Greater Mill Woods Dining Week Spotlights Southeast Eateries

A desire to draw attention to the food scene in Mill Woods has grown into a new dining week offering deals at nine restaurants in southeast Edmonton.

The inaugural Greater Mill Woods Dining Week will take place from March 3 to 12. Each participating business will feature an item priced at $15 or less.

Event lead Daniel Witte said the idea was sparked during a participatory budgeting session with Coun. Keren Tang of Ward Karhiio last summer. “Participatory budgeting empowers people to create small-scale projects that would make an impact on people in the ward,” said Witte.

Volunteers were given a maximum of $2,000 to carry out projects. So far, they have included a wide range of activities, including painting a Pride walkway at Mill Woods Transit Centre (which Witte was also involved in), adding Google Street View for bike lanes, and creating welcome packages for new refugees.

Witte noticed that some of the restaurants he frequented in his neighbourhood were struggling. “I love these restaurants, but it would be great if more people knew about them,” said Witte. “We wanted to have a dining week to spread the word about some of these places to help them.”

Tang connected Witte with the Mill Woods Presidents’ Council, a body comprised of representatives from all community leagues located in Mill Woods, The Meadows, and Ellerslie. The council offered volunteers with event experience. It also broadened the boundaries to include parts of Ward Sspomitapi. Coun. Jo-Anne Wright of Sspomitapi stepped up to match the $2,000 in funding to support the project.

As a result, the Greater Mill Woods Dining Week encompasses businesses in the heart of Mill Woods, such as the 2nd Floor Café inside the Mill Woods Seniors Association, as well as restaurants situated in newer communities further south, such as Woodshed Burgers and Tiffin India’s Fresh Kitchen in Ellerslie.

Witte was adamant that a transparent process be adopted to ensure restaurants weren’t invited based on volunteer preferences and that the focus remained on small businesses. A form was sent out through community leagues requesting restaurant nominations; volunteers then reached out to the 30 nominated restaurants, of which nine agreed to participate.

Witte is pleased with the range of dishes represented. These include macarons from French patisserie Reinette Café, a Chinese food combo from Tasty World, and a donair meal from Magma Donair.

“The specials are a good introduction to the restaurants,” said Witte. “I know I have no clue where to start with a new menu when I go to a restaurant for the first time. This is a bridge in.”

During the event, diners are encouraged to share their experiences on social media with #MWDiningWeek. All posts will be entered into a draw to win $40 gift cards to participating restaurants.

As a lifelong resident of Mill Woods, Witte is hopeful the event encourages other Edmontonians to visit the area.

“Mill Woods feels like its own little city,” said Witte. “It has such a diverse array of food from restaurants who have been in Edmonton for a long time. It has its own little version of everything.”

Openings

• New Irish gastropub Ashford House is now open at Manchester Square, located at 12026 107 Avenue.
• Lalibela African Restaurant is now open in the former Langano Skies location (9906 72 Avenue).

Upcoming Events

• The next Nosh Food Fest will take place this weekend, March 4-5, 2023 at the Strathcona County Community Centre.
• This year’s Downtown Dining Week runs March 15-26, 2023. Nearly 60 restaurants are participating this year. The menus are up to peruse early.

Local News

• Yoshi Express in Old Strathcona could use the support – his windows were smashed and his payment machine had been stolen.
• The Journal has more on the Confederation Lounge’s renovations.
• Phil’s latest Best Dish column highlights Pei Pei Chei Ow and their blend of Indigenous and Ukrainian hospitality.
• Edify checked out Luna, Huma’s new rebranded restaurant and menu.
• Rhubarb Cafe and Cocktails showcased some of their treats and drinks on Global.
• The Downtown Business Association profiles The Marc’s chef Cara Lazarevich.
• Edmonton AM interviewed the owner of The Bedouins restaurant about the impact of the pandemic and inflation.
• Token Bitters CEO Keenan Pascal and Mayor Amarjeet Sohi met over mocktails to talk about Keenan’s experience as a Black-owned business owner in Edmonton.
• Food Bike Tour and Rig Hand Distillery will receive $99,999 from Prairies Economic Development Canada to enhance tourism experiences and products.
• Karlynn Johnson shared some of her favourite Easter recipes to bring attention to the one year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, noting the holiday’s significance to by Orthodox Ukrainians.
• The City will permanently allow alcohol at select park sites after the pilot last summer yielded no noteworthy issues.

What I Ate

• My friend Su and I hit up Pip for a pre-theatre meal last week. It was my first time in their new space, and in spite of the larger space, it still felt really cozy, especially on that chilly night. I enjoyed the natural wine they had on feature that night, and the gnocchi hit the spot.

Gnocchi from Pip

• We grabbed take-out from Dorinku Osaka on Friday. They had nifty containers for the ramen (not dissimilar from the containers used by Dagu), with separate compartments for the broth and the noodles. Emily enjoyed the chicken karaage, too.

Take-out from Dorinku Osaka

Openings

• The Glass Cafe is now open Downtown, located at 10345 107 Street. They brew beans from Catfish Coffee Roasters.
• A new butchery is open in Glenora, called Arpa Farm Fresh Butchery, from the folks behind Sofra and newcomer Zula Kitchen Wine Bar (located next door to the butchery). Find them at #110, 14055 West Block Drive.

Closures

• Milk & Cookies Bakeshop is closing its storefront on March 11, 2023: “The last year has been really hard on us. Sales are way down, ingredient costs are way up, staffing the bakery has been a rollercoaster, and I had a baby 4 1/2 months ago. I need less stress & more flexibility, so it’s time to say goodbye to this part of the business.” The business expanded during the pandemic in 2020. The post references that it may not be the last that we see of Milk & Cookies, though!

Upcoming Events

• Save the date: this year’s Seedy Sunday will take place on March 26, 2023 at the Alberta Avenue Hall.

Local News

• Congratulations to the winners of Silver Skate’s Battle of the Neighbourhoods: Town Square Brewing for best beer, Campio Brewing for best food, and Odd Company and Culina for best beer and food pairing.
• The Journal wrote about Roger Letourneau’s company Lessig Fermets Inc., which makes small batch fermented hot sauce.
• Edify checked out the food at OilBurgers and Da Kao.
• Boyle McCauley News reviewed Pei Pei Chei Ow.
• The Great Canadian Baking Show is hosting an open casting call in Edmonton on March 1, 2023.
• Students from 16 Edmonton area high schools will be competing in the 16th annual High School Culinary Challenge on February 25, 2023. Winners will be announced on March 6.
• Edmonton’s Food Bank has reduced the maximum number of hampers clients can access per month from four to three.

What I Ate

• We checked out a couple of restaurants participating in the Feed the Soul Dining Week before the event wrapped on Friday. First, we picked up lunch from Cafe Caribbean – I enjoyed the curry chickpeas with potatoes!

Curry chicken and curry chickpeas with potatoes from Cafe Caribbean

• We also grabbed take-out from Mesobena – it was a massive amount of food. and a great way to try several dishes at once. I loved the kik alicha (yellow peas) and tikel gomen (cabbage and carrot).

Beef and vegan combos from Mesobena

• I didn’t know Padmanadi has a separate brunch menu, served up on weekends! I tried the curried tofu scramble and would definitely order it again.

Curried tofu scramble from Padmanadi

• Love Pizza has a great deal on Mondays, with 2 pizzas for $25 – so we had to indulge in their mac & cheeza one more time before it retires for the year. It will be available until the end of February.

Mac & cheeza pizzas from Love Pizza

Openings

• Mai Mai Vietnamese Street Kitchen is now open at 14221 23 Avenue.
• Bonjour Bakery has moved to their new location at 9913 82 Avenue.
• Stephanie visited new Indian cafe Chai Chill and Grill Cafe (10158 82 Avenue).
• Gnudi, a new pasta concept, opens at the 5th Street Food Hall on February 15.
• Sandwich shop The Lunchbox will open in March at 9707 110 Street.

Upcoming Events

• Winefest returns to the Edmonton Convention Centre on February 24-25, 2023. Tickets start at $122 and include an all-inclusive sampling of wine and food.
• Freson Bros. is hosting the 3rd annual Future of Alberta Food on February 25, 2023 at NAIT. Six teams will make 24 dishes attendees can sample. Tickets cost $75.
• The Edmonton Craft Beer Festival will take place March 10-11, 202 at the Edmonton Expo Centre. General admission tickets start at $21; food and beer vouches are extra.

Local News

• Vegan pizzeria Die Pie is planning to re-open as a standalone restaurant in April (they currently operate Seitans alongside other concepts in the 5th Street Food Hall). They have started a crowdfunding campaign to help them reach their goal.
• Local restaurants, including the Robert Spencer Hospitality Group, and Transit Smokehouse, shared with the Journal how they are addressing rising food and utilities costs.
• The Th3rd Wave Coffee Award results are in – congratulations to Rogue Wave for winning cafe and roaster of the year, and to Sorellina Cafe and Brew Bar for winning new cafe of the year.
• Phil highlighted Wild Rose Cakes on his latest Best Dish column.
• Twyla’s Edmonton AM column focused on Nepalese and Indian restaurant Green Bean Mountain Bistro.
• Also from Edmonton AM – they featured one of the Feed the Soul participants, Cafe Caribbean.
• Edmonton Convention Centre chef Serge Belair talked to CTV about the dishes that helped him with his podium finish at the Canadian Culinary Championships.
• Between Bountiful Farmers’ Market introducing an import produce vendor and the Downtown Farmers’ Market selling oranges, it appears the Edmonton farmers’ market scene is moving closer to the Calgary model of markets offering more of a general grocery store selection instead of focusing on locally-grown options.
• In honour of World Pulses Day on February 10, TechLife asked a chef for tips on cooking with beans, one of the most inexpensive ways to add protein to your diet.

What I Ate

• I was invited to the media preview for the launch of the renovated Confederation Lounge at the Hotel Macdonald last week. An updated food and cocktail menu accompanies the refreshed space, and most notably features an old fashioned priced at $299 (they have since sold three such drinks, but the rest of their cocktails are priced between $21-24). I sampled some of their new food items, and particularly enjoyed the fried brussels sprouts tossed in a sweet chili sauce, and the pillowy bao buns with Korean beef. Thanks to the always hospitable staff for having me!

The bar at the Confederation Lounge

• Emily and I hit up Tea Bar Cafe on the weekend to take advantage of their extended Chinatown Dining Week deal – it was such a hit that they are continuing their promotion of a bubble tea + bubble waffle for $10 until February 28!

Our order from Tea Bar

Feed the Soul Highlights Food and History of Black Communities

Edmonton’s newest dining week aims to increase support for Black food entrepreneurs, as well as raise awareness about some of the barriers they face.

The inaugural Feed the Soul Dining Week will run from Feb. 10 to 17, in the middle of Black History Month. The event will see 18 local Black-owned food and hospitality businesses offer deals during that period. For example, Jamaican eatery Flava Cafe will kick off festivities with $5 jerk chicken on Feb. 10.

Feed the Soul is the brainchild of Rochelle Ignacio of Enid Rose Collective, who separately manages the volunteer initiative Black Owned Market YEG. Ignacio is co-leading Dining Week with Sara Awatta, founder of YEG Services.

Awatta points out that the eclectic mix of participating retailers represents the spectrum of Black-owned businesses in Edmonton. “Our locations vary all over the city,” said Awatta. “We have businesses like Allegro Italian Kitchen that have been around for more than 10 years and businesses like PhatBar Bakery that are opening just this week. Dine-in, take-out, online-only — this reflects the diversity of the Black food scene in Edmonton.”

A volunteer-run event, Feed the Soul came about when Ignacio was housebound with COVID, and binge-watched a Netflix docuseries called High on the Hog. The show exposes the thread that links cuisines in Africa to those found in the United States, based on recipes adapted by enslaved people.

The idea of contextual changes to food resonated with Ignacio. “Both of my parents are from Trinidad, and growing up here, on Sunday we had traditional Trinidadian food,” said Ignacio. “One of the dishes they served is red beans and rice. I thought it always came with onion and tomato and bacon. But when I went to Trinidad, I learned that they don’t put bacon. My mom adapted the dish to ingredients she could find.”

Ignacio found similar modification stories when speaking to Black restaurant owners during her outreach. But what she also found was a striking number of Black businesses that simply didn’t make it through the pandemic. Her team consulted lists posted in 2020 by Linda Hoang and Ashley Otieno, and found that 14% of them had closed since then.

“Why aren’t Black restaurants thriving the way their counterparts are? Why are these restaurants empty even though the food is good?” said Ignacio. “We want Feed the Soul to expose people to new restaurants and make them household names. Sometimes people are scared to try new food or need the invitation to try.”

Sara Awatta and Rochelle Ignacio of Feed the Soul Dining Week

Ignacio and Awatta are also using Feed the Soul as an opportunity to build the capacity of the business owners themselves. For instance, all digital images and videos captured over the course of the event will be provided back to each business, so they can use the assets in their own marketing efforts.

In addition, by facilitating meetings between participating entrepreneurs, they have been able to foster the development of supportive connections.

“The business owners are talking about where they’re sourcing their chicken, where they’re renting kitchen space, what hours are working best, what are their expansion plans,” said Ignacio.

“I’m excited to see what future collaborations will happen,” added Awatta. “We’re starting to see things that are in the works from that networking.”

Feed the Soul has also partnered with Glass Bookshop to bring in resources to help Edmontonians learn more about Black food and history. Select titles from Feed the Soul’s book list are available at a 10% discount during the event, and a portion of the revenue generated will be redirected back to Feed the Soul.

At the end of the day, Awatta is looking forward to the gatherings that will happen as a result of the dining week.

“Especially post-COVID, we barely ate at the same table,” said Awatta. “What we’re hoping to accomplish is to bring people together in a capacity that has been lost over the years.”

Openings

• PhatBar Bakery and Cafe is celebrating their grand opening on February 11. They are located at 10813 82 Avenue.
• Da Kao Bistro is the newest Vietnamese restaurant to open in Edmonton, located at 9750 180 Street.
• Kilmanjaro VIP, offering authentic Swahili cuisine, is now open at 12433 97 Street.
• New coffee shop alert: Monacci Coffeehouse is now open at 2055 163 Street SW.
• A new dessert concept called Mochi Waffle is now open inside the downtown location of Splash Poke (10079 109 Street).
• On the heels of a Tiki Bar opening Downtown, a second will be opening in Old Strathcona called Tiki Tiki on Whyte.
• I missed that Rigoletto’s opened in their new location in December (9802 Jasper Avenue).

Closures

• Tres Carnales Rostizado announced their permanent closure as of January 31 after nine years in business. This comes after Tres Carnales also shuttered its doors in January.
• Taco Nova is no longer operating out of Komune as of January 31, 2023.

Upcoming Events

• One week left on La Poutine Week, which runs until February 14, 2023. 28 restaurants are participating with a feature poutine.
• Old Strathcona’s Sweet Treats & Latte Festival runs February 4-20, 2023, and highlights 17 area businesses.
• Taste of Africa is returning on February 25, 2023 to the Arden Theatre in St. Albert. Tickets are $10.

Local News

• Congratulations to Fife N Dekel on 40 years in business!
• In the lead-up to Waffle Bird’s one year anniversary, they are hosting some collaborations and pop-ups at High Level Diner this month, including a burger night with Phil Wilson on February 13.
• Chef Serge Belair of the Edmonton Convention Centre picked up the bronze medal in the Canadian Culinary Championship that took place in Ottawa over the weekend.
• Lots of great cafes and roasters are up for Th3rdWave awards – vote for your favourites before February 12.
• It’s hard to believe Valentine’s Day is next week! I’ve shared before my thoughts on dining out on that day, but I do like the idea of picking up some themed treats to celebrate. There are lots of local options to choose from, including sweets from Sugared and Spiced, dinner from Culina, charcuterie from Meuwly’s, and BreadLove, Zwick’s, and Doughnut Party’s Valentine’s Day Drops through The Public.
• Tenants at Manchester Square’s, including newcomer Rhubarb Cafe, feel optimistic about the development.
• Alongside the Zellers popping up in Bay locations in the spring, you can also expect Zellers-branded food trucks serving up some of their classic items from the restaurant.
• The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction updated its guidelines on alcohol consumption. Their recommendation is for no more than two alcoholic drinks per week.
• A reusable container service called DishZero has launched at the University of Alberta.
• 40 people from different organizations gathered to discuss food insecurity and collaboration possibilities.

What I Ate

• Thanks to everyone who came out to support Chinatown Dining Week! We heard some great feedback from the businesses (including Kim Fat, who sold 1100 pounds of chicken skin during the event). My family certainly in our share of meals over the 11 days!

Pho and bun bo Hue from Co Chin Saigon

Ginger beef from Padmanadi

Bun bo Hue from King Noodle

• Mack and I were also able to duck out for another date night. We had a lovely dinner at Uccellino – on the rare occasions that we dine in, we remember why take-out will never replace great hospitality.

Goat ricotta crostini from Uccellino

• I also had the chance to attend the media preview of Feed the Soul Dining Week. There were many tasty bites to be had, including these delectable red velvet cakes from Layered by Rissa.

Red velvet cake cups from Layered by Rissa

Chinatown Dining Week Returns for a Sixth Year

Chinatown Dining Week is back for a sixth year, and will run January 26 – February 5, 2023. 15 restaurants will be offering $10 and $20 deals for dine-in or take-out. The full menu will be posted on January 13.

Having launched Chinatown Dining Week in 2018, the past six years have been a whirlwind. Getting traction for a new event can ben challenging, but we are fortunate that Edmontonians responded really well and embraced our campaign to encourage diners to discover culinary gems and revisit old favourites.

That said, the past few years have no doubt been tougher on our business partners. After the pandemic at the start of 2020 closed restaurants to indoor dining, a wave of anti-Asian racism related to how the pandemic started impacted businesses in Chinatown. The fifth wave of the pandemic continued into 2021 that brought another set of operating restrictions. In 2022, discussions about Chinatown were overwhelmingly linked to impressions of a lack of safety and security in the neighbourhood.

But through it all, the businesses who are a part of Chinatown Dining Week have soldiered on. While some restaurants are newer to the area, having opened over the last two years, such as China Marble, Co Chin Saigon, and Spirit Bistro, the majority of participating businesses have been operating for at least a decade. Hong Kong Bakery and Kim Fat, for instance, have both been open for more than 30 years. The presence of such long-standing businesses speaks to the resilience of the business owners and the community. We hope Chinatown Dining Week can play a role in continuing to raise awareness about these locally-owned establishments and support their longevity in Edmonton.

Openings

• Zula Kitchen and Wine Bar, from the folks behind Sofra, is now open in Glenora, located at #120, 14055 West Block Drive.
• Kind Ice Cream announced that they will be opening their third location in Oliver, coming early 2023.
• Japonais Bistro is opening a second location in the currents of Windermere this spring.
• Culina will be opening an outpost at The Piazza in Little Italy on 95 Street and 108 Avenue.
• New Asian restaurant Chi & Em (10542 82 Avenue) opened in Old Strathcona at the end of December, and offers some traditional Vietnamese dishes not typically found elsewhere in Edmonton.
• Rhubarb Cafe & Cocktails is the latest business to open in Manchester Square, located at Unit 12, 12020 107 Avenue.
• Sheng’s Tea is the newest bubble tea shop to open in Edmonton. Find them at 10048 82 Avenue.
• The Varisty has taken over the former Red Robin’s space on the south side (4211 106 Street), and is especially accommodating for families with little ones. It opened at the end of December.
• Taco Delhi offers roti and naan tacos, and is now open at 3318 Gateway Blvd. Edify checked it out.
• Honi Honi is a new Tiki lounge, located at 10262 103 Avenue. Katy Ingraham of Fleisch asked whether Tiki bars should still be in existence at all.
• The Boiler Room, located in the basement under Fox Burger, is now open, offering additional seating for Fox Burger and offering a similar food and drink menu.

Closures

• Tres Carnales announced that they are permanently closing its doors after 12 years in business. Their last day of service will be January 14, 2023. This announcement comes after Alberta Health Services forced the restaurant to close back in October for violating a number of food and health regulations.
• The last day for HOM in the 5th Street Food Hall will be January 21, 2023. HOM will still be available for catering, take-home dinners and private events.
• The Journal recounted the brief life of The Gavel Pub, which opened during – and did not survive – the pandemic.

Local News

• May will be relocating from the Art Gallery of Alberta to Canteen’s former space on 124 Street.
• The Tomato is once again soliciting nominations for their Top 100 Things to Eat and Drink list. Nominations close on January 23, 2023.
• Twyla featured El Mero Mero last week on Edmonton AM.
• Edify visited Pizza Garage in St. Albert, as well as Halo at the Edmonton International Airport.
• Calle Mexico is now offering breakfast.
• Rosso Pizzeria made Big 7 Travel’s list of 50 Best Pizzas in the World.
• You can now find Carlo’s Bake Shop vending machines at West Edmonton Mall, Southgate, and at the Premium Outlet, in addition to Kingsway Mall.
• Edmonton-based Oodle Noodle has expanded to Calgary with their first location.
• The Norwood Legion hired a chef from Ukraine and uses Google Translate to communicate.
• Certainly the saddest news to come out of the holidays was the announcement that Jean Paré, the venerable cookbook author, had passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 95.

What I Ate

It’s been more difficult to blog with two kids than with just one, something I probably should have anticipated but didn’t think would be that much harder! As a result, I took a longer break than I originally planned – but did have a really restful and rejuvenating holiday with my family. I hope you had a similarly wonderful start to the new year.

• Inspired by a piece by Ramneek Singh in Hungry Zine, my family tried Punjabi-style pizza for the first time over the holidays. Based on our first taste from Supreme Pizza, it’s a style we will definitely order again. The palak paneer pizza in particular was the crowd favourite.

Palak paneer and butter chicken pizzas from Supreme Pizza

• We can never get enough noodles – our go-to on a cold winter night was our neighbourhood Dagu. Their salted crispy chicken was a great side addition.

Our Dagu take-out

• Mack and I were also fortunate enough to get away for a date night at Birdog. We finished our night with their version of a Deep ‘n’ Delicious cake – and I can report that it was a dead ringer for the cake, complete with the foil-lined packaging. The texture and flavour is what you’d expect, but the cake is springier and the icing doesn’t have that sheen of oil. Thanks Birdog for the treat!

Birdog’s chocolate cake

• We tried Butternut Tree’s high tea for the first time over the holidays. It was pretty close to Emily’s dream meal, as it’s probably the only time in her life she was permitted to eat cookies for her lunch. We were satisfied with the spread of items, with our favourite bites being the bacon-wrapped dates and the turkey and gravy poutine rappe.

Emily cameos with our Butternut Tree high tea spread

Happy holidays to those who celebrate! Just a note that this will be my last Food Notes of 2022 – thanks for reading and supporting local businesses along the way.

Openings

• Chain restaurant Chung Chun, serving up Korean-style hot dogs, is now open in West Edmonton Mall (Unit 2583).
• Taiwanese dessert chain Meet Fresh has added a second Edmonton location in South Edmonton Common (1915 98 Street).

Local News

• Phil’s latest Best Dish column highlights Crum, Stopgap, and Fawkes Coffee and Doughnuts.
• Linda has a handy post rounding up holiday baked goods available from local bakeries.
• Also from Linda – her latest partnered Chinatown post highlights a dozen
  stocking stuffers under $12 that can be found at Lucky 97.
• Edify visited Curry Corner in Riverbend and Match Eatery and Public House.
• NAIT put together a gift
  guide featuring items (including many food and drink options) sourced from
  companies started by NAIT grads.
• Edmontonian Renell Doneza competed on CTV’s new show Cross Country Cake Off.
• Antonio Frattin, co-founder of the Italian Bakery, passed away on December 14, 2022.
• New Harvest, a non-profit focused on cellular agriculture, is collaborating with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute to advance the science of lab-grown meat.

What I Ate

• I had a lovely visit with a friend last week who offered to bring take-out from Pho Tau Bay over to enjoy. Needless to say, it hit the spot (as did the cup of broth I reserved for the next day!).

Pho Tau Bay take-out

• Mack and I picked up lunch from our neighbourhood Northern Chicken last week. The chicken sandwich was very satisfying, and given its size, negated my usual need for an afternoon snack that day.

Fried chicken sandwich with Dorito mac and cheese

Openings

• Luna Mexican Restaurant has reopened in the same location as Huma Mexican Comfort (9880 63 Avenue).
• Slow Pour, a beer bar which features beer from around the world (and with a new beer each week), opened last week at 10316 122 Street.
• So many Asian concepts and chains have opened at West Edmonton Mall over the past couple of years – the latest is a Toronto-based chain called Mogouyan, offering hand-pulled noodles. Find them on BRBN Street. Lydia checked them out already.
• Korean restaurant K-Papa has opened a new stand-alone location at 5728 104 Street (they were previously housed in H-Mart).

Upcoming Events

• So many holiday events to be had around town, but a favourite of our family’s is Winter in Little Italy. Their horse-drawn sleigh rides are great, but so is the chestnut and marshmallow roasting for those looking for some tastes of the season. The final date runs December 18 from 11am-4pm.

Local News

• I hope to write a standalone post on the food scene over the past year, but in the meantime, I did an interview with Taproot (where I am also a contributor) about the year in Edmonton restaurants.
• Jeff Nachtigall from Sugared & Spiced shared the financial challenges they were facing this year; five days later he tweeted that they’ve been inundated with orders for some days in December.
• Last week I missed linking to Linda’s partnered post about 10 soups to warm up with this winter in Edmonton’s Chinatown. A few of my favourites are on the list!
• Edify checked out Dookbaeki and Hakone Japanese Cuisine.
• Also from Edify, they collected some food and drink recipes to consider as you’re entertaining this holiday season.
• There are many holiday boxes to choose from at this time of year, including those from Culina which include a treat for the furry members of the family.
• Chefs Doreen Prei and Levi Biddlecombe were interviewed by Alberta Prime Times.
• Campio, Odd Company, and Irrational Brewing collaborated to each brew a different beer based on the same base but their own yeast strains. $1 from every pint and growler will go to support Boyle Street Community Services.
• Hungry Zine is launching Community Supported Art program as a way to support their artists and writers. It is similar to a subscription and the 2023 share will include the next three issues of the zine.
• The latest Canada Food Price Report estimates that food prices will increase by 5-7% on average in 2023.

What I Ate

• Last week, we ordered from Charcoal Dragon, the Vietnamese food pop-up run by Tu of Jack’s Burger. We weren’t sure what to expect, but were blown away by the flavours. The fry bread reminded me of youtiao (one of Emily’s favourite baked goods), and was served alongside a fragrant stew. It was my second time trying bun cha (the first was earlier this summer at Get Cooking), and I really loved the grilled meat. Mack couldn’t get enough of the spring rolls. The next pop-up is scheduled for January 12, 2023.

Three-course take-out from Charcoal Dragon

Openings

• Takopo, serving up Japanese food, transitioned from a food truck to a brick and mortar storefront in West Edmonton Mall. They are located in #1546, Phase 3.

Local News

• Edmonton has its first Carlo’s Bakery cake vending machine, found at Kingsway Mall. A slice will cost you $10.49 plus tax.
• Phil’s latest Best Dish column highlights La Boca Loca.
• Edify checked out 124 Street restaurants Tropical Sweets and Three Vikings.
• Boyle McCauley News tried the fare from Tee Pee Treats.
• Several other local brands are available at the Wow Factor Desserts store, including Jacek and Confetti Sweets.
• Siwin Foods announced a $54 million expansion of their Edmonton facility.

What I Ate

• We ordered from Panini’s Italian Cucina for the first time last week to satisfy a pizza craving. Chicken pesto is usually my go-to order, but I was particularly impressed with the loaded Italian. The Bolognese beef sauce made for a really flavourful base, and the meatballs were really tasty. We will definitely order rom them again in the future!

Loaded Italian and chicken pesto pizzas from Panini’s

Birdog on the Hunt for Repeat Customers Downtown

Century Hospitality Group has opened Birdog, its sixth restaurant and its third in Edmonton’s core, intending to complement the downtown food scene.

Century Hospitality Group owner Chris Lachance said he is always looking for opportunities to grow. While he has passed on more than two dozen offers to expand over the past few years because they weren’t right, Lachance was intrigued when he was contacted by a friend over the summer. He was an investor in Bottega 104 and shared with Lachance that it would close in September.

“I already knew the (Bottega 104) landlord, and he was very flexible and accommodating,” said Lachance. “And my friend stayed on as a partner at Birdog and made it easy to transition.”

The name of the restaurant came to Lachance in a dream. The term “bird dog” primarily refers to hunting dogs that fetch game birds after they are shot, but it is also a term in sales parlance for referrals in business. For Lachance, Birdog perfectly conveys what he is trying to achieve with the guest experience.

“It’s the relentless pursuit to get what you’re after,” said Lachance. “In the hospitality business, it’s the way you make people feel. So let’s do something great here, go after it, and let’s bring those guests back.”

Lachance said Birdog was designed to fill a gap he identified in the area. “We looked at what was missing downtown, and thought we could bring in a restaurant with a really cool lobby hotel feel,” said Lachance.

The restaurant at 10181 104 St. joins two Century restaurants downtown: Lux Steakhouse and The Parlour.

While Birdog retained Bottega’s long bar along one wall, the new layout opens up the space. There is also a private room in the back that accommodates up to 12, with its own private washroom. At present, Birdog is open for dinner Tuesdays to Sundays but will consider adding lunch and brunch depending on the response from the community.

While he is proud of the drink menu, Lachance was quick to emphasize that Birdog has a “serious kitchen.” Culinary leader Tony Le has created an approachable menu not out of step with other Century Hospitality properties.

For example, pizzas feature prominently on the menu, as Century retained Bottega 104’s industrious pizza oven. “It’s the Ferrari of pizza ovens,” said Le. “At Parlour, I had to learn how to control a wood-fired oven for our pizzas. Here, it holds a consistent temperature, so I don’t have to worry about it.”

In addition, Le highlighted the burger on the menu, a Minnesota-style “Juicy Lucy.” The beef patty is stuffed with American cheddar and served on Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls, brought in from Pennsylvania. They’re the same buns used at the popular American chain Shake Shack.

Korean-inspired dishes are also on the menu, with kimchi mac and cheese, kimchi wings, and Le’s version of Korean corn cheese. “Maybe I’ve been watching too much K-dramas,” laughed Le.

Experimentation with Korean flavours ties in well with Century Hospitality’s next project, Stingray, located in the former Delux space in Crestwood (Century Hospitality had sold its burger-focused property Delux a few years prior, but subsumed it over the summer). To open in 2023, Stingray will allow Le to flex his interest in pan-Asian cuisines, including tastes from his Vietnamese heritage.

Both Lachance and Le credit their loyal customer base as the reason they continue to thrive, in spite of several rough years during the pandemic. “It was the worst time in my life,” said Lachance. “But to see our guests coming out to ask what we needed, I cried. That’s what being rooted in the community is all about.”

Openings

• From the folks behind Smokin’ Barrels comes Tropical Sweets Cafe, located at 10235 124 Street, Unit 100B.
• Forno Flat Bread, offering “Mediterranean and Italian fusion”, is now open at 3418 99 Street.

Upcoming Events

• Filistix is launching their Kusina Speaker Series on December 7, 2022. It features a multi-course meal from Chef JP Dublado and a presentation from him about his experiences in hospitality. Tickets are $90.
• A reminder that the Edmonton Christmas Market kicks off on November 30 and runs until December 18, 2022 at Fort Edmonton Park. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for kids 6-17.

Local News

• Arcadia announced that “taking into account the ongoing human rights issues surrounding the World Cup this year, we cannot in good conscience promote the event”, and will not be showing any of the matches.
• The Butternut Tree has adopted a policy RGE RD did last year, and as of earlier this month, introduced a $10 deposit fee per person to secure a reservation. The deposit is refundable upon arrival.
• The more winter patios, the merrier, so it’s great to see that Fu’s Repair Shop has winterized their backyard! See other winter patios listed here.
• Happy first birthday to the Downtown location of Jack’s Burger Shack.
• The Downtown Business Association is launching a gift card on December 1 that will be accepted at more than 40 shops, restaurants, liquor and cannabis stores, venues, and hotels.
• Taproot has the story behind an initiative from Converse and Cook: a new cookbook capturing how Edmontonians coped with the pandemic with comfort food.
• Edmonton Eats has put together 5 cooking kits that benefit their cultural hosts. The kits cost between $8-20.

What I Ate

• We celebrated American Thanksgiving with Jack’s turducken burger, a supremely satisfying combination of a turkey patty, chicken skin, and duck gravy. It was a special offered just that day, and sold out for good reason.

Jack’s turducken burger

• I also cannot believe Elizabeth is three months old! I meant to share a photo earlier, but as parents know, better late than never!

Emily and Elizabeth

Openings

• Century Hospitality is opening a new property called Birdog in the space that formerly housed Bottega 104 (10181 104 Street).
• Sauce Modern Caribbean Cuisine opened over the weekend, located at 13655 St. Albert Trail.
• Dorinku Osaka has a new pop-up ramen shop called Tenjin Ramen, that opened over the weekend.
• The Mash has opened their third location in the Edmonton area, this time in Old Strathcona (joining restaurants in Windermere and St.Albert). Find them at 10402 82 Avenue.

Closures

• After 4.5 years in operation, Yelo’d shared that they are closing on December 23, 2022. In their announcement, they do hint at “amazing things” planned for 2023.
• High Dough is closing their Garneau location (in order to concentrate their pizza operations at the Strathcona location). But they promise new life for the former Three Boars space.

Local News

• I love local collaborations! This one sees Jacek partner with Kind Ice Cream to recreate three of their most popular ice cream flavours into chocolate bars. The bars are sold exclusively at Kind.
• Another great collaboration is between Remedy and Alley Kat, to produce a Chai Latte Porter.
• The Silver Skate Festival has brought back their Celebrate Edmonton Bags, surprise bags filled with goods sourced from local companies. I’ve purchased them in the past and have found them to be a delight.
• After only a 7 week trial, the Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market has decided to call it quits on opening on Fridays: “At this time we would like to focus on our current customer base who is telling us their preferred market days are on the weekend.”
• Edify suggests places to watch the World Cup.
• Also from Edify, they checked out brunches at Tiramisu Bistro and Versailles Cafe.
• The University of Alberta held a forum to ponder what we might be eating in 50 years.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• Those looking for locally-grown lettuce can consider Vertical Roots Canada, who farm their greens in south Edmonton using aquaponics. Their product is available at the Bountiful Farmers’ Market.

What I Ate

• There’s nothing like a morning pick-me-up from Rosewood Foods. Their breakfast sandwiches and potatoes are just so good.

Chicken sausage sandwich from Rosewood Foods