Introducing Truck Stop: Throwdown Edition

Mack and I were looking at ways to enhance our Truck Stop events (our smaller What the Truck?! series featuring 3-4 trucks). Typically, we request that participating trucks send us their menus in advance so we are able to vet them for duplication. We know food festivals thrive on variety, so if trucks do have similar items, we have asked them to swap those items out in the past.

But recently, we were thinking – why couldn’t we use this duplication to our advantage? Why not throw a bit of friendly competition into the mix? And with that, Truck Stop: Throwdown Edition was born.

Pulled pork is one of the most common food truck items, so we asked if three of those purveyors, The Act, Nomad and Smokehouse BBQ, would be a part of this Truck Stop experiment. We were thrilled when they agreed. Pork might be a common element between their creations, but their preparations and techniques vary. Truck Stop: Throwdown Edition will seek to answer the question: which truck is the king of pulled pork?

What: Truck Stop: Throwdown Edition
When: Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Where: Edmonton Public Schools Archives (10425 99 Avenue)
Time: 5-8pm

All three trucks will be serving up slider-sized portions of their pulled pork, so you’ll have enough room to consider all three if you so choose.

For your consideration:

The Act

Nomad

Smokehouse BBQ

To vote, we ask that you donate at least $2 to the Edmonton Public Schools Foundation in exchange for a ballot. Given the location of this event, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to partner with a charity with a great cause – learn more about how the Foundation supports early learning and full-day kindergarten here.

Dick Mather Park

Dick Mather Park, adjacent to the Edmonton Public Schools Archives, also happens to be one of my favourite parks (I love gazebos), so I think this will be another great opportunity for folks to have an urban picnic in the heart of the city. Hope to see you there!

Recap: What the Truck?! at Victoria Promenade

Organizing outdoor events can be nerve-wracking, because they are so much at the mercy of the weather. So when we had our first cloudless, rain-free What the Truck?!, we made sure to count our blessings!

Before the storm

It seemed even more fitting last Friday, given it was our most scenic location to date, with ten trucks set up along the beautiful stretch of the Victoria Promenade. In our opinion, it is an underappreciated and underutilized gem in Edmonton, so we were even more thrilled at the amazing turnout!

Huge crowds

We also think it was the largest and more diverse crowd we’ve seen at any What the Truck?! event, and though it had to do somewhat with the location and perfect conditions, we also believe it had a lot to do with the dense neighbourhood of Oliver it was situated in. No doubt, the wafting of food aromas helped entice more than a few residents in the surrounding towers!

The Promenade, by Ian McKenzie

It was really neat to see people setting up picnics anywhere and everywhere along the Promenade. From benches to curbs to apartment stoops, it was casual al fresco dining at its best!

Phil was among the early birds

Fel and Jeff enjoy the mac melt from Molly’s

Joe and Vicky at their first What the Truck?!

Loved their buffet spread

Who says a stoop can’t be a perfectly suitable table?

For whatever reason, Mack and I don’t actually end up eating all that much at the events. But we did enjoy what we did sample!

Pork belly adobo from Filistix

Siu mai from The Lingnan

Of course, we do recognize the shortcomings of this location. Because we needed to maintain access to the residential garages situated along this road, we were only able to claim half of the street. This meant that unlike our previous two events, we weren’t able to situate trucks in a way that would have provided some line separation. As well, though our intentions were to have sidewalks as clear as possible, the length of many of the lines made this improbable. We appreciate the patience people had with navigating the Promenade, and your feedback will help us improve future events – for instance, we are looking at stanchions for our next go-around.

This event would not have been possible without the generosity of our partners and sponsors. The Oliver Community League was with us from the beginning, eager to help bring What the Truck?! to their neighbourhood. They also hosted a community social at their local hall afterwards, and it seemed to be a very well-attended opportunity for neighbours to meet one another.

The Urban Monks DJs, Thomas and Marc, also brought their creative spin to the table! They didn’t need to DJ in extreme conditions this time around, but they still brought down the street with their beats. Thanks, guys!

The Urban Monks

Last but not least, Tri-Line Disposal came through with their handy toters. Mack and I always like to return the event site to the community in the same condition we found it, and it really wouldn’t have been possible to do this without their mobile waste containers.

Thanks to everyone who came out to support the trucks! But if you missed the event, you’re in luck! Our next Truck Stop will be taking place on August 15, in the form of a Pulled Pork Throwdown! Hope to see you there!

You can take a look at the photoset here.

Still Not Perfect, But Getting There: Taste of Edmonton 2012

The Taste of Edmonton just racked up its most successful year ever, as defined by ticket sales. There was such a high demand for food that organizers ended up having to utilize their 2011 ticket inventory.

So in the face of stagnant or declining attendance at Capital Ex/K-Days, what made the Taste of Edmonton such an attractive festival in this packed summer calendar? Was it truly the changes and additions to its 2012 incarnation that had such a huge impact? In part, I think the answer is yes.

First Annual Taste Festival Cook-off

Taste of Edmonton introduced several different initiatives in an effort to reach a new, younger demographic this year. One of these initiatives was the on-stage cook-off.

Over two days, bloggers and food enthusiasts put their skills on display in live cooking competitions. Although Taste has hosted cooking demonstrations in the past, the inclusion of amateur chefs was a new element.

On stage

Mack and I were present for one competition involving three food bloggers, who had an hour to put up their best food truck-inspired entrées. It was an absolute scorcher that afternoon, but Phil, Teresa and Michelle all toughed it out and made it look easy. Hosts Liane and Amanda also kept the crowd entertained, providing relevant commentary and opportunities to win prizes throughout.

The final dishes were judged by three local chefs – David Omar of Zinc, Lindsay Porter of 4th and Vine, and Shane Chartrand of Murietta’s. They tasted, tasted again, and agonized over the scores, as it turned out only a single point separated the winning dish from the other two.

Judges

In the end, Phil was crowned the victor. But in a surprise announcement, it turned out that all three were victorious in a way – each of the three chefs had agreed to adopt one dish to be featured on their restaurant’s menu.

The winning dish

Congrats, Phil!

Though the crowds could have been larger for the cook-off that we attended (and perhaps would have been if the competition had been kept to half an hour), it was a great first time event. It added a community dimension that has been lacking, and is something I hope organizers expand in the future.

Curb Your Hunger

In a way, food trucks were an inevitable addition to Taste of Edmonton. With organizers looking for a way to punch up the food offerings, food trucks were an easy way to do it – they are self-sustaining (and thus would not need to draw on power or water sources), offer consistent and unique products, and are undoubtedly fashionable. So Curb Your Hunger, Taste’s food truck corral, was born.

Drift in the thick of things

Given our experience with the trucks at What the Truck?! and other events, Mack and I weren’t sure how well the trucks would fare. No doubt their food would be a hit, but could they keep up with the volume demanded by the large crowds and long hours? How would they store that amount of food in the truck? Could they compete price-wise, given some trucks use superior, locally-sourced ingredients? And with organizers taking a significant percentage of ticket sales, would it be worth their while?

Curry ‘N’ Hurry, one of the newest trucks

Organizers admit that this was a bit of a mixed bag. It probably didn’t help that the trucks weren’t consistently present (some through no fault of their own, having made other commitments prior to signing on to Taste). Their menus were also listed separately from the other restaurants, while some trucks like The Act were probably easily overlooked because they faced away from the rest of the vendors. In addition, some trucks did sell out early to the dismay of some patrons, without kitchen staff to lean on to replenish supplies.

The Act

Of course, it should be noted that Taste’s embrace of food trucks (and the recent announcement that Eat St. will be filming in our city) means that these darlings of the food scene may finally be considered mainstream. No doubt this provided some Edmontonians with their first exposure to gourmet mobile food, and that’s a good thing.

So – should trucks continue to be a part of Taste? Obviously, this is ultimately up to the trucks if they want to participate (and if the festival is open to having them), but I hope organizers tweak this aspect for next year if Curb Your Hunger returns.

New Menus Items

Food festivals like a Taste of Edmonton are extremely democratic. Patrons eat what they want, and vendors who can cater to that are rewarded with monster sales. For that reason, it’s easy to see why crowd-pleasing dishes like green onion cakes and mini burgers will forever remain on the menu at Taste, and restaurants are unwilling to risk serving something outside of the box. Understandably, organizers are also faced with a dilemma: sure, an exotic menu peppered with innovative dishes would be easier to promote, but would it appeal to the average festivalgoer? Edmontonians are known for their fairly conservative palates.

Still, to attract patrons who are tired of seeing the same dishes return year after year, or to pique the interest of those with more adventurous tastes, organizers heralded a menu boasting 65% new menu items. Some of the most anticipated items came from the food trucks, but some new restaurants like Guru and TZiN stepped up to the plate as well, bringing with them a reputation of quality and higher-end food.

As a whole, Mack and I were satisfied with the food we tried this year. We were very deliberate with our choices, but were much more impressed with the quality of the dishes we at this year when compared with 2011.

The grilled pork dumplings from Urban China were easily my favourite. The skin was nice and crispy, and the three ticket price didn’t hurt either. We also enjoyed the falafel and pork belly sandwich from Drift, but that was no surprise given we’ve had it many times before!

Pork dumplings from Urban China

Pork belly sandwich from Drift

Falafel from Drift

Guru’s samosa had been freshly fried and absolutely packed with tandoori chicken, while the accompanying tamarind sauce cut the heat in one sweet stroke. Moreover, TZiN’s vegetarian dish of panzanella salad was a nice change of pace, light and refreshing.

Samosa from Guru

Panzanella from TZiN

We are admittedly not immune to having old favourites, though – Mack couldn’t leave the grounds without a sample of his favourite crack chicken from The Lingnan!

Dry spicy chicken from the Lingnan

Given the record ticket sales, I would imagine most who attended Taste had positive food experiences. Hopefully the organizers can build on that momentum for next year.

Still Not Perfect, But Getting There

Although some seem to think this year’s event was near flawless, I disagree. I’ve written in the past about what changes could make the event better, and though organizers have made some great enhancements and improvements this year, I think there is more to be done.

The layout still needs to improve in places, where flow is obstructed due to lines or a lack of room to move.

No room to move

In addition to Centennial Square, couldn’t 99 Street between the Art Gallery and City Hall be better utilized? Telus had set up a booth there, but really, couldn’t the organizers have utilized the space better and placed food vendors there, instead of a promotional vehicle that was only present for a few days?

Waste of space

More non-beer tent seating would also be appreciated. It’s hard to get past the Churchill Square visual of Taste essentially being a giant beer garden when so much real estate is allocated to the 18+ zone.

Churchill Square

Though the reality is that the festival won’t ever be a “taste of the best of Edmonton”, when the draw isn’t just the food, but the atmosphere of it all, it would still be great if one of the summer’s premiere events did continue to attract the crowds that came out this year. It will be interesting to see how the event manifests itself in 2013, especially with Giuseppe Albi retiring. Former Northlands employee Paul Lucas will be taking over Events Edmonton (and Taste of Edmonton along with it), so we will see.

What the Truck?! @ Victoria Promenade on August 3, 2012

One of the best things about food trucks is their mobility, and the fact that they can set up virtually anywhere. If What the Truck?! was well received, Mack and I planned to move the festival around, with the knowledge that there are numerous underutilized places and parks in Edmonton that we couldn’t wait to colonize with food trucks. Thanks to the Edmontonians who have embraced food trucks in droves, we have that flexibility!

When we started to plan out our 2012 season earlier this spring, we identified Oliver as a prime potential site. The densest neighbourhood in the city, with great access to public transportation made Oliver ideal. We connected with the Oliver Community League to see if this was something they were interested in supporting, and to our delight, they were right on board.

We jointly identified a number of suitable locations, which included Paul Kane Park and Oliver Pool. But without a doubt, Victoria Promenade was the street at the top of our wish list.

Victoria Promenade (picture from marceloilers)

It is often lamented that to animate the river valley, more amenities are needed. Although the Victoria Promenade doesn’t offer quite the same natural escape, we think it’s still one of the most meditative spots in the City, with expansive views and benches to relax on. Even better, there are numerous restaurants and cafes just one street over. In our opinion, the Victoria Promenade is one of the best kept secrets in Edmonton.

Whether or not you’re already familiar with the Promenade, we hope you’ll consider joining us for eats and beats on the street next week! It will be unlike any other What the Truck?! we’ve organized so far.

What: What the Truck?!, Edmonton’s food truck extravaganza
When: Friday, August 3, 2012
Where: Victoria Promenade (100 Avenue, south of Jasper and 121 Street – very limited parking, so walk, bike, or ride transit!)
Time: 5-9pm

We are also happy to now be able to share the menus with you. With ten trucks in total, there should be something for everyone.

See you there!

Overindulgence at Capital Ex 2012

Love or hate the name, the fair with the much-maligned moniker is here to stay. And for Mack and me, Capital Ex is something that we look forward to attending during the busy Edmonton summer season. It’s loud and boisterous, with that infectious carnival atmosphere that isn’t replicated by any other festival in the city.

Capital Ex

While we’re not as adamant about what attractions should be maintained or embraced, we do have our opinions. For such a big event that tries to appeal to every demographic and age group, there are hits and misses. This year was no different.

The Food

On the consumables front, Mack and I were lucky to have the opportunity to try the breadth of cuisine offered at Capital Ex for free. For such a task, we also elicited the help (and stomachs) of my sister Felicia and her boyfriend Jeff, and even then, our capacity was limited. But we did our best!

Ribfest

One of the heralded additions to the Capital Ex line-up this year was Ribfest, which promised good Southern-style barbecue.

Ribfest

Located near Northlands Park (the race track), I was disappointed that such an attraction was relegated to the far corner, instead of trumpeted near an entrance. As a result, the two times we passed through, the crowds weren’t nearly as large as they should have been. We did like the fact that the Telus Stage concert was being streamed on the large screen mounted in the paddock, which connected Ribfest to the larger festival, but I think this simply highlighted the need for live entertainment in the eating area, and moreover, a more prominent location for the entire set-up.

Tongue-in-cheek displays

Ribfest also incorporated a charity aspect, as all five barbecue purveyors have been paired with a local charity. Diners were given the option of voting for their favourite, with the charity partner reaping the benefit of a donation from Northlands. We have to say the voting aspect wasn’t very well promoted (we were only provided a ballot from one purveyor), with the voting box itself partially hidden by a fence. Also, for an informed vote, one would have to spend a minimum of $45 to purchase a third of a rack from each of the five establishments, unless they happened to dine in a large group. If this continues next year, perhaps some sort of discounted punch card could be instituted?

Gator BBQ Company

That said, we really enjoyed Ribfest as a whole. None of us had ever been to barbecue competitions, so everything was new to us – from the eye-catching displays to the tables brimming with trophies – it really was a sight to see.

Trophies!

The food being the main attraction was also very well done. Felicia and I tried the pulled pork sandwiches ($9) from Gator BBQ Company. We both wished we had a scale to weigh the sandwich, as it was absolutely bursting with meat. It could have been a touch warmer, but the slightly sweet sauce and buttery meat certainly hit the spot.

The spread

Jeff and Mack dug into ribs from Gator and Prairie Smoke & Spice BBQ, respectively ($13 for half racks). Between the two, Prairie won the battle with their aromatic, tender meat. We found out later that they use Manitoba oak to smoke their ribs.

In need of wet naps

I do hope they keep Ribfest for next year. There’s lots of good to build on, and given how many people lament the lack of good southern barbecue available in Edmonton, this could become a legitimate attraction for Capital Ex moving forward.

At The Grand

The eats available off the midway always seem to undergo a yearly rebranding. This year, under the banner of “The Grand”, there were many new dishes available, on top of some long-standing favourites.

Cyclones (or, pizza in a cone) caught our eye. Staff told us this was the first time this UK-based product had been brought to Canada. They promote a 70-30 ratio of ingredients to crust, as opposed to typical pizza which has a 30-70 ratio.

Not an ice cream cone

As utensil-less, processed products go, the mozzarella and tomato version was pretty good. The crust (baked low and slow), was crunchy but not hard, and the cheesy, tomato-speckled filling was reminiscent of a Pizza Pop.

Cyclones

We also hunted down the customizable cream puffs available at Le Grande Café. Organizers did a great job of creating a space reminiscent of an outdoor café, with cute blue-checkered tablecloths and a water feature.

Le Grande Café

In my frugal student days, I remember hunting down the cheapest eats at the fair. Besides mini doughnuts, these cream puffs would have sat well with me then. For $2, diners can choose from several different whipped fillings and toppings for a personalized and economical treat. I opted for a decadent berry whipped cream topped with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, sprinkles and chocolate-covered rice crisps to be dipped in dark chocolate. Mack was a bit more restrained, with chocolate cream topped with toasted coconut and powdered sugar.

Cream puffs

While the pastry was definitely no Beard Papa, I was satisfied. The cream was light and airy, and did not taste artificially sweet. Mack was less enthused, calling it more of a “cream sandwich” than a true cream puff. But for $2, it was worth it.

Fusion 53

The biggest surprise for me at Capital Ex was Fusion 53. Replacing Sip!, which in previous years offered fairgoers a sophisticated food and wine alternative to midway fare, Fusion 53 is billed as “elegant” and “refined”, and also features live entertainment and a casino. While no doubt some people would naturally gravitate towards the 18+ atmosphere to escape the chaos of the grounds, I always wondered whether patrons truly wanting a high end dining experience would really seek to find it at Capital Ex. As such, is this really something organizers should continue to offer? Pondering this, I checked my expectations at the door of Hall A.

Fusion 53

Dimly lit, the lounge space was partially full, no doubt drawn to the Duelling Ivories Piano Show (who were fantastic, by the way). We settled down on a comfortable couch and tried to get the lay of the land. For two food features (with stations similar to what Sip! had set-up in previous years), patrons could order them by purchasing tickets at the counter, but to order most things off the food and drink menu, one had to do so through a server. We tried four items ($10.50) in total.

Though it seemed table service was an odd choice at first, we came to appreciate it later. After many hours on our feet, this was our first chance to relax. Unlike Sip!, which favoured stand-up cocktail tables, Fusion 53 enabled us to just sit back and enjoy the entertainment.

Lounging

It also helped that the food was great! Felicia’s grilled coconut shrimp made up for its small serving in flavour, and was obviously made to order. Mack’s house smoked brisket slider was generously sized, though Mack would have preferred a softer bun. My smoked chicken and quinoa shooter was the best thing I ate at the fair – the meat was moist, and the quinoa was dressed delectably. Jeff also enjoyed his caramalized bananas on coconut ice cream.

Fusion 53 dishes

My only criticism of the menu at Fusion 53 was that it did not live up to its “local” billing. While homegrown products may have been incorporated, it wasn’t evidenced anywhere on the menu, save for apple, rhubarb and custard tarts apparently made from “local ingredients”. If anything, a small venue like a dedicated lounge would be the perfect way for Northlands chefs to experiment with products sourced locally. Should they decide to continue Fusion 53 in future years, I do hope they consider enhancing this aspect.

On the Midway

Let me say it was not easy to locate specific items on the midway. Signage was poor, and a walk through the fairgrounds yielded nothing. We had to ask someone at guest services who was able to point us in the right direction, but for a fair attempting to woo “foodies”, the execution was poor. A map made for food enthusiasts highlighting new experiences really would be useful in this regard.

Anyway, we heard that the red velvet funnel cake ($6) was a crowd pleaser, so with some guidance, located the vendor near the Top Cop diving show. None of us had ever had a funnel cake before, so we didn’t know what we had ordered was a smattering of deep fried dough in a shade of radioactive red. Sweetened with a combination of icing and powdered sugar, it was crispier than a mini doughnut. It didn’t, however, remind any of us of actual red velvet desserts – no hint of cocoa, just fried batter.

My first red velvet funnel cake

On the savoury side, we also tried a trio of sliders ($10) from the Canadian Beef Bacon wagon. Having replaced beef patties with strips of bacon, the sweetness of the maple bun did enhance the bacon.

Canadian Beef Bacon sliders

Mack had great intentions to try the cricket pizza, but I’m sorry to say, he just couldn’t do it. It just really bugged him (hehheh). No, in all seriousness, the freak food attraction of the fair just did not look very appealing – the crickets did not look fresh at all, and looked more like maggots than crickets. If we’re going to eat bugs, at least make them look appetizing! Were you brave enough to try it?

Cricket pizza

The Exhibits

Of course, Capital Ex isn’t just about the food. There’s tons to see, and I really enjoyed some of the exhibits new to this year.

Though the music theme wasn’t as prevalent as I was expecting, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame displays were interesting to browse (who knew Kiss had a pinball machine)?

Mack checks out the displays

Even better was the Rock University, which certainly seemed to appeal to a generation of kids who grew up on Rock Band. It was an interactive exhibit I would have expected to see at the Telus World of Science, and not at Capital Ex, but it really was a fun opportunity to try out different instruments and take some zany snapshots.

Felicia’s a rock star!

On Abbey Road

Rhythms of the World, a seeming return to the cultural showcase of fairs past, was an exhibit I really hope they keep and grow in the future. The installations, which only covered a handful of countries, were eye-catching and photogenic.

China installation

Down you go!

It was surprisingly quiet, but provided a nice reprieve from the midway, and a laid-back opportunity to browse boards of information.

Aboriginal display

The space also hosted a great stage, so we sought out a performance schedule, but couldn’t find one posted anywhere. We found out later it was on the LCD screens outside the hall.

In the Family Fun Town this year, they also had a petting zoo. I’m a sucker for animals!

Lambs

Pigs

The Shows

It’s almost too bad the Michael Jackson show from last year had already been done – it would have fit in perfectly with the music theme. It also wasn’t reminiscent of an acid trip, which The Aluminum Show was.

The Aluminum Show

They also tried a little too hard to engage the audience – the inflatable pillow sequence went on for much too long.

No, it’s not a rave

The Midway

We didn’t go on any rides this year, but we did catch a bridal party going down the Kiwanis slide.

Whee!

Games, on the other hand, were fair game. Some of us were more successful than others.

Just stand up, darn it!

Felicia with her prize

We ended our night with the fireworks show – a fitting way to end our day at an Edmonton tradition.

Fireworks

Thanks again to Northlands for the opportunity to eat our way through Capital Ex!

You can see my full photoset here.

New at Capital Ex: Five for Foodies

Mack and I are both suckers for fairground food, and every year, make sure to get our fix at Capital Ex, which runs July 20-29, 2012. This year is no different (Mack has already said he is looking forward to his annual corn dog), but with a deluge of new items they are introducing this year, we had to consider upgrading from our usual menu.

Lucky for us, Northlands has given us some gift certificates that we can use to try these new dishes. While the menu certainly has enough variety to appeal to most, I have to say I gravitated immediately towards these five food experiences:

Grill Cheese Burger: we were introduced to this idea of sandwiching a beef patty with grilled cheese sandwiches on Eat St., where the Portland-based Brunch Box had made a name for themselves with this indulgent burger. In Edmonton, we know Delux has offered it as a special on occasion, but we have yet to try it ourselves.
Ribfest and Oinkers: though Edmonton does have Bubba’s and Smokehouse BBQ, we could use a few more restaurants that offer authentic Southern barbeque. Ribest and Oinkers at Capital Ex will try to satisfy that craving, where pulled pork and a variety of ribs will be served.
Cricket Pizza: we keep hearing that insects will eventually make it on mainstream menus, given their high protein content and the minimal space needed for their production. At Vij’s in Vancouver years ago, we did indulge in paranta made from a mixture of whole wheat flour and ground crickets. So although Capital Ex treats cricket pizza as a fringe item for the headlines, it’ll be interesting to see how many patrons actually bite.
Fusion 53 Lounge and Casino: on a kitchen tour two years ago, we learned that Northlands is trying to source some things more locally (such as Spring Creek Ranch beef). This year, the menu they will be serving up at the Fusion 53 Lounge and Casino is said to highlight Alberta producers. Details about the actual menu are scarce, but I am hopeful that they will showcase some of the bounty available in our province at this time of year.
Cream puffs – Beard Papa hasn’t taken Edmonton by storm as it has in other cities. Perhaps the reason for this is a lack of accompaniments? Capital Ex will test this theory with a customized cream puff at Le Grande Cafe, where dessert-goers will be able to add anything from fruit to chocolate sauce on their personalized creations.

Now I’m hungry. Capital Ex can’t come fast enough.

One Last Hurrah: Old Strathcona Truck Stop

Our final Truck Stop in Old Strathcona took place last Wednesday. Mack and I nervously watched the skies all day, as it had started off rainy and overcast, but thankfully, the grey mostly cleared by the time the trucks pulled up at McIntyre Park.

The sun was shining!

The crowds weren’t as robust as those that were seen towards the end of May, but a fair number (including many young families) came out to enjoy a casual picnic in the park. A band, Yikes, were also on hand to lend some music to the event (we were told that music programming will be consistent on Wednesdays throughout the summer).

Lounging in the grass

We recognize that the June series of Truck Stops weren’t as successful as the preceding May dates. Weather played a big factor, and because McIntyre had been booked by another group on June 20, we weren’t able to make it known that “every Wednesday in June” would play host to the event.

Mack’s calzone from Battista’s

That said, as a whole, we think the venture of What the Truck?! across the river had been very well received! Though we suspected the appetite for food trucks in Edmonton wasn’t just confined to downtown, the response to these Truck Stops proved that. It was also wonderful working with Stephen Liley of the Old Strathcona Business Association and Kathy Stanley, the City’s Vending Coordinator, who helped make this series happen.

Great day for food trucks

As for the rest of the summer, we’ll be retiring Truck Stops for at least a month. Many events in Edmonton’s packed festival calendar will feature members of our local brigade (including Curb Your Hunger at Taste of Edmonton), not to mention the outdoor farmers’ markets where trucks have become a staple to feed hungry shoppers (124 Street Grand Market and the City Market, just to name a few). And don’t forget – many trucks are out and about every day – just check their Twitter feeds for details!

Mack and I are in the process of organizing two big What the Truck?! events to take place before the close of summer, however. We will announce the dates and locations when they are confirmed. In the meantime, keep on truckin’!

2012 Taste of Edmonton Launch

I was able to spend my lunch hour at the Taste of Edmonton media launch on Wednesday at the Citadel Theatre, fortuitously scheduled in between meetings I had nearby. Daytime events are always a challenge for me (and I would imagine for other bloggers as well), and though I appreciate that the invitation was extended to us online folk this year, the timing really was aimed at the mainstream media.

Caprese salad from Lit

This was no more evident than when Mack and I arrived around the advertised start time of 11:30, but discovered that the food wouldn’t be served until about forty-five minutes later; by that time, we needed to leave to get back to work.

Giuseppe Albi, General Manager of Events Edmonton

That said, it was a nice opportunity to catch up with some people I hadn’t seen in a while. The mood was light (helped no doubt by pours of Alley Kat), and the weather outside seemed to mirror the optimism organizers had about some of the new elements they have put together for this year’s festival. Those include:

7 new restaurants (including Guru, Share and TZiN )
65% new menu items
a feature food truck area called Curb Your Hunger (which will include Drift, Molly’s Eats, Smokehouse BBQ and The Act)
a return to live cooking demonstrations, which this year will involve a competition between food bloggers
a partnership with Race Week Edmonton to expand family-friendly programming with activities on Centennial Plaza

I have been very critical of Taste of Edmonton in the past, and will not fully pass judgment on their 2012 incarnation until we’ve had a chance to experience it firsthand. That said, the core of any event with “taste” in their name should be good food. Unfortunately, our brief sampling that day didn’t showcase some of the restaurants in the best light –forty-five minutes in an unheated chafing dish ruined many plates that needed to be served hot, notably, the bacon maple poutine from Hudson’s and the butter chicken samosa from Guru.

Poutine from Hudson’s

As expected, Mack and I are most curious about Curb Your Hunger. We are really happy for the vendors that have been permitted to participate, as this will hopefully expose even more Edmontonians to the wonderful fare that trucks can offer. That said, it will be interesting to see how the trucks will manage with the twelve hour service days. Relief staff isn’t a given with trucks, and unlike the restaurant booths with room for plug-in coolers, there is a limit to the amount of food that can be contained in a vehicle. We’ll see whether or not the festival can accommodate the unique challenges faced by food trucks, or if they will be adhering to a one-size-fits-all model for all vendors.

Susan from Molly’s Eats

Thanks again to the Taste of Edmonton staff for the invitation. We look forward to checking out some of the new features this year!

Taste of Edmonton runs July 19-28, 2012. Discounted tickets are on sale at Tix on the Square until July 18, 2012.

Super Saturday: DECL Pancake Breakfast and What the Truck?! at Al Fresco

If you weren’t downtown on June 9, 2012, you missed a heck of a party. Dubbed “Super Saturday”, June 9 saw a convergence of several high-traffic, high energy events in downtown Edmonton, including the DECL Pancake Breakfast, City Market, Pride Parade, TEDx and the Al Fresco Block Party. I am happy to say that I was involved in two of them.

DECL Pancake Breakfast

I took on the lead role this year in planning Downtown Edmonton Community League (DECL)’s annual fundraising Pancake Breakfast. All funds raised are donated directly to Al Fresco’s charity of choice, chosen to be Zebra Child Protection Centre this year.

Zebra Child Protection Centre’s display

It was a great experience working with Sobeys on 104th, our long-standing lead sponsor who donated the pancakes, sausages and coffee that we served, and Affordable Storage on 104th, who secured a large donation of juice boxes for use at the event. Sobeys and Affordable Storage demonstrated to us again that they are community-minded businesses who didn’t hesitate before committing their support.

Scott shows ‘em how it’s done

We were also happy to secure a prominent location to set up our breakfast this year. In 2011, we were relegated to the two lanes of Jasper Avenue, out of the sightline of City Market shoppers. This year, the market and the City were amenable for us to host the event in the intersection of 104 Street and 102 Avenue. As a result of this and the good weather, our lines stretched longer than we had ever seen before.

Around the block!

For a donation of $2, hungry patrons received a plate of pancakes and sausages, served up by enthusiastic DECL board members and volunteers. They were in the weeds for most of the morning as the crowds grew ever larger, but they handled it with grace and smiles to spare!

Love the aprons!

The drawback to our location was having to vacate the intersection by 11:30am, given the Pride Parade was set to charge down the street beginning at noon. As a result, we had no flexibility of extending our breakfast service beyond 11am, and unfortunately, disappointed some who had been waiting in line.

Great morning for an outdoor breakfast

At the end of the day, DECL was able to raise and donate over $1150 to Zebra. Thanks again to the generous donations from those who took part!

What the Truck?! @ Al Fresco

Mack and I were excited to take on a more active role relating to the Al Fresco Block Party this year. We’ve attended the festival every year since its inception in 2008, and as this was our second year as residents on 104 Street, we relished the opportunity to positively contribute to the neighbourhood.

Thanks to Brittney who snapped this photo of us before the madness began!

I mentioned in a previous post that the Planning Committee thought integrating food trucks into this year’s event was an ideal way to offer food, and Mack and I agreed. Servicing street party patrons than with curbside cuisine seemed like the perfect fit. It was also a great opportunity to be a part of something larger, and plug into the expected crowds that would gather downtown to take in one or more events. Rough estimates for that Saturday pegged the numbers at around 30,000.

Al Fresco from above

What the Truck?! @ Al Fresco was our first for 2012, and our largest event to date, with ten vendors in total. We took over both the intersection of 104 Street and 102 Avenue, as well as the street directly north of that. The space afforded us to have a seating area in the intersection, and room for many strategically placed lines.

Smokehouse BBQ had the longest line all night

We have to commend the City Market on an efficient load out (an hour!), which enabled us to load in nearly all trucks in less than forty minutes. Special thanks also goes out to Tri-Line Disposal, who donated not only several large collection bins, but also smaller wheeled bins for organics and recyclables, which greatly helped us control the on-site garbage.

Busy square

With the skies threateningly overcast for most of the afternoon, Mack and I were worried that a downpour would lead to a dip in attendance. But we were very fortunate to have a solid three hours of operation, as the downpour didn’t begin until 8pm. Until then, we had a very strong crowd enjoying the food and music who didn’t seem to mind the grey skies.

Mack and I even had the opportunity to try some food on our own! Battista’s Calzones was on our list, as WTT was the site of the Calzonemobile’s debut. They were the first truck to sell out.

All smiles inside the Calzonemobile

We also tried out the BBQ pork and custard steamed buns from The Lingnan Express. I love that they consistently experiment with items never found on any of their restaurant menus; I know I appreciate it as an eater!

Steamed buns

As we spent most of our time at WTT, we didn’t get a chance to take in the rest of Al Fresco this year. Some of the feedback we received, however, was that the stage set up at the south end of 104 Street divided the festivities, and prevented essential north-south sightlines. As a result, many patrons who visited WTT or the extended patios and Melcor tasting lot had no idea anything else was going on down the road. We wholeheartedly agree, and this is something the Planning Committee will address next year.

Extended patios from above

The weather also was a factor in the TEDx after-party shutting down early. Their flashy stage and screens set up on 104 Street south of 104 Avenue were only functional for about half an hour until the rain forced them to tear down, lest the equipment sustain water damage. Mack and I were too late to see the stage in its full glory, but from our balcony, it was a pretty epic view.

All the way to 104 Avenue

Being a part of Al Fresco, the vendors all agreed to donate proceeds from the evening to Zebra Child Protection Centre. In all, the donations totalled about $4,000!

There were a lot of “sold out” signs that night

Thanks again to everyone who came out and supported What the Truck?! Thanks to our tireless vendors for putting street eats on the map in Edmonton. And thanks to the few unsung heroes who helped us pick up trash and move tables after dark.

We still have plans for a few more events this summer, but until then, don’t forget about the final Truck Stop in Old Strathcona on June 27, 5-8pm. Hope to see you there!

City Market Report: Week 5

It was another Saturday perfect for a stroll down the aisles of the City Market!

Busy market square

Mack and I had a blissfully late start to the morning – great for us, not so great for our grocery list. Though we were still able to pick up most things, we were out of luck on a few basics. Early birds are definitely rewarded!

Green onions from Kuhlmann’s

Spinach from Kuhlmann’s

The south end of the market continues to be configured with vendors back-to-back along the centre of the street. At present, the market is looking for feedback from shoppers on this orientation, so make sure you share your opinion with them on Facebook or Twitter, or in person the next time you’re there.

We did make sure to tuck around the alley to check out Bikeology taking place in Beaver Hills Park. I thought the event organizers did a great job of making the space feel warm and inviting.

When we arrived, we found a bike tune-up station, some spin cyclists doing their thing and a stunt performer demonstrating his skills!

What I was most looking forward to was the pedal-powered smoothies. I had read about this several years ago, but never had a chance to try it. Mack and I both gave it a whirl, and enjoyed the blended results!

Mack checks out the progress of his smoothie

Whee!

It was a great Saturday to be out – hope you enjoyed your day as well!

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