Value Village for Crafters: Reuse Centre

Finally making good on my curiosity, I actually entered the Reuse Centre (10004 103A Ave) a little while ago instead of passing it by as I have always done in the past.

Reuse Centre (in front of the CN Tower)

Inside, I found a treasure trove of donated items perfect for the everyday crafter, parents building rainy day busy kits, teachers and child care professionals looking for inexpensive art materials, and those creative souls that can make magic from scraps.

A friendly staff member oriented me to the centre – open since July 2007 as a two year pilot by the City of Edmonton, the Reuse Centre “collects everyday items five days a week, year round, and make them available to groups and individuals who will reuse them.” Everything from old records, photo albums, trophies, and a plethora of arts and crafts supplies can be found, organized and sorted and labelled for easy perusal. Individuals are charged just $2 for as much as one can carry out, and even as a non-crafter, I found bags of new bows, ribbon, and gift bags that I could use for presents.

The setting of a treasure hunt

Like any store that constantly receives shipments (Winners, Goodwill, etc.), the Reuse Centre is a place that begs to be visited on a weekly basis.

Edmonton City Hall Tour

I went on a tour of City Hall this week amidst the spirited crowds and cheery atmosphere provided by the Street Performers Festival taking place just outside of the building at Churchill Square.

City Hall

Councillor Ben Henderson showed us around. We started in the council chamber, where Councillor Henderson explained what a typical meeting was like – from the question and answer-like structure (as opposed to a debate), to citizen participation being encouraged, to the standard audience makeup. With the push of a button, he showed us how the skylight could be shut out, useful in the instances that the overhead glare or outside noise becomes too much to bear. The coolest part of the entire tour (which makes me sound like an overexcited elementary child) was when he gave us the green light to sit in any of the city councillors’ chairs on the condition that we didn’t touch anything or attempt to change the height of the seats. Of course, we all went for the money shot.

Too cool! (I’m such a geek, I know.)

The next room on the tour, apparently not often seen by the public, was the interior of the second glass pyramid. What is the room being used for, you ask? Storage.

Think this is where Mayor Mandel works out?

Apparently the room isn’t very well ventilated or heated, so nothing too practical can be done in the space.

Looking down into the chambers

Transparencies change the color of the projected lights at night

One of the last stops was the wall where portraits of past mayors are on display. All are intact except Jan Reimer’s, whose picture was stolen and hasn’t yet been replaced.

Councillor Henderson shows us the “Mayoral Wall”

Looking down from the balcony

While the tour isn’t available for individuals, if you have a group between 10-25 people, it is an informative and behind-the-scenes look at a very important city landmark.

The view leaving City Hall

Value Meal, Italian-Style: Italian Bakery

Wanting something other than what was waiting for me in the communal fridge, I headed to the Italian Bakery (10646 97 Street), hoping it would live up to the fantastic review in Vue Weekly two months ago.

Italian Bakery & Delicatessen

A modest line greeted me at the deli counter. A number slip indicated I was just three away from a custom sandwich built the way I wanted – and cheaper than the average supermarket pre-packed variety. A small (with 1 meat and 1 cheese) is just $2.50, a medium (with up to 2 meats and 1 cheese) is priced at $3, while a large (with 2 meats and 1 cheese) is $5, all garnished with either mayo, mustard, or vegetable spread  and banana peppers if so desired. Saran wrapped for no hassle travel, it would be the perfect sandwich to take on a picnic, or in my case, provide a reprieve from a lunch of weekday leftovers.

Deli counter

Menu

The time in line was actually a blessing in disguise, as it gave me some breathing room to decide which meat and cheese combination I wanted to try. After some deliberation, I chose chicken breast and German butter cheese to be paired with vegetable spread. One of the three behind-the-counter deli ladies (each with their own individual slicing machines) efficiently took my order and assembled my sandwich. I marvelled at how all of the employees were so cheery and friendly despite the growing crowd of hungry customers.

Also prompted by the review, I asked for a single slice of tiramisu ($2.50). With my meal ready, I snagged one of the three tables situated against the window (great for people watching) and dug in.

Small sandwich and tiramisu

The freshness of the bread was apparent, and with the accoutrements, it made me wonder why I had ever made a fuss over Pret a Manger‘s looks-better-than-it-tastes paper and plastic-encased sandwiches. As for the cake, the bottom half of the tiramisu was exactly what I was expecting – a coffee-soaked layer of homemade ladyfingers accented with a rich marscapone cream. My only wish was for the top half to have had an equal amount of spongy coffee goodness, instead of a dry cookie layer as it was.

While I can’t definitively say the Italian Bakery has the best meal deal in the area, it would at the very least find a place on the podium of values.

Food Notes

  • Eating local is all the rage now, so much so that it seems events galore – from cooking classes, tours, and sampling fairs – are a weekly affair. Edmonton’s Countryside TASTE! of Summer is such an event, taking place July 13 at the St. Albert Grain Elevator Park. There will be live entertainment, a small market, and Taste of Edmonton-esque food booths. Tickets on sale at Ticketmaster and at the gate.
  • Another Edmonton trend that continues is “upscale” packaged dinners. Following in the footsteps of Wild Tangerine and Culina‘s Frozen Dinners, Bacon is now offering take-away dinners Tuesday through Saturday – $14 for a frozen entree, salad and dessert, packed in a biodegradable container.
  • I’m quite excited to check out Sip! The Wine and Food Experience at CapitalEx, July 17-26. Over 150 alcoholic beverages will be on hand to sample, but of course, I am mostly looking forward to the food pairings. The menu is here, while the schedule for special guest appearances is here.
  • My appointment television for the summer: The Next Food Network Star, showing on Wednesdays at 8pm MT. While I wished our episodes ran on par with the American channel, I can’t complain about the content of the show. In its last incarnation, I think the draw for me was the celebrity judges (Bobby Flay, Giada de Laurentiis, Rachael Ray), but this year, I’m actually more interested in seeing how the contestants fare in the challenges. It’s still too early to pick a favourite though.
  • Mack and I have been slowly working our way through the irresistible silver-packaged President’s Choice-branded chips. The first flavour we tried – General Tao Chicken – has actually been our favourite thus far; Szechwan was too mild and Smokin’ Stampede much too spicy. Waiting to be sampled on the kitchen table: Buffalo Wings and Blue Cheese.
  • Just before joining the lineup to await the grand opening of the Apple Store on Saturday, Mack and I tried the new Homestyle Hash Brown from Tim Hortons. It’s just about the only thing from a fast food outlet that remotely resembles the pictures I’ve seen in advertisements. Unfortunately, it didn’t taste as good as they described – the seasoning actually made it taste worse than the more plain McDonald’s version.
  • Shaken, not stirred: Before the fondue party, Annie and I chowed down on the new Maple Leaf Pasta Shakers. “Fresh” pre-cooked pasta, a light dressing, a package of sundried tomatoes, and vacuum sealed chicken are vigorously shaken together (that was the fun part) for an easy meal. The pasta was a bit scary-looking, as one would expect processed, preserved pasta to be, but appearance aside, it wasn’t bad, both portion and taste-wise.

 

Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Shaker

The Cooking Chronicles: Chocolate Fondue Night

Annie graciously hosted a chocolate fondue party on Sunday night, something she has been wanting to do for some time.

While Janice and Annie cut up fruit we had purchased that afternoon, I got to work on preparing the chocolate base in a double boiler. Using Rachael Ray’s recipe as a guide, I melted together milk chocolate melting wafers, squares of dark chocolate, some whipping cream, and a dash of Baileys. Having never tried chocolate fondue before, I wasn’t sure what consistency to aim for, but as we could add chocolate and/or cream to the mixture anytime, I wasn’t too concerned. I transferred the concoction to the ceramic fondue pot, and surrounded by bowls of fresh fruit, cookies and sweets, the dessert looked positively inviting.

Count me surprised that the tiny tealight was able to keep the mixture bubbling, even to the point where we were able to easily melt in more chocolate to top off what we had. Between the strawberries, cantaloupe, bananas, peaches, and apple slices, I liked the latter fruit the best – the crunchy texture suited the dipping exercise nicely. Chocolate-dipped Teddy Grahams weren’t bad as well, though the chocolate-chunk coated cookies were a bit too sweet, even for me. The fondue experience was not only fun, but I ended up feeling more full than I expected – it turns out one can eat quite a bit when everything is coated in chocolate.

Thanks Annie for hosting the party!

The spread

Annie posing with Black Cat Riesling (I bought it more for the novelty bottle than the wine itself)

Janice multitasks (again! and she was on call too!)

May and Janice

Me and Annie

The Cooking Chronicles: Chocolate and Banana Panino

I remember watching an episode of Giada’s Weekend Getaways where she feasted on a mean-looking chocolate and banana panino, and since then, have wanted to try one ever since. I picked up a baguette and some bananas on my way home from work on Friday, and after supper, intended on recreating Giada’s dessert for myself.

I spread Nutella on both slices of bread, placed three banana slices in between for the filling, and drizzled olive oil on the top and the bottom to help with the browning. Pressed down for two minutes in the George Foreman Grill, they were done, served along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

I was hit with a deja vu moment of having possibly tried such a panino before, but I think it was just the classic combination of banana and chocolate that threw me off. While not fancy or particularly unique, these sandwiches would be an easy dessert for a weekday evening.

Chocolate and Banana Panino with Vanilla Ice Cream

July is for the Outdoors

If June was for festivals, July in Edmonton should be spent outdoors.

  • Help Edmonton Transit System celebrate their 100 years of service by hopping aboard their Historical Bus Tour. Begins July 8.
  • The Works Festival vacated Churchill Square on Wednesday to make way for the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival, which starts tomorrow and lasts until July 13.
  • Why not take the High Level Streetcar to the Whyte Avenue Art Walk, taking place July 11-13? Over 200 artists will be creating and exhibiting pieces in the Old Strathcona area.
  • Outdoor theatre doesn’t get any better than the annual Freewill Shakespeare Festival, which runs until July 20. Pay-what-you-Will on Tuesday nights.
  • In anticipation of the Edmonton Fringe Festival, head indoors between July 10 – 26 to the Varscona Theatre for Stewart Lemoine’s first full-length premiere of the year –  A Rocky Night for His Nibs. I’ll be there!
  • Summer in Edmonton can never escape Capital Ex, which may or may not have lost its relevance to the city, depending on who you talk to. “Edmonton’s Biggest Summer Celebration” (or so they claim on their website) spans July 17 – 26.
  • Nearly concurrent to Capital Ex, between July 18-27, is the Taste of Edmonton. 7 new restaurants have joined the fray. Always expensive, but early birds score 10% off tickets until July 17 at TIX on the Square.
  • History buffs can look forward to the 12th annual Edmonton & Athabaska District Historical Festival, which just keeps getting bigger and better every year. Tons of free events and learning opportunities July 25 – August 3.
  • Need a reason to check out the Edmonton Cracker Cats? How about the fact that Game Day tickets are just $10? 16 home games scheduled for July.
  • Also great for the family, the John Janzen Nature Centre offers free Thursday Night Bonfire programs every week until the end of August.
  • Along those lines, the John Walter Museum is always free and family-friendly on Sunday afternoons, with activities like ice cream making (by hand!).
  • And though on until October 13, it might provide a much-needed break from midways, greasy food and general mayhem – the controversial Body Worlds exhibit at the Telus World of Science.

What will you be doing in Edmonton this summer?

EDIT: one more, because I love the concept – City Farm is holding an Open Gate Day, with buses transporting participants to and from the site. It’s a great way to show your kids how their food is grown!

Film: “Easter Parade”

When the schedule for the Edmonton Film Society‘s Summer 2008 was released, I was most looking forward to the opening movie: Easter Parade. Though I’ve seen the last, titular number more times than I can count, I can’t say I’ve actually ever watched the movie in its entirety.

Among the vocal older audience (as expected), it was a treat to watch Fred Astaire and Judy Garland on screen. They epitomize ease on their feet, and always make me feel like when I walk out of the theatre, I can as gracefully tap, twirl and sway in rhythm as they can. The first half especially showcased Garland’s comic talent and timing, which I had never really seen her demonstrate. One of my favorite actresses of the era, Ann Miller, glowing in her screen debut, played the “other woman” well, and I really did respect her for jumping at the opportunity to further her career.

The rest of the films in the series that runs every Monday until August 25 at the Royal Alberta Museum Theatre are just as lighthearted, fun, and the perfect way to transition into a warm summer night. And for just $5, there isn’t a better deal to be had in the city.

Food Notes

  • The first of my FoodTV posts went live on Monday! Check out my write-up on the City Centre Market here.
  • Doggie-Style Deli, a cafe for dogs, just opened on the city’s west end. One question: why?
  • Edible Arrangements, the American-based company that has elevated the art of fruit arrangements, now has a store in Edmonton (102, 10179 105 Street, 429-2802).
  • I read on Chowhound that there are 3-course prix fixe meals available at some of Calgary’s reputable establishments, including Brava Bistro and Blink, outside of a “dine out week” event. I hope Edmonton follows this trend.
  • Capital Health (spurned by Edmonton Journal’s own searchable database a few years ago) launched a website that will allow those interested to look-up recent inspection reports.
  • Vij’s, famed for their Indian cuisine, has just added a bread-like dish called parantha made with ground crickets to their menu. His reasoning behind choosing to grind the crickets is spot on: “We decided to grind them into a flour so there was no visual effect, because in North America we eat with our eyes – if something does not look appealing, we tend not to eat it.” I hope to be able to try it when I’m in Vancouver later this summer.
  • Catherine Jheon at Food TV posted about a photography ban at David Chang’s popular Momofuku Ko. I’m not sure I agree with it, but it’s his restaurant, and he can set the rules, especially for a place where the seats are in such high demand.
  • I tried the new Margherita Pizza from Panago recently. While not as good as more “authentic” thin-crust pizzas from Leva or daCapo, it was pretty good. The fresh mozzarella made the pie.

 

Margherita Pizza

  • Easily seduced by the smell of fresh baked goods, I wandered over to Handy Bakery (8660 118 Avenue) after a meeting last week. Keen on tasting the difference between Chinese and Portuguese Egg Tarts, I picked up half a dozen for my family and I. Sweeter, with a caramelized surface supplemented by the buttery flakiness of puff pastry, each tart was a little piece of heaven. Liane Faulder introduced Nata, a new Portuguese Bakery in this week’s Bistro – I will definitely have to try their tarts some time as well.

 

Portuguese Egg Tarts

Salad Days of Summer: Sunterra Market

Drawn to Sunterra Market‘s Commerce Place location (2nd floor, 10150 Jasper Avenue) to satisfy a craving for vegetables, I was happy to find it absolutely hopping. I usually patronize them only after work hours for sweets, and thus have never had the opportunity to see it so vibrant.

I’m not sure about their recently completed renovations – the compartmental affect seems to block natural light from flowing through the previously more open space, and the “Frenchification” of everything (“bakery” has become “boulangerie”, garbage cans are now labelled “poubelle”) further increases Sunterra’s pretentiousness. At any rate, I’ll hold out final judgement after a few more visits.

On this day, I headed straight for the salad bar, where a focused employee was diligently filling up half-empty containers of salad options to satiate the bustling crowd. There were nearly two dozen options – a bed of spinach, wild greens, or romaine to be topped off by veggies (carrots, green peppers, grape tomatoes, among others), protein (hard boiled eggs, cubed ham, shredded chicken, chickpeas, sunflower seeds), various carbs (fried Asian noodles, croutons), cheese (feta, marble), and a choice of six unlabeled mystery dressings.

I picked up a plastic box, and with the Mongolie Grill principle of choosing the lightest ingredients, built my salad. I indulged a little – marble cheese cubes and a slice of roasted red pepper – which I thought would topple over my mainly spinach and white mushroom creation, but on the weigh station, the total came to just $3.70 (0.266kg at $1.39/100g).

Yes, maintaining a fridge and pantry of fresh ingredients would certainly be a cheaper way to go, but with the fun and variety possible with Sunterra’s fresh salad bar, I can see why people would shirk a packed lunch and opt for a spur-of-the-moment greens creation instead.

My salad, dressed with a healthy dose of raspberry vinaigrette