Alberta Ends Restrictions Exemption Program

Last Tuesday, Premier Jason Kenney announced that the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) would end later that evening, at 11:59pm on February 8, 2022. Liquor restrictions remain in place, with service ending at 11pm, and tables are limited to 10 people. Indoor masking requirements (while not eating or drinking) will remain in place until at least February 28, 2022.

Hospitality businesses were not given any notice to prepare for the end of REP. The Alberta Hospitality Association questioned the lifting of REP without loosening other restrictions such as the liquor service curfew, while others, including Kris Harvey of the Chvrch of John, are wondering about the motivation behind the decision.

“It’s a completely backwards way of operating. What they’re doing is pandering to an unvaccinated population that has given us the reason to have the restrictions exemption program in the first place.”

The City of Edmonton did not fully explore creating a municipal version of the REP, but given it would have been the lone city to do so in the province, it would have been a challenge.

Although the QR code reader is no longer available for new downloads, those who have already downloaded the app can continue to use it for “some period of time”. As a result, some restaurants have shared that they will continue to implement a vaccine passport program on their own.

Passporteats.ca was intended to be a repository of restaurants continuing with REP, but uptake has been low. Thus far, I am aware of three restaurants that have shared their decision to continue with REP for the moment:

• Northern Chicken, “To quote another post by us…We ain’t changing anything tomorrow.”
• Fleisch, “Our current rules will remain in place until the end of the weekend AT LEAST, while we figure out what our next steps look like. We remain committed to keeping our community and staff safe, and are doing our best to navigate the difficult position we have all been put in.”
• Cafe Bicyclette, “Please note that we will maintain all of our current protocols including REP until we can navigate a practical timeline to return to our normal lives. Merci!…#REPnotRiP”

COVID-19-related News

• Downtown restaurants, including the owners of Chicken for Lunch and Dalla Tavola Zenari, are looking forward to customers returning after the work-from-home order lifts on March 1, 2022.
• Between the Omicron variant and supply-chain issues, restauranteur Paul Shufelt shared that it was the worst January he had experienced.

Openings

• Chicken and waffle restaurant Waffle Bird is now open in the former DangerKat Waffles space at 8116 101 Street, from the folks behind the Preserve Food Truck (which they’ve since closed) and WhoaNuts.
• Chicko Chicken, a Vancouver-based Korean fried chicken restaurant chain, has moved into the former Mama Lee’s Kitchen storefront, located at 10633 51 Avenue.
• Hoang Long had closed its other Downtown location on Jasper Avenue some time ago, but it looks like they will be opening another further east, at 9892 Jasper Avenue later in February (formerly housing Al Centro).
• Nuttea, an international chain specializing in dairy-free house-made milks, will be opening its first Edmonton location soon.
• I’m so happy to see a cafe returning to the Downtown space vacated by Starbucks – a Blenz Coffee Shop will take over 10104 109 Street.

Closures

• It looks like Ohana Donuts is now closed.

Upcoming Events

• Sakihitowin is the next Friends of Royal Alberta Museum event on February 19, 2022. The after-hours evening will feature Indigenous cuisine by Pei Pei Chei Ow Chef Scott Jonathan Iserhoff. Tickets are $150.
• Lola’s Gift Shop, the pop-up at the Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market, is hosting an online cooking class with Mai Nguyen of Gourmai Dumplings on February 21, 2022. Tickets are $68 for two and $98 for four, and includes all the necessary ingredients and complimentary vintage dishware. Tickets must be purchased by February 15.
• The 5th Street Food Hall will be hosting a Tacos & Beer Pop-Up on February 28, 2022, with all four kitchens offering special curated menus.

Local News

• It looks like the weekly convoy is continuing to disrupt some Downtown businesses, with at least one, Buok, deciding to proactively stay closed.
• Phil’s latest Best Dish column highlights BaoBao’s wonderful soup dumplings.
• Edify checks out Stanhope Eatery and Bar.
• In honour of Black History Month, Linda has some great recommendations of black-owned restaurants to try. Ashley Otieno also shared a list of black-owned restaurants.
• Confetti Sweets is now offering photo-screened cookies that can be shipped nationally, with pre-selected themes or personal photos.
• For those looking to cozy up at home, On Our Table has curated a February Hygge Box filled with locally-sourced goods.
• Super Bowl Sunday has passed, but the Journal has a round-up of locally-sourced finger foods that can make any gathering a tasty one.

What I Ate

• Mack and I indulged in a hot breakfast from Rosewood Foods last week. I deviated from my usual breakfast sandwich and opted for a very satisfying breakfast bowl with sausage.

Breakfast from Rosewood Foods

• We satisfied Mack’s craving for Oodle Noodle on Friday. We ordered the butter chicken mac and cheese for Emily, but we ended up eating more of it than she did – the sweet sauce was surprisingly tasty.

Oodles of noodles from Oodle Noodle

• We took some Lockstock Coffee cheese scones to enjoy at the end of our walk exploring the Tawatina Bridge over the weekend. I usually opt for their kouign amann so it was a nice reminder of just how great their savoury goods are too.

Cheese scone from Lockstock Coffee

• Mack and I had the luxury to meet up for a quiet Valentine’s lunch today. It was also our first time trying the scaccia, a calzone-like Italian loaf from Dalla. It was such a great deal at just $10, with a generous amount of meat (capicollo, mortadella, salami), mushrooms, and cheese. We will be ordering it again!

Scaccia from Dalla

Take-Home Valentine’s Day Options Abound

So many people (including me!) have become homebodies as we enter our third year of the pandemic that it’s not a surprise that for Valentine’s Day, many hospitality businesses will be offering take-home options for those celebrating the occasion. This is by no means an exhaustive list (and keep in mind most require pre-ordering by certain deadlines), but hopefully it provides some ideas for how you can commemorate the day while supporting local independent businesses!

Savoury

• Some restaurants are opening up just to offer curbside pick-up on February 14, as is the case with Tzin’s menu for two, 5-courses plus sparkling wine for $150.
• The four kitchens at the 5th Street Food Hall have each put together 3-course dinners available for pick-up and dine-in, ranging in price from $80-90.
• Including kids in your at-home Valentine’s plans? Chartier has you covered, with kids meals to add to their take-out game dinners starting at $6.
• If you’re looking for a heat-and-serve option, May is offering a $145 3-course dinner for two, which includes a bottle of wine.
• Kitchen by Brad is offering two different options – a breakfast in bed package including their house-made bagels, and a bacon bouquet.
• Meuwly’s is offering a more complete package, bundling charcuterie, flowers, and sparkling wine for $210.
• Buok’s dinner package for two, including three courses, is among the most affordable options at $39.99.
• For another great deal, don’t forget about LovePizza – 2 signature pizzas are $25 on Mondays. And their epic mac & cheeza is still available in February!

Sweet

• If your Valentine prefers variety, the Sugared and Spiced Valentine’s Box might be right up up their alley – which of course includes their amazing brownies.
• Bread and Butter Bakery in Riverdale also has some pretty treats in smaller quantities for pre-order, including heart-shaped cinnamon love buns.
• Farrow has also dressed up their doughnut cake just for the occasion.
• For something more interactive, The Art of Cake has Valentine’s Day decorating kits available.
• Technically both salty and sweet, Zwick’s Pretzels is offering two options for heart-shaped pretzels through Public Food Hub.
• Also both sweet and savoury, Breadlove is sampling two of their loves also through the Public Food Hub.

COVID-19-related News

• Premier Jason Kenney announced last week that the province will be lifting restrictions within the month, including ending the Restrictions Exemption Program. More details will be announced this week. Toast Culture and RGE RD were interviewed about what REP ending might mean for their businesses, while Kris Harvey, the co-chair of the Edmonton Independent Hospitality Community, is concerned lifting restrictions too soon could lead to further restrictions in the future.
• Although there are likely reasons other than just COVID-19 that have prevented Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw from dining out, it was still somewhat surprising to hear that she hasn’t eaten at a restaurant in two years.
• Campio Brewing is offering free 6-packs of beer for healthcare workers and first responders.

Openings

• Dookbaeki opened their second location at West Edmonton Mall on Level Two near T & T Supermarket.
• Asian Flame Indian Kitchen and Bar is now open at 8505 109 Street.
• Calgary-based cafe Deville Coffee is expanding to Edmonton. The first location will be on campus at MacEwan University.
• Home Town Pizza is now open at 2203 47 Street.

Upcoming Events

• Old Strathcona’s Sweet Treats & Latte Festival is back, with 17 participating businesses serving up a hot drink or sweet treat from February 7-27, 2022.
• Beb’s Bagels will be popping up at Wilfred’s for their first-ever Beb’s Brunch on February 19-21, 2022.

Local News

• Sweet Pea Cafe & Playhouse distanced themselves from former partner Jamie Sale who has been publicly supporting the convoy.
• Some of the businesses located around the Alberta Legislature, including District Cafe and Buok, decided to remain closed on Saturday in order to protect their staff from potential harassment from the convoy protesters.
• In an unrelated incident, The Common had their restaurant windows and doors smashed.
• Edify checked out the relaunched Honey Jam in Old Strathcona.
• Boxer Kitchen and Bar changes up their menu seasonally.
• The Kitchen at the Stanley Milner Library is not yet open, but Chef Doreen Prei filmed a segment there sharing her three favourite kitchen tools.
• Julie Van Rosendaal’s project to offer virtual cooking classes to children and youth has grown into a separate website. It’s password protected, but DM Julie to obtain the password!

Beyond Edmonton

• The family that owns Earls has acquired full ownership interest in Cactus Club.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• The Vermeer Dairy Farm, east of Camrose, is providing the public with an opportunity to see how milk and butter gets to the table.
• The most recent episode of That’s Food features Maryann Borch from Good Note Community Farm.

What I Ate

• We could not pass up the Jack’s Burger Shack special of Vietnamese fried chicken sandwiches offered on Lunar New Year. The portions were huge, crispy, and so, so delicious. I especially loved the pickled veggies!

Vietnamese fried chicken sandwiches from Jack’s Burger Shack

• We made a stop at Kind Ice Cream on the way home this weekend after spending some much-needed time outdoors. To our surprise, out of all of their flavours to choose from, Emily picked salted caramel. I’d like to think she has good taste!

Ice cream from Kind

Pop-up Brings Chinatown to Downtown Farmers’ Market

Lola’s Gift Shop, a month-long pop-up located on the first floor of the Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market (EDFM), aims to raise awareness about businesses in Chinatown, in addition to Asian- and BIPOC-owned businesses.

Developed through a partnership between the Chinatown Transformation Collaborative Society of Edmonton (CTC) and the creative collective I’ll Call You Tomorrow (ICYT), Lola’s will operate every weekend during market hours until Feb. 27.

CTC had been exploring ways to engage the community to increase visitors to the neighbourhood, said Alicia Chung, special events coordinator for CTC. Fortuitously, this lined up with ICYT’s intent to create a multi-brand retail boutique, said co-founder and creative director Raeland Mendoza.

“Since our studio is located in CO*LAB, adjacent to the Chinatown and Boyle Street communities as well as downtown, early on we knew if we were to expand our physical retail strategy, it’d also have to reflect the parts of the city that are meaningful to us as a collective,” said Mendoza. “That idea eventually became Lola’s Gift Shop.”

The partnership with the farmers’ market came about from an existing relationship between EDFM and the Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA), one of the key stakeholders that advocated for the creation of the CTC back in 2018. In years past, the market and the CBA had collaborated on several long-table feasts for nearby residents.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for both (the CTC and the EDFM) to accomplish our respective and collective goals through collaboration,” said Chung. “The CTC hopes to bring value by adding to the vibrancy and the existing community of incredible vendors at the EDFM, as well as finding at least one way to answer the question, ‘If people aren’t currently coming to Chinatown, how can we bring Chinatown to them?'”

Lola’s Gift Shop plans to accomplish this by offering products from a mix of established Chinatown-based businesses and up-and-coming vendors, with an emphasis on businesses owned by people of Asian descent or people who are Black, Indigenous, or people of colour.

“Part of the fun in curating our brand list is pairing different scales of businesses,” said Mendoza. “Similar to the diversity in Chinatown, each brand is in a different part of their respective journey.”

Food and food-related products feature prominently among the 30 vendors sold at Lola’s, which also spans art, home goods, and fashion. “Since we’re Asian, there must always be food — really good food!” said Chung.

Brands currently available are Caramunchies, DRTY Ice Cream, Gourmai Dumplings, Hungry Zine, Mamahan Pastries, and Momma Tong, with plans to bring more well-known brands like Hong Kong Bakery and Ying Fat for special appearances.

Mendoza hopes that Lola’s will ultimately lead more people to explore Chinatown, located just one block north of the market building on 97 Street.

“A benefit of having over 30 retail vendor partners in our brand list is that we now have over 30 additional platforms in the city to talk about their own experience with the neighbourhood,” said Mendoza. “… (We) aim to bridge the gap for more Edmontonians to explore Chinatown.”

COVID-19-related News

• Bodega’s Sherwood Park location will be closed until February 2, 2022 due to a staff member testing positive for COVID-19.
• Northern Chicken is now offering dine-in service for lunch.

Openings

• Burger Brawl (a ghost kitchen run out of DOSC) returns on February 1, 2022.
• Fuzion Donuts are a ghost kitchen that opened up recently and is available through delivery.
• Another ghost kitchen, Taco Nova, launches February 2, 2022.
• El Corazon’s Latin flavours will be available soon at West Block in Glenora (142 Street and 102 Avenue).

Local News

• Just in time for Lunar New Year, Linda has a great post about whether businesses should sell Lunar New Year-themed products.
• Chef Sonny Sung shared his memories of Lunar New Year growing up. He was consulted by Twyla Campbell to help put together a list of best Asian restaurants in the city.
• Roasti Coffee shared that due to economic conditions and price increases, they will be increasing the price of their drinks and some beans.
• Fat Unicorn Brewery, with locations in Edmonton and Lac La Biche, support the truck convoy. Similarly, Dutch Delicious also supported the convoy.
• Phil’s Best Dish column last week focused on Culina To Go’s grab and go concept.
• Edify samples the sauerkraut soup from Continental Treat’s downtown location.
• Happy birthday to Bundok, who just celebrated their fifth year in business.
• The Edmonton Sun’s recent 20 Questions featured A Capella’s Kim Mahoney and Caramunchies’ Alysia Lok.
• Meuwly’s is offering a new referral program for their charcuterie subscriptions – current subscribers can give new subscribers a $10 discount while getting a $10 subscription credit.
• Happy Beer Street continues to pick up traction with seven breweries now a part of the unofficial brewery district.

What I Ate

• Tres Carnales Rostizado was offering an amazing deal in January – just $7 for their delicious chicken burrito. Even without the discount, it’s worth seeking out!

Chicken burrito from Tres Carnales Rostizado

• We decided it was best for Emily to have a virtual birthday celebration for a second year in a row. To help our Edmonton-based family commemorate the occasion, we delivered Sugared and Spiced cupcakes to everyone (customized with Emily’s favourite colours!), which the bakery pre-boxed for us for easy drop-offs. They tasted as good as they looked!

Vanilla funfetti cupcake from Sugared and Spiced

On The Edge Coffee Adopts Self-Contained Coffee Roaster

A new kind of ventless coffee roaster is allowing Edmonton’s On The Edge Coffee to release less pollution and tailor its roast to each type of bean.

Bellwether Coffee, based out of Berkeley, California, has created an electric and automated system that allows roasters to operate in spaces without requiring separate ventilation. On The Edge started using the machine at its Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market kiosk in December 2021, becoming the first in Edmonton and one of just a handful of roasters using the system across Canada.

Owner Jodine Chase acknowledged that coffee has challenges when it comes to sustainability, considering the distance it travels to reach consumers in other parts of the world. But transitioning to the Bellwether was a way for On The Edge to cut down on its own emissions. “Roasting accounts for about 15% of the coffee industry’s footprint, and so there’s room to reduce that right here in coffee-consuming countries instead of mainly burdening low- and middle-income coffee-growing countries,” said Chase.

The Bellwether’s air filtration system reduces the volatile organic compounds and particulate matter that traditional roasters release into the atmosphere, she added.

Jodine Chase with On the Edge Coffee’s Bellwether Roaster

Another big selling feature of the Bellwether is its consistent product output. Bellwether users have the option to source beans directly from the company, then program the machine to roast it based on a specific profile uploaded by Bellwether for that particular bean. That seamlessness allows roasters with less experience to tap into global expertise through the power of the internet. Currently, 75% of the beans roasted by On the Edge are from Bellwether.

“On my best day, I couldn’t do it as consistent as the (Bellwether) does,” said Jennifer Graham, head barista with On the Edge. Graham said the system permits the creation of roast profiles for beans sourced from elsewhere, or to edit existing profiles if they aren’t satisfied with the results. She believes that coffee roasted in the Bellwether has a cleaner flavour most apparent in light-roast coffees. “In our Ethiopian coffee, you can better taste the bergamot and blueberry notes,” she said.

On the Edge has plans to offer coffee cuppings and tastings in the spring to showcase what the Bellwether can do. They’re also not averse to the possibility of offering tastes of conventionally roasted beans alongside their Bellwether roasted beans to allow consumers the chance to judge the product for themselves.

Currently, most of the roasting is done on Sunday afternoons during market hours, and customers are welcome to stop by to see the Bellwether in action. “Customers really love it,” said Chase. “Most folks coming to farmers’ markets have a real interest in supporting local and supporting growing and food production practices. They can sip a coffee while learning about the farm it comes from as they watch the beans turn from green to brown right in front of their eyes.”

COVID-19-related News

• Mikado temporarily closed dine-in service and will re-open on January 30, 2022. They remain open for take-out.
• St. Louis Bar and Grill in St. Albert had to close for two weeks due to staff illness.
• Restaurants continue to struggle as the pandemic continues, including those downtown that continue to face reduced foot traffic.
• The Granary, a restaurant in Red Deer, was forced to close after AHS received complaints that staff had permitted guests to dine in after showing the picture of a dog with their identification. They have since been allowed to re-open after demonstrating their understanding of the Restrictions Exemption Program.

Openings

• Les Moulins La Fayette is a new French bakery that opened on January 14, 2022 at 4460 Calgary Trail. It joins locations in Calgary, and several in Ontario and Quebec.
• Mama Mia Pizzeria is now open at 6875 Ad Astra Blvd.
• KB and Co will be opening a location on the north side (16715 127 Street) in February 2022.

Closures

• Olly Fresco’s in the Edmonton City Centre Mall is permanently closed.

Upcoming Events

• Check out the Chinatown Transformation Collaborative’s Pop-Up Shop, running every weekend at the Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market until February 26-27, 2022. Find local products from Caramunchies, Mama Han, and Hungry Zine, with more to be added!
• Eats on 118 is launching its Lunch Club with an event at Mama Asha Cafe on January 26, 2022. The meal includes an opportunity to learn more about the business owner and their inspiration. Tickets are $25.
• Chef Table Living is offering several different food tours in conjunction with Ice on Whyte. Adult tickets are $79 and include visits to a couple of restaurants and VIP access to the festival.
• The Colombian is hosting a Valentine’s Experience featuring a six-course plated menu paired with natural wines on February 12, 2021. Only tables of 4 remain, for $300.

Local News

• Linda has a thread about some of the local businesses offering Lunar New Year specials in anticipation of next week’s festivities.
• Northern Chicken was transparent about their menu price adjustments made to compensate for increases in their costs.
• Edify samples some of Campio Brewing Co.’s popular menu items.
• Tzin’s windows and tiles were damaged after a police arrest outside their restaurant last summer – but the City of Edmonton will not compensate them for the nearly $3,000 in damages caused.
• In case you missed it – The Yards shared their annual Best in the Core list, including their recommendations for the best fries, most allergen-friendly restaurant, best cheap eats, and best coffee shop office.
• Alberta Food Tours has two new Alberta Cares Packages available, featuring produced sourced from Alberta-based businesses.
• The Loblaws City Market in Ice District will open at the end of 2022, about two years behind schedule.
• Shortages at grocery stores will be fuelled by a combination of supply chain challenges, weather, and the Omicron variant.
• Food rescue apps like Flashfood can save consumers money and divert some food waste.
• Congratulations to Parkland County-based Anohka Distillery who won the Best Canadian London Dry Gin at the 2022 Word Gin Awards.

What I Ate

• We walked over to check out Ayco Bakery last week. They will maintain their West Edmonton Mall location but bake everything for both shops downtown. I thought their cinnamon roll was tasty, and Emily could not stop talking about her strawberry-glazed donut.

Part of Ayco’s baking case

• We finished Chinatown Dining Week strong with a feast from Spirit Bistro and Namaste India. Thanks to everyone who came out to support the event this year!

Our spread from Spirit Bistro and Namaste India

• When Love Pizza offers a great customer appreciation deal at the same time as their amazing mac & cheeza, you order two Big Love size pies! Emily also got to customize her kid-size pizza which was also included as a part of their usual Sunday deal.

You can never have enough mac & cheeza

News of Incoming American Chain Disheartens Local Business Owners

On January 13, 2022, it was announced that American chain restaurant P.F. Chang’s would be opening their first Alberta location in Edmonton later this year. To be located in the Currents of Windermere, this would be the chain’s third location in Canada, with existing operations in Montreal and Winnipeg.

Predictably, as has occurred when other international brands enter the Edmonton market for the first time, every media outlet in Edmonton released a story about the forthcoming P.F. Chang’s. At a time when local businesses are challenged because of an unrelenting pandemic with no end in sight, it was especially disheartening to the owners of small establishments.

“The only thing more depressing than trying to maintain your small independent biz during a pandemic is doing it while watching everyone & their dog get a raging hardon for yet another garbage US chain coming to town to serve you bowls of overpriced starch & commodity meat.” – Paul Shufelt, of Workshop Eatery, Woodshed Burgers, and The Greenhouse

“Watching a few more local restaurants close their doors. We are now in the “it’s not worth it” phase. I fear we are entering the death of the small business (under $1 million). When you buy yourself a job and take home all the pressures, unless your plan is to scale…..” – Jimmy Shewchuk, of Prairie Catering, Say Uncle, and May

“If it’s not one thing, it’s another…If you think I’m heartless or driven by profit that I express frustration, you’re mistaken. I’m speaking from a position of survival. And we will not unless this entire situation changes…like, now. We will continue to do what’s necessary to get us to the next checkpoint. We will continue to fight for the survival of our business. We will continue to serve our loyal customers. But fatigue is definitely setting in. And we’re getting tired.” Ariel del Rosario, of Filistix

“Whether or not they’re type of restaurant you personally enjoy, we can all agree that large multinational chains can afford their own advertising. Let’s try to offer more free media coverage to the openings/stories of small independents that make our community vibrant!” – Peter Keith, of Meuwly’s

June’s Delicatessen was the latest local business to announce their closure last week, after many more shuttered their doors in 2021.

COVID-19-related News

• Bro’kin Yolk has voluntarily reduced the capacity at their locations (including their Edmonton restaurant) to 50% capacity.
• The Omicron variant has added complications to the already stressed hospitality community.
• Arcadia has re-opened for dine-in service.

Openings

• Ayco Cafe will be opening downtown at 10551 Jasper Avenue on January 19, 2022.
• Honey Jam, which serves katsu & udon opened on January 14, 2022. They are located at 8130 Gateway Blvd.
• Fuzed Kitchen + Bar is now open at 2335 111 Street (formerly a Brewster’s location).

Upcoming Events

• Chinatown Dining Week continues until January 23, 2022, with $10 and $18 specials offered at 18 participating businesses.
• Three Foodies at the 5th Street Food Hall is hosting a 3-course Burns Supper on January 25, 2022, for $50 a person.

Local News

• I was so sorry to hear about the passing of Adrienne Pan today. She was an ardent supporter of local food, and Chinatown Dining Week could always count on her to help us feature some of the small businesses in our event. This is such a loss for our community – Rest in Peace, Adrienne. Twyla Campbell shared her own memories of Adrienne, as well as some of her favourite restaurants.
• Roasti has decided to call it a snow day tomorrow and proactively keep both cafes closed on January 18, 2022.
• Did you know that two ghost kitchens offering sushi and Thai food operate out of the Royal Pizza located in the Hys Centre?
• A Bite of Brazil is hosting their own Soup Festival featuring all gluten-friendly soups.
• Remedy’s Southgate location is back up and running; their Jasper Avenue cafe is currently under repair.
• Phil’s recent Best Dish column highlighted bakery Sugared and Spiced.
• Edify checks out the Maria’s take on Northern Mexican cuisine.
• Alberta Food Tours highlights their top five vegetarian restaurants in Edmonton.
• CBC profiled cheesemaker Aditya Raghavan of Fleur Jaune.
• The Mawji Centre at NAIT hosted Peter Keith of Mewly’s to discuss their minimum viable product that eventually led to their brick and mortar shop.
• MilkCrate chef Steve Brochu and his wife Lourdes just finished cooking through a second plant-based book.

What I Ate

• Our first (of many) Chinatown Dining Week meals over the weekend involved pho from King Noodle House. It’s such a great deal for $18: large pho, spring rolls, grilled pork balls, and a drink!

King Noodle House Chinatown Dining Week special

• Mack thinks we’ve created a bubble tea monster in Emily! She tore through a majority of the two fresh fruit bubble teas we picked up from Tea Bar Cafe. They’re offering an amazing $10 Chinatown Dining Week special featuring a bubble tea + a bubble waffle.

Bubble tea from Tea Bar Cafe

• We followed that up with a Chinatown Dining Week meal from Syphay, who never disappoints! I love their pad Thai!

Syphay Chinatown Dining Week special

• Any day with Brio is a good day – I had been missing their Prairie loaf terribly. If you haven’t tried it already – their pre-order service is so convenient; it means you not only get to skip the line, but also means you don’t necessarily have to stop inside the shop if you prefer not to.

Goodies from Brio

• We also stopped by the Green Onion Cake Man this weekend after taking in the Deep Freeze festivities on 118 Avenue. There’s nothing like a salty green onion cake right off the griddle!

Green onion cakes from Green Onion Cake Man

Awn Kitchen survives setbacks with community support

Nothing could have prepared Kaelin Whittaker for the challenges she would encounter while trying to build her business, Awn Kitchen, in the middle of a pandemic. But she’s still standing, and her latest shift has been greeted with tremendous support.

“It’s been a roller coaster…I’ve lost sight of the why, I’ve lost sight of the strength and resiliency of myself, I’ve felt defeat, I’ve felt fear, and a whole slew of other emotions,” she said. “But I have also felt so much positivity, love, grace, and so much pride and happiness. The team at Awn is incredible and willing to pivot and adapt as needed, they are there to support one another and the dream and vision that is Awn, to keep dreaming and keep pushing forward, even when the days are hard.”

Awn Kitchen grew from Whittaker’s home-based business, originally called Ruby Apron, which offered baking and cooking classes out of her home. In June 2021, she opened a brick-and-mortar storefront in the neighbourhood of Lansdowne, fulfilling a dream to have a space that would accommodate those classes and a full-service café. She had started planning it in 2019, before COVID-19 turned everything upside-down.

“I had built a strong foundation for Awn before deciding to expand,” said Whittaker. “I knew Lansdowne needed and wanted a café.”

When Whittaker announced the postponement of all in-person classes in December, the community was disappointed but understanding. And their response was overwhelming when she introduced Awn at Home, which offers prepared meals made with seasonal ingredients.

“We’ve sold out every day, the feedback has been so positive, and it’s been a fun way for us to pivot,” said Whittaker. “It’s something we aim to continue doing once we are back to dine-in and offering in-person classes again.”

Whittaker said two things prompted her to expand: “Wanting more as a business owner and the idea of not wanting to put all of my eggs in one basket!”

She’s worked to shelter her 10 staff from layoffs throughout this period, and has been grateful that her team has consistently been on the same page about the pandemic. Awn has been through three sets of government restrictions, though Whittaker notes that she’s always been ahead of the mandated changes.

“In March 2020 I stopped teaching (in my home-based business) before any restrictions were put in place,” she said. “Late in 2020 I did the same, and I didn’t start teaching again until this July. To me, the virus has always been bigger than you or I. It’s about our community, about our first responders, our frontline workers, and about kids.”

Although the last couple of years have been a whirlwind, Whittaker still has a positive outlook on the future for Awn.

“The community in Lansdowne and beyond have been so receptive to what we are doing both in the café and workshop,” she said. “As we pivot and continue to offer new and exciting things, they’re on board for all that we do. It might sound cliché, but on the tough days it’s the community that keep pushing me forward.”

COVID-19-related News

• Broken Spoke Cider has decided to temporarily close their taproom.
• Bodega’s St. Albert location is temporarily closed due to a staff testing positive for COVID-19.
• With some provinces closing restaurants to in-person dining, some are calling for more financial supports for workers affected.

Openings

• The folks behind Workshop Eatery and Woodshed Burger will be opening up Hayloft Steak and Fish in early March.
• Vintage Fork’s tea business will be relocating to a residence in the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood this summer.
• Envie, offering southern American cuisine, is open in the former Wildflower Grill space at 10009 107 Street.
• Aloha Hawaiian Poke & Grill is now open in west Edmonton at 11315 174 Street.
• Indian restaurant Lazeez Affair is open in west Edmonton at 10813 170 Street.
• Canadian dessert chain D Spot Cafe opened its first location in Edmonton at 3803 Calgary Trail, #540.
• Japanese chain Fuwa Fuwa Pancakes will be opening in Edmonton some time this year.

Closures

• June’s Delicatessen in Highlands announced their closure, with their last day being January 16, 2022: “Not to blame it all on ol’ Covey but it’s definitely been a huge factor. We set out to bring the Edmonton community a great lil’ Jewish inspired deli where we could all come together over blintzes, matzo ball soup, Reubens, bagels & much more. What we’ve had to do is change over and over and over again moving us further away from the initial vision we set out to share with all of you.” They will be sharing their new plans for the space at some point.

Local News

• The Tomato is soliciting nominations for their annual Top 100 Best Things To Eat or Drink in Edmonton list. Submissions will be accepted until February 4, 2022.
• MilkCrate just started a new loyalty program.
• Ernest’s at NAIT is re-opening for lunch on January 13, 2022.
• Learn more about new restaurant May from owner Jimmy Shewchuk and executive chef Doreen Prei.
• RGE RD’s Blair Lebsack and Caitlin Fulton were interviewed about running a restaurant and opening a new business in the pandemic.
• Ohana Donuterie talked about their tempting Hawaiian-style donuts on Edmonton AM.
• Edify lists restaurants that offer thoughtful beer and food pairings.
• Jason Foster offers his 2022 predictions for the beer scene.
• Soho donated $2600 of cold weather wear to those in need last week.
• The majority of Edmontonians surveyed about the public parks alcohol consumption pilot want the program to stay.
• Local chef Corey Feschuk shares his recipes, all made from products sourced from the dollar store, on his TikTok channel.

Beyond Edmonton

• Calgary-based cookbook author Julie van Rosendaal had such an overwhelming response to her free online kids cooking camps last week that she’ll be continuing with classes in the evenings and on weekends.

What I Ate

• • We ventured outside over the weekend to pick up lunch from Jack’s Burger Shack, making it easily our longest outdoor walk in a week. It was well worth it though, and they even kicked in a grilled cheese for Emily to make up for the small fries they left off our order last moth. It’s so great having them in #yegdt.

Take-out from Jack’s Burger Shack

• • We were able to get a sneak peek of some of the Chinatown Dining Week deals (a benefit of being a volunteer!). Emily immediately took to the chicken skins from Kim Fat Market. They don’t seem like much, but fried to a crisp and showered with garlic, they’re savoury and incredibly addictive. They’re available for just $10 as take-out from January 13-23, 2022, along with dishes from 17 other participating businesses. I hope you’ll check it out!

Emily and her chicken skins

Chinatown Dining Week Returns for a Fifth Year

It’s hard to believe Chinatown Dining Week is now into its fifth year! When a small team of volunteers launched this event back in 2018, we did so because we wanted to encourage the wider community to explore what we believed to be an underappreciated neighbourhood in Edmonton. Five years later, this continues to be the case, and perhaps even more so because of the pandemic.

From January 13-23, 2022, participating businesses are offering special $10 and $18 menus. It is our biggest cohort yet, with a total of 18 participating businesses this year, with 7 of them joining the event for the first time.

We’re coming off our most successful event, thankful that the community rallied around the participating businesses in 2021, just as restaurants were shuttered to in-person dining. This year, many of the businesses are offering takeaway options in addition to dine-in service.

Please consider checking out a new restaurant during Chinatown Dining Week, or perhaps revisiting an old favourite, at a time when they could really use the patronage.

COVID-19-related News

• Reminiscent of what occurred in November 2020, a number of restaurants, including Chartier, Northern Chicken, Fleisch, and Arcadia, have chosen to voluntarily close in-person dining. Some of the closures coincide or extend pre-planned holiday closures, and others, like Northern Chicken, are temporary, but it’s hard not to think this might be a harbinger of mandated government closures. This uncertainty is the latest in a series of challenges facing the restaurant industry.
• Awn Kitchen has decided to postpone their in-person classes. During this closure, they are pivoting to offering prepared meals under the banner Awn at Home.
• 70 Acre Brewing Company had to temporarily close due to staff testing positive for COVID-19.

Openings

• Smoke BBQ and Bar is now open inside Crash Hotel at 10266 103 Street.
• Cafe Bel-Air, a vendor at multiple farmers’ markets, has opened up a brick and mortar shop at 8020 101 Street.
• Love Pizza’s Leduc location opened in December at 5411 Discovery Way, #110.
• Taiwanese bubble tea chain Xing Fu Tang has opened two locations in Edmonton, at 18483 Stony Plain Road and 3955 Calgary Trail.

Closures

• Darling Wine Bar closed up shop in December, but promises that “It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.” The intention will be to find a more permanent location.

Upcoming Events

• El Cortez is again hosting Yoga and Tacos on January 11, 2022, with an hour-long yoga session followed by a taco meal.
• Monsoon Bistro & Bar is hosting a Regional Indian Cuisine & Culture Series event on January 12, 2022, featuring a guest speaker and a four-course menu with wine pairings. Tickets are $145 per person.
• Chinatown Dining Week returns for its fifth year, January 13-23, 2022! Check out the special $10 and $18 menus being offered by 18 participating businesses.
• Deep Freeze, the annual winter festival in Alberta Avenue, is scheduled for January 14-23, 2022.

Local News

• If you haven’t seen it yet, Linda put together a great article about Edmonton food trends to watch for in 2022.
• Eat North looked back at Alberta’s food and drink scene in 2021.
• Phil reflected on his year of Best Dishes columns. His last feature was on Chinatown gem Gui Lin Noodle House.
• Website complex.com offers a list of the 30 Best New Canadian Restaurants, which for Edmonton lists Meat the Bun, and an Edmonton location of a Calgary chain, Bro’Kin Yolk.
• Given the deep freeze we’re in – Linda’s post featuring her favourite 20 spots for comfort soups in Edmonton couldn’t have come at a better time.
• May, the new restaurant located in the Art Gallery of Alberta, started serving lunch on December 21, 2021.
• On the Edge Coffee will soon be roasting coffee at the Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market.
• Farrow has started offering its own line of pickles and condiments.
• The Journal checked in with Kirsta Franke of Wild Heart Collective.
• Twyla profiled The Marc’s Patrick and Doris Saurette in Modern Luxuria Magazine.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency just changed the guidelines of the amount of food that can be brought into the country for personal use.
• Just before Christmas, Malina Ukrainian Bakery was broken into and had some equipment stolen. Thankfully, the community came out to support them.
• PCL staff donated $26,000 for the Edmonton Food Bank.
• A Calgary-based women shares her tips on stretching her food budget.

What I Ate

Happy New Year! It’s felt like a particularly gluttonous holiday season, mostly because heading outdoors for walks (my preferred exercise method) has been non-existent over the past two weeks. While I’m not looking forward to returning to the usual routine, I will be looking forward to more low-key meals, and hopefully, a break in the temperature! I hope you had a good holiday with loved ones as well.

• Earlier in December, feeling under the weather (and thankful for a negative COVID result), take-out from King Noodle House hit the spot.

Bun Bo Hue for the win!

• Food trucks in the winter are new to me, but props to the team behind Winter Promenade for their successful first event. The Avila Arepa empanadas helped warm us up, and Emily loved the visit from Santa.

Avila Arepa empanadas

• Given the current circumstances, my family has reverted back to take-out only (I managed to dine indoors five times since March 2020), but I will say we were disappointed by a recent OEB brunch order. The serving size seemed unfortunately small, especially for those of us who opted for their signature brunch poutines.

Confit de Canard poutine take-out from OEB

• Our love affair with Rosewood Foods has spread to my family with this amazing Christmas Eve box – the Black Forest cupcakes and gingerbread crullers in particular were hits.

Rosewood Food’s Christmas Eve box

• We also recreated a birthday tradition we started in the pandemic – enjoying Mack’s favourite carrot cake from Rosewood.

All smiles for Rosewood Food’s carrot cake

Pandemic Shift for Confetti Sweets Becomes Permanent

Confetti Collective, which started as a pandemic-era side business for local bakery Confetti Sweets, has become a permanent fixture of the company’s brick and mortar shop in Sherwood Park thanks to a warm embrace by customers. Ubiquitous at Edmonton-area farmers’ markets for well over a decade, Confetti Sweets opened up a storefront in Sherwood Park back in 2014. In early 2020 owner Kathy Leskow decided to significantly expand, not knowing a pandemic would soon derail her vision.

“We actually took a big risk and tripled our space with leasing another bay in February 2020,” said Leskow. “To earn revenue for the extra space, we had plans to launch a birthday party program and to open a cafe style concept. COVID became a thing one month later and our plans were put on hold.”

Vendors that had become her “market family” thanks to years of selling alongside them at farmers’ markets had an uncertain future in those initial months after things shut down. “Farmers’ markets had no idea whether they would be able to continue as usual,” said Leskow. “In April 2020 I invited about 15 of them to sell in our space, and it grew from there. Now we have over 50 brands in our store.”

Leskow noted that while this side business was originally a part of the Confetti Sweets umbrella, with so many new products coming into the store and taking over their social media, they eventually decided to spin the effort out into a separate entity called Confetti Collective.

The Collective doesn’t charge the vendors any ongoing fees. “We typically purchase at wholesale prices and sell for retail prices,” said Leskow. “This pays for space in the store and any collective marketing we do. There are no other costs for vendors.”

The growth of their product catalogue, available both in store and through delivery, has been somewhat organic. Customers have requested specific items, and Leskow is also open to housing additional items. “We love new brands,” said Leskow. “They have to be produced in a commercial kitchen, and we try to have a good variety.  For example, we have a great Mexican variety so we won’t take on any more Latin foods at this time.  We do our best to support the brands that have helped us grow.” She shared that some of the most popular items include El Gringo chips, Kick Ass Caramels, Auntie Jean’s Fudge, KGW Popcorn, Chocolicious, and Sherwood Park Soups.

The Collective has been a win-win for Confetti Sweets. “Our average customer spend has doubled if not tripled in the past two years,” said Leskow. “If customers do come in for just a quick dinner solution from the freezer, they usually end up grabbing at least one cookie.”

While Confetti Collective was unplanned, Leskow enjoyed the challenge, and is grateful for the community support. “I kind of went from running a bakery, to running a grocery store, and I am still learning,” said Leskow. “The growth of this ‘side business’ has been super exciting. You don’t know how special it is when we start placing larger and larger orders with these local companies. It truly makes their day!”

Openings

• Continental Treat will be opening up their second location in the former Hardware Grill space (9696 Jasper Avenue).
• Tatemado is a new Mexican restaurant in Sherwood Park (975 Broadmoor Blvd, Unit 42).
• Shoyu Sushi is now open at 10011 109 Street.

Upcoming Events

• I’m looking forward to Edmonton’s first Winter Promenade event on December 19, 2021 from 11am-4pm at 116 Street & 100 Avenue. There will be food trucks, among live entertainment. It’s been years since we organized a What the Truck?! on Victoria Promenade, but looking back, that was always one of our best locations.

Local News

• Rising food costs and fewer customers has continued to make operating a restaurant very challenging.
• Linda and The Tomato put together lists about places offering Christmas take-out dinners this year, including some traditional and non-traditional dinners from the vendors at JustCook Kitchens.
• The Journal put together a holiday food-related gift guide featuring entirely local vendors. Also consider the Edmonton Eats’ Holiday Cultural Box, as featured on CBC.
• Edify checked out some of the new menu items at 142 Bistro Bar.
• The latest Josh Eats Edmonton segment features Alberta Avenue’s Flava Cafe.
• I was not aware that MacEwan had a pizza vending machine.
• A 7-11 located at 14110 127 Street is the first of the chain’s stores in North America to be fully licensed. Liquor will be sold from 11am-11pm, and can be consumed on site.
• A new distillery has popped up in Parkland County called Anohka Distillery, founded by a local lawyer.
• NAIT put together their own guide to winter patios.
• Prairie Catering is leading a Christmas
  dinner donation drive. With every three dinners donated, they will
  contribute an additional dinner.
• Sea Change is selling
  calendars featuring staff and their pets, with proceeds going to Zoe’s
  Animal Rescue.

Beyond Edmonton

• Former Edmontonian Bob Vandal revived the Funky Pickle pizza brand in England.
• This review of the “worst Michelin starred restaurant, ever” went viral last week. It’s quite the read.

What I Ate

This will be my last Food Notes until the new year. Thanks to everyone for reading, and a safe and happy holidays to you and your loved ones!

• I am definitely a creature of habit, and when I find a dish I love at a restaurant, it takes a lot for me to stray from that favourite. That’s definitely the case with the fried instant noodles with minced pork at Gui Lin. There’s no other place I’ve found with this dish, which holds up particularly well as take-out (and tastes great as leftovers). It’s definitely worth the trip out to Chinatown.

Fried instant noodles with minced pork from Gui Lin

• We wouldn’t make it out to St. Albert very often, but when we did, a stop at Jack’s Burger Shack was a must. Now, we have our very own Jack’s a block away from our home in #yegdt! We grabbed dinner there over the weekend – their hangover style buns (two grilled cheese sandwiches instead of bread) are a must, and we love their poutine. We’ll be back again soon!

Our Jack’s Burger Shack order

RGE RD First in Edmonton to Require Deposits for Reservations

In October, RGE RD became the first restaurant in Edmonton to require deposits for some reservations. No-shows and last-minute cancellations have been increasingly problematic for local restaurants. But restaurants around the world were grappling with the issue long before the pandemic began, leading fine dining establishments in particular to begin taking deposits or upfront payments for reservations.

Caitlin Fulton, co-owner of RGE RD, said they had been mulling the decision to implement a deposit system for months. “We found that once dine in service resumed, we had full bookings on Fridays and Saturdays, with wait lists of thirty people,” said Fulton. “Then we would have people not showing up or cancelling last minute. It was making me cry, because we confirm every reservation the day before. On some nights, we had up to 10 no-shows or cancellations. We only have 16 tables so it was a big impact.”

Fulton shared that it was a trip to the west coast that was the tipping point. “[Co-owner and partner] Blair and I went to Vancouver at the end of summer and it cemented our decision,” said Fulton. “In Vancouver we found that at restaurants of a certain category you couldn’t make a reservation without a deposit.”

On October 8, 2021, RGE RD began requiring a deposit of $10 per person for reservations on Fridays or Saturdays (weekdays are exempt because of a smaller demand for tables). The deposit is refunded as soon as guests dine in, or if cancellations are made 24 hours in advance. “I expected pushback and that’s why we hesitated,” said Fulton. “And then we implemented it and nothing happened. The odd person has asked questions about it, but honestly there has been such little feedback that I was astonished.”

Their no-show rate has decreased substantially to just three in total since they started the policy. “It’s been enough of a deterrent,” said Fulton.

Fulton said that the last twenty months has required constant adaptation (RGE RD offered elevated heat-at-home meals for a time). Once The Butchery, a complementary business that offers fresh meat, charcuterie, and prepared foods, opened in November 2020 the business found its footing. “In the first shut down in March of 2020 we were stuck with a lot of food that we ended up donating,” said Fulton. “In subsequent shut downs we had the ability to redirect the food to The Butchery and we ended up having more traffic because restaurants were shut down and people were looking for special experiences at home. The Butchery is what kept us insulated from the highs and lows.”

When asked about the potential for the Omicron variant to derail this holiday season, Fulton is cautiously optimistic. “We’re just hopeful that if everyone adheres to the restrictions and gets vaccinated, that we can continue on in a safe way.”

Openings

• Oodle Noodle continues its expansion, this time into St. Albert (330, 935 St. Albert Trail) and Airdrie (10, 105 Main Street).

Closures

• Prairie Fish ‘N Chips announced that they will be permanently closing their storefront on January 1, 2022: “The pandemic combined with our name change (wouldn’t change it FOR THE WORLD, we knew this was a risk we’d run and we stand behind it) and general overfishing and supply issues have all contributed to it not being sustainable for us anymore.” They will still be available through Skip the Dishes in mid-January.
• The Dapper Beaver announced that it is permanently closing in January. Back in September, the business closed its cafe space, but the roastery remained.
• Love Pizza closed its St. Albert location at the end of October. They are hopeful that it is temporary until they are able to secure a smaller space.

Upcoming Events

• Christmas in Little Italy returns December 12 and 19, from 12-4pm. Roast marshmallows, enjoy free hot chocolate, and sample some roasted chestnuts!
• Learn how to bake babka virtually with Larry Harris of Bonne Vie Bakery on December 19, 2021. For non-Jewish Federation of Edmonton members, the ticket cost is $36.

Local News

• Northern Chicken owner Matt Phillips’ tweet about business struggling really hit a nerve.
• Sabor posted that their “support for the LGBTQ+ community…has been questioned by members of the community this week.”
• Hungry Zine has put together two holiday boxes that support local BIPOC-owned businesses. Each box is $65+GST and can be picked up at Glass Bookshop on December 12, 2021.
• The Tomato’s Mary Bailey discussed holiday boxes on Global.
• The Alberta Ave Business Improvement Area is running a #ShopTheAve campaign. Throughout December they will be giving away one prize each day until December 24.
• NAIT put out a gift guide featuring some great food-related gifts.
• Local chef Kelsey Johnson (formerly of Cafe Linnea) will be joining Food Network’s Wall of Chefs. The new season will begin airing on January 3, 2022.
• Calgary-based La Mano is now offering its pasta club deliveries in Edmonton. Deliveries for two meals for two people start at $30 per month.
• Edify checked out the Transit Smokehouse & BBQ.
• Phil featured perogies on his recent Best Dish column, including those from Widynowski’s Sausage House and Lizzy’s Gluten Free Perogies.
• Josh Eats Edmonton profiled Three Vikings and Calle Mexico.
• DailyHive rounds up some options for take-out Christmas dinners, while this listicle features where to enjoy some festive drinks this season.
• A crowdfunding campaign has been started in the hopes of helping “Edmonton’s first Winter Promenade happen”. The event is tentatively planned for December 19, 2021 on Victoria Promenade.
• It’s great that The Kitchen at Stanley Milner will be opening in early 2022. Looking forward to seeing it come to life!
• Local food charities continue to feel the brunt of rising costs, and are now also impacted by supply chain delays.
• Alberta Chicken Producers contributed $30,000 to Food Banks Alberta.

What I Ate

• It was our first time trying YEG Pizza on Wheels, which just opened up in the Don Wheaton YMCA Downtown. We were swayed by the idea of a hot dog-stuffed crust, and it didn’t disappoint! With a ton of cheese and meat (we ordered the Canadian classic), it felt a bit indulgent, but Emily especially enjoyed the hot dog bites.

Canadian classic with hot dog stuffed crust from YEG Pizza on Wheels

• It’s certainly been a while since I’ve hit up my go-to work lunch T & D Noodle House, but their consistency is a large part of their charm. I love their grilled chicken and spring roll vermicelli bowl.

Two colour vermicelli bowl from T & D Noodle House

• I was lucky enough to be hosted on the weekend by the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald for their Festive Brunch. It felt as comfortable as possible, given the circumstances, with tables spread out, and sanitizer and disposable gloves for use at the buffet stations. The food selection and quality was stellar. But it was really that legendary Fairmont service standard that shone, with staff at every turn ensuring guests had a warm and memorable experience. Although their brunches are sold out for the holidays, they are booking for Sundays in January for seatings from 10:30am-12:30pm. Thanks for the wonderful hospitality!

Customized dessert crepe at the Hotel Mac

Restaurant May opens at the Art Gallery of Alberta

May is the newest restaurant to open at the Art Gallery of Alberta, occupying the space that formerly housed Zinc, which closed permanently last fall. May’s soft opening comes about five months after the AGA announced that Prairie Catering would exclusively operate its food service, events, and facility bookings.

The name of the restaurant links back to owner Jimmy Shewchuk’s own family heritage. “Both of my grandparents were farmers in Vegreville,” said Shewchuk. “I remember getting our hands dirty in May, and the name celebrates the start of the work instead of just the harvest.”

That connection to farmers underlies executive chef Doreen Prei’s approach to creating the menu at May. Specifically, she took advantage of the restaurant’s proximity to the Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market. “We visited the market every weekend in the process of opening. We wanted to ensure things were available for us but also needed to be flexible with what they have,” said Prei. “Planning a menu around farmers was super fun.”

Among the local producers that make up 80% of the menu, May sources from Ocean Odyssey Inland, Lacombe Fresh, Four Whistle Farm, Reclaim Farm, Mo-Na Food, and Purple Gate Haskap Orchard. Because it is producer-driven, Prei anticipates the menu will change every three months.

Prei has created dishes that have been inspired by her surroundings and her past. For instance, images of snow falling on cows led to her decision to plate braised short rib with kohlrabi foam, a dish she calls “full-on Alberta, with farro and dark green kale.”

Or, the wild mushroom dish recounts her memories of trekking through the woods. “It’s made from a variety of seven wild mushrooms, served with black garlic emulsion, sunchoke chips, and a tiny touch of greens,” said Prei. “I found lots of mushrooms as a child and when you walk through the forest you hear a crunch on the treeline so this is my homage to that.”

Prei has the distinction of not only working at Zinc when it first opened in 2010, but also serving as the executive chef when it closed in 2020. However, Prei has no issues with returning to the Gallery again, as she professes a deep connection to the space. “I was pregnant [while working] in that building, and have always considered it my third child,” said Prei. “May is a totally different restaurant, and people get a different vibe.”

The interior has been updated with natural elements, and features art pieces on loan from the Gallery’s rental program. The restaurant plans to offer lunch beginning some time in the new year, and though brunch is served in conjunction with the Downtown Business Association’s Holiday Light-Up, it won’t be an ongoing occurrence.

After 20 months of not cooking for diners, May feels particularly close to Prei’s heart. “I didn’t cook for people for so long because of the pandemic, so I can’t wait to feed people,” said Prei. “It’s like people are coming to my house. It’s very personal for me.”

Openings

• Jack’s Burger Shack will be opening their downtown location on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
• Oodle Noodle’s first mall-based location is now open at Kingsway Mall.

Upcoming Events

• #YEGWinterPatios kicks off December 3-4, 2021 with more than two dozen participating businesses. A $10 donation (with proceeds going to the Boyle Street Winter Warming Bus) will yield a kit including a blanket, scarf, postcard, and special offers.
• The Edmonton Christmas Market has grown to two locations this year – running at the Army & Navy on Whyte November 26-28 and December 3-5, 2021, and at Fort Edmonton Park December 8-12, 2021.

Local News

• Some restaurants are facing supply chain delays, including Pho Tau Bay, who was forced to close when they ran out of rice noodles.
• CoffeePass is back with a winter edition featuring 30 local cafes. This iteration is priced at $39.
• Sharon sampled a trio of pasta restaurants, including Basil Pasta Bar, Ragazzi, and Dalla.
• Edify checked out Blue Truck Barbecue and Let’s Grill Sushi.
• Twyla has suggestions of how to travel through food at several local restaurants, including Dadeo’s, XO Bistro, Narayanni’s, and Three Vikings.
• Linda is giving away $1,000 worth of gift cards to local restaurants and businesses for those subscribing and commenting on her YouTube channel.
• Police seized $60,000 of cash and drugs from Day & Night Pizza last week.
• Safeway is now open in Oliver in the location formerly occupied by Planet Organic (12210 Jasper Avenue).
• It was great to learn about the partnership between The Organic Box and the Multicultural Health Brokers Co-op to launch the Khair for All food box, offering discounted produce targeting families facing food insecurity.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• Dustin Bajer has started The Bee Community, a “space that supports small-scale and backyard beekeepers with classes and networking opportunities to manage honeybees using techniques that align with nature.”
• Yellowhead Tribal College has partnered with AltaGreen to offer a new Vertical Farming Operator Certificate Program.

What I Ate

• We still haven’t exhausted the restaurant options within walking distance of our home. On the weekend, we ordered take-out from Delux Burger Bar in Ice District. It’s been years since we’ve been to Delux (their tiny shopping carts were whimsical and unique when they first opened), but of what we tried, the mushroom burger was the standout.

Our Delux Burger Bar order