Brunch and Bop: Culina Muttart and the Slow Flash Mob

Though brunch is always on the “to do” list when we’re on vacation, while we’re at home, it’s hard to motivate ourselves to get out of bed on the weekend! That said, planned in advance this summer, we were actually pleasantly surprised by some of the new-to-us brunch discoveries we made.

The first was Culina Muttart. Located inside one of Edmonton’s year-round tourist destinations, the restaurant now provides locals with a reason to visit the attraction on a more regular basis. The patio was lovely that day, diners enjoying the full sun among the planters and water feature, but we opted instead for a comfortable window seat inside. The only downside of the interior was its north-facing orientation, meaning that the majority of the tables seemed starved for sunlight, but I recognize not much could be done about that.

The menu is small, with just five mains to choose from. And in anti-food blog fashion, Mack, Grandma Male and I all ordered the exact same dish – the classic eggs benedict with honey ham ($15). Given how hungry I was that day, I also added a pastry basket for two ($7).

The basket arrived, still warm and accompanied by room-temperature butter and Jam Lady spread. Mack and Grandma Male both enjoyed the cornbread, while I polished off a delicious cheddar scone. The basket alone would have made for a light and lovely breakfast.

Pastry basket

The waitress then delivered each of us a small bowl of granola, topped with Greek yogurt. Nowhere on the menu was this inclusion listed, and while a welcome addition, had I known in advance, I likely wouldn’t have ordered the pastry basket at all.

Granola bowl

The eggs benedict was nicely presented, garnished with microgreens. We found no quibble with the white wine hollandaise, but were a bit disappointed with the eggs, which were medium as opposed to the requested soft poached. However, we all commented that the sweet honey ham was notable.

Classic eggs benedict

Service was professional, and Mack was satisfied with the number of coffee refills offered throughout our meal. As a whole, the meal was a positive experience, and made me want to return for one of their Thursday night prix-fixe dinners.

After brunch, we decided to cross the river to Louise McKinney Riverfront Park to take in the Slow Flash Mob. An initiative led by Amy Shostak, the one-day festival on July 20, 2013 sought to encourage multi-generational interaction in an underutilized green space.

Zumba lessons

Activities ranged from zumba to improv lessons, storytelling and karaoke. The activities were spread out across the park, making use of the Chinese garden, grassy field and Shumka stage. Things were very well-organized, keeping to the schedule. There was even a free shuttle which transported attendees from the Central Lions Seniors Centre.

Free doughnuts from the Ye Olde Donut Shoppe

It was just unfortunate that it wasn’t better attended. Of course there is always lots to choose from on any summer weekend in Edmonton, but I think some people may have been confused by the name of the event. Had I not read about the festival prior, I probably would have assumed the event encouraged sluggish group dances.

Julie and Birkley from Sugar Swing perform

Mack and I took part in the swing dance lesson led by the Sugar Swing Dance Club, while Grandma Male chatted with some of the others in the audience. It was a fun way to spend part of a sunny summer afternoon!

Swing lessons!

Thanks to Amy and her team for putting on this event!

Culina Muttart
9626 96A Street
(780) 466-1181
Lunch, Monday to Friday, 11am-2pm; Dinner, Thursdays, 5-8:30pm; Brunch, Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am-2:30pm

Food Notes for September 2, 2013

What a beautiful long weekend! It feels nothing like September – let’s hope this weather continues on into the month. On to this week’s food notes:

A reminder that the 124 Street Red Shoe Crawl is on September 8, 2013. Tickets are still available!
Tavern 103, Larry Stewart’s venture in the Alberta Hotel (9802 Jasper Avenue), is now open!
Su alerted me to the forthcoming The Italian Place that looks to fill the vacancy left by That’s Aroma (11010 101 Street). Anyone know more?
Vue Weekly reviewed Japonais Bistro last week.
Chris wrote about the most recent 10 Mile Meal that took place in August. Sorry to have missed it!
I love reading about some of things being done to try and direct people to pick up more produce items at the grocery store.
I’ve always ordered pho when it is offered on a Vietnamese menu, but last week at Mama Pizza, opted for a vermicelli bowl instead. On a day when I wasn’t up for soup, it hit the spot!

Grilled chicken and spring roll vermicelli bowl from Mama Pizza

Mack and I had dinner at our neighbourhood Blue Plate Diner on Friday. The shepherd’s pie was delicious, and their sweet potato fries are among the best in the city.

Shepherd’s pie from Blue Plate Diner

Blink: Parkade Party

Nearly every night, I look out my window and see the rooftop of Vinci Park 103. Empty and aglow with possibilities, I’ve been imagining how we could program the space for some time. Not all parkades are created equal, but if ever there was a parkade that was meant to moonlight as an event venue, this is it. Surrounded by high rises, the rooftop manages to feel intimate and private, in spite of the fact that it is just off of Jasper Avenue. The vantage point also offers a great view of both commercial and residential properties downtown, a snapshot of the mix that makes up this wonderful neighbourhood.

Our condo as seen from Vinci Park 103

It was somewhat fortuitous that the Downtown Edmonton Community League (of which I volunteer as a Board member) happened to move into one of the vacant Vinci 103 street front locations earlier this year. That relationship lent itself to an agreement from the property management company to host an event on the rooftop space. However, without any money, the likelihood of us being able to pull something off was slim to none. Enter: Stephanie Chai and Hannah McDonald.

We saw a Make Something Edmonton post indicating interest in organizing a parkade party, so we contacted the writers behind the post. It turned out Stephanie (someone I grew up with but hadn’t connected with in some time) and her friend Hannah had secured some funding from Awesome Edmonton by proposing an idea for a parkade party fundraiser benefiting Boyle Street Community Services. We met, realized our ideas fell in line with one another, and Blink: Parkade Party was born.

WHAT: Blink: Parkade Party!
WHERE: Vinci Park 103 (10040 103 Street)
WHEN: Saturday, August 31, 2013 from 6-11pm

Surrounded

Inspired by the drive-in organized by the Alberta Avenue Community League, we thought the evening could be based around an outdoor screening of the iconic 50s classic Grease. With a blank wall immediately south of Vinci 103, it seemed like the perfect way to highlight everything the site had to offer. To differentiate the screening from others, we introduced a dance component, and were thrilled when Sugar Swing Dance Club agreed to partner and offer Grease-inspired dance lessons prior to the screening.

Blank walls make the best screens!

Rounding out the rest of the evening will be a cookie eating contest featuring a number of social media superstars including Brittney Le Blanc and Liv Vors, a Latin dance lesson by E-Town Salsa, music by DJ Thomas Scott (Urban Monks) and carnival games! Fat Franks and Cookie Love will be on hand providing carnival favourites.

We’re also excited that Media Architecture Design Edmonton (MADE) is on board and will help us transform the rooftop into a park of sorts. Grass, anyone?

We ask that you bring your own chair for the movie, and be prepared for the outdoor conditions! As well, given this is a fundraiser for Downtown Proud, a program of Boyle Street that helps keep the core clean, please bring cash to donate if you are able.

You can check out the full program schedule here. I hope to see you there!

Food Notes for August 26, 2013

This has probably been the worst August on record for this blog – my apologies for the lack of posting – but after foolishly committing myself to running events three Saturdays in a row, I had to prioritize! The last of this month’s festivities takes place on August 31, and I hope to write a bit more about it tomorrow. In the meantime, on to this week’s food notes:

State & Main, the newest Calgary-based pub/restaurant franchise to hit Edmonton, opens its first location in our city at Southgate Centre on September 1, 2013.
Liane has a few more details about North 53, a forthcoming locally-themed restaurant in the 124 Street area. When it opens, it will inevitably draw comparisons to its similarly- named Toronto establishment, Mark McEwan’s North 44.
Vue wrote a nice profile on one of our newest neighbours, The Cavern.
I realize I don’t have an accompanying photo, but over the weekend at the Fringe, we were quite disappointed with the food options. So much so that we ended up at Zaika two days in a row, as nothing else really appealed to us. It was a little surprising that there was not a single non-special event food truck at the event, given they’ve been popping up at so many of the city’s festivals.
While strolling through the neighbourhood, we encountered Budding Rose Teas (10728 82 Avenue), a two-month old tea shop on Whyte. They sell loose teas, but also offer edibles, including vegan, soy-free and gluten-reduced options.

Budding Rose Teas

It looks like Calgary’s Choklat (Alberta’s only bean-to-bar maker) will be opening up an Edmonton location on Whyte on September 7, 2013 at 8111 Calgary Trail. We checked out the Inglewood shop in Calgary several years back.

Choklat

Another meeting over food, this time at De Dutch over the weekend.

Denver Omelette

What the Truck?! in Louise McKinney Riverfront Park: August 24, 2013

Since our successful Blink: Urban Picnic last year, Mack and I have mulled over other ways to animate the river valley. Even temporarily, it was great to see Louise McKinney Riverfront Park being used for something other than a quiet stroll or a cycle through.

Although the Park is home to several festivals, including this past weekend’s annual Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival, and Hip Hop in the Park, for most of the summer, it lays dormant, and is without a doubt one of the most underutilized green spaces in the city. It’s a shame, given its proximity to the core, and with beautiful views of the valley and the river, Louise McKinney should be a better fixture on the event scene.

I recognize the gradient, and the access points down to the riverfront could be a barrier for some. And for others, its lack of casual, commercial activity (save for the Urban Green Café), doesn’t provide enough of an excuse to make the trek down worthwhile.

Our upcoming What the Truck?! on Saturday is an attempt at enlivening the space, just for an evening.

What: What the Truck?! at Louise McKinney
Where: Louise McKinney Riverfront Park, 9999 Grierson Hill Road
When: Saturday, August 24, 2013
Time: 5-9pm

We’ll have ten trucks on hand, including two of the newest to join Edmonton’s fleet – Lemongrass Grill and The Crooked Fork.

French Quarter Farmers' Market

Lemongrass Grill and The Crooked Fork

You can check out the menus here and judge for yourself, but it’s hard not to love the variety food trucks bring to the table (or in this case, park).

Hope to see you there on Saturday!

Food Notes for August 19, 2013

Have you had a chance to check out the menus for Saturday’s What the Truck?! It’s our second last event of the year – hope to see you there! On to this week’s food notes:

Kerstin’s Chocolates is having a liquidation sale on August 22, 2013 of the items in their old shop.
To celebrate the Valley Zoo’s newest exhibit, the Urban Farm, the site is also hosting a special mini farmers’ market outside the zoo’s gates on August 24 and 31, 2013. Proceeds raised will support Hope Mission and the Edmonton & Area Land Trust.
Blue Plate Diner is hosting another Farm to Fork dinner on September 5, 2013. Tickets are $75 each.
The big news this week is undoubtedly Daniel Costa’s expansion, taking over not one, but two spaces adjacent to Corso 32.
The Journal reviewed Belgravia Hub last week.
Twyla wrote about her recent experience at Rge Rd – I’m salivating at the photos alone.
Liv reviewed Knosh, the British-themed food truck that took over Nomad’s wheels.
I didn’t end up attending the preview of Plow & Harvest, Edmonton’s newest restaurant, but perhaps I didn’t miss too much. I have to agree with Liane’s take on its ambiguously “local” philosophy.
I had no idea the person behind the Lay’s Perogy Platter flavour is from Edmonton! I haven’t yet tried it, but the fact that this is the hometown favourite is another reason to do so!
Valerie’s latest round-up of the Canadian Food Experience Project is all about regional food heroes. Click on to read some inspiring stories!
I was so ready for a glass of wine on Friday. I couldn’t think of a better place to unwind than at The Cavern, over a cheese and charcuterie plate, and of course, a cold glass of vino.

The Cavern

Food Notes for August 12, 2013

It’s been a whirlwind to plan, but it’s finally here – I hope to see you at the 97 Street Night Market on Saturday! On to this week’s food notes:

The Edmonton Latin Festival is coming up this weekend, August 17-18, 2013 in Churchill Square.
The next Ten Mile Meal will be taking place on August 24, 2013. Check out the activities and menu here.
Also that day is the 4th annual Bacon Day at Lux Steakhouse & Bar. Tickets are $70, with $25 from each ticket going to support of the Youth Empowerment & Support Services.
Sabor Divino’s tapas and wine bar is now open.
For the first time, En Route Magazine is offering readers the opportunity to vote for the “Best New Restaurant” category. Edmonton’s Canteen is among the restaurants being considered – so support your local favourite!
The Journal asks, “What is local?”
The City of Edmonton released their new food truck operating guidelines this week – it’ll be interesting to see if more trucks do take advantage of the longer service hours.
Phil blogged about some of his unsung local food heroes, recognizing Joveena Holmes, Su Dennis and Cynthia Strawson. I heartily concur!
Would you eat meat grown in a lab?
Yes, Taco Bell is now offering waffle tacos for your breakfast pleasure.
Three Amigos is opening up a second location downtown at 10247 Jasper Avenue.

Three Amigos

Lays is currently running a contest where Canadians can choose the next feature flavour. For your consideration: Maple Moose, Perogy Platter, Grilled Cheese and Ketchup and Creamy Caesar Salad. Mack and I tried the last two – they taste disappointingly like ketchup and ranch chips, respectively.

Choose your Lays

Cask & Barrel has been a great post-work meeting place, and even better last Wednesday when we found out they offer free wine tastings on the first Wednesday of every month. Score!

Free wine tasting @ Cask & Barrel

Mack and I were in Calgary over the weekend for a Jack and Jill party. We managed a few food stops, including Kingsland Market, Phil & Sebastian and Village Ice Cream. I’d highly recommend the latter – my salted caramel and Mack’s spiced banana were among some of the best ice creams we’ve ever had.

Phil & Sebastian’s bottled cold brew coffee

Village Ice Cream

Giveaway: Red Shoe Crawl 124 Street Tickets!

Although we’re still in the midst of summer, September will be here in no time! Though that might mean back to school for some or (sigh) cooler weather, on the bright side, September will also see the second Red Shoe Crawl of the year take place!

The Red Shoe Crawl is a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House of Northern Alberta, and encourages participants to explore businesses on foot using a passport system. Tickets for the event are $40, and typically sell out in advance.

In 2012, the Red Shoe Crawl expanded beyond the Old Strathcona neighbourhood and held a second event in the 124 Street neighbourhood. With interesting boutiques and new cafes and restaurants around every corner, Mack and I really enjoyed sampling our way through the area.

Garlic chili prawns were among our favourite bites last year

This year, confirmed businesses include:

Sample plates at Paddy’s

It’s great to see some new establishments step up to the plate to support this charitable event, along with the returning businesses. Organizers anticipate a total of 16-18 shops and eateries to be a part of the event that day.

The Red Shoe Crawl team were nice enough to allow me to give two tickets away! To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment below with a valid e-mail address that answers the following question:

Which 124 Street area business are you most looking forward to trying or revisiting at the Red Shoe Crawl?

A winner will be chosen randomly from all responses collected before the deadline. The contest closes on August 14, 2013 at 11:59pm. Good luck!

Rediscovering Chinatown: 97 Street Night Market

I remember spending weekends in Chinatown with my parents as a kid. It was always busy; parking was hard to come by, and the sidewalks were lined with people shuffling from shop to shop. At the time, I’m not sure I understood why my Mum would drag us to four seemingly identical grocery stores, but now, I understand it was not only the price differential, but the fact that each establishment offered a particular specialty that was worth seeking out.

In my teenage years, I accompanied my parents on their errands less and less, though on the odd occasion out and about in Chinatown, it was evident the neighbourhood was changing – businesses once vibrant were shuttered, buildings were falling into disarray, and the streets were noticeably quieter. I’m sure the opening of megastore T & T didn’t help matters, offering convenience and easy parking, but the visual aesthetics of Chinatown – neglected and unkempt – probably also didn’t do much to boost the image of the district.

Chinatown today

Five years ago, I began to rediscover Chinatown. My office is within walking distance of the main shopping hub, and at lunch time and after work, I’d pop over for a bowl of pho at Pho Tau Bay, a banh mi from Nhon Hoa or pick up a box of buns from Garden Bakery for breakfast. For Asian groceries, Lucky 97 is my first stop, while Ying Fat meets all of my tofu needs. And though not Asian at all, the Italian Bakery is my go-to deli.

You can now find me in Chinatown at least once a week, eating, shopping and appreciating a neighbourhood that is still very much pedestrian-oriented. We now celebrate streets like the 104 Street Promenade and 124 Street for their walkability, independent businesses and diversity – but what about Chinatown?

The area has made some strides in recent years, adding Urban China, and its new sister eatery Urban Shabu, which have helped draw crowds as destination restaurants. The Wild Rose Circle Project, with housing and retail, is finally under construction, and the McCauley Revitalization Strategy continues on. But in the short term, what else can be done to encourage Edmontonians to discover or rediscover their Chinatown?

I am part of a new group called Our Chinatown. We are a group of young professionals working to revive Edmonton’s Chinatown – reclaim its heritage, embrace its present and imagine its future. As our inaugural event, we are organizing a night market as a way to create a lively, energetic gathering that inspires a new vision for the neighbourhood.

Event: 97 Street Night Market
Date: Saturday, August 17, 2013
Time: 6-10pm
Location: parking lot on 97 Street, south of 105 Avenue

Heritage Chinatown Night Market Part of our organizing team

Building on the success of the Heritage Night Market organized by the Chinese Benevolent Association on July 1, 2013, our market will set a different tone, anchored by a DJ and three food trucks.

We’re thrilled to have The Lingnan Express, Molly’s Eats and Swich offer Asian-inspired dishes, which will include ever-popular night market items like curried fish balls, green onion cakes and oyster omelettes, and modern takes on Asian cuisine such as Korean smoked meat and matcha ice cream sandwiches. Gama will also be serving up bubble tea! Check out the menus here.

Besides food, vendors also form the cornerstone of night markets, and we’ve assembled a great selection of items for your shopping pleasure! You will find everything from accessories to clothing, CDs and movies, toys and stationary to hand-made art and keepsakes.

Heritage Chinatown Night Market Heritage Night Market vendor

We’re also excited that a few young performance groups will be on hand for entertainment. 5 Elements Drums and Lion Dance Crew will help us kick off the market at 6pm, and at 8pm, Convergence Dance Crew will bring us their best K-pop dance covers! I had the pleasure of watching Convergence at this weekend’s Heritage Festival – they just nailed Psy’s Gentleman!

Convergence Dance Crew!

For those who are interested in learning more about Chinatown’s past, present or future, we have also lined up several tours on the history, future development and artistic side of the neighbourhood. The schedule will be posted on the website on Tuesday.

August 17 is shaping up to be a Chinatown equivalent of Downtown’s Super Saturday. The Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival rocks the North Saskatchewan River from 9am-5pm in Louise McKinney Park, while the 5th Annual East Meets West Festival runs 11am-8pm on 107 Avenue and 99 Street. End your day at the 97 Street Night Market from 6-10pm.

We hope you’ll join us in (re)discovering our Chinatown on August 17!

Food Notes for August 5, 2013

It was such a gorgeous long weekend, I’m a little sad it’s coming to an end! I hope you made the most of it also. On to this week’s food notes:

The 10th annual Summer Latin Fest is taking place on August 11, 2013 from 10am-5pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (11310 111Avenue). Expect food and entertainment by over 15 Latin American cultures found in Edmonton.
A group called Mirepoix (“dedicated to the values of good cooking and sustainable living, with culinary experience from all walks of life around the city and around the world”) is hosting a 5-course vegan pop-up dinner on August 19, 2013 at Noorish.
Plow & Harvest is a new restaurant opening up at 10041 170 Street. They seek to redefine the art of comfort food while sourcing ingredients from local producers. They are hosting a Sneak Peek Tasting event on August 13, 2013 from 5-8pm, to which I have a double guest pass to give away. To enter, simply leave a comment below (with a valid e-mail address) that indicates you would like to attend the event by 11:59pm on August 7. The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by e-mail. Good luck! (August 9 EDIT: Congratulations to Ronnie, Glenda and Ashley – enjoy the sneak peek!)
Bannock Burger seems to have found a new location at 10704 124 Street, opening soon.
Also in that neighbourhood, the forthcoming North 53 restaurant at 10240 124 Street.
Yes, there is another new food truck on the streets, though it might seem familiar at first glance. Knosh, specializing in British comfort food, has taken over Nomad’s truck.
Sabzy is moving from its Old Strathcona location to 9314 34 Avenue.
Liv reviewed RGE RD last week.
Linda e-mailed me raving about Pita Hut (4916 50 Ave), a relatively new family-run business in Leduc. She says, “It’s a tiny place, with a few tables (most of their business is take-out), friendly staff, and delicious food.”
Remedy’s new Whyte Avenue location at 10404 Whyte Avenue is now open!

Remedy Café

This has been a month of dinner meetings – last week, it was over pho at Xu Hue in Chinatown.

Pho with beef balls

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