I’ve been struggling with my re-entry back to routine, but for good reason. Mack and I had a fabulous wedding, and an even better honeymoon. I’m still gathering my thoughts on both Vietnam and Korea, but I’m hopeful that (this time) I’ll actually share it on the blog! On to this week’s food notes:

•  Cookie Love announced a forthcoming café location at 10235-101 Street. They are shooting for a December 2014 opening.
• Get Cooking, Kathryn Joel’s brand new cooking studio at MacEwan University, looks gorgeous!
• A huge congratulations to RGE RD for making En Route Magazine’s top 10 list of Canada’s Best New Restaurants this year.
• On the heels of Calgary-based Spice Road Spice Merchant opening their Edmonton location on Whyte, it was announced that the Italian Centre will be expanding into Calgary next year.
• The Gold Medal Plates took place last week, with Westin Chef Ryan O’Flynn taking the top spot.
• A belated thank you for anyone who voted for Only Here for the Food (and What the Truck?!) on Vue Weekly’s Best of Edmonton 2014 poll. I’m honoured to have been named the “Best Food Blog” (and for WTT to be named the “Best Pop-Up Event”). As always, I appreciate the support!
• We missed so many café openings while we were away – congrats to Transcend on their new location in the Mercer Warehouse, to Credo for their second café on 124 Street, and to Burrow (of the Elm Café family) for changing our city’s expectations of underground vendors. And thanks to Omar’s article, we also know that Elm will be expanding into Riverdale with Little Brick.

Transcend @ Mercer Warehouse

This will be my last post for a while – after Mack and I get married this weekend, we’re off to Asia for our honeymoon! We’re looking forward to the down time – it’s been a busy summer! Enjoy the rest of the beautiful fall season in Edmonton. On to this week’s food notes:

• Alberta Culture Days is again hosting a block party on 104 Street this Friday, September 26, from 5-10pm.
• Congrats to Kevin Kossowan for his debut film Springhammer, which focuses on the current state of blacksmithing in Japan. The movie will screen on September 28, 2014 at the Edmonton International Film Festival.
• Linda Hoang is Delux’s celebrity chef in October! Sample her creation for a good cause – $1 from every burger goes to Second Chance Animal Rescue.
• Sherwood Park is hosting their very own Battle of Strathcona Chefs on October 15, 2014, as a fundraiser for the Strathcona Food Bank and to create post-secondary culinary scholarships for high school students. Tickets are $125.
• Sad news: Call the Kettle Black’s Riverbend location will be closing.
• Liane shared that Pampa will be expanding into Calgary, as well as planning another location in south Edmonton.
• Rostizado received a positive review in the Journal last week.
• Unfortunately, Rocky Mountain Ice House did not receive such a warm reception from Twyla.
• Alberta’s becoming a culinary destination – for both foreign and local tourists.
• Applications are now being accepted for the City of Edmonton’s urban hens pilot project.
• While at West Edmonton Mall on Saturday, Mack and I finally had the chance to try Wetzel’s Pretzels. They actually lived up to the hype – the original pretzel had great texture.

Wetzel’s Pretzels

• Mack and I were flattered to be asked to judge Greenfield Community League’s first annual pie bake-off on Saturday, as a part of their community league day celebrations. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it! Given it was a blind tasting, we didn’t know that the pie we ultimately picked was actually baked by our friend Yi-Li. Congrats!

With Councillor Walters at judges table

With the winner of the golden pie plate!

• My coworkers took me out for lunch today to commemorate my last day at work before the wedding. Where else would we go but Pho Tau Bay?

My last Edmonton-made pho for a while!

• I almost forgot to mention a special tasting Mack and I were invited to earlier this month. Chef Tony Le, who has taken over at Hundred, has revamped the menu for fall. He asked us to try some of the dishes to be featured on the new menu, inspired by some of the modern pub food he’s enjoyed from around the world. We (along with Felicia and Jeff) were happy to oblige. Thanks for having us, Tony!

The spicy tuna crudo received rave reviews around the table

The very shareable cauliflower was served with an addictive sriracha honey

If you’re hungry – make sure to order the 12oz pork chop, served with sriacha-fried brussels sprouts

Fun plating for the cracker jack brownie served with salted caramel gelato

Our favourite dish of the night – blueberry pie with key lime ice cream

It’s hard to believe how fast September has flown by – Mack and I are now counting down to our wedding (and honeymoon!). On to this week’s food notes:

• We’re about halfway through Sorrentino’s 20th annual Mushroom Harvest Festival, which features cooking classes, and a mushroom walk, cook & eat.
• You have one more chance to tour the Northlands Urban Farm on September 18, 2014, and learn about their farm and beekeeping operation.
• Slow Food Edmonton is hosting an apple tasting on September 21, 2014 at the French Quarter Market. I couldn’t help but think of Valerie’s post when she conducted a similar tasting with her food students a few years ago.
• The City Market is collaborating with local chefs to help the Bissell Centre raise funds at their Fall Harvest Dinner on October 5, 2014.
• LitFest is back this year with Food Matters on October 18, 2014, featuring a panel that includes Chef Shane Chartrand of Sage Restaurant.
• Karlynn sampled the new “build your own” menu at Hotel Macdonald, offering 3 courses for $59.
• Mel Priestley is the new Dish Editor at Vue Weekly – congrats!
• Congratulations to Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton for planting their first tree at their new micro-orchard last week! The orchard is located at McCauley School.
• Peters’ Drive-In is expanding to Red Deer’s Gasoline Alley. It may be only a matter of time before they move north into Edmonton!
• Mack, Felicia and I checked out Hawkers Market on Saturday at their new location. Latitude 53 provided the added bonus of an outdoor patio space, but was unfortunately plagued by some of the same power issues seen at Vacancy Hall. Still, we enjoyed the food we were able to sample – in particular, the cashew cheese by Truffula was a tasty surprise, while it’s hard to pass up Paper Bag Donuts.

Out on the patio

Cashew cheese with onion bread by Truffula (the cheese is available at Earth’s General Store)

Paper Bag Donuts

• The first annual Mid-Autumn Festival event that took place in Churchill Square was a rousing success. The weather cooperated, and they had a great turnout for the performances and other planned activities. The grand finale of a lantern parade followed by a boat launch onto the City Hall pool was executed exactly as the organizers envisioned, and hopefully, will be something replicated again next year.

Mid Autumn Festival at Churchill Square

Attila the HUNgry’s duck tots

Wishing boats at City Hall

It’s been a pretty good week – Kim and Shane welcomed a beautiful baby boy last week, so we’re now the proud Aunt & Uncle of an adorable little ginger. Can’t wait to watch him grow! On to this week’s food notes:

• Our last What the Truck?! of the season will see Edmonton’s largest food truck gathering ever take place on Friday, September 12, from 4-8pm in Churchill Square. The menus are up, so you can plan your meal in advance. Hope to see you there!
• On September 14, the first annual Mid-Autumn Festival celebration is taking place in Churchill Square from 1-9pm. I’m looking forward to the release of the boats into the pool in front of City Hall after dark – should be a sight to see!
• Some restaurant news – it turns out the folks behind Café Amore will be taking over the space vacated by Lit on 104 Street. Expect the Black Pearl Seafood Bar to open in February 2015, with a focus on fresh seafood options.
• Somerville Wine Bar has changed hands – Jan Trittenbach, formerly of Packrat Louie, will reopen the space as Solstice Seasonal Cuisine in October.
• The Journal reviewed the new Rocky Mountain Ice House last week.
• El Cortez was reviewed by Twyla on CBC last week as well.
• Two local doughnut makers will be competing on this season’s Donut Showdown: Bliss Baked Goods and Moonshine Donuts.
• Liane wrote about some of the great eats out of the Earth’s General Store deli. If you need an extra incentive, and have a 2014-15 community league membership, check out their Community League Member Appreciation Day on September 21, 2014 for a 10% discount in store.
• Valerie has a round-up of the latest Canadian Experience Project posts, focusing on the Canadian garden.
• My sisters organized a wonderful bridal shower for me over the weekend, which included a private cooking class, a beautiful meal at Tzin and fun games. Thanks, Amanda & Felicia!

Of course the bacon had to make an appearance on our Tzin tasting menu

With my sisters & my Mum

It’s hard to believe it’s already September, but at least we had a long weekend to help us ease into it! Hope you had a good break, too! On to this week’s food notes:

• Downtown Edmonton Community League’s annual Corn Fest is back on September 6, 2014. Head to Beaver Hills House Park on Jasper Avenue and 105 Street for free corn fro 11am-3pm.
• The next Make Something Monday breakfast session on September 8, 2014 is all about food! Join Phil as he moderates a discussion featuring RGE RD’s Blair Lebsack, Get Cooking’s Kathryn Joel and Tres Carnales’ Daniel Braun. Tickets are free but you have to pre-register.
• Hawkers Market has relocated to Latitude 53, and for the first time, have brought in live music. Get your tickets to the September 13, 2014 event here.
• The Red Shoe Crawl on 124 Street is coming up on September 14, 2014! I had a blast attending the Old Strathcona Red Shoe Crawl earlier this year, and don’t doubt that this event will be equally fun. Tickets are $45, but also check out Linda and Andrea’s blogs for a chance to win a pair of free tickets!
• Earth’s General Store is hosting a produce swap at its south side location on September 14, 2014.
• Edmonton now has two board game cafes, with The Hexagon Café joining the mix.
• Linda reviewed Spruce Grove’s newest Italian restaurant, Porta Romana.
• You may have already voted for the local restaurants nominated in EnRoute’s Best New Restaurant category, but have you voted for your favourite local watering hole? There are nine up for consideration.
• Burger King has bought Tim Horton’s, but besides the same bad pun, nothing has changed yet.
• We finally bought some of the Lays “Do us a flavour” chips to try. The Cinnamon Bun flavour wasn’t as odd as we thought it would be, but Mack’s really enjoying the Jalapeno Mac N’ Cheese.

What’s your flavour? (we found all four flavours in stock at the Co-op on the south side)

• In between errands on the weekend, Mack and I stopped by The Burger Joint for lunch. It was just as good as we remembered (and we were stuffed for hours).

Lunch at The Burger Joint

• After the amazing Symphony in the City concert on Saturday night, Mack and I headed to Woodwork for a late-night cocktail and bite to eat.

The Blinker at Woodwork

Thanks to everyone who came out this weekend to the 97 Street Night Market and the ImMACulate Garden Party! It was definitely a whirlwind weekend, but thankfully, a successful one. Now, on to the next – make sure to save the date for our last What the Truck?! of the season (and biggest ever) on September 12 at Churchill Square, with 25 trucks to help represent the growth of the scene. On to this week’s food notes:

• Fort Edmonton Park’s annual Harvest Fair is back, August 30-September 1, 2014. Experience “food through the ages” throughout the park, old-fashioned games and learn heritage skills. Mack and I took the event in last year, and had a blast.
• Liane Faulder will be leading another tour group to the food mecca of New York, from November 12-17, 2014.
• Chef Shane Chartrand is hosting another of his Sage Signature Series dinners, this time with a “Taste of Europe” theme. It is hard to beat six courses for $49. Robyn has a preview of what to expect.
• Lots of buzz around Rostizado – a review from Twyla, and media opening recaps from Cheryl, Chris and Michelle.
• Cindy shared some gorgeous pictures from this year’s RGE RD dinner at Nature’s Green Acres.
• Did you know Duchess will be publishing a cookbook later this year?
• Mack sent me a link to a website someone put together all about how bad The Burg is.
• It is rare that Mack and I can meet up for lunch, but when we do – Pho Tau Bay it is!

Lunch date pho!

• Don Wheaton hosted the Driving Change for the United Way event on Friday. The Local Omnivore’s menu was hard to beat – deep fried perogy poutine, and a dry cured rolled pork belly sandwich, topped with a fried egg and cheese.

Driving Change for the United Way

Rolled pork belly sandwich from The Local Omnivore

• Mack and I are about a month away from our wedding date – hard to believe how fast time has flew! Last month, we did our engagement shoot with Bruce & Sarah of Moments in Digital. Here is one of my favourite pictures:

Every engagement shoot inevitably ends up with this shot, but I still love it!

I’m a part of two events this weekend – the 97 Street Night Market and the ImMACulate Garden Party. Hope you’re able to join us! On to this week’s food notes:

• It will be a busy weekend in Edmonton. Among events is the Driving Change for United Way event on August 22, from 5-9pm in Old Strathcona, featuring eight food trucks. A portion of all food sales will go to the United Way.
• On August 23, 2014, from 6-10pm, the second annual 97 Street Night Market will be taking place in Chinatown. I wrote more about it last week, but join us for food, free walking tours, vendors and a new vision for the neighbourhood.
• Drift is hosting another pop-up on the heels of their successful “pay the rent pop-up series”. This time, they’re offering brunch on Sunday, August 24, 2014, from 11am-2pm.
• Viva Italia’s annual festival takes place August 24, 2014, from 12-9pm in Giovanni Caboto Park. Enjoy live entertainment, wine and cheese and cooking demonstrations.
• The ImMACulate Garden Party takes over the gorgeous Hotel Macdonald terrace on August 24, 2014, from 2-5pm. Attendees are encouraged to dress in garden whites and pastels to enjoy tasty nibbles and a signature drink, play lawn games, and learn more about the history of one of Edmonton’s most iconic buildings. Tickets are $40 and must be purchased in advance.
• I love the idea behind the YEG Market District on Stony Plain Road – their first event on August 24, 2014 from 9am-5pm will transform a back alley into a stage, market and gathering place.
• El Cortez is now open! I’m sure it’s rockin’, and not only from the spillover from the Fringe.
• Cindy and Liane both visited Rostizado, the new spot from the Tres Carnales boys, last week. Can’t wait to check it out tomorrow!
• Sabor Divino is having a month-long seafood festival, running August 14-September 14. Check out the menu here.
• Bannock Burger on 124 Street was short lived – it is now closed. That said, the owners are looking for other options after the landlord decided not to renew their lease.
• The nearby Eden’s Market on 124 also announced that they have ceased operations, with August 10 having been their last market.
• Looking to have a picnic, but don’t have the time to put together a basket of eats? There’s now a service for that, called YEG Picnic.
• Happy to hear the backyard chickens pilot passed City Council today!
• Tim Horton’s debuted a new dark roast coffee on Friday, in an effort to target McDonald’s and Starbucks coffee drinkers. Mack tried it today, and commented that though it is better than their regular joe, it won’t be garnering his regular business.
• Speaking of Tim Horton’s, they’re seeking votes for this year’s Duelling Doughnuts contest (the winner receives $10,000 and sees their creation grace the café menus). Great to see an Edmontonian among the Ontario-based entries. Go, Judd and your lumberjack doughnut!
• Mother’s Market celebrated their grand opening on Sunday. It was buzzing, and busier than I’d ever seen it. Their rooftop patio on the second floor is great – in the warmer months, it’ll be perfect for pre-shopping breakfasts and lunches.

Mother’s Market

Rooftop patio

• I had lunch at Culina Muttart last week with colleagues. It’s been some time since I’ve been, but service was efficient, and the perogies were fried to perfection.

Marina’s cheddar perogi

• I joined Brittney and the Food Bloggers (wouldn’t that make a great band name?), Cindy, Andrea, Diane and Teresa at Shanghai 456 last week. It was our first visit to the new location, and boy, was their kitchen quick. The xiaolong bao were as delicious as I remembered.

Food, glorious food!

We’re gearing up for our penultimate What the Truck?! this season, taking place Saturday, August 16, from 4-8pm in Borden Park. Hope to see you there! On to this week’s food notes:

• A reminder about Alberta Open Farm Days happening in a few weeks on August 23-24, 2014.
• Mark your calendar for the next Hawkers Market on September 13, 2014, this time in a new location: Latitude 53.
• The big news this week is that three Edmonton restaurants are in the running for EnRoute Magazine’s prestigious Best New Restaurant list. The restaurants are North 53, Rge Rd and Woodwork. Vote now!
• Great to hear that Elm Café is expanding with the addition of Burrow, an underground café in Central LRT station. Look for it in mid-September.
• Chef Nathan Bye’s new restaurant will be called Ampersand 27.
• Café del Sol is at a new location, 14220 Yellowhead Trail.
• Max’s Restaurant (Graham calls it the “Earl’s of the Philippines” in the article) is now in Edmonton, introducing Filipino cuisine to the masses.
• Café de Ville shuttered unexpectedly this month. Liane is on the hunt for the reasons why.
• Want to cook like Daniel Costa at home? Download his free Tavola app, which features 15 recipes (and will be continuously updated).
• Get Cooking’s first class at their new MacEwan location on September 5, 2014 is a perfect date night for couples.
• The most recent Mack & Cheese episode has Mack and Graham discussing recent food festivals and restaurant news.
• I hadn’t heard about the Elk Island Bison Festival before, but it sounds like their first year was a success.
• Mack and I had dim sum with our parents at Tasty Noodle over the weekend. Great selection, timely service, and tasty plates!

Dim sum at Tasty Noodle

Mack and I were away most of the long weekend at Goose Lake with his family. Given cell coverage in the area is sporadic to non-existent, we were able to focus on time outdoors and around the fire. Hope you had a relaxing weekend as well! On to this week’s food notes:

• Did you hear – Drift is hoping to move into a storefront! Help them pay the rent at their Burger Night pop-up from 5-9pm on August 9, 2014 at 10721 124 Street. Check out the menu.
• Save the date: our next What the Truck?! is taking place Saturday, August 16, 2014 in Borden Park, featuring ten trucks. RSVP to the Facebook event!
• Help Mother’s Market celebrate their grand opening on August 17, 2014.
• Great news – Elm Café is expanding again downtown! No official word on where downtown just yet, however, though I have a good guess.
• Karlynn gives us a sneak peek of El Cortez, the tequila bar everyone has been waiting for. It hopes to open August 15, 2014.
• It sounds like Twyla found a gem in the Portuguese restaurant A Taverna.
• The Green & Gold Garden now sells locally-roasted coffee sourced from a co-operative in Rwanda, with some proceeds going to Tubahumurize (the non-profit the garden supports that helps marginalized women in Rwanda).
• I loved this “Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables” campaign launched by a supermarket in France, which convinced producers to purchase the usually less-than-desirable imperfect produce with a clever marketing idea. Bravo.
• Congrats to Jacqueline and the rest of the team at Jacek Chocolate Couture for a fantastic opening weekend for their new shop on 104 Street (10140 104th Street)! It’s great to have another specialty business on the street – welcome to the neighbourhood!

Jacqueline in her new downtown store (she insisted on not being in the photo alone)

• Mack’s parents were in Edmonton during the week, so we decided to introduce them to The Parlour. The pizza was a hit!

Calamari (loved the charred lime on top)

• After our engagement shoot with Bruce & Sarah, we wound down over a bottle of wine and some food close to home at Tzin. Kelsey and her staff were incredibly accommodating (as we were running late), and were open to us taking a few shots on the patio as well. Thanks for the wonderful evening!

I will never pass up an opportunity to order the pork belly

• As I mentioned above, we spent the weekend at Goose Lake. A final parting shot!

Goose Lake