Food Notes for July 29, 2013

Where has the summer gone?! We’re already into August this week, and the hours of daylight seem to be slipping away ever so slowly. To help you make the most of what’s left of the season, I’m almost ready to share more about some of the exciting projects I’m involved in (besides What the Truck?!). Stay tuned! On to this week’s food notes:

A reminder that Fork Fest finishes up this week on August 1, 2013. Check out the menus here.
Dishcrawl announced a new event series last week, called Neighbourfood, an “an afternoon celebration of food, family, and the community we live in.” The August 25, 2013 inaugural Neighbourfood centres on 124 Street, and part of the proceeds will support the Youth Empowerment and Support Services. A $15 advanced ticket will give you the opportunity to take in a food or drink at one of the eight participating locations, while you can purchase additional tickets for $5. It sounds a bit like the Red Shoe Crawl to me, but with less detail about exactly how much goes to the charity in question.
The next Writer’s Corner focuses on food writing! Join Mary Bailey, Jennifer Cockrall-King and Tina Faiz at Stanley Milner Library on August 25, 2013 at 1:30pm.
I walked past a new food trailer, the Blue Giraffe Creamery, the other day, but didn’t have a chance to stop. Thanks to Marlow Moo’s post, I now know what I missed – liquid nitrogen ice cream!
Also new to the food truck scene, Liv reviewed the Black Bull Grill.
Phil and Robyn went on a tasting tour of Central Alberta – what’s better than dining in a caboose?
Valerie shared her gorgeous photos of what looked to be another amazing RGE RD 135 dinner at Nature’s Green Acres.
Vue Weekly profiled Lactuca, the extremely local greens you’ve seen at the 124 Grand Market and on menus around town.
Congratulations to the members of the new Edmonton Food Council! They begin meeting this fall.
Did you know Yellowhead Brewery serves lunch? I had heard something to that effect, but could never find anything on their website. Though that is still true, I can now confirm that the Brewery serves up a “wurst lunch” from 11am-2pm, Monday to Friday in the Tasting Room. I was invited to a drop in tasting on Friday, and sampled the lamb wurst and fabulous housemade soft pretzels myself. Check out the menu here.

Wurst lunch tasting

It’s been a chilly summer, made apparent to me last week on the Cask & Barrel patio. As soon as the sun disappeared, we were all shivering in our summer wear! Hence the order of fall-appropriate comfort food.

The Heritage meatloaf

A group of us celebrated May’s bachelorette party at her favourite restaurant, Café Amore. I hadn’t been to the new location yet, but I’m happy to say the food is just as good!

Truffle chicken pasta

Tiramisu

Date Night: Birch Patio and the Devonian Botanical Garden

Though we later decided to indulge at the Hardware Grill Chef’s Table for my birthday, my initial answer to Mack’s question about what I wanted to do for my birthday was, “Date Night at the Devonian Botanical Garden”.

When it was announced that Elm Café would not only be taking over food service at the Devonian Botanical Garden, but also would be organizing a series of themed food and amusement nights every Thursday in the summer, I knew I wanted to check it out. It seemed like a great way to increase traffic to the attraction in a creative way. The evenings range from Cuban-inspired dinners with a side of rumba, pasta- and ricotta-making paired with an Italian feast and Taiko drumming lessons followed by a Japanese meal. But Mack wasn’t the least bit surprised with the date night I was most taken by: the July 4th County Fair. Hot dogs, burgers and popcorn with some live music? Count me in!

The drive out to the Gardens at rush hour wasn’t as bad as we originally anticipated, not taking much longer than the suggested Google Maps time. We paid admission ($13 for adults) and were immediately whisked away with the musical stylings of Up the Creek, a bluesgrass band.

Up the Creek

It was a gorgeous night to enjoy dinner outdoors. Elm Café’s concession stand at the Gardens is called The Birch Patio, and that night, in addition to their usual menu of daily soups and sandwiches was bison or chorizo bratwurst, beef burgers and ice cream sundaes. I ordered a chorizo bratwurst ($5) and Mack chose the burger ($7).

Al fresco dining at its best

Neither was particularly fancy, but they were tasty, and fitting for the night’s theme and atmosphere. It also meant that we had room for popcorn and ice cream afterwards!

Bratwurst, burger and lemonade

The real treat for us was the excuse this date night provided to get out to the Garden in the first place. Neither of us had been before, so we relished the opportunity to finally explore the greenery for ourselves.

Our biggest mistake was failing to remember bug spray, and again, when encountering bottles of it at the admissions counter, not recognizing that as a sign. We were literally chased off of some of the wooded trails by mosquitos, so hopefully this serves as a warning to any who follow in our footsteps – do not forget the repellant!

Into the woods

Besides the unavoidable pests, we really enjoyed wandering through the different areas, encountering wildlife, and stopping to smell the roses.

A family of geese

I found a treat!

Rose garden

More flowers

Mack even had the chance to do his best impression of Juliet!

We both looked forward to finishing our visit at the Kurimoto Japanese Gardens, and they didn’t disappoint. The soothing water feature, manicured lawns, and blossom-lined paths were even more beautiful than the pictures suggested.

Kurimoto Japanese Gardens

Waterfall

Flowers

On the bridge

Date night at the Devonian Botanical Garden was a fun way to spend a summer evening – I’d encourage you to check it out while you have the chance! Take a peek at the remaining schedule here.

On the (Alberta) Avenue: Shop Smart and Avenue Goes to the Dogs

Though the city’s fabric is enriched by long-standing events like K-Days, Folk Fest and the Fringe Festival, I’m really attracted to less established festivals like Deep Freeze and Illuminite. Someday, these events might come to be regarded in the same light as the “big boys”, but for now, I love their grassroots nature, charm and inclusive feel.

Alberta Avenue has really been a pioneer in this front, with the aforementioned Deep Freeze and Kaleido both setting the bar high for other communities hoping to employ festivals as a catalyst to revitalize the neighbourhood.

A few weeks ago, we heard about a launch of Alberta Avenue’s latest retail campaign called “Shop Smart”. Building on the coalition behind “We Believe In 118”, the drive reminds consumers to avoid questionable retailers and to shop locally. They have also launched a petition that advocates for the creation of a by-law that will regulate the sale of weapons.

The launch took place on July 11, 2013 with a small street party on the corner of 118 Avenue and 87 Street. With food trucks and a passport for prizes activity (involving visiting businesses displaying the “Shop Smart” decal to collect stamps), we thought it would be a fun way to spend the evening.

Shop Smart event

The timing, from 4:30-6:30pm, was curious, because it wouldn’t have given those that don’t live in the community much time to reach the event and participate. It also didn’t seem to be as organized as it could have been – one of the most prominent businesses featured on the passport, location-wise, was Handy Bakery. It wasn’t even open for the last part of the event.

That said, it was a good opportunity for us to finally visit businesses we’ve walked past dozens of times, but never had the excuse or time to check out.

Wall of guitars at Mhyre’s Music

Some businesses took the launch more seriously than others, as a chance to positively engage with new customers. Wee Book Inn, for example, handed out free tote bags and offered an in-store discount.

Mack at Wee Book Inn

Others, like Saffron’s Carribean Delight, seemed less than happy to be a part of the event. Granted, the server probably just felt overwhelmed, but the lack of welcome or even a smile didn’t make me eager to return.

The event was also an opportunity for us to try S*wich for the first time. S*wich is fairly new to the food truck scene, but sets itself apart in the sandwich category by baking its own bread. They also feature popsicles and ice cream sandwiches from THIS Place (affiliated with the truck). Mack and I are happy to say that the sandwiches do live up to its reputation, especially the bread!

Montreal smoked meat sandwich

Mack with a smoked turkey club

In the end, the prize we earned from collecting the minimum ten stamps was another tote bag with some information about the Avenue’s businesses and a few coupons. I’m not sure what we expected, but it was a fitting souvenir for the evening.

The following Sunday, we returned to the neighbourhood for Avenue Goes to the Dogs, an annual celebration of dogs. The festival, at Eastwood Park, began as a way for community members to meet one another, as many residents have dogs. Though we don’t have a dog ourselves (living in a pet-free building doesn’t help matters), we love dogs!

We ran into Pancakes, The Act’s loveable mascot

The festival lucked out with the weather – early morning showers gave way to overcast but dry skies. The crowds were also modest at the start of the festival (I was reminded of the rabid hordes at Toronto’s Woofstock earlier this year), but everyone had such genuine love for their pets that it more than made up for numbers.

Dog meet-up!

The real draw of the festival for me was the dachshund races. I missed the same kind of event at Woofstock, so this was a chance for me to watch this at home! There was a solid turnout of more than a dozen dachshunds and other long-bodied dogs, including Pancakes. Even Mack got in on the action, volunteering to hold Pancakes at the starting line.

Ready, set…

Go!

It really was the cutest thing, even if some of the dogs were less than cooperative!

See Spot run

Pancakes really had a bit of an unfair advantage due to her size, but some of the little ones gave her a run for her money, including the absolutely adorable Ellie, an 18 month old dachshund.

Ellie

Avenue Goes to the Dogs was much less commercial in nature than Woofstock, and felt very community and information-oriented, with displays that included City pet licensing requirements, the Edmonton Police K-9 Unit, and pet adoption societies.

Adopt me!

We had a great time, even sans dog. Kudos to the organizers for a great job, and for giving us another reason to visit the Avenue.

Food Notes for July 22, 2013

Just a reminder that our next Truck Stop is taking place this Thursday, July 25 downtown at the Boyle Renaissance. It’s an opportunity to try out four of Edmonton’s newest trucks and explore the new facility in The Quarters. Hope to see you there! On to this week’s food notes:

Fort Edmonton Park has organized a “Food Through the Ages” event running at the site from August 3-5, 2013. Every day, visitors will have an option to work for their food, through a period-appropriate chore, and will be awarded with a period snack. Interesting idea of incorporating a participatory history lesson with food!
Looking for something new to eat at K-Days? Liane writes that the deep-fried apple caramel pie was awarded the “best new food” on the midway this year.
Liane provides a backgrounder to Rge Rd, the newest restaurant to open in the city.
The Journal reviewed The Burg – it’s been hit or miss for diners, so good to hear they had a positive experience.
Andrea posted about her experience at a recent Dishcrawl in the Southgate area.
Sustainable Food Edmonton is looking to raise $250,000 to bring City Farm back.
I’ve been dreaming about a Diner en Blanc in Edmonton since we were inspired to pull off the pedway pop-up last year, but it’s nice to see the event done closer to home – in Calgary, at Central Memorial Park in early July.
Since Credo began closing early, I’ve had to look for another post-work meeting place. Though Roast does the job, it’s a bit inconsistent. THIS Place (10382 105 Street), however, has become my new favourite. On a hot summer’s day, what’s better than a popsicle and a freshly-squeezed lemonade?

Raspberry lemonade popsicle and lemonade

I strong-armed Mack into the Vietnamese iced coffee popsicle since I already ordered – so unique!

We used up some free pizza vouchers at the Whyte Avenue location of Famoso on the weekend. I’m happy to say it was a much better experience than our visit to the South Common branch.

Margherita pizza from Famoso

Mack and I have also been craving ice cream and gelato like nothing else this past week! It meant a walk over to Cococo on 124 Street over the weekend – not a bad way to work for a treat!

Crème brulee gelato

Smashburger lands in Edmonton

The number of fast casual burger restaurants in Edmonton just keeps on growing. On July 3, 2013, the Edmonton area’s first Smashburger franchise opened up in Sherwood Park, joining the likes of Fatburger, Five Guys, Rodeo Burger and The Burger Joint in an increasingly crowded burger scene. In many ways, it’s not surprising – North America’s love affair of the hamburger is well-documented, and with palates leaning more towards fresher alternatives, those offering something a step above drive-thru fare are blossoming. The Sherwood Park location is Canada’s third Smashburger, adding to Alberta’s glut, with two already situated in Calgary.

Mack and I attended the media reception in early July, eager to see how Smashburger would differentiate itself from others. It turns out, Smashburger attempts to distinguish its beef burgers with its proprietary cooking process: meatballs, rolled fresh daily, are “smashed” on the grill to order, a method, they promise, provides a caramelized sear that seals in the patty’s natural juices.

We were invited to order whatever we desired from the menu, a very generous offer. Featuring a number of pre-designed beef and grilled chicken burger creations, salads, and sides, prices ranged from $5.99-$8.49 for burgers. For more creative (or particular) eaters, Smashburger also offers a “create your own” option.

Mack immediately gravitated towards the Edmonton burger (each city features a recipe inspired by regional flavours). In this case, a beef or grilled chicken patty is topped with grilled onions, cheddar, BBQ sauce and a fried egg. A Saskatoon berry shake and poutine are also exclusive to the Canadian menu.

I decided to stick with the Classic Smash, with American cheese, Smash sauce, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion on an egg bun. Mack chose a poutine side, while I chose the Haystack onions.

We were happy to run into Su and Joveena, two of Edmonton’s prolific #yegfood tweeters. Dinner is always better with good company!

Su and Joveena

Portions were generous, and everything was delivered piping hot. Both of us enjoyed our respective burgers, but save my sweet egg bun, I’m not sure I’d be able to identify the burger in a blind taste test. I did appreciate that the Smash sauce was given as a side, which gave me control over how much I wanted to add, but Mack commented how much it reminded him of a certain “special sauce” at a rival quick-service giant.

Edmonton Burger and poutine

The sides, however, left something to be desired. Shoestring fries are not ideal for poutine, as they aren’t as suited to be weighted under the layers of gravy and cheese. My Haystack onions were more like the onion straws used as a textural addition to burgers, instead of the substantial battered and fried rings I’m used to. They were also incredibly salty. I’m sure this is just a personal preference, but I prefer my onion rings whole and not shredded.

Classic Smash and haystack onions

The service that night was over the top, as expected, though I’d be curious to see how it has toned itself down as the staff settle into a more typical rhythm.

Located in Emerald Hills, one of the newer neighbourhoods of Sherwood Park, it was a bit of a shame the Edmonton attendees didn’t decide to carpool before hand. The drive was close to 45 minutes from downtown in rush hour traffic, so it would be doubtful we’d undertake such a commute if we didn’t already have plans in the area. That said, if we were looking for a fast casual burger in Sherwood Park, we wouldn’t mind returning to Smashburger just for their namesake dish. Thanks to the restaurant for the invitation!

Want to give it a try yourself? For a chance to win $25 in Smashburger gift certificates, leave a comment below (with a valid e-mail address) with the name of the burger you’d order off of the local menu. Contest closes on July 26, 2013 at 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen by a random number generator and contacted by e-mail.

EDIT (July 28, 2013): Congratulations to Jessica for winning $25 in Smashburger gift certificates! Thanks to everyone who entered.

Check out the plethora of reviews from other local bloggers: Andrea, Courtenay, Eva, Diane, Karlynn, Lillian, Liv and Phil.

Smashburger
#530, 500 Emerald Drive, Sherwood Park
(780) 410-0999
Hours: 10am-10pm daily

K-Days 2013: New Food at the Fair

It’s that time again! One of our summer traditions is heading out to K-Days and soaking up the sights, smells and sounds of the midway.

Though it’s been years since we’ve taken in the rides, we’ve always reserved the right to indulge in Those Little Doughnuts and for Mack, a corndog or two.

I can smell them already…

K-Days usually tries to entice diners by introducing new items each year, and this time is no different. Here’s what I’m looking forward to at the festival, which runs July 19-28, 2013:

Home Grown Alberta: Based on our experience in 2012, I’m a little disappointed they decided to axe the Fusion 53 Lounge, given that was some of the best food we had during our visit, and it was meant to showcase locally-sourced products. This year, K-Days will feature a showcase area called Home Grown Alberta, where “local Alberta home grown producers will sample and sell their product.” This could mean many different things, but hopefully it works out to be an opportunity of great exposure for these businesses.
New Midway Delights: Last year, Capital Ex outdid itself with cricket pizza, so I was expecting to see deep-fried butter on this year’s menu (the “freak” food of choice at the Calgary Stampede). While the menu is much tamer than I expected, I’m intrigued by items like the chimney cake (sweet dough baked around a roll and dipped in sugar). It’s a little curious why items like pad Thai and Chinese noodle boxes would be featured so prominently (hasn’t our food culture normalized some ethnic foods?), but I suppose when most midway fare is battered and fried, I suppose it’s a step beyond that.
A Taste of Canada: For those looking for something more refined than the casual midway bite, a variety of dishes representing the different regions of Canada are available in the EXPO Centre. They include a lobster roll from the Maritimes, Montreal smoked meat sandwiches and duck confit paninis from the East, salmon wraps and Okanagan peach cobbler from the West Coast and from the Prairie, pulled bison sliders and beef & barley soup.
RibFest: I’m so happy that RibFest is back! Last year, we received our first taste of a Southern barbecue competition, with several vendors competing for our vote. Four trailers will be present this year offering up ribs and great atmosphere.

RibFest 2012

See you on the grounds!

Food Notes for July 15, 2013

It’s hard to believe we’re already in the middle of July – where has the summer gone? On the bright side, I do feel like we’ve been taking in a good variety of all that’s available to us in Edmonton. It really is a great place to be during festival season. On to this week’s food notes:

Liane previewed the upcoming Taste of Edmonton Festival, which is helpful to parse through all of their new events this year. I’m looking forward to being a part of the judging panel at the ATCO Blue Flame Black Box Competition on Sunday!
In the midst of festival season, I almost forgot about Fork Fest, which runs July 21-25 and July 28-August 1, 2013. Menus are forthcoming.
Ration is a pop-up restaurant taking place on July 25, 2013 at Sabzy. Their 5-course vegetarian dinner will focus on celebrating the seasonal bounty that can be harvested locally. The event is led by Mithalee Rawat, the head chef at Pangea’s deli.
Love Salvadorean food? Head to the Pupusa Festival on July 27, from noon-8pm at the Alberta Avenue Community Hall.
Heritage Days food tickets are now on sale! You can also see the food menu here.
Go now, Edmonton: RGE RD, Chef Blair Lebsack’s new restaurant in the former Blue Pear space, is now open!
Yes, there is another food truck. Liv gives us the low-down on the comfort food of Street Eats.
Speaking of food trucks, Bully handed out more than 400 free turkey dinners on Saturday outside the Bissell Centre. Bravo.
Curious about how The Burg came to be? Check out this article in Vue.
Thanks to the City’s streamlined rules on sidewalk cafes, it has been wonderful to see them blossom all around downtown, including at Tres Carnales.
Mack and I stopped by the St. Albert Farmers’ Market on our way to an errand in the area. Though we had already done our shopping that morning, it was great to wander through. It was neat to see they had free bike parking!

Bike parking

Oh how I missed you, Pho Tau Bay – after their two month hiatus, I was more than happy to fall back into a bowl of your comforting noodle soup.

Pho!

The nights have been somewhat chilly, but Mack and I are still trying to take advantage of the al fresco dining window!

Pizza on the patio

Chef’s Table at Hardware Grill

In my family, June is a time for celebration. My Mum, Dad and I all share June as a birthday month, and of course, Father’s Day is a standard observance. This year, for one of my milestone birthdays, I decided the cumulative festivities could justify the Chef’s Table splurge at the venerable Hardware Grill. As it stands, $100 for five courses at the consistently excellent restaurant is reasonable, but it was still nice to have these special occasions to commemorate with my parents.

The Chef’s Table can accommodate up to six, and like any communal table, we were told that we’d likely be joined by a party of two that night. When we arrived, we noticed that the place settings were set for four. The couple never did end up arriving, but we appreciated the heads up nonetheless.

With my parents

The Chef’s Table is located right inside the kitchen, with a perfect view of Chef Larry Stewart and his crew. I’m sure the staff are immune to it now, but I would feel a little odd being observed, fishbowl-style, as I worked. That said, we really appreciated their candor and unaffected behaviour. As we would find out, unlike the nightmare back room scenarios portrayed on television, Hardware Grill is a pristine example of a well-oiled machine.

Our view of the kitchen

A printed menu laid out the five dishes for the night, which would be served over the course of three and a half hours. The meal was so well paced, we had no idea where the time went (it didn’t mean we finished all of our food, however – most of our entrée and desserts ended up in take-home boxes). And though the food was wonderful, what really set the experience apart was the staff. White linens sometimes equal stiff and awkward interactions, but at Hardware Grill, we are always floored by the service. Beyond gracious and professional, as expected at a fine dining establishment, staff are warm, good-humoured and seem to genuinely enjoy their work.

It was also the little things – for instance, we decided to order two wine pairings to share. Without missing a beat, individual glasses were delivered to each of us, a single pour split between two. Although this wasn’t my first time sharing a wine pairing, it was certainly the first time I’ve encountered the generosity of providing a second glass.

Just as the service was measured and executed perfectly, so too were the kitchen dynamics. Chef Stewart received each order, calling out items calmly. The other chefs would quietly get to work on their components, with Sous Chef Jesse Chalmers periodically updating the ETA of the main protein. Communication was paramount, and in this kitchen, was the cornerstone on an effective team. I wrongly assumed dining at the Chef’s Table would be a noisy affair; in reality, the din of the main dining room was noticeably louder than in the kitchen.

Mack observes the kitchen

The first course was a charming way to start off the meal – a bite-size sandwich layered with brioche, lobster, pancetta, arugula and oven-dried tomato paired with a lobster bisque. The photo is a bit deceiving – a heavy hand in the kitchen dealt the lobster.

Soup ‘n sandwich

The salad of buffalo mozzarella and symphony heirloom tomatoes was simple, but made with good ingredients, including a spike of lemon-scented olive oil, was delicious.

Buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad

Mack especially enjoyed the pasta course of hand-rolled goat cheese tortelloni, their creamy centres stealing the show. For me, it was the underlying corn broth that sung – it was skill that coaxed such fragrance and aroma from the corn.

Goat cheese tortelloni with beech mushrooms in corn broth

By the time we reached the entrée, we were already approaching the point of being uncomfortably full. Interestingly enough, we were encouraged to eat the hickory-smoked quail by hand, not something we would have expected. I ended up gravitating more to the vegetables on the plate, in particular to the caramelized cauliflower, lovingly browned in a way that I will try to replicate at home.

Hickory-smoked quail

After the preceding two courses, I was anticipating a light finish to the dinner. Instead, we were presented with a dense, intensely rich chocolate marquise. Even one half the size would have been too much for me, but the dollop of sour cream on top was curious, lending a tang that did not pair well with the chocolate.

Chocolate marquise

Kudos to the staff of Hardware Grill for a memorable experience. If anything, it reminded me that I shouldn’t let too much time pass between future visits to Edmonton’s most respected restaurant.

Hardware Grill
9698 Jasper Avenue
(780) 423-0969

Food Notes for July 8, 2013

We’re not able to harbour pets in our current building, but it doesn’t mean I can’t love dogs! I’ve heard so much about the Avenue Goes to the Dogs Festival on Alberta Avenue but we’ve never been – when I saw that they will have wiener dog races at noon on Sunday, I knew where we’d be this weekend. Hope you’ll be out and about as well! Onto this week’s food notes:

Add another market to the Sunday list: the Century Park Sunday Market runs every Sunday from 9:30am-2pm until September 29, 2013. It just started on June 2, so it isn’t surprising they only have 8-10 vendors, but given the sudden increase in Sunday markets, I’m not sure how many more they can realistically attract.
It’s great to see The North Edge (Central McDougall and Queen Mary Park, just north of downtown) repeating their successful series of food tours, now called Flavour Journey. Tickets are just $30, and grant you samples at three restaurants in the area. The event will run July 17, 31 and August 7, 2013.
10 Mile Meal has announced two of their upcoming events. The first is an urban meal in partnership with a Taste of Edmonton on July 27, 2013, where tickets are $60. The second is in Calmar, Alberta, the summer fair meal will celebrate German recipes made using locally-sourced ingredients. Tickets range from $65-80, depending on the inclusion of a farm tour.
Speaking of Taste of Edmonton, they have released a full printable menu online. The festival runs July 18-27, 2013.
Dishcrawl is already planning their next event, and it is right in my neck of the woods, 104 Street! The event runs on August 6, 2013, and tickets are $50.
RGE RD, Chef Blair Lebsack’s new restaurant in the former Blue Pear space, is set to open this week! Keep your eyes peeled on Twitter.
Avenue Edmonton’s fifth 25 Best Things to Eat List is finally online. For an annual feature that readers anticipate, you would think the editors would get it up sooner.
The Act Out & About was featured on Eat St. last week! Great to see Edmonton representation on the show.
Liane wrote about one man’s quest to quietly promote beekeeping in the city.
I didn’t really understand the reason for the hype around “cronuts” (a cross between a croissant and a doughnut) until I read this.
Mack sent me a link to a Business Week article about the McWrap at McDonald’s, and how it will not only position themselves as a “Subway buster”, but also will change the cucumber industry.
Grub Street reports that Hostess products (think: Twinkies) may be getting makeovers in the near future, with health-conscious labels such as gluten-free, whole grain, and stevia-sweetened snack cakes. Well, if Kraft Dinner did it, why not Twinkies?
Mack spied that Irie Foods (10152 82 Avenue) on Whyte Avenue is no longer, soon to be replaced with Pho 102.

Pho 102 Noodle Soup

Sundays are for Markets: French Quarter Farmers’ Market

Not all farmers’ markets are created equal. Case in point, the three new markets that have more than doubled the Sunday scene are all quite different. Eden’s Market (which I recognize is still in its early stages), needs to attract more produce and protein vendors to make it a worthwhile grocery stop (instead of just a charming stroll-through). This is what makes the French Quarter Farmers’ Market so impressive by contrast.

French Quarter Farmers’ Market

Mack and I stopped by on Sunday. Situated at La Cité Francophone, the market has taken full advantage of the site. Vendors are located both indoors and outside, with picnic tables scattered in the grass. A busker was performing when we arrived, with a number of people enjoying the music under shaded seats.

Seating

In the short three weeks they’ve been open, they’ve managed to accumulate nearly thirty different vendors. All sell food products, something that sets this market apart from others. Though a select few only vend every second week, those who visit regularly will still have the pick of staple products from Steve & Dan’s, Skyline Greenhouses, Greens, Eggs and Ham and Serben Free Range (I am hoping the website is updated soon with the complete list).

Vendors

We were reminded by market manager Jean-Michel Dentinger that it is a French market after all (we noticed several producers greeted customers in both French and English), so it is no surprise that good cheese (The Cheesiry and Smoky Valley Goat Cheese) and bread (Bonjour Bakery/Treestone) are to be found here.

For those looking for something sweet, Passion Sucre offers baked treats. We were lucky enough to score a care package, featuring not only chocolate croissants, but éclairs and even a #yeg chocolate-dipped strawberry!

Treats from Passion Sucre

Though Eden’s Market definitely takes the food truck cake, the French Quarter Farmers’ Market boasts The Crooked Fork, one of Edmonton’s newest truck. They had run out of their hickory-smoked pulled pork, so we opted for their poutine. It hit the spot!

The Crooked Fork

Poutine

This market also features cooking classes by Chef Elaine Wilson, of Food You Can Cook. Cooking demos are an excellent way to highlight to consumers how they can transform the ingredients they pick up at the market, and are common elsewhere.

We took part in Elaine’s second class (she runs two classes per session, one at 12:30pm and another at 2:30pm). We learned how to make Thai Massaman sauce, a base which she transformed into a delicious beef and potato curry as well as a spicy tamarind soup. Elaine always amazes me with her knowledge, but also her ability to juggle answering questions with the prep tasks at hand!

Elaine is passionate about food!

Elaine normally charges $20 for the class, but for the past two weeks, classes have been by donation, with all proceeds going to Alberta flood relief. Next week, watch Elaine cook up appetizers, a main and dessert for what she terms an “elegant dinner party” – all in forty-five minutes! Sign up in advance on her website, or drop-in if you’re feeling lucky!

Mack enjoys his sample of Massaman curry

In short, the French Quarter market is thoughtful and well-rounded. I’d be interested in seeing how it progresses in identity as a year-round market (especially through the winter, given they are reliant on food producers), but it is a wonderful addition to the city’s market scene.

French Quarter Farmers’ Market
8627 Rue Marie-Anne-Gaboury (91 Street), La Cité Francophone
Every Sunday from 12-5pm

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