Tag: Edmonton

Capital EX 2008

Though I loathe to admit it, I am not immune to the pleasures of Capital EX, even though now most of my enjoyment comes not from amusements, but from immersing myself in the atmosphere.

The midway at dusk

Mack and I started our evening in the cool recesses of the Agricom, specifically at Sip! The event I was most looking forward to, Sip! is set-up to be a showcase of alcohol and food in that order. At the gate, we were handed a small booklet containing a comprehensive list of liquor merchants and the wares they were showcasing, not unlike the pamphlet provided at the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival.

Sip! in the Agricom

We ended up buying 13 tickets (at $1 a pop), and tried Mojo (an “alternative vodka beverage”), wine from EnSante Winery, Alberta’s only organic-fruit cottage winery (too cool, wine made from alfalfa and rhubarb, among other varieties), and Firecracker Shrimp (cayenne-dipped, phyllo-wrapped, tempura-battered, served with a mango habanero sauce). The chefs at each of the food stations we passed were so eager to tell us not only how their products were made, but why the flavours complemented each other – count me impressed.

EnSante Wines

Firecracker Shrimp

We decided to stick around a little longer when we noticed a few people setting up at the CookTop, a stovetop and counter with an angled mirror installed above for easy viewing (like Home Economics class in secondary school). Sebastian Lysz of Devlin’s (10507 82 Avenue) led the session, and prepared Spring Creek Ranch flank steak and sauteed vegetables. Mary Bailey, an ISG certified sommelier and noted local food writer, spoke about appropriate wine pairings. The best part about watching the demonstration was the free food – we received two wine samples each, and a small plate of steak and vegetables. Based on what we paid for the shrimp, we were sure that quantity of food would have easily been $10. It was darn good steak, too.

Sebastian Lysz cooks

Flank steak, vegetables, au jus

After chowing down, we had just enough time to head to the next hall for a performance of the Birdhouse Factory, a show of acrobats in the same vein as Cirque du Soleil. Besides still wondering why the theme of a “birdhouse factory” was necessary at all, the show was great. It was definitely worth staying through the entire forty-five minutes. My favourite acts were the gymnastic tango and the trio of agile trampoline performers. The soundtrack really did enhance the show – made it more exciting and upbeat, or whatever mood the scene required.

The rest of our evening consisted of wandering the grounds, perusing various exhibits, including the ETS Centennial display, ED Fest (where Raine Maida was performing, alongside his wife Chantal Kreviazuk), Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo, and the Family Fun Town.

In the driver’s seat (I stole this caption from Mack)

Art walk

E

ED Fest

 

Scary python (thank goodness for the cage)

Too corny (heh)

Like a memory from my childhood

We also tried our hand at skee-ball, but ultimately decided that we belonged at Chuck E. Cheese.

Shoot for 50!

In our quest to find the most unusual food on the midway, we came across deep-fried Oreos (which actually looked quite sad), deep-fried cheesecake, and last year’s sensation, deep-fried Coke. “Taco in a Bag”, essentially Doritos tortilla chips, ground beef, cheese and other taco fixings in a bag to be eaten with a spoon, was around last year as well, but this was the first time I had seen it. Needless to say, we bypassed all of the above in favour of our summer festival standby – mini doughnuts.

Happy with mini doughnuts in hand

To end the evening, we took in the fireworks at the racetrack, finding a comfortable bench to wait out the anticipatory period. In total, the show was six minutes long – respectable, and both of us were quite impressed with the finale (with pops and whizzes louder with the sound bouncing off of the grandstand). To be fair, we were happy there were fireworks at all – they had been cancelled at our last Capital EX outing the year before.

In all, it was a nice way to spend a summer evening in Edmonton. Mack’s pictures are here.

Sweet Potato Goodness: Dadeo

Between my last visit to the Whyte Avenue favourite Dadeo (10548A 82 Avenue) and brunch there on Sunday, it seems the folks behind the diner opened a second location out in Vancouver. Good for them.

Most often recognized for their sweet potato fries, the low-key, relaxed atmosphere, smooth blues soundtrack, and fun decor such as vivid red booths and tabletop jukeboxes are also worth mentioning.

Booth

We were met with a modest gathering outside of the restaurant before the doors opened at noon. We took our time with the Cajun and Creole-inspired menu, and though the Southern fried chicken and gumbo were tempting, we all ended up ordering a Po’Boy (their version of a sandwich, served on a French loaf with coleslaw and a choice of side). Priced between $10-11, it was an easy decision to pay an additional $1 to upgrade our sides to sweet potato fries.

Like the time the bearer of coffee at Nellie’s tortured us with the visual of a full coffee pot, it was a clear half hour of seeing other people’s dishes waltz by our table before our own plates were delivered. A small biscuit topped with jalapeno jelly could only satiate each of us for so long.

Biscuits and jalapeno jelly

Thankfully, the food was ultimately worth the wait. The pulled pork in my po’boy was tender and flavourful, the meat’s juices complimented with a sweet BBQ sauce. Mack’s breakfast po’boy looked and tasted like an egg scramble on bread, which didn’t turn out to be an unsatisfying way to start out the day. The crown jewel of our meal was indeed the sweet potato fries – whatever spicy, salty seasoning they use to finish the golden pieces really elevate them beyond what they are – battered and fried root vegetables.

Our po’boys

Pulled Pork Po’Boy

Breakfast Po’Boy

One of Whyte Avenue’s best deals can be found at Dadeo on Monday and Tuesday. Forget pasta frenzy at Chianti’s – head to the cool diner for po’boys on special for just $8 – and remember to upgrade your fries.

Dadeo
10548A 82 Avenue
780.433.0930
Monday to Saturday 11:30am-11pm, Sundays noon-10pm, closed Wednesdays

Going Through the Motions: The Blue Pear

I had heard a lot of good things about The Blue Pear (10643 123 Street) – a small boutique restaurant, their creative menu changed on a monthly basis to reflect seasonal ingredients. Of course, given that they only served four-course pre-fixe menus at $85 per person, it wasn’t the type of place I would pick for a spontaneous dinner. With July’s Fork Fest, however, the $35 three-course meal was a great opportunity to give The Blue Pear a try without breaking the bank.

Mack and I had a reservation for 6pm on Thursday. The restaurant offers seatings every half hour, but because it was still relatively early, I was surprised that there were already a few parties in the dining room. The friendly hostess seated us in a dim corner, and left us with the wine list and the food menu, which included the Fork Fest specials at the top. I ordered a Sangria ($7) to start – a blend of red wine, fruit juices, and orange brandy – while Mack opted for a glass of Stella ($6), and we both asked for the Fork Fest meal.

Through the course of the evening, we were served by four different people. This could have made us feel taken care of, but the opposite actually occurred – the service as a whole was less personal and attentive because of the number of hands involved.

At any rate, our appetizer arrived promptly with the verbal promise of bread to come. The layered salad of marinated summer vegetables and fresh mozzarella was finished with a dressing of sundried tomatoes, herbs, and balsamic and mustard oil. The cheese overwhelmed the carrot, eggplant, roasted red pepper and zucchini, but I didn’t mind this as much as Mack did. Our bread didn’t arrive until after we requested it when our entrees were brought to us.

Marinated summer vegetables, mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomato, herbs balsamic and mustard oil

Thankfully, the grilled Alberta pike fillet made us forget temporarily about the need for any carbs. Perfectly seared, the fish was flaky and tender on the inside. Served with a Bobby Flay-esque corn and black bean salsa and a deliciously rich herb butter sauce, the dish showcased well what the chef was capable of.

Grilled Alberta pike fillet with prawn, corn and black bean salsa, horseradish mashed potato and herb butter sauce

Dessert was a flourless chocolate cake topped with whipped cream, fennel and slivers of basil and accompanied by rosewater almond cream, milk chocolate rosemary sauce and basil oil. We both found the shredded basil an interesting garnish, one that Mack would have preferred left off his last course. The cake itself was lovely – sweet and dense as a flourless cake should be, with an intense chocolate flavour.

Flourless chocolate cake, confit of fennel, rosewater almond cream, milk chocolate rosemary sauce and basil oil

At dinner’s end, Mack said it felt like something was missing, as if the staff were just “going through the motions”. I couldn’t disagree – compared with our recent visit to Characters, Blue Pear just didn’t offer us the experience we were looking for. The food was great, but I’m not sure I’d return for an $85 meal.

The Blue Pear
10643 123 Street, 780.482.7178
Dinner only, Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm

Chinatown: Bakery Favourites

Aside from supermarket treats, another stalwart Chinatown tradition from my youth were trips to Chinese bakeries. For just a few dollars, a box of sweet or savoury pastries could be mixed and matched to your heart’s content.

They have fruit cakes too!

While the giant T & T Supermarket (#2580, 8882 170 Street) in West Edmonton Mall makes it convenient by individually wrapping buns, I have to admit my favourite bakery in the city is Garden Bakery (10019 106 Avenue) because of their self-serve set-up. With a tray in one hand and a pair of small tongs in the other, there’s nothing like having to fight the urge to stack just one more filled pastry on top of your already bursting portion.

A few of my family’s picks:

Chopstick Doughnuts, deep fried until they’re crispy on the outside but still soft and chewy on the inside, are great served with congee.

Mini Pork Dumplings, also deep fried, are best eaten on the same day they’re purchased. Felicia’s favourite, they’re also a popular item served at dim sum.

 

Sesame Red Bean Balls are death, if not only because I can never seem to stop after eating one. The creamy, sweet red bean paste in the centre is complimented by the savoury crispness of the exterior.

Amanda’s favourite Swiss Rolls are individually packaged to preserve the fresh sponge cake separating layers of light cream. The cake is also sold in larger rolls.

Mini Cocktail Buns are my Dad’s favourite because of their smooth coconut filling.

Mini Cream Buns, filled with a rich, illustrious pastry cream then dusted with coconut, are always a showstopper.

Steamed BBQ Pork Buns, shown here in a cooler and ready to be heated, are a dim sum favourite of mine. But should you not have time to sit down for a meal, are available at the bakery to grab-and-go.

 

Last but certainly not least – Egg Tarts. The creamy custard is worth a trip to the bakery alone.

Given that my office is just a few minutes away from the bakery, it’ll be too tempting not to just pop in now and then for an immediately satisfying treat.

Country Cuisine – TASTE! of Summer 2008

Sunday’s Taste! of Summer was like an event straight out of my dreams. Blue sky, bright sun, swift breeze, and in the shadow of two historic grain elevators, some of the freshest produce Alberta farmers had to offer, prepared by regional chefs with an understanding and appreciation for the local.

So picturesque

I bought my tickets for the annual event about two weeks prior just in case, and was relieved that I had done so when I saw the “sold out” sign tacked up near the entrance. Admission in advance was $15 per person (plus service charges), though we were each provided with $5 worth of food tickets upon entry.

Menus in hand, we perused our options. There were 12 vendors in total (roughly a quarter compared to a Taste of Edmonton) that offered about two dozen dishes or drinks. We started with Mexico Lindo‘s Lamb in Adobe and Lola Canola‘s Raspberry Sweetini.

The Lola Canola gals

Sweetini and Lamb in Adobe

We’re still not sure what was in the lamb sauce, but with our palettes, we detected a fair comparison to Indian cuisine. Still, with the sample’s tender, easily shredded meat, there were no complaints from either of us. The Sweetini had hints of basil and honey, and is a drink I could see served out on a patio on a warm day.

Stephen Tchir Trio provided some jazzy ambiance

Next up were two more meat dishes – Lily Lake Resort‘s Wild Boar Roasted on a Spit with Homemade Apple Chutney and CareIt Urban Deli’s Spring Creek Ranch Tip Sirloin stuffed in English Yorkshire Pudding (a mouthful, yes).

Slicing boar

Wild Boar with Apple Chutney

Sirloin stuffed in Yorkshire Pudding

The unfortunate result of roasting the boar for several hours was dry meat, though the apple chutney did help freshen up each bite somewhat. The charred bits of skin really were the best part, however. As for the Yorkshire Pudding? Mack and I could have spent our entire ticket fortune at that booth – the meat was juicy, the gravy was rich and oh-so-savoury, and though we first balked at the idea of a Yorkshire Pudding shell, the fluffy chewy exterior worked somehow. So good.

Mack enjoys the pudding

We weren’t too optimistic that any other dish could follow CareIt’s, but we tried to find one. Mack chose a Traditional Buckwheat Bread from Bricco Ristorante Italiano, while I had to have a plate of Sweet Herb Salad from Inspired Market Gardens.

Buckwheat Bread

Gwen prepares the salad

Mack likened the buckwheat, potato, onion and bacon-stuffed loaf to a perogy of sorts, and I couldn’t disagree. As for my salad, it tasted just like I remembered, and the black currant vinaigrette was a great pairing to bring out the sweet yet delicate flavours from the colorful flowers.

Using our last few tickets, Mack tried some beer from the Rough Neck Brewing Company, and we returned to the Inspired Market Gardens booth for two scoops of Herb & Flower Sorbet.

Raspberry-tarragon and Lavender Sorbet (a very generous serving)

The vendor indicated that the sorbet couldn’t be sold at the City Centre Market due to a lack of power to keep a freezer operating, and it really is a shame. The delicate dessert was refreshing, and so unique, and should be available for more people to try.

The entire experience was relaxing – the grass (as opposed to pavement) helped, as did the space to move around and ample seating areas. The menu also came rolled with a second sheet of paper titled “Our Chefs, Producers and Artisans”, and provides a detailed listing and contact information for all of the vendors present that day – this is something the Taste of Edmonton organizers should look at – actively promoting the restaurants as opposed to the one-shot food at the event itself.

I do think the limited number of people allowed into the site (capped at 350) and shorter time frame for the event meant that the vendors could focus on providing bigger portions of good food (for example, Mexico Lindo also has a booth at Taste of Edmonton, but have pupusas and fried ice cream on their menu instead of lamb).

To end off the evening, we decided to go on a short tour of the grain elevator.

Inside

Outside

It was such a lovely day overall. I encourage you to check out next year’s Taste of Summer event, or, if you can’t wait that long, Edmonton’s Countryside is running their 6th Annual Country Soul Stroll this weekend (July 19 & 20), where everyone is invited to visit farms and attractions in townships around the city.

Take it to the Streets: Old Strathcona Fashion Extravaganza, Street Sale & Art Walk

I remember having intentions to visit last summer’s Whyte Avenue Street Sale, but never got around to it. So this year, I jumped at the chance to kill three birds with one stone – namely, the Old Strathcona Art Walk, Fashion Extravaganza, and of course, the opportunity to shop on pavement.

The weather was perfectly glorious for outdoor activities of any kind on Sunday, including the open-air catwalk that greeted us at 82nd and Gateway Boulevard. As my sister predicted, the fashion show turned out to be rather “lame” – the DJ had a preference for one-hit dance tunes from the 90s, some of the models left the stage before the announcer was finished with their outfit label rundown, and tags on some items were clearly visible from the crowd. On the bright side, much improvement can and will happen should the event be repeated in the future (here’s a video clip courtesy of Mack’s Flip if you’re interested).

Crowded runway

Model

We continued down the street, pausing on occasion to peruse discounted wares in addition to displays set up by local artists participating in the Art Walk. Perhaps it’s too cliché or tourist-oriented, but I was expecting to see more pieces devoted to Edmonton’s land or cityscape for sale.

Street sale

A kayak, anyone?

How about a turtle?

Art Walk

More art for sale

Mack can never avoid the beckoning call of mini doughnuts

We also wandered into a number of stores. Notable was Ten Thousand Villages (10432 82 Avenue), where Mack found a visor that was perfect for him, and Eden Lilly (10416 82 Avenue), which carries a line of locally-designed cards that were too cheeky not to photographically commemorate.

Coke visor!

 

Double take? (Cards by Brulak Design Studio, available in 11 locations in Edmonton)

On our way back north, we noticed that the High Level Bridge waterfall was on as it had been earlier in the day (yesterday was also the Sourdough River Festival – it amazes me how many events took place on one day). We scrambled to park the car so we could take pictures (and a video!).

Beautiful

By late afternoon, we had built up quite the appetite. Thankfully, we had tickets to Edmonton’s Countryside Taste of Summer event.

Value Village for Crafters: Reuse Centre

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

Reuse Centre (in front of the CN Tower)

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

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

The setting of a treasure hunt

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

Edmonton City Hall Tour

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

City Hall

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

Too cool! (I’m such a geek, I know.)

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

Think this is where Mayor Mandel works out?

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

Looking down into the chambers

Transparencies change the color of the projected lights at night

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

Councillor Henderson shows us the “Mayoral Wall”

Looking down from the balcony

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

The view leaving City Hall

Value Meal, Italian-Style: Italian Bakery

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

Italian Bakery & Delicatessen

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

Deli counter

Menu

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

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

Small sandwich and tiramisu

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

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

July is for the Outdoors

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

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

What will you be doing in Edmonton this summer?

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