I hope you all had a great long weekend! The weather wasn’t entirely co-operative, but the break helped make the most of what’s left of our summer. On to this week’s food notes:

• Sabor’s annual Seafood Festival runs from August 4 – September 3, 2017. Cindy has a preview of the dishes you can expect.
• Cariwest runs next weekend, from August 11-13, 2017.
• There’s still time to plan your Alberta Open Farm Days weekend August 19-20, 2017. I’m looking forward to hosting the Grand Taste Tour alongside Linda on August 19, 2017, with visits to Blindman Brewery, Rock Ridge Dairy, and a tour and dinner at Doef’s Greenhouse. Tickets are $110. It’s sure to be a fun day – check out my recaps of previous Grand Taste Tours in 2016 and 2015.
• Northlands is also hosting different workshops and tours of their Urban Farm on August 20, 2017. I’m looking forward to joining one of their rural farm bus tours – I attended last year and it’s hard to beat a $5 fee for the experience.
• Sunworks is hosting their annual Family Farm Day on September 4, 2017. Tour the farm and enjoy a BBQ lunch. There is no charge to attend, but RSVP by August 31, 2017. I had the chance to see the farm back in June.
• Voting for Avenue’s Burger Challenge continues with round three – vote for your favourites from the “sweet 16” group by August 13.
• Pampa’s second Edmonton location is opening on August 8 in south Edmonton, at 9626 Ellerslie Road SW.
• Rooster Cafe & Kitchen will open in September in the space formerly occupied by Artistan Resto-Cafe (10732 82 Avenue)
• Chinese Crepe and Taiwanese dessert bar ZenQ are now open in The Mayfair (Jasper Ave & 109 Street). It also looks like a gelato shop is also forthcoming to the building later this year, La Carraia.
• Monument (Block 1912’s sister cafe located in The Mayfair) is near completion and will be opening this week.
• Cartago is a forthcoming beer and cocktails spot in Forest Heights, at 8204 106 Avenue.
• Linda noticed a relative newcomer to the food scene, Nara Chicken & Tonkatsu at 8712 150 Street.
• Sharon had a positive experience at Loft Thai Eatery in south Edmonton, located at 5324 75 Street.
• Diane provides a detailed review of her multi-course meal at Alta.
• Crystal stopped by XO Bistro and Bar for lunch.
• Graham compares the spectrum of sushi available at Sumo Sumo’s new Edmonton location and relative newcomer Takami Sushi.
• Cindy recapped the pop-up hosted by Masterchef Canada finalist Mai Nguyen.
• Alberta now has its first self-serve beer wall at Barney’s Pub & Grill in Leduc.
• Congratulations to Ian Treuer of Winding Road Cheese for placing second in the Washed Rind Cheese category at the American Cheese Society Conference! He shared his experience on his blog.
• Effective August 15, 2017, craft beer and spirits can be sold at Alberta approved farmers’ markets. This new provincial law doesn’t apply to public markets.
• A study commissioned by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency found that 1 in 5 sausages tested across Canada contained meat that wasn’t included on the label.
• Mack and I kicked off the long weekend at Otto – I’d been craving another Otto dog since sampling it at the Eats on 118 crawl earlier this summer. It’s a lovely place to relax and unwind – laid back with great service. I’ll be back again soon.

Our platter at Otto

• Congratulations to the Heritage Festival for breaking their attendance record this year! Mack and I had a great time on Sunday, making sure to sample from the two new pavilions this year, Liberia and Syria. I had to end our feast with a tradition – langos from Hungary.

Langos from Hungary

• For all those Harry Potter fans out there: Chartier’s burger night on August 1 is themed after the series.
• A reminder that the Heritage Festival runs this weekend from August 5-7, 2017. If you’re heading down to take it in, don’t forget to bring a donation for the Edmonton Food Bank.
• As a part of Festival Place’s community celebration Chautauqua in August, they’ll be hosting a free Craft Beer School and Tasting on August 12, 2017, from 2-9pm.
• Chix Shack, specializing in Thai chicken, is now open at 10149 109 Street.
• Vegan pizzeria Die Pie has set their grand opening date: August 18, 2017 at 5pm. They are located at 11215 Jasper Avenue.
• More pizza to come: Al Centro is a “Roman pizza bar” to open Downtown in 2018.
• Yuzen in St. Albert will be expanding their operations: Sushi Yuzen in St. Albert and ramen-based Menya Yuzen on Edmonton’s west end. In the meantime, their current St. Albert location has become Menya Yuzen, open from Wednesdays to Sundays.
• Montreal Hotdogs premiered their menu at K-Days. They will be opening three locations in the Edmonton area – Downtown, Beaumont and Cochrane.
• While Vue previews what to expect at RE:GRUB, the new Calgary-based burger bar that just opened in Old Strathcona, Sharon recaps her experience.
• The Journal reviews the Crudo family’s latest restaurant, Bottega 104.
• Crystal pays Sherwood Park’s Via Cibo a visit.
• Jonny reminds us that Swiss 2 Go is worth checking out.
• If now now, when? Check out Linda’s list of 10 cold treats to beat the heat.
• Made with Love, Canada’s largest mixology competition, landed in Edmonton last week. Congratulations to winners Tyler Gushaty from North 53 and Leland Morrison from the Black Pearl – they’ll be competing in the finals in May 2018.
• Congratulations to all of the winners in this year’s Canadian Food Championships!
• The Leftovers Foundation, which rescues food that would otherwise go to waste, was profiled on Global.
• The Free Press Bistro (10014 104 Street) has been sold, with the new tenant having renamed the space Villa Bistro.

Villa Bistro

• On the same street, Munch will fill in a storefront that has been vacant for some time at 10040 104 Street.

Munch

• Mack and I had a great time at our annual visit to K-Days (which ended Sunday). There’s nothing like a stroll through the midway! We tried a few new items, including a solid poutine from Montreal Hotdogs, but had to indulge in a bag of Those Little Donuts, too.

Authentic poutine from Montreal Hotdogs

The real reason we go to K-Days

We’re in the thick of festival season in Edmonton! Hope you’re out making the most of one of the reasons why the city is the place to be in the summer. On to this week’s food notes:

• Lacombe is considered a darling of Alberta’s food scene right now – if you’ve been meaning to visit, their upcoming Locavore Lacombe festival on July 30, 2017 may be a good time as any! Sample food and meet producers in this second annual event.
• Mark your calendars for this year’s Sturgeon County Bounty, taking place on August 11, 2017, from 4-9pm. Expect kids cooking workshops, farmers’ market vendors, and of course, food!
• The folks behind Mayday Dogs are opening up a new space this fall in the Brewery District, called Frontier Handhelds.
• Many are sorry to see Piccolino Bistro go, but at least the space won’t sit vacant – Century Hospitality will be opening a new restaurant in the space this fall.
• Duchess Provisions is back in their original location next to the bake shop at 10718 124 Street.
• If you’re heading to K-Days and want to know what new items are worth sampling, check out Cindy’s post.
• If you’re looking for a special occasion, consider the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald’s new high tea, served in the Queen Elizabeth II suite. Lillian shares what you can expect.
• You may have seen photos of Korean shaved ice on your social media feeds lately – Vue Weekly has more about what makes it special, from Edmonton’s first Bingsu cafe, Snowy Dessert.
• Crystal wasn’t impressed with her most recent visit to The Needle.
• Cindy has some recommendations on what to order at Nudoru.
• Graham had a positive experience with the food but not the service at District.
• Andrea checked out some of the new dishes to be found on the menu at Lux.
• If you’re looking for new brunch ideas in Edmonton look no further than Leigh’s post.
• Liane highlights the collaborative relationship between Chef Ben Staley and Vesta Gardens farmer Deb Krause.
• Ever wonder who are the people behind Prairie Noodle? Twyla breaks down the team and their talents.
• Avenue’s Burger Challenge is currently in its second round – vote for your favourite.
• It’s amazing to learn just how big local gluten-free bakery Kinnikinnick has grown since its inception.
• Congratulations to Food4Good, who won $1700 from the Fresh Meaet event a few weeks ago. Read about some of the other food-related projects that pitched their ideas here.
• Local author Jennifer Cockrall-King’s book Food Artisans of the Okanagan, made the Taste Canada Awards shortlist.
• Did you know that an online map exists that showcases where all of Edmonton’s edible fruit trees are located? Now you do.
• I met up with a friend at Bundok last week and will definitely be back. The highlight of the evening was the citrus posset, a refreshing dessert that tasted like a cross between a panna cotta and a citrus custard.

Citrus posset from Bundok

• Su and I had brunch on the patio at Get Cooking on Saturday. It felt like a well-kept secret since there were so few tables, but Chef Doreen Prei didn’t mind. It was also their last brunch as the studio is closing until mid-August (they just released their fall class schedule). I enjoyed the fried eggs and pisto, and could have eaten many more cheddar chive scones (Doreen’s secret is loads of butter and aged cheddar).

Fried eggs over pisto and cheddar chive scone from Get Cooking

• Mack and I headed to Vaticano Cucina on Saturday to help Linda celebrate her birthday. Reviews from the group were mixed. Mack thought his pasta was nothing special, and though we were told they were the only restaurant in Canada to offer deep-fried pizza (Montanara style), it was only slightly noticeable in the crust. Though I wasn’t impressed enough to immediately return, I’d consider coming back if I was passing through the area.

St. Patrick pizza from Vaticano Cucina

• When we have a pho craving on a Sunday (when Tau Bay is closed), Mack and I always head to Pho Hoan Pasteur.

Our usual at Pasteur

After a week of searing heat, the cool weather today felt cold! Nice to have a bit of a break, but I hope the clear skies return soon! On to this week’s food notes:

• Pastry fans take note – FanFan Patisserie is the newest bakery to open in Edmonton, located at 10330 80 Avenue.
• RE:GRUB, a popular Calgary-based burger and milkshake bar, is now open in Old Strathcona at 8219 104 Street.
• Old Strathona has had a spate of restaurant openings – Avila Arepa, is another, a Venezuelan restaurant that joined the neighbourhood at the end of June at 10760 82 Avenue, Unit C.
• Market favourite Frickin’ Delights Donuts will be opening up a storefront in Devon on July 19, 2017.
• Remedy just keeps on expanding – their next location will be at Southgate Centre.
• Great to see that the space formerly occupied by The Dish and the Runaway Spoon will no longer be empty – the folks behind Sabor Divino hope to open a third branch of Bodega by August.
• Speaking of Bodega, their Highlands location offers a Spanish brunch every weekend from 11am-2pm.
• If you’re looking for dinner with a view, consider Highlands Golf Club. The restaurant, open to the public, recently launched a new menu.
• Jason Foster has some early thoughts about Biera.
• Twyla was disappointed with the flavours at El Mariachi.
• Liv is the latest to sample the fare at Vaticano Cucina.
• Graham enjoyed the freshness of poke offerings at both Splash Poke and ‘Ono Poke.
• Jonny appreciated the innovation behind Alta’s menu.
• The Journal declares brunch at Beaumont’s Chartier worth the trip.
• If your knives need sharpening, consider Knifewear: for the month of July, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross wildfire appeal.
• The Journal covered this weekend’s free public tour of Northlands Urban Farm. It’s a great learning opportunity in the heart of the city (I had the chance to attend last year) – the next tour takes place September 10, 2017; register here.
• If you’re looking for a farm experience outside the city, don’t forget about Alberta Open Farm Days, running August 19-20, 2017.
• We finally made our way to the 124 Grand Market this season – it’s always a lovely way to spend a summer night. And, well, the Drift poutine didn’t hurt either.

Poutine from Drift

• After checking out the first Experience Jasper Avenue event on Saturday, Mack and I took advantage of a perfect patio day and enjoyed some of the happy hour specials at Cactus Club Cafe. $3 slides/fries/tacos and $4 drinks – what’s not to love?

Cheers!

• It feels like we’re in the height of summer – we’re incorporating as much of it on our plates as possible, including at breakfast!

French toast made with Sunshine Organic eggs, bread from Handy Bakery, and blueberries from Steve & Dan’s

The weather has been scorching this last week – hope you’ve been finding ways to keep cool. On to this week’s food notes:

• Mark your calendar for Prairie Pigeon’s latest pop-up on July 14, 2017 at Icon Hair & Body in Commerce Place from 4-7pm.
• Did you want to meet local Masterchef competitor Mai Nguyen? She’s hosting a 5-course dinner at Prairie Noodle on July 17, 2017. Tickets are $75.
• Canada’s biggest mixology competition, Made with Love, will be in town on July 24, 2017. 14 local finalists will compete to represent Edmonton in the May 2018 national finals. Tickets to the event are $65, and include tastings, food pairings, and a welcome cocktail.
• Wine pairing dinners are common, but not necessarily paired with vegetable-focused dishes. Canteen is hosting an “Eat Yer Veggies, Drink Yer Wine” event on July 25, 2017 to highlight what’s in season. Tickets are $125.
• Food tours seem to be popping up everywhere – the latest to be announced are the Edmonton Brewery Tours, which take patrons through 5 local breweries. Transportation and lunch are provided. Tickets are $150.
• Biera, the long-awaited brew pub in the Ritchie Market (9570 76 Avenue) is in its soft opening stage.
• To beat the heat, consider visiting Snowy Dessert in Old Strathcona, at 10209 82 Avenue, with a soft opening starting July 10, 2017.
• For the Korean cuisine-starved north side, Hansik might be a welcome addition, located at 13727 127 Street.
• Liane has the details about Porc Sale, a new charcuterie shop open downstairs from The Almanac on Whyte Avenue.
• Speaking of Liane, she also had a great feature on one of my favourite local bakeries, Boulangerie Bonjour.
• Graham enjoyed his sampling of the revamped menu at Packrat Louie.
• This might get a bit confusing, but there’s another food blogger in town named Sharon, and she recently reviewed Vaticano Cucina.
• Jonny likes the simplicity of Otto’s menu and vibe.
• Sharman recapped the recent Schwein & Stein dinner held at Workshop Eatery in June.
• Did you know Edmonton has its very own honey sommelier? I love how Mel described each of the neighbourhood-based honey samples she received.
• Just in time for summer, the province announced that they relaxed some of the more restrictive policies governing patios. Paula has examples of how local restaurants will be taking advantage of these changes to encourage more vibrant streets.
• Transcend now offers courses in home espresso making and milk steaming and latte art.
• Women Chefs & Restauranteurs are hosting a one-day educational conference in Calgary on September 16, 2017. Speakers include New York’s Chef Elizabeth Falkner and Vancouver’s Meeru Dhalwala, co-owner of Vij’s and Rangoli. Early bird tickets are $179.
• McDonald’s is now available for delivery in Edmonton (and 4 other cities in Canada) via UberEats.
• I’m not averse to hot soup on hot days, so Mack and I found ourselves at Kazoku Ramen over the weekend. We’ve really come to appreciate their consistency and the good service.

Tonkotsu and shoyu ramen from Kazoku

It sure was a beautiful weekend to commemorate Canada’s sesquicentennial – hope you made the most of the gorgeous weather, too! On to this week’s food notes:

• The third annual Feast on the Field (a fundraiser for Capital Care) at Commonwealth Stadium will be held on August 23, 2017. Tickets are $195.
• Liane has more details about forthcoming Old Strathona restaurant Holy Roller – they’ll be offering Detroit and New Haven-style pizza, as well as a chocolate program.
• Blind Enthusiasm will be opening any day now in July, but until then, learn more about what you can expect from the brewery and brew pub.
• Montreal Hot Dogs downtown has announced an opening date of August 7, 2017. Consider picking up a Groupon if you’re thinking of trying it.
• Bottega 104, the Crudo family’s second 104 Street venture, finally opened on the weekend.
• New cafes are sprouting up everywhere in Edmonton – one of the latest is Hanjan, which celebrates Korean cafe culture. It is located at 3735 99 Street.
• Ace Coffee Roasters also has brand new digs in Old Strathcona at 10055 80 Avenue. Leigh has some photos of the space.
• Diane is on top of the new Korean fried chicken joints in Edmonton, posting about a new chain that has just landed in Edmonton – Pelicana, located at 106, 2920 Calgary Trail.
• Nonna’s Bistro at 10061 Jasper Avenue just had their grand opening a few weeks ago.
• Wishbone received a pair of positive reviews this week, from CBC and the Journal.
• I hadn’t heard of a “Boodle Feast” before, but thanks to Linda, I learned that it is a hands-on dinner you can have at Mama Nita’s Binalot Filipino Cuisine.
• Cindy has the low-down on which of ‘Ono Poke’s bowls are her favourite.
• Jonny noticed a second Gong Cha location now open Edmonton just off Whyte Avenue at 10342 81 Avenue.
• Liv enjoyed the flavours and experience at Baijiu.
• Graham reviews Woodwork for the first time in three years, after Chef Lindsay Porter took over the kithen.
• Avenue Edmonton just released their list of 25 Favourite Eats of 2017, as shared by 25 different Edmontonians. Also from Avenue, they’ll be opening the voting on their first ever Avenue Burger Challenge on July 4, 2017 – take a look at the list of the competitors in the first round.
• I’m glad to hear that Smokehouse BBQ was able to recover their stolen food truck.
• Phil shares photos from a farm dinner hosted by Chartier that took place a few weeks back.
• Don’t want to wait for your food order? Some restaurants (including Remedy and Zenari’s) have joined ClickDishes, which allows you to order and pay in advance so pick-up is more seamless.
• I just noticed that Robyn (who relocated to Ottawa from Edmonton last year), has started up a series of Food Notes for her new adopted city. Check it out if you’re looking to stay on top of Ottawa’s food scene!
• Thanks to Montreal Hot Dogs, Mack and I won tickets to the Edmonton Prospects game on Friday. It was a closer game than it needed to be, but thankfully the Prospects came out on top! We were able to try a few things from the new Remax Field food provider, Prairie Catering, including their deep fried perogies (not as crispy as I would have liked, but still pretty satisfying). I couldn’t find their menu online, so here are their grandstand and lounge menus in case they’re helpful.

Deep fried perogies at Remax Field

• What better way to celebrate Canada Day than with a limited edition poutizza from Love Pizza? We’re still holding out hope that they’ll bring back the mac and cheeza, too.

Poutizza from Love Pizza

• MacEwan University is offering free noon hour tours of their urban beehives over the next month (June 30, July 14, and July 28).
• Tickets for REDx on July 6, 2017, an international indigenous speaker series (which will also feature a showcase of indigenous foods) are now on sale.
• There are so many Canada Day (or Canada Day week, as it were) festivities to choose from. Here’s another: the Shaw Conference Centre is holding its annual summer patio party on July 6 from 4-7pm with a Canada Day theme. Admission is free, but food tickets will be required to taste their regionally-inspired appetizers.
• The next Fresh MEAET was postponed until July 11, 2017 – this iteration will focus on food and urban agriculture ideas. Tickets to the micro-funding event are $15.
• Chef Brad Smoliak is returning to the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village to host another long table dinner on July 15, 2017. Tickets are $130 for the dinner, cooking demonstration, and tour of the village.
• YEG Anthology is organizing a hands-on event inspired by Edmonton Cooks involving a chef, mixologist and a florist. The evening takes place at Cafe Linnea on July 18, 2017. Tickets are $80.
• Chefs Paul Shufelt and Andrew Fung are collaborating to put on a garden party fundraiser for the High School Culinary Challenge on August 24, 2017 at Workshop Eatery. Tickets are $100.
• The second Culinary Lab is a special Canada 150 dinner that will bring together chefs from across Canada to serve dinner on the Manulife Place rooftop garden. Tickets for the multi-course dinner are $150 per person and must be purchased in pairs.
• So great to see so many local restaurant companies flourishing – the latest to add to their rosters are the El Cortez/Have Mercy group, with Holy Roller Cafe & Restaurant opening this summer, and the Next Act/Meat duo who will expand into a third with Pip, a wine bar with food.
• Cindy spotted a forthcoming Thai chicken eatery on Jasper and 109 Street called Chix Shack.
• Good Stock Restaurant is a new vegan option on the south side at 11409 40 Avenue, offering a whole food plant-based menu.
• Sumo Sumo’s second location is now open at 3975 Calgary Trail (the former Plates Buffet).
• Just in time for summer, Get Cooking has opened up their patio from Tuesday to Saturday for bar snacks from 3-5pm and brunch on Saturday from 11am-3pm.
• You may have heard that the AGA offers free admission on Tuesdays and Wednesdays evenings, but did you know Zinc has a special Tapas Tuesday menu, with dishes as low as $4? Linda has the details.
• If you’re looking for another brunch option, Bodega’s Highlands branch has you covered – they’re now open for brunch on weekends at 11am.
• Need a primer on poke, appearing everywhere on menus at quick-serve to casual upscale restaurants? Here’s one from Chef Lawrence Hui of ‘Ono Poke.
• Vue Weekly was impressed with El Mariachi’s reincarnation as a Mexican restaurant.
• Jonny checked out a new-ish Indian restaurant Get Curried 12413 118 Avenue.
• Also from Jonny – a visit to South Silk Road, the newest Northern Chinese restaurant in Edmonton at 5552 Calgary Trail.
• Graham is the latest to review Vaticano Cucina.
• Chris has high praise for Tokiwa Ramen in his photolog.
• If you’re hungry, do not click on Cindy’s photolog of brunch at Bundok. You’ve been warned.
• The folks behind Secret Meat Club are expanding to a retail outlet called Meuwly’s, to open downstairs from Northern Chicken.
• Congratulations to all of the 2017 Foodies of the Year on Western Living’s list, but especially to Edmonton’s own Kevin Cam (of North 53 and Baijiu), who cracked the top 10.
• So great to learn about Hope Mission’s non-profit food truck hitting the streets.
• Mack and I had the privilege of attending a tasting organized by Honest Dumplings last week. They were looking for feedback as they plan to expand their operations. Our favourites were their traditional and maple pork belly dumplings, but it’s great to see that they’re continuing to experiment with flavours.

Honest Dumplings tasting!

• There’s nothing quite like a hot, fresh calzone from Battista’s. The New York Mama was just as good as I remembered.

New York Mama calzone from Battista’s

• We made the most of a beautiful Friday evening with a birthday dinner out at Tres Carnales. I was missing their guacamole.

Guacamole from Tres Carnales

 

I hope you’ve been able to take advantage of the weather (and the long days) as much as possible! On to this week’s food notes:

• The first Prairie on the Plate Taste Alberta dinner of the year will be hosted at Bundok. Four courses for $60. Reservations are necessary.
• The Grand Taste Tour is back with two events this summer – July 23 and August 19, 2017, with visits to local farms, breweries, distilleries and epic meals to look forward to. Tickets for the all-inclusive tours are $115.
• Culinaire Magazine’s 2nd Annual Edmonton Treasure Hunt will take place on September 9, 2017. A pair of tickets cost $65, while individual tickets are on for $45. We participated last year, and hope they make some changes to improve the event.
• The Shaw Conference Centre is hosting the FEASTival of Fine Chefs on September 20, 2017. Early bird tickets are available for $137 until July 1, 2017.
• Knifewear is offering a 2-for-1 special on their Cut Like a Chef classes from June to August.
• K-Days has released their new food menu for this year’s festival (which runs July 21-30, 2017). There’s really nothing too shocking or out of the box – examples include jalapeno lemonade, deep fried chicken feet, and mashed potato fingers.
• Tickets for Taste of Edmonton (on July 20-29, 2017) are now on sale – $50 for sheets of 40 tickets, a savings of $10 until July 19. Menus are also up for your perusal.
• Edmonton will soon be getting a location of Regrub, a Calgary-based burger joint, in Old Strathcona (thanks Su for the heads up!).
• Congratulations to Arno’s French Pastry, one of the vendors at the City Market and Old Strathcona Market, which moved into a brick and mortar space located at 10038 116 Street.
• Buono Pizza on the west end (8764 149 Street) is now open.
• Urbano Pizza Co.’s second location at 10326 124 Street is now open.
• Packrat Louie’s soft opening (following their renovations) took place on June 16, 2017.
• Smokehouse BBQ is closing their 124 Street location this week, so they’ll be going out in style with a party on June 24, 2017. They hope to be re-open in their new location at 17820 107 Avenue by June 29.
• Edmonton can add another cafe to its roster – Awake Cafe is open at 11029 9 Avenue.
• Twyla was very impressed with Ono Poke.
• Graham thinks Tang Bistro is a great addition to Edmonton’s food scene.
• Crystal checked out vegan darling KB & Company, as well as Have Mercy.
• The Journal visited 50s-style Rockin’ Robyn’s Diner.
• I hadn’t heard of Branches, located in the Greenland Garden Centre, until this post on YEG Date Night.
• Twyla put together a great round up of some of the bakeries that have opened up in Edmonton over the last six months.
• It’s great when local businesses partner with one another: Confetti Sweets and Pinocchio Ice Cream teamed up to make cookie dough ice cream (one of my favourite flavours!).
• Fort Saskatchewan’s Downtown Diner is now offering a special “diner after dark” food and retro cocktails menu from 8:30pm-1:30am.
• Did you know St. Albert is finalizing its food forest, which will offer free organic food for the community?
• We won’t know the ultimate results of Amazon’s deal to purchase Whole Foods for some time, but brace yourselves.
• Mack and I tried Blaze Pizza in the Brewery District for the first time over the weekend. The crust was better than I anticipated (chewy and fairly thin, but able to support the toppings) and the service was good (they automatically offered to remake our pizza when realized it had burnt, and threw in dessert). I’d consider returning again in the future to try out a different pie.

Green stripe from Blaze Pizza

• We’d be planning our next visit to Cafe Amore for a while – and my usual truffle chicken did not disappoint.

Truffle chicken from Cafe Amore

We had a great time in Seattle – it is a city with many facets, great food, and lots to do! As always, there’s much to catch up on (though I likely missed some things), so on to this week’s food notes:

• Knifewear is hosting a customer appreciation party on June 14, 2017, with free beer and hot dogs – just RSVP!
• The annual Mercer Super Summer Party takes place on June 17, 2017. Festivities kick off at 11am.
• Prairie Pigeon is popping up at Hive Fit Co (10343 Jasper Avenue) on June 18, 2017 from 9am-12pm.
• Congratulations to The Next Act who is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year! They’re hosting a customer appreciation party on July 2, 2017, with a throw-back menu (with 1992 pricing) and an anniversary collaboration brew with Alley Kat.
• RGE Rd released their farm dinner schedule for this summer – act fast if you’re hoping for tickets!
• Ever wanted to learn how to make your own gin? You can do so under the instruction of Hansen Distillery on July 13, 2017. Tickets are priced at $150.
• On September 11, 2017, the Shaw Conference Centre is hosting a 5-course meal led by Executive Chef Serge Belair. Tickets are $100, and proceeds will go to the High School Culinary Challenge.
• Block 1912 is opening up a sister cafe north of the river – look for Monument later this summer on Jasper Ave and 108 Street.
• Wishbone officially opened on May 31, 2017! Find them at 10542 Jasper Avenue.
• Nudoru has debuted a new menu, featuring different ramen and burger selections.
• Both Twyla and the Journal reviewed Vaticano Cucina, the newest Italian restaurant on the south side.
• Cathy returns to her blog to share her enthusiasm about Crum Coffee Bar, located at 4640 Calgary Trail South.
• Linda is the latest to review Ono Poke Co.
• Cindy reviews Splash Poke.
• Crystal enjoyed her meal at Nuovo Bistro.
• Graham recaps his recent dining experiences at Alder Room and Little Village.
• The Cone may still be around in Edmonton, but it won’t be on 99 Street because it’s been sold.
• Confetti Sweets is closing their Terwillegar location at the end of June, but may be opening a branch in Windermere.
• Small gelato company Da Vinci can produce up to three-quarters of a tonne of gelato each day.
• An interesting app called Waitless is coming to Edmonton – it’s designed to help consumers order additional items, or pay their bill without the need of a server. We’ll see how many restaurants sign up.
• I’m late to the party, but if you’re out and about looking for a patio, the Patio Buzz app can help with that.
• Great to see lots of Edmonton and area representation on Western Living’s tenth annual Foodies of the Year shortlist: Kevin Cam (North 53/Baijiu), Darren and Sylvia Cheverie (Chartier), Matthew Garrett and Simon Underwood (Moonshine Donuts/Doughnut Party), Kelsey Johnson (Cafe Linnea), Jake Lee (Seoul Fried Chicken).
• Consider supporting the Youth Restorative Action Project’s CIY: Cook It Yourself program, which teaches youth basic cooking skills.
• Avoiding gluten for those without celiac disease may put people at risk for other diseases, a message shared at the national conference for the Canadian Celiac Association, held in Edmonton on the weekend.
• Recent survey results released by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry indicates that Albertans increased their spending on local food by 25% from 2012 to 2016.
• Just before we left on vacation, I met up with my parents for dinner at Golden Bird. It’s been some time since I’ve been there, but besides featuring a generous sprinkling of cilantro, the pho just wasn’t up to par for me. The meatballs were unfortunately on the sinewy side.

Pho from Golden Bird

• Back in town, I returned to Chinatown, but this time to satisfy my craving for King Noodle House’s bun bo Hue.

Bun bo Hue from King Noodle House

It’s been a crazy month at work, so I’m really looking forward to our Seattle vacation coming up. A heads up that there won’t be a Food Notes post next Monday. On to this week’s food notes:

• Food4Good is hosting their next fruit and veggie sale on May 30, 2017 at the Glenwood Community League (16430 97 Avenue) from 10am-2pm.
• The Downtown Edmonton Community League’s annual pancake breakfast is taking place on June 17, 2017. Swing by before your trip down to the City Market.
• Tickets for the second Eats on 118 this year are now on sale – the June 28, 2017 crawl will visit Lan’s Asian Grill, The Blind Duck, and Plaza Bowl.
• In conjunction with REDx Talks on July 6, 2017, Chef Shane Chartrand is organizing a meal that will celebrate the heritage and culinary roots of participating chefs.
• ‘Ono Poke Co. is the second poke restaurant in Edmonton (opening within a few weeks of Splash Poke), with a soft opening scheduled for June 3, 2017 at 10142 104 Street. The Globe & Mail has a preview of what to expect.
• Su gave me a heads up that there’s another bakery in store for Old Strathcona – Fan Fan Patisserie is coming soon to 10330 80 Avenue.
• Chachi’s is open in South Edmonton Common.
• Bundok is now open for brunch on Saturdays starting at 10am.
• Burrow Cafe in the Central LRT station is temporarily closed while its future is decided.
• Ms. Hangry Foodie reviews the latest Korean fried chicken joint in Edmonton, Yummy Chicken, at 6111 28 Avenue.
• Graham gave a positive review to St. Albert’s Privada Wine and Tapas. Last week, I missed linking to related news that Privada’s chef Tony Krause will also lead the new restaurant stepping into the vacant Alberta Hotel space.
• Linda’s hoping for more dog-friendly patios in Edmonton, and shared how restaurants can apply for the required permit.
• On the heels of Alder Room’s opening (who sells advanced tickets for their set-course meals), the National Post published a piece on why more restaurants are moving in this direction.
• Alberta Food Tours is running a contest to showcase the best of Alberta’s food scene with an Instagram contest. 150 prizes will be awarded to photos hashtagged #eatalberta150 on Instagram submitted between May 23 to August 7, 2017.
• The chef line-up for the 2017 Gold Medal Plates competition is set. The event runs October 12, 2017.
• Cindy’s latest Edmonton Cooks post is up – she made Sugarbowl’s cinnamon buns.
• If you’re still looking for fall vacation ideas – consider Liane’s culinary tour to Chicago in October.
• Bottega, the new restaurant from the family behind Cafe Amore and Black Pearl, is near completion at 10181 104 Street. Though they’re not quite ready to serve yet, they were open on Saturday to take advantage of the City Market foot traffic. They hope to open in June.

Bottega

• Mack and I took Grandma Male for her first ever dim sum experience on the weekend! She particularly enjoyed the spring rolls and shrimp dumplings at Tasty Noodle.

Dim sum!