Italian Bakery returns to its roots with rebuilt store in Chinatown

The Italian Bakery is finally ready to re-open in Chinatown with a brand-new building.

A fire devastated the original structure in 2020, after the company’s Beverly site had to be rebuilt after a fire in 2016. While undertaking another major construction project so soon was not ideal, owner Rosaly DeVenz said doing so was the only option.

“My parents (founders Antonio and Aurora Frattin) started this bakery here in 1962, and this was their home,” said DeVenz. “We rebuilt it for them.”

Construction was supposed to last only a year, but due to COVID-19, materials shortages, and contractor challenges, the timeline extended to three years. Unfortunately, both Antonio and Aurora passed away in 2022 and were not able to see the final result. The new build at 10644 97 Street NW included a customized apartment unit above the bakery that was intended for them. Still, DeVenz knows her parents would be pleased with the outcome.

“They would be happy that we rebuilt in this neighbourhood and will step up our game,” said DeVenz. “You have to make out of the rubble like a phoenix rising, and make it bigger and better.”

DeVenz is aiming for a soft opening later in September. Although the footprint of the new building is only slightly larger than the previous one, the design has significantly enlarged the retail area. This will allow the location to stock fresh produce, milk, eggs, and more grocery items than before, as well as accommodate a larger deli.

Rosaly DeVenz, owner of the Italian Bakery

In addition, DeVenz is excited about an expanded food menu. The bakery’s popular personalized sandwiches will be back, and new dine-in options will include fresh pasta, pizzas, soup, salads, and gelato, all made on-site. The shop will also offer a variety of prepared heat-and-serve meals, made in-house and by other local businesses such as Pazzo Pazzo and Sorrentino’s. While most of the bakery items will be produced at the larger facility in Beverly, DeVenz promised that doughnuts, Danishes, and buns will be made on location.

DeVenz acknowledged that the menu will be somewhat of an experiment at the start, given the business’s lengthy absence from the area. “The neighbourhood’s changed, our clientele has changed,” said DeVenz. “But we hope that bringing new people in through the store might help revitalize Chinatown.”

With that in mind, the shop has increased its seating area for customers, intended for shoppers to enjoy a meal or a drink from the café. “What we’re trying to do is create a place to go sit down and go for coffee,” said DeVenz. “After the pandemic, I think people are missing environments to socialize.”

In an effort to appeal to a broader customer base, DeVenz had an indoor bocce ball court installed. “You have to have ‘Instagrammable moments’ nowadays,” laughed DeVenz. “We wanted to do something different and bring something that instigates memories for people and their families.”

DeVenz is aware that some folks may be avoiding Chinatown because of the negativity surrounding the area. “People shouldn’t be scared,” she said. “The news puts images into people’s minds. This neighbourhood has had a lot of ups and downs. We’re due for an up.”

Openings

• Smoky Bear has announced that it will be relocating downtown, and their last day of service in the current Old Strathcona location will be October 21. Bella will open in its place, “an Italian (ish) restaurant.  Food inspired by the traditions and culture of Italy cooked with modern techniques and ingredients.  Produce chosen and cooked when it is shining the brightest.  Seasonal vegetables treated simply to showcase the quality.  A selection of handmade pastas made from Alberta flour.  Proteins in large format made for sharing just like at Nona’s table.”
• Lui-Chi’s has opened a second location at the base of the Stantec Tower downtown.
• Von’s has re-opened downtown at 10065 Jasper Avenue, Unit 101, in the space that formerly housed State and Main. Von’s had closed the Old Strathcona location earlier this year.

Upcoming Events

• The next Nosh Food Fest runs September 16-17 in Sherwood Park. More than 100 food and beverage vendors are expected.
• Workshop Eatery’s Bacon Day will return on September 22, with proceeds going to MS Canada. Tickets are $95 and include access to food and cocktail stations, a giant charcuterie board, and a bacon dessert cook-off between chef Paul Shufelt and a mystery chef.
• Eats on 118 is back on September 28. Tickets are $60 and include visits to three restaurants.
• Ice District will be hosting Western Canada’s largest Oktoberfest celebration from September 22-30. It will include a beer hall, German food, vendors, music, and games. Admission is $25.

Local News

• Chartier expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support in the wake of their closure announcement, and updated that “every day we’re getting closer to finding an investor that would allow our continued growth in Beaumont.”
• Taproot featured chef Joshua Nhan, the chef behind the Peruvian menu at Dolly’s.
• Edify profiled new restaurant Happy and Olive and forthcoming cafe Bar Oro Caffe and Roastery.
• Also from Edify, they checked out Sushi Cafe Madang and Dang Good.
• Lastly, Edify highlights the designs of Fu’s Repair Shop, Sherwood Park’s location of the Italian Centre, and Anohka Distillery.
• Congratulations to the Italian Centre on their tenth anniversary in West Edmonton.
• Local baker Marilou Honrado of Cloud Cakes by Auntie Lou returns to Food Network Canada’s Big Bake Halloween, with the episode airing on October 1.
• Uproot Food Collective has extended their equity-crowdfunding campaign.
• Alberta PrimeTimes focused on the connections learners build with one another at The Kitchen inside the Edmonton Public Library.
• Edmonton’s Food Bank continues to see a high demand for their services, especially as children return to school this month.

What I Ate

• It has literally been years since I’ve dined in Pho Tau Bay because of the pandemic (we’ve had a lot of take-out, though). It was so great to be back.

My usual at Tau Bay

• We finally hit up the 124 Street Grand Sunday Market on the weekend, and was happy to see Coast Lunch Box back as a vendor. I love their buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. There are only a few more weeks of outdoor markets left – get out to them if you can!

Coast Lunch Box’s fried chicken sandwich

Group behind El Jardin and El Corazon has String of Restaurants in Mind

The owners of the recently launched El Jardin have big plans to open several more restaurants in Edmonton.

The restaurant, whose name means “the garden” in Spanish, opened in the Mercer Warehouse in July. It’s a second venture from business partners Hifa Maleki and Percy Wiredu, who opened El Corazon in Glenora’s West Block in April 2022.

Maleki and Wiredu named their company 10 Hospitality Group, as they intend to open 10 restaurants, each with a unique concept, across Edmonton by 2027. They already have a third, named El Cielo (“the sky” in Spanish), slated for the Keswick neighbourhood in February 2024.

“We love Edmonton and want to see very exciting things done in the city,” Maleki told Taproot. “We have to be momentum shifters. We want to inspire more people to open businesses in our community.”

The space in the Mercer, which was formerly occupied by Rostizado, was an opportunity too good to pass up. Maleki said the landlord entertained 30 offers before selecting them.

“They wanted a restaurant to bring on a different clientele,” she said. “We told them that we’re going to do it justice, maintain the integrity of the building, and bring something classy.”

Maleki said all of their restaurant concepts are developed organically, influenced by the spaces they inhabit. “Our thought was because this space is hidden from the street it’s like a secret garden,” said Maleki. “All of our cocktails also have some kind of botanical in them — rosewater, saffron, basil, rosemary. Same with our food, we use aromatics unapologetically. It may not look like you’re in a garden, but it tastes like one.”

El Jardin co-owner Hifa Maleki and general manager Mehraz Soltani

The menu at El Jardin is similar to El Corazon’s in the way it highlights dishes from across the Latin American region. “We want to be influenced and inspired and incorporate more of a range of countries because it allows us to be more playful and offer more variety,” said Maleki.

However, Maleki points out that El Jardin has a slight focus on Peruvian items, especially cold seafood plates such as ceviches and aguachiles. One of the most popular dishes since opening is the tuna tiradito, a seared tuna with Latin and Asian flavours.

El Jardin is not the duo’s first venture downtown. Wiredu had been running El Beso for a few years before Maleki joined in on the ownership. Due to circumstances with the landlord beyond their control, they were forced to close El Beso in the same month El Jardin opened.

“We loved the brand and the location,” said Maleki. “It was heartbreaking to open another business while we were closing one. There’s a possibility we’ll revive El Beso in the future, but we would look for a space that would do it justice.”

Maleki is aware of the stigma surrounding downtown, but believes the spotlight has been disproportionately negative.

“There’s not enough focus on the great things that are going on downtown,” she said. “I am a female business owner and I am responsible for a lot of staff. If I thought they were at risk, I wouldn’t have opened a business here.”

While El Jardin has only been open for just over a month, feedback has been positive so far. “Everyone’s been very receptive,” said Maleki. “People are excited to see that there’s something new downtown.”

Openings

• Two locations of Paris Baguette, a South Korean bakery and cafe chain, are to open in Edmonton soon: at Southpark on Whyte (Unit #8, 10607 82 Avenue) and West Edmonton Mall.
• It looks like new life might be coming to the vacant space in the McLeod Building downtown, named Often.
• Quickly x Kokoriko, a bubble tea and Korean fried chicken shop has opened at 11013 26 Avenue NW.
• Butter Chicken & More opened up earlier this summer at 6875 Ad Astra Blvd NW.
• In May, Sushi Cafe Madang took over the space formerly occupied by Green Ash Cafe.

Upcoming Events

• A Culina Highlands throwback pop-up dinner is taking place at the Culina McCauley event space on September 14. Tickets are $59 and include a family-style dinner.
• On September 21, University of Alberta is hosting Dr. Michael Fakhri, a UN Special Rapporteur and Professor at the University of Oregon School of Law to discuss the fundamental right to food. The event is free but requires pre-registration.
• Mark your calendar for the next Chinatown After Dark event, on September 23, from 5-10pm in the alley behind China Marble (10566 97 Street). Expect tasty food and fun activities in an unusual location.

Local News

• After a brief closure for renovations, Bar Bricco has re-opened.
• Nepali restaurant Thamel Bistro has re-opened as Thamel Eatery in August at the same location, 12413 118 Avenue.
• Noodleholic has relocated from Chinatown to the southside, at 3350 Parsons Road (formerly Wow Chicken).
• Congratulations to Woodwork on a decade in business! To celebrate, they’re offering a throwback menu of cocktails and food from their original menu in September.
• Congratulations also to La Poutine for reaching their 12th anniversary.
• Edify checked out La Carraia’s gelato burger, and their latest Fav Eats is all about The Art of Cake.
• Fuge Sausage worked with a NWT evacuee who has a sausage shop in Yellowknife to replicate one of his sausage recipes. Proceeds from the sale of the sausages are going to the evacuee and wildfire relief.
• Two Yellowknife evacuees worked with local Pakistani organizations to provide hundreds of halal and vegetarian meals to fellow evacuees.
• It might be a little soon for some to be thinking about winter, but Baijiu is already preparing for its cold weather patio season. Baijiu shared that it will be installing a unique infrared heated structure for winter.
• The Journal featured the origins of a new coriander liqueur produced by Edmonton’s Above Average Drinks.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• Edmonton Public Library has decided to end its seed library program after only on year due to an inability to keep up with demand.
• The Alberta Motor Association is installing beehives at some of its locations, including the building on Calgary Trail, in order to raise awareness about pollinators.

What I Ate

• It’s become a bit of an end-of-summer tradition for us to dine on Dalla’s patio before the end of those warm weather nights. The di mamma continues to be my go-to pasta at Dalla.

Di mamma from Dalla

• Emily and I enjoyed the Symphony in the Square on the weekend. It was a busy night for the food trucks, but I joked with Ariel from Filistix that the crowd was a fraction of what they would have seen on the craziest What the Truck?! night (something long time readers may remember). The chori burger was so tasty – I think it’s one of the underrated burgers in the city.

Chori burger from Filistix

• It’s been a while since our last Kasey Ramen order (I hope to make it to one of their pop-ups sooner or later!), but their tonkotsu sure hit the spot this weekend.

Kasey Ramen tonkotsu at home

Openings

• La French Taste, a current vendor at Bountiful Farmers’ Market, will be opening up its own brick and mortar space at 11401 95 Street soon (formerly occupied by La Favourite).

Closures

• After 12 years of operation, South African-Indian restaurant Narayanni’s in Old Strathcona has closed.

Upcoming Events

• Taste of Asia is returning to the Currents of Windermere September 15-17, with street food vendors, entertainment, and other vendors.

Local News

• Chartier owners Darren and Sylvia Cheverie spoke to Edify to speak more to the factors that led to their closure announcement, but are holding out hope of the possibility of an angel investor stepping in to save Chartier. They have also posted some answers to frequently asked questions they have since received since the announcement.
• Also from Edify – they checked out newly-opened Leonardo’s Coffee and Sandwich House.
• Brotherhood of Plates posted about 5 lesser known sandwiches in Edmonton worth a try, including Espania Pizzeria, Sandwich & Burger Patch, Baltyk Meat & Deli, Western Sandwich Co., and Donna’s Eatery. The full write-up is in the first issue of Fn’zine.

Beyond Edmonton

• Chipotle’s first Alberta location is opening in Calgary on September 9.

What I Ate

• Mack and I are big fans of Momma Tong’s Bun Bo Hue meal kits (and this time, even Emily snuck more than a few bits of the noodles and meat). It’s always great to have some frozen options stashed away sourced from local businesses.

Bun Bo Hue from Momma Tong

I’ve been contacted by some people who were unable to subscribe to my blog by e-mail. With Mack’s help, this has been fixed! If you would like to receive new posts by e-mail, please go to this link and enter your e-mail. If you’re already receiving new posts by email, you don’t need to do anything. As always, thanks for reading!

Openings

• King of Tarts, which started as a vendor at farmers’ markets, opened a brick and mortar shop at the beginning of August. They are located at 10051 152 Street.
• With Stopgap Coffee in the same neighbourhood, it’s great to see another business that has opened up in a restored heritage home – Leonardo’s Coffee and Sandwich House is now open at 9908 112 Street.
• La Prosciutteria, offering wine, charcuterie, coffee, pastries, and sandwiches, is opening on September 9 at 10906 105 Avenue.

Closures

• Chartier has announced their closure as of September 30: “The confluence of pandemic recovery, outstanding loans, rising food costs, and increasing interest rates has made our little homespun venture unsustainable.” Hopefully their new bakery venture Mother, located in Nisku, will be able to continue on.

Upcoming Events

• It’s great to see that Culina’s Little Italy event space is up and running, with two upcoming events: a Culina Millcreek Throwback pop-up dinner for $59 on August 24, serving up family-style dishes from that restaurant, and a buffet brunch for $33 on August 27.
• The next Filipino Sari Sari Market is taking place in the evening hours on August 26 from 4-10pm at 10104 32 Avenue.
• The annual Cocktails and Jerk Festival, a Caribbean festival showcasing street food, tropical cocktails, and entertainment, runs September 1-3 at Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park.

Local News

• Last week, White Rabbit Ice Cream’s storefront was broken into. They would appreciate support as they work to bounce back.
• Soho is offering BC and NWT fire evacuees a free beer.
• Edify checked out Caribbean restaurant ILand Vybes, and their latest Fav Eats highlights Franco’s Pizza.

Beyond Edmonton

• With Edmonton’s single use bylaw in effect as of July 1, it’s interesting to see Calgary locations of Alberta Bottle Depots are accepting Earthware Resuables take-out containers. This program will apparently roll out in Edmonton soon.

What I Ate

• Our Chinatown Dining Week crew met up at Xu Hue last week (yes, the event will be back again in January!). Not pictured is the rare beef salad, which I tried for the first time – I am now a convert! So fresh, and that citrus dressing was perfection. Their pho was pretty good too, but it is that salad that will have me coming back again soon.

Pho from Xu Hue

• We finally checked out Campio’s expanded patio last week – I’m always in favour of people-centred vs. vehicle-centred spaces. I enjoyed my shorty melt, but the service really left a lot to be desired.

Shorty melt from Campio

• It was great to see Rosewood so busy on Sunday for brunch, when we introduced Mack’s parents to one of our favourite restaurants. Our kids definitely eat well!

Our kids know a good brunch

Openings

• It looks like High Dough’s former Old Strathcona location will be opening as Little Wolf some time soon.
• Boxcar Coffee Shop is now open seven days a week, after its soft opening of weekend hours. Boxcar is located at 11926 129 Avenue.

Upcoming Events

• Prairie authors Dan Clapson and Twyla Campbell are celebrating the release of their cookbook at Otto on August 30. Tickets are $43.61 and include a signed copy of the book and a welcome cocktail and canape.

Local News

• Mother, Chartier’s standalone bakery in Nisku, is now offering pre-orders for pick-up in Edmonton, St. Albert, Nisku, and of course Beaumont.
• Edify paid a visit to Stingray, Century Hospitality’s newest restaurant in Crestwood, and their latest Fav Eats highlights the gluten-free options at The Lingnan.
• The Journal wrote about the story behind Fuzion Donuts.
• Barbacoa in Spruce Grove re-opened on August 14 after needing to renovate following a fire.
• If you’ve been following the saga of the donair costume being auctioned off by the Alberta Government, it has finally ended, with PrimeTime Donair and Poutine outbidding its competitors. They will pay $16,025 for the privilege of owning the donair costume.
• The Chinatown After Dark event last month was a successful grassroots initiative, involving many Chinatown restaurants.
• Since starting their food truck, El Mero Mero has donated $23,663 to various local charities.
• The latest episode of Edmonton Community Foundation’s Well Endowed podcast explores food security in Edmonton.

What I Ate

• I look forward to Sabor’s fish and chip Fridays every year! The pop-ups are a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House and Santa’s Anonymous. There are two more opportunities to grab some $15 fish and chips before the end of August.

Fish and chips from Sabor

• It’s been so great to have Confetti Fridays at Michael Phair Park. The diverse performers have been great, and the treats have been nice too. This week, we enjoyed some Fawkes donuts. Confetti Fridays continue until September 1.

When the sprinkles match the mural!

• We checked out the Alberta Avenue Night Market on Friday, which coincided with Battista’s Calzone Company’s re-opening. It was nice to see such positive energy in the neighbourhood. The night market has five additional dates until mid-September.

New York Mama from Battista’s Calzone

Openings

• Taiwan-based bubble tea brand Tiger Sugar will open their first location in Edmonton at 10075 109 Street on August 11.
• Pharaoh’s Restaurant, the first halal Egyptian restaurant in the city will open on August 19 at 5524 Calgary Trail.
• The second location of Calgary-based Jerusalem Shawarma opened in Edmonton on August 3 in Windermere (#1, 1297 Windermere Way SW).

Closures

• It looks like the long-standing Vicki’s Gourmet Bistro in the Citadel Theatre, is now closed.

Upcoming Events

• Alberta on the Plate returns August 11-20, 2023. There are 10 restaurants participating in the Edmonton area who will be highlighting locally-grown ingredients.
• Roasti Coffee is hosting a Flacos Tacos pop-up on August 25. Tickets are $35 and include tacos and a drink.
• In place of the usual festivities at Giovanni Caboto Park, the Piccola Festa, outdoor Italian festival, will be held at the Italian Cultural Centre on August 27, 2022, with food trucks, entertainment, and other activities.

Local News

• Founders of Brio Bakery Todd and Sian have decided to sell the business “to start a new chapter in their lives”. Brio will continue under new owners Milos and Mateja.
• City TV did a story about how “Instagrammable” businesses are on the rise in Edmonton, but made the point that while social media may get customers through the door, its the quality and experience that will bring them back again.
• Congratulations to Dream Tea House on their 20th anniversary. They currently have six locations in Edmonton.
• Edify paid a visit to the newly-relocated Ralph’s Fried Chicken.
• Also from Edify, their latest Fav Eats post highlights the spicy goma from Tokiwa Ramen.
• A sponsored post from Edmonton Made features the story behind Fat Man Little Kitchen, a hot sauce business based in Enoch Cree Nation.
• Congratulations to the winners of the Food Judge Awards at the Edmonton Heritage Festival, which included Nepal’s momos as the best main dish, Romania for best overall menu, and best dessert from Palestine.
• On a related note, as Heritage Days is the primary fundraiser for Edmonton’s Food Bank, the Food Bank shared that they continue to meet the high needs of their clients.

What I Ate

• Mack and I visited the last of Hotel Macdonald’s charity hot dog carts for the summer. While it hit the spot, it made me wonder where all the Fat Franks carts have been, as we haven’t seen one in ages.

Hot Dogs for charity from the Hotel Macdonald

• We finally tried the supreme croissants from Ayco Cafe. Mack didn’t mind the soft texture of the croissant, but I was expecting it to be crispier and more glazed on the outside.

Supreme Croissants from Ayco Cafe

• We grabbed take-out from Hanan’s Kitchen for a picnic on the nearby Legislature Grounds last week. Mack and I enjoyed our respective chicken shawarma and falafel wraps, but notable was how great the service was! The staff offered my kids tasters of their soft ice cream and it helped to make an extra positive impression.

Falafel wrap from Hanan’s Kitchen

Openings

• Northsiders rejoice – Ralph’s Fried Chicken (opened by the folks behind beloved Ralph’s Handi Mart) is now open at 10807 Castle Downs Road.
• Dolly’s Cocktail Bar is opening on August 2 in the former Fu’s Repair Shop storefront at 9902 109 Street NW.
• Baekjeong Korean BBQ House has opened their second location in Mayfield Common at 224 Mayfield Common NW.
• Bloom Cookie Co. is ready to open their new shop in Gold Bar on August 1, located at 5010 106 Avenue NW.
• Scoop n Roll has opened their second Edmonton brick and mortar shop in Windermere at #6, 5098 Windermere Blvd.
• Lebanese quick service restaurant Hanan’s Kitchen is now open near the Legislature, at 10625 99 Avenue NW.
• New bubble tea shop Tiger Sugar will be opening up at 10075 109 Street NW.

Events

• A reminder that Heritage Fest runs this long weekend, from August 5-7, in its new location at Borden Park.

Local News

• Jack’s Burger Shack was included on this Food Network list of best burgers across Canada.
• The roster of chefs for this year’s Great Kitchen Party in Edmonton has been released, and include some return competitors and some new faces, including Winnie Chen from Fu’s Repair Shop and Bri Campbell from May.
• In the latest issue of Modern Luxuria, Twyla covers the refurbished restaurants inside the Royal Glenora Club.
• This week’s Fav Eats in Edify highlights Ragazzi Bistro Italiano.

What I Ate

• I had a lot of fun at the first Chinatown After Dark event on Saturday! It’s always great to see how vibrant the neighbourhood can be. I picked up some food from Xu Hue to share with Mack – the spring rolls were so crispy and satisfying!

Spring rolls and pho from Xu Hue

EPIC shifts focus from chefs to diners with new concept

After rebranding from JustCook Kitchens earlier this year, EPIC has shifted away from its original food hall concept to a new model for its downtown location. But an expansion later this year could see the food hall return, with a twist.

“When we first started JustCook, the idea was having a brand targeted to chefs,” Maëlle Toews, chief marketing officer at EPIC, told Taproot. “We were focusing on infrastructure and the technology for operations, so chefs had the tools to become business owners. But what we’ve learned is that though chefs like to create new dishes and menus, they don’t want to be running the actual restaurant.”

Toews said the JustCook name also did not resonate with diners. “JustCook wasn’t meant for that,” said Toews. “But EPIC for us represents what we want to be — we want people to come in and have an epic time and an epic experience that they remember and share.”

In addition, EPIC has transitioned to encompass more refined, elevated food rather than the fast-casual concepts it started with. The new menus have been created by five “chefs in residence,” but are executed by EPIC staff.

“That would be the main difference between JustCook and EPIC,” said Toews. “Before, we left the chef to handle the kitchen side of things, and now we’re in the kitchen.”

The five chefs include Edmonton’s Winnie Chen of Fu’s Repair Shop, Peter Keith of Meuwly’s, and Lindsay Porter of The Common, plus Calgary’s Alex Edmonson and Oliver Butterworth from B.C.

Toews said EPIC selected the chefs based on their industry connections and word-of-mouth, and the arrangement allows those chefs to flex their creativity outside their day-to-day restaurants. For instance, said Toews, Chen’s Asian fusion offerings at EPIC expand her repertoire.

“All the dishes that (Chen) made for our menu are things that she had considered for Fu’s but didn’t fit on that menu,” said Toews. “This allowed her to explore a different side of her cooking. It’s not a competition, it’s a complement.”

The other menus feature tapas from Keith, Italian plates from Porter, French cuisine from Edmonson, and plant-forward items from Butterworth.

Meat Shack Barbecue is the sole remnant from JustCook’s fast-casual iteration, but Toews said diners have embraced the wide spectrum of food. “We have seen people order from both menus,” said Toews. “The nice thing is that barbecue is pretty complementary to the five concepts that we have.”

The downtown location operates more like a full-service restaurant now, where diners place orders with a server. But EPIC plans to try the food hall concept again at its forthcoming second location near Whyte Avenue. That location, in partnership with Beljan Development at Station Park, is slated to open in October and will feature a larger footprint that makes it easier to offer the food-hub experience.

“We are restricted with the layout downtown,” said Toews. “At Station Park, it will be a less full-service model but without feeling like a food court.”

Diners will interact directly with each concept, and the five resident chefs will offer a fuller menu for each. Toews also promised more events, such as cooking classes, special dinners, and the option to book the venue for weddings and corporate gatherings.

Back downtown, Toews said things have been tough, citing a combination of COVID, fewer people than anticipated returning to office towers, issues with perceptions of safety, and inflation. But she remains hopeful that with the changes, EPIC can become a destination.

“We want the experience to be a special outing and bring something more than just ‘going to a restaurant’,” said Toews. “We want people to come in together and have a good time and come back.”

Openings

• Score two for Crestwood: first is Happy and Olive, from Frank and Andrea Olson of Canteen and Red Ox Inn, opened earlier this month at 9640 142 Street. Their hours are expansive as they serve coffee/pastries in the morning, lunch, and dinner.
• Also in Crestwood, Stingray, the latest
  restaurant by the Century Hospitality Group, opened in early July in the former
  Delux space at 9682 142 Street. The menu is “Inspired by traditional
  Japanese cuisine, but with…Century Hospitality flare and casual
  favourites.”
• El Jardin, the second restaurant from the folks behind El Corazon, is
  now open in the Mercer Warehouse downtown (in the former Rostizado Tres
  Carnales space).
• The Colombian is set to open their fourth location in Mill Creek at 8905 99 Street (the former Todd Cleaners) later this fall.
• K-Pot, a Hong Kong street food and claypot rice bowl restaurant is open as a pop-up location at 10336 81 Avenue (formerly the location of Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodle).
• Ribeye Butcher Shop has added a third location to the Edmonton area, this time in Sherwood Park (Unit 630, 205 Festival Way).
• North Central Co-op grocery store is now open in St. Albert at #200 Rankin Drive.
• Ontario-based vegan fast food restaurant Odd Burger is opening its first Edmonton location at 336 Mayfield Common.

Local News

• After a temporary closure, Battista’s Calzone Company has re-opened. They continue to operate on weekends only.
• With all of the new ice cream shops that have opened in the city over the last couple of years, it’s especially nice to see two of them collaborate! Yelo’d and Kind Ice Cream worked together to make the ube keso birthday cake flavour for National Ice Cream Day.
• Die Pie was broken into last week – consider supporting them as they recover from this.
• The winners of the K-Days new foods competition included falafel perogies and deep fried Oreo.
• The Journal has been posting daily mini Taste of Edmonton reviews.
• The latest Fav Eats feature in Edify spotlights Kobachi’s sushi.
• Padmanadi has been making their own hot sauce with locally-sourced red chili peppers as they have been affected by the shortage of the popular sriracha made by Huy Fong Foods.
• If you hadn’t yet heard, there is a bidding war on a donair costume put up for auction by the Alberta Government. The manager of Blowers & Grafton, one of the companies who has been bidding on the costume, would like to see the proceeds donated to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (as the costume was originally made for a drunk driving awareness campaign).
• The organizers of the Russian pavilion at Heritage Days, which will be excluded from this year’s festival, has sent a letter to the Alberta Human Rights Commission about their exclusion being a “potential violation of the Alberta Human Rights Act.”
• Local craft brewers, including Sea Change Brewing, Campio, and Alley Kat will be able to sell their products at licensed Explore Edmonton events (alongside Labatt Brewing products). Explore Edmonton was able to make an arrangement after months of discussions with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission and Labatt.

What I Ate

• My friend Su and I met up at The Lunchbox in Gradin for some sandwiches. We were impressed with the large portions (I only managed to eat half for lunch). They are definitely set up in a great spot for people to grab food for a picnic at Ezio Farone Park!

Sandwiches from The Lunchbox

• We hit up Taste of Edmonton on Thursday to avoid the weekend crowds, and enjoyed several of our old favourites (dry spicy chicken from The Lingnan, birria nachos from Pikante), and some new favourites (the shrimp katsu from Shojo Izakaya). Mack and Emily had to finish with sweet treats.

Sweet treats from Taste of Edmonton

• We walked over to ReMax Field on Sunday to take in an Edmonton Riverhawks game. It would have been criminal not to have a hot dog at the ballpark, but it was made even sweeter when it was delivered to our seat using Ordr – definitely something I’d consider using again!

Hot dog (and the best picture I could manage with Ellie in my lap)

• It’s also been ice cream weather, so we definitely had to treat ourselves after a walk took us by Kind last week.

Salted caramel from Kind Ice Cream

Bagel Bar Opens New Storefront Location

After four years as a pickup-only business, Bagel Bar has opened a storefront in south Edmonton.

Bagel Bar initially operated out of the kitchen at the now-closed DeRose Fine Foods and then moved production into Vienna Bakery. Owner Gemma Davies said she had always wanted to open a storefront, but having launched her business just before the pandemic in 2019, the timing wasn’t quite right.

“When things started to take off, COVID hit, and we were in a contactless world,” said Davies. “The online contactless world worked for us. With the regular shutdowns, the storefront would have been too risky.”

As the world started to open up again, Davies started to look into potential spaces, and one came up at 4823 99 Street NW that she could not refuse.

“It was a connection,” said Davies. “Drift Food Truck was not using the storefront space at their production kitchen. It is 200 square feet, which is perfect because I already have production space at Vienna. We’re not baking at the storefront and will just shift our inventory.”

The storefront opened on July 15 and will operate Wednesdays to Saturdays. The relationship with Drift means Bagel Bar will be selling Drift’s popular pantry items on its behalf, including its sauces and spice mix. In the future, Bagel Bar will be stocking Drift’s frozen products as well.

A self-described home cook and home baker, Davies was attempting to create a great bagel because she couldn’t find one in Edmonton that she enjoyed. But after seeing that her friends and family were “going crazy” over them, she decided to pursue bagels as a business.

“We specialize in a New York-style bagel,” said Davies. “We pride ourselves in authentic preparation. It’s somewhere between 24 and 48 hours to make a bagel. The hugest part is that we hand-roll the bagels, and we boil our bagels to give the crust a lovely chewy texture and keep the crumb nice and soft.”

While direct online ordering and pickup make up the majority of its sales, Bagel Bar’s bagels are also served at seven businesses across the Edmonton region, including cafés in Leduc, Sherwood Park, and Spruce Grove. On busy days, the kitchen can make upwards of 800 bagels; to support this, the team has grown to six people.

Flavours range from the familiar — plain, sesame, everything — to more experimental ones that are offered for limited periods of time.

“We take inspiration from anything: time of year, something we ate on the weekend,” said Davies. “Two of our craziest flavours — people went insane for them — were Cool Ranch Doritos and Hot Cheetos. But I don’t know if I’m bringing them back. There’s something to be said about the sheer smell of that amount of crushed chips.”

Special flavours will initially be offered only at the shop, alongside up to a dozen other options, and then be released for online pre-ordering in the following weeks, Davies said. On July 15, Davies brought back the toasted coconut bagel, one of Bagel Bar’s most popular flavours over the past couple of years.

In addition to bagels, Bagel Bar also makes its own flavoured cream cheeses and a line of decadent cookies called Chonk that were added to the bakery’s lineup in 2020. In fact, the cookies are so popular that Davies thinks Chonk might one day have its own standalone space, which is why the storefront has been dually branded as Bagel Bar and Chonk.

“Chonk has taken on a life of its own,” said Davies. “I see growth happening there, so there is real potential. So this is the first step to bringing that to life.”

Although the shop is intended as a grab-and-go space, it will be serving locally roasted Sorellina Coffee and cold drinks, and it may also have tables and chairs outdoors. Mostly, Davies is excited to be able to meet customers, old and new.

“After four years of operating online, it will be lovely for people to come check us out in person,” said Davies. “It will be great to finally be face-to-face with our customers.”

Openings

• Bagel Bar’s storefront is now open at 4823 99 Street NW.
• Arbour is now open at 10421 82 Avenue (which formerly housed Famoso). Those looking for pizzas will still find them on the menu!
• CQ Noodle and Bubble Tea is now open downtown at 10140 104 Street. They market themselves as the only authentic Szechuan noodles in Edmonton.
• The Big Squish, specializing in lemonade and bubble tea, has opened a second location at 10524 110 Street (their original location is in Bonnie Doon Mall).
• Juicy Chills, a cold pressed juice cafe, held their grand opening on July 14. They are located at 6868 Ellerslie Road SW.
• Ottawa-based chain Maverick’s Donuts has opened a second location in the Edmonton area in Stony Plain (Unit 502, 4300 South Park Drive).

Upcoming Events

• The Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market is hosting a night market to celebrate their 40th birthday. On Friday, July 28, the licensed event will feature live music, food, and drinks. Tickets are $15 each.
• This year’s Alberta on the Plate runs August 11-20, 2023. The event “showcases the incredible bounty that is grown and produced across our beautiful province.” A dozen Edmonton-area restaurants are participating with special menus, including Avila Arepa, May, and Three Vikings.

Local News

• Bloom’s final day on 124 Street will be July 22. They will then be moving everything to their new location in Gold Bar.
• Edify checked out new taqueria Carne Asada.
• Also from Edify, the latest Fav Eats is the animal burger at Odd Company Brewing.
• Twyla highlighted some of Edmonton’s culinary gems in the Toronto Star.
• The Journal featured three Alberta-based cookbooks, including Eat Alberta First, Prairie, and Easy Baking in Barb’s Kitchen, written by Barb Lockert, the former owner of Barb’s Kitchen Centre.

What I Ate

• We grabbed take-out from BaoBao last week, and it did not disappoint.

Soup dumplings and noodles from BaoBao