• One of the best things about announcing What the Truck?! is being contacted by other local food trucks that we didn’t even know existed! Molly’s Eats can be found at the Sherwood Park Farmers’ Market (and the St. Albert Market this week), and offers a little taste of the world, with empanadas, green onion cakes, and four varieties of soft tacos: bulgolgi beef with red cabbage slaw, seasoned chicken with chimichurri, sweet and sour chicken with fried rice, and pulled pork with escabeche. Nomad Kitchen, run by two NAIT grads, will be serving up BBQ, with menu items like root beer and venison sausage, smoked pulled pork, and smoked tofu. Drift Food Truck is another, which will be up and running in about a month.
• It was great to read this article about how eating at a food truck in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a political act (thanks, Isabelle for the link!).
• And via Eat Street, a fun piece on rejected food truck names: Veal on Wheels anyone?
• The St. Albert Farmers’ Market starts this Saturday, June 18, 2011.
• EDIT: the Canadian Culinary Federation is hosting their 5th annual Lobsterfest this Sunday, June 19, 2011 at the Shaw Conference Centre. Expect lobster with all the fixings, East Coast mood music, a funny money casino and prizes, all for $50.
• Move over, Twisted Yogurt! Another self-serve frozen yogurt chain is moving into town, Menchie’s.
• V Sandwiches will be opening up a second location on Whyte!
• Liane posted about a second location of Chianti’s at 13712 40th Street.
• Sure, you may have been to a wine dinner, but have you been to a coffee dinner? Transcend is working with Corso 32 to pair foods with coffee! The dinner has been delayed due to visa difficulties, but not to despair – they’re working on it!
• Is there an “Eataly effect”? Some Little Italy merchants seem to think so.
• I joined Annie for an indulgent evening out at the Sutton Place Hotel for their Chocoholic Buffet. Unlike last time, we were nearly the first to touch the spread, which was a nice treat. The crepes were enjoyable, but the simple chocolate-dipped strawberries turned out to be my favourite. Service though, was again unfortunately low-key.

Chocoholic spread

• Mack and I had a meeting at Caffe Sorrentino for lunch today, chosen mostly for its location. The cheese tortellini looked appetizing, but ended up being overcooked, with the sauce being overly sweet. Although it was served up really fast, it reminded me of the Italian food served up in shopping centres. Mack’s sandwich was a little better, thankfully, but was a bit pricey ($8.25).

Cheese tortellini (not sure why they gave out disposable cups for dining in, too)

Panini

• Mack and I had my parents and Felicia over for dinner on Sunday to celebrate my Dad’s birthday. He had requested salmon, so we picked up a nice spring salmon filet from Ocean Odyssey, accompanied by roasted Gull Valley Greenhouse tomatoes, and a MoNa mushroom and Sundog Organics pea tendrils salad.

Happy birthday, Dad!

Last week flew by, partially because I was sick for half of it, but mostly because we had U2 to look forward to! I have to say, I was more excited for the potential spectacle of it all – it was my first rock concert, and definitely my first concert with that many people. Best of all, it did live up to my expectations – my favourite moment had to be the romance of starry-lit cell phones in a darkened Commonwealth Stadium. Thanks, Mack for taking me! On to this week’s food notes:

• Flirt Cupcakes is coming downtown! They’re opening up at 10108 105 Street.
• Still looking for a Father’s Day gift? Kerstin’s Chocolates ever-popular bacon chocolate bar is back from June 9 to June 19, with two options to choose from: milk chocolate chipotle and bacon bar or dark milk chocolate salt, pepper and bacon bar. Both are made using Irvings bacon. Make sure to check their new store hours before stopping by, though.
• Good luck to Chef Shane Chartrand, who is competing in Vancouver at the National Chef’s Challenge.
• Liv wrote a great review of Shiraz, an Iranian restaurant that is easily missed, but shouldn’t be.
• Liane finished up her series on local bakeries with a piece on Baltyk Bakery near Kingsway (a good reminder to check it out, especially since it’s only a 15 minute walk from my office).
• The current issue of Merge Magazine (guest edited by Ken Bautista!) features profiles of several of my favourite local establishments, including Credo, Elm Cafe and Niche.
• It’s hard to read about the great eats Foodie Suz had in New York, and not want to jet over the next day!
• Similarly, always great to get a taste of another Canadian farmers’ market, this time of the Halifax market, courtesy of Sarah.
• The June edition of Alberta Venture had a feature on sustainable meat production, with Kristen Kotelko of Spring Creek Ranch on the cover.
• I guess Top Chef Canada has been considered a success, given they’re recruiting for a second season. I hope there’s some Edmonton representation this time around!
• I had no idea Parkallen opened up a second location, in the same building as The Treasury, no less!

Parkallen

• The Chopped Leaf finally opened in Commerce Place. Twyla blogged about it, and based on a quick scan of the menu, their salads look very similar to The Greenhouse. Can’t wait to try it!

The Chopped Leaf

• The second location of Press’d, on Jasper Avenue and 112 Street, is coming along!

Press’d, part 2

• There had been some action in the empty Taco del Mar storefront in Icon I, but we didn’t know what would be going into the space…until this week. Looks like like there’s bubble tea in 104 Street’s future!

Bubble Buzz

• I’m having a love affair with Sundog Organics pea tendrils (they are my current favourite harbinger of spring). We’re trying to enjoy them in different ways: today, we used them as a topping on our burger made with Greens, Eggs and Ham ground turkey. They were great – fresh and crisp, it definitely helped to brighten up the burger.

Turkey burger with pea tendrils

The weeks are just flying by now that the warm weather is here! Hope you’re out enjoying it as much as possible! On to this week’s food notes:

• EDIT: I was remiss in not including a link to the menu of high end street food that will be served at this year’s Al Fresco on 104 Street. Participating restaurants include Corso 32, Pampa, Sabor Divino, Lit, MRKT and Elm Cafe.
• Every time I turn around there seems to be another farmers’ market in the city! My Mum told me about a new one in the Meadows at 4430 17 Street in the Home Depot parking lot on Tuesday evenings from 4-8pm. It runs May 17 to October 4, 2011.
• Sherene blogged about the newest waffle truck in town, Wannawafel. It looks like their waffles use beet instead of pearl sugar.
• See Magazine reviewed Sakana (7908 104 Street), a new-ish Japanese restaurant in Old Strathcona.
• Liane wrote about some changes happening at Culina – namely, that Culina Mill Creek will no longer be serving lunch, but that Bibo next door will pick up where it leaves off.
• The USDA will be replacing its food pyramid with a plate icon on Thursday – not sure a change in design will change people’s eating habits, but it is easier to visualize.
• Heading to New York? Here are five restaurant alternatives to tourist traps.
• Mack sent me a link about Mark Zuckerberg’s personal challenge this year – to eat only what he kills himself.

While I enjoy volunteering for a variety of causes, what excites me most are opportunities to get involved in the community where I live. So I’m really excited for the coming year, as I’ve joined the board for the Downtown Edmonton Community League! Looking forward to getting to know my fellow board members and the work involved. On to this week’s food notes:

• May 28, 2011 sees the launch of the City’s Food and Agricultural Policy Project. Learn more by attending the event at William McIntyre Park from 11am-2pm.
• While you’re in the neighbourhood, make sure to check out the East Whyte Block Party, also on May 28 from 11am – 4pm. 100st from 81 Ave to 82 Ave will be closed to traffic and filled with events and vendors. Expect Fat Franks and Eva Sweet to feed the crowd, and yoga, art demos, and a scavenger hunt.
• Mark you calendars for a special grand opening street party on June 4, 2011: Chai Pani, along with Lola Apparel, are celebrating their grand openings by hosting a street party on 105 Street, just south of Whyte. Festivities will include music, a fashion show, and plenty of traditional Masala Chai and authentic East Indian snack foods for sale from Chai Pani.
• To meet the Father’s Day demand, Sweet Lollapalooza will be offering three chocolate making classes in the next few weeks. On the menu: Robbie Burns Scotch pave, an Anejo Tequila bonbon and a Lambic Belgian Beer truffle.
• Foodie McPoon reviewed the relatively new restaurant Soda Jerks: “the restaurant conveyed a confusing concept of retro-modern, without any retro feeling at all, except for the sodas…with nothing special to the menu and without a clear concept to focus on, I’m not sure how long this restaurant will last.”
• The Southwest Edmonton Farmers’ Market kicked off its season on May 18. Check out a gallery of photos here. For those interested, it will run every Wednesday, rain or shine, from 5:30-8pm at the Lillian Osbourne High School parking lot (2019 Leger Road).
• I don’t normally post job openings here, but the Arbour Restaurant at the Rutherford House is one of the city’s treasures, and they’re looking for a new head chef.
• If you need to see a second burst of spring (the first being the green outside your window), check out Valerie’s post on her greening garden. Just beautiful!
• Two editions in, and new Bon Appétit Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport is already stirring the pot – June’s issue will, for the first time, feature a celebrity on its cover, instead of a chef or a dish. But will it matter, asks Grub Street? “If Gourmet was ‘the magazine of good living,’ then Bon Appétit has become the magazine of fashionable eating.”
• It’s always great when supermarkets start stocking local products – and I know it isn’t easy, and those that are making an effort should be recognized. But sometimes, I wish the signage marking it as “local” was more prominent and cohesive. I know Eat Local First had a good thing going (and are probably too busy focusing on their home delivery service at the moment), but I think much more can (and should) be done to help consumers easily identify local product alternatives.

The Irvings display at the Italian Centre

• It was just gorgeous last week, and one of my teams at work took advantage of it by hosting a barbecue at lunch!

Dogs and patties on the barbie

Doesn’t it feel like summer just arrived without a real transition from spring? The trees are struggling to green up to match the sunny skies! Hope you’re out making the most of it too! On to this week’s food notes:

• Less than 100 tickets are left for this year’s Indulgence. Get yours soon if you plan on attending!
• Make sure you go and pick up an issue of Vue Weekly: it features the recipients of the 2011 Golden Fork Awards (how great is it that Transcend and Credo took best chain coffee shop and best indie?!). There is also a great spread on “Food: A Day in the Life” with snapshots of Bon Ton Bakery, The Wired Cup, MRKT and Hardware Grill.
• See Magazine released their Best of Edmonton winners this past week as well. The same issue features a profile on Josh Hockin and Ben Put of Transcend Coffee.
• Press’d Sandwiches is expanding: look for their second location at 11214 Jasper Avenue in mid-June.
• I’m a little late to the party, but congrats to Edo Japan, which just opened their 10oth store last week. I had no idea they were an Alberta-based company.
• Valerie and Liv both wrote about week 1 in the Century Hospitality Group’s Top Chef competition. Mack and I are on deck for judging on Saturday, and looking forward to it!
• The next Live Local dinner will take place at Accent European Lounge on May 25, 2011. To keep up to date on all Live Local initiatives, sign up for their newsletter.
• You may have read that Culina will be taking over the concession at the Alberta Avenue Farmers’ Market in June, but in case that isn’t soon enough for you, they will also be catering the Royal Bison on May 28-29, 2011.
• Sure, you may be familiar with vegetable-based CSAs, but how about fruit-based? Companies like Tree-Mendus Fruit in Michigan are renting out apple trees.
• Are cell phones killing bees? The answer is: maybe.
• Top Chef Canada was in the news last week for their episode tonight, which saw horse on the menu.
• Mack and I attended the Edmonton Public Schools Foundation fundraising breakfast on Tuesday morning, partly as an excuse to visit McNally (our old high school) again. At the breakfast, we learned more about the Foundation’s fundraising efforts towards implementing full-day kindergarten programs in 14 distressed communities. The event was so well done, and got all the little details right, down to the noisemakers and bubble blowers at the table, to remind us all of our inner child.

Our table

• Look for another Greek take out spot just down from Opa on Whyte and 103 Street, called Greek to Go.

Greek to Go

• I met up with May at the Whyte Ave location of Daawat for dinner last week. It was pretty good, and for both of us, it was our first encounter with their sweet coconut naan. It was interesting, but we prefer our savoury breads as a dinner accompaniment!

Daawat

• The weather was so gorgeous, the City Market at City Hall moved outdoors on Saturday! Let’s hope the weather holds up when the market returns to 104 Street on May 21 – see you there!

It was windy, but sunny!

Kuhlmann’s had fiddlehead ferns

Kuhlmann’s also had convenient salad bowls, already sprouting and good to go!

• Eva Sweet has a brand new trailer! It was parked at Churchill Square this afternoon, but they’ve been trying out some other locations downtown, including Rice Howard Way and 104 Street during the week. Follow them on Twitter to keep up to date on where you can get your waffle fix!

Eva Sweet

The 30th edition of the Edmonton Fringe Festival has a name – Fringeopolis, celebrating the mini-municipality formed in Old Strathcona every August. I love the idea of becoming a “citizen” of the Fringe (or better yet, becoming a “builder”). Looking forward to it already! On to this week’s food notes:

• Twyla filed a review of the new Prairie Bistro (situated inside the Enjoy Centre). Looks like it is worth a special trip out!
• Courtenay wrote about the “preview” tacos cooked up by the folks behind Tres Carnales. They were served up to a hungry crowd at Red Star last week for Cinco de Mayo.
• I passed by Yakitori Grill (10524 101 St, 780-760-0900) last week, and it now looks open. Anyone been yet?
• I had heard rumours, but I wasn’t sure if it was true – a new waffle truck from a Victoria-based company called Wannawafel will be on Edmonton streets this month.
• The Journal started a series on neighbourhood bakeries last week. First up, a shop I often frequent – the Italian Bakery.
• Want to learn more about local Community Supported Agriculture you can support? Read on here.
• I’m always interested in learning how farmers’ markets (and the politics of them) work in other cities – this is an interesting primer on the situation in Calgary, and specifically, about their lack of a central food policy.
• Overflow for Hudson’s on Whyte: The Pint will be opening up soon in the former Purple Onion location (8032 – 104 Street).

The Pint

• Now I know how to sneak fruit into Mack’s lunch – disguise it as chips! The Plaid Giraffe has fabric “chip” bags for sale.

What will they think of next?

• I wandered into Wild Earth Foods last week, and found that they stock Steve & Dan’s BC Fruit on the shelves! It always helps when grocery stores can carry local product, and keep regular hours – it helps discount the “inconvenience” factor some have about farmers’ markets.

Steve & Dan’s at Wild Earth Foods (yeah, the signage is faint – hope that’s something they work on)

• There’s something about seeing Edgar Farms at the farmers’ market (even without their bunches of asparagus) that gives me so much joy. Speaking of Edgar Farms – mark your calendars – their annual Asparagus Festival will be taking place on May 28 & 29, 2011.

Edgar Farms

• When I asked my Mum what she wanted for Mother’s Day, she answered, “Biscuit sandwiches.” We did our best to deliver! Hope you had a great Mother’s Day as well!

Buttermilk biscuit sandwiches with cheddar, Irvings back bacon and Sunworks egg

I think I’m still recovering from Eat Alberta on Saturday (something I hope to write more about this week), but for the moment, I just want to thank everyone who participated, presented, and volunteered. On to this week’s food notes:

• The McCauley community is celebrating their second annual garden event, called Primavera on May 15, 2011 from 9am-3pm. It will offer tastes of Italy, including olive and bread sampling, but will also see sales of flowers and tomato plants. Check out the fun at the Santa Maria Goretti Centre (11050 90 Street).
• On a related note – the Muttart Conservatory’s popular bedding plant sale is scheduled for May 14 and 15.
• Telus has teamed up with Avenue Edmonton to offer some restaurant deals on Tuesdays in May at Murietta’s, Sabor Divino, Jack’s Grill and Parkallen. With the purchase of an entree, your appetizer and dessert are on the house!
• One of the most anticipated restaurants in Edmonton, La Poutine, finally opened today! Chris blogged about it here and Marianne here.
• I missed an article in last week’s Vue about one of my favourite places in Edmonton – Battista’s Calzones.
• The Callingwood Farmers’ Market kicked off their 2011 season on May 1! They are open rain or shine from May to October on Wednesdays from 2p.m. – 7p.m. and Sundays from 10a.m. – 3p.m.
• Did you know that EnSante is rebranding? Look for their wine under the label Fruit Salad in the weeks to come.
• On my hit list the next time I’m in Calgary: Jelly Modern Doughnuts. Maple bacon doughnuts? Made with local ingredients? Yes, please.
• Could it be? Should it be? Eater has rumors about Top Chef: The Musical.
• This is a pretty cool project in NY – with the help of volunteers, the New York Public Library has undertaken transcribing historical menus. Check out their work at What’s on the Menu?
• Before a meeting nearby, a few colleagues and I took a walk through Borden Park at lunch this afternoon. It looks like spring is just around the corner!

Borden Park

I hope you can get out and enjoy the beautiful weather as well!

I didn’t think I’d get swept up in Royal Wedding fever, but I should have known otherwise. Will you be up early to watch the ceremony on Friday too? On to this week’s food notes:

• Tickets for Indulgence 2011, to be held on June 13 will be on sale May 2. The organizers are extending the event a half hour, which will be sure to help attendees hit every station if they so choose. Be sure to pick up tickets soon; they are sure to go fast! 
• Kerstin’s Chocolates is partnering with Alley Kat Brewery for a special tasting on May 26, 2011, which will see chocolates paired with beer.
• Mack and I were thrilled to be asked to act as judges for Century Hospitality Group’s second annual Top Chef tournament. Our bio pages are here and here.
• Liane posted a write-up about Prairie Bistro, the restaurant at the new Enjoy Centre, run by Julianne Mimande.
• I heard some great things about Slow Food’s annual Northern Food Night, so I was happy to be able to read about it on Twyla’s blog.
• For those dim sum newbies: a dim sum dictionary.
• There really is a second life for almost everything: lobster shells are being turned into biodegradable golf balls.
• A piece in the NYT about the insatiable appetite for spring ramps (a traditionally foraged food), got me thinking about other “wild” products – will we ever reach a point here where the demand ravages the supply?
• I saw these too-cute cake pops at Starbucks last week. But they are easy to recreate at home too, or at least, the cheater versions are, heh.

Starbucks cake pops

• Mack and I met up with Thom on the weekend for some gelato at Famoso. Maria had told me that they had a peanut butter and jam flavour – talk about unique! I couldn’t really taste the Saskatoon berries, but the creaminess of the peanut butter was tasty enough!

Thom and Mack

• I can’t tell you how excited I was to see Blue Plate Diner’s patio go in this week – bring on the al fresco weather!

Blue Plate Diner

My sister Amanda moved to Toronto last week! I know we’ll still talk lots (and she may be the reason why I finally get a smart phone), but I’m going to miss her! On to this week’s food notes:

• You can vote for See Magazine’s annual Best of Edmonton poll now until April 28, 2011 (Mack’s blog is one of the options under “Best Local Blog!”).
• Kerstin’s Chocolates sent me the following tidbit: this Easter, Kerstin’s Chocolates is going to give one lucky person a free 1-year membership to our new Chocophilia Choc-o-the-Month Club (worth $600!). Customers who make a purchase at the register or online will be entered for a change to win! Enter before April 23rd, and then find out who wins on April 25th.
• Check out Live Local for information on some great upcoming events, including the second in their series of Live Local dinners (this one at Sabor Divino on April 28), high tea at Hotel Macdonald to celebrate the marriage of William and Kate, and a local chefs series at Everything Cheese in May.
• Liane mentioned this week that Prairie Bistro, the eatery at the Enjoy Centre, was set to open today.
• Also opening today is Chai Pani (8205-105th Street), a chai tea bar that will be serving pastries from around the world. It’s always great to have another coffee shop option on Whyte!
• Congratulations to Jean Pare for thirty years of Company’s Coming success!
• Mack and I attended a special meeting of the City Market tonight, called for members to vote on whether or not the Board should proceed with considering the Mercer Warehouse as a viable year-round option. The vote was a resounding no: 69 against and only 3 for. The Board has now been directed to consider other possibilities, such as continuing at City Hall for the time being.
• Urban Diner has a great round up post of all of the Vancouver food carts.
• I think this seems even cooler than the recent trend of pop-up restaurants – underground street food markets.
• Based on the name of the show, I really thought this was an April Fool’s Day prank, except that I think Top Chef’s Carla Hall would be great as a host: ABC is set to launch a daytime talk show about food called The Chew.
• I had a lunch meeting today at Ninh Kieu, and had their pho again for the first time in a while. The serving of meat was very generous, and as meatballs go, really quite tasty!

Ninh Kieu

• There’s nothing like winding down the afternoon with a beautiful vanilla latte from Credo.

Credo

As much as I’m not a fan of rainy days, we really need it to wash away all of the accumulated dirt and sand. So bring on the rain! On to this week’s food notes:

• Voting for Vue Weekly’s annual Golden Fork Awards is now on! You can vote until May 1, 2011 for a chance to win $500 in restaurant gift certificates.
• Cathy posted about the impending closure of the current location of Cally’s Teas on April 30. On the bright side – it isn’t the end of Cally’s, but their new location is yet to be determined.
• See reviewed Pampa this week – though service wasn’t quite up to par, it seems the management did their best to make up for it.
• Vue reviewed Cafe de Ville’s second location: different feel, but equally good.
• If you haven’t yet seen Eat Local First’s new website, check it out! I love that you can easily buy gift certificates online now.
• Sherene continued her series of Q & As with the judges of Top Chef Canada (which started airing today) including head judge Chef Mark McEwan and judge Shereen Arazam.
• Hurrah for street food: Vancouver just approved 19 more food carts.
• Mack snapped a photo of a forthcoming salad bar chain location called The Chopped Leaf in Commerce Place.

The Chopped Leaf

• Kathryn and I were able to pop by Battista’s Calzones for lunch last week before a meeting nearby. I am happy to say the meatball calzone was still every bit as delicious as I remembered.

Mama Mia calzone

• Before our second supper of alley burgers, Amanda, Felicia and I had dinner at Niche (which was reviewed in the Journal this week). It was packed, with many parties turned away, so reservations are a must. The full house didn’t cause service to slip up though (our server was fantastic), and our food arrived promptly. Amanda enjoyed her duck confit, and Felicia the dish of beef cheeks and pasta. I decided to try the braised pork and lentil soup and the bison short ribs. The earthy soup hit the spot, with a hearty texture befitting of a cool, spring evening. The short ribs were good, but in terms of meat satisfaction, I would likely end up ordering the beef cheeks again next time. The three of us shared the salted caramel brownie, and I am happy to say it was much better than the first one I had a few months back. It was warm, with flakes of salt evident underneath the whipped cream. Comfortable but refined, Niche will make a regular out of you!

Confit of Brome Lake duck with mashed potatoes and lemon thyme gravy

Braised Spring Creek Ranch beef cheeks in a wild mushroom cream and egg noodles

Braised pork and lentil soup

Bison short ribs on white cheddar crostini

Salted caramel brownie

With the sisters!