• Liane Faulder wrote about a new sushi place called Teriyaki Corner (6290 199 Street NW) and about the forthcoming opening of a second Sobeys Urban Fresh on campus. I still have no idea what the Journal is doing to her (or what she is doing to herself…I still can’t figure it out) – the front page article this past week was a reprint from a Canwest affiliate, and her only contribution was a compilation of little pieces of news. The only article so far that I’ve really enjoyed of hers was a few weeks back, about her crash course at the NAIT School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. Obviously, the market scene still belongs to Judy Schultz, but Liane needs to carve out her identity, pronto.
• There’s a new cafe in town: Danilo’s is a new caffe bar in Westmount (118 Avenue and St. Albert Trail). It received a mixed review in the Journal a month ago.
• Devlin’s received an absolutely rocking review in the Journal this weekend. Great for Executive Chef Sebastian Lysz.
• While I’m sure the September 17 FEASTival of Fine Chefs will be great (sold out a month in advance), it’s hard to imagine paying $105 for a meal. Of course, at this point, I am used to paying upwards of $40 a plate without blinking, so perhaps I just need some time to build up a price tolerance.
• The New York Times did a piece about Susur Lee’s preparations for his first venture into the city’s dining scene. He seems eerily unfazed by the pressure.
• Worth a visit for the name alone, New York’s upcoming Permanent Brunch will offer a “bacon list” in place of a typical wine list. The owner’s bacon tasting strategy cracked me up: “We’ll taste four or five things and then do a shot of Lipitor.”
• I stopped by City Centre Mall last week and came across a makeshift cafe offering free samples of Nescafe coffee. Bright orange and brown signage, funky acrylic furniture, and a tidy coffee bar drew my attention easily, and I was able to get a sample of the caramel latte for free (decent, creamy drink from powder). It turns out the cafe has been making the rounds around shopping malls in Edmonton, and City Centre was their last stop. They will be there until September 9.

 

Nescafe cafe

• On our way to the City Centre Market this weekend, we passed by the Beaver Hills Park on 105th Street and picked up some free corn, courtesy of the Downtown Edmonton Community League.

 

With corn

• We stopped by the Sunshine Organics booth for a bit of breakfast at the Market. We each had a Bean North Roasters coffee ($2.15) and a Ham, Egg and Cheese Bun ($6). Made with a spelt bun and topped with a tomato, it felt like the healthiest breakfast either of us had eaten in some time.

 

Ham, Egg and Cheese Bun from Sunshine Organics

• After picking up a few things, we wandered into 29 Armstrong (10129 104 Street), a design-forward furniture store in the Warehouse District, where we took in a few clever installations. I also learned from City Palate that the store doubles as a cafe, offering Transcend-roasted coffee and Vietnamese subs and desserts from Nhon Hoa.

 

One of 29 Armstrong’s installations

• Kerstin’s Chocolates has reopened after their summer holiday and will be holding a special event for their “VIPs” on Thursday, September 4 from 5-9pm, with free drinking chocolate, an unveiling of their new products, and launching of a wedding cake service (with samples). Head to The Cocoa Room (10139 112 Street) if you’re interested.
• For those in the downtown core, the 9th annual 4 Corners BBQ takes place this Friday, September 5th. Head to Abbey Glen Park (102 Street and Jasper Avenue) for a $5 barbecue lunch.
• The Downtown Edmonton Community League is hosting their annual Corn Fest on September 6 at Beaver Hills Park (105 Street and Jasper Avenue). I’m not sure what’s involved, but I’m assuming corn will be served in some capacity.
• At my local Panago yesterday, I picked up a copy of “Panago Cucina”, a beautifully put-together magazine featuring recipes using their house line of products including oils and seasoning salts. They’ve really done a great job marketing their brand as one offering “upscale” pizza.
• Even for those on the waffle side of the fence, the idea of spraying pancake batter from an aerosol can must be an irresistible selling factor of Batter Blaster. I must admit, even from the review on Chow, I’d buy it for the novelty factor alone.
• Mack and I stopped by the St. Albert Farmers’ Market just before heading off to Goose Lake on Saturday. As I was in the mood for produce and edibles, I was disappointed to see that the majority of the vendors were selling crafts or jewelry that day. After walking through, we went back and picked up some blackberries, tomatoes, basil and homemade cookies.

 

At the market

• Salisbury Greenhouses recommences their farmer’s market on Saturday, September 4, and from then on, will be Sherwood Park’s first year-round market. The vendor list isn’t up yet, but check their website for updates.
• I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the small Italian Cafe that was sandwiched between a Sorrentino’s and the Italian Centre in Little Italy, but it the space has been taken over and will reopen as Spinelli’s – the cafe owned and operated by the folks behind the Italian Centre.
• A coworker of mine said that the Blue Nile (10875 98 Street) is closing due to increasing rent prices. The restaurant has been on my list to try for some time, but I never made it out.
• The Globe did a piece on the phenomenon of elusive supper clubs in large metropolitan centres. I wonder if any exist in Edmonton?
• The paper also featured the Forbes list of the top-grossing chefs. Any guesses for who graces the top? It’s the EVOO-queen herself, Rachael Ray, coming in at $18 million. Oprah would be proud.
• Until Liane Faulder pointed it out, I had no idea that 2008 is the year of the potato. Find out more here.
• Mack sent me a list to this site, all about the unusual things people eat, and I came across this post about pasta available in interesting shapes. What would TJ Dawe say?
• Would you pay more money if the menu listings didn’t include a dollar sign? A recent study says yes.
• Los Angeles has put a moratorium on new fast food restaurants for one year. This New York Times piece briefly explores the question on whether or not cities should legislate personal choice.
• Mack is nuts about Melona, when he can find it that is. A “South Korean melon-flavoured creamsicle” (or so says Wikipedia), it’s a little expensive, but a unique alternative to the sugar-based popsicles. We found some at the Italian Centre recently (79 cents for one bar), though they’re also sold at T & T at West Edmonton Mall and the Korean Central Market (9271 34 Avenue).

 

Mack thinking someone is going to steal his banana Melona

• My third FoodTV post went live on Friday, about a recent excursion to the Arbour Restaurant in the historic Rutherford House for their High Tea.
• What appears to be a City of Edmonton-funded initiative, The Edmonton Food Security Network (EFSN), is hiring a Community Coordinator. I couldn’t locate any information on the web, but from the posting the EFSN "is a network of individuals representing various organizations and interests with the following mandate: to help organizations in the Capital Region increase food security by acting as a central resource network; facilitating connections & collaboration; encouraging partnerships/initiatives; and increasing public awareness of hunger and malnutrition." Interesting; I hope to hear more about this in the fall.
• Sherwood Park is hosting their own Beer & Wine Festival on August 22-23; tickets $15 in advance.
• A second Edible Arrangements is in the works in the Duggan neighbourhood (4026 106 Street, 780-462-6767).
• The Edmonton Journal had a profile on the family behind EnSante Wines, the organic fruit winery, as well as the most negative review I’ve seen in the Style section to date – Mike McCall’s pan of La Ronde.
• I never noticed it before, but quite a few restaurants go on hiatus for weeks at a time in the summer (Thanh Thanh, It’s All Greek to Me, among others). Or, in the case of Kerstin’s Chocolates and downtown’s L’Azia, take advantage of the warmer months to renovate. I hope the latter takes into account the menu and the service, and not just the decor.
• The Globe wrote a story last week about the self-serve City Cafe Bakery in Kitchener, Ontario where money is collected via the honor system. The best quote in the piece comes from co-owner Rudolph Dorner: "Payment is not optional…We price the bagel for you, but we trust you to pay it. Just like you trust us not to poison you."

• The Edmonton Journal profiled a new pizza place on the south side called RedBrick Pizza (965 James Mowatt Trail, 780-455-8822). The owners have the Canadian rights to the popular US chain, and are planning on opening five more locations in Alberta and BC in the next year and a half.
• Looks like someone bought the former Chili Hot Hot storefront on 109 Street and Jasper Avenue. According to a sign in the window, it will be transformed into “Tao Asian Bistro”. Western interpretations of Asian food is my guess.
• The last ticket-driven food event of the summer, Heritage Days, kicks off on Saturday. The menu is available online here. I highly recommend getting your food tickets in advance before arriving on site at Save-On Foods, Servus Credit Union branches, or Tix on the Square.
• After reading a review about the new Cactus Club Cafe in Vancouver featuring select dishes by Food Concept Architect Rob Feenie, I had to include it on my list of places to try while in Vancouver next month.
• Perhaps we’ll find this word in the dictionary a few years from now – Catherine Jheon wrote a post about the term “gastrosexual” – men who cook in order to seduce women. She goes on to cite a study where kitchen skills are being considered alongside income and personality as things to consider in a mate. I think the ability to cook, or at least an interest in cooking is important, if not only because it is such a passion for me. Thoughts?
• Walking through the Save On Foods on 109 Street on the weekend, I came across a square watermelon on sale for $99.99. Any takers?

Square Watermelon