Food Notes for December 12, 2011

Still looking for the perfect Christmas gift? How about a pair of YEGWOOD treefarer shades? For a chance to win a free pair, just leave a comment on Mack’s blog! On to this week’s food notes:

Cally’s Teas is back! Or at least temporarily starting December 14 until her shop at 10151 82 Avenue is in order. Check out Marianne’s blog for more details.
Great news for the food truck scene this week: Battista’s Calzones bought a truck to debut next summer.
It seems like it’s been in the works for quite some time, but Cactus Club will be opening up a downtown location of their popular casual upscale restaurant on Jasper Avenue and 111 Street.
Twyla reviewed new-ish Mediterranean restaurant Ousia: “Ousia holds promise. The ambiance scores high, as do the appetizers and desserts. The entrees were disappointing but those issues should be easily fixed.” Great to see that the staff commented directly on the blog, too.
Liane shares her favourite dishes of 2011, and asks readers to share their own.
Kevin posted a link to the continuing campaign to protect the agricultural lands in Northeast Edmonton – consider becoming a Friend of Farmers.
There really is an app for everything: just released last week was Big App for Meat by butcher extraordinaire Pat LaFrieda, pitched as the “definitive butcher’s guide to every cut of meat”, with 360-degree interactive rotating meat and videos of butchery. Sounds like a great use of technology.
‘Tis the season for food trends. Here are some great links from Grub Street (keep in mind Edmonton is always behind, if we get the whiff of the trend at all).
Passed by a new forthcoming vegetarian restaurant next to Duchess on 124 Street and 107 Avenue called The Clever Rabbit. Vegetarian seems to be a trend this year, with Noorish having opening up not long ago as well.

The Clever Rabbit (excuse the drive-by photo)

We stopped by the St. Albert Christmas Market on Saturday to pick up a few gifts. There were a few producers present (Irvings, Steve & Dan’s, Erdmann’s, among them), but the majority were crafts and giftware vendors. We saw for the first time Steve & Dan’s sparkling juice – this would be a great non-alcoholic alternative for a local food gift basket.

St. Albert Christmas market

Steve & Dan’s sparkling juice

We couldn’t help but gape at the artificial grass in front of St. Albert Place – we wondered what the justification was – anyone know?

To cap off a busy week at work, Mack and I indulged at La Poutine on Friday night. Nothing beats fries, gravy and squeaky cheese as stress relief!

You can now wear your love of poutine

Quebecois and Surpreme

A Family Favourite: Cô Dô Huê

Every pho enthusiast has their favourite. Mine happens to be Pho Tau Bay for many reasons, but at the top: they are efficient and consistent. It definitely helps that it is the only dish they serve, so due attention can be paid to the soup base.

That said, I’m always open to trying new places, and my parents were eager to share their favourite with the rest of my family. Consequently, when Amanda was back in town in mid-November for her convocation, we headed to Cô Dô Huê one chilly evening for dinner.

Located in a non-descript strip mall in ~~Castledowns~~ Pembina, I would say that Cô Dô Huê could have the status of a hidden gem…except for the fact they had nearly a full house on a random Tuesday.

The interior was clean, pained a restrained shade of green. The patterned, upholstered chairs dated the space a bit, but I did appreciate the booths, including a large, circular one that we eventually settled into. It felt like we could’ve held court on the dining room!

The family!

The first thing I noticed about the menu were the prices – pho (albeit no size options to choose from) were priced at $9.95, about $2 more than the Chinatown restaurants like Pho Tau Bay that I more often frequent. Still, it was the mission of the day to try it, so both Felicia and I ordered our standard bowls: special beef noodle soup for her, and medium rare beef for me.

Mack, who typically shies away from soup, was convinced to select the spicy beef noodle soup (which a few of my parents’ friends claim is the best in the city). Amanda opted for her usual vermicelli bowl, and my parents ordered rice plates. We also agreed to share green onion cakes ($4.95) at my urging.

Three colour rice plate

Four colour rice plate (my dad couldn’t stop raving about the grilled shrimp on sugarcane)

Vermicelli bowl with grilled pork

Food came out quickly, in spite of the full room. The green onion cakes were a hit with the table, fried to a golden perfection. They were even salty enough for me!

Green onion cakes

The pho servings were large, as expected (Felicia barely got halfway through her noodles). The broth was clear, imbued with the familiar flavours of anise and cloves, among others. My beef, shaved thin, also remained tender throughout, and didn’t overcook. The only contentious spot was Felicia’s tendon; it was undercooked, and thus didn’t melt in her mouth as is her preference.

Special beef noodle soup

Medium rare beef noodle soup

Mack also enjoyed his soup (hallelujah!), spicy and full of texture. More importantly, he mentioned that he’d be open to having pho in the future!

Spicy beef noodle soup

Service as a whole was great – servers were attentive, and returned numerous times to check on us and to refill our water. Although I wouldn’t hesitate to dine at Cô Dô Huê again, its location would prevent me from doing so at a regular frequency. But you can bet you’ll be seeing my parents there again soon!

Cô Dô Huê
12819 140 Avenue
(780) 475-2660

2011 Festival of Trees

It’s been a few years since I last attended the Festival of Trees, but when May offered me an extra ticket she had been given by her office, it seemed like a good chance to get reacquainted with one of Edmonton’s Christmas traditions.

It would be difficult for most people not to be swayed by the spirit of the season after stepping inside the immaculately decorated halls of the Shaw Conference Centre. Between the music, the lights, and of course, the trees, the room was glowing with the joy of Christmas.

A recyclable tree

One sweet hearth

May and I agreed that attending the festival towards the end of its final day was actually not a bad idea; by that point, most of the crowds had dispersed. It meant we could take our sweet time admiring our favourite trees, revelling in their beauty and detail.

Dissipating crowds

Bringing the outside in

It’s hard to know how veteran contributors come up with new ideas year after year, but it was evident there were some wonderful creativity behind some of the tree themes. Most of my favourites were probably aimed more at children, but what can I say? I’m a kid at heart.

How can you not love Elmo?

Under the Sea

More toys (yep, that’s a Furby you see)

We also noted new-to-us displays of interesting wreaths, including a stunning wreath constructed out of steel ribbons.

May and I also made sure to tour the gingerbread creations (most definitely went above and beyond construction of a “house”). Being a Star Wars fan, I had a soft spot for the Ewok tree hut, but I also had to marvel at the detail in the very aptly named “Have You Any Wool?”, down to the texture of the knit stocking.

“Forest of Endor”

“Have You Any Wool?”

I also loved the comical scene in “A Merry Little Christmas Tree”, created by the Shaw Conference Centre pastry chefs. They definitely had a sense of humour when it came to this particular landing of Santa’s sleigh.

“A Merry Little Christmas Tree”

Thanks again to May for inviting me – it was a great reminder of what I’ve been missing these past few years!

The Cooking Chronicles: More with Donna Hay

I hadn’t touched Donna Hay’s No Time to Cook for some time, but when I needed some inspiration for a few quick meals, I knew I would be able to find a dish or two that would pique my interest.

Polenta with Mushrooms and Goat’s Cheese

I clearly haven’t mastered the ratio of water to corn meal yet, as I learned from making a recipe for polenta with mushrooms and goat’s cheese. Instead of the desired creamy consistency, I hadn’t included enough water, so the polenta turned out almost solid in nature.

Thankfully, topped with some sautéed portobello mushrooms in balsamic vinegar and Smoky Valley St. Maure goat cheese, my poorly-made polenta was made somewhat more bearable.

Polenta with mushrooms and goat’s cheese

Still, both Mack and I were left wanting something else – either an additional textural element, or another protein of some kind.

Fennel-crusted Pork

We had better luck with the fennel-crusted pork. We used an Irvings Farm Fresh tenderloin (Mack thinks the word is much more amusing than it should be), sprinkled with fennel, rosemary, salt and pepper and seared until cooked through.

To accompany the pork was some shredded Kuhlmann’s cabbage and green apple cooked with butter, white wine vinegar and brown sugar.

Fennel-crusted pork with cabbage and apple

We really enjoyed the dish – the pork remained perfectly moist and the fennel, as expected, complimented the flavours well. The cabbage was also surprisingly tasty from such quick preparation, and is definitely something we’ll make again, even apart from the pork. On any other day, I would have also added a starch of some kind – potatoes or a side of rice – but that night, I knew we would be heading out to the carb-laden Christmas fete at the Queen of Tarts, so the meat and vegetables were enough.

Thanks to Donna Hay for rarely letting me down!

Food Notes for December 5, 2011

It’s been a bit crazy at work these past few weeks, and for that reason, I’m grateful Mack’s been able to pick up the slack at home. It’s nice to have dinner waiting for you when return home after a long day. On to this week’s food notes:

You may remember soon-to-be-launched food truck Big City Sandwich has been taking over kitchens in restaurants around the city, to generate some income (and buzz) before the summer season. So it’s interesting to see existing truck Nomad do the same, for a similar reason – to tide them over in a city where winters are not necessarily hospitable to year-round vending. Their first dinner will be held at Yellowhead Brewery on December 20, 2011. There might be a few tickets left if you don’t blink!
Also on the evening of December 20, 104 Street businesses will be hosting a customer appreciation day. I’ll link to more information next week, but expect discounts like 10% off nearly everything at deVine’s, 25% off food at Blue Plate Diner, and complimentary treats all day at Queen of Tarts.
Maybe the most exciting news to me this week was finding out that 104 Street really is becoming Edmonton’s artisan coffee district – Roast Coffee will be setting up shop in the Mercer Warehouse on 104 Street and 104 Avenue, to be open some time in 2012. Great to see a small local business set up in the heritage building!
Will Jasper Ave eventually have its own chocolate district (near Kerstin’s Chocolates)? Bernard Callebaut will be opening up a new retail store (with a cafe) on Jasper next year.
Liv wrote about Cafe Coral de Cuba on Whyte Avenue.
The Journal reviewed Nola, the newest Creole restaurant in Edmonton. It’s quite a negative review, with such a different opinion than what others have told me about their experience. I’ll definitely have to check it out myself.
I haven’t been watching Recipe to Riches myself (is it odd to anyone else that Jesse Palmer is the host of that show?), but I know I was wondering if the products were actually worth buying. Foodie McPoon has been trying them all out, week by week, so you can get a second opinion first.
With another Wild Earth open on the west side at 14238 85 Avenue (and another one to come at the Epcor Tower), I wonder if people are confusing that cafe with the similarly-named Good Earth, which is also rapidly expanding?
Smashburger, deemed “America’s most promising company” by Forbes, is expanding to Edmonton. Makes me wonder why Five Guys hasn’t been more aggressive in northern Alberta.
Price check: this is an interesting post on the price comparisons between products at Planet Organic and Earth’s General Store.
Lots of great gift suggestions for the food lover in your life: cookbook recommendations from the NYT, and gadget picks from America’s best chefs.
362 slices and two and a half years later, a man who vowed to eat his way through Manhattan’s pizzerias is now done.
Taste of Lebanon, the second Cafe Beirut location on Jasper Avenue and 112 Street is now open!

Taste of Lebanon/Cafe Beirut

I had no idea Viphalay was moving to the house formerly occupied by Karma 99 Avenue and 105 Street.

Viphalay

Though the second downtown Oodle Noodle is on the horizon, Mack and I headed to the 109 Street and Jasper Avenue location on Friday to help celebrate its 1st birthday. We loved the decorations (who doesn’t love helium-inflated animal balloons?).

Or dragon-shaped cupcakes?

At Ikea this weekend, we stumbled upon the most adorable fruit and vegetable shaped stuffed toys. Mack didn’t have a choice but to pose with his new broccoli friends.

Green is good

Winter Wonderland in Downtown Edmonton

It was another unseasonably warm winter day on Friday, perfect to explore the freshly decorated Legislature grounds. It’s one of the most magical places in Edmonton in the holiday season, and taking a stroll through the tree-lined paths have become an annual tradition for us.

We first stopped at Second Cup for some hot drinks (I’m really enjoying their salted caramel hot chocolate), and en route to the Legislature, passed by the Christmas lights display at the Edmonton General.

A part of their Lights of Hope campaign, the continuing care facility is giving the Bright Nights displays (last seen in Hawrelak Park in 2008) new life. The 400 lights are intended to boost staff and patient morale and draw attention to the frail senior population.

Santa and his reindeer

The lights aren’t only on the front of the building, however – they line the entire perimeter of the facility, as well as the parkade behind it. We recognized some of our favourites from Bright Nights, including the hockey player who shoots and scores, and the duck-duck-goose parade.

Mack couldn’t help but pose with Santa

It was then onward to the Legislature, which had just been lit for the season on December 1. It was great to see many other couples and families enjoying the park as well that night.

The lights are great, but I think what really makes the display special is the music that is piped in – Edmonton’s very own winter wonderland.

A visit to Candy Cane Lane might be in your family’s holiday repertoire, but think about incorporating a stroll downtown this year as well – you won’t regret it!

Shop Local 2011: Favourite Gifts to Give or Get

Although the official City-proclaimed “Shop Local Month” ended yesterday, I think today marks the unofficial kick off to the real holiday scramble – all leading up to, of course, December 23, the busiest shopping day of the year.

So as I have for the previous two years, I thought I would ask some local personalities what they will be presenting loved ones with this Christmas – shopping locally definitely shouldn’t be confined to a single month! I asked them:

What is your favourite locally-purveyed gift to give or get?

Paul Shufelt, Century Hospitality Group VP Culinary/Managing Partner

When it comes to giving, I treat each of my chefs to a selection of great cook books each year. I like heading down to Audreys Books and rifling through this year’s list of chefs that have released their cookbook. As most chefs are, I am very visual, it’s more about the images, and the creativity, rather than the recipe itself. One timeless book that I highly recommend for the want to be chef is Culinary Artistry. This book is a little different, in that it doesn’t share recipes, as much as it offers classic, and not so classic, flavour pairings, allowing my mind to race with ideas when it comes to creating a great meal. Not everyone in my life loves food the same way I do, so I have to get a little creative. I find that starting at Identity Clothing or Lord’s Shoes is always a good place to start when it comes to picking out something special for my wife. And if that doesn’t work, a little spa treatment at Perugia Salon Spa will always do the trick.

When it comes to receiving, I love the thought that can be put into preparing a gift basket for someone special, and for me, that would include a selection of some of my favourite treats around town. I would probably start at the Italian Centre, grabbing some great oils, pestos, sun dried tomatoes, marinated artichokes, maybe some Proscuitto di Parma, bundnerfleisch, or soppressata, shaved thin. Then I would head to Queen of Tarts and pick up some fresh rustic breads and brioche buns. After that I would head to Paddy’s Cheese to track down some fantastic local cheeses, like the Sylvan Star Old Grizzly gouda, and maybe throw in a box of Rosemary Raisin Raincoast Crisps. I would round out the gift basket with a trip to Baseline Wine & Spirit Co. where Che and his team would gladly help me to pick up the perfect bottle of red to compliment all of these tasty treats. Now that’s a Christmas gift like no other.

Neil Herbst, Alley Kat Brewing Company

I would have to say some Kerstin’s Chocolates washed down with some fine espresso from Transcend.

Dez Melenka, Co-Host, CTV Morning Live

Melissa Dominelli [CTV Morning Live Traffic Specialist] and I love shopping local…I think for me it’s about locally run fashion. I love Bella Maas…it’s run by two friends and they are both feisty fashionistas!! If it’s about eating out…and who doesn’t like that…a really great local bistro that is always a treat is La Persaud…a gift certificate from there would be fun!

Melissa knows how popular athletic wear is and tells me it’s a great gift to give friends and family…she recommends Key Lime, a Canadian company that really makes affordable and stylish work out wear. Above all…we both love the markets…local artisan shows that allow you to find the truly unique gift!! My favourite is the Handmade Mafia…it’s a fabulous place to find something different and completely local!!

Chris Buyze, President of the Downtown Edmonton Community League

Since a grow a lot of my own food during the summer, and do a lot of canning and preserving with friends, I like to give small tokens of the garden – salsa, jam, canned peaches, zucchini chutney or tomato jam. I make these items in small jars and build small pine boxes out of locally-produced lumber to package them in, along with Coal Lake Honey from the City Market Downtown.

I am also a big fan of giving locally-produced arts and crafts as gifts, especially pottery from the Alberta Craft Gallery or Gabe Wong‘s ‘Endangered Alberta Animal 2012 Calendar’ from the Royal Bison Art & Craft Show. We have so many talented local artists and artisans that produce high-quality products worth supporting!

For my nieces (and kids in general), there is a great selection of sustainably crafted toys at Carbon. And you can’t go wrong giving books from Audreys Bookstore, whether a nice cookbook or local interest book.

Erica Viegas, Singer/Songwriter

Being a lover of music, and especially local music something from a local record store like Permanent Records or Blackbryd Myoozik would definitely be part of my give or get gift list. I also think there is nothing cozier in the dead of Edmonton’s winter than comfy Cloud Nine pajamas and a cup of something warm. I’m a big fan of Credo Coffee and Duchess Bakery for a yummy treats, and Red Ribbon or Bella Maas for local clothes certificates.

However, more than physical gifts, I would often rather spend time with someone one over a nice meal, and I think Corso 32 is one of Edmonton’s best (to treat or be treated to)!

Kara and Nevin Fenske, Drift Food Truck

Two presents we like to give and would love to get would be:

1-any sort of mix of items from the deli counter at the Italian Centre. You really can’t go wrong with meat, cheese and olives. Throwing in a bottle of wine from DeVine wines is always a good idea! Pairing that with chocolate is a nice touch as well, which brings us to #2

2-Kerstin’s Chocolates. From their spiced drinking chocolate to salted caramels. ANYTHING from their shop is delightful.

Sarah Jackson, Graphic Designer and Author of A Jam Story

My favourite local item to get: I would love to get a leather purse or wallet from Keri V, a local girl who vends at the Royal Bison and other Edmonton craft shows (she’s also on etsy). I already have this beautiful blue leather purse from her and a custom-made laptop bag, and now I’m addicted to her handmade-leather goods. She has an attention to detail that is rare in today’s world and an aesthetic that I love, lining her purses and bags with vintage patterned fabrics. Each piece is crafted with such care.

My favourite local item to give: The one I give the most often is probably Duchess treats – if I’m on my way to a dinner party or a birthday I’ll stop by and get one of their rich dark chocolate Duke cakes, one of their lemon merengue pies (delish!) or a box of macarons. I also like to stop by The Artworks downtown – they make the most beautiful bouquets of flowers tied with colourful ribbons and I always feel that people know you love them best when you give them an Artworks bouquet.

John Caputo, Edmonton Sun Publisher

Anything from the Italian Centre Shop, and I mean anything. I get so excited when a basket of any kind shows up from them. And what about the bakery…

Jessica Halabi, Fashion Designer

I’ve given it quite a bit of thought and it was super hard for me to choose just one local gift I’d like. I have fallen in love with many pieces from my designer friends, being such a tight knit community – I always browse their beautiful work. So, I have come up with the perfect compilation of gifts. Nearly everything Gabriela Cruz of CRUZ designs, I adore. She gifted me a top in the summer that I really couldn’t stop wearing. I’ve been drooling over Fridget Apparel’s super cute cardigans for quite some time now. I think every girl should own a corset from Sweet Carousel Corsetry, nothing could make a woman feel & look as beautiful as Elise Troung’s ultra fem corsets. Corinna Chow of Parasol makes the cutest shrugs. To top all those off, a necklace from Rachel Bingham of BangBang Bijoux. Made from vintage finds, or jewels from her grandmothers chandelier, every piece tells a story.

Most of all, at the top of my Christmas list is a gift certificate from Sig Plach Couturier Fabric Store. Rooms full of fine fabrics fill this downtown house. Such beautiful, hand crafted pieces of fabric that come from all over the world. Sadly, Sig Plach is scheduled to close this summer. Unfortunately, too many customers are turning to mass produced fabrics and buying online. Which really hits home for me as a local business owner.

Ruth Kelly, President and Publisher of Venture Publishing

Books are a go-to gift for me and my favourite place to find titles which surprise and delight is Audreys Books. This year, I’ll be gifting copies of Lynn Coady’s fine Giller-shortlisted novel, The Antagonist. I’m also giving subscriptions to 18 Bridges, the magazine edited by Lynn and fellow Edmontonian Curtis Gillespie.

Call the Kettle Black always has some must-have new kitchen item that I slather over. And for host gifts to take along to the many parties of the season, you can pick up one of their cunning little tools, like the wooden juicer, and pair it with a basket of citrus fruits. You can get a double-hit of local if you go to Awear, the women’s clothing store on Calgary Trail. Owner Leila Gumpinger stocks local designer Kelly Madden’s fashions and Kelly’s pieces are both very unique and remarkably affordable. One of the best received gift packages I gave last year was a package of hot chocolate from Sweet Lollapalooza matched with my home-made biscotti. The hot chocolate is indescribably good; tears came to my eyes the first time I sampled it.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this list! I hope their suggestions help you this season. Make sure you also check out City and Dale’s shop local holiday gift guides for more ideas.

Mercury Opera’s 104 Underground (an operascape)

Last Friday, Mercury Opera brought opera to the people – is there any place more democratic than a public transportation platform?

Although the show itself was free (transit operators weren’t checking for fare payments), a $25 ticket gave opera revellers access to some pre-show food and drink at four street-level businesses. I really loved the design of the entire event – from its transformation of an everyday space to a glorious stage, and its recognition and utilization of existing shops.

Given the event started at 6pm on a Friday night, we thought patrons would trickle in, and adoption of an early bird mentality wouldn’t be necessary. We were wrong; by the time we stopped into some of the participating retailers at 7pm, the trays were empty and the pitchers dry.

The crowd at Coup

In hindsight, the expectation of any event starting at 6pm with the promise of alcohol would be accompanying food of some substance (especially with the $25 admission price). Instead, there were platters of cheese and pretzels at deVine’s, and olives and pickles at Coup. We heard 29 Armstrong had been serving croquettes (long gone by the time we arrived), and the Eyecare Group had offered up desserts (also since devoured), but in the end just wondered whether the organizers simply didn’t anticipate the crowds that turned up.

Food at deVine’s

Thankfully for Mack and I, we had both eaten, but happily had some wine at deVine’s, and champagne at the Eyecare Group. People were clearly enjoying themselves, and we almost regretted not arriving at the party earlier.

Ed serving wine at deVine’s

At 8pm, the group was encouraged to head down to the LRT platform to ready for the show. Chairs for the Vif Quartet had been set up at the centre of the platform, and while the crowd eagerly waited for the arrival of the performers (by train, of course), volunteers and peace officers held caution tape in place to make sure all observers remained safe.

A packed platform

The show, in a word, was spectacular. The singers used the circular benches as their stage, and in their gorgeous Natasha Lazarovic gowns (it was as much a fashion show as an opera performance), colours reflecting on the mirrored panels surrounding them, it was a sight to see.

Arriving by train

Stunning

The acoustics were better than expected, and the live musicians that accompanied them elevated the show even more. When trains full of passengers drove past, their aghast and puzzled expressions were priceless – these kinds of things don’t happen in Edmonton, do they?

Encore

When the operascape was over, the performers left as they came – on the train. The void they left was palpable – we didn’t know what to do with ourselves! There should have been an after party to capture the buzz and energy in the air.

Congratulations to Mercury Opera for a fabulous event. I look forward to seeing what they come up with next!

You can read Mack’s post on the event here (including videos of the performance), and take a look at his photo set here.

Food Notes for November 28, 2011

The downtown location of Oodle Noodle is turning one! Help them celebrate this weekend, December 2-4, 2011. This coupon will get you an entree and a drink for just $7, while there will be cupcakes and a magician on hand at noon on December 2.
To help you be a more thorough shopper, Vinomania is offering free wine tastings from their Enosystem over the next three Saturdays from 11am-5pm (December 3, 10 and 17, 2011). You might just pick up a bottle for yourself, too!
Sutton Place Hotel’s annual Taste of Christmas kicks off December 6 and ends on December 16. Make sure to call ahead for a reservation!
Are you ready for a party? The Downtown Edmonton Community League is having a Christmas mixer at the office (10113 104 Street) on December 8 from 7-9pm. If you don’t have a membership yet, they will be selling them at the door for just $5. And with food being catered by Drift, you know it will be a good time.
Twyla reviewed Hakuna Matata, a fairly new Somali restaurant on Alberta Avenue. I’d be interested to try it myself to see how it compares to African Somali, my go-to Somali restaurant.
Marianne offers up a review of Noorish. Seems like most people are at first sceptical, but are quickly converted.
The Journal had a great piece about the trend (and Edmontonians’ hesitation) towards fully embracing the communal table. I remember first encountering one a few years ago in DC – we were apprehensive at first, but found that it was a great way to break bread with strangers.
Sarah Chan, of Girls + Bicycles fame, published a cookbook with her friend Leanne Brown. You can buy a hard copy, but you can also download it for free as well. I love how it is sectioned off into shops/farmers’ markets.
I’ve had Thanksgiving in a bowl, but never in croissant form. It looks delicious.
It’s a little disheartening to read about the food truck crackdowns in Midtown Manhattan. I really hope they find some way to work towards a more conducive solution for everyone.
Did you see the headlines last week about how the US Congress now considers pizza a vegetable? I did too, but it turns out that wasn’t exactly true.
A coworker had her farewell lunch at Khazana last week. I balked when I heard their lunch buffet was priced at nearly $18/person, but clearly this isn’t a problem for most – it was packed! Decent variety and good food, but I’m not sure I would pay that much for a lunch buffet on a regular basis.

The saag paneer was my favourite

I love putting together baskets of food products and trinkets to give as gifts. The Italian Bakery in Chintaown (10646 97 Street) is a great place to go, where last week I spotted a marzipan pig.

Some pig

I can’t wait until the Legislature grounds are all lit up for Christmas (taking place on December 1, which also kicks off the choir and hot cocoa season), but in the mean time, City Hall is looking lovely as well.

Have a good week!

Pyrohy Gluttony: St. John’s Cultural Centre

I’d heard tell that churches across town regularly served up perogies to the carb-starved masses, but I’d never attended one of these pyrohy suppers myself. Until tonight.

After work, a few of my coworkers headed to St. John’s Cultural Centre, within walking distance of the office, to stuff ourselves silly. St. John’s, like many others around Edmonton (including St. Andrew’s and St. Basil’s), offers these suppers on a monthly basis as a regular fundraising opportunity.

I’m not sure why I thought these suppers were a well-kept secret, but given how full the room was that night, it was clear this was a monthly tradition for many. Several tables were reserved, and others were filled with large parties who looked like regulars. And with wine at just $20 a bottle, it was easily one of the cheapest happy hour options in the city.

Not a well-kept secret

For $12 ($10 for seniors and $6 for children aged 6-12), we dined, all-you-can-eat-style, on two kinds of perogies, sauerkraut, roasted pork and Caesar salad. A separate table contained all of the usual perogy fixings – sour cream, bacon bits and (wait for it) sautéed onions in melted butter. I was in love.

Leigh, Sam and Elise load up

The perogies were just what I was looking for – the homemade dough makes all the difference. When we have perogies (from frozen, of course) at home, we typically pan-fry them in butter, but in this case, it would have masked the wonderful texture of the skin. The cottage cheese filling was good, but the potato and onion was definitely my favourite. . The roasted pork on my first go-around was moist and shredded ever so easily, but was a bit dry on my second run.

Plate #1

Dessert and coffee was also available for those who still had room. None of us indulged, partly because of the unidentified nature of the cake, but mostly because that second plate of perogies was probably a mistake.

Dessert

The next few pyrohy suppers at St. John’s are scheduled for December 16, January 27 and February 24. Start thinking about those stretchy pants now!

St. John’s Cultural Centre
10611 110 Avenue
(780) 425-9692

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