Downtown Dining Week Returns

Downtown Dining Week, which celebrates the range of cuisine available in Edmonton’s core, is back for its 16th incarnation for 10 days from March 8-17, 2019. This year, they have nearly 50 participating restaurants, all offering fixed-priced multi-course deals: 2-course lunch or brunch for $18, or 3-course dinners for $30 or $45.

In addition to the special menus, the Downtown Business Association has also put together some special events to consider, including a cookbook sale at Audrey’s, tours of the City Market, cooking classes, and even a community potluck.

Openings

• The Iconoclast in the Oliver Exchange Building at 103, 12021 102 Avenue is officially open.
• A second location of plant-based chain Copper Branch is now open in South Edmonton Common, at 2205 101 Street.
• A second Cinnaholic, the vegan cinnamon bun bakery chain, is now open in Old Strathcona at 10345 82 Avenue.
• Filistix shared a sneak peek of their new Downtown location, due to open in April 2019 at 10621 100 Avenue.
• Ramen Misoya, with locations in Toronto and Montreal, will be expanding to Edmonton’s 104 Street in the Icon II.

Closures

• Bru in Oliver is now closed.

Upcoming Events

• Food4Good is hosting another Fruit & Veggie Sale on February 26, 2019.
• The 2019 National Brewers Cup competition will take place March 1-3, 2019 at the Transcend in Ritchie Market.
• The next Northern Bites experience on March 5, 2019 features a visit to Barr Estate Winery and a cooking lesson and tea tasting at Formosa Bistro. Tickets are $70.
• Leftovers YEG is hosting a meet up on March 11, 2019 for those wanting to learn more about food waste and the organization.
• Tickets for Avenue Edmonton’s Best Restaurants event on March 18, 2019 are still available. Tickets are $50.
• Yellowhead Brewery will be celebrating the first anniversary of its Drag Brunch on March 24, 2019. Tickets are $30 and include an all-you-can-eat buffet.
• Eat North is bringing its pop-up Drags Benny event to Edmonton’s Fairmont Hotel Macdonald on March 30, 2019. Tickets are $70, and include a cocktail and brunch canape hour, and a 3-course brunch. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards Canadian Pride initiatives.

Reviews

• The Journal enjoyed the fare at new-ish suburban restaurant Suda Thai Cuisine in Sherwood Park.
• Sharon shares her favourite items at Gangnam Street Food.
• Lydia posted a review of Golomein.

Local News

• Liane wrote a great piece about how certain restaurants, including Kanu and XIX Nineteen, have been able to snare a strong Head Chef.
• Also from Liane – she has more details behind Have Mercy’s change to a “recession-proof” menu.
• Giselle Courteau of Duchess Bake Shop shares her recipe for Spanish-style baked eggs in the latest Fast Food webisode. It’s a recipe that will appear in her second cookbook, Duchess at Home, due out in the fall.
• Chef Lasantha Mendis who works north of Fort McMurray competed in the fourth international bread baking competition Festival International du Pain 2019.
• Vancouver-based Chef David Hawksworth will be NAIT’s 11th Chef in Residence, from April 8-12, 2019.
• Eat North is a finalist in the Digital Presence category for this year’s Alberta Magazines Awards.
• Alberta set a monthly record on restaurant and bar spending in December 2018, totaling $810 million. The average Albertan spent almost $190 on dining out.

What I Ate

• It’s always a good day for soup in my books, and the bun bo Hue at King Noodle always hits the spot.

Bun bo Hue from King Noodle House

“Restaurant Realities” Campaign Backlash

Last Tuesday, Restaurants Canada, led by Board Chair Patrick Saurette (from The Marc), held a media conference to launch their Restaurant Realities campaign. Speakers shared statistics about the loss of hospitality jobs, increase in operational costs, and decline in foodservice sales in Alberta, attributing these to some of the policy changes made by the current provincial government, such as minimum wage and holiday pay increases, and the carbon tax. They released a promotional video featuring many local restaurant operators who share the hardships they have faced. Italian Centre Shop President Teresa Spinelli, who mentions in the video how challenging it is to employ people with disabilities with the current minimum wage, faced immediate criticism on social media, and has since tried to clarify her company’s stance on fair and equal pay.

The event was further politicized when United Conservative Party leader Jason Kenney delivered a policy statement about decreasing the minimum wage for youth workers and alcohol servers should he win the election. Garner Beggs, co-owner of Duchess Bakeshop and Cafe Linnea, publicly stated that he would support a reduction in pay for younger staff. However, two days later, the company posted a statement clarifying that Garner was not speaking on behalf of the businesses.

Openings

• Congratulations to Brio Bakery for the opening of their brick and mortar location in Oliver Exchange (12021 – 102 Avenue) last week!
• The latest type of plant-based establishment to open is the Sly Fox Vegan Butcher at 10722 124 Street, offering plant-based meat alternatives. The business is run by the same folks behind The Clever Rabbit (and is in the same divided space).
• A new butcher shop called Meat Head is on the verge of opening, located at 7664 156 Street.

Upcoming Events

• Aditya (Addie) Raghavan is back from India! He will be sharing many of the delicious flavours and foods he discovered through his extensive travels in India at a pop-up dinner at Get Cooking on March 4, 2019. Tickets for the 8-course meal are $90.
• The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Taste of the Chamber on March 6, 2019 at the Jubilee Auditorium. General admission tickets are $30, and sampling tickets are $1 each.
• The Roundhouse is hosting a free information and networking session for those running food businesses that “address food security, income, and other social issues". It is taking place on March 6, 2019.
• The next Prairie on a Plate dinner will be held at Cafe Linnea on March 7, 2019. Tickets for the 3-course dinner are $55.
• The Canadian Agri-Marketing Association is sponsoring a free movie screening on March 11, 2019 of Before the Plate, a 2016 production that captures 8 different farm operations to showcase how food is produced. Pre-registration for the event at MacEwan University is required.
• Save the date: the annual Culinary Cook-off at Mount Royal is taking place on April 13, 2019.

Reviews

• Graham thinks the Crudo family has another winner on their hands in Amore Pasta.
• Crystal is the latest to review OEB.

Local News

• Have Mercy’s revamped menu features dishes that are all priced at $7.95.
• Liane shared the sad news that Bistro Praha co-owner Sharka Svajgr has passed away from cancer.
• The Cove Tea is hoping to crowdfund $5,000 through ATB BoostR to help open a tea shop.
• Hansen Distillery has started their one year countdown to the end of the three-year aging process required for whisky. It will be the first Canadian whisky made in Edmonton.
• Chartier is recruiting a new head chef to replace the departing Steven Brochu. They have put together a beautiful recruitment video.
• Sharman recaps the recent Swine and Dine dinner held at Salz.
• Inspired by Sugared and Spiced’s popular Cake Club, Culina is offering a Catering Club. It includes three 4-course dinners for 8 people. It is priced at $999, with 30 memberships available.
• The local bloggers behind Sugar Loves Spices offer private cooking classes.

What I Ate

• My first day back at work after my maternity leave coincided nicely with a team lunch at The Moth. I tried their tofu clubhouse and enjoyed it well enough; I found the avocado to be a nice addition.

Tofu clubhouse and garlic hash from The Moth

Peters’ Drive-In Coming to Edmonton

There will be no need to head to Calgary for your burger and milkshake fix – the family favourite Peters’ Drive-In will be opening an Edmonton outpost between Calgary Trail and Gateway Boulevard at 51st Avenue some time later this year or early 2020. Peters’ Drive-In added a Red Deer location back in 2015.

Openings

• Keep an eye out on Iconoclast Coffee’s Twitter account – they’re set to soft open this week. Their new location is in the Oliver Exchange building at #103, 12021 102 Avenue.
• Cinnaholic is adding a second Edmonton location in Old Strathcona at 10345 Whyte Avenue. They plan to open February 22, 2019, and as they did with their downtown shop, will again be offering $1 cinnamon rolls from 10am-2pm that day.
• Whimsical Cupcakes has relocated from Garneau to Old Strathcona, doubling their store size at 8211 102 Street.
• A new fish and chips chain called C-Lovers Fish and Chips opened at 4121 139 Avenue in January.

Closures

• Some of you may know that Manor Cafe will be closing in April – but it seems not without a bang. They’re offering some great deals on their way out – $12 schnitzel on Tuesdays, $19 charcuterie for 2 on Wednesdays, $12 burgers on Thursdays, and their famous nasi goreng for $18 on Sundays.

Upcoming Events

• Nomiya is collaborating with Calgary restaurant Eats of Asia to present a 5-course dinner on February 26, 2019. Tickets are $80, and include a sake pairing.
• The annual potluck celebration of Chef Gail Hall’s life is taking place on March 13, 2019 (her birthday). The $20 collected per ticket goes towards the Chef Gail Fund.

Reviews

• The Journal is the latest to positively review Partake.
• Twyla was hoping for more from the dishes she sampled at OEB.
• Jonny wasn’t impressed with the beers at Sea Change Brewing Company.
• Leduc paid a visit to Uccellino.

Local News

• Graham rants about the culture of ‘tip shaming’ at restaurants.
• ATB covered the story behind how Sumptuous Lollies ended up supplying treats for the gift bag at the Grammys this weekend.
• Liane wrote about Herbologie, a local spice company that is hoping to raise $5,000 through ATB BoostR. So far they’ve raised over $3,000.
• Chef Davina Moraiko from RGE RD was on Global to talk about her recent experience competing at the Canadian Culinary Championships.
• The UK-based outlet the Independent put together a great piece highlighting Edmonton’s rich food scene.
• The London Free Press also published a similar article about some of the best food experiences Edmonton has to offer.
• I missed linking to this Edmonton Made article about For the Love of Cheese, which makes vegan cheese and Natural Kitchen Delights, which produces vegan chocolate.
• Phil’s latest Fast Food webisode features Chef Sean O’Connor of the Red Ox Inn and (soon) Fox Burger.
• Sharman recapped the Swine and Dine that took place at Otto in January.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• It’s difficult to think about summer during this cold spell, but Riverbend Gardens has started selling shares of their 2019 Community Supported Agriculture. They are offering a $20 bonus to those who purchase before February 12.
• The Heritage Chicken program at the University of Alberta is offering five varieties of heritage chickens starting in April.

What I Ate

• Mack and I had breakfast at Lockstock Coffee early in the week. We don’t go often, but when we do, I’m reminded of just how much I enjoy their breakfast sandwich.

Lockstock sandwich with egg, bacon, on a house-made English muffin

• We were also able to get away for a lunch date at Pho Tau Bay. Nothing calls for soup like a cold snap.

My usual at Tau Bay

• We took Emily to the Silver Skate Festival for the first time! Thanks to Bottom Line Productions, we were provided with some tickets to sample the fare offered at Spirits on Ice. Among the food we tried was the pork belly on rice from Formosa Bistro. Although Spirits on Ice ran just this past weekend, Silver Skate goes until February 18, 2019.

Pork belly on rice from Formosa Bistro

Campus Food Delivery Now Available

As a testament to the age we live in now – food delivery is now available at MacEwan University and the University of Alberta. StudentsEat, a company founded by MacEwan students, offers delivery to people on campus from partner restaurants on-site and from those within a one kilometer radius. They will soon be expanding to NAIT and NorQuest College.

Openings

• The Downtown location of Nello’s is now open at 11520 100 Avenue.
• Iconoclast Coffee’s branch in the Oliver Exchange building at 12019A 102 Avenue is opening this week.
• Also in the Oliver Exchange building, Brio Bakery has announced that they will open their doors on February 14, 2019.
• Cartago’s sister deli in Forest Heights has a name: Fleisch.
• American chain Church’s Chicken is coming to Edmonton.

Closures

• RE:GRUB in Old Strathcona is closed until further notice.

Reviews

• Crystal shared a pair of reviews – for the new-ish Menjiro Ramen, and for Pip.
• Stephanie tried Fuqing Lanzhou Noodles during Chinatown Dining Week.
• Also from Stephanie – she sampled the bubble waffles served only on Friday to Sunday at Awake Coffeehouse.
• Graham was satisfied by the “Canadian-ized” Cajun offerings of the north side location of Louisiana Purchase.

Local News

• 24-carat gold rose sparkling wine lollipops from Fort Saskatchewan-based Sumptuous Lollies will be included in the swag bags at the Grammy Awards.
• At Ice on Whyte this weekend, the Hotel Macdonald and Ampersand 27 took home the judges’ and people’s choice awards for their stew creations.
• Chef Paul Shufelt continues to be worried about the challenges restaurant face in this economy.
• SPUD has launched the Be Fresh Marketplace, a “digital platform for local artisans, small shops and independent grocers to sell online with consolidated delivery.” At present, in Edmonton, only some products from the Italian Centre are available on the website.
• Ian Gladue, who some may know from his Native Delights food truck, also sells traditional Indigenous dry meat under the name Pȃnsȃwȃn. It is available at all Sobeys and Safeway stores.
• Food delivery has even spread to MacEwan University through a delivery service called Students Eat, and will soon be available at NAIT and NorQuest College.
• How did Drift come to reach the success they’ve achieved to date? A piece in The Business Link blog tracks their ups and down since they launched the food truck.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• Thiel’s Greenhouses in Bruderheim have expanded their operations to include growing lettuce using hydroponics.

Beyond Edmonton

• In Calgary, the food scene is shifting to fast casual establishments, including meals served in food halls, such as the newly-opened Avenida Food Hall and Fresh Market.
• Tim Horton’s will start selling a double-double coffee bar this fall (it contains no actual chocolate).

What I Ate

• I was invited to the launch of Local Public Eatery’s new burger last week. The company’s chefs brainstormed their favourite qualities in a burger, and The Local Burger was the result. It is made up of a brioche bun, two grilled, hand-pressed patties, American cheese, caramelized onions, tomato, lettuce, and sexy sauce (with the key ingredient being liquid smoke). It was a satisfying burger to be sure – thanks to Local Jasper Avenue for hosting me!

The Local Burger at Local Public Eatery

• Padmanadi is becoming one of my go-to places to take Emily for lunch – the staff are always welcoming, and the space easily accommodates a stroller. I met up with some friends there last week and warmed up over some curry vermicelli soup.

Curry vermicelli soup from Padmanadi

• Over the weekend, Mack and I took Emily to RGE RD, one of our favourite restaurants. We were delighted to learn that they are more baby-friendly now, offering high chairs and a change table. The food and hospitality was top-rate, as always, and Emily enjoyed herself too!

Kitchen board from RGE RD

Two Food Halls Opening Soon in Edmonton

Beljan Development, the company behind the Crawford Block (home of Holy Roller, El Cortez, and Have Mercy), and Oliver Exchange (soon to house Brio Bakery, Culina Grab and Go, and Iconoclast Coffee), is working on bringing the trendy food hall concept to Edmonton. They’re planning to include food halls in the redevelopment of the Strathcona Hotel and the YMCA building downtown, with the latter, called Williams Hall, set to open in Fall 2019.

Openings

• Jack’s Sandwich Shack has replaced Ong Hanoi Style Fried Chicken at 15 Perron Street in St. Albert.
• Signage just went up announcing Ice District locations for Guru and Delux Burger Bar at the base of the Edmonton Tower.

Upcoming Events

• The next Swine and Dine will be held at Salz on February 11, 2019. Tickets for the three-course menu are $40.
• The annual Winefest returns to the Shaw Conference Centre on February 15-16, 2019. Tickets to the all-inclusive event start at $87.
• NAIT is hosting their inaugural Cook, Butcher & Baker Food Competition Showcase on February 23, 2019, featuring the top students from the Department of Culinary Arts & Professional Food Studies. Tickets are $50.
• The wildly popular medicinal plant walks with herbalist Robert Rogers always sell out – tickets for his events on July 9 and August 7, 2019 are available on EventBrite through The Local Good for $60.

Reviews

• Sharon checked out the newly-opened Artisti Pizzeria in Holland Plaza, and enjoyed the desserts more than the pizza.
• The Journal was pleased with the food and service at Aarde.
• Twyla found the fare at Copper Branch to be middle-of-the-road.
• Linda loved the food and the vibe at Brown Butter Cafe.
• Crystal was impressed with the food at Old Town Pub on Whyte Avenue.
• Andrea provides an overview of the new dishes on the revamped menu at Wilfred’s.
• Stephanie checked out Century Casino’s Vee Restaurant in St. Albert.

Local News

• Chef Steven Brochu is leaving Chartier in February to helm his own cafeteria and catering operation.
• There’s a new brewery tour in town: Canadian Craft Tours, who leads tours in BC and Calgary, is launching brewery tours in Edmonton.
• Speaking of beer, The Local Good has a great resource mapping out establishments who have at least 40% of their taps devoted to Alberta beers.
• Star Metro published a piece about a ghost kitchen operating in Edmonton, though I’m not sure it’s the first – after it closes its doors to public in mid-February, Solstice Seasonal Cuisine will still be offering food through delivery apps.
• The latest webisode of Fast Food features The Commodore’s Chef Megan Gee and her kimchi fried rice.
• Send a sweet gift that will also benefit charity: Bloom Cookies will be offering Cookie-Grams for Valentine’s Day, with $5 from each $28 box going towards the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton. On a related note the Local Good recently profiled Bloom.
• The most recent NextGen vlog highlights Cafe Linnea.
• Sylvia Cheverie from Chartier is interviewed on this week’s episode of Let’s Do Coffee, a podcast about entrepreneurship.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• The Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association is offering an Introductory Fruit Production workshop, all about fruit production and its economics in Alberta. Tickets are $50.

Beyond Edmonton

• The new Canada Food Guide has finally been released. For the most part, the reviews have been positive, and I’m a fan of the healthy eating habits included along with the food guidelines (here’s one opinion, from Food Network chef Laura Caulder).
• CBC’s Great Canadian Baking Show is accepting applications for their third season. The deadline to apply is March 10, 2019.

What I Ate

• Congratulations to Cora’s who officially opened their downtown Edmonton location on Wednesday, located at 10041 106 Street (in the Days Inn). Emily and I were happy to be part of the festivities!

Enjoying our Cora’s breakfast

• I’m always happy to see more ramen options available in the core, so I had to try Jang’s version, available on their lunch menu. I loved the miso beef broth, and of course, the house-made noodles were perfect, as would be expected from the sister restaurant to Nudoru.

Gyu ramen from Jang

• Mack and I found ourselves near the University of Alberta today, and took advantage of this proximity to check out the (no longer new) digs of Filistix in the Students’ Union Building. Their food always hits the spot, and I’m looking forward to their downtown location opening later this year (they’re hoping for April).

Comfort food from Filistix

• Chinatown Dining Week came to a close over the weekend. Mack and I snuck in one more meal at Padmanadi – it was a happy coincidence that my favourite dish (the ginger beef) made it onto the menu! If you attended Chinatown Dining Week this year, please consider filling in this survey – the results will help with the planning of future events. Thank you!

Curry chicken and ginger beef at Padmanadi

The Plight of Kitchen Labour

Chef Paul Shufelt of Workshop Eatery used his latest column in the Edmonton Sun last week to discuss the challenges faced by cooks trying to make a respectable wage: “Our system is broken, those that tell you otherwise are lying. Sadly though, until we all agree to change the way we do business…talented young cooks will continue to give up, in pursuit of something a little more financially rewarding.” He was also interviewed on Global Edmonton about his thoughts on chef compensation.

Openings

• A new bubble tea chain from China called Heeretea has opened in Old Strathcona, at 11116 82 Avenue.
• A location of the chain Delicious Pho is now open in the MNP Tower (101 Street & 102 Avenue).
• The Raymond Block at Whyte Avenue and 105 Street will soon house a Blaze Pizza and Five Guys, but another location of Remedy Cafe will open on February 2, 2019. The location will include a chai brewery.
• More of a re-opening – Austrian restaurant The Bauernschmaus is open again after a renovation.

Upcoming Events

• La Poutine Week is returning on February 1-7, 2019, providing an opportunity for participating restaurants to showcase a signature poutine. While it claims to be a national event, representation throughout Canada is spotty, with Winnipeg actually claiming the quantitative crown.
• Are you interested in opening a microbrewery? The City of Edmonton is hosting a free information session on February 12, 2019 that will include reps from AGLC.
• NAIT is hosting a Junior Chefs’ Valentine’s Dinner on February 12, 2019. Tickets for the 3-course meal are $65.
• Motley Que Barbeque is hosting an Introduction to BBQ class on March 10, 2019. Tickets start at $110.
• Hot Chefs Cool Beats is returning after a hiatus. It will take place on April 25, 2019 at the Mosaic Centre. Early bird tickets are priced at $125 and are available until February 1, 2019. I attended the inaugural event back in 2012.

Reviews

• Leduc and Stephanie previewed Gangnam Street Food.
• Graham is the latest to rave about Partake.
• The Journal reviewed Noorish, which revamped both its menu and decor.
• Crystal shared her experience of the Omakase meal at Japonais, and of the revamped happy hour menu at Joey’s.

Local News

• Mojojojo Pickles, a mainstay at local farmers’ markets, will have one final hurrah at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market next week. Thankfully, their products are stocked at many local businesses, so you’ll still be able to get your briny fix!
• David Staples profiled serial restaurant entrepreneur Tatsuo Asai, who most recently opened Tokiwa Ramen.
• Western Living says that “Edmonton’s food scene is killing it right now”.
• Did you know there is a so-called “fourth wave” of coffee? Edmonton Made makes the case that some local cafes fall into this category.
• Sharman recapped the recent Prairie on a Plate dinner at Under the High Wheel.
• Linda highlighted ten Vietnamese entrepreneurs in Edmonton, including the owners behind An Chay, Pho Boy, and XO Bistro + Bar.
• There’s a new app available called Tomati that provides information on restaurant health inspection reports.
• The Silver Skate Festival, running February 8-18, 2019, is looking for more food vendors. Applications are due January 25, 2019.

What I Ate

• I had to hit up at least one Chinatown Dining Week restaurant this weekend! Su and I met up at Fuqing Lanzhou Noodles on Friday, and found it to be a full house by the time we left! We really enjoyed their hand-pulled noodles, nestled among the beef cubes and broth. Chinatown Dining Week runs until January 27, 2019.

Noodles, beef cubes and beef bone soup at Fuqing Lanzhou Noodles

Edmonton’s First Multi-Day Indoor Farmers’ Market

The discussion about the need for a year-round multi-day farmers’ market in our city has been going on for years. Calgary has several such markets (we’ll leave their tendency to be a one-stop produce shop aside for the time being), but neither the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market or the City Market have been able to meet this demand. Enter a new player: Bountiful Markets, to be located on the south side at 3696 97 Street. Features include an ethnic food hall and space for 140 vendors. Riverbend Gardens has already signed on as a tenant. They hope to open in May or June of 2019.

Openings

• Pink Gorilla Pizzeria, which took over the former Parkallen Restaurant at 7018 109 Street, opened over the weekend. It’s the second restaurant from Mark Bellows and Ryan Brodziak of The Local Omnivore. The Journal has a preview of some of the pizzas available.
• Also on the pizza front, Artisti Pizzeria opened in Holland Plaza last week at 11998 109A Avenue.
• Al Centro opened its doors over the weekend, with soft opening hours continuing this week. Find them at 9888 Jasper Avenue.
• Amore Pasta’s downtown location at 10235 101 Street in the MNP Tower opened today! They had to delay their opening a week due to mechanical issues.
• A new coffee shop in Jagare Ridge called Caffiend Coffee is opening on January 18, 2019 at 14132 28 Avenue SW.
• Gangnam Street Food has delayed their opening to January 24, 2019. Lydia has a photolog of what to expect.
• Nello’s in St. Albert is opening a location in downtown Edmonton in the space formerly occupied by his father’s restaurant, Il Pasticcio (11520 100 Avenue). Some may remember back in 2013, Nello’s tried their hand at a space in Grandin (now The Butternut Tree), but was unsuccessful.
• The brewpub that will open in the former Characters space now has a name: Campio Brewing.
• Ritchie has developed into a hot neighbourhood for new food shops over the past two years. Another business to join the fray – Kind Ice Cream, which will offer small batch ice cream (including vegan options). They hope to open in the spring.

Closures

• Solstice Seasonal Cuisine is closing on February 16, 2019. The owners are looking into opening a new concept in the space by the end of the year, but in the meantime, Solstice will still be offering their food via Skip the Dishes, and use the restaurant as an event space.
• The downtown location of the Three Amigos has closed.

Upcoming Events

• Otto is hosting the next Swine & Dine dinner on January 31, 2019. Tickets for the 4-course meal are $55.
• Tickets to Avenue’s Best Restaurants event on March 18, 2019 are now available. They are $50 each.
• The Edmonton International Beerfest sets up shop at the Shaw Conference Centre on March 22-23, 2019. Advance admission tickets are $19.

Reviews

• Twyla raved about the food and drinks at Partake.
• Graham was less than impressed with Chef Hung’s Taiwanese Beef Noodles.

Local News

• The Journal covered Chinatown Dining Week, which runs January 17-27, 2019.
• In case you missed it, The Yards selected the winners for their forth annual Best in the Core awards, which features many hidden and not-so-hidden gems in Downtown and Oliver.
• Chef Ben Staley’s previous restaurant Alder Room was featured in Truth, Love & Clean Cutlery, a “guide to the world’s truly exemplary, organic, sustainable, and ethical restaurants”.
• Love Pizza has opened up their business to franchise partners.
• The latest webisode of Fast Food features Filistix’s Ariel Del Rosario’s chicken and pork adobo.
• Chef Steve Buzak of the Royal Glenora Club placed second along with his teammate in an international ice carving competition in Harbin, China.
• The newest episode of The Edmonton Community Foundation’s Well Endowed Podcast features an interview with Jon Hall and Twyla Campbell. They discuss the biography of Chef Gail Hall that they published late last year.

What I Ate

• Our Chinatown Dining Week team met at Kanto 98 St. Eatery last week, where I tried their incredibly addictive garlic fried rice for the first time. It won’t be my last time.

Our meal at Kanto

• It was definitely a Love Pizza kind of night on Friday – Mack and I have been looking forward to the return of the mac & cheeza for almost a year! It was just as delicious as we remembered.

Mac & cheeza from Love Pizza

• Mack, Emily, and I stopped in at Al Centro on Saturday on our way home from the City Market. They were clearly in soft opening mode, but we decided to sample one of their pizzas on offer – they have the distinction of being Edmonton’s first Roman pizza bar. The slice was just under $6, which was on the pricey side, but we did really enjoy the crust – it held up nicely and had a great chew.

Potato and bacon pizza from Al Centro

• Heading to Deep Freeze on the weekend was a good excuse to finally visit The Green Onion Cake Man! We tried their hot and sour soup and of course their namesake item. The shop has added even more items since Linda reviewed them in the fall – check out the full menu.

Green onion cakes and hot and sour soup from The Green Onion Cake Man

• This isn’t “what I ate” so much as a “where I could eat” – has anyone else noticed that the Courtyard Marriott has winterized their tables overlooking the North Saskatchewan River? I spotted these a few weeks ago on the funicular, but didn’t have the chance to check them out until the weekend. They can seat up to six, and there are blankets for warmth. Staff weren’t certain they’d hold up on very cold days, but on sunny afternoons, they definitely trap heat. Worth a look for those seeking winter patios!

The Riverside Bistro patio at the Courtyard Marriott

Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed the holidays – I know we did. Christmas does seem more magical with a little one around! I am playing a bit of catch up with these notes, however, as I’ve missed a couple of weeks. Regular readers will also notice a slightly new format. I might still tweak the categories here and there in the weeks to come, but I hope these changes will make it easier to read!

Chinatown Dining Week Returns

The second annual Chinatown Dining Week runs from January 17-27, 2019. Like last year, all restaurants are offering 2-course dinners for $15. With 8 participating restaurants, including Kanto 98 St. and Padmanadi, there is something for everyone on the menu! Learn more about the new restaurants on board, and whet your appetite with the menus here.

Openings

• Amore Pasta is opening its second location downtown at 10235 101 Street on January 7, 2019. From the folks behind Cafe Amore and Black Pearl, this quick-serve eatery will offer made-to-order pastas from a selection of sauces, vegetables, and proteins. Interestingly enough, they’ll also be open for breakfast during the week; Amore Pasta is open weekdays from 8am-9pm and on weekends from 11am-9pm. Leduc has a preview of what to expect.
• Pink Gorilla Pizza, which has taken over the space formerly occupied by Parkallen Restaurant, will be aiming to open on January 12, 2019. It’s a new restaurant from the folks behind The Local Omnivore.
• There’s yet another new microbrewery opening called SYC Brewing Co. They’re celebrating their grand opening with a party on January 12, 2018. Tickets are $20 which includes a flight of beers and food from Smokehouse BBQ.
• Gangnam Street Food is a forthcoming addition to the “K-Mall” area, at #15, 9261 34 Avenue. They will be opening on January 14, 2018.
• I’m a huge fan of Todd’s sourdough breads, so am eagerly awaiting Brio Bakery’s brick and mortar storefront, located in the Oliver Exchange Building at 12021 102 Avenue. They’re hoping for a January opening.
• Dauphine has finally opened their new bakery and cafe in Montrose, located at 6005 120 Avenue. Some may remember their beautiful space on 104 Street which closed back in 2016. Linda and Paul have already begun serving brunch, too!
• Copper Branch, the latest plant-based franchise to land in Edmonton, is now open downtown at 10316 Jasper Avenue.
• Curry Vibes is now open in the Mayfair, at 10827 Jasper Avenue.

Closures

• The Sequel Cafe has shuttered, but has announced that they plan to reopen in the core in the future.
• I was sorry to hear about the closing of El Rancho, one of my go-to eateries on Alberta Avenue.
• Holy Roller is currently closed for renovations and will reopen with a new concept.
• Cally’s Teas in Old Strathcona is also now closed.

Upcoming Events

• The first Taste Alberta Prairie on a Plate dinner will take place January 17, 2019 at Under the High Wheel. Tickets for the 4-course meal are $65.
• The Hotel Macdonald is hosting a Grand High Tea Celebration on January 26, 2019 to celebrate the launch of their custom tea blend. A Master Tea Sommelier will be on hand. Tickets are $75 per person.

Reviews

• The Journal finds a lot to like at Three Vikings.
• Crystal shared her thoughts on 104 Street newcomer Aarde, High Street bar Partake, and Sherwood Park restaurant Mexico Lindo.
• Graham is enthusiastic about the breakfasts served at OEB.
• Sharon has a pair of posts about Tokyo Noodle Shop and Sushi Wasabi.
• Leduc posted his experience of the “road trip” tasting menu at RGE RD.

Local News

• Where Edmonton released its 2018 Best Restaurant Awards. Among the honours, they named named Noi Le the best new restaurant.
• The brownie from Sugared and Spiced was officially crowned the winner of the 2018 Snack Checker on CBC!
• Nominations for The Tomato’s annual list of Best Things to Eat or Drink in Edmonton is now open and closes February 5, 2019.
• Liane covered the origins of Eat Local, new food magazine that launched in Edmonton in December.
• Graham is of the opinion that tipping is out of control.
• Linda has a great read on what businesses should consider when working with social media influencers.
• The High Level Diner’s Kim Franklin is retiring from the restaurant.
• Katy Ingraham shared the journey that led her to owning Cartago.
• Avenue Edmonton published profiles of Bloom Cookie Co. and Caffe Sole.
• Did you know that Rogue Wave offers coffee subscriptions?
• Phil’s latest Fast Food webisode features RGE RD’s Chef Davina Moraiko’s recipe for a mushroom burger.

Year in Review

• Liane has a great look back at Edmonton’s 2018 in food.
• CBC Edmonton’s food team selects their favourite dishes and drinks in 2018.
• Graham recalls some of his favourite dishes from the past year.
• Crystal ranked her top 24 Edmonton eateries for 2018.
• Linda rounds up her year of eating out in Edmonton.
• Eat North has a round-up of the 10 most memorable dishes in Alberta.

Urban Agriculture and Farming

• There is currently a wait list for those hoping to raise urban hens in Edmonton.
• The Journal profiled Nisku-based mushroom farm Gruger Family Fungi.
• An Edmonton-based company called Future Fields is working on growing chicken products to feed the need for cultured meat.

Beyond Edmonton

• An obligatory food predictions post from the Times about what we’ll be eating more of in 2019.

What I Ate

• I finally had the chance to order some doughnuts from Apollo Donuts to try (they’re available by pre-order only, for pick-up on their production days at Transcend or The Colombian). I really liked their blackberry yuzu glaze.

Apollo Donuts

• I’m determined to eat my way through OEB’s breakfast poutines, and so far, the confit de canard is my favourite! It was still as busy as ever last week, but as they do offer reservations on weekdays, I’d highly recommend planning ahead if possible.

Confit de Canard at OEB

• Mack, Emily, and I managed to sneak in for the brunch at Northern Chicken at the end of December. Their biscuits are unreal – I really enjoyed the breakfast sandwich featuring a sausage patty, egg, and cheese.

Breakfast sandwich at Northern Chicken

• Edmonton is home to a new food-focused magazine called Eat Local. Their inaugural issue can now be found at a number of locations in the city.
• The Cave Paleo Beastro opened in mid-November at 102, 6104 104 Street.
• Pampa’s third Edmonton location in the west end is now open at 17020 100 Avenue.
• Cora’s now has a location Downtown that just opened at 10041 106 Street.
• Edmonton’s newest brewery is Omen Brewing (9942 67 Avenue), having opened in early December. Listen to an Edmonton AM segment to learn more about them.
• The folks behind Hanjan will be opening a new Korean restaurant called Let’s Go Round Two on December 21, 2018. They claim to offer Edmonton’s first tableside tablet ordering system.
• The space that currently houses Characters will be reborn after December 31, 2018 as a bistro/brewery as it has been leased to Bear Hill Brewing Company.
• Kitchen by Brad’s annual holiday sale takes place on December 21, 2018 at #101, 10130 105 Street. Pick up some last-minute stocking stuffers or hostess gifts!
• Chartier is offering up samples of their sourdough starter on December 21, 2018 in exchange for a donation to the Chantal Berube Youth Centre.
• The second annual Chinatown Dining Week returns January 17-27, 2019 with 5 new participating restaurants! Menus will be released on January 7, 2019.
• Save the date: Hot Chefs, Cool Beats is returning on April 25, 2019.
• CBC explores Nook Cafe’s innovative approach to serving Edmonton’s vulnerable population.
• The Journal reviewed Jang.
• Twyla is the latest to rave about Kanu.
• Graham is disappointed with the quality during his most recent visit to Solstice Seasonal Cuisine.
• Crystal sampled the classic fare at Jack’s Drive-In in Spruce Grove.
• On the heels of Linda’s giveaways, Andrea is also celebrating her love of local food with 12 days of giveaways.
• A new Korean grocer is open on the southside called A-Mart at 9251 34 Avenue.
• NAIT will be opening a new Centre for Culinary Innovation in summer 2019.
• My family met up for dinner at Formosa Bistro, a Taiwanese restaurant on the south side. We enjoyed the food, but most dishes really weren’t intended for family-style sharing (broth-based noodle dishes in particular). The standout was their popcorn chicken, crispy and well seasoned.

Popcorn chicken from Formosa Bistro

• I was fortunate to have two meals at King Noodle House in two weeks! You can never have too much Bun Bo Hue.

My standard at King Noodle House

• There’s a new spot for ramen that just opened on the south side called Menjiro Ramen, located at 109, 2920 Calgary Trail.
• Via Cindy, I just learned about a new Northern Chinese restaurant called Luscious Kitchen, located at Unit 2, 9261 34 Avenue.
• Graham reports that the family behind Parkallen Retaurant has sold the building but hopes to reopen the restaurant elsewhere.
• Prairie Noodle is hosting a “throwback to 2015” pop-up party on December 15, 2018, where they will be offering their ramen bowls at 2015 prices.
• The second Fox Burger pop-up is scheduled for December 17, 2018 at Salz. Reservations are required.
• The Tourtiere Baking Contest returns to Deep Freeze on January 13, 2019. Prizes will be awarded to the top three tourtieres! The deadline to enter is January 10.
• Famoso is currently participating in a campaign for Mealshare – with every jar of Campania Tomato Sauce sold until December 31, 2018, meals will be provided to youth in Edmonton.
• I wasn’t aware that The Hallway Cafe (located in City Hall) also has a suspended coffee/pay-it-forward program similar to The Nook Cafe!
• A fire at Zar Zor restaurant in the north side is under investigation.
• Graham submitted a rave review for Kanu.
• Leduc was hoping for more from Wilfred’s.
• Sharman recapped the latest Swine and Dine dinner prepared by Drift at the Shamrock Curling Club (their home over the winter).
• Phil is the host of a new CBC web series called Fast Food that focuses on what chefs like to cook at home. The first episode features Chef Steven Brochu of Chartier.
• A new kitchen facility has opened at NorQuest College to accommodate a Foundations of Cooking program. The centre will also host one-day cooking classes that are open to the public.
• We’ve seen restaurants in the #yegfood scene move away from policies that eliminated tips – Grub Street has a breakdown of why this has been the trend in the US.
• Trusted Freshness is a growing Edmonton-based vegetable greenhouse that operates on a franchising model.
• We aren’t able to pop into King Noodle House as often as we used to, but it means we appreciate the Bun Bo Hue even more when we do make it in!

Start ‘em young…