Food Notes for March 28, 2016

Mack and I took off to Calgary for the long weekend, and it was just what we needed. I hope you had a similarly relaxing time with family and friends! On to this week’s food notes:

Spring has come early – food trucks are starting to return from hibernation, with Bully first out for regular operation on March 29, and Attila the Hungry to follow on April 1.
A pop-up Farewell to Winter Party is taking place on April 2, 2016 from 11am-7pm on Rice Howard Way. There will be food, music and patios.
Vibe is a new event series at the Art Gallery of Alberta once a month on Friday, which will feature a live music showcase, the opportunity to view gallery exhibitions and a special menu and cocktail bar from Zinc. The first Vibe will take place April 15, 2016.
It’s great to see another local business grow – in this case, North 53 is opening up a sister bar called Baijiu – a “rustic chic joint serving boozy drinks and Asian-inspired plates in the Mercer Building”. Expect itre to open Fall 2016.
It just might be the year for bubble tea in Edmonton – Quickly, a bubble tea chain with presence in 19 countries, is opening up in late April at 5818 111 Street. They already have three locations in Calgary.
Cindy is among the first to write about Wheat Garden Noodle and Dumpling Bazaar on 107 Avenue.
Ms. Hangry Foodie stopped by Calle Mexico’s storefront location.
Cindy recapped a great pop-up at Canteen called Closed Mondays, allowing chefs in their kitchen to to showcase their food on a day the restaurant would otherwise be closed. I hope to be able to check it out at some point!
Cindy also checked out the second #kenyaraefoodproject pop-up at Dovetail, featuring chicken and waffles.
Linda has tried and fallen in love with Love Pizza.
If you still haven’t submitted your favourite restaurants for Vue Weekly’s annual Golden Fork Awards, you have until March 31, 2016 to do so.
Phil had the chance to interview Vikram Vij, one of the most well-known chefs in Canada.
Vue asks the question – when you see the word “local” on the menu, does it really mean the ingredients have been locally-sourced?
While in Calgary, we had to check out the branch of the Italian Centre that opened up on the city’s south side. It’s a beautiful store, with an amazing wall of cheese. Curiously, we did notice that some of the same products found in Edmonton are priced higher.

Mack can’t believe all of the cheese

My Mum really wanted to try Seoul Fried Chicken, so Mack and I ordered up a few of their flavours to share (calling in an order is highly recommended – the line was 10 deep and I was able to bypass it to pick up my order). The SFC BBQ definitely suffered the most in transition, and depending on where you live, may not survive the journey, so I’d stick to the dry fried chicken in the future, unless you’re able to grab one of their limited seats in the storefront. Of the flavours we tried, the Golden Kari that snuck in and amongst our pieces of Original Gangster was the runaway favourite.

Take-out from Seoul Fried Chicken

It’s been a while since Mack and I have gone for pho, so it seemed like the right way to end our long weekend.

Pho for two from Pho Tau Bay

Food Notes for March 21, 2016

Fruits of Sherbrooke will be hosting jam making classes on April 16, 2016.
It looks like Blitz Conditioning’s idea of a food crawl on bicycles was such an inspiration that it’s already sold out. Hopefully this means many more to come, especially as the weather warms up.
The second location of Sandwich and Sons had their soft opening this weekend, at 10184 104 Street.
Liane reports that Sugarbowl owner Abel Shiferaw is planning to open a new café and pop-up space in the three-floor building right beside the Sugarbowl. Plans call for the third floor to be a “continuous pop-up restaurant.”
Mark your calendar: the tentative opening date of the Downtown location of Careit Urban Deli is April 4, 2016.
Chefs Andrew Cowan and Matt Phillips demonstrated their chicken prowess at the Home and Garden Show this weekend, in anticipation of their new Northern Chicken project. Looking forward to hearing more!
I would love to see a Chipotle in Edmonton, but is this rumour true? It seems unconfirmed for now.
The Journal is the first to review Farm to Fork, the newest restaurant in Sherwood Park.
Linda has been won over by the changes at Kazoku, and now heartily recommends their ramen.
The Breakfast Club checked out Juniper Cafe.
Cindy reviewed Noodle Feast and decided it tugs on all the right strings for her.
The episode of You Gotta Eat Here, featuring Edmonton’s own Battista’s Calzones, aired over the weekend. You can see it in full on the Food Network website.
Has the economic downtown affected restaurant business? It doesn’t seem to ring true, at least not for some local mainstays.
Vesta Gardens is hoping to raise $10,000 through a crowdfunding campaign to purchase a tractor for their farm.
Alberta Agriculture is looking to study the demand for local food in the province.
Best of luck to the three University of Alberta students who will be competing in the upcoming food expo in Chicago this July. They’ll be showcasing BiotaGelata, a dairy-free gelato product chock full of fermented beans.
Izakaya Tomo is celebrating the flavours and music of Okinawa during Okinawa Nights this weekend.
Until Ketchupgate, I had no idea people would feel the need to express their patriotism through their ketchup.
Italy is following in France’s footsteps in passing a law to limit food waste. The difference? Their law is incentive-based vs. punitive, by offering grocery chains tax breaks for recovering food.
I joined Mack and some of his colleagues last week at Parlour. While everyone else ordered off the Downtown Dining Week menu, I couldn’t pass up my usual Gamberi pizza. While there was more shrimp than ever on the pizza, the crust was a little more lacking in structure than I’m used to.

Gamberi Pizza at Parlour

Food Notes for March 14, 2016

Congratulations to The Tea Girl on their expanded shop, helped in part by a crowdfunding campaign. Their grand re-opening is slated for March 16.
The Local Omnivore is hosting a Burger Bar Pop-up on March 18, 2016 from 6-10pm.
The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald is hosting their annual “farewell to winter” patio party on April 2, 2016. This year, it’s themed around fire and ice. Tickets are $46 and includes appetizers.
Calle Mexico’s storefront location opened up on March 1, 2016 at 11127 107 Avenue.
Stuffed Gourmet Sausage Company, the sister restaurant of Smokehouse BBQ, opened last week at 10810 124 Street. Dine in or pick up some sausages to go.
Speaking of Smokehouse, they’ve teamed up with Samuel Adams Beer to create weekly menu pairings. Andrea reports back on what you can expect.
The third Browns Social House is now open in Tamarack (2511 17 Street).
Thanks to Cindy for the heads up that KB & Co will be opening up this spring in the Fox Tower. It looks like they’ll be serving up an organic, vegan and soy-free menu.
Seoul Fried Chicken continues to rack up its fans, this time at Vue Weekly as well as Ms. Hangry Foodie. Both recommend calling ahead.
Jonny checked out Washoku Bistro.
Stephanie is the latest to review Ikki Izakaya.
Beth enjoyed her coffee and tried the whoopie pies at The Woodrack Cafe.
The Globe reviewed Prairie Noodle Shop last week.
Phil’s fourth Brunch Odyssey pits The Next Act against its sister restaurant, Meat.
Eat North spotlights Cory Rakowski, the new chef at North 53.
A CBC Marketplace investigation has prompted Earls to change its dress code.
Want to learn more about ramen? Check out this excerpt from a new book called Rice, Noodle, Fish by Matt Goulding.
Winter patios are rapidly becoming spring patios, which are great to see. Now if only the city committed to cleaning the streets as needed, instead of waiting until May…

Kelly’s Pub on 104 Street

Speaking of patios, Mack and I walked down to Little Brick on Sunday to bask in the sun. It’s such a great neighbourhood spot.

Little Brick

Craving pancakes after work on Saturday, Mack and I headed to Hathaway’s Diner to feed our craving. Nothing beats their breakfast classic.

Breakfast classic at Hathaway’s Diner

Recap: Saturday Brunch Pop-Up at Get Cooking

In the last year, there has been an increase in the number of non-traditional venues hosting brunch. This includes Sailin’ On’s Breakfast Club at The Buckingham, and the fairly new Wild Heart Brunch Club at The Mercury Room. Another recent addition to the weekend scene is Get Cooking’s Brunch Pop-Ups.

They launched just over a month ago at the end of January, and seek to provide people with a relaxed opportunity to gather and socialize. It takes place every Saturday at noon, and based on our experience last week, it isn’t a meal you will rush through (we were there a total of 2.5 hours). Brunch at Get Cooking is meant to be savoured, and if you don’t know the folks around your communal table, you will by the end of the afternoon! Plus, the food we consumed was so rich we needed time between courses just to recuperate.

Mack and I were invited by Get Cooking to experience their brunch last weekend. We arrived just after noon to a nearly full house. For those who prefer one of the coveted island seats, I’d recommend arriving early to guarantee yourself a front row vantage point. Some of the kitchen action can be seen from other areas of the room on the TV monitors, but cooking tips and tricks (unlike other Get Cooking classes) are not the focus here. In fact, Chef Doreen Prei wasn’t miked, so she was difficult to hear above the din of social chatter. We did wander over to the stove every now and then, but the open kitchen was more of an incidental presence than a deliberate attraction. Personally, I would have appreciated more details about where the ingredients were sourced (even if only on a menu), but I was probably in the minority.

Chef Doreen Prei

The $45 ticket ($22.50 for kids aged 7-13) includes a tasting board, an amuse, four courses, coffee or tea and a welcome cocktail. The cocktail was served family-style in a generous punch bowl – Ann’s Garden Punch was an easy-to-drink combination of pineapple-infused rum, lemon, almond syrup, sumac, mint, cucumber and strawberries.

Ann’s Garden Punch

It might have been a small detail, but Mack and I appreciated that the coffee, made with Iconoclast-roasted beans, kept coming. Staff ensured the French presses at our table were refreshed as necessary, and the milk for coffee was even thoughtfully warmed.

Before the hot courses arrived, we were invited to sip our drinks and fill up our plates at their tasting board. Changing weekly, the selections that day included margarita scones (served with compote and cream), and a variety of cheeses and charcuterie.

Tasting boards

Chef Prei’s amuse bouche consisted of shot glasses of Gold Forest Grains steel cut oats, bits of chorizo, and a garnish of whipped cream, blueberries and pistachios. I’ve never been a fan of oatmeal, but the addition of chorizo was genius – the fat and flavour boost has made me reconsider this breakfast option.

Steel cut oats with chorizo, whipped cream, blueberries and pistachios

Ricotta fritters, served on beautiful table-length wooden planks, were a delight to eat, lightly battered, fried, and accompanied by a tomato and orange jam.

Ricotta fritters

Eggs made their appearance in the next course – poached over smoked salmon and a delectable potato rosti and bernaise. Chef Prei shared her secret for poaching eggs: a splash of vinegar and vigorous whisking of the water prior to slipping the eggs in, as the motion helps draw the whites in around the yolk.

Eggs benedict with smoked salmon and potato rosti

My favourite dish was one I would never order on my own at brunch – a beer-marinated flank steak with greens, a German bread dumpling and mushroom sauce. The beef was perfectly medium rare, and the dumpling, pan-fried in butter, was delicious.

Beer-marinated flank steak with greens and a German bread dumpling

Dessert combined hot and cold elements: fried brioche rolled in lavender sugar with a brandy chocolate drizzle plus a white chocolate elderflower parfait.

Fried brioche and white chocolate elderflower parfait

As a whole, the meal at Get Cooking featured some of the most refined dishes I’ve ever had at brunch. As everything was made fresh, it does distinguish itself from the buffet-style brunches aligned by price alone. In this case, the ticket price is justified based on the quality and unique nature of the dishes. And because of the ever-changing menu, this brunch stays true to its pop-up inspiration.

Up close and personal with plating

Thanks again to Kathryn and Liv for the invitation! If you’re interested in trying their brunch, make sure to reserve online in advance, or stay tuned to their Twitter account for information about seats available on the day of.

Get Cooking
11050 104 Avenue
(780) 934-8058

Check out Athena’s review of the same brunch experience here.

Food Notes for March 7, 2016

SPUD Edmonton is hosting their third Meet Your Farmers event on March 12, from 10:30am-1pm. Learn more about SPUD with tours, samples, and a pop-up market.
The Wild Heart Brunch Collective is back for its second event this Saturday, March 12 at The Mercury Room from 11am-3pm. The $15 ticket buys you brunch, one drink item, entertainment, and access to market vendors.
The French Quarter Grand Market kicked off its spring season last weekend. Join them every Sunday from 11am-3pm at La Cite Francophone (8627 Marie-Anne Gaboury Street).
The Buddha Boys are popping-up at Prairie Noodle House on March 27, 2016, serving up their version of ramen and dessert. Tickets are $33.
Workshop Eatery has partnered with Taste Alberta for a series of dinners celebrating our local bounty. The first takes place April 5, 2016. Tickets for the four-course meal are $75.
On April 15, 2016, the Edmonton Valley Zoo is hosting an event focused on sourcing sustainable seafood locally. Tickets are $50 and include wine and appetizers.
Chartier, the much talked about French Canadian restaurant in Beaumont, has announced a soft opening date of March 29, 2016.
A new pastry shop called Chocorrant will open a few blocks down from Duchess in the spring at 10330 124 Street.
Liane has expansion news from the folks behind Sabor Divino, Bodega and Urbano Pizza: they’re not only opening a larger version of Urbano on 124 Street, but will also be opening up a version of Bodega in Highlands at 6509 112 Avenue.
It’ll be interesting to see how Edmonton’s new Shopping Under the Stars Night Market will fare – no doubt they’re thinking big, hoping for 500+ vendors. The market will run May 20 – September 5, 2016.
The Tomato released their forth annual Top 100 Best Things to Eat or Drink in Edmonton. Did your favourites make the list?
It seems the time of year for lists, as Graham Hicks also offered up his own, all about the best fast-food burger in Edmonton.
There are already two reviews of Coco Fresh Tea & Juice which opened just last week at 10147 109 Street. It claims to be the world’s largest bubble tea chain.
Cindy shares her love of Noodle Feast with some pictures you should avoid if you’re hungry!
Avenue Magazine checked out Seoul Fried Chicken, and found out that the secret is to get there early.
Andrea is the latest to write about her introduction to Nando’s.
Jonny visited Kerala, a South Indian restaurant located across from Southgate Centre.
Frosty Fox Ice Cream is the latest food enterprise to start a crowd-funding campaign, with the hopes of purchasing an ice cream bike or truck.
I missed linking to Liane’s excellent series which began last week, called Nosh North. She spotlights interesting, lesser-known food establishments on Edmonton’s North End. Learn more about Marina’s Cuisine and Tamiri Bites.
Those familiar with 12 Acres will know the restaurant had partnered with a local farm to source their ingredients as close to home as possible. Unfortunately, it seems like the farm and restaurant have parted ways.
Hens live to see another day: City Council approved the continuation of the backyard chickens pilot.
Pulses made the cover story of Vue Weekly – but will they gain more traction in meat-forward Alberta?
I’m sure some said it couldn’t be done: the March issue of Bon Appetit was shot entirely with iPhones.
I love Vital Greens cream as much as the next person, but this sign made me laugh: are there folks out there with a cream hoarding problem?

Vital Greens at Blush Lane

One of the best things about Tao Garden are their customizable, made-to-order soups, but for whatever reason, I always stick to what I know and love. Is that so bad?

My go-to satay broth, tofu puffs, beef balls and wontons at Tao Garden

After work on Saturday, I grabbed a bite to eat at Pho Hoan Pasteur. I rarely say no to pho, but that day, it felt much too warm for soup.

Chicken and spring roll vermicelli bowl at Pho Hoan Pasteur

A Place to Gather: Juniper Cafe & Bistro

Though Edmonton is most known-for its trendy restaurant districts – Downtown, 124 Street, Old Strathcona – the hidden gems buried within residential neighbourhoods are often the unsung heroes of our city. They are natural gathering places in areas where they might be few and far between, and provide a reason for residents to stay close to home. For me, it’s an excuse to explore a neighbourhood I might be less familiar with, pockets no less important in a city as diverse as Edmonton.

Juniper is one of the more recent low-key restaurant arrivals. While there have been a few reviews since it opened in November 2015, it’s still under the radar. On a Friday visit for dinner last month, we were told that the dining room, half-full, was one of their busier evenings.

Juniper took over the space formerly occupied by the infamous Strathearn Pub. While I hadn’t been to its previous incarnation, I imagine the space looks nothing like it once did, now with a wide open room and a built-in play space for little ones. Juniper’s defining feature is the counter, welcoming with displays of coffee, baked goods and tempting desserts. Juniper serves up three meals a day Wednesday to Saturday (and brunch on Sundays).

Mack

Their dinner menu is based on the idea of sharing family-style plates, a way of eating that Mack and I really enjoy. We started with the chorizo queso fundido ($8) in lieu of the sold-out steamed buns with hoisin duck. While the queso fundido did arrive piping hot with devilishly stringy cheese, if you’ve had the same dish from Rostizado (which yes, is double the price), it’s hard to compare. It’s a version not dissimilar from what you might craft at home, but in this kid-friendly context, is probably a good dish to have on the menu.

Queso fundido

The next two plates were fine, but over promised and under delivered. The roasted spuds with Indian spices ($12) needed to be "kicked up a notch", in Mack’s words. Even with the addition of duck gravy and cheese, they were much too mild in flavour.

Roasted spuds with Indian spices

The spicy meatballs on polenta ($16) was our favourite dish. The meatballs and polenta were well-prepared, but similar to the potatoes, the heat level didn’t live up to its name at all.

Spicy meatballs on polenta

Service was friendly, and we never felt rushed as we lingered over our coffee. Though we didn’t have dessert, I did pick up a cookie to take home, and after enjoying it wished I had the foresight to purchase more.

Overall, while Juniper didn’t quite reach the level of elevated comfort food, we are open to returning. They told us they are known for brunch, and their menu on the outset looks appealing. I hope they are able to refine some of their dishes to better meet diner expectations.

Juniper Cafe & Bistro
9514 87 Street
(780) 490-6799
Wednesday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 8am-9pm, Sunday 10am-2pm, closed Monday-Tuesday

Food Notes for February 29, 2016

Both Andrea and Cindy are giving away the chance to dine at the upcoming NAIT Chef in Residence Luncheon on March 10, 2016, which will feature the food of Chef Vikram Vij.
Mark your calendars: Downtown Dining Week runs March 11-20, 2016. Prix fixe meals will be offered at 36 restaurants at $15, $28 and $48 price points. There are some good deals to be had, including a $15 lunch at Pampa with access to their salad bar and three Rodizio meats.
The next Swine and Dine pop-up event is taking place at the Royal Glenora Club on March 17, 2016. Tickets for the four-course meal are $75.
The 2016 edition of Seedy Sunday is taking place on March 20, 2016 in a new location, the Central Lions Seniors Centre (11113 113 Street). It’ll be interesting to see if their attendance spikes this year, with all the speculation that increasing produce prices will entice more novice gardeners.
Smokehouse BBQ is changing the direction of their sister shop on 124 Street – from Pie Eatery to Stuffed Gourmet Sausage.
Calle Mexico is the latest food truck to open up a brick and mortar restaurant. You will be able to find them at 107 Avenue and 113 Street.
It looks like a new ramen place is coming to Whyte Avenue, called Nu Do Ru.
The new Orange Market at 10401 82 Avenue, a 24-7 convenience store, features an Urbano Pizza location inside.
Avenue Magazine released their list of best restaurants for 2016: RGE RD was named best overall, with NongBu scoring best new restaurant. Avenue has added a weekly Food + Drink newsletter to its roster. If you sign up, it will be e-mailed to you every Tuesday.
Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list for 2016 has just been released. Edmonton has 3 establishments that made the cut: Bar Bricco, Corso and Rostizado.
Linda offers us a peek behind the scenes at Cobs Bread during hot cross bun season, and is also providing a chance to win bread for a year and an Easter prize pack.
The Breakfast Club checks out the Nordic Brunch offered at Victoria Golf Course’s Dogwood Cafe, run by the folks behind Culina.
Jonny is the first to review Baha Cabana (13716 Castle Downs Road), a Caribbean-Chinese restaurant on the north side.
Lindsey and Ms. Hangry Foodie are the latest local bloggers to review Love Pizza.
Phil’s latest Off Menu Podcast features Twyla Campbell and Dan Clapson discussing the food scenes of Edmonton and Calgary.
Vue Weekly profiles Passion de France, an upstart pastry shop on 118 Avenue.
Liv had a great piece in the Globe & Mail covering the evolution of Edmonton’s coffee roasting scene.
Did you know that cereal has been on a downward trend? The big brands are trying to find their way back into consumers hearts.
We finally checked out Planet Organic’s new location at 12210 Jasper Avenue. No doubt it’s a beautiful store, with an expanded ready-to-eat section (it was great to see Phil & Sebastian coffee available).

Planet Organic

On Saturday, Mack and I finally had the chance to pop by Blue Hour Tea’s storefront located in Vacancy Hall in basement of the Mercer Warehouse (10359 104 Street). The local company blends their own teas, and at Vacancy Hall’s season opener on March 12, 2016, they’ll be debuting their version of an iced tea. We picked up some of their Sleep blend to try.

Blue Hour Tea

We couldn’t help but pick up Confetti Sweets cookies over the weekend at the City Market. It was the perfect snack to accompany an evening with an Oscar-nominated flick (Spotlight, a movie we really enjoyed).

Confetti Sweets

With a Side of History: Sunday Brunch at Fort Edmonton Park

Fort Edmonton Park is easily my favourite City of Edmonton attraction. I’m a sucker for amusements, and the 1920s midway at Fort Edmonton is one of the city’s best kept secrets. In the off-season, however, the Park operates on a limited basis – Capitol Theatre screens vintage films, Hotel Selkirk offers temporary accommodation year-round, and Johnson’s Café (located in Hotel Selkirk) hosts a special brunch every Sunday.

Mack and I were invited by Fort Edmonton Park to try their Sunday Brunch last weekend. Before settling on driving to the Park, we did explore public transit options (especially given the Park lends its name to an LRT stop). The closest we could get on a Sunday, however, was a bus ride from, ironically, University station followed by a 21 minute walk.

Hotel Selkirk

Reservations are taken for seatings every half hour from 10:30am until 1pm. By the time we arrived for our noon reservation, we found Johnson’s Cafe nearly full, made up of small parties of two and larger groups of families with small children.

From the outset, the meal was of good value, food-wise, and more than justified $32.95 cost for adults (seniors tickets are $27.95 and children 4-12 are $19.95). We were told that over the years, the brunch selection has increased significantly, from occupying one corner of the dining room to now taking up the hotel lobby in its entirety.

Omelette station

The Sunday brunch buffet spread spanned breakfast, lunch and dessert options. We started off with breakfast, taking full advantage of the omelette station, plump breakfast sausages and fantastically crispy bacon. We didn’t sample the eggs benedict, as it was doubtful the yolks would remain runny in the chafing dishes, but I did really enjoy the Parmesan grilled tomatoes.

Breakfast for two

We returned to sample the lunch choices, which included several cold salads, cheeses and charcuterie, seasonal vegetables, pasta, pork loin in a pineapple sauce, grilled chicken, and a carving station offering up nicely marbled beef brisket with a peppercorn jus.

Carving station

To be frank, I saved up the most room for dessert. I was most impressed with the dessert selection, highlighted by a showstopping red velvet cake and a deliciously moist spinach and beet cake (the green layers were vibrant without any noticeable spinach flavour). I was also drawn to the pineapple upside down cake, decadently served with a side of cream, and the notion of lavender and apple shooters, an interesting alternative to alcoholic shots. Mack was drawn to the kid-friendly desserts, including Rice Krispie treats and mini cupcakes.

Desserts!

Service was fantastic throughout – there were numerous staff ensuring the food stations were constantly refilled, while the dining room staff checked in with us constantly, topping up our coffee and water without request.

After brunch, we wandered 1905 and 1920 Streets, peering into windows and enjoying the scenic facades on a sunny winter afternoon. In the summer, brunch includes admission to the Park, which operates May until September. On that warm day, we couldn’t help but wonder why Fort Edmonton couldn’t be a year-round attraction, or at least one with a season extended beyond one-off events like Christmas Reflections and Easter hunts.

Visiting with the horses at Mellon Farm

As a part of the Winter City Strategy, the Park has built-in warming stations in its indoor facilities, and could easily replace train and streetcar transportation with horse-drawn wagon rides (an attraction that operates now, but is only available to groups). It would also be a great way to educate people about how Edmontonians in previous eras worked to stay warm.

1920 Street

Mack and I both agreed that while we enjoyed our brunch experience at Hotel Selkirk, because it required a trip to Fort Edmonton without the promise of visiting the attraction as a whole, we would be more likely to return during the summer months when it could be combined with the operational Park.

Of note, because we did commit to driving to the Park, we detoured to finally check out the Alfred H. Savage Centre, located on the opposite side of Fox Drive from Fort Edmonton (accessible through the Whitemud Park turnoff). It’s a lovely facility with restrooms that functions as a warm-up centre for the adjacent toboggan hill (marked as "closed" that day, in spite of all of the families out enjoying the beautiful day). Consider walking off the sumptuous meal with a jaunt in the trails, as we did.

At Whitemud Park

Thanks again to Fort Edmonton Park for hosting us! The Winter Sunday Brunch series runs until March 27, 2016.

Check out Linda’s review of Sunday brunch here.

Eat Your Heart Out: Love Pizza

If there was ever a restaurant named just for Mack, it would be called Love Pizza. When we’re meal planning for the following week, his consistent answer for dishes to add on the list is “pizza”. It’s also the single item he would commit to eating for the rest of his life if he was forced to pick just one. So in many ways, Love Pizza was the perfect place for us to end up on Valentine’s Day, given Mack’s affection for pizza.

In the past, Mack and I have written about our reluctance to dine out on Valentine’s Day, particularly as it relates to the perceived lack of value and an inability to live up to expectations. But on that night, we couldn’t bring ourselves to cook. Plus, in an unlikely twist, Love Pizza was actually offering a deal of half off a second pizza, almost unheard of on an occasion where the opposite is more likely to occur. Given the origins of the restaurant, however – a first date for the owners at a local pizzeria that led to love – it’s a fitting way to celebrate a day all about love.

Famoso, a quick-serve pizza concept, has grown in the ten years since its debut in Edmonton to more than two dozen locations in Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan and Ontario. Last year, the folks behind Sabor Divino opened Urbano, a fast-casual pizzeria focused on customizable pies ready in under two minutes. Love Pizza is the latest to embrace this build-your-own trend (including offering a gluten-free crust), and opened up in the Canterra Centre (10196 109 Street) on January 29, 2016.

Walking in to Love Pizza that night, we found the restaurant half full. The former tanning salon has been transformed into a cafeteria-style dining room, where orders are placed and picked up along the counter. We were both impressed by the fully-developed nature of the concept – everything from the signage to the menu had obviously been thought through to the point where we almost thought Love Pizza belonged to a franchise.

Love Pizza

In addition to the ability to create your own pie, Love Pizza also offers ten signature creations ($11.95 each), as well as a limited number of salads and desserts. They source some ingredients locally, including Gold Forest Grains flour for their whole wheat crust, Irvings Farm Fresh bacon and Spolumbo’s Italian sausage. I did appreciate the fact that toppings were differentiated from “finishes” – ingredients that are added after baking (it never made sense to me why Famoso would always choose to incinerate fresh basil on their margarita pizzas). That night, we chose to order the Meatatarian and the Old MacDonald on regular crust.

Counter

The pizzas were assembled in front of us with an obvious amount of care by very personable staff. They were then placed in an oven that promised a fully baked pizza in three minutes. We were told that the restaurant is working on installing a hood fan; the smoke wasn’t particularly noticeable that evening, but on a subsequent visit we definitely smelled like smoke after dinner.

Order up

Love Pizza understands that we all eat with our eyes first – their pizzas are some of the most photogenic I’ve ever encountered. They also didn’t skimp on the toppings, especially with the cheese. The crust is sturdy but nicely chewy, earning a thumbs up from Mack.

Old MacDonald

I enjoyed the Meatatarian, featuring a tomato sauce base with fior di latte, pepperoni, capicolla, Spolumbo’s Italian sausage and shaved parmesan. Mack’s pick of the Old MacDonald layered spicy tomato sauce with fior di latte, two eggs, Spolumbo’s Italian sausage, spinach, shaved parmesan and a drizzle of chili oil. Both pizzas had a ton of flavour from the toppings and a great diversity of texture.

Meatatarian

Based on the food, reasonable prices, and a relaxed atmosphere, Love Pizza just may have become our go-to pizzeria Downtown. They even have a loyalty program offering $5 off your next purchase. It’s a great concept, one that works for people looking for a quick bite during the day or those hoping to unwind in the evening. I hope they are successful and can maintain the quality in the long run.

Love Pizza
10196 109 Street
(587) 520-9734
Monday to Sunday 11am – 10pm

Celebrating the International Year of Pulses with Alberta Pulse

The UN General Assembly declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses, highlighting their affordability, nutritional value and sustainability. As nearly 10% of Alberta’s crop acres are dedicated to growing pulses, it is a good time to promote this commodity at home.

Mack and I were invited to attend a recent event hosted by the Canadian Association of Foodservice Professionals (CAFP) at NAIT celebrating this hallmark year for pulses. The CAFP is a national organization that represents chefs, hospitality representatives, food manufacturers and nutritionists, among others. Local branches host learning opportunities for their members, including visits to area food production facilities. In February, in collaboration with Alberta Pulse, the Edmonton branch explored the topic of pulses.

CAFP at Ernest’s

It’s a subject I’ve been learning more about in the kitchen for a few years now. After reading Mark Bittman’s Food Matters more than five years ago (his mission was to encourage more conscious consumption of non-meat proteins), I was inspired to start including more beans and lentils in our diet. In 2011, Julie Van Rosendaal and Sue Duncan’s cookbook, Spilling the Beans, was released, becoming one of our go-to guides for meal inspirations. Now, pulses have just become a part of our regular rotation, both as a meat alternative but also to enhance soups, salads and mains, stretching the meal all while adding nutrients. At this point, our pantry and freezer would feel bare without having some variety of pulses on hand.

Allison Ammeter

That said, the presentations that evening were informative, especially to provide a local context. Farmer and chair of the Alberta Pulse Board, Allison Ammeter, shared the following:

Lentils fix their own nitrogen in the soil, meaning a reduced need for fertilizer when used as a part of a regular crop rotation;
Most pulses use less water, particularly peas and lentils, which is great for drought-prone regions; and
Pulses leave the soil better than it was – wheat grows better on pulse stubble.

Alberta grows a variety of pulses: primarily peas (green, yellow, marrowfat), but also beans (great northern, black, cranberry, pink, small red), lentils (red, green) and chickpeas. And though most are familiar with whole pulses, they can be purchased as flour products as well.

It’s also an unfortunate reality that it’s not easy to locate "product of Alberta" pulses. Unless it is packaged in the province, even locally-grown products end up with a broader "product of Canada" label. Perhaps in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter if it lists the growing province, but it does make it more difficult for those hoping to source their food as locally as possible (thankfully in Edmonton, Gold Forest Grains does sell excellent organic red lentils). As the Minister of Agriculture was present that evening, I was hoping that some advocacy might have happened on the need for more production facilities in the province.

Debra McLennan

Debra McLennan from Alberta Pulse shared some nutritional facts of pulses:

They are gluten-free and vegetarian;
They are low in fat, and protein-packed (curiously, in Australia, legumes are classified as a vegetable when a 1/2 cup is served, but as a meat alternative when 3/4 cup is served);
They are an excellent source of folate and are high in fibre; and
They are beneficial in reducing "bad" cholesterol.

Pulses are also relatively light on the wallet, costing significantly less when compared with meat sources of protein. In the context of rising food prices, affecting everyone from consumers at home to restaurant operators, this spotlight on pulses couldn’t come at a better time.

In collaboration with the chefs at Ernest’s, Debra designed the evening’s menu to highlight the many sides of pulses. To start, we enjoyed a duo of yellow split pea soup and a pork croquette which used a white bean purée to bind the meat.

Duo of yellow split pea soup and pork croquette

The entrée was a pan-roasted chicken served with a lentil and rice pilaf. The chicken was very well-prepared, and the pilaf tasty enough, but it was a missed opportunity not to highlight pulses as the main event (Indian-inspired dal, or falafel, for instance).

Pan roasted herbed breast of chicken

For dessert, we were treated to a lentil fudge pie. The pie incorporated a red lentil purée that could not be detected, taste-wise, and with the added nutrients, it’s almost a guilt-free dessert. That recipe can be found online at the Alberta Pulse website.

Lentil fudge pie

If you’re interested in learning more about pulses, check out more recipes at pulses.org, and consider taking the pulse pledge – all it takes is committing to eating a half cup of pulses per week.

Thanks to the CAFP and Alberta Pulse for having us!

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