Category: Edmonton

Chinese New Year Dinner: Shanghai Grill

For this Chinese New Year, my family opted to eat out, saving my mom some grief in the kitchen. My parents had tried Shanghai Grill a few months back with friends, and after a positive experience, wanted to take us there.

Mack and I met my family there on New Year’s Eve, but had to call my Dad to locate the restaurant. Tucked away in a warehouse/light industrial strip just off 111 Avenue, Shanghai Grill is easy to miss. However, the immediate benefit of such a building is high, lofty ceilings, which provided the eatery with a semblance of grandness, or at least the impression of breathing room between tables. Though I liked the furnishings (particularly the coated tabletops – a sleeker alternative to glass-topped tables), the wooden beams and columns were out of place for a non-steakhouse.

Interior

The menu at Shanghai Grill includes several Western favourites, but for the most part, skewed more traditional (on a related note, I had to laugh at the take-out menu, which featured only mainstream Western dishes). We were happy to let my parents take care of the ordering, particularly because they are usually able to strike a balance between interesting dishes and dishes that will placate my sisters (who, granted, are both less picky now than in their younger years).

Service was good, and our food arrived, rapid-fire, as tends to happen at Chinese, family-style restaurants. Though our table wasn’t quite as large as some of the others, a lazy Susan would have definitely been beneficial. My favourite of the dishes was the seafood sizzling rice ($13.95) served with puffed-rice squares, the warm gravy softening the textured rice to a satisfyingly chewy quality. The xiaolong bao ($7.95), filled with a hot soup, were also pretty good, but unfortunately, the soup ended up escaping before ending up in my bowl.

Seafood Sizzling Rice

Xiaolong Bao

The sweet and sour pork ($11.95) was cloyingly sweet, and we assured my Mum that hers was indeed better (their use of canned pineapple didn’t help matters either). The Shanghai combination soup, filled with bok choy, pork and bean curd, was filling, but we probably could have done without it – there was nothing memorable about it. The sweet and sour fish filet ($13.95) looked promising, and though I liked the silky filets of fish, the too-subtle flavour resulted in a just okay dish. Mack’s favourite dish was the Szechuan fried noodles ($10.95), with flecks of spicy red chillies throughout.

Sweet and Sour Pork

Shanghai Soup Combination

Sweet and Sour Fish Filet

Szechuan Fried Noodles

In recognition of Chinese New Year, we were offered small bites of nian gao (glutinous rice cake), a nice treat to end the meal. The strawberries (freeze-dried, perhaps?) provided an interesting spin on a traditional offering.

Nian Gao

As a whole, I had no complaints about the dinner. And with a clean and fresh environment with mostly solid offerings, I wouldn’t hesitate to come back.

Shanghai Grill
16336 111 Avenue
(780) 930-1828

Edmonton’s Downtown Dining Week: Stagnant and Uninspired?

Though superhero Daryl Katz has been in the news of late for his plans to singlehandedly revitalize downtown Edmonton, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the city’s core has been on a steady upswing over the past few years. From the Paramount Theatre reclamation by the City Centre Church, to the trendy development of the 104th Street Warehouse District, to the stunning new Art Gallery of Alberta, there have been many positive changes in recent years.

Of course, the annual festivals that roll into Churchill Square during the summer months are a yearly guarantee of crowds, but I think the off-season events are even more important. To convince people that downtown Edmonton is a vibrant year-round destination, arts and cultural institutions, nightlife, and events are vital in the crafting of a core culture apart from warm-weather hot dogs and buskers.

To that effect, I think Downtown Dining Week (this year in its seventh incarnation) should be the jewel in the Downtown Business Association’s crown. Food has an uncanny ability to excite people, and dinner and drinks are often just the start of a night out. If presented well, I don’t see why discounted pre-fixe meals couldn’t be the successful lynchpin of a favourable downtown introduction to those unfamiliar with the district.

I wrote last year about how, in my opinion, the DBA is failing to engage those that don’t already frequent downtown restaurants, and seem to be satisfied with the status quo. There is no doubt that the DBA has to work a little harder – with Original Fare hosting Fork Fest, their own pre-fixe food festival twice a year, Downtown Dining Week doesn’t have the luxury of being the only discount menu event in the city. Still, with a self-proclaimed mission of encouraging people to “live, work, shop, play and learn” in the core, I think the way Downtown Dining Week is currently being organized (and promoted) is a missed opportunity. Sure, the number of restaurants participating in the promotion has increased each year, to a “record” 29 in 2010 (keeping in mind that the total number of restaurants downtown has also increased this year), but the event itself is stagnant.

A quick gander at the Dine Out Calgary site leaves me with a feeling of festival envy – the city-wide 91 participating restaurants notwithstanding, their event includes opportunities to dine with local food critic John Gilchrist, wine and chocolate seminars and cooking classes. I’m left with many questions – why hasn’t the DBA attempted similar events, which no doubt would get people excited about food, chefs, and ultimately, downtown Edmonton? There is no shortage of talent, or ideas – Gail Hall, who herself lives downtown on 104th Avenue, could speak at a luncheon; Kelsey Danyluk and Neil Chamberlain of TZiN could teach a food and wine pairing seminar; Moriarty’s, with their Enomatic wine system could host a wine tasting; and Paul Schufelt of Hundred, always innovative and currently dabbling in sous vide techniques, could lead a cooking class. Even better, the DBA could help celebrate the new AGA  by hosting a “dine out and art” night with a package meal and gallery tour deal.

More than partnerships with non-food establishments, however, I think the best asset of Downtown Dining Week is the proximity of restaurants to one another (especially when compared with Calgary’s version). The variety of both casual and formal eateries and bars is fantastic, and if one of the goals is to encourage people to return after this event, shouldn’t DDW be organized so establishments are given maximum opportunities for exposure? For example, a package deal could include a beer and a share plate at The Hat, followed by entrees at Kai Asian Grill. Or dinner at ZINC, then dessert at the Harvest Room in the Hotel Macdonald.

Unlike last year, I decided to contact the DBA with some questions, given that they were probably not aware of my previous comments. I first e-mailed Victoria Boutilier, Communications Coordinator, on February 16, hoping to meet her for a coffee to chat about DDW.  Eventually, it was determined that my questions would be answered by e-mail, so I sent them to her on Wednesday, and finally received a response this morning. I think the answers speak for themselves.

How were the price points reached? Though some may say the recession has since passed, the high end of a $50 meal, which would be over $100 for two with tax and gratuity (and without beverages), is still pricey. The other route, of course, would be to ask restaurants to offer a tasting menu ($75-$80), which would include 4-5 courses, and could offer a better value.

When the program began 7 years ago, the price points were $15, $25, and $35. Based on the feedback received from restaurants it was determined that most found it challenging to offer a high-quality three course meal for $35. It was then that we decided to increase the last price point to not only accommodate feedback from participating restaurants, but as a way to encourage more restaurants to come on board. As a result, the program has grown to encompass a variety of restaurants, from ethnic and pub-style, to trendy and fine-dining. This approach was quite successful as we have had great feedback from both patrons and restaurants. A tasting menu would be a great idea to incorporate for the future if restaurants are interested in offering this.

Although the number of participating restaurants has increased this year (taking into account that the number of operating restaurants has also increased), Downtown Dining Week as a program has remained the same for the past few years. How has the DBA considered expanding the event? For example, Dine Out Calgary has organized a “lunch with” food critic John Gilchrist in as a part of their festivities, in addition to wine tastings and cooking classes. Has the DBA considered hosting similar events?

In 2008 the Downtown Dining Week program had 17 participating restaurants. Just two years later, there are 29 participating restaurants which is a testament to the growth and development of the program. We have also incorporated a contesting component to the event in partnership with Global Edmonton and the Edmonton Journal. It is definitely part of the plan to continue expansion of Downtown Dining Week and we look forward seeing both the DBA and downtown restaurants establishing new initiatives as the program grows. 

In my opinion, the best asset of Downtown Dining Week is proximity – all of the participants are within walking distance of one another. Has the DBA ever considered asking restaurant to partner up (e.g. dinner at Ruth’s, night cap at Moriarty’s; cocktail and appetizer at TZiN, dinner at Sabor Divino)? It would help with exposure of the area’s variety, which seems to be the goal of DDW.

Downtown Dining Week is a collaborative effort to get people to experience the diverse dining scene downtown. We promote downtown Edmonton as the place to live, work, shop, play and learn so for this particular program our focus is to get people to come downtown for dinner and then stay downtown to catch a movie, a show at the Winspear Centre or Citadel Theatre, to check out the new Art Gallery of Alberta, and the like.

Even though this is the seventh year of Downtown Dining Week, many people in the city still aren’t aware of this food festival. What has the DBA done to try and engage those that don’t live or work in the core? Particularly in light of the social media trends in the city?

The Downtown Dining Week program is the biggest it’s ever been. This year, we have expanded our advertising (through increased sponsorships) to include television, newspaper, and magazine. We have also turned to social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook as a means to get the word out to the online community. In addition to these marketing developments, the Downtown Business Association has also enhanced the features on their website to better promote the program and make it easier for our visitors to get the information they need about the program. There has also been an increased focus on the pre-promotion of the program – with extensive and detailed collateral pieces that will be distributed throughout the city and surrounding areas before the event takes place. The Downtown Business Association is confident that with all of our cumulative promotional strategies, Edmontonians will become more aware of the program this year and will look forward to it year after year.

I noticed that Sysco is a partner/sponsor of Downtown Dining Week. What does their sponsorship entail? How does this align with the participating establishments that celebrate local food (Hardware Grill, Madison’s Grill)? How does this align with Edmonton’s recently passed Municipal Development Plan that preserves local farm land (and signals the City’s support of local food)?

This is the first year that Sysco has come on board as a sponsor of the event. They have numerous clients involved in the program and, as the Downtown Business Association promotes all downtown restaurants, we felt this was a great new relationship to build. We are also supportive of local food establishments and encourage people to dine out locally. Organizations such as Keep Edmonton Original and Original Fare are doing a great job in promoting many different local companies and restaurants throughout the city, including several retail and food establishments in the Downtown area.

Although some of Victoria’s answers could lead me to believe that the DBA is heading in the right direction (considering tasting menus, joining the social media fray), the general and vague nature of the responses overall leave me with the feeling that the Downtown Business Association really hasn’t given one of their premiere events much thought on how the festival could really grow and expand to highlight some of Edmonton’s best restaurants in a burgeoning area of the city. More than anything, I am disappointed in their lack of initiative and failure to make the most of a promising concept.

Culinary Q & A with Valerie Rodgers Lugonja

Occupation: Professional Educator (BEd) in my 30th year of teaching with Edmonton Public Schools. I am an Early Childhood Specialist (ECE Diploma), with two other “majors”, or specializations: English Literature, and Fine Art (drawing) I am currently teaching Foods, or cooking to about 200 grade 7-9 students every 2 days, for the second year. It was an invitation I could not refuse after watching my students come to school at 7 am eating chips and drinking Coke.

What did you eat today?

Baby Bocconcini (from the Italian Centre Shop South) with Olive Oil and black salt. It’s Saturday. I’ve been running, and I haven’t had dinner yet, which will probably be soup. Homemade in my Thermomix, of course 🙂 I tend to eat a lot of soup and yogurt.

What do you never eat?

Fried liver. I love liver pate, but not fried liver. I have thought about the latest “taste” sensation in our Edmonton Blogging Community (EatingistheHardPart and TheBruleeBlog): balut. I am drawn to this delicacy as I am so intensely interested in cultural foods. Maybe one day.

What is your personal specialty?

Vanja says “improvising”. Really, I haven’t a clue. I am always trying new things. I think appetizers and desserts. That first bite is so important, and I love that. And, the finale – well, what is a meal without something luscious? And, a little bite of chocolate?

Complete this sentence: In my refrigerator, you will always find:

half eaten jars of homemade canned goods, homemade yogurt, Gull Valley tomatoes (unless they are on holiday), Sunworks Farm fresh eggs, red peppers, onions, garlic, charcuterie and cheeses from the ICS south, whipping cream, and a jug of orange juice with pulp.

What is your weekday meal standby?

I cook a completely different meal every night for Vanja than I eat myself. A typical standby for him is pasta. I will fry onions, peppers, sausage (casing removed) or ground meat of some sort, add herbs, mushrooms if I have them, lots of fresh chopped garlic, tomato paste and canned diced tomatoes and leave it to simmer on the back of the stove until he gets home. I put on the penne 15 minutes before I expect him home, and that is it.

What is your favourite kitchen item?

My Thermomix. I never thought it would change my life as it has. It has enabled me to accomplish so much more with so much less effort! After that, my wooden cutting boards and my sharp knives.

I am more into tasting and cooking part except when it comes to chocolate and ice cream! I would love a professional kitchen staffed with really capable sous chefs, and I would have a ball working with them and learning from them to create something from whatever is in the pantry!

Where do you eat out most frequently?

We like change and usually eat out every Friday, or every other Friday, at a different place. I prefer the small independent restaurants in our city: love Zenari’s for lunch, and Duchess Bake Shop for coffee and a treat!

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

I guess I would have to say my mom’s! I cannot get enough of her meatloaf!

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

I would eat at a large rustic table with my family, extended family, and friends out in the Alberta countryside sans wind, rain and mosquitoes. A home-cooked potluck meal where everyone has contributed their personal specialty. And, beside the Atlantic Ocean, near Cape Cod, eating shell fish would be a strong second.

Valerie blogs at A Canadian Foodie.

Extreme Sticker Shock: Noodle Noodle

Two co-workers and I decided to indulge in a dim sum lunch last Friday to celebrate Chinese New Year. With only two options within reasonable walking distance for our one hour break, we chose Noodle Noodle over Urban China. Though I hadn’t been to Noodle Noodle in years, from what I remember, the prices weren’t egregious.

We arrived at the restaurant just after noon. It was pretty busy already, not unexpected for a Friday before a long weekend. We were quickly seated at a table by the door, and before long, were greeted by cart-directing servers.

As soon as our first dishes were marked on our tally sheet, we realized that the prices were way above average for dim sum – they ranged from $4.75 to $9.95! We were unfortunate enough to select a dish on the latter end of that scale (the ginger beef, primarily for one colleague who does not consume pork). As soon as the dish was priced my co-worker and I looked at each other and laughed at the absurd mark-up – it would be a painful meal.

Ginger Beef

Rice crepes, with either beef or shrimp? $6.50. Almond tofu? $5.95. BBQ pork buns the size of dumplings? $4.95. The quantity of food provided exacerbated our sticker shock as well – not only we were paying double for each dish, but in almost each case, the portion size was smaller than what we would find elsewhere.

Rice Crepes

 

 No joke, they were serving $10 dim sum dishes at Noodle Noodle

Good service was also something to be desired. After we told one waitress about our colleague’s non-pork diet, the next time she whizzed by, she did not bother to stop, and just commented in passing that there was nothing on her cart that we would want. Thankfully, the other servers were not as dismissive, but needless to say, we were not impressed.

Ellen and I “showing off” the BBQ pork buns

In terms of quality, the only dish that we were remotely happy with was the almond tofu. Lightly scented and accompanied by a decent amount of canned fruit, it provided a sweet end to an otherwise bitterly comical experience.

A serving of almond tofu

We all agreed in the end that our next dim sum trip would be in a vehicle.

Noodle Noodle
10008 106 Avenue
(780) 422-6862
Monday-Thursday 10am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-11pm, Sundays & Holidays 10am-9:30pm

Edmonton’s Food Bank: Expressions of Hunger Contest

In high school, a few girlfriends and I volunteered for Edmonton’s Food Bank, back when the main warehouse was still located downtown, just off Jasper Avenue. Our weekly task centered around repackaging dry or fresh goods so individual portions could be placed in hampers. I remember marvelling at how well coordinated the Food Bank was – the organization seemed to operate with assembly-line efficiency, with our portions eventually taken to the hamper assembly area, and bagged into hampers to be picked up by clients. There never seemed to be a time when the interview rooms were empty – frontline staff were continuously busy, taking calls or assessing clients in person.

Though the Food Bank’s location may have changed, the need for their service has not. And while there may be a collection box at the exit of every grocery store in the city, donations to the Food Bank are often an afterthought, in spite of their continuous provision of food to Edmonton’s needy on a daily basis.

For that reason, I really admire their current campaign called Expressions of Hunger, an attempt to engage creatives in the city on the subject of hunger. Open until March 31, 2010, the contest encourages photographers and writers to submit photos, poetry and short prose to illustrate one of five categories: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and environmental.

In April, the entries will be posted online where people can vote for the top three photos, poems and prose in the five categories, with winners being notified on May 3. The three winners in each of the five categories will be showcased at City Hall on National Hunger Awareness Day (June 1) and until June 4, at the Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse, from June 7 to June 23 and exhibited during the Works Festival of Art and Design at the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts from June 25 to July 7.

I emailed Tamara Stecyk, the person behind Expressions of Hunger, with some questions about the Food Bank, and to find out her inspiration for the contest.

  1. While the necessity to help some Edmontonians meet their basic needs is growing, does the Food Bank foresee any particular areas of heightened need for 2010?
    Edmonton’s Food Bank experienced a 70 per cent increase in use from March 2008 to March 2009 as a result of the economic downturn (from just over 9,000 people per month to almost 15,500 per month). As an organization supporting the community for almost 30 years, this is not the first time we’ve seen challenges like this.  In 1996, we were serving almost 19,000 people per month and it took 12 years to see client numbers fall to the 9,000 people per month. We anticipate that the need for our services will continue throughout 2010 and over the next 5-10 years.

    2.  

  2. What is the biggest misconception about the Food Bank?
    One of the biggest misconceptions is that the Food Bank serves a particular demographic in Edmonton. In reality, anyone is one pay cheque away from using the Food Bank. If you lost your job, your marriage fell apart, became very sick or faced unforeseen expenses, you may need to turn to our organization to help you through that tough time.

    3.  

  3. How did the Food Bank conceive of the Expressions of Hunger contest?
    I work in the Special Events and Community Relations department at Edmonton’s Food Bank, and was struck by photos related to food banks that I came across on the Internet. Active in social media, I was also aware that there is a strong photography community in Edmonton and proposed an online contest that would explore the nature of hunger in our society.

    4.  

  4. What has the response been to the contest so far?
    The response to Expressions of Hunger has been a bit disappointing. We have 4 photo and 10 literary entries. With such creative talent in the Edmonton area, we thought we would receive more response. But there still remains a month left for submissions so perhaps possible participants are procrastinating.

    5.  

  5. If you could encourage every person to recognize National Hunger Awareness Day (June 1) in one way, what would that be?
    We encourage people to recognize National Hunger Awareness Day by organizing a food drive, a fundraiser, a discussion around food insecurity or participate in Expressions of Hunger. For more information about National Hunger Awareness Day, click here.

Thanks to Tamara for answering my questions! Click here if you want to find out more about Expressions of Hunger, and check out the Food Bank’s Twitter account here.

Charity Auction Dinner: Ric’s Grill

Last fall, the Edmonton Sun’s Graham Hicks approached Mack to see if he would like to be a part of the 2009 ATCO and Edmonton Sun Christmas Charity Auction. He would be paired up with a restaurant, and people would bid on the chance to have dinner with him, with proceeds going to charity (coincidentally, my agency is one of the four that benefit from the funds raised).

Ultimately, a bidder paid $140 to have dinner with Mack at Ric’s Grill downtown, and we arranged to meet up with the winning party this past Wednesday.

Though we were expecting a pair of diners, we ended up being joined by four people – it turned out the bidder, Terri Lynn, had actually done this once before, having secured the opportunity to dine with Vinomania’s Gurvinder Bhatia and CBC’s Ron Wilson the year prior. Along with Terri Lynn’s friends Kelly, Sue, and Ginette, the night was filled with good conversation, and of course, wine (a lovely Malbec that my usual sweet palate didn’t mind at all – good choice Ginette!).

Mack didn’t get much choice in the restaurant that he would be paired with, but since each establishment had donated a certificate that would cover most of the costs (in this case, $300), we were thankful that Ric’s Grill stepped up to the plate. My last meal at Ric’s was nearly two years ago, and given the experience I had, I wouldn’t have considered coming back without a push.

Although our server gave us a tad too much time and space (perhaps she was deterred by the amount of laughter emanating from our table), it was a solid evening overall. Mack, the goat cheese lover between the two of us, enjoyed the almond goat cheese crostini ($12) starter, a cheesy, rich cousin of garlic toast.

Our steak dinners were equally agreeable. My six ounce, bacon-wrapped filet mignon ($31) was nicely prepared, perhaps on the medium rare side of medium. My side of celery root and cauliflower soup was the standout part of my meal – creamy and well seasoned. The crispy leeks (reminding me a bit of fried onion straws) added some textural flair.

Celery Root and Cauliflower Soup with Crispy Leeks

Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon with Chef’s Potatoes

Mack’s sirloin Oscar deluxe ($33) was topped with sautéed prawns, scallops, asparagus and housemade Béarnaise elicited no complaints. He said that the scallops in particular were cooked well.

Sirloin Oscar Deluxe with Rice Pilaf

I’m glad I had the opportunity to visit Ric’s Grill again. And while we don’t usually eat out at steakhouses, I would consider giving them another try in the future. It was good to meet all of you – thank you for a great night!

Ric’s Grill
10190 104 Street (2 other Edmonton locations)
(780) 429-4333

Valentine’s Day in Edmonton: Deal or No Deal?

Mack and I decided to collaborate on this post. Enjoy!

Sharon:

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a holiday where consuming chocolate is the national norm, and for an occasion that is marked with an indulgent feast. And though I realize that Valentine’s Day has been escalating in its commercial nature over the past two decades (and one that that Mack and I embraced wholeheartedly last year), a gander at one too many pre-fixe restaurant menus sent me over the edge this time around.

Of course, restaurants shouldn’t be blamed for feeding a consumer-driven hunger for extravagance, excess, and unbridled expense on February 14. No doubt, some meals, and the ultimate experience of spending time with your sweetheart could be worth every penny. Also, some restaurants do offer embellishments – providing a rose to the lady, employing a musician to set the ambiance, offering a treat at meal’s end – but could it really be worth the heightened price tag? How much more are patrons charged on Valentine’s Day, compared with any other day? With Mack’s penchant for statistics and graphs, we set to find out.

Mack:

Coming up with the data was harder than we thought! Finding the set price of the Valentine’s Day menu was easy, but finding something to compare it to was not. We decided to generate a comparable figure using the closest dishes we could find on the regular menu. Definitely not scientific, but fairly representative.

We started by finding as many restaurants with Valentine’s Day menus as we could, and then narrowed it down to those which also had regular menus online. We ended up with 12 restaurants:

The average Valentine’s Day menu price was $71.08 per person, with prices ranging from $35 per person at The Dish to $160 per person at Red Ox Inn. The average regular menu price was surprisingly similar at $69.65 per person. On average, Valentine’s Day menus featured 4 courses.

So what’s the best deal? By far, Madison’s Grill. Their 6 course Valentine’s Day menu is just $85 per person – the regular menu would cost roughly $116 per person. Of course, we’re not sure about portion sizes, but based on our recent Farmers’ Market Dinner experience, we expect they will not be small. The worst deal? Hardware Grill – you pay $31 more for the Valentine’s Day menu than you would on a regular day.

I wouldn’t cite any of this data in an academic paper, and the numbers don’t take into account ambiance, food quality, freedom of choice and service, but it was fun to generate just the same. I was surprised to discover that the Valentine’s Day menus aren’t that much more expensive after all!

Sharon:

So numbers aside, after scrutinizing more than a dozen pre-fixe menus, I can tell you that considering the menu options only, both Mack and I agree that Hardware Grill wins, hands down. We were salivating as we read through each course (butternut squash-mascarpone tortelloni
with truffle butter cream sauce and fresh chanterelles? Porcini crusted sea bass, lobster-truffled potato crêpes, white corn-arugula & gulf prawns? Where do we sign up?).

While I wouldn’t go so far as to recommend any one restaurant (personal choice being that last intangible), based on our experience, Madison’s Grill and The Dish would top our list. If you’re looking for innovative, creative food that celebrates local producers, there would be no better choice than Blair Lebsack’s dining room in the Union Bank Inn. However, if you desire something more casual and comforting, The Dish is a great choice with its consistent kitchen and friendly service.

Mack:

You could, of course, avoid restaurants altogether and cook that special someone a tasty meal at home! Because as Sharon pointed out, Valentine’s Day is about spending time with your sweetheart, not spending lots of money. If you do go the restaurant route, keep in mind that there are more to choose from than the dozen we mentioned here.

We hope you enjoyed this light-hearted look at “Black Sunday” (a la Eater) in Edmonton, and we wish you a very happy Valentine’s Day!

Culinary Q & A with BruleeBlog

Occupation: I write, edit, do public relations, design websites, and dabble in a little bit of photography.

What did you eat today?

Breakfast, snacks and lunch were made up of oatmeal with soy sauce, leftover Chinese food from a banquet dinner (chicken and yi-mein/e-fu noodles), 2 bananas, and a handful of clementines. Not sure what dinner will be yet. Probably a salad.

What do you never eat?

Durian. I have tried it frozen, in ice cream, as candy, and fresh off the street in Malaysia, and I have given up trying to like that nasty, stinky, worse-than-dirty-gym-socks-washed-in-a-sewer fruit.

What is your personal specialty?

I don’t really think I have one.

Complete this sentence:

In my refrigerator, you will always find: vegetables and fruit, soy milk, a jar of The Jam Lady’s most excellent jam. Oh and processed cheese. I know, I should hang my head in shame.

What is your weekday meal standby?

An egg and cheese sandwich or a grilled cheese sandwich, both made with the aforementioned processed cheese and whole grain bread. If I am feeling guilty I will have a salad instead.

What is your favourite kitchen item?

My Le Creuset french oven.

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

Assuming that I would eat until I burst, I would have a big bowl of Penang assam laksa, a plate of roti canai, beef chow fun, har gow, turkey congee with the cooked heart and gizzard, grilled black cod with teriyaki sauce, a plate of salmon sashimi, smoked salmon, prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes and gravy, lamb with rosemary, roasted beets, a bison cheeseburger, sweet potato/yam fries, a grilled cheese sandwich, a vanilla milkshake, and some chocolate mousse for dessert. (Did you notice the total lack of fruits and non-root vegetables?)

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Probably Moxie’s. There’s a location near my home, and I’m a sucker for their steak and goat cheese salad.

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

I would have to say The Blue Pear. The food isn’t always absolutely perfect, but it is always innovative and interesting.

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

Definitely Georgetown, in Penang, Malaysia. And I would eat my way through all the hawker stalls. In my opinion, street food always trumps fancy food.

Check out BruleeBlog’s website here.

Gifts + Cappuccino = Bling

I love the current trend of cafes in retail spaces, marrying the happy pair of caffeine and shopping. As evidenced by the success of places like The Wired Cup and Zocalo (covered by the Journal in a recent story),  sipping a cup of coffee amongst charming giftware is a nice alternative to the bustling cafe.

Edmonton can add another such establishment to it’s growing list – the cheekily named Bling just opened up on the ground floor of City Square Tower, across the street from the west side of City Hall. It’s easy to miss, particularly given the awning above it still reads “Universal Hobbies”.

There is no trace of the donair joint that occupied the space prior to Bling. Kloy Parker, formerly of The Butler Did It,  has transformed the tiny room into an elegant cafe and shop. In addition to coffee and tea, Bling offers pastries from the Italian Bakery and Handy Bakery, and will soon add panini sandwiches to their menu.

The wares are also noteworthy – Kloy prides himself on sourcing chic, gift-worthy, and best of all, affordable items (everything in the store is priced with the GST already included). He showed me a lovely textured metallic bowl that cost just $8, and a grooved, square pasta bowl priced at $10. I also spied a Dean & Deluca cookbook on my way out.

Kloy inside Bling

Check it out while you’re in the neighbourhood – but don’t blame me if you end up with a few more items for your kitchen!

Bling
10316 100 Street
(780) 421-0000

Marvellous Meat and Potatoes: Kabsa the Divine Dish

Before the most self-aggrandizing Pecha Kucha to date, Mack and I had dinner at the nearby Kabsa the Divine Dish on Jasper Avenue and 103 Street. I had heard good things about the Middle Eastern restaurant from a co-worker, and though its location makes it a prime spot for post-work dining, I hadn’t made the effort to visit prior to that day.

Walking in, the black and white colour scheme is as stark as it is notable. Save for a few tiny black mirrors and framed monochromatic prints, the interior is bare. This drew attention to the fact that the restaurant is extremely well kept (particularly on a day where salted sidewalks meant tracked-in slush), and matched the establishment’s seemingly no-frills philosophy. I have to say I would have appreciated some background music (even the radio would have helped) as overhearing other conversations didn’t make for a pleasant dining experience.

Kabsa doesn’t have a posted menu – instead, the clerk lifted the lid of each of the trays and named each dish underneath. Our choices included Tandoori chicken, chicken with garlic, roasted lamb and smoked lamb. Each entrée is served with rice and the day’s vegetable (kabsa refers to a meal of meat, rice and vegetables), and runs in price from $10-14 (on a side note, I had to laugh when the clerk, instead of accessing a till, calculated my bill total on her iPod).

The portion sizes were huge! The large meat serving was complemented by an even larger mound of rice, as well as a handful of potatoes. My roasted lamb was fork tender, and fell off the bone with no effort at all. I’m almost certain the flavourful meat would turn those unsure of lamb into stalwart fans.

Roasted Lamb

Mack similarly enjoyed his chicken which was equally tender and moist. In particular, he loved the aroma and consistency of the rice. His cardamom-scented rice actually reminded me a lot of the Somali rice I had not too long ago.

Tandoori Chicken

Our meal, with a can of pop, totalled $28.30. While not the cheapest meal in the area, the quality and serving size blew me away. For these reasons, I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Kabsa as a dinner destination downtown.

Kabsa the Divine Dish
10345 Jasper Avenue
(780) 421-1366
Monday-Friday 11am-10pm, Saturday-Sunday 6-10pm