Category: Edmonton

Not Quite Like Grandma’s: Sicilian Pasta Kitchen

After the movie, both Janice and I were craving pasta (Diane Keaton and Mandy Moore were shown cooking and eating pasta dishes throughout the movie). We tried to come up with a non-South Edmonton Common eatery that offered Italian cuisine, and she suggested Sicilian Pasta Kitchen (805 Saddleback Road) on the south side, something I didn’t know existed.

I had been to the downtown location before, and was fairly happy with their food and service. Janice said this neighborhood version was more casual and family-oriented than its central sister. She was right – the decor substituted dark wood for hand-painted murals, tiled countertops, and carpet. What was disconcerting, and not exactly suitable for Grandma’s kitchen was the hostess – she couldn’t have been older than 15, and was wearing a skirt and top more appropriate for a twenty-something bar patron than a greeter in a supposedly homey restaurant.

Thankfully, our waitress was properly attired. I ordered the Sacchetti Polo (satchels of chicken served with spicy ham and a garlic cream sauce), while Janice opted for the half and half pasta plate special (a novel idea, and great for sampling).

The portion size was fairly generous, but even now, I couldn’t tell you what was actually contained in the satchels. Not quite chicken, and with hints of green, it tasted more like mashed potatoes mixed with spinach. Though I appreciated the crunch provided by sliced green beans, I found both the ham and the sauce to be rather bland. The dish reminded me of something the inexpensive Fiore would serve, and I expected more from Sicilian’s pasta menu.

With decent service, and a quiet venue for conversation, I wouldn’t be averse to returning again, but I’d likely order their thin crust pizzas the next time around.

Sacchetti Polo

New York Style: Caffè Sorrentino

After lunch, May, Janice and I looked to unwind in a coffee shop, and stumbled upon Caffè Sorrentino (10665-109 Street).

Recently opened by Sorrentino’s, purveyors of fine Italian Dining in Alberta, the coffee shop exuded a New York flavor. The black, white and red color scheme was offset by clear light fixtures and stainless steel tables, creating a chic and sophisticated feel. A flat screen television was installed near the coffee bar, where many patrons were situated, fixating on the broadcasted Oilers game. Their menu is very similar to that of Zenari’s in Manulife Place – in addition to the typical coffee break fare, they also offer soups, paninis and pastas. But bonus – they also carry Fantasia Gelato, the must-have treat at Heritage Days. And for those who need an easy-to-make dinner, Caffè Sorrentino stocks convenient, take-home versions of their popular pastas and sauces (I myself wouldn’t mind trying their wild mushroom ravioli).

While I didn’t have the appetite to have anything besides a cookie and a cup of Tazo tea this time, I will be back to sample their Italian plates soon.

Counter

Cafe interior

Table with a view

Unusual napkin holder and mug

Western Sensibilities: Thanh Thanh Oriental Noodle House

After the ceremony, Janice and I accompanied May and her family for lunch. We decided on Thanh Thanh (10718-101 Street), a newly renovated Vietnamese restaurant at Janice’s suggestion.

Just outside of Chinatown, Thanh Thanh offers free parking, always a plus for eateries in the downtown core. The decor is impressively chic – tile floors, brown suede banquets, simple black tables, mirrors to create the illusion of space, and a clean tank filled with blood parrots. While this was my first time at the restaurant, I’m certain the changes have much improved the dining space.

I was surprised at how busy the place was, at noon on a random Saturday. By the time we left over an hour later, there was actually a wait for tables. We ordered a few dishes to share, including hot and sour soup, cashew chicken, beef, chicken and vegetable chow fun, and a sizzling beef and mushroom plate.

The food arrived in no time. Hot, fresh, and of reasonable quality, I was very happy with my experience. I’ll be certain to try their pho in the future.

With large portions and fast service, I can see why Thanh Thanh has become a lunch and dinner destination for those in the know.

Blood Parrots!

Restaurant interior

Hot & Sour Soup

Cashew Chicken

Culinary Q & A with Violet

Occupation: Assistant Coordinator and Instructor, but secretly wishing I was a Madonna impersonator

What did you eat today?

Breakfast: Toast with peanut butter and a banana
Lunch: Buffet at Khazana with fresh fruit for dessert
Dinner: Rice, eggplant, fish and tofu
Snack: Couple of Pringles

What do you never eat?

Chicken feet

What is your personal specialty?

Chinese style spaghetti as my mum used to make

What is your favorite kitchen item?

Cleaver, I use it to cut just about everything and Tupperware peeler that has lasted forever

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

Tofu with broccoli and chicken, anything with seafood, and sushi

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Usually somewhere serving Asian food

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

Vietnamese- La Pagode (cheap and good portion size) and Doans (good portion sizes but slow service)
Japanese- Banzai (always have coupons) and Ichiban (bento boxes are always reliable)
Malaysian- Tropika (look for coupons, mango dessert is yummy)
Chinese- Sai Woo Garden (good calamari and cheap but don’t show me the kitchen)
Greek- It’s All Greek to Me (love the potatoes)
Indian- Khazana (can’t go wrong with the buffet)
Everything else- Moxies west end (go for Margarita Tuesdays and a white chocolate brownie in this newly renovated hot spot)
Madison’s Grill (good place for business lunches)

The Entertainment book has lots of 2 for 1 coupons for some great places. I’m a frugal diner 🙂

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

The best seafood I’ve ever had was while cruising (and Vegas) so I’d love to be on deck watching waves in the middle of the ocean enjoying scallops, shrimp,clams, and mussels with pasta and a fresh fruit tart dessert.

Warm and Inviting: Free Press Bistro

Dickson and I met up after work today for a quick bite to eat. He insisted on something “warm” (what can I say? He’s an articulate one), and I suggested the Free Press Bistro (10014-104 Street).

Until recently, the restaurant belonged to the Original Fare collective, a group of independently-owned eateries in the city. The following is an excerpt from an interview with Natasha Shekhter-Chapman, one of the proprietors of Free Press, distributed in the November 2006 Original Fare newsletter:

“Our concept is to do non-processed panini’s. What I found with panini’s is that most of them are processed, generic food. Whereas here the chicken is roasted, the pork is pulled. Everything down to our desserts we make here. For us it is about non-processed, unique, healthy, incorporating all different aspects of the world. You look at our menu and we’ve got Thai and Vietnamese, and then we have the French, the Cajun, kind of all over the world but combining them all into a very basic thing. Everybody loves sandwiches.”

I’d been there once prior, almost a year ago, on a similarly blustery day, but wasn’t too impressed with the food at that time, however. Just a stone’s throw (okay, maybe more like a punt) away from Bay Station, it’s in quite a convenient downtown location.

The restaurant was cozy and inviting, and even more so as the dimmed lighting brought out the warmth in the earth toned walls. Non-obtrusive vintage newspapers accented the dining room, a theme continued on their colorful menus. While I wasn’t a huge fan of their furniture (clunky metal and tacky pink), the calming ambiance somewhat made up for it.

To start, we ordered the intriguing Chip Butty, an apparent spin on a British pub classic, with fries and mozza grilled between Ciabatta bread. For our main plates, I went with the Chicken Parmesan (breaded chicken, tomato sauce, mozzarella), while Dickson chose the Free Press Club (chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon).

The Chip Butty came soon enough, and my, it may be my new favorite sandwich. The combination of french fries and melted cheese encased in crisp Ciabatta tasted heavenly and had it been served with gravy instead of a lemon dill aioli, it could have been considered a ‘poutine sandwich.’ Come to think of it, perhaps I should add a panini grill to my kitchen wish list.

As for our entrees – the chicken in mine was a tad on the dry side, but using ketchup for dipping, it wasn’t too noticeable. The star of the sandwich was indeed the bread. Dickson wondered if they baked it on-site. Based on their interview excerpt above, I’d hope so. Lastly, the fries were of the shoestring variety (which I normally dislike), but I didn’t mind them on this occasion.

While I’m happy to say I had a good experience this time around, I may have to return to see if they can remain consistent with both the service and the food.

Restaurant interior

Cool menu

Chip Butty with Lemon Dill Aioli

Club Sandwich (with a dollop of ketchup because Dickson couldn’t wait to dig in)

Chicken Parmesan

Culinary Q & A with Dickson

Occupation:

Day: Evil Overlord
Night: Math Tutor

What did you eat today?

Breakfast: Kellogg’s Corn Flakes
Lunch: Sticky rice.
Dinner: Instant Noodles.
Late night snack: Kellogg’s Corn Flakes

What do you never eat?

Raw meat – especially fish

What is your personal specialty?

Beefy Cheesy Pasta – now with tomatoes!

What is your favorite kitchen item?

Oven/Microwave

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

Appetizer: I’ve never cared too much about appetizers so I’m just going to say Chicken Salad and today’s soup!
Main course: A 12 oz kobe beef steak, lobster dipped in melted butter, mash potatoes with greens smothered in gravy. Extra salt.
Dessert: Creme Brulee and Apple Pie from Joey’s

Where do you eat out most frequently?

I like to give equal patronage to the various restaurants around town so every few weeks I rotate. My rotation so far:

Tokyo Express
Pagolac
Denny’s
Garden Bakery
All Happy
Denny’s

Current Rotation: Sam Wok

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

My two favorite dishes are steak and pho. So I’m going to have to vote for KEG and Doan’s (though I’ve just been told King Noodle House has the best pho in town so my vote may change).

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

International House of Pancakes. What can I say? I’m an expensive eater 🙂

But really, I don’t think I’ve travelled enough to give this question a thoughtful answer.

Dickson cooking up his specialty
(it also happens to be his birthday today – Happy Birthday!)

Quietly Authentic: Sushi Wasabi

Following the play, Annie and I went to Sushi Wasabi (5714-111 Street) for dinner.

Tucked away in the Lendrum strip mall, I was somewhat surprised that such a nondescript eatery could draw the constant patronage that it did that night. And this led to one of the downsides of the restaurant – because of the table demand (and limited seating), we weren’t able to dawdle and chat as long as we would have liked.

Annie assured me that their food was very authentic, which explained to some degree their higher-than-average prices. Thankfully, I managed to find something on the menu that didn’t involve raw food or fish – the Shichmiyaki Chicken (chicken marinated in Teriyaki sauce served with bean sprouts). I also ordered a side of Miso Soup. Annie opted for the Bento Box, which also came with Miso Soup.

Before our food came, the waitress brought hot towels for us. I felt like I was on a Singapore Airlines flight! It was nicely refreshing. Our soups arrived shortly after, which I found less salty than Kyoto’s version. As for the chicken – it was definitely better than Mikado’s beef equivalent. Lightly fried, then cooked with Teriyaki sauce, the morsels were delightfully crispy and delicately flavored. And though the portion size was fair, on hungrier nights, I’d likely order an appetizer for good measure.

With great service and good food, I can see why Sushi Wasabi is so popular and in such high regard.

Restaurant interior

Miso Soup

Bento Box

Shichmiyaki Chicken

Theatre: “Sexy Laundry”

I met up with Annie on Saturday afternoon to watch Shadow Theatre’s Sexy Laundry at the Varscona Theatre. From the website:

“Armed with a copy of Sex for Dummies, Alice and Henry check into a trendy hotel with a mission to jumpstart their 25-year marriage. Time has taken its toll; kids, stress, and gravity have all had a detrimental effect. This once-loving couple has hit their fifties and the marriage blahs. Will Alice and Henry survive the test of their relationship…or even this weekend?”

I became especially interested in seeing the play after reading a pre-production interview in Vue Weekly with Coralie Cairns, who said, in regards to one of the themes of the play, “Any time you know someone well enough, you almost just stop listening to them, and start looking for the markers, hearing what they say without actually listening to what it is they’re saying.”

Yes, this issue was addressed, but perhaps one of the greatest weaknesses of this play was the fact that it tried to tackle too many issues, including, among others, self-image, career, work/family balance, fantasies, aging, and of course, the meaning of marriage. As a result, the play felt scattered, unfocused, and like a wrought emotional rollercoaster. More than Dinner with Friends, I was exhausted by what seemed like two hours of straight yelling. While everything felt very realistic – the dialogue, communication, and the actors’ familiarity with one another – I can’t say that it was enjoyable to watch two people go from rational to frustrated to tender without any time for the viewer to reflect on what was said (there was no intermission in this production either). Though I tried to empathize, I found that I couldn’t relate to what the characters were going through, and thus, couldn’t bring myself to the point where I was invested in the outcome of their weekend. Essentially, watching this couple air their dirty laundry got tiresome.

As for the acting – Cairns was fabulous, and really brave. The end scene had her in fishnets, hooker boots, a leather mini and a stomach-bearing leather print top. It was a necessary costume, to visually demonstrate her desperation and vulnerability at that point, but I’m sure not every actress would be so willing to display her flaws. Glen Nelson did a good job in the role of Henry as well, the proud and sarcastic family man. However, I did find his character’s tendency to interrupt conversational flow jilting and rather annoying.

The set was surprisingly sleek and polished, and unusually sophisticated for the Varscona stage. Designer Trevor Schmidt made good use of circular pieces (linking to Henry’s last metaphor of ‘coming home’) – with the bed, table, lighting, and of course, three large mirrors, hung so that they provided a visual reminder that the audience was literally reflected on stage.

Though I may not have enjoyed the play as much as I thought I would, Annie liked it. I’m sure she’s well on her way to becoming a full-fledged theatre convert.

2007 Ice on Whyte Festival

On Saturday afternoon, I headed to the 4th annual Ice on Whyte Festival.

Had I been better prepared with a hat and scarf to combat the wicked windchill that day, I would have stayed longer, but as it was, I snapped a few pictures and ran for indoor cover.

All of the carving competitions had taken place the weekend previous, so this weekend was a time for wanderers to marvel at the sculptures. In addition to the individual displays, there was a castle, and even an ice movie screen where films were shown every evening.

However, the crown jewel for me was the ice slide. For $1, I was given a small piece of plastic to sit on, and instructed to hug my legs at the top. I would blame my long wool coat and boots for what happened, but in reality, I am rather uncoordinated to begin with. Needless to say, I didn’t end up in a sitting position at the end, and even hit my head on the bottom. When I brought the board back to the slide creator, he deadpanned, “You are the worst slider I have ever seen,” and asked if I was okay. Yep, it was pretty embarrassing, but so much fun. If it had been warmer, I may have had another go.

This was my first time at the Festival, and next year, I’ll be sure to monitor the forecast to head out on a warmer day!

“Building Canada”

Unidentified sculpture

Ice castle

Slide of death

Theatre: “Crazy for You”

After dinner, Dickson and I went to the opening night performance of Crazy for You, the second production of the year for Grant MacEwan’s Theatre Arts Program. From the website:

“an artfully constructed show-biz tale of boy meets girl, but rather than Times Square they’re in the Wild West, where they spread good will, good tunes and, of course, good lovin’. It’s a high energy comedy that includes mistaken identity, plot twists, fabulous dance numbers and classic Gershwin music.”

As custom, the house was nearly full, packed undoubtedly with family and friends of the cast members. John L. Haar Theatre really is a beautiful facility, fully equipped with wide aisles, a gorgeous stage, and orchestra pit. It’s too bad it’s out of the way, and not in proximity to any large attractions, as their programming should be seen by a wider audience.

For a student production, it was quite well done. The costumes were great, as were the set pieces (in particular, the clown car was well built, leading to an unexpected routine that provided a good display of stage magic). My favorite character was hands down Irene Roth, the soon-to-be wife of the Saloon owner in Deadrock. She was played with great sass by Ashley Bjorndal, and carried off some great verbal exchanges with Bobby Child’s mother and her future husband.

I thought the first half as a whole was better than the second half, both in pacing and songs presented. Furthermore, the dancing was stronger than the singing in this show – the male lead had a fairly weak voice (Dickson said the actor who played Bela Zangler had the better voice, and here, I’ll defer to his trained ear). I was also surprised at the lack of a show stopping end number. “I Got Rhythm,” clearly the most catchy song, and the only one in length that featured the entire cast, fell just before intermission, leaving the audience vainly wanting more.

I was also surprised at their decision to use a projected backdrop to convey the different scene locations. Because of their elaborate sets, I thought this was unnecessary and rather distracting. Specifically, the image of the Gaity Theatre seats could be considered inaccurate, as usual musical-within-a-musical productions see the rehearsals conducted facing the imaginary audience, not upstage.

Despite my nitpicks, it was a fun production overall, and one that left me with a desire to dance!