Food Notes for April 11, 2016

Northern Chicken, a forthcoming restaurant from Chefs Matt Phillips and Andrew Cowan, is hosting a fried chicken pop-up at Dovetail Deli on April 17 from ~~3-7pm~~ 4-8pm.
Trinity United Church will be screening Just Eat It, a film about food waste on April 22, 2016, followed by a tasting of smoothies made from rescued produce. Admission is free but donations are encouraged.
On May 5, 2016, Effing Seafood is hosting a pop-up evening of oysters and wine at The Cavern. Tickets are $80 per person.
Chutneys Indian Grill, a fast casual Indian restaurant, is opening up this summer at 4316 17 Street.
Cindy has the first review (as she usually does!) for Nudoru Japanese Noodles + Tapas (10532 82 Avenue). Nudoru is notable for being the only ramen restaurant in Edmonton who makes their own noodles.
The Journal reviewed Soy and Pepper, the modern Korean eatery Downtown, and made a note of the steep prices.
Cathy enjoyed the fried chicken at Dixie Lee (8943 82 Avenue), which replaced the Cheese Factory.
Jonny found a great hidden gem in Castle Bake, a northside Lebanese eatery.
Looking for a new brunch destination? Andrea checked out El Cortez’s new Sunday brunch menu.
Cindy recapped the recent Buddha Boys takeover of Prairie Noodle.
I love Edmonton, but our placement on this international list seems a bit suspicious: on a reader-voted Conde Nast Traveler list for Best Pizzas in the World, Edmonton landed a the #8 spot, ahead of Milan and Florence.
The Little Potato Company is a really great local success story. They’re now expanding into the US to feed the growing demand.
Information about the Urban Hens Pilot Project is now up, which will issue 50 licenses for urban hens, beginning on April 28, 2016.
The Alberta Farmers’ Market mobile app is now live. Its primary function seems to be for consumers to locate their nearest open market on any given day, but what I personally would have found more useful would have been a current, updated list of vendors at each market.
Welcome Careit Urban Deli to 104 Street (10226 104 Street)! It opened up last Friday, and already has some local products on its shelves, such as Jam Lady jams and Irvings Farm Fresh bacon. There are lots of grab and go items available in the cooler, in addition to their sandwich selection.

Careit Urban Deli Downtown

I attended the Lick Your Plate cookbook launch last week, and sampled some of the tasty desserts from the book. It was fun to run into some familiar faces, including Jacquie.

Enjoying some tea-based cocktails at the cookbook launch

New and Old for Downtown Dining Week: Alberta Hotel Bar & Kitchen and Hardware Grill

It’s really too bad Edmonton’s only prix fixe dining festival (RIP Fork Fest) isn’t city-wide like Calgary’s Big Taste, or twice a year, like Toronto’s Summer and Winterlicious. But Downtown Dining Week, now in its thirteenth year, has provided a consistent opportunity for Edmontonians to sample the cuisine of the core.

I’m not sure if it is the current state of the economy, or whether people were just taking advantage of the promotion, but this year’s Downtown Dining Week seemed busier than previous festivals. After perusing the menus, I made two reservations: one at a fairly new addition to the neighbourhood, and a second at a tried-and-true establishment.

I was one among many who mourned the loss of Tavern 1903 at the end of 2014. Mack and I found ourselves there often, swayed by their combination of fantastic cocktails and inventive small plates. Thankfully, the vacated space in the historic Alberta Hotel did not stay empty for long – Chef Spencer Thompson (formerly of Toast Fine Catering, based at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market) moved in less than a year later, when Alberta Hotel Bar and Kitchen opened. I hadn’t yet had a chance to visit the restaurant, and there was no better opportunity than Downtown Dining Week to do so, all while catching up with some girlfriends.

The interior of Alberta Hotel Bar and Kitchen (an unfortunate mouthful of a name) hasn’t changed much from its predecessor, retaining the vintage bar and polished dining room, right down to the furnishings. The only difference that we could discern was a more cramped seating area – our table and the party next to us were wedged uncomfortably in the corner. And though it’s difficult to manage sound, given the open flow between the two rooms, the 80s pop music emanating from the bar seemed more suitable for a diner than a dining room laden with white table cloths.

No doubt, the $28 three course menu was a great deal. It seemed many others found it an equally big draw, as our server indicated that on the Monday of the same week, they served 300 patrons, tripling their usual covers that night. It was so successful that they decided to continue the fixed $28 three course offerings every Monday even after the close of Downtown Dining Week.

Even though we had the choice between two appetizers and two mains, all three of us ended up with identical meals. The bone marrow agnolotti was tasty, layered with brown butter and mushrooms, but I would have preferred the pasta to have been cooked a touch more.

Bone marrow agnolotti

The grilled swordfish main, served with a caper, red currant and pine nut beurre blanc was overdone, but the standout aspect of the dish was the creamy side of Gold Forest Grains farro.

Grilled swordfish with farro

The dessert, a chocolate fondant with warm caramel and graham cracker streusel was a bit inconsistent at the table. I found mine on the molten side, but the banana ice cream served alongside more than made up for it with its intense, concentrated flavour. When the pastry chef Kai Wong moves to her own bakery, I hope the ice cream will be on the menu in some form.

Chocolate fondant with banana ice cream

While our meal at Alberta Hotel was somewhat inconsistent, we did enjoy the overall experience. Our server was friendly and attentive, and the dishes were enticing enough to warrant future visits.

My second Downtown Dining Week reservation had to be at the Hardware Grill. Some of those dishes and drinks we loved at Tavern 1903 migrated to its established sibling, and it was about time for us to reacquaint ourselves with them.

One of my long lost loves was the Desert Shrub cocktail, a delicious combination of prosecco, grapefruit juice and tequila.

It’s been too long

Though the city’s love affair with cauliflower seems to have ended, the Korean fried cauliflower dish is classic, and perfectly made every time.

Korean fried cauliflower

Those drinks and dishes were in addition to the $48 three-course prix fixe menu, so the upsell worked on us. Hardware has had an ongoing $50 three-course promotion, called a "before sunset" menu for some time, but it has since expanded it from early seatings on Mondays to Thursdays to include all seatings on Mondays to Thursdays plus early seatings on Friday and Saturday. One has to assume the restaurant’s reputation as a special occasion restaurant has to hurt it more than others in an economy like this.

But like the consistency of the kitchen, Hardware Grill always delivers on service. We’re always impressed by the professional but easygoing nature of the servers – they always manage to ease the formality of the restaurant with humour and grace, and are easily the best team in the city.

We had far exceeded our 1.5 hour stay (as mentioned on the Downtown Dining Week menu), but we were never rushed. We felt bad, however, when leaving and realizing that there were a number of parties waiting for a table in the lobby.

While I will still hold out hope for a resurrection of Tavern 1903 in some form or another in the future, it’s nice to know that I can still satisfy my cravings at Hardware Grill.

Get Your Bacon On: Bacon Feast at Pampa

Pampa just celebrated their fifth anniversary in Edmonton, so it’s safe to say rodizio-style dining is here to stay. While it was never a surprise that a meat-centric restaurant would be a success in the city, I know I did wonder how much repeat business they could garner, given the single-meal extravagance at its core. Even Mack and I, who are far from being vegetarian, have found ourselves adopting meatless meals in the wake of visits to Pampa.

The Grill at Pampa

At any rate, meat lovers will rejoice with the return of Pampa’s second annual Bacon Feast. An enhancement to their regular menu, $14.95 on top of the $49.95 per person cost grants diners access to an additional two types of bacon-wrapped meat as well as a bacon-infused dessert.

Bacon-infused vodka Caesar

To give it a try, Linda convened several members of the local food community for a complimentary tasting, and Mack and I were fortunate enough to be included. It confirmed again the fact that Pampa is more fun when enjoyed with a large party. The theatrical style of dining, involving servers who rotate through the room with spears of meat for table side carving extends to its drink menu as well. This was the first time we experienced the heightened pour of Licor 43, a spirit crafted with a combination of 43 herbs and spices. The server stood atop a step stool and successfully filled a shot glass on the table from above. You can bet this commanded the attention of surrounding groups.

Pampa’s signature shot

Part of the fun of Pampa is cycling through the ten (or in our case, twelve) different cuts of beef, chicken, lamb and pork to find your favourite . Our fellow diner Sharman had a great tip to minimize the gluttony of this process – Mack and I shared what was dubbed a "meat plate", so we could more easily share tastes of the meat offerings without filling up on them right away. She also pointed us to some of the dipping sauces available at the salad bar.

Speaking of the salad bar, there were a number of hot entrees to choose from that I didn’t recall from previous visits. My favourite was a deeply flavoured black bean stew that doubled as another sauce option.

After sampling all of the cuts, Mack returned to the medium rare rump steak a few times. I enjoyed the bacon-enhanced meat – including the bacon-wrapped chicken on the regular rotation, but also the bacon-wrapped boneless veal leg on the feature menu. The other Bacon Feast option of the marinated crispy pork belly, with its luscious layer of fat, was also a crowd favourite.

Crispy pork belly

The Bacon Feast dessert was a warm chocolate cake with bacon-infused caramel, vanilla bean ice cream and caramalized bacon bits. The cake was well-made, rich and dense, but the bacon seemed like an afterthought instead of a critical component.

Chocolate petite gateau

The $75 per person price tag is difficult to account for based on food alone, but then again, dining out is never exclusive to consumables. The service accounts for much of the value as well, and as in previous visits, was again commendable. Our server was game for the table’s shenanigans, and made the evening light and fun.

Linda in a meat coma

For those seeking more intimate knowledge of Pampa, they will be offering eight person 3 hour classes starting in April. They will share "trade secrets" of grilling with charcoal, and hands-on instruction of meat-stuffed bread, Feijoada (the aforementioned black bean stew) and guava cheesecake. The cost is $119 per person – call Pampa to book a spot.

Thanks to Linda for the invitation, and to Pampa for hosting us! Bacon Feast runs for the month of April. Check out Linda and Sharman’s recaps about our meal as well.

Pampa
9929 109 Street
(780) 756-7030
Lunch – Monday-Friday 11:30am-1:30pm; Dinner – Monday-Thursday 5-9pm, Friday 5-10pm, Saturday 3-10pm, Sunday 4-8pm; Brunch – 11am-2pm

Food Notes for April 4, 2016

It’s hard to believe it’s already April, but perhaps even harder to believe is that spring came early this year! I hope you’re out and about enjoying the weather as much as possible! On to this week’s food notes:

The 25th annual Garlic Festival at Sorrentino’s kicked off today, and runs until April 30.
Mark your calendars: the 2016 season schedule of What the Truck?! is now up! The first event is now a two-day extravaganza, on Saturday May 28 and Sunday, May 29.
Jennifer Cockrall-King is launching her new book, Food Artisans of the Okanagan, on April 13 at Audreys. She’ll have sips and snacks on hand, too.
The next COMAL Mexican Dinner is taking place on April 17 & 18. Tickets for the 6-course meal (including drinks) are $120.
The second annual Edmonton Resilience Festival runs April 29 – May 1, 2016. I picked up my ticket for a workshop all about naturally leavened biscuits, waffles and muffins, led by Owen Petervine from Prairie Mill. It sounds like a great follow-up to his sourdough workshop last year.
This year’s Indulgence tickets go on sale May 1 at 9am. They go fast, so make sure you’re on it if you’re planning on attending!
Cindy tweeted that the space above El Cortez will soon be home to Have Mercy.
It’s interesting to hear that Karen Anderson of Calgary Food Tours is expanding north to include Edmonton and Canmore on her roster. She’s started a crowdfunding campaign to help them with this growth.
Nando’s scores a positive review from the Journal.
Crystal posted another lukewarm review of The Almanac.
Jonny didn’t get on the Love Pizza love train.
Cheryl checked out the gluten-sensitive offerings at Kazoku Ramen.
Just in time for food truck season, The Local Good spotlights the men behind S’wich.
I love the title of Phil’s most recent odyssey, called Game of Scones, a quest for the city’s best scone.
Speaking of Phil, his latest podcast features Chef Dale MacKay, of Top Chef Canada fame.
Food is a 24 hour business – learn more about some of Edmonton’s night owls in Addie’s Avenue Edmonton article.
Liv’s latest piece in the Globe highlights chefs who’ve returned home after stints abroad.
Lillian is one of the most inspiring local bloggers, sharing her food knowledge learned through her own personal experimentation. Her newest lesson is all about hand rolling noodles.
Have you already seeded your garden? Travis from Lactuca encourages you to start with lettuce.
I love innovative ideas to curb hunger. Here are two this week about fridges open to the public: one in a Montreal alley, where people can drop off and/or take what they need, and another in India, where patrons can leave their restaurant leftovers in a fridge outside for anyone to take.
I loved Bru’s tower of focaccia served alongside their feta dip! The dip was a bit salty, but I appreciated that it had been warmed through.

Feta dip with focaccia

A long walk on Sunday took us over to Brit’s Fish and Chips. It definitely hit the spot.

One piece haddock and chips

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

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