Food Through the Ages @ Fort Edmonton Park

Over the August long weekend, Mack and I were invited to attend the second annual Food Through the Ages event at Fort Edmonton Park. Though we do our best to visit the Park once every summer regardless (I love the midway!), this seemed like a great excuse to do so, all while experiencing the attraction through a particular lens.

The train!

In 2012, Fort Edmonton Park introduced Food Through the Ages as a means for visitors to sample typical dishes served in the different eras represented throughout the Park. It was a success, but this year, they tweaked the formula somewhat. Besides making it clear that only tastes (as opposed to full meals) would be offered, the Park also instigated that visitors would have to work for their food by performing period-specific tasks. The children we saw participating that day were relishing the opportunity to earn their keep (all in a wonderful learning context), but I have to say that as an adult, I had a great time as well!

Cree Camp interpreter

The Saturday of that long weekend celebrated life in the 1846 Fort (I’m a little sad I didn’t get to try the roasted pea coffee), while Sunday focused on 1885 (and tempted with rabbit stew!). Our visit highlighted tasks and tastes of 1905 and 1920.

How about some tongue toast or jellied moose nose?

The Park staff were nice enough to organize a tour guide to accompany us throughout the afternoon. Although we’ve been to Fort Edmonton countless times, our guide Shannon pointed us to several things we have overlooked in the past, such as a replica of the Avro Avian Biplane flown by Wop May.

Avro Avian Biplane

We started with mail delivery on 1905 Street. We were paid for carrying a package from the post office to one of the residences which we used to purchase a sample of jellied duck. The dominant flavour was actually the poultry stock, and the texture was better than it sounded.

Mack earns his keep

Jellied duck

Across the street in Tent City, I helped with laundry. Using the washboard reminded me of how grateful we are to have electric machines for this chore! With the money I earned, we purchased some freshly made beans on toast from the camp.

Manual laundry

Mack loves beans on toast

Over on 1920 Street, we tried our hand at the Alberta Government Telephone Exchange. Though we’ve been to the Park plenty of times, this was the first time we’ve encountered an interpreter in this building. It was neat learning about how the system worked (including the “party lines”!), and even connecting a call.

Too many switches!

For our trouble, we were rewarded with hot potato cakes and oatmeal cookies at the Mellon Farm.

Potato cakes

We saved the best for last – the 1920’s Midway! We helped clear the grass of rocks and debris, and Mack even tried out for the circus!

Hard at work

The Amazing Balance Man

The money we were paid was enough to purchase cheese sandwiches and some lemonade. Simple but appropriate for the context!

Staple food

Of course, we couldn’t leave the park without a few spins on the carousel and the Ferris wheel.

Whee!

It sounds like Food Through the Ages was again well received, so make sure to look for it again next year! Thanks to the Park for allowing us to take part, and to our enthusiastic tour guide Shannon! And though Fort Edmonton Park is now closed for the season for regular admission, check out their calendar to learn about their upoming special and holiday events.

Food Notes for October 7, 2013

I have a feeling October is going to zoom by, with my eye already towards Thanksgiving next week. It’s also a really light week on the food end of things – I’m sure things will pick up as we transition into (gasp!) the holiday season:

Mack and I spent part of our Sunday outside the Bissell Centre, taking part in a special What the Truck?! event that saw 900 meals served to underprivileged Edmontonians. Thanks to the trucks who took part, and to the Bissell Centre for being a wonderful partner.
Outdoor farmers’ markets are coming to an end! Get your fill this weekend, at the 124 Street Market’s Harvest Celebrations on Thursday or on 104 Street at the City Market on Saturday.
Great to hear that Café Bicyclette, the new restaurant at La Cite Francophone, is planning to have a winter patio!
Loved Kevin’s video of the Really Long Table Dinner that took place in Calgary last month.
Vital Signs, a report on Edmonton’s food security was released last week by the Edmonton Community Foundation, in partnership with the Edmonton Social Planning Council.
Ever wonder what makes a Dorito so irresistible?
The brisk, chilly weather last week was perfect for one thing: pho!

My usual from Pho Tau Bay

A friend and I got together for drinks and nibbles at Tzin. It’s been a while since I’ve been there, but I’ll always enjoy their braised pork belly dish. For the fall, topped with crunchy pickled cabbage, it’s a little taste of the season.

Braised bacon from Tzin

Cycling Adventures in the Mill Creek Ravine

It only took us a year to follow through, but Mack and I finally took the time to rent bikes as a means of further exploring Edmonton’s river valley trails.

We still don’t know all that much about the bike rental scene in Edmonton, but knew that the River Valley Adventure Company would suit our needs that day, as it was situated in the perfect jumping off point for our adventures.

At $10 per hour, it was also a reasonable price to pay. The rental cost included a helmet, but we were a bit disappointed to learn that a bike lock wasn’t included. Hopefully this is something they re-evaluate, as I would imagine the lock would come in handy for those looking to make a pit stop along the way. It also wasn’t all that encouraging to hear that we were the first sale that day; it’s an unfortunate refrain that the river valley isn’t as well utilized as it could be, so it’s not a surprise that neither is the business.

And we’re off!

While we’ve often walked riverside path of Louise McKinney to as far as Cloverdale, this was the first time we’ve travelled through the Mill Creek Ravine. It’s obvious, but though the MIll Creek Adventure Walk is a wonderful way to animate the area in the winter months, nothing compares to the fall beauty of the park that surrounded us that day.

Creekside

The air started out crisp, but warmed up that afternoon as we rode down the paths lined with golden leaves.

Multi-use trail

We immediately noticed the lack of signage on the trail. Unless we deliberately went off course, we had no way of knowing where we were in relation to commuter streets. Eventually, we came across a sign that has seen better days, and realized we had made it all the way to King Edward Park. At that point, we were only a hop, skip and a jump away from Argyll – we had no idea the trails so readily connected these communities.

Outdated map

Doubling back so we could stop at the Mill Creek Café for a snack, we took the scenic route back, across the pedestrian bridge across Connors Road.

Skyline photo op!

It was a delight to explore one of Edmonton’s gems in the fall – I’d encourage you to do the same, if you’re able to before we transition into the next season!

Flavour Journey Restaurant Tour in the North Edge

The public might be more familiar with pub crawls, but I have to say that I much prefer restaurant crawls. I love the idea of exploring multiple establishments on foot, as it usually exposes participants to the neighbourhood as a whole as well. So whether through events like the Red Shoe Crawl or Dishcrawl, I’d encourage you to seek one out!

The North Edge Business Association (representing businesses in the Central McDougall and Queen Mary Park neighbourhoods) had organized several successful restaurant crawls last year, but the timing was never right. Thankfully, this summer, I was finally able to participate in one of the Flavour Journey Restaurant Tours! I convinced my sisters to join me, and along with about twenty other people, sampled three dishes at three different restaurants that night.

Felicia and Amanda

Tickets were just $30, with the profits split equally between the three restaurants. The Business Association covered the other costs (ticketing, marketing, etc.), so the restaurants could focus solely on the food. Given the benefit of increased exposure to the neighbourhood, I wonder why more areas haven’t adopted this tactic.

Regardless, we started out the evening at Caffé Sorrentino. Pedestrian, yes, but by far, the most prepared for the group. Our host for the evening, Chris Hrynyk, graciously welcomed us, and explained that the dish we were about to enjoy has been on the Sorrentino’s menu for thirty six years.

Chris Hrynyk of Caffe Sorrentino

Each batch of veal cannelloni, he tantalized, was simmered with five kilograms of parmesan and seven kilograms of mozzarella. After that introduction, the dish no doubt tasted even more indulgent.

Veal cannelloni

Just before we left, Chris gave us a tour of the kitchens, which double as both prep space and as the venue for their cooking classes. The consummate showman, he made sure to mention that Gordon Ramsay (in town as a part of a charity cooking event) was jealous of the size of their kitchens. In a way, it was unfortunate the subsequent restaurant participants weren’t present for the meal – they could have benefited from learning how to present themselves, and tell a narrative that could be easily shared.

Our second stop a block away was Com Pho 99 (11019 107 Avenue). I’ll be honest – if it weren’t for the restaurant tour, it is doubtful I would have ever stepped foot inside. It doesn’t provide the best first impression, but then again, that’s pretty representative of the neighbourhood as a whole. And in spite of being rough around the edges, Com Pho, like the North Edge, deserves a second look.

All aboard!

Unlike the other two restaurants, Com Pho offered the choice between a rice plate or a vermicelli bowl, topped with grilled chicken, beef and spring rolls. While the options were welcome, it likely slowed the kitchen down a fair bit, as our table wasn’t served until the other table had nearly finished their meals.

Vermicelli bowl (minus the missing spring rolls)

The food itself was pretty good though; Amanda (ever the vermicelli connoisseur) gave it a thumbs up.

Given the unusually large crowd, it was understandable that the kitchen struggled to keep up. That said, hopefully a majority of the diners were willing to overlook the minor hiccups and in the future would consider returning. This is the danger of showcasing small mom-and-pop shops in this way – though it casts a spotlight on restaurants that might fall otherwise under the radar, the business may not be ready or have the capacity to successfully host such an event.

Our third and final stop was Acajutla, a restaurant specializing in Mexican and Salvadorian food. As the evening was running a little late, the kitchen was more than ready for us. Plates were delivered, featuring a flauta, tostada and a pupusa.

Finale at Acajutla

The flauta and tostada shell were a bit overdone, but the pupusa was great, topped with some pickled cabbage and salsa.

In all, it was a great way to spend an evening – trying new restaurants, meeting new people, and learning more about the neighbourhood. The North Edge is considering more tours this fall – check the website for more information!

Food Notes for September 30, 2013

Thanks to those who voted this blog as “Best Food Blog” on Vue Weekly’s Best of 2013! Crazy to think Only Here for the Food is nearly seven years old – thanks for reading! Mack and I were also thrilled that What the Truck?! was voted the “Best Pop-Up Event” – with some help, we’ll do our best to keep that streak alive! On to this week’s food notes:

Dishcrawl’s first ever Battledish is this Saturday, October 5, 2013. I’m looking forward to tasting six dishes being put forward by Downtown area chefs for their chance to win diners’ votes. Tickets are going fast, but here’s a tip – enter the code “yegbattle” for free admission!
The Sturgeon Valley Food and Wine Festival is taking place October 5, 2013 at The Enjoy Centre. I attended the inaugural event last year, and found it to be a nice alternative to the larger Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival.
Creole Envie is hosting a Live Local dinner on October 20, 2013. The menu looks great! Tickets are $60 each.
Nomiya has opened a second location in southwest Edmonton, at 11160 Ellerslie Road.
Phil has a pretty exhaustive review of the dishes at Tavern 1903.
Mack wrote about the first meeting of the Edmonton Food Council, which took place last week.
If you have a bit of time, consider completing this online survey which will be used to investigate “food deserts” in Edmonton.
Barilla Pasta is backtracking this week after their Chairman made comments about his unwillingness to cast a gay family in their advertisements, instead, favouring what he views as a “classic family.” Let these Twitter responses speak for themselves.
This is a little late, but I loved this series of NYT videos featuring five of their food reviewers, as they speak out on everything from trade secrets to overused adjectives.
Mack wasn’t the champion this time at Cookie Love’s Cookie Eating Classic, held at the 124 Street Market on Thursday, but he had fun squaring off against other media personalities! Congratulations to CISN’s Chris Sheetz for taking home the title, by eating 9 cookies in 4 minutes.

Mack was disappointed in his effort (for the record – 3.5 cookies in 2 minutes)

I had a great time at the Edmonton kick off of Alberta Culture Days on 104 Street on Friday. The weather held out for the al fresco event, though I think many appreciated the hot, buttered popcorn the Downtown Edmonton Community League was distributing!

Larissa and I handed out free popcorn

Mack and I met up with some friends at Café Amore for dinner on Saturday. The room was full as usual, but service didn’t fall by the wayside – I love the personal touch of being greeted at the door and genuinely thanked on the way out. Oh, and the food’s great too.

Truffle chicken pasta

Pasta pescatore

City Market Report: Week 20

It was a brisk one at the City Market this morning! I was up early for once to help ring in the market today. Representing the Downtown Edmonton Community League (DECL), I rang the opening bell along with Heather from the City of Edmonton’s Waste Management.

Ringing in the market with Heather

Though the fall chill was definitely in the air, the sunny skies still made it a pleasant day to walk the market aisles.

Early on at the market

It’s also without a doubt one of the best times of year to pick up fresh, locally grown produce!

Pumpkins from Sundog Organic

Beets from Sundog Organic

Leeks from Sundog Organic

Carrots from Sundog Organic

Broccoli from Sundog Organic

Kohlrabi from Sundog Organic

Celery from Sundog Organic

Fennel from Sundog Organic

Tomatoes from Greens, Eggs and Ham

Baby leeks from Greens, Eggs and Ham

Ornamentals from Kuhlmann’s

Brussels sprouts from Kuhlmann’s

Squash from Kuhlmann’s

Kale from Kuhlmann’s

Adorable tabletop pots from Kuhlmann’s

Bell peppers from Doef’s

Eggplant from Doef’s

Asian apple pears from Steve & Dan’s

Apples from Steve & Dan’s

Grapes from Steve & Dan’s

Cabbage from Riverbend Gardens

Potatoes from Riverbend Gardens

Cauliflower from Riverbend Gardens

Squash from Riverbend Gardens

I’ll be back at the market next week selling memberships for DECL – come stop by and say hi! There are only two more chances to enjoy the outdoor market (October 5 & 12) before the City Market moves indoors to City Hall on October 19.

Food Notes for September 23, 2013

We’ve had such a beautiful transition from summer to fall that it’s hard to imagine that we’re already at the end of September! Hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy the gorgeous weather! On to this week’s food notes:

To commemorate the first anniversary of their shop, Cookie Love will be hosting the Cookie Eating Classic at the 124 Street Market on September 26, 2013 at 7pm. Mack will be among the media personalities competing for bragging rights, as well as collecting donations for a variety of local charities.
Alberta Culture Days kicks off on September 27, 2013 with an al fresco party on 104 Street. There will be music, an artisan market and food trucks. I’ll be there with the Downtown Edmonton Community League handing out free popcorn – hope to see you there!
The Italian Centre is celebrating its newest location in the west end (17010 90 Avenue) on September 28, 2013 from 11am-4pm. Expect food, entertainment, car displays and a tango flash mob at 2:45pm.
The Edmonton Community Foundation and Edmonton Social Planning Council are releasing Vital Signs, a report on food security in Edmonton, on October 1, 2013.
Choklat, the only Alberta “bean to bar” chocolate shop, is now open in Old Strathcona.
Liv reviews one of the newest food trucks to hit Edmonton’s streets: Orbitz.
Vue Weekly profiles Mealshare, a relatively new program to Edmonton that partners with local restaurants. For every Mealshare item purchased from participating restaurants, a meal will be donated to a local charity.
I was so sad to have missed the Long Table Dinner in Calgary, but Valerie’s post recaps what looked like an amazing event.
Dead tired on Saturday, neither Mack or I were in the mood to cook supper. Our go-to that night? Our reliable standby, Route 99.

Poutine from Route 99

September 20, 2013 What the Truck?! at Churchill Square

It’s been an amazing year for food trucks. The growth in the Edmonton scene has been unprecedented, with at least a dozen new trucks joining the scene in 2013, offering cuisine ranging from tacos to banh mi to the ever-popular poutine.

This year also saw changes to Edmonton’s street food policy, with longer hours of operations, and more clarity around where food trucks can park. The new regulations should make it easier for even more trucks to join the city’s fleet.

This Friday, we want to celebrate this banner year in Edmonton’s food truck scene with the largest What the Truck?! in our festival’s history. This Friday, join us on Churchill Square to sample fare from 16 vendors, including two of the most recent newcomers, Knosh and Black Bull Grill. You can take a look at the menus here.

What: What the Truck?! at Churchill Square
Where: Churchill Square
When: Friday, September 20, 2013
Time: 4-8pm
Check out the Facebook event to RSVP and spread the word!

This time last year on the Square

We’ll have DJs Thomas Scott (Urban Monks) and Polyesterday helping us set the tone that night, two of our What the Truck?! music veterans.

Hope to see you there!

Food Notes for September 17, 2013

I felt a bit overdue for a break after this whirlwind summer, so we took advantage of a weekend wedding in Calgary and stayed on an additional night. As a result, a delayed set of food notes:

Join us for our biggest What the Truck?! ever, with 16 trucks in Churchill Square on September 20, from 4-8pm. Check out the menus here.
Elm Café and the Oliver Community League are teaming up again for a delightful outdoor brunch on a tree-lined street on September 21, 2013 from 11am-1pm.
Dishcrawl’s newest event series, Battledish, takes place on October 5, 2013 from 2-6pm. Six local chefs will be competing for your vote. It’s neat to see that Edmonton is the only Canadian city that is a part of this event!
The deadline to pick up early bird tickets to the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival is September 20, 2013. The event is taking place on October 25-26, 2013 at the Shaw Conference Centre.
Did you know there’s a new juicery in town? Glow Juicery in Sherwood Park promises drinks that are “designed as a convenient way to nourish your body, increase your energy and add a little more ‘glow’ to your day!”
Andrea checks out Tavern 1903’s tempting mozzarella bar.
RGE RD gets a rave review from Vue Weekly.
It looks like we will be getting Meat for Dinner in Old Strathcona after all! Congrats to the team for this progress – looking forward to the restaurant!
Val’s fourth round-up of the Canadian Food Experience Project features the participants’ most cherished Canadian recipes.
In Calgary this past weekend, we made sure to hit up some old favourites, along with some new restaurants. It was a scorcher, so we couldn’t think of a better way to cool off than with some Village Ice Cream.

We all scream for ice cream!

We did make it out to the last Find It Night Market on Friday evening in Inglewood. It was a pretty eclectic range of vendors, from familiar local businesses like Rosso and Spice Market to more random sellers of Persian rugs. They also had an interesting “trunk sale” component, where vendors were literally selling out of the back of their vehicles. One of these vendors was Bruce’s Beez, who has seven urban hives in Calgary. We picked up some of his raw honey and lip balm for the road!

Inglewood Night Market

Bruce’s Beez

Our original intent was for brunch at Blue Star Diner on Sunday, but already late into the afternoon, we decided we couldn’t stomach the proposed 1.5 hour wait, and headed next door to DeVille Café. We both ordered the stuffed ham and cheese French toast, but were disappointed to find that it was more sandwich than stuffed, and more panini-pressed than French toast.

Braised ham and double-smoked cheese stuffed French toast

Work was calling, otherwise, it would have been glorious to have stayed for the Long Table Dinner outdoors on Stephen Avenue. We did check out the set-up before leaving for Edmonton, though – too cool.

Long table on Stephen Avenue

Of course, the reason behind our trip was to help Dickson and Tammy celebrate their marriage. It was Mack’s turn to be a part of the wedding party this time, as he was one of the groomsmen. The ceremony was beautiful, and there was no doubt how happy the newlyweds were. Congrats to the both of you!

With the happy couple

Food Notes for September 9, 2013

Save the date for the last What the Truck?! of the year: 16 vendors, an all-star line-up of DJs, and the biggest food truck party of the year. See you at Churchill Square on September 20! On to this week’s food notes:

I’m sad to miss it this year (due to being out of town for a wedding), but the Downtown Edmonton Community League’s annual Corn Fest runs this Saturday, September 14, from 11am-3pm. Come on down to Beaver Hills House Park on Jasper Avenue & 105 Street for some free corn!
The Mirepoix Trio, a chef collaborative, is hosting another vegan pop-up, this time at Accent Lounge, on September 15, 2013. Check out the menu here.
Mosh Burger’s next pop-up, under the theme of the “Dirty South”, is taking place on September 16, 2013. 5 courses and a drink pairing for $100.
The Friends of the Royal Alberta Museum has planned another hosted Chinese meal. The spotlight at the September 19, 2013 dinner falls on Peking duck, prepared by Beijing Beijing. Tickets are $40 per person.
Liane wrote about the new Café Bicyclette, now open at La Cite Francophone, which has freshened up the space formerly occupied by Bistro La Persaud.
Plow & Harvest has not been getting good reviews – this time, from CBC’s Twyla Campbell.
Hurrah for food trucks – Calgary’s fleet will be operating soon on a permanent bylaw, voted in on September 6, 2013.
Congratulations to May and Antony on their wedding this past weekend! I was honoured to be May’s Maid of Honour. Though it was a bit disappointing that the weather didn’t hold up to allow for outdoor photos, she didn’t let that dampen her spirits and still enjoyed the milestone day.

Happy day!

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