Food Notes for October 28, 2013

Mack and I took in the last night of The National Elevator Project on Sunday, and enjoyed ourselves immensely. Although I know a part of the reason had to do with the novelty of the elevator as a stage, it was also because most of the playwrights so deftly took advantage of the intimacy of the space, playing with conventions of distance and audience involvement. Though the run has now finished, look for Part 2 of the project during the Canoe Festival, January 23 – February 2, 2014. On to this week’s food notes:

River City Round Up starts off this Friday with the annual Chili Cook-Off in Churchill Square on November 1, from 11:30-1:30pm. Grab your bowl of chili for just a buck or two! On Saturday, November 2, the Kick-Off Celebration will feature a pancake breakfast, a taste of the past and entertainment.
I know some are already planning for Christmas, so – Quickfire Cookery is planning a Christmas Secret Bistro on November 29 and 30, 2013, with a six course dinner and wine pairings.
Congratulations to Chef Paul Shufelt of the Century Hospitality Group for capturing first place at this year’s Gold Medal Plates! Silver went to Chef Doreen Prei of the Edmonton Petroleum Club and bronze to Chef Paul Campbell of Café de Ville.
Liv posted about Sky High Burgers, a new joint in Sherwood Park.
The Journal reviewed Café Bicyclette last week.
The cooler weather got you down? A trip to Urban Shabu might warm you up – check out Cheryl’s recent visit.
Plow & Harvest has closed less than two months after opening its doors. The website reads, “We appreciate your patronage and wish we could have continued to serve you and the Edmonton community.”
Starbucks will be releasing their holiday drinks (in red cups, of course) on November 2, 2013.
After a trip to West Edmonton Mall on the weekend, Mack and I stopped in at the new Italian Centre next door for lunch. Their margherita pizza ($11) hit the spot, the crispy thin crust holding up well. Worth making the trek to the west end!

Pizza!

Food Notes for October 22, 2013

The third back alley “burger” (pioneered in Edmonton by Hundred, replicated in po’ boy form by Creole Envie) hits the streets on October 26, 2013 at Wild Tangerine. Pick up an O’my Bao, stuffed with Spring Creek Ranch beef cheek, Sylvan Star gouda and Asian slaw.
Mark your calendar: All is Bright, a new festival on 124 Street will be taking place on November 23, 2013. There will be light displays, sleigh rides and outdoor patios, among other things.
Get your xialongbao fix now: Shanghai 456 will be closing no later than November 12, 2013 (because of the airport lands appropriation). It sounds like they are looking for an alternate location though!
Woodwork posted an update this week – it is looking good!
The Edmonton Journal launched Gastropost today, a community that will be encouraging fun weekly food missions.
Cheryl reviewed the recent Sturgeon Valley Food and Wine Festival.
Eat North, a website dedicated to highlighting Canadian food, was launched recently by three Calgarians. They do want to shed the entire country though, and have reached out to writers accordingly.
How’s this for your Halloween frights? Salon posted an article titled, “7 horrifying truths about your chicken dinner”. I hadn’t heard about the Obama administration passing the law permitting chicken processed in China to be sold in the US without the appropriate labeling.
The City Market started its indoor edition last week. It was quite busy when we stopped in, likely benefiting from the additional traffic from the advanced polls located in City Hall.

Inside City Hall

Thursdays Nights on the Edge: Classical Edge Finale

Earlier in the summer, I wrote about Thursday Nights on the Edge, an initiative of the Central McDougall and Queen Mary Park Revitalization Coordinator. In order to bring neighbours together, as well as to highlight the area, a different free activity was organized to take place every Thursday from mid-July to mid-August. These family-friendly events ranged from the geo-caching adventure that I attended, to historical tours, petting zoos and artistic explorations. Attendance varied (partially because all of the events were held rain or shine), but the organizers were anticipating their largest crowd ever for their finale on August 15, 2013.

I convinced my sisters to check out the event after having dinner at the nearby 124 Street Grand Market. When we arrived at McDougall Park, the event was already in full swing.

McDougall Park, transformed

The idea behind Classical Edge was to create an elegant, almost gala-style event in a neighbourhood that is known for being anything but. I’d say the organizers succeeded – a stage was set up on the north end of the park, and for the duration of the evening, hosted a series of musicians, including a harpist and the Windrose Trio. Tables topped with linens and candlelit lanterns completed the upscale transformation.

Our makeshift seats

Catering staff from Bridges wandered the grounds, passing around free bites of food, ranging from chicken canapés to mini hot dogs.

Food!

I’ve never seen the park so full. Though I already knew Central McDougall is a diverse community, it was quite something to see on full display. Attendees definitely looked like they were enjoying themselves, from the young ones taking advantage of the playground and open spaces, to adults socializing outside on a beautiful night.

Though I haven’t yet heard if Thursday Nights on the Edge will return next year, I hope they do! They were a wonderful initiative that, with time, will help others see the possibilities in the communities that make up the North Edge.

The Personal Touch: Hathaway’s Diner

Mack and I often deplore the state of brunch in Edmonton – when asked for brunch recommendations, we’re often hard pressed to suggest hometown favourites; it’s much easier for us to defer to our go-to spots in Calgary. That said, after visiting Hathaway’s Diner this summer, we can confidently say that with a few more gems like this one, Edmonton’s brunch scene would be well on its way.

Of course, Hathaway’s Diner is far from new. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve driven past it, given it’s a stone’s throw away from where Mack’s grandparents live. Tucked in a non-descript strip mall inside the neighbourhood of Wellington, it’s definitely not a restaurant likely to be stumbled upon. But that’s what makes it even more special.

Mack at Hathaway’s Diner

On a Saturday morning (Hathaway’s is closed on Sundays), the restaurant was busy, but not full. The interior was charming enough, with checkered floors and a wood counter complete with a built-in pie case. The only hiccup that day was an initial delay in getting our order taken, but after that, the service we received was some of the best we’ve encountered at breakfast in Edmonton.

Pam was the ultimate hostess. She was warm, and spent enough time with each table so diners felt welcomed and at home. Her personal touch, such as telling us that she “married her husband for his pancakes” made the experience much more memorable than most.

The food was great, too. I ordered the breakfast special with sausage ($7.99), and the pancakes lived up to expectations, light and airy with a touch of sweetness. Mack also enjoyed his eggs benedict (served only on Saturdays), and especially appreciated the spot on coffee refills throughout our meal.

Breakfast special

Eggs benedict

I’m already looking forward to my next visit to Hathaway’s Diner – and not just for the food.

Hathaway’s Diner
13225 – 132 street
(780) 488-5989
Tuesday-Saturday, 7am-4pm, closed Sunday and Monday

Battledish: Voting with your Stomach

On October 5, 2013, Edmonton played host to Battledish, a food competition organized by the local Dishcrawl affiliate. Similar to their namesake events, diners would be able to sample multiple dishes from restaurants within walking distance of one another with one added bonus: they would be able to vote for their favourites. Categories ranged from “best cocktail” to “most delicious”; the balloted nature of the outing was definitely part of the fun.

I was amongst several judges that day, though Mack purchased a ticket so I wouldn’t have to indulge alone. We met the organizers at Beaver Hills House Park where we were handed a map, a ballot, food/drink tickets, and even some food to get us started!

Battledish map

Though being able to provide patrons with a full experience (service, restaurant amenities, etc.)would have benefited participating restaurants the most, it was kind of some establishments to be a part of the day in whatever way possible. This was the case for V Sandwiches, which had provided lemongrass chicken and lemongrass tofu banh mi prepped and ready to take away, as well as a number of cupcake eateries, having supplied boxes of beautifully packaged treats. Had we known about this abundance of food at the start, we would have come prepared with carry out containers.

Cupcakes!

We ended up dropping off some of the food at our condo down the street before setting off on the Battledish journey – definitely one of the benefits of living so close to the action!

With four restaurants to visit that afternoon, we started with the one closest to home – The Burg. In a way, it was the best place to begin, as it set the bar quite low. Not only did it take half an hour to receive our food, but it was also clear the jalapeno sauce had been sitting on the plate for some time.

Braised pork belly and mac and cheese ball

Given The Burg has been inconsistent in the past, it was disappointing that they weren’t able to leave a positive impression at an event meant to stimulate future business.

We were confident that our next stop, Hundred Bar + Kitchen, wouldn’t let us down, and we were right. The restaurant had opened early just for the event, so it made Battledish passholders feel a little like VIPs.

Mack does his best impression of a VIP

Both the cocktail and dish at Hundred were winners in my book. I loved the refreshingly sweet Dude Fizz , and the house-made kimchi in the pork belly sandwich was a spicy, crunchy surprise.

Pork belly sandwich and Dude Fizz

Over at LUX, things were a little busier, no doubt because Alley Kat had set up a beer tasting stop there. Between the flights of beer and the Don Draper-approved Old Fashioned, we weren’t sure we’d make it to the last stop.

Old Fashioned

We eventually did, but only after we tried the ultimate slider, a burger stacked with an onion ring, bacon, and mushrooms, among other things. It was as difficult to eat as you’d imagine, but with a spicy beef patty and a variety of textures, it won my vote for “most delicious” that day.

Ultimate slider

We ended our day at Haweli. If you can believe it, the Indian restaurant was offering a buffet featuring six items. Given the food tickets for the event cost just $5 each, the buffet alone more than made the admission cost worthwhile.

Our fill at Haweli

That said, it was difficult to judge Haweli by comparison, given they offered so many dishes to choose from. The butter chicken was pretty tasty though!

We were more than stuffed by the end of the day – the cupcakes ended up making up most of our supper that night.

The final results came in a few days later, and I’m happy to say my votes weren’t too far off:

Best Cocktail: Pimms Number One Cup, The Burg
Most Authentic: Indian Buffet, Haweli
Most Modern: The Ultimate Slider, LUX Steakhouse + Bar
Most Creative: Mac and Cheese Balls, The Burg
Most Delicious: The Ultimate Slider, LUX Steakhouse + Bar

Thanks to Gemma for having me as one of the judges at the inaugural Battledish, and congratulations on a well-organized event! It looks like the event was such a success, it has spawned Cocktail Wars, taking place this December. Can you think of a better way to kick off your holiday season? Stay tuned.

Check out reviews from my fellow judges Andrea and Cheryl too!

Food Notes for October 14, 2013

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving! Mack and I were fortunate enough to have not one, but two wonderful turkey dinners surrounded by family and friends. On to this week’s food notes:

Co-op is hosting its annual Grape Escape in Edmonton on October 18-19, 2013 at the Expo Centre.
Mirepoix Trio is hosting two upcoming pop-ups: brunch on October 20, 2013 and a Ukrainian-themed dinner on October 24, 2013.
The Bruce Peel Library at the University of Alberta will be unveiling a special exhibit titled, “Collecting Culinary: Cookbooks and Domestic Manuals Mainly from the Linda Miron Distad Collection”, which will run from October 25, 2013 – February 7, 2014.
Sabzy Persian Grill, which relocated to the southside (9314 34 Avenue) from its original location in Old Strathcona, is now open.
Vue Weekly reviews the newest Filipino-focused restaurant to hit the streets, Cuisine Ni Mutya.
Andrea and Robyn shared their experiences of State and Main, the new pub located in Southgate Centre.
Tavern 1903 continues to garner attention from the Journal and Dine and Write.
The City Market hosted its last outdoor market on Saturday, and on October 19, 2013, will kick off its indoor market season in City Hall.

Promoting the winter market!

The Common must have been having an off-day on Friday. Everything from the service to the food was disappointing that night. Our server was MIA for much of the evening, and never once offered to refill our water or even ask if we’d like dessert before serving us with the bill. The food was also uneven – the calamari was all right, but both entrees were problematic – May’s chicken was too dry, while my fish and chips were in dire need of salt.

Fish and chips at The Common

Cactus Club is getting ready to unveil its second location in Edmonton, a ripe streetfront space on Jasper Avenue and 111 Street. I attended a media reception on Wednesday night, and sampled bites ranging from their new tuna sushi cones (I loved the tempura crunch) to their ever-popular BBQ duck clubhouse sandwiches. Though Chef Rob Feenie was on hand, I have to admit I was more excited to meet Chef Matt Stowe (Top Chef Canada’s season 3 winner that we had been rooting for). The location opens some time this week.

Interior

BBQ duck clubhouse

With Chef Stowe

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!

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