Author: Sharon Yeo

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

Self-checkouts: worth switching supermarkets for?

When supermarkets in Edmonton started introducing self-checkout machines to their till areas last year, I was elated. More often than not, my complete purchase numbers less than 10 items, and I always found myself in for a lengthy wait, even in the so-called “express” lines. I know some people are against the idea of having to process their own groceries, but I find that it greatly decreases the time I spend in line, so a little extra effort is worth it to me. Having tried the machines at Save-on Foods, Superstore and Safeway, I can say that they are definitely not created equal.

Save-on Foods is, hands down, my favourite grocery chain. The stores are generally clean, they have a great selection of produce, and the prices are fairly reasonable (particularly if I am only there to pick up a few items). I remember being very impressed with their self-check outs when I first used them – the interface was easy to understand, vegetables were classified alphabetically by name, and an attendant was always standing by to help. Also, to encourage flow through the store on a discount Tuesday, they capped the maximum number of items at 15 for self-checkout users – a great idea. After a while though, I started to notice how particular their system was. For example, I like to use my own reusable grocery bag, and in order to do this, I must have the attendant swipe their pass to override the system. Also, the machines are very finicky about bagging the scanned item right away – they do not hesitate to remind the user of this before allowing another item to be scanned. Still, even with the minor inconveniences at the till, I find the entire shopping experience at Save-on to be the most enjoyable of the three, and that keeps me coming back.

Superstore, with their competitive prices across the board, is undoubtedly my choice when I am planning a larger-volume shopping trip. But the lines to their staffed tills, particularly late in the evenings and on weekends, stretch out into the aisles, and are always a deterrent to visiting the store. For that reason, the self-checkouts were a welcome sight. What I didn’t expect, however, was that so many of the machines would be down so much of the time. I have yet to encounter a situation where all of the machines are operational, or a time when the attendant is actually free to provide timely assistance (message to Galen Weston: get off the television and use that money to fix your self check-outs and have more staff available for troubleshooting). I also think a maximum item limit would help speed things up, as nothing is more disheartening than seeing a customer with 1001 items to check out, but no clue on how to use the machine. I will say that the Superstore machines are more forgiving than those at Save-on, as there is an option right at the start that allows users to tell the system that they will be using greenboxes or bags, and the machine automatically adjusts the weight allowance. In addition, the Superstore machines are definitely more patient, and provide the customer with more time to bag the item after scanning. And yet, in spite of these allowances, the aesthetics of Superstore and their lack of in-stock produce will keep me away for my day-to-day grocery needs.

Last but not least – Safeway. I will admit to having the least amount of experience with their machines, but they resemble, at least on the outset, the self-checkouts at Save-on. Safeway has programmed in a handy “most used codes” page for vegetables, which does save some time, but as I have only used their terminals a handful of times, I can’t pinpoint their nuances in the same way as I can for the other two stores.

Overall, while self-checkouts aren’t the reason why I visit a particular store, they have made my visits more seamless.

Have you been turned by the self-checkout revolution? Do you have your own terminal preferences?

Ending on a Low Note: “High School Musical 4”

Mack bought me a copy of High School Musical 3: Senior Year over the weekend, and we watched it again for the second time. I really liked it when I saw it in the theatre, but I was afraid it wouldn’t hold up on repeat viewings. I am happy to report that it did!

I still think the songs are incredibly catchy, possibly even better than those in the first High School Musical. Being a sucker for dance numbers too, I love “A Night to Remember” and the reprise of “Can I Have This Dance”. As I’ve said in the past, there is something so innocent and hopeful about the series, and I can’t help but feel uplifted after I watch either film. I might even rent High School Musical 2 just to see if it’s as bad as I remember it to be.

Of course, Disney can’t seem to leave well enough alone and let the series finish on a high note, as it was released this week that they will be making a fourth film. Featuring an all-new cast (and potentially a storyline rivalry with another school – West High, perhaps?), I’m sure they will attempt to recreate the energy and excitement of the trilogy, but it just won’t be the same without the smiling faces of Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens greeting the audience. Will I watch it when it premieres on TV in 2010? Likely, but with bottom barrel expectations.

March in Edmonton is for Fun!

It’s been two months since I stopped compiling events, and though in this time I have still been keeping tabs on what has been going on in Edmonton, it hasn’t been the same. I feel less connected somehow, and after coming across quite a few interesting activities that will take place over the next few weeks, I couldn’t resist an events throwback.

  • Winter Light continues this weekend with free skiing and sledding at Gallagher Park on Snow Daze, March 6, and a Star Party at Coronation Park on March 7. There’s nothing like free fun outside!
  • The Alberta Drama Festival Association presents Stage Struck 2009, Edmonton’s annual one-act festival, March 6 & 7. Details at Tix on the Square.
  • Edmonton Downtown Dining Week runs March 6-15. Pre fixe menus are $15 for lunch and either $25 or $50 for dinner at 21 restaurants in the core.
  • IDEAFest, an event with a format similar to BarCamp, is taking place on March 7. Mack is one of the presenters!
  • The Edmonton Jewish Film Festival is taking place on March 8 and 15 at the Royal Alberta Museum.
  • If classic films are what you are looking for, the Winter 2009 series put on by the Edmonton Film Society is called “Pretty women can be funny too”. Movies are every Monday at 8pm until the beginning of April. I’m eying Hepburn and Tracy’s Adam’s Rib.
  • Music Wednesdays continue at the McDougall United Church every Wednesday at noon hour in March.
  • I read about Pi Day for the first time two weeks ago, which is celebrated at 1:59 on 3/14. Join other mathematical revellers at the Telus World of Science on March 14. While you’re there, stick around for the Art of the Brick, which I wrote about back in January.
  • I’ve been in Stewart Lemoine withdrawal since the end of the Teatro la Quindicina season last fall, but luckily, his collaboration with the Grant MacEwan Theatre Arts program is just around the corner – The Addelpated Nixie runs March 13-21 at the John L. Haar Theatre.
  • The Alberta Student Film Festival is on March 20 and 21. Admission is by donation – a great price to check out some new local talent.
  • Winter Light’s final event is called Illuminations, and it will take place in Churchill Square on March 21. I plan to be there to check out the outdoor light and fire show!
  • 2009 is the International Polar Year, and the Royal Alberta Museum is hosting Dr. Andrew Derocher on March 26 for a free lecture on his research of the effects of climate change on polar bears.
  • Edmonton Public Library is holding their Spring Book Sale on March 28 and 29 at the Stanley Milner parking lot. Materials range in price from 50cents to $1, or fill your own box for $10.

Enjoy!

Food Notes for March 2, 2009

I’m still recovering from the shock of The Bachelor’s revelations – why?! As I try to unpack what happened, here are this week’s notes:

  • The Lois Hole Hospital Foundation will be raising money on Thursday, March 5 through the Epicurean Experience, where “Edmonton and area restaurants will generously donate a portion of the proceeds from the day’s food sales to the Lois Hole Hospital for Women.” Check out the list of participating restaurants here.
  • Liane covered two of the twenty-odd restaurants participating in Edmonton’s Downtown Dining Week, which starts March 6 and runs until March 15. I still think $50 for a set meal is still too high of a price to pay in these lean times, but best of luck to the new restaurants trying to attract different clientele.
  • Gail Hall compiled a list of the “25 Best Things to Eat in Edmonton” for the latest issue of Avenue Magazine. My personal list would include a banh mi and pho, but I like that she tried to span dishes large and small.
  • I just found out about this today when I saw a story on CTV news, but a group of friends challenged themselves to subsist on a diet of $80 for the month – “the working poor diet” – as a means of building awareness and raise money for the Edmonton Food Bank. They found it doable but difficult, and learned about ways to make their dollar stretch even further to meet the standards set by the Canada Food Guide. Their blog chronicling the month is worth a read.
  • Roll up the Rim to Win frenzy is back (I love that Tim Horton’s commercial with the giant cup in “Canadaland”). For the fifth year running, Calgary-based Jon Lin is documenting his losses (and hopefully a few wins) on his blog.
  • Doritos opened up a contest to allow the public to come up with a name for their latest “mystery” chip flavour. I spied the white bag the last time I was at the grocery store, but didn’t think to pick one up to try – perhaps I’ll have to.
  • Mack sent me a link about a new mobile service called ReadyPing that enables restaurants to send out a text message to diners when a table is ready (instead, say, of chaining diners to a small perimeter around the restaurant with pagers). Interesting idea, but there could be some issues, as the article lays out, with customers wandering a bit too far.
  • A good article in the NYT this week about food magazines that are doing their best to stay relevant and afloat during these economic times. It’s surprised me to find out that for the most part, circulation hasn’t dipped.
  • On the subject of saving money, the Times also had an article about using less water to boil pasta (and thus saving energy in the process) – something I’ve wondered about myself. Turns out: it can be done, without really sacrificing the pasta output.
  • A cute Grub Street compilation of what high-end chefs cooked as kids. I can’t say I experimented much in the kitchen as a child, though there was that one Mother’s Day where my intention of making Orange Julius for my Mum went terribly, terribly wrong…

Appointment Television Mondays

Since House moved to Mondays, the day has become so stacked, network entertainment-wise, that it’s almost unfair. As a result, my Monday evenings have become a sedentary retreat, my downfall as someone who prefers her television “live”. As it’s been a while since I’ve written about any of my big four shows (Prison Break is on hiatus – in its last season, sob – until April 17), I felt it was time to put down some thoughts:

  • 24 – I am loving the resurrection of Tony “Soul Patch” Almeida – it’s always better when Jack has his trustworthy partner in crime behind him! I do wish Chloe had more to do (I thought finally going rogue would mean we’d get to see her as a true field agent, but alas, she’s still hidden behind a computer screen), but at least she’s away from the confines of the CTU bunker. I also love the Renee Walker character – it’s inevitable she will move to the dark side under Jack’s tutelage, but she’s got some fight in her. Now that the Dubaku storyline has wrapped, I just hope the second part of the season is as gripping as the first.
  • House – It’s strange that after five seasons of the same almost sitc0m-like template (patient with mystery illness miraculously cured by the end of the 42 minutes), audiences are still tuning in. It is nice to see some of the supporting characters getting their own storylines finally, including Cuddy’s adoption (something that didn’t involve House at all) and also increasing the Cuddy-Wilson interaction.
  • The City – I had high expectations for this show, mostly because it was taking place in New York, but I didn’t think Whitney could carry a series all on her own. It turns out she can, but not without making it seem like she is selling herself short. More than anything, I can’t wait for the return of The Hills (Lauren and Heidi friends again?! Say it ain’t so!), and continuing to watch clever spoofs of The City in Barack Obama’s The District.

Five for Foodies: Solo Dining

I would have preferred the name “Listage” for this semi-regular series, but realized that Eater already had a lock on that word. So instead, we have “Five for Foodies”, which will catalogue a handful of establishments that excel in a particular category, or offer something unique in the city’s culinary scene.

To start, I thought I would chronicle my five favourite places to dine solo. Often, my rationale behind eating alone is to get some work done, but other times I am consciously choosing a space that will allow me to relax amongst low-key surroundings. My bias as well, being without a vehicle, are restaurants in walkable areas of Edmonton and that are conveniently connected to public transit.

So in no particular order, here are my personal picks for solo-friendly eateries:

  • Shine Bistro (9828 101A Avenue) – I discovered this gem of a restaurant back in 2007. Tucked away in the Citadel Theatre complex in the shadow of Canada Place, Shine is a charming cafe-style eatery with local art on the walls. Their mainstays of soups and sandwiches aren’t unique, but the kitchen is consistent and service is brisk. My only complaint is that they are only open on weekdays until 3pm.
  • Leva (11053 86 Avenue) – Between their thin-crust pizzas and fantastic paninis, at some point I thought the cafe owners had me in mind when they designed their menu. I love the marble tables, the chic chandelier, and their shelf of interesting reads. Of course, their devotion to local producers doesn’t hurt either.
  • Blue Plate Diner (10145 104 Street) – my oft-cited favourite, it’s also my default solo dining destination. Nothing’s cosier than their brick wall, hardwood floor, and tabletop lamps. I never feel rushed, and their Friday Night Dinner specials are a  nice bonus.
  • Three Bananas Cafe (9918 102 Avenue) – this cafe is as central as it gets, as it is situated right on Churchill Square. It’s typically packed during warm weather festival season, but it’s a great place for a bite to eat or a cup of coffee all year round. I’m a sucker for their pepperoni and mushroom pizza, while the floor-to-ceiling windows are good for people-watching.
  • Hoang Long (10715 – 98 Street) – there’s nothing like musing over a bowl of beef noodle soup, and Hoang Long, which is just a short jaunt away from my office, has provided many a pho escape. I find the minimal decor soothing, and the sound level, even on a busy day, controlled. The large wooden tables are also the perfect reading surface for a newspaper. Unfortunately, the Chinatown location of Hoang Long has been closed for several months due to staff shortages – I hope they are able to reopen soon.

A La Carte For The Win: Normand’s

Eater is always an entertaining website, but in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, it was even more so. They had dubbed V-Day “Black Saturday”, as many restaurants predictably offered only very expensive prix fixe menus and nothing else, leaving diners at the mercy of establishments. Eater made sure to ridicule some of the more ridiculous Valentine’s Day offers, and also, to help readers spend wisely, posted lists of restaurants that continued to offer their regular menu in the face of “Black Saturday” temptation.

Well, back in Edmonton, we found the same phenomenon – many of our favourite restaurants were guilty of this. While I understand the desire to streamline the kitchen and make service more efficient, do the majority of people really need (or want) a four or five-course meal (especially one priced at upwards of $150)? It seems excessive, and a money-grabbing ploy, and we made sure we weren’t a part of it.

Mack let me choose the restaurant, and I decided to go with the elusive Normand’s (11639A Jasper Avenue NW). The only thing I knew about the restaurant was that they served game, and that they had been a fixture on Jasper Avenue for many years. I had called to make a reservation back in mid-January – at that time, the earliest seating we were offered was 8pm; we found out when we got to the restaurant that they had lined up reservations until 10:30pm that night.

Normand’s

The host was efficient – after taking our coats, he led us up a few stairs to a table in the corner. It gave us a fairly nice view of the tiered space, but was unfortunately placed near the bustling bar where orders were being placed a mile a minute, and near the kitchen where orders were streaming out on a continuous basis.

The interior reminded me of a cross between Le Table de Renoir and Bistro Praha – framed Renoir prints were hung on the stucco walls, and the plaster arches that divided the dining room aged the space at least twenty years. It was nice enough, but Normand’s could use a makeover, or at least an update.

We were given the choice of their regular menu, or a four-course Valentine’s Day special. The latter was tempting, given the decent price point ($54.95 per person for soup, salad, one of three entrees, and chocolate fondue to share), but none of the mains listed caught our eye. So a la carte it was.

As someone always taken by the mushroom soup option, I elected for the wild mushroom cream ($7.50), while the tomato basil soup du jour ($6.75) appealed to Mack. For our main courses, we deviated as we usually do – Mack went straight for the lobster and scallops mornay ($33.95), and I, still on a duck kick, opted for the Lac Brome Roast Duck ($30.95).

I was expecting the soup course to be fairly generous, as the price of a bowl wasn’t cheap, and Normand’s delivered. The cream soup (which is apparently one of the restaurant’s most well-known dishes) was rich, but not overly so. I thought it was better than the thicker puree I tried at Red Ox a few weeks ago, but it was still nothing exceptional. Mack enjoyed his soup, and there was definitely a roast garlic kick to it.

Tomato Basil Soup

Our mains arrived fairly promptly – Normand’s definitely had the air of a well-oiled machine. My dish had a bit of fanfare to it – not content to just serve either breast or leg, I received both in a small pot. Our server transferred the leg onto my plate, and helped me spoon some of the cranberry and orange port wine sauce over top of it. Mack’s mornay, in comparison, was quite a bit smaller, but drenched in a shallot white wine cream sauce, it made up for size with richness.

The duck meat was unfortunately a touch overcooked, but combined with the sweet sauce, was all right to eat (the large serving also meant that I had enough to top off a salad the next day – for whatever reason, the meat tasted better eaten this way). The crispy skin was also a nice treat – I think duck skin is the new bacon.

Lac Brome Roast Duck

Mack thoroughly enjoyed his dish (containing two of his favourite proteins, this wasn’t a surprise), though he said that the scallops tasted better with the thick, creamy sauce than the lobster.

Lobster & Scallops Mornay

I couldn’t decide on dessert, but swayed visually by the table next to us that had opted to share fondue, I thought fondue for two ($13.95) would be an appropriately cheesy way to end the night. Normand’s uses Bernard Callebaut chocolate, so the fondue mixture was decidedly sweet. Paired with the sliced fruit, however, it was perfect. Mack preferred the bananas, while I was a sucker for the strawberries. The toasted slices of almonds were a thoughtful touch on the plate and allowed that extra bit of indulgence.

Chocolate fondue for two

While I wasn’t blown away by our experience at Normand’s, I was very happy that they chose to offer their a la carte menu in the face of Black Saturday. They also managed to provide excellent service in spite of a full house. So although I’m not sure Normand’s would become my standby, it seems like a reliable establishment that isn’t likely to change its menu or its style anytime soon.

Normand’s
11639A Jasper Avenue NW
(780) 482-2600
Monday-Thursday 11:30am-10pm, Friday 11:30am-11:30pm, Saturday 5-11:30pm, Sunday 5-9pm

Edmonton Foodie Meetup #1

A few weeks ago, I wrote about an upcoming first-ever Edmonton Foodie Meetup that would take place at Blue Plate Diner. I didn’t know at the time of course that tonight would be one of the coldest nights in recent memory, but I should have also known that Edmonton’s culinary community are made up of a hearty bunch – every one of the 12 individuals who signed up on the wiki came, in spite of the weather!

 

Edmonton foodies

It was a great opportunity to meet the authors behind some of the food blogs I read every day, and to chat about our love of food. Here’s a list of the bloggers (and their blogs) that attended tonight (Diane from NAIT and Mack were also there though they don’t have food blogs):

The acoustics of the Diner worked against talking to those at the other end of the table, but for the most part, I’m glad we chose this particular restaurant. Service was good, and portions were larger than I remember from previous visits.

 

Sweet Potato Fries (Mack loved the mayo dipping sauce)

 

Green Onion Cakes (I could have done without these, but Mack disagreed)

 

Mack’s Green Curry and Broccoli Soup and Mac-N-Cheese

 

My Pozole Chicken Enchiladas (not as dry as the last time I had them, I was happy with the generous amount of cheese on top)

Thanks to everyone for coming, and a special thank you to Hanne and Courtney for helping me organize the get-together! Based on the interest expressed, I think we will be having a second foodie meetup some time in the future. Keep an eye on the wiki for details!

Food Notes for February 24, 2009

This has not been a good winter for me; second time in two months I’ve been sick – this time, the flu. At any rate, the notes must go on (albeit late):

  • Marianne and Zed of Loosen Your Belt and Eat Around Edmonton spotted an upcoming Mexican restaurant coming soon to Whyte Avenue and 108 Street.
  • Original Fare restaurants are pairing up with Unicef for its second-annual Tap Project this year, where diners can donate $1 towards the cause for the glass of typically complimentary tap water. Details aren’t on the website yet, but they likely will appear closer to the March 22-29 event date.
  • Liane Faulder and Jan Hostyn of Vue Weekly must be on the same wavelength(or there’s really nothing to cover in this town…) – in early February, they published articles on Andrea Donini of Earthly Delight Soup Co in the same week, then just this past week, Jan published a piece on Leva Cafe’s Jennifer Ogle, who had been covered in the Journal the week prior.
  • An interesting post from Ganda of eat drink one woman (a New York blogger who is in Sweden for the next six months) about food sold in tubes.
  • Need more blogs to add to your daily reading list? From Mack: a Times Online list of 50 best blogs worldwide.
  • Speaking of great blogs – Eat. Drink. Better. is a great resource for those looking at issues about food sustainability. It is great at highlighting new and innovative ideas.
  • I’m gearing up for the Top Chef finale tomorrow. Like many though, I was shocked at the contestant that was eliminated last week. Unlike other reality shows that are up front about considering past performances, the judges on Top Chef never make this apparent, resulting always in surprise – and seemingly unfair decisions. I’m rooting for anyone but Stefan!
  • Though the following isn’t food-related, I thought it was clever enough to share:

On Edmonton’s Downtown Dining Week

Both Edmonton and Calgary’s Dining Week participants and menus were released this week, but the similarities of the events end there:

  • Edmonton has 23 participating restaurants vs. Calgary’s 81
  • Calgary has a separate webpage to promote Dine Out Calgary, with an easy-to-read format, a brief description of the restaurant, and a link to the establishment’s website
  • Calgary offers a lunch series with local critic John Gilchrist, going above and beyond just meals
  • Price points are controlled in Calgary (and I believe remain the same from last year) – $25 for lunch and $35 for dinner (with a few restaurants offering $85 “gourmet” tastings). Edmonton, on the other hand, increased their price points in a year when people may be looking at controlling their spending – $15 for lunch, and though there are some $25 dinner options, the majority are $50 prix fixe meals.

I know comparing events doesn’t solve anything, but it’s hard to swallow the fact that Edmonton’s sixth attempt at promoting restaurants in the core hasn’t improved over the years. Yes, Calgary’s advantage is a city-wide event, and one without competition from a “rival” restaurant group (Original Fare’s Fork Fest), but I’d like to hope that the Downtown Business Association (DBA) at least considers ways to enhance their event, and looking to our southern neighbour doesn’t seem like much of a stretch.

There has been discussion for some time on Connect2Edmonton’s forums about Downtown Dining Week, mostly centering on DBA’s poor promotion of the event, and restaurants’ inconsistency with offering their deals. I know I’ve run into this – I had a horrible experience at Ric’s Grill last year (I was told I had to pre-order the Dining Week menu over the phone, while my friend, the night prior, was given the menu without question).

I know I’ve said before that Edmonton doesn’t have much of a restaurant culture when contrasted with Calgary, but that’s why I think events such as Downtown Dining Week must be utilized as best as possible. Those who already do their best to eat at local and independent establishments will naturally know about this promotion – but it’s the DBA’s job to get in the face of those who rarely venture beyond their favourite chain and encourage them to eat outside their comfort zone.

What say you, Downtown Business Association?