be made using pantry and fridge staples, and this is one that we may play around with yet.

The Last of the Fall Harvest: City Centre Market 2009

Making the most of the last two City Centre Market days, I was amazed at how much difference a week could make. While the first weekend of October was crisp, the snow had not yet arrived. And though the frost meant subsequent harvests of the majority produce were over, most of the farmers had picked what they could, with nearly the last of their fall bounty up for grabs.

Lots of corn!

Rainbow chard from Kuhlmann’s

Enormous zucchini and squash are a universal sign of fall

Ornamental gourds

Gorgeous flower arrangements (I couldn’t resist a bouquet)

Tomatoes from Sundog Organic Farm

Fruit from Steve & Dan’s Fresh BC Fruit

Many of the usual vendors were missing, with large gaps on 104 Street where booths typically stood. Between that and a smaller cold weather-crowd, it definitely felt like the market was winding down.

Shoppers on the penultimate market day

We picked up our staples – eggs from Sunshine Organic, onions and carrots from Green Valley Farms, tomatoes and bell peppers from Gull Valley Greenhouses, and a bag of greens from Greens, Eggs and Ham.

Picking up onions from Green Valley Farms

We had also reserved two of the Greens, Eggs and Ham turkey bombs – turkey breasts stuffed with cranberry orange bread stuffing – for whatever reason, I thought they would be small enough to be served as individual portions, but we found that one would be more than enough for the two of us! As we were a part of their Community Supported Agriculture program this year, we found it so convenient to shop with them, as our “deposit” got us through the market season and then some. Of course, it was great to know that our money helped Mary Ellen and Andres expand some of their operations.

Turkey bombs

This past weekend, the winter chill was definitely in the air, the streets lined with leaves that weren’t yet ready to fall.

Last market day

As expected, the produce pickings were slim, with most of the vegetable vendors absent already. Mack and I made the most of our visit and loaded up on hearty cabbage, potatoes, carrots and onions, and some broccoli and kale for good measure. We also swung by Irvings Farm Fresh for some ground pork for the freezer stash.

Sundog Organic’s veggies were in their van!

Kohlrabi

Green tomatoes, anyone?

Mack and I consciously shifted most of our grocery spending to the market this summer, and made it a point to integrate a visit to the market into our weekends. But because I’m not one of those cooks who can buy random ingredients and make a dish out of them, it did require some meal planning. And while I wish I was a little more experimental with our recipes (kale was about as far out of our comfort zone as I got), I’m certain that it will only get better from here.

Though I know that I treat the City Centre Market like the be all-end all of local farmers’ markets, I recognize that other markets will continue where 104th Street left off.

I will stop by the winter markets from time to time, but there’s just nothing like having a market within walking distance of your home. Until next year, City Centre Market.

Food Notes for October 12, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving to you! Mack and I were treated to a wonderful dinner at Kim and Shane’s house last night – somehow, turkey just tastes better when it’s cold out, doesn’t it? Anyway, I hope you all had a great holiday weekend as well!

  • Though the City Centre Market just celebrated its last weekend, some of the vendors will be taking part in the Olde Time Fair on the Square on October 17, along with traditional carnival games, horse and wagon rides and roving entertainment.
  • Also this weekend is the North of Nowhere Expo, which, among other social justice themes, will be examining food security. On their October 16 opening night, which happens to fall on World Food Day, head to the Stanley Milner Library for two food-themed films, a complimentary buffet and a food security and organic trade fair. More information here.
  • See Magazine had a great piece about local farms, and whether or not they would be able to feed the city. Definitely worth a read.
  • The Green & Gold Garden (which I visited back in August) was a success! The project raised over $16,000 for Tubahumurize, a non-profit organization that helps support marginalized women in Rwanda. Check the website for their plans for 2010.
  • I was sad to have missed the Slow Food Edmonton backyard apple pie party – Liane’s writeup made it look like a lot of fun.
  • I was happy to see Paula’s review of the new restaurant Urban China (in the retooled Rosie’s, 10604 101 Street) on Yelp. From the looks of it, I may want to take my parents there for dim sum some time.
  • If you’re curious about which restaurants in the city serve gluten-free dishes, check out this article in Avenue Magazine’s October issue.
  • This is neat – Canon gave 13 celebrity chefs cameras and asked them to create images around the theme of “food for thought” over a 6 month period, and as a result would donate $25,000 to Food Banks Canada. Chefs that participated included Michael Smith, Anthony Sedlak and Susur Lee.
  • Speaking of Susur Lee, Eater NY has placed Shang, what was supposed to be Lee’s divine introduction to the Manhattan hoards, on deathwatch.
  • What will Ruth Reichl do after Gourmet? Well, write a book of course.
  • The online food love the Duchess Bake Shop has been shown is unprecedented – since it opened on October 2, there have been no less than six blog posts about it: Eat My Words, Crazy White Girl with a Kitchen, Brulee Blog, Foodie Suz, Cream and Sugar and well, my own. I am happy to see a local small business get so much press, but who knew macarons could get the city’s bloggers into a tizzy? Anyway, my sister requested a banana cream pie for dessert at our family’s hot pot dinner, so I obliged, and put a pie on hold the day prior. Good thing I did – when we arrived at Duchess on Saturday afternoon, the dessert case was absolutely cleared. We asked for our triumphant hold, and brought the vanilla-bean flecked whipped cream wonder home. The pie received a mixed review though – Mack and I loved the velvety custard and my Mum commented that the sweetness was just right, but Amanda said she wished the crust had been baked a touch further, and my Dad said still preferred his pie from Bee Bell Bakery. So as with most things – you’ll just have to try one and make up your own mind.

Banana Cream Pie from Duchess ($18)

Solo Lunch: Holt’s Cafe

Sometimes I am forced to be timely with my restaurant reviews, particularly when new establishments open up. Other times, my good intentions never pan out, and reviews are pushed back in favour of different posts. My recap of a solo weekday lunch at Holt’s Café falls into this latter category.

In late summer, when the weather was more reasonable than it is now, my first choice of lunch at Fo Guang Tea House was dashed with the temple’s closure for a special event. I thought about my nearby options, and settled on Holt’s Cafe inside Holt Renfrew, which like Fo Guang, is essentially only open for lunch. I had been there once before several years ago, and though I found the meal satisfactory, haven’t been able to return because of their limited operating hours.

So book in hand, I settled down at my table and watched as the downtown lunch crowd trickled in after me. I should note that the waitress was particularly great – she was warm, and made conversation without ever overstepping her boundaries (for example, she saw that I was reading My Life in France and asked if I had seen the movie). At the end of my meal, when I requested more water, she brought me a  pretty wine glass filled with ice water – a nice touch.

The menu had changed since my last visit, featuring some more upscale fare (and changed again in October). Though the vegetable fritters sounded like an interesting appetizer, my waitress steered me away from them, stating that they were dry. So instead, I chose the truffle potato chips ($6). For my main, the spring pea and lemon risotto with mascarpone and shiitake mushrooms ($15) sounded like the comforting dish I was looking for.

The truffle potato chips were merely fried potato crisps drenched in oil and sprinkled with salt. Unfortunately, the simplicity didn’t mean perfect execution, and it was overdressed in every way – the potato was barely discernable underneath it all.

Truffle Potato Chips

Thankfully, the risotto fared much better. The rice was creamy, accented nicely by the mascarpone with additional texture from the crisp peas and silky mushrooms.

Lemon Risotto with Mascarpone and Shiitake Mushrooms

If you’re looking for a restaurant in the heart of downtown for a solo lunch, or for a quiet place to catch up with a friend, Holt’s Cafe is worth a try.

Holt’s Cafe (inside Holt Renfrew)
10180-101st Street NW
(780) 425-5300

Friday Night Football: BC Lions vs. Edmonton Eskimos

When I told my family I had complimentary tickets to the football game on Friday, they laughed – they wouldn’t subject themselves to inclement weather even if provided with the opportunity free of charge. At half time, I started to agree with them.

Mack and I “bundled up” (in quotation marks because we did not have the a) winter boots, b) blanket, or c) long underwear that those sitting around us clearly did) and headed to Commonwealth Stadium after work on Friday to watch the Eskimos play against the BC Lions. I am not a football fan, but I haven’t been to a game in several years, so we went.

Before the start of the game, when we could still feel our extremities

The snow that fell just before the opening kickoff soon relented, but the wind did not, constantly reminding us about our mistake of under-dressing for the game.

Esks’ introductions

A flurried opening kickoff

At the end of the first quarter, we ducked into a heated concession area for a hot chocolate and a strange cheese-stuffed pretzel (enduring the cold translated into free reign when it came to greasy food, at least in my mind). The “mozzarella” had a consistency in between liquid and solid, and wasn’t all that pleasant to eat.

Mack with the pretzel

Half time meant hot dogs, and we made sure to take our time warming up. Though it was only around –10 with the wind chill, it felt much colder, sitting stationary and at mercy to the wind.

Other cold fans get warm at half-time

As for the football? The Eskimos trailed for most of the night, but with a minute left in the fourth quarter, managed to score a touchdown which vaulted them 31 to BC’s 27. If the Eskimos won, we figured the cold would have been worth it.

De-fence!

With 22 seconds left however, the Lions managed to deflate the whole of Commonwealth Stadium, with a touchdown that won them the game, 34-31.

Will the Eskimos make the playoffs? You’ll have to stay tuned. As for whether we’ll be back to another game soon – maybe, but a toque will definitely not be required at that time.

Mmm Pumpkin Pie: Fife n’ Dekel

This guest post was written by Mack, an Edmonton-based geek who fancies himself a part-time foodie. You can find him online at his blog, and on Twitter.

Like Sharon, fall is my favorite time of year. I love the brisk weather, the colorful leaves, and yes, seasonal treats! Perhaps my favorite is pumpkin pie. While driving in the west end this past weekend, Sharon and I stopped at Fife n’ Dekel to pickup a slice for me ($3.49). Sharon doesn’t like pumpkin pie, if you can believe it!

Pumpkin Pie

I opted to forego the whipped cream. I found the pie very tasty with great texture! Great pumpkin flavor. The crust was just right – not too soft, not too crunchy.

Pumpkin Pie

I had never been to Fife n’ Dekel before, but based on the pumpkin pie, I’ll be back!

Fife n’ Dekel
10646 170 Street (2 other locations)
(780) 489-6436
Monday-Friday 7am-4:30pm, Saturday 10:30am-3:00pm

The Cooking Chronicles: Harvest Corn Chowder

I’m still in shock of how fast winter descended upon the city, with the trees, yellow leaves still attached, frozen in a sad reminder of fall.

Anyway, the dip in temperature means it is officially soup weather, so I made a harvest corn chowder based on a recipe I clipped from the Edmonton Journal a few weeks ago. Because we are still swimming in potatoes from the Great Potato Giveaway, I substituted them for the sweet potato called for in the recipe.

While it was tasty, and not too heavy, owing to the fact that the majority of the liquid is chicken stock and not cream, it seemed there was something lacking in the soup. Perhaps the sweet potato was indeed the missing link?

Harvest Corn Chowder

Volunteering for Homeless Connect 3

The third Homeless Connect took place this past Sunday, and Mack and I were there along with about three hundred other volunteers to lend a hand.

At the volunteer orientation

If you are not aware, Homeless Connect is an event organized by Homeward Trust. Homeward Trust coordinates one day in the spring and one in the fall where numerous organizations gather at the Shaw Conference Centre to provide free services and information. In an effort to provide a “one stop shop” of services for underprivileged individuals, this time around, over 60 groups offered everything from haircuts, dental care, immunizations, clothes, reading glasses, and of course, a hot meal.

At the last Homeless Connect in May, we were blurry eyed after just returning from a weeklong vacation in DC the night before, so I am happy to report that we were better adjusted for the daylong shift this time around. It also helped that this incarnation seemed more organized: the large group orientation started relatively on time; the team orientation was conducted in an enclosed space with a microphone (instead of yelling in the auditory vacuum of the hall); and volunteers had an opportunity to ask questions. Both Mack and I ended up on the registration team (the same position I held last time, but different for Mack), and would be one of the first contacts guests would have as they entered the hall. Our team leads went through the registration form with us, and as a result, I actually felt prepared for the task at hand.

Readying for the doors to open

The day started briskly; people had started to line up an hour or two before the doors opened at 10am. The voluntary registration form we had to administer did not collect names, but did ask details about the person’s current living situation. The big change from the previous form was the extremely tedious list of agencies that clients had to either acknowledge that they were aware of, or had used. While I understand that the answers would be extremely valuable for the agencies in understanding whether or not they are connecting with their target population, it was a cumbersome inventory to get through with some guests. Also new this year was a wristband guests received to indicate that they had completed the registration process, meaning they could bypass the registration area if they had to step outside the hall for whatever reason. Such a small detail, but much appreciated and thought-through.

Our registration table

As this was my second round as a registration volunteer, I was once again struck by how the face of homelessness is not a middle-aged male. There were numerous families with young children, and more than a few guests that were my age. It reminded me to take nothing for granted – many of them, I am sure, could have been on the other side of the desk next to me if not for certain circumstances.

Each guest received a bag with personal care items

In the volunteer rest area, I met a fellow volunteer who said that a year before, he was one of the guests, strung out and in dire need of addictions counselling. It was at the November 2008 Homeless Connect that he was introduced to a program that would change his life – he will be celebrating his one year anniversary of sobriety in just over a month. He was at the event as a client wanting to give back, hoping that his own story might convince others to take the path he did.

The final count of guests was somewhere around 1100 – less than half of what the organizers had prepared for. Somehow, I had thought that the colder weather might have encouraged more people to attend the event, but there are so many factors that influence turnout that it’s hard to pinpoint just one.

Regardless, Homeless Connect is a great event – bravo to Homeward Trust, Shaw Conference Centre and the service providers for another successful day.

You can read Mack’s post about the day here. Alex Abboud’s post about volunteering is also worth a read.