Food Notes for February 26, 2024

Bar Henry Continues Daniel Costa’s Vision in Downtown Edmonton

Chef and restaurateur Daniel Costa’s latest business venture cements his commitment to downtown, while also furthering his vision to execute innovative concepts in Edmonton.

Bar Henry, located inside Henry Singer’s new flagship location in Ice District at 10220 103 Avenue NW, opened in early February. It is the fourth restaurant Costa has chosen to open downtown.

“It is definitely a conscious decision to stay downtown,” said Costa. “We’ve been offered deals in the suburbs. But we want to keep the city vibe going. That was the original vision when I opened Corso.”

Costa opened Corso 32 in 2010, then followed up its success with the adjacent Bar Bricco in 2014 and Uccellino in 2016. Last year, Bar Bricco was renovated to subsume the space occupied by Corso.

Bar Henry came about after Costa was approached by the Henry Singer Fashion Group about a potential partnership. “The Singers have a similar kind of mindset with their quality and approach,” said Costa. “The concept also really aligned with our aperitivo bar idea and we couldn’t say no. It gave us an opportunity to do something very niche, small, and interesting.” Aperitivo refers to a pre-dinner drink, intended to whet the appetite.

Within a month, the 30-seat space will add daytime hours to its current evening operations in order to round out the experience for shoppers. “Clients can go shopping and then have a quick coffee or a drink. It suits the Henry Singer crowd who are going in for a suit or a fitting,” said Costa.

The all-day licensed café is inspired by Costa’s travels. “It’s the best of all worlds,” said Costa. “You see those everywhere in Italy. When you say ‘Let’s go to the bar’, it’s not to drink. You go there to have coffee, a snack, or a cocktail on your way home. I think that’s a trend that’s come into North America more. What I love about it is you can really create this full community and culture from morning to night.”

Costa is most excited that his dream for a stand-up bar is finally being embraced. “I tried to do a stand-up bar at Uccellino and Bar Bricco, but it never caught on,” said Costa. “I wanted to try it here again and see if it could work. All of my colleagues are like, ‘Daniel, you’re the only person who will stand up at the bar.’ But it’s full on working! You go in there and there’s people piled around the bar ordering drinks directly from the bartender and snacking on these little southern Italian biscuits that we offer to people when they’re there.”

To pair with a drink menu encompassing cocktails, wine, and coffee, Bar Henry offers a small selection of dishes, ranging from olives and a whole roasted artichoke to panino and carpaccio. “You’re not coming in to get a big plate of food,” said Costa. “It’s meant to be smaller, snacky bites.”

Costa sees the menu as a natural extension of the food served at his other establishments. “We stick with the same kind of philosophy of food, but we’re venturing out of what a menu item could be,” said Costa. “For instance, there’s a dish called fungi – roasted and pickled mushrooms that you get on its own. We also have house-made chips with fennel pollen. They wouldn’t fit at the other restaurants. We’re exploring a new expression of the food that we love in a different concept.”

Costa is heartily recommends the gnocco. “The gnoccho valtellina is a singular dumpling made with semolina and a little bit of spelt flour,” said Costa. “We bake it until it gets nice and golden and caramelized and roast it with shaved brussels sprouts, walnuts, and butter. We put it on a base of taleggio crema, then top that with raw egg yolk and a nice pile of parmigiano; it’s really good.”

2024 will also see Costa open another new project. The Lobby Bar will occupy part of the ground floor of Citizen on Jasper, a new rental building located at 10110 120 Street NW in the Wîhkwêntôwin (formerly Oliver) neighbourhood, just west of downtown.

The developers behind Citizen, ONE Properties (the same company that manages the retail bays at Ice District), approached Costa about the opportunity. “It makes sense,” said Costa. “Developers want a vibrant space, they want operators who will hopefully perform. We are entering a new era of how restaurants are opening.”

Like Bar Henry, Costa proceeded only because it matched his vision, and he’s excited about operating a business in the densest part of Edmonton. The Lobby Bar is inspired by the first time Costa visited the Ace Hotel in New York, before he opened Corso. “It changed my perspective of what that concept could be,” said Costa. “I love that the hotels are not full of guests but full of other people. There’s an energy that you find in lobbies.”

The space will encompass three individual concepts: a restaurant, central lounge, and a daytime concept. “There will be people coming out of the restaurant, people congregating in the centre for a meeting listening to music…all of these different aspects coming together under one roof,” said Costa. “There’s nothing better when the elevator opens and the lobby is bustling.”

Despite a number of restaurants announcing their closure in recent months, Costa is still feeling bullish about the local restaurant scene. “I actually think when you do a very specific concept people will support it, but you need to make sure it’s special,” said Costa. “People will take a risk on a new concept but if it’s not great, they’re not going to go back.”

Finally, Costa believes that diners in the city are hungry for new ideas. “I think people in general underestimate Edmonton’s culture,” said Costa. “People are interested in these concepts that are fun and pushing away from the norm.“

Openings

The folks behind Waffle Bird in Old Strathcona are opening up Dining Car Cafe in the CN Building downtown. Waffle Bird also just celebrated their second birthday, and will be operating a ghost kitchen serving sandwiches called Little Black Submarines.
Home-based business YEG Dream Tarts will be transitioning to a brick and mortar storefront on Gateway Boulevard.
St. Albert is home to The Celiac Baker, its first gluten-free bakery. It opened in January at 2003 Tudor Glen Place.
Edmonton will see two Chick-fil-A restaurants open in the city later this year, one in West Edmonton Mall, and another in South Edmonton Common.

Upcoming Events

Save the date for the return of Hot Chefs, Cool bEATS. It will take place on May 2 at the PriMed Mosaic Centre. Early bird tickets purchased by February 29 are $95 and include access to 15 food stations. Proceeds support the High School Culinary Challenge.

Local News

King of Tarts will be selling their products at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market while their cafe undergoes continued renovations after a flood.
Sharon posted about four cafes that offer coffee flights, including Aspen Coffee Roasters, Rhubarb Cafe & Cocktails, Boxcar Coffee, and Be Coffee.
Edify checked out the burger at Von’s.
Speaking of burgers, several restaurants in Edmonton are participating in Burger it Forward, including High Level Diner, Jack’s Burger Shack, and Three Vikings. For every feature burger purchased during the month of February, Canada Beef will donate the equivalent of 1 meal to Food Banks Canada.
CTV has an update on the Station Park development, including a food hall, to open this spring.
CBC Radio Active’s latest Strip Mall City series features businesses on Stony Plain Road, including CH Cafeteria.
Simply Supper may be undergoing some changes to keep the business open: “We’re not throwing in the towel. Instead, we’re shifting gears, exploring new avenues, introducing fresh products, and reevaluating our offerings.”
The owner of new business Pizza Talks & Donair has been donating 10 meals a week to those in need.
It’s great to see Kim Fat’s hot pot products being carried at a couple of local Superstores.
Retail Insider profiled Teresa Spinelli of The Italian Centre. She mentions in the interview about expanding to Saskatoon next.

What I Ate

It’s been nice to have my sister in town! I had to bring her to Chicken for Lunch for the experience. We waited in line for 90 minutes last week; I can only imagine what the wait times will be this week before Amy closes for good on February 29.

With the rest of the Chicken for Lunch crowd

Amanda picked up a box of Maverick’s Donuts for me – I’m a sucker for a good cake donut (I still mourn the brown butter cake donut Ace Coffee no longer makes). The texture of the treats was pretty good, and I liked the level of sweetness.

Maverick’s Donuts

We also had dinner together at Co Chin Saigon. Their expansive menu accommodates many preferences, but I love me a good pho.

Pho from Co Chin Saigon

Mack and I were also able to get away for a date at Bar Henry. Do yourself a favour and order the gnoccho.

Gnoccho from Bar Henry

Food Notes for February 19, 2023

Openings

Sharon mentioned that Tropika has opened a second location in the Jagare Ridge area at 14132 28 Avenue SW.
New vegan restaurant Benaras is now open at 10532 82 Avenue.
Congratulations to Fuzion Donuts, who have opened a second location at 12866 97 Street.
Africano Cafe is now open in the former Mama Asha Cafe space, located at 11745 95 Street.
A new cafe called Liberta Coffee Lab is opening soon at 6547 99 Street.
Brew and Bloom is opening a second location this spring.

Local News

The Downtown Business Association announced that they will be bringing a farmers’ market back to 104 Street this summer from May to October (Al Fresco on 104 Street operated a small market for the past three years). The DBA is looking for an operator and for vendors interested in joining.
Northern Chicken has extended their operations for one additional week, and will be open until February 24 before their permanent closure.
Amy Nachtigall shared an emotional post about how hard the last few years have been and how she has “lost that passion and hope” that she used to have running her bakery.
Sometimes it feels like winter is over, but Baijiu’s heated winter patio, comprised of North America’s first Tubbo unit, is now open.
After seven years, the original owners of Anvil Coffee House decided to sell to the current manager of the business.
Edify interviewed folks from Ethiopia, India, and El Salvador on where they source food that reminds them of home.
Otto, Sauce Modern Caribbean Cuisine, and Moonga Nori were recommended in The Globe and Mail as great date night spots in Edmonton by three locals.
This CTV article about large food items seems eerily similar to Linda’s post from January, with the inclusion of mini macarons.

What I Ate

We had to send off Northern Chicken right with some of their greatest hits before their closure. Our kids ate up the fried chicken and the Dorito mac and cheese will be missed. Northern Chicken is open until February 25 for those still looking for one last fix.

Take-out from Northern Chicken

Another family favourite is the Mac and Cheeza from Love Pizza. It’s only offered for a short window (until some time in March), so if you needed a reminder, this is it!

Two Big Love Mac and Cheezas from Love Pizza

With family in town, we had to pick up some of our favourite brownies from Sugared and Spiced to share.

Brownies from Sugared and Spiced

Mack and I had a great date night at Partake on Friday. The service is consistently hospitable, and I’ve never felt rushed. And of course, the food and drinks are great too – we loved the whipped brie, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have their croque ‘mon’ soubise.

Croque ‘mon’ soubise from Partake

Food Notes for February 12, 2024

Openings

Bar Henry, Daniel Costa’s newest aperitivo bar venture located inside Henry Singer’s Ice District digs, is now open in the evening. Jon Timms has an overview of some the dishes available.
Top One is now open. It is Edmonton’s first restaurant to offer all-you-can-eat dim sum (priced at $23.88 per person), and the city’s first pay-by-weight hot pot. Top One is located at 10828 82 Avenue.
On the Edge Coffee’s new location will be next to District 102 in the Edmonton City Centre Mall. No opening date yet, but they also announced last week that on Saturdays they are popping up at Meuwly’s.
Square One Coffee is close to opening their fourth location in the city in Windsor Park (8709 118 Street).
Former farmers’ market vendor Choco-licious opened its first standalone store in Sherwood Park on February 1. Find them at Village Park Mall, Unit 102 (near Buffet Royale).

Upcoming Events

Sweet Treats & Latte Festival returns to Old Strathcona February 10-25. 21 businesses are participating, offering either a feature dessert or drink. Visit at least 5 of the businesses to be entered for your chance to win a gift card, or 10 businesses to win one of two staycations valued at $400.
Hop Pocket, made up of 7 breweries in and around Downtown and Oliver, is offering a Hop On Hop Off Bus Loop on February 24. The bus will stop at all 7 locations on a loop. Tickets for the bus are $17.31 per person including fees.

Local News

Starting February 12, Woodwork will be offering lunch service! Woodwork will open 11am from Mondays to Fridays.
Doughnut Party is opening a location in Calgary later this month.
The Journal covered what to expect at Bibo’s resurrected location in Old Strathcona.
The February issue of Modern Luxuria includes a feature on the expanded Bar Bricco.
Sharon did a round-up of four new-ish Korean restaurants that opened recently in Edmonton, including Il Poom, Rock ‘N Tofu, Zigle, and Makchang Dodook.
Edify checked out Duck Donuts and Oceania Grill.
CBC’s Radio Active columnist Jason Foster explores how Odd Company and Trial and Ale have expanded their operations to include food.
NAIT announced that this year’s Chef in Residence is Blair Lebsack of RGE RD and The Butchery. Mark your calendars for March 11-15 for the related events.
Also from NAIT, congratulations to the culinary team on being awarded the silver medal in the community catering category at the IKA Culinary Olympics in Germany.

What I Ate

I didn’t get to as many Feed the Soul restaurants as I wanted, but I did manage to pick up some take-out from Flava Cafe. I loved the jerk pork, and I appreciated the freshly-fried festival dumpling.

Feed the Soul special from Flava Cafe

It’s been ages since I’ve been to Chocorrant, so their Lunar New Year boxes were an enticing reason to return. The bolo BBQ pork croissant was indulgent and delicious. The boxes are available for pre-order until February 25. Happy Lunar New Year to all who celebrate!

Chocorrant Lunar New Year croissant gift box

Food Notes for February 5, 2024

Amy Quon closing Chicken for Lunch After 32 Years

Edmonton culinary institution Chicken for Lunch is closing after 32 years of business. The kiosk, located in the food court in Rice Howard Place (formerly Scotia Place), is known for its long line-ups and Amy Quon, its gregarious proprietor. Its last day of business will be Feb. 29.

Quon, whose family also owns and operates The Lingnan (which just celebrated its 75th anniversary in November), decided not to renew the lease ahead of the food court’s planned six-month closure for renovations. Quon also shared that she turned 65 this year and challenges with her knees and hands have slowed her down. By closing Chicken for Lunch, Quon can now work exclusively at The Lingnan.

“Right now I get up at 5am and pick up my staff,” said Quon. “I’m at Chicken for Lunch at seven and I work there until 2:30, and then work at The Lingnan until 10:30. Now, I can come at two. So Amy not retiring, only Chicken for Lunch retiring.”

Quon opened Chicken for Lunch in 1992 when her youngest son was six (her husband, Kinman, was a partner in The Lingnan at the time, but their family did not yet own it outright). “Chicken for Lunch was my first restaurant,” Quon said. “My kids were still young. I wanted a job from Monday to Friday, so after 2pm I can go home and be with my kids. That’s why I chose an office building with short hours.”

From the beginning, Quon focused on chicken because she observed that many people didn’t eat pork and beef. But the menu evolved. “When I first started, I only had chicken burgers, chicken fingers, chicken cutlets, and clubhouse (sandwiches),” Quon said. “But I see people eat more spicy, and went the direction of ginger chicken, Korean chicken, Thai chicken, because I can see the crowd like it. I am not a (trained) cook, but what I do is go to the restaurant to eat, and go home and do experiments. It takes a long time to develop a recipe.”

Quon’s famous dry spicy chicken was adapted from a more traditional dish. “My husband and me know Canadians like crispy (things),” Quon said. “How can we make it crispy and spicy? Chinese have dry spicy tofu. Why don’t we do some similar chicken?”

Amy Quon

People so demand the dry spicy chicken that it’s on the menu at The Lingnan, too, and also sold frozen for home preparation at The Lingnan and at Confetti Sweets in Sherwood Park.

Quon said they had to stop making the chicken from scratch after the pandemic due to the labour involved and difficulties retaining staff. “My son Miles asked me, ‘Do you want to die with your chicken?’ I said no. But we still have to wok it (ourselves) and make it spicy,” Quon said.

Quon is emotional as she speaks about her customers. “My chicken boys and girls are so loyal,” she said. “They are very good to me. Some have been coming for 32 years.”

Quon made it a point to remember regular clients and their orders by bestowing them nicknames. “I don’t know computers or emails, but I put my energy into my customers,” Quon said. “The most funny thing is I give people names and they like it. If I give them a name I remember their order. Noodle Boy, they eat noodle. Steam Rice Friend, they eat rice. Hungry Boy, they eat everything.”

Regular customers also appreciated Quon’s generosity. Quon often tops orders up with additional food. “You give them gift to show them your love,” she said. “The only gift I have is chicken I want to give them extra. That’s why people come back.”

She said she has even become a mother figure to some of her customers. “They won’t listen to their real mom, but they listen to me. ‘No vegetables? Bad boy!’ I say. But they eat it! If I told my son Marty to eat vegetables, he doesn’t eat it.”

Quon’s regulars have asked if frozen versions of her other types of chicken will be made available, or whether she might consider hosting Chicken for Lunch pop-ups at The Lingnan. Quon hasn’t made any final decisions but knows it wouldn’t be the same. In the meantime, she encourages customers to come see her at The Lingnan to reminisce.

“I want my customers to remember how much fun they had at Chicken for Lunch,” she said. “The relationships you build with customers are more important than the business. I’m rich in my heart. And I really want them to know how much I love them.”

The Quon family is soliciting video messages from customers who want to share their well-wishes with Amy. The deadline to upload a message is Feb. 10.

Openings

Bibo, the long-awaited reboot of Culina’s wine bar, is finally open in the Strathcona Hotel at 10302 82 Avenue. I spoke with Brad Lazarenko about the return of Bibo back in 2021.
Pakistani restaurant Karahi Point is opened its first location outside of Ontario and Quebec in Sherwood Park. The location at Unit 42, 975 Broadmoor Blvd opened on February 2.
Vegan fast food chain Odd Burger will open at 336A Mayfield Common.
A second location of Freson Bros. will open soon in Edmonton, located at Glenora Circle, 10702 142 Street.

Closures

On the heels of closing their 124 Street location in January, Northern Chicken announced the permanent closure of their remaining location on 104 Street. Their final day of service will be February 15.

Upcoming Events

La Poutine Week runs February 1-7, with 5 participating restaurants in Edmonton.

Local News

On the Edge, which had to close its coffee kiosk at the Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market, will be popping up at Meuwly’s on Saturdays.
Edify stopped by new Downtown business Scratch Baking & Cafe.
Sharon wrote about a media preview she attended at Makchang Dodook.
The Journal highlighted Feed the Soul Dining Week.
JP Dublado of Red Deer Resort and Casino, who won Edmonton’s Great Kitchen Party back in October, won bronze at the Canadian Culinary Championships in Ottawa this weekend.
Several Edmonton area restaurants made Open Table’s list of Open Table’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in Canada, including Brew+Bloom, Chartier, and La Ronde in Chateau Lacombe.
Edmonton residents are split on the single-use bylaw that came into effect in July 2023.

What I Ate

There’s no better way to start the day than with a ham and cheese croissant from Brio and a hot drink from Iconoclast Coffee!

Ham and cheese croissant and coffee from Iconoclast

It took me long enough, but I finally introduced Mack to the wonders of the chef meat noodle soup at CQ Noodle. For dine-in customers, they also offer unlimited freshly-made noodles, which is a great bonus!

Chef meat noodle soup at CQ Noodle

I appreciate that Bloom Cookie Co. still offers delivery – we ordered a box of their cookies to share with family for a belated birthday gathering for Emily.

Cookies from Bloom

Food Notes for January 29, 2024

Openings

Edmonton’s newest Korean restaurant, chain Makchang Dodook had their soft opening on January 26. Find them at 1007 Parsons Road SW.
Anejo Restaurant, a chain with locations in Toronto, Calgary, and Banff, has opened in Edmonton at 11954 104 Avenue.
The Lobster Mobsters, a seafood business with storefronts in Nisku and Brooks, is opening up in Edmonton. They will be located at 17011 100 Avenue, and intend to be open by April 1.

Closures

The Downtown Edmonton Farmers’ Market is officially closed, and the association has declared bankruptcy and will dissolve. I went to the market on their last day to find that so many vendors had already pulled up their equipment and had left. Apparently the market may return in some form outdoors in the summer, but we’ll see.
French Toast announced their closure.

Upcoming Events

Feed the Soul returns February 2-11, with 13 participating Black-owned businesses offering some great specials.
Save the date for Downtown Dining Week, returning March 20-31.

Local News

The King of Tarts is temporarily closed due to damage in the other parts of the building.
Mary Bailey from The Tomato shared her favourite places that opened in 2023, and includes Happy and Olive, Darling, and Little Wolf.
Edify checked out Die Pie and Caffe Sole.

What I Ate

Our last Chinatown Dining Week meal was take-out from Spirit Bistro. Those big rice noodles really hit the spot, and make great leftovers. Thanks to everyone who helped us #eatyegchinatown this year!

Big rice noodles with beef from Spirit Bistro

It’s been a busy month for me work-wise, and this weekend was no different. Our go-to desk lunch has always been El Fogon, and the beef and cheese arepa didn’t disappoint.

Beef and cheese arepa from El Fogon

I did have the chance to meet up with a friend for brunch at Culina’s pop-up spot in Little Italy (the piazza out front is looking fantastic). There was some great variety of sweet and savoury options (the scallion mashed potatoes were great, and the whipped yogurt was fantastic). Thanks Su for the invitation! Check out Culina’s other pop-up events on EventBrite.

Brunch at Culina (with the most beautiful Corelle plates)

Food Notes for January 22, 2024

Openings

New bakery and cafe Scratch Baking is now open at 44 Capital Boulevard downtown.

Closures

Pei Pei Chei Ow announced that they are closing in two weeks. A small glimmer of hope – in the same post, they do tease “a new chapter”.

Upcoming Events

Chinatown Dining Week is on until January 28 – there are some great deals to be had for $10 and $20 at 24 different businesses.
Linda is hosting a Feed the Soul Dining Week Food Tour on January 27, which will preview three participating restaurants. Tickets are $45 each.
Fu’s Repair Shop is hosting the first Swine and Dine dinner of 2024 on January 31. Chef Winnie Chen’s family-style menu incorporates Alberta Pork through the Chinese provinces. Tickets for the 4-course meal are $68.88 and can be reserved by phone or online, referencing the Swine and Dine menu.
Winefest Edmonton is coming up next month, February 23-24, 2024 at the Edmonton Convention Centre. Tickets start at $137.02.
Edmonton Cocktail Week is taking place March 4-10, 2024: its “a homegrown initiative spearheaded by a group of passionate entrepreneurs who believe that this is a great place to make cocktails.” The event includes a bartender competition, $12 feature cocktails at 8 local restaurants, and a distillers’ symposium.
Edmonton International Beerfest returns March 21-23, 2024 to the Edmonton Convention Centre. Tickets to the event start at $29.75. Also offered this year at the event is Cicerone Certification, recognized as the “premier certification for beer servers, makers, and masters”, and rarely available in-person in Canada.

Local News

The Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market shared that their last likely day of operations in their current location in the GWG Building will be January 28: “It is unable to sustain operations in its existing location. The association board has recommending ceasing operations at the end of January and exploring bankruptcy.” The Board had been exploring options to return to 104 Street but is no longer in a financial position to do so. Some vendors are exploring other options. When the market announced its move in 2019, I had many questions – but what is most clear from the move is just how much potential was never realized, and how much the market gave up with the shift to an indoor location.
The Journal has the story behind Momma Tong’s new storefront in Old Strathcona.
Edify had more information about Northern Chicken’s 124 Street closure: it was a combination of inflation, a drop in business, and the CEBA loan repayment.
Also from Edify, they checked out Tatsu Sushi, and were hosted for a Chinatown Dining Week meal at Spirit Bistro.
An all-female team is headed for the IKA Culinary Olympics February 2-7 in Germany.

What I Ate

My parents picked up the first of our Chinatown Dining Week meals last Friday – Padmanadi and Syphay are family favourites.

Take-out from Padmanadi and Syphay

Mack and I followed up that meal with take-out from Xu Hue. I tried their rare beef salad for the first time last fall – it is so good.

Chinatown Dining Week combos from Xu Hue

We also celebrated Emily’s birthday early over the weekend. We returned to Cupcake Mama for her delightful treats, also a family favourite.

Emily requested “bright pink” icing, of course

Food Notes for January 15, 2024

Openings

Hanjan has opened its third location in Old Strathcona, next to Teapsy Lab at 10536 82 Avenue.
Korean restaurant chain Makchang Dodook will be opening at 1007 Parsons Road SW.

Closures

After 7 years, the Northern Chicken location on 124 Street has closed. Their location on 104 Street Downtown remains open.
Sorellina Brew Bar closed its doors on January 14. They will continue as a roasting company and their beans will be available through the website.

Upcoming Events

Chinatown Dining Week runs January 18-28! 24 restaurants are offering $10 and $20 dine-in and take-out specials Check out the menus!
Green Onion Cake Man is hosting cooking classes in January and February. The cost per pair is $175, including all food and drinks.

Local News

Congratulations to Red Star, who celebrates their 20th anniversary this week.
Darren Cheverie is stepping back from Chartier: “Speaking completely candidly…I’m not needed anymore.” He will be behind the scenes, but has taken on a role outside of the food industry: “All of our family’s eggs in one basket just isn’t sitting right anymore.”
Edify profiled Taylor Corbett, the new head chef at Restaurant Yarrow.
Also from Edify, they sampled the smoked meat sandwich at The Refinery Grill.
Sharon posted about three spots to warm up with crossing-the-bridge noodle soup in Edmonton.
CBC’s RadioActive visited Taystee Donair and Pizza as a part of their Strip Mall City series.
Amy Quon is retiring from Chicken for Lunch at the end of February; The Lingnan is soliciting video messages for her send-off. The deadline is February 10.
Meuwly’s is now offering take and heat dinners for pick-up on Fridays. Meals serve four and cost $169.
Edmonton’s Food Bank met its holiday goals, raising 300,000kg of food and $4,000,000 in donations.

What I Ate

The cold couldn’t deter us from heading to Van Loc last week for their amazing buy one get one free deal in celebration of their first anniversary. We may or may not have maxed out with 6 subs so we were plenty covered for lunches…so good.

Assorted sub from Van Loc

Food Notes for January 8, 2024

Chinatown Dining Week Returns with Record 24 Restaurants

Chinatown continues to grapple with negative perceptions of safety and security, and businesses are struggling. Chinatown Dining Week is back again to serve as a reminder to discover or revisit some of our city’s culinary gems. The event runs January 18-28, 2024, with businesses offering special $10 or $20 menus during that period.

This will be the largest event in our seven year history, with a record 24 businesses spanning both Chinatown North and South. We are also thrilled to welcome five new businesses to our event: Hing Lung BBQ House, Italian Bakery, RJ Tasty Bites, Van Loc, and Xu Hue.

The full menus are now up, and the deals are hard to beat. There are so many reasons to dine-in – hot pot is especially enticing in this cold snap, and I’m partial to a bowl of pho. Take-out options also abound: Kim Fat sold over one thousand pounds of their famous fried chicken skin last year, so that’s likely to be another popular dish, and combos from Namaste India and Syphay offer something spicy for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. Those looking for a sweet treat should look no further than Hong Kong Bakery, Macarons & Goodies, or to the OG bubble tea purveyor Tea Bar Cafe.

As an entirely volunteer-run event, it can be challenging to manage the logistics with so many partner businesses. But our team is so passionate about making sure more Edmontonians are aware of the places that make Chinatown unique, and we hope it shows.

We hope you #eatyegchinatown!

Openings

Oceania Grill is a new seafood restaurant opened by the same folks behind Watari. It is located at #102, 6104 104 Street.
New all you can eat Japanese restaurant Tatsu Sushi opened at 10163 109 Street. Their grand opening is taking place on January 12.
Coffee shops abound in Downtown and Oliver – the newest, also a coffee roaster, is Roam Cafe, which opened on January 2 at 10130 112 Street.
Momma Tong, a farmers’ market vendor whose Vietnamese meal kit products I have very much enjoyed in the past, opened up a storefront location in Old Strathcona back in December. Find them at 9938 82 Avenue.
BBQ Chicken, a Korea-based chain has opened up its first standalone location in Edmonton at 17020 95 Avenue. Their full menu will be available at this branch.
Wild Rose Cakes, who teased the opening of a Downtown location, has now revealed the exact location – next to Jack’s Burger Shack on Jasper Avenue and 104 Street. It will open in the spring and is called Obj3cts, and will feature home goods, gifts, flowers, and a second floor lounge space.
It’s great to see that DRTY Ice Cream announced that they are opening up their own location this summer! I profiled DRTY back in 2021 and they’ve come so far since then.
It looks like a second location of Les Moulins La Fayette will be opening in Edmonton in the former Transcend Coffee location in Garneau.

Closures

Asymmetrical Brewing announced their closure, with December 31 having been their last day of operations: “While the entire economy has been hit with hard times, we have felt it the same way. Although we have been right on the cusp for the last few months, cash flow has a challenge. We have not been able to get caught up to being sustainable any more.”
Awn Kitchen closed the cafe side of their business on December 23. Owner Kaelin Whittaker shared more about her decision in a blog post.

Upcoming Events

Culina’s pop-up space in McCauley is hosting two additional buffet brunches in January. Tickets for the January 14 or 28 event are $35 for adults and $20 for children.
Edify is hosting an event to celebrate their Best Restaurants issue on April 8, 2024. Early bird tickets are $80.

Local News

Zocalo is temporarily closed for renovations due to a serious fire that damaged the greenhouse. Zocalo just commemorated their 20th anniversary in November.
Wine Bar on Whyte takes over Overflow Café Wednesday-Saturday from 4-9pm. It is located at 8135 102 Street.
On the flip side, Cask & Barrel debuted a new aspect of their business called Cask & Bean back in November – from 7am-3pm on Monday-Friday, they serve up Colombian coffee and fresh-baked pastries. It looks like it is temporarily closed for the moment.
Twyla wrote about what she expects to see in the local food scene in 2024, including more fermented products and creative locations for restaurants.
Congratulations to Van Loc owners William and Wilson at Van Loc for reaching their first birthday since taking over the business. To celebrate, Van Loc is offering buy one, get one free banh mi on January 11.
Radio Active took a tour of the new chocolate business Delavoye Chocolate Maker with owner Antoine Lavoie.
Linda rounds up 8 giant foods available in Edmonton, including a giant croissant from Ayco Cafe, a punchbowl of poutine from Leopold’s Tavern, and giant bowl of pho from XO Bistro.
Jacqueline Jacek of Jacek Chocolate Couture was interviewed by CBC about her growing business.
Nicole Bhar, Candyce Morris, and Paula Shyba, the trio behind Kind Ice Cream, were recognized as 2024 Edifiers by Edify Magazine.
Brad Smoliak has been mentoring Ukrainian newcomers at Ukraine’s Kitchen, a restaurant staffed by newcomers that opened last year.
Baba’s Own Kitchen, which sells perogies and cabbage rolls, has seen immense growth.

What I Ate

I had a short but restful time with the family over the holidays! It was also nice to take a break from the blog for a couple of weeks as final preparations for Chinatown Dining Week are underway.

I finally had the chance to try CQ Noodle over the break! Their chef meat pork noodle soup was delicious, but not for the faint of heart for spice lightweights like me. It was great to see how busy they were over the lunch rush.

Chef meat pork noodle soup from CQ Noodle

Carrot cake from Rosewood have become part of Mack’s annual birthday tradition since they opened several years ago. This year, we also tried their banana parfaits for the first time, and I might legitimately have a new favourite Rosewood dessert.

Banana parfaits from Rosewood Foods

You’d be hard pressed to keep me from pho, and before long, I had to satisfy my craving for bun bo hue with take-out from King Noodle.

Bun Bo Hue from King Noodle

I had been meaning to return to Café Bel-Air after writing a story about the business back in the fall, and had the chance to do that this weekend. Their $25 vegetarian high tea is an immense value, but it’s the hospitality that puts the experience over the top.

High tea from Café Bel-Air

Co Do Hue is a family favourite, so when we were nearby after running errands, we picked up some of their tasty vermicelli bowls for lunch. Their grilled chicken is something special, and their service is fantastic.

Two colour vermicelli from Co Do Hue

Food Notes for December 18, 2023

Openings

Pizza Garage has opened its second location downtown at Central LRT station, 10020 Jasper Avenue.
Sherwood Park has a new Korean restaurant called Zigle Korean Bulgogi Restaurant at #900, 800 Broadmoor Blvd.
Central City Market, offering pizza, pita pies, gelato, and more, is now open at 10508 106 Avenue.
Crumbl Cookies opened their fourth location in the Edmonton area last week in Namao Centre at 15831 97 Street.
It looks like Hanjan is adding a third location, partnered with Teapsy Lab, in Old Strathcona at 10536 82 Avenue. Thanks Su for the heads up!
Okinawa Onigiri will open in the former Sequel Cafe space at 10011 102 Avenue which has been vacant for several years.
Anejo Restaurant, with locations in Toronto, Calgary, and Banff, will be opening up in the Brewery District in 2024 at 11954 104 Avenue.

Closures

The cafe side of Awn Kitchen will close on December 23. Owner Kaelin Whittaker posted: “Awn is unique – we’re two businesses in one, and I can close the café and continue to live out the vision for my business – sure a little bit different, but I have that opportunity. I am lucky – even though it’s hard. I don’t want sadness around this decision, it’s a decision that has been months in the making.”

Local News

Korean restaurant JMT will be moving to a “more spacious location in Whyte Ave” early next year. Until then, the current Downtown space will continue to operate.
Odd Company Brewing collaborated with Doughnut Party on a limited time chocolate stout, made with “real DP donuts in the brew”.
Taproot had a story about holiday pop-ups in Dolly’s and Wilfred’s.
Caffe Sole spoke with Edmonton AM about opening up their second location downtown.
Edify checked out Maverick’s Donut Co., and also rounded up some places to grab a sweet treat for the holidays.
On the savoury side, the Journal created a list of holiday dinners for those looking to order in.
Some businesses will not be able to pay back the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan and may be forced to close. Others, like Meuwly’s, are being creative to repay their loan.
St. Albert Gazette interviewed Socrates Restaurant, Jack’s Burger Shack, and The Hot Grill who have seen a decline in regulars or order sizes over the last year.
Bent Stick Brewing has created a new ale that celebrates gender diversity.

What I Ate

This is the last Food Notes for the calendar year – I’m hoping to have some down time over Christmas. Thanks for following along this year! Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season!

We finally made it to Hanjan last week (located right on the Oliverbanh, we really should have made it sooner). Ellie loved the spacious dining room, and exploring its nooks and crannies. We also really appreciated, with two hungry kids in tow, how fast the kitchen was! Emily scarfed down two of the bulgogi tacos, and the japchae really hit the spot.

Our spread from Hanjan

We picked up some pre-ordered scones from The Art of Cake on the weekend, perfect to share over tea with a family member who isn’t as mobile as she once was. The clotted cream and strawberry preserves were a wonderful accompaniment.

Scones from The Art of Cake

Food Notes for December 11, 2023

Openings

Congratulations to Caffe Sole on opening their second location at Edmonton City Centre Mall.
Delavoye Chocolate Maker has opened 10639 124 Street, Unit 105.They offer “single-origin, flavoured and dark milk chocolate bars to house-baked confections and chocolate-inspired drinks unique to Edmonton.”
Cafe Delicia is a new coffee shop to open in Oliver, located at 11108 102 Avenue.

Local News

Dine Epic is readying to open their Whyte Avenue location, and as a result, has shifted their Downtown location to a private event space only.
Urban Diner is hosting a Spanish-inspired pop-up from chef Cyrilles Koppert for 12 weeks.
Edify has a guide to some boxed and in-person Christmas feasts available this season.
Also from Edify, they were invited for a media dinner at West Edmonton Mall’s Atlas Steak and Fish.
Uproot Food, which had been growing by selling other local food brands, has decided to transition away from this: “But due to our current cash flow realities, we need to focus on our own products to ensure we can continue. Uproot will continue, but down a slightly different path. Now is the time to pivot. Going forward, Uproot will focus on South Island Pie and Honest Dumplings as well as NKD Chocolate which is part of our portfolio and Mitsoh, our partner brand.”

Urban Agriculture and Farming

TrustBIX is exploring converting empty downtown offices into vertical farms for vegetables.

What I Ate

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to the Festive Brunch at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, so we thought it was time to indulge again. The buffet spread was impressive as usual, and Emily enjoyed watching the process behind the made-to-order crepes and omelettes. But it’s always the service at the Fairmont that makes visits to the hotel extra special, and this occasion was no different.

Festive brunch at the Hotel Macdonald

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