Category: Edmonton

Culinary Q & A with Thelma

What did you eat today?

In the morning I had an apple and some water….very bad for a pregnancy diet eh! I also had a bagel, then turkey, mashed potatoes, and greens for dinner

What do you never eat?

Ceasar dressing; very wierd taste plus I believe it takes etxtra care to make the best tasting ceasar dressing, which I’m yet to taste.

What is your personal specialty?

Our staple food from Zimbabwe which is Sadza- corn meal based paste molded solid some people prefer it very soft so it depends who’s eating. The best closest comparison would be polenta. It is ususally served with stews i.e beef, prok, chicken, fish, beans, with some greens such as collards, cabbage; there is a wide variety of veggies to choose from and bottom line is the sky is the limit with what you eat sadza with.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

my wooden spoons

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

My mother’s sadza with fried collards with onions, free run chicken or goat stew, buttermilk, fresh from my uncle’s cows or what we call lacto which is the warehouse manufactured and purified version of buttermilk, sugar bean stew

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Sadza and its varieties

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

So here comes the big question, I actually would combine certain dishes from each place I’ve visited to make the best meal. I take the garden salad from Olive Garden and those darn bread sticks. Then some lamb from Gini’s place, blooming onions from the Outback.I’m not much of a sweet tooth so anything goes for dessert with the exception of brownies and any of these creamy desserts.
Ok truth is I don’t know maybe olive garden or the outback so far

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat?

The best place I’ve ever eaten is Ted’s Montana grill in the US oh! Lord have mercy that place is heaven. I wish they would invest their business here in Edmonton I know people will love it. Everything is made from scratch in their kitchens which happen to have an open layout so you can sit and watch the chefs as they whip their magic.
This restraunt is rapidly expanding in eastern, central and southern states so if you happen to be around these take some time to check it out or visit here.

Grant MacEwan Theatre Arts: “Little Women”

After dinner, the three of us proceeded to John L. Haar Theatre for Grant MacEwan’s production of Little Women. From the website:

“Set in New England during the Civil War, Little Women follows the adventures of four sisters – Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March – as they grow up. After their father leaves for battle and under their mother’s guidance, the girls must rely on each other for strength in the face of tragedies both large and small. The story will captivate audiences of all ages while telling of the sisters’ progress into womanhood with the added strains of the romance, illness, the pressures of marriage and the outside world.”

The success of this musical wholly depended on a charismatic and talented Jo, and here, the casting was pitch-perfect. Alissa Keogh had a believable headstrong, tomboyish charm, and vocal abilities that put her stage mates to shame. I mean the following as nothing but a compliment: her voice is made for the wholesome songs of the Disney canon, and I have no doubt she has a bright future ahead of her.

As for the rest of the cast, the choice of Yemie Sonuga of African descent was an inspired choice for Marmee (with the backdrop of the American Civil War), but it was a shame that her acting was uneven and forced. Jaclyn Nestman as Beth and Kristy Neufeld as Meg were quite good in their roles, however, and Matthew Van Boeyen did his best to play with dignity a man at least thirty years his senior.

As for the rest of the production, I have an admitted difficulty avoiding obvious comparisons with other adaptations, and in this case, it would be with the 1994 Winona Ryder film. While the play’s Amy was able to redeem herself, and win over the audience (unlike in the movie), I sorely wished for the impossible appearance of a young Christian Bale to reprise his role as Laurie. As in the movie, I still find Jo’s “hasty” marriage to Professor Bhaer an unbelievable, unsatisfying ending. Though Jo’s happiness in finding a connection with someone literary, who challenged her and supported her work as an author is understandable, I can’t believe this happy ending would come so quickly.

For a student production, Little Women was quite good, and it was a treat to watch Alissa Keogh perform, undoubtedly a star in the making.

Deli Counter Plus: Tesoro Cafe Bar

I remember initially reading about Tesoro Cafe Bar (11244 104 Avenue) in Vue Weekly, and being drawn to it because of its Thursday night special – two pastas, a salad, a glass of wine and gelato all for just $20. Well, as it seemed I would never make it there on a Thursday, I decided it might make a good location for our pre-show dinner on Friday, regardless of any particular deals.

Dickson, May and I walked in, and were immediately surprised by the interior of the restaurant. Like Caffe Sorrentino, Tesoro is another one of those quick bite establishments with prominent placement of a refrigerated deli case. Even with dim house lighting and tea lights on every table, Tesoro still gave off a cafeteria-esque vibe. The wicker-based chairs may have had something to do with that as well.

However, with the recent addition of a full sit-down dinner menu, we were willing to overlook the casual decor. The menu included the requisite pasta, panini and thin crust pizza options, as well as fancier fare such as osso buco, all priced under $20. On this night, I was swayed by the Gnocci Alla Margherita ($10.75), made with homemade tomato sauce and fresh basil, while Dickson chose the Gnocci Sanmaio ($10.75), made with hot Italian and Chorizo sausage, truffled mushrooms, tossed in a Rosé sauce, and May ordered the Panini Prosciutto Derosa ($7.75), which featured Italian ham, eggplant, and herbed ricotta.

Our food arrived promptly, and Dickson and I were pleasantly surprised at our portion sizes. As with our dishes at Olive Garden a few weeks ago, however, I much preferred his plate. The homemade tomato sauce with my gnocci contained some heat and flavour from the crushed red pepper and garlic inherent within, but was a tad too sour for my liking. The accompanying bread was also in need of a good toasting – drizzled with some olive oil, and placed on a panini press for two minutes, it would have been crisp and ready to soak up the excess sauce.

I wouldn’t mind returning to Tesoro on a Thursday evening to give their Pasta e Vino a whirl, but other than that, I think there’s better Italian to be found elsewhere.

Menu


Gnocci Alla Margherita


Gnocci Sanmaio


Panini Prosciutto Derosa

A Long Time Coming: The Copper Pot

For a special lunch on Friday, my coworker Sharon and I decided to “stay in” and dine in the restaurant located on the main floor of our building – The Copper Pot (101, 9707-110 Street).

While I’ve had take out from the restaurant in the past, I’ve actually never had a sit-down meal in the dining room itself. When new management took over The Copper Pot late last year, the specials board, usually prominently displayed outside its glass doors, disappeared, and we feared “new” meant “more expensive”. While costlier than take-out from the nearby Zuppa’s, I found out that an afternoon with a view is well worth the price.

I had made reservations for the two of us a few days previous, but it turned out it wasn’t really necessary. We were the second party seated just before noon, and were able to pick out a choice sunlit table overlooking the serene Ezio Farone Park. The decor was elegant and simple, and while the banquet fabric may need to be updated soon, I did appreciate the small touch of the copper-look salt and pepper shakers on the table.

The lunch menu was fairly standard – soups, salads, sandwiches and pastas making up most of the midday fare, and while nothing really jumped out at me, I was happy with my selection of the Turkey and Brie Clubhouse (sliced deli turkey, blackforest ham, brie cheese, lettuce, tomato and raspberry mayo served on multigrain bread), which included a side soup of the day. My dining companion chose the Chicken Supreme, a marinated, grilled free range chicken breast served with roasted red potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Our food arrived at a record rate (Sharon had commented that this would not have been the case under the previous owner). My sandwich was two-tiered, with a generous amount of sliced turkey and ham adorning the bottom half, bracketed by crisp, perfectly buttered bread. The smoked chicken soup was perhaps a little spicy for my taste, but contained a surprising amount of meat for the serving. Sharon was also very happy with her meal.

The service was excellent throughout (our waiter asked “May I, Miss?” before removing our plates), and with a priceless view and a bill totalling only $14 before tax and tip, I would not think twice before dining here again.

Restaurant Interior (every table does have a view!)


Turkey and Brie Clubhouse


Chicken Supreme (I love the fact that the rosemary looks like it is lit from above)


Happy (and full) diners!

“All the World’s a Stage”: Affordable Theatre in Edmonton

If you’re looking for something to do, and none of the current film releases strike your fancy, how about giving a live show a try? There’s a common misconception that theatre is expensive, but in some cases, tickets are cheaper than a trip to your average multiplex.

  • In-house productions put on by students in the Department of Drama at the University of Alberta are free – just check the schedule for updated show information and times.
  • Studio Theatre, cradle of amateur creativity, offers $5 preview Wednesdays. Their productions seem to be hit-or-miss, but when they get it right, there’s no better value for your money.
  • Teatro la Quindicina and Shadow Theatre, both housed at the well-worn but cozy Varscona, both offer 2 for 1 Tuesdays, and even better, pay-what-you-can Saturday matinees. Without question my two favorite local theatre companies, their productions are often witty, fun, and heartfelt.
  • Even the famed Citadel Theatre has affordable shows, in the form of pay-what-you-can Sundays. As long as you have time to spare (their wristband ticket distribution system will take up an afternoon in itself), you can inexpensively partake in any of their sterling productions. Vern Thiessen’s upcoming premiere of Vimy has been generating quite the buzz already.
  • Theatre Network at the Roxy also offers 2 for 1 deals on Tuesdays. With great in-house productions and out-of-town imports like Famous Puppet Death Scenes, it is one company worth keeping an eye on.
  • If comedy is your preferred genre, Die-Nasty, the weekly live improvised soap opera, and Oh Susannah, the monthly Euro-style talk show, may be the perfect indulgence. Wacky, unpredictable, and supported by the most committed regular audience I have ever seen, it’s a guarantee you’ll have a night out like no other.
  • There’s even the option to enjoy theatre from the comfort of your own home – Urban Tales 10: Bifurious, from Northern Light Theatre, claims to be the “First EVER Canadian Live Theatre Web-cast of a staged workshop”. Check it out here on October 27.

So no excuses – check out some live theatre today!

Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival 2007

After missing last year’s event, I made sure I marked off the date for the 2007 version of the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival.

I had some time to kill before having to meet up with Janice and May, so took some time to admire the view from the terrace of the Shaw Conference Centre. It was a beautiful fall day, and though the leaves had all but fallen from the trees, our river valley was looking glorious bathed in the warm autumn sun. I was able to capture a few shots of two hot air balloons just taking flight from a field near the Muttart Conservatory:

Picturesque

Up, up and away!

Just after five, the girls arrived, and we headed into one of the halls already buzzing with activity. After having our tickets scanned, we were handed a wine glass on our way in, and picked up a small program listing all of the vendors present. Pretty soon, however, we figured out that it was easier and more fun to simply wander the aisles without attention paid to labels and names.

The floor

Unlike the Taste of Edmonton, this festival charges a $15 admission fee. For what purpose, I still can’t figure out, as I can only imagine the hundreds of dollars each winery would have been charged to set up a booth. Tickets were actually a little cheaper though – 50cents each, with wine and food samples priced at a minimum of 2 tickets, but up to, as far as we could see, 20 tickets. May and I both snagged a few coupons from the local paper, so between the three of us, managed to redeem them for 60 free tickets, and only needed to purchase $20 dollars worth to supplement them. I’m sure for most patrons of this event though, being economical wasn’t on their minds – it looked as if most of Edmonton’s upper crust was present that evening (Hello, Louis Vuitton!).

Though wine (and spirits) should have been the main attraction (hence the name of the festival being wine & food and not food & wine), we necessarily gravitated towards the food vendors. We hadn’t had a lot to eat prior to meeting, so we figured some food in our stomachs would make the alcohol easier to process.

The Little Potato Company had the best deal hands down, selling samples of Piccolo Potatoes with Fresh Cream and Dill for just 3 tickets, and as a bonus, distributing two small bags of potatoes along with it, free of charge. The Grill had one of the most popular items on the floor – Blue Cheese Stuffed Mini Burgers. Presentation was of utmost importance at this event, and would put most at the Taste of Edmonton to shame. For example, B-Bim-Baab was offering mini portions of their namesake, hand garnished with sections of pickled carrots, bean sprouts, egg, and grilled beef. Of course, although there were some reasonably priced items to be had, there were also some duds – a small plate of butter chicken and rice was $5 from Khazana, while a combination plate from the Haweli booth was a startling 19 tickets.

Blue Cheese Stuffed Mini Burgers from The Grill

May poses with her Lobster Cakes from the Century Hospitality Group

For us, wading through the overwhelming number of wine merchants was a chore – as all of us are relatively new to the appreciation of wine, we didn’t really know what to sample. The importance of marketing to a wine label’s success was evident on this night – brands such as Funky Llama and House Wine (hee) distinguished themselves in part because of their stand out names. I was happy to see a few brands that I had noticed on past trips through liquor stores, and seized this opportunity to inexpensively give them a go.

Janice receives her first pour of the night

The 2006 Fat Bastard Rose from France was a bit weak for my taste, while the 2005 Voga Italia Pinot Grigio wasn’t bad. The 2005 Artezin Zinfandel from the Hess Collection was too rich for me, and definitely boasted of a dark, black cherry taste the purveyor had mentioned. Mystiq, a Cognac-based fruit cocktail, was a refreshing departure from wine, and was sweeter than the similar but more well-known Hypnotiq. My last sample turned out to be the most expensive of the evening, a 2003 Private Reserve Chardonnay from the Canadian Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery. At $5 for the 2oz. pour, the wine was well worth it – smooth, and with nary an aftertaste.

Cheers!

We didn’t make it out of the hall until nearly 7:30, in part due to the increasing number of people touring the aisles as the night wore on. I will be back next year, ideally with a knowledgeable oenophile in tow, and make sure to again arrive early, and keep an eye out for coupons in the paper.

“Entrenched in the war room”: Mr. Rice Wins!

I just got back from what turned out to be a celebratory party at Mr. Rice’s residence (I will never be able to bring myself to call him “George”), in his successful run to become the Edmonton Public School trustee for Ward G.

I had distributed some flyers on his behalf this weekend, and thus was invited to join others who had helped him out on the campaign trail. Mack and I arrived just before 8pm to a packed house full of many staff and administrators from my high school years. After a few hellos, we headed upstairs to what eventually became the “war room” – Mr. Rice’s study with a monitor and a television screen. I don’t think Mack’s finger strayed too far from the mouse all night, in order to constantly refresh the Edmonton Election results, with the supporters in the room eager to call a victory. I must admit it was a pretty neat, albeit nerve wracking, experience to be a part of, and all the more so when I thought of all of the other “little campaigns that could” likely also gathered around screens in homes across the city.

By 9:30, all 37 polls in Ward G had reported, and Mr. Rice was declared the “unofficial” winner, with 36% of the votes (and hey, we reached a voter turnout of 26.8% – great job, Edmonton!).

Congratulations Mr. Rice!

Status update: Priceless photo.


The winner!


Ms. Smarsh gets creative with her t-shirt.


Already on the phone with his constituents…

All smiles! (more pictures here)

More Than Just Scones: Arbour Restaurant at the Rutherford House

All throughout university, May and I had wanted to pay the cafe inside the historic Rutherford House (11153 Saskatchewan Drive) a visit. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Hub Mall and the rest of campus, Janice, Annie, May and I decided to meet there for lunch this afternoon.

With just eight tables, reservations are a must. The charming dining room was bright with windows along one wall, and quirky books and artifacts lined the shelves, reminding diners of the history of the space.

I had expected only scones and perhaps finger sandwiches on the menu, but boy was I wrong. Their tempting list of savouries included pies, quiche, and even chili. Though the dessert trays were beckoning, we were much too starved for subsistence on sweets alone. I decided on the Brie and Cranberry sandwich, with a side of the soup du jour (potato and leek with stilton).

As for drinks, the back page of the menu should satisfy most tea enthusiasts, with nineteen varieties to choose from. Luckily for me (as this was my first meal of the day), they also had coffee available, served in a coffee press.

Our orders didn’t take long to arrive, and all of our dishes were very artfully presented (rosemary-as-garnish seems to be a theme as of late). My soup was delicious – rich and creamy, the blue cheese blended in well alongside the pureed potato. The sandwich was an interesting experiment – the bap was nicely crisp and toasted, and although the halves oozed with melted brie, the over-generous amounts of cranberry jam all but overpowered the cheese.

Over the course of our meal, two surrounding tables had ordered an assortment of dainties, causing some dessert envy on our end. As such, I will most certainly be back another day for high tea! The Arbour Restaurant is the perfect place to catch up with friends, to take Mum for brunch (as per Janice’s suggestion), and works well as a starting point for a great afternoon – the nearby trails and campus in fall are ripe for exploration. With free parking out front, you really have no excuse not to check it out!

Rutherford House

Dining room

Menu

Coffee press

Brie & Cranberry Sandwich

May’s Chicken Cordon Bleu

Annie’s Roasted Vegetable Strudel

Janice’s Turkey Pot Pie

RestorAction Charity Gala

Mack invited me to be a guest at the second annual RestorAction Charity Gala on Saturday. As a volunteer for the Youth Restorative Action Project (YRAP), Mack had been helping with the organization of the gala for a number of weeks, so it was nice to finally be able to see the culmination of their efforts.

The event was formal, so decked out in a suit and party dress, respectively (haha), Mack and I headed out to the Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel. While he set up the slide show he had put together, I perused some of the silent auction items up for bid in the hallway. Among the goods were an Oilers jersey that had been autographed by the entire 2007-2008 team (which ended up fetching $675), and two gold section seats to an upcoming Oilers game donated by Mayor Mandel (who was in attendance at the gala, at least initially), sweetened to include access to his exclusive parking spot.

Dressed and ready to go

Dinner was served right on time, and included two appetizers of Italian style tomato, basil and gin soup, and a salad of market field greens in a cucumber ring with balsamic vinaigrette. The soup was regrettably on the sour side, and tasted more like pasta sauce or flavoured tomato paste as opposed to soup, while the salad was all right but unremarkable. The main course, a roast supreme breast of chicken stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese, was dry, and try as I might, my aversion to cooked spinach continues. For dessert, we were served a chocolate croissant pudding with caramel sauce. This was my first sample of a bread pudding style dessert, and though it wasn’t bad, I think I’d sooner choose a cake or tart of some kind in its place.

Market field greens in a cucumber ring


Roast supreme breast of chicken


Chocolate croissant pudding

After dinner (or to be technical, during dessert), the program began. A number of people were invited to speak about their involvement with the program, but the most memorable speech of the evening belonged to Mark Cherrington, the adult advisor to YRAP. He presented a heartfelt poem of experiences drawn from real mentors of young offenders that chronicled the cultivation of trust leading to change.

Mark Cherrington

The entertainment portion of the evening consisted of a variety of dance demonstrations from the University of Alberta Dance Club instructors, spliced with comedic sets. The second comedian, Dawn Dumont, used Native stereotypes as a launching pad for her jokes (she is Cree herself), but more often than not, the audience wasn’t certain whether it was politically correct to laugh at all.

Dance demonstration (the rest of Mack’s pictures are here)

Thanks for the invitation, Mack! It was fun!

Canucks vs. the Oilers: No Contest

My sister Felicia was able to score Amanda and I discounted tickets to Friday night’s Edmonton Oilers game against the Vancouver Canucks.

The seats ended up being very good – executive level – and just above the opposition’s covered exit off of the ice (providing closeup views of Naslund and Ohlund. Whoo.). Unfortunately, that was about all we could “cheer for” that night – the Oilers were horrible. Garon let in a few weak shots, Luongo pulled out all the stops, and we were done.

I haven’t been to an Oilers game in over a year, and I had forgotten how much fun hecklers can be. On another note, my sister and I were hoping for more cheese in the opening introductory video that runs just before the players skate through the derrick (remember the hilarious video of the Oilers mock-racing one another?). It seems this year they were content with shooting each of the players against a white background wearing their jeans and a jersey, without any gimmicks. That, like their play on Friday, also deserves a “boo”.

I would like to go to at least one more game this season, and by that time, I hope for at least a winning record (we shoot low in the City of Champions).

Our view of the ice