The Perfect Match: Credo Coffee and Jacek Chocolate Tasting

It’s great to see when local businesses team up to support one another, whether that’s Dovetail Deli providing shelf space to sell products from Gold Forest Grains and McKernan Food Works, or Remedy Cafe stocking vegan Bloom Cookies at the counter. There is strength in numbers, as awareness is half the battle, and it takes a community to move these independent brands forward.

The tasting organized by Credo Coffee and Jacek Chocolate Couture is another great example of this. When the tickets were released in late summer, I jumped at the excuse to enjoy two of my favourite things. Mack and I had attended a wine and chocolate pairing two years ago at Baseline Wines, and had found it to be a fun and educational experience. And given Mack’s already a fixture at Credo, he didn’t need any additional incentives to come along this time around.

Coffee and chocolate

In mid-November, Mack and I bussed over to Credo on 124 Street. We joined a fairly small group, less than two dozen in number, who seemed just as excited for the evening. Chelsea (from Credo) and Jamie (from Jacek) welcomed us and explained that the partnership between the two businesses began in 2010, when Credo became Jacek’s first retail partner. They have collaborated since then, working together to produce The Credo Bar earlier this year, a dark chocolate combined with espresso beans, and then, most recently, to organize a series of tastings.

Jamie and Chelsea

The focus of the evening was on “mindful eating” – to deliberately and thoughtfully experience each taste, as opposed to what we’re all guilty of at times – consuming in haste or (for me, with coffee in the mornings) for pure sustenance. For reference, we were provided with copies of the Taster’s Flavour Wheel, which would aid us in articulating the notes detected in coffee and chocolate. Both Chelsea and Jamie emphasized that everyone has a different palate, and as such, can pick up different flavours.

Flavour Wheel

We started with tasting three of Credo’s coffees, all roasted by Chicago-based Intelligensia. Intelligensia rotates through several regions of coffee as they become available seasonally, moving from Central America in the spring/summer to Africa in the fall/winter. We started with perhaps my favourite single-origin, the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, a light and floral roast. We moved to the Itzamna from Guatemala, a coffee grown on the grounds of a former silver mine. The farmers are committed to organic practices, choosing a labour-intensive path of applying clay to the roots of the plants to regulate their temperature. This coffee was definitely much fuller-bodied, with a toasted flavour. Lastly, we sampled the Ethiopian Kurimi, grown by farmers interested only in planting varieties indigenous to the area. Our fellow tasters noted the Kurimi had hints of lychee and jasmine.

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe

Onto chocolate, I was happy to learn about Jacek’s new Fabric Collection. Launched on November 13, 2015, it is Jacek’s first foray into bean-to-bar production. In the past, they’ve relied on Valrhona as their chocolate supplier, but now, they have the capacity to sort, roast, winnow and refine cocoa beans at their facility in Sherwood Park. Currently, they are producing three 70% single-origin varieties, all of which we tried that night.

Fabric Collection

The Dominican Republic, refined for seventy two hours, had tropical fruit undertones. I already knew I would enjoy the Venezuela, typically the single-origin I choose, creamy and balanced. The Peru was a surprise – unlike the subtle flavours of the previous two, for us, it had very distinct notes of dried fruit.

The evening cumulated in two pairings. The first was to sample The Credo Bar, made with the Dominican Republic and Black Cat espresso (we were told this iteration was selected from twelve combinations). The flavour profile reminded me of the Mocha Bar that the now-defunct Kerstin’s Chocolates had produced with beans from Transcend Coffee, but instead of the added texture of whole beans, The Credo Bar conches the cocoa and coffee beans together for a smooth finish.

We ended with an unconventional pairing – while I have incidentally enjoyed chocolate alongside tea, it’s not a classic match. Here, we sampled maojian green tea with the single-origin Venezuela, and it worked. Jamie shared that this has been the gateway for staff to consider other unusual pairings, and future tastings may feature more tea than coffee.

Coffee cheers!

We enjoyed our first foray into coffee and chocolate tasting, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others. Jacek and Credo have just added another pairing date on January 15, 2016, so it’s something to consider as a gift this holiday season. Tickets are $40 each.

25 Gifts of Taste: A #yegfood Gift Guide

We’re just over two weeks away from Christmas, if you can believe it! I’m typically the type that squirrels away gifts all year, so I’m not usually in a panic at this point, but I know there are many who leave things to the last minute. But – if anyone on your list loves food, you’re in luck, as there are so many locally-sourced options available.

A basket of goodies we put together a few years ago

Here are some ideas to consider:

Stock Up the Pantry

A little can go a very long way, and for me, that often means taking the time to put together a gift basket filled with my favourite items from local producers. Some of those include:

Gold Forest Grains has gift-ready bags of some of their most popular products, including their Pancake Mix and Sturgeon River Cereal. Find them at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market every Saturday.
Irvings Farm Fresh is no longer a well-kept secret in Edmonton – more than a dozen restaurants including Tzin and Canteen serve their products, and their bacon is legendary. Pick up an Irvings gift certificate to treat a loved one to some quality meat (available at the Salisbury Greenhouse and Old Strathcona Farmers’ Markets).
Allan Suddaby started his labour of love, McKernan Food Works, earlier this year, but they’ve already launched two products: apple cider and mead vinegars. You can find them at Little Brick, which will provide you with a great excuse to visit the café and general store for yourself.
Also at Little Brick, pick up something sweet from the Red Balloon Pie Company. They have seasonal caramels in festive flavours like egg nog and gingerbread!

Stock up the Bar

For the amateur bartender, there are a few local options to help progress the festivities:

Eau Claire Distillery, Alberta’s first craft distillery, offers vodka and gin for the discerning palate. For the holidays, they have also produced a special Christmas Gin, featuring the botanicals of frankincense and myrrh.
It seems bitters are sold at every kitchen and food specialty shop, but only one is made locally: State Motto. Their handcrafted products include Earl Grey, lilac and orange bitters.
There are a number of local fruit wines available from the Edmonton region, including Shady Lane Estate, and Barr Estate Winery.

For Those Who Love to Cook

There is no shortage of cooking classes and cookbooks for those seeking some tips or inspiration in the kitchen:

Gail Hall of Seasoned Solutions began the original series of farm-to-table cooking classes, but she offers so much more, including ideas for entertaining and menus based around holidays. Pick up a gift certificate for one of her hands-on classes or express cooking tutorials.
Kathryn Joel’s Get Cooking features an array of guest chefs who specialize in global cuisines. The classes are held at a brand new facility at MacEwan University. It doesn’t look like the 2016 calendar is up just yet, but you can pick up a gift certificate for classes that start at $139 per person.
For more topic-specific classes or basic skills, consider Metro Continuing Education. They have a great selection of sessions, including knife skills, an introduction to sushi making, and bread making. Courses start at $89.
Calgary food tour operator Karen Anderson released her first cookbook, co-written with Noorbanu Nimji. A Spicy Touch features 200 Indian recipes in a full colour 320 page book. Join Karen at the Edmonton launch of the book on December 20, 2015.

Tableware and More

There are some local gems that can help you add some class – or some fun – to the kitchen of someone you love:

On Our Table makes some of the most beautiful cheese and cutting boards I’ve ever seen, and have even been featured in Bon Appetit Magazine. They are showstoppers, and worth the investment.
The mugs from Mod Pots Ceramics are well-used in my house – I love their classic but playful design, and the fact that they are the perfect size for a warm drink in the winter.
Everyone needs a bit more #yeg: this can be in the form of a screen-printed tea towel with images of our most cherished landmarks, including the Hotel Macdonald and the Alberta Legislature. Find these at Fine Mesh.

The Gift of Taste

We’re very fortunate in Edmonton to have some very knowledgeable and passionate food experts who are eager to share their learnings. Here are a few of them:

The Cavern on 104 Street hosts a Cheese School that teaches the basics of cheese varieties and wine pairings. Tickets are $75, with two upcoming sessions on January 17 and 31, 2016.
Transcend Coffee leads a number of coffee education sessions, including a coffee tasting and appreciation, a pour over basics workshop and a French press and Aeropress workshop.
I’ve attended a number of chocolate tastings put on by Jacek Chocolate Couture, and have enjoyed each one. Unfortunately, they don’t have any of their 2016 dates up just yet, but I’m hopeful they’ll have some tickets for sale in time for the holidays.

Gifts That Keep on Giving

Who says Christmas can’t be year-round, or at least prolonged? Choose a membership-based gift to bring cheer for a few more months of the year:

Farrow’s Bean Club is great for coffee connoisseurs. Every month, members are introduced to beans from a new roaster, some offered exclusively to club members and never put into Farrow’s rotation. Every 3, 6 or 12 month membership even comes with a free mug! Memberships start at $82.50. Transcend Coffee also has a similar subscription club, with beans roasted in-house.
Beer lovers in Edmonton flock to Sherbrooke Liquor, which has an incredibly extensive inventory of beers. But did you know they have a Beer Club, which entitles members to a monthly selection of beers and 10% discount off all beers for the duration of the membership? 3 month terms start at $175.
Sugared and Spiced’s Cake Club is perhaps most unique subscription in Edmonton. For $195, members are entitled to 3 cakes for pre-arranged dates through the year, with delivery included for those within city limits. Never be caught empty handed on special occasions again!
Who doesn’t love cheese? Cavern’s Cheese Club would be sure to please, with subscriptions starting at $55/month for a selection of cheese and a preserve accompaniment.
For a more practical gift, consider a grocery delivery service like The Organic Box or SPUD to make it more convenient for a loved one over the winter months.

Give Back to Those in Need

Many in our community go without at Christmas, so it’s also worth considering investing your gift in a charitable organization spreading cheer at this time of year:

The Christmas Bureau is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and with the economic downturn, expects to serve 67,000 Edmontonians this year. You can make a monetary donation of any amount, or donate a hamper for a senior or a family.
The Bissell Centre released their annual holiday gift guide, and you can provide meals to the homeless, the working poor, and young ones in their childcare centre.
Back again to bare all for a good cause, the 2016 Sexy Men of YEG Food calendar features over a dozen local personalities who posed in good fun to help raise funds for the Edmonton Food Bank. Last year, the calendar raised $19,500!

Happy Holidays!

Food Notes for December 7, 2015

Fifendekel launched their month-long Festival of Tarts on December 1, 2015, offering customers the chance to purchase a variety tray of tarts, chosen from twelve different savoury and sweet flavours just in time for the holidays. Cindy gives us a breakdown of the tastes to expect.
I love the idea of Little Brick’s Home School – several mini sessions led by local experts. Their next series is all about Christmas, on December 10, 2015, and will teach about festive drinks, Christmas shortbread, and holiday arrangements. Tickets are $100.
Elaine Wilson is hosting a by-donation bake sale on December 13, 2015, in support of the Wings of Providence. Head to the Abby Road Co-op (10950 82 Avenue) from 10am-3pm to partake in the sweet fun!
The French Quarter Grand Market has transformed for the season into a Holiday Bazaar. Every Sunday until December 20, 2015, in addition to their core vendors, they are offering “an alternative shopping experience to the mall”, with numerous artisans and other festive perks.
Blue Rose Vegan is offering another snack pack, this time themed for the holidays. The $50 order feeds four, and includes a vegan-friendly tourtiere, stuffing, roasted root vegetables, and dessert. Order for pick-up on December 19, 2015.
Winefest will be back February 12-13, 2016, and early bird tickets are already on sale. The discounted admission is available until January 8, 2016.
Congratulations to Sweet Lollapalooza who just opened up their second location in Calgary!
The hotly-anticipated Prairie Noodle Shop just released their menu for your viewing pleasure.
The winter issue of The Yards released the winners of their first annual Best in the Core awards last week. Congrats to Coffee Bureau for the recognition as the Best Coffee Shop and Remedy for the Best Late Night Eats.
Twyla is the first to review Juniper Café & Bistro in Strathearn, and the dishes look delectable. You can listen to her CBC review here.
Sambol Kitchen posts another rave review, this time from Chris.
Eva shared her thoughts on XIX Nineteen’s new St. Albert location.
Chris took in the most recent Swine and Dine at the Hotel Macdonald – looks like it was a great meal!
Phil has returned with the third round of the Great Edmonton Perogy Showdown, which will lead to the final throwdown between the top contenders of each previous round.
Also from Phil, his latest Off Menu podcast is now up, and it features the boys behind The Local Omnivore, Mark Bellows and Ryan Brodziak.
Karlynn Johnson’s forthcoming Fall 2016 Random House cookbook now has a title: Flapper Pie and a Blue Prairie Sky!
Are you a #yegfood chef who wants to showcase your skills on the Edmonton Home and Garden Show stage? The organizers are taking applicants now.
I meant to share this sooner – Julie Van Rosendaal had a great idea for a reverse advent calendar as a way to give back over the holidays. Instead of emptying a slot, you fill one in with an item needed by the Food Bank.
Calgary’s Fiasco Gelato has put together some charming hot chocolate/marshmallow gift sets for the holidays. We found these at The Italian Centre.

Drinking chocolate and coffee ‘mallows

For a lunch at Thanh Thanh with colleagues this week, I tried the Bun Bo Hue. Though I felt like I was cheating on King Noodle House, I enjoyed the prominent lemongrass flavour of the broth. I did wish that they used thicker noodles, however!

Bun Bo Hue from Thanh Thanh

Food Notes for November 30, 2015

1st RND’s second location in Oliver, at 11248 104 Avenue (the former Hudson’s), opens December 1, 2015. Does anyone know if it is a local chain?
Culina, which now runs some of the cafes/food stalls in City of Edmonton facilities like the ACT Centre and golf courses, is debuting a Nordic Brunch at the Victoria Golf Course location of their Dogwood Café on December 12, 2015. The brunch runs on weekends from 9am-3pm.
Mark your calendar: the annual 104 Street Customer Appreciation Day takes place on December 17, 2015. Check out the page for discounts and a schedule of events.
Nineteen’s second location in St. Albert opened earlier this month. Cindy and Linda checked out the new digs at a media dinner.
Alberta Hotel Bar & Kitchen rolls in with more mixed reviews, this time from Chris and Crystal.
Sambol Sri Lankan Kitchen has been getting some great press lately – Jonny pitched another positive review.
Vue Weekly paid a visit to Huma Mexican Restaurant.
Julie van Rosendaal, of Dinner with Julie fame, highlights some of the great eats she had in Edmonton this summer.
Just in time for the cold: Avenue Edmonton has a great round-up of five mac ‘n’ cheese dishes, including an indulgent burger from 1st RND featuring two patties: one beef, one deep-fried mac ‘n’ cheese.
Also from Avenue – they spotlight a few local restaurants where you can pull up a seat to the chef’s table.
The second round of Phil’s Great Edmonton Perogy Showdown is now up.
Karen’s latest Seen and Heard episode features Lillian (aka Beyond Umami) and all her macaron-making tales.
Jerry shares his experience at a recent A Seat at Our Table dinner.
Earth’s General Store’s downtown location still isn’t in a good place, shares store owner Michael Kalmanovitch.
Speaking of retail, this is an interesting study from the University of Alberta School of Retailing, focusing on the grocery stores in Canadian urban centres, including Edmonton. It shouldn’t surprise you that Oliver is underserved.
I can never resist stories about ugly produce, and this one mentions the Daily Table, a non-profit retail store in Boston that sells food past its “sell by” date.
The meal-in-a-kit hasn’t quite hit us in Alberta yet, but down in the US where it is all the rage in some states, BuzzFeed reveals just how much packaging waste is produced from a single box.
Could you live off of soylent, the powdered food substitute, for a week? A New Trail contributor gave it a try.
Have you heard about the concept of “personalized nutrition”? It is the idea that an optimal diet should be tailored to the individual, based on their blood sugar levels or insulin release.
Zinc’s sweet and spicy prawns, served on a bed of green pea risotto, has to be one of my favourite dishes in Edmonton.

Prawns with green pea risotto from Zinc

Another one of my go-to dishes is the shepherd’s pie (wish a side of sweet potato fries, of course) from Blue Plate Diner. I may or may not have influenced the entire table to order it as well.

Shepherd’s pie from Blue Plate Diner

Mack was craving Bun Bo Hue, so we hit up King Noodle House over the weekend.

Bun Bo Hue from King Noodle House

A Personal Farewell to What the Truck?!

It seems wrong to talk about food trucks when there’s snow on the ground, but I wanted to get one final post in before the end of the year for reasons of sentimentality. You see, this will be my final year with What the Truck?!, the food truck festival I co-founded with Mack five years ago.

Our first WTT event in 2011 at Beaver Hills House Park

In some ways, it seems like just yesterday Mack and I stumbled upon Off the Grid in San Francisco, the inspiration behind our desire to see something equally vibrant at home. But in other ways, given the exponential leap the Edmonton food truck scene has made since 2011 (from 7 to over 70 vendors in 2015), looking back, it’s easy to see how far we’ve come in that time.

Our first WTT event in 2015 at Churchill Square

I will always have a soft spot for food trucks. I admire the passionate entrepreneurs that put their hearts and souls on the line, creatively finding a niche in the ever-competitive street food market, and often braving unpredictable weather conditions. I’m so proud of the vendors who made the leap from mobile to storefront (Filistix, Nomad/Woodwork, Drift/Dovetail, S’wich and soon, The Local Omnivore) and believe their success is a testament to their hard work and the quality of their food.

But I know that it is time for me to step away. I don’t have the same energy to foresee the calendar of events for the summer season, and want to avoid doing a disservice to the trucks. That said, it has always been a goal for Mack and I to, with a sustainability plan in place, transition out (Mack will be staying on for one final year). We’ve since applied for non-profit status to solidify What the Truck?! as a formal society. In addition, over the past two years, we’ve deliberately grown our team of volunteers to include individuals with an equal passion for food trucks who also believe in the power of creating gathering spaces. I am more than confident that this team will carry the torch of What the Truck?! for years to come.

In some ways, it was fitting for our little festival to receive a proclamation from the City at our final event of the year (awarded by Councillor Andrew Knack, who has been a big supporter of What the Truck?! from year one). At our September 11, 2015 finale, the day was declared “What the Truck Day” in Edmonton. Knowing it was my last event, it was bittersweet.

With Councillor Knack and the proclamation

Even though the weather was fantastic, we didn’t see the extensive crowds that helped us inaugurate our fifth season back in May. We continue to learn about the ebb and flow of patrons, and recognize now that by September, food trucks don’t really have the same cachet as in the spring, when Edmontonians are eager to shed their layers in anticipation of enjoying all things al fresco.

Last event of the season

Still, those that attended had a great time. We awarded our first ever front-of-the-line golden tickets (which enabled pre-event access to the trucks), and hosted two DJ stations for the first time.

Our Golden Ticket winners!

We also welcomed several vendors into the What the Truck?! fold. It is definitely true that our scene has been enriched by the diversity of choices now available on the streets of Edmonton.

Churchill Square

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to come out to these events over the five years – we would never have been able to grow What the Truck?! to this point without you. And to the team – Mack, Melina, Caleng, Katherine, Mikhaila and Su – I am looking forward to being on the other side next year. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish in 2016!

Food Notes for November 23, 2015

It might be a little early for some, but I finally convinced Mack to let me put up the Christmas tree this weekend! And given the snow blanketing the city right now, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. On to this week’s food notes:

There’s an interesting event on November 24, 2015 organized by the Political Science Undergraduate Association: "Sustainable Snacks: The Politicized Nature of Food”.
Vegan take-out isn’t easy to come by, so Blue Rose Vegan might be what you’re looking for. They’re offering a $40 vegan snack box for pickup on November 27, 2015. Orders must be placed by November 25.
Mark your calendars for the last Dela pop-up of the year, an 8 course pop-up on December 20, 2015. Tickets will be on sale shortly.
For those already planning ahead – the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market will be open on December 23, 2015 for last-minute shopping.
Workshop Eatery is now open for lunch and dinner!
The Almanac is opening on November 30, 2015 at 10351 82 Avenue.
It looks like the former Century Grill has been taken over by Plates International, a buffet house to open December 15, 2015.
Cindy is the first out of the gate, reviewing the new Alberta Hotel Bar & Kitchen. It sounds like they have a ways to go to be consistent, but they are still a fairly new establishment.
Stephanie reviews Yumioca, one of the newest bubble tea shops in Edmonton.
Daravara got some love this week from Rebecca and the Journal.
Phil is starting a new quest, this time, to find the best perogies in Edmonton. Let the battle begin!
Speaking of Phil, he invited Liane Faulder and I to join him in a discussion on some of Edmonton’s new restaurants, favourite food gifts, and why Edmonton can’t seem to crack those national “best of” lists. Thanks for having me!
Vue spotlights Woodwork and their creative cocktail program.
I’m sorry to hear that The Cheesiry is calling it quits: they’ll sell out their remaining inventory which should last until next summer. Make sure to get your hands on Rhonda’s fantastic pecorino while you still can!
There’s another pizzeria joining the ranks of Downtown Edmonton – Love Pizza is opening at 10196 109 Street in January 2016.

Love Pizza

Dovetail hosted our last What the Truck?! gathering with our vendors this year, so we relished the opportunity to sample their carvery sandwich of the day, a roast pork shoulder with pickled carrots and Pilsner mustard.

Roast pork sandwich from Dovetail Deli

We stopped in at North 53 this week while in the neighbourhood and finally tried their popcorn chicken. They were more like chicken doughnuts, but we could definitely see their appeal.

Popcorn chicken from North 53

After All is Bright on Saturday, Mack and I headed to Numchok Wilai for some tasty Thai food.

Pad Thai from Numchok Wilai

Ramen for Brunch: Yuzen

It seems ramen’s the thing in Edmonton right now. There were only a handful of restaurants serving this Japanese staple before this year, and the inventory has grown since then, with Kazoku Ramen joining the ranks this fall, and Prairie Noodle Shop’s pop-ups making way for a brick and mortar storefront soon.

Restaurants in St. Albert have joined this list as well, with Ohana-ya offering ramen for lunch on weekdays, and Yuzen complimenting that with ramen on Saturday afternoons. While in St. Albert last Saturday, we planned for a ramen brunch at the latter to make the most of the trip out.

We were told by friends to arrive early, but unbeknownst to us, Yuzen shifted their Saturday hours back half an hour, and now serve ramen from 11:00am-2pm. So our 11:30am arrival meant an already full house, and an approximately 30 minute wait for a table.

Loved this sign

The menu is pretty straightforward, with 5 different bowls to choose from. I chose the pork-based tonkotsu ($11), while Mack selected the soy-based shoyu broth ($11). We each added an egg as well ($1).

Given the singular menu focus, the kitchen was able to maintain a fairly efficient speed. Service as a whole was also very pleasant and friendly throughout.

Tonkotsu ramen

I quite enjoyed the tonkotsu broth, full-bodied and seasoned just right. Both Mack and I found the noodles well-cooked, and enjoyed finding a creamy yolk centre in our eggs. Our only complaint lay with the pork, sliced too thick for my preference and ultimately on the dry side.

Shoyu ramen

We were told the crowd was actually on the small side that day, so I think the word is getting out about St. Albert’s ramen brunch option. It is a bit too far for us to frequent often (Ninja Club is our current go-to), but I would consider it again when in the neighbourhood.

Yuzen
127, 1 Hebert Road, St. Albert
(780) 569-5270
Lunch: Tuesday-Friday 11:30am-2pm, Saturday 11am-2pm; Dinner: Tuesday-Sunday 5-9pm; closed Mondays

Farmfair, Burgers and My First Canadian Finals Rodeo

I have to admit, the idea of going to the rodeo has never appealed to me, even if I’ve always been curious about the excitement surrounding the Calgary Stampede, and in Edmonton, the Canadian Finals Rodeo. It is something quintessentially "Albertan", but has also seemed inaccessible to me without any personal ties to a tradition that can run generations deep for many in the province. So it took Mack being extended complimentary tickets to this year’s Canadian Finals Rodeo for me to finally learn what all the fuss was about.

We headed to Rexall Place on Friday to a nearly packed house, absolutely energized for the events to come. Confronted with such a crowd, it was the first time I realized the scale of the CFR’s economic boost for Edmonton – it was clear most taking in the event were visiting from out of town.

My cowboy

I was thankful for the two commentators who made sure the audience remained engaged and entertained. They were also very inclusive, taking the time to explain some of the rules and nuances of the sport, much appreciated by a novice like me.

It was easy to see the amount of training each competitor had put in to get to this level, from cattle roping to barrel racing. The bull riding finale unfortunately only saw a handful of riders reach the eight second mark, but no question they all seemed to give it their all. I can also see how the CFR builds in excitement over the course of the week, as the audience familiarizes themselves with the competitors night after night.

Bareback riding

I’m glad I was able to experience my first rodeo! Thanks to Northlands for the opportunity.

Northlands also enabled us to attend the corresponding Farmfair, held during the CFR at the Expo Centre. An agricultural trade show for farmers, it is an event I have attended in the past. I used to volunteer for adult English as a Second Language classes, and as admission at the time was free, it was a great field trip to help our students learn about one of Alberta’s foundational industries.

Farmfair 2015

Farmfair has since started charging admission ($5 for adults). Though I’d hope there would still be the chance for adult groups to utilize it as an educational experience, it is a reasonable cost given the breadth of events organized. We wandered through the halls, admiring the livestock and wishing we’d arrived in time to watch the stock dog competition.

More animals

New to Farmfair this year was the Northlands Food Lab workshops, free with admission. The workshops focused on food skills that could be taught in an hour – cheese making and burger prep. We signed up for the latter, and joined about a dozen other participants on Saturday in the makeshift kitchen in the concourse of the Expo Centre.

Chef Parker

Led by Northlands Sous Chef Chef Parker Regimbald, participants were shown how to make a better burger by grinding our own beef. The ten ounces of inside round we used had been donated by Sysco (of which we were reminded numerous times). While recognizing the need for sponsorship, particularly for a free workshop, it was still disappointing that the chance to highlight a local producer was squandered. Northlands has been highlighting its inroads with supporting local (with its food truck and partnership with Lactuca, among others), so this just seemed like a missed opportunity.

Mack prepares his burger

At any rate, Chef Parker is an excellent instructor, articulate and clearly passionate about food. He offered the following tips:

If grinding your own meat, make sure to keep the meat cold before grinding it to decrease bacterial growth;
For additional flavour, grind in some pork fat or bacon (Northlands uses their house-made bacon for this purpose);
Make sure the patty is at least 1/3 larger than the bun you will use, as the patty will shrink during cooking;
Season in layers – toss in some salt and pepper as you’re mixing the meat, but also season both sides of the patty;
Grease the patty instead of the grill to ensure it doesn’t stick;
The patty is ready to be flipped once when it no longer sticks to the grill;
You can tell the second side is done when blood starts to pool on the surface, or alternatively, the feel of the meat is the same firmness as the area just beneath your thumb; and
To help the meat retains its juice, set a timer and rest the patty for 3 minutes before digging in!

It was a fairly straightforward lesson, and given the only addition to the beef was salt and pepper, it was a very tasty burger.

Thumbs up!

Chef Parker was very happy with the response to the Food Labs, and is hoping to run more such events, even outside of Farmfair. It was a great add-on to an existing event, so it would be great to see this topic and others offered again in the future.

Food Notes for November 16, 2015

Evoolution’s location in The Enjoy Centre is hosting a series of oil and vinegar tastings in November and December, just in time for the holidays! The cost is $30 per guest.
The Edmonton Branch of the Canadian Culinary Federation is hosting a fundraising dinner on November 28, 2015 featuring several local chefs including Blair Lebsack from RGE RD and Jake Pelletier from Duchess. The proceeds will go towards scholarships, workshops, and competitions. Tickets are $199.
The most exciting food news in Edmonton this week was surely the announcement about Duchess’ expansion – not only a new restaurant specializing in breakfast, a larger Provisions and even a teaching kitchen. They hope the new location will be ready in March.
The Local Omnivore will be neighbours to the new Duchess venture, at 10933 120 Street. Expect their digs to open on December 1, 2015.
Thanks to Joveena for the heads up about Juniper Café & Bistro (9514 87 Street), new to Strathearn. They serve all-day breakfast, and focus on share plates for other meals.
The week is full of restaurant openings, including Nineteen’s St. Albert location (#104, 150 Bellerose Drive) on November 19, 2015.
Also on November 19, 2015, Alberta Hotel Bar & Kitchen is celebrating its grand opening with a special three-course menu for $55.
Andrea tweeted that a beloved favourite – Kenko Japanese Cuisine – is back at 9543 42 Avenue).
Liv paid a visit to the newest coffee shop in Edmonton, The Woodrack Café. Speaking of Liv, she’s also the newest member of the Get Cooking team – congrats!
Crystal reviewed the often overlooked Nosh Café on 124 Street.
Cuban cuisine is alive and well in Edmonton at Coral de Cuba (4990 92 Avenue), says Vue Weekly (I love that they continue to serve pho as to not alienate the previous clientele).
Episode 18 of Seen and Heard YEG features Phil Wilson (aka Baconhound)!
Kevin Kossowan’s video about Cook it Raw is now live.
Great read from Tina Faiz in this month’s Avenue Magazine, about the need for restaurants to adapt to survive. In particular, the shift by North 53 and 12 Acres from fine dining to a more upscale casual vibe seems to be the trend as a whole in the city.
Three Boars, North 53, Corso 32 and Woodwork get some love from Beatroute.
Congratulations to the Canadians who competed in the World Food Championships for the first time! We had two competitors place first, in the burger and chili categories.
There’s a new cooking business in town called The Ruby Apron, started by Kaelin Whittaker.
When putting together your gingerbread houses for the holidays, take inspiration from some of the teams that participated in the Christmas Bureau Gingerbread House Decorating Challenge. This hockey rink is pretty neat!

Copper and Blue!

Harvest Festival at The Organic Box

On Sunday, The Organic Box opened its doors for a Harvest Festival. It was a way for them to celebrate a good growing season and provide their customers with an avenue to meet some of their producers firsthand. Mack and I were among the minority of attendees who don’t currently subscribe to The Organic Box, but were interested in learning more about their operations.

The Organic Box warehouse

The Organic Box provides home delivery of sustainable groceries, and sources its products from many Alberta farmers. The Organic Box has grown significantly since its inception in 2010. Beginning with 120 customers, after a year, they were reaching about 500 homes in Edmonton. In 2015, they’re processing 2000 orders a week, and they’ve expanded their deliveries to other communities in central and northern Alberta, including Fort McMurray, Athabasca and Camrose.

Ready to be packed

This growth necessitated their recent move to a 17,000 square feet warehouse which should be large enough to accommodate them for years to come. This new space has 5,000 square feet of cooler space alone, which, as a comparison, was the size of their previous home.

Dry goods

Abbie Stein-MacLean, the General Manager of The Organic Box, provided an educational tour. They have five different temperature zones (including a room dedicated entirely to bananas to ensure they can ripen more slowly and naturally than at conventional supermarkets). They also take great care to separate ethylene sensitive fruits and vegetables such as cabbage from items that produce ethylene like apples.

Abbie from The Organic Box

The Organic Box prides itself on supporting local producers in many ways. One of their hopes in securing a larger warehouse was to be able to offer up space to those who may not have access to reliable, accessible storage. Some farmers have taken them up on this, renting cold storage for items like potatoes and poultry.

More storage

In addition, the next phase for The Organic Box will be expanding their processing capabilities. A current gap in Alberta is the need for more inspected packaging and labeling facilities. They’re committed to further developing their current operation and consulting capabilities to work with more food businesses who want to increase their retail opportunities.

The current processing space

After meeting some of the vendors that sell their product through The Organic Box, I also better understood the potential they offer small businesses in terms of exposure. Genuine Jar, a small local jam producer, distributes their preservative-free product exclusively through The Organic Box. Edmonton-based Nxt Roasters, which we had never heard of (they focus more on the machines that roast the beans than the coffee itself), only sells its coffee to consumers through The Organic Box.

Nxt Roasters

We appreciated the chance to learn more about an Edmonton success story. The Organic Box has great aspirations to strengthen other local businesses as they themselves grow. I hope they are able to achieve their ambitious goals, and continue to increase the awareness and sustainability of our local producers and food entrepreneurs. Thanks to The Organic Box for having us!

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