• Both Andrea and Cindy are giving away the chance to dine at the upcoming NAIT Chef in Residence Luncheon on March 10, 2016, which will feature the food of Chef Vikram Vij.
• Mark your calendars: Downtown Dining Week runs March 11-20, 2016. Prix fixe meals will be offered at 36 restaurants at $15, $28 and $48 price points. There are some good deals to be had, including a $15 lunch at Pampa with access to their salad bar and three Rodizio meats.
• The next Swine and Dine pop-up event is taking place at the Royal Glenora Club on March 17, 2016. Tickets for the four-course meal are $75.
• The 2016 edition of Seedy Sunday is taking place on March 20, 2016 in a new location, the Central Lions Seniors Centre (11113 113 Street). It’ll be interesting to see if their attendance spikes this year, with all the speculation that increasing produce prices will entice more novice gardeners.
• Smokehouse BBQ is changing the direction of their sister shop on 124 Street – from Pie Eatery to Stuffed Gourmet Sausage.
• Calle Mexico is the latest food truck to open up a brick and mortar restaurant. You will be able to find them at 107 Avenue and 113 Street.
• It looks like a new ramen place is coming to Whyte Avenue, called Nu Do Ru.
• The new Orange Market at 10401 82 Avenue, a 24-7 convenience store, features an Urbano Pizza location inside.
• Avenue Magazine released their list of best restaurants for 2016: RGE RD was named best overall, with NongBu scoring best new restaurant. Avenue has added a weekly Food + Drink newsletter to its roster. If you sign up, it will be e-mailed to you every Tuesday.
• Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list for 2016 has just been released. Edmonton has 3 establishments that made the cut: Bar Bricco, Corso and Rostizado.
• Linda offers us a peek behind the scenes at Cobs Bread during hot cross bun season, and is also providing a chance to win bread for a year and an Easter prize pack.
• The Breakfast Club checks out the Nordic Brunch offered at Victoria Golf Course’s Dogwood Cafe, run by the folks behind Culina.
• Jonny is the first to review Baha Cabana (13716 Castle Downs Road), a Caribbean-Chinese restaurant on the north side.
• Lindsey and Ms. Hangry Foodie are the latest local bloggers to review Love Pizza.
• Phil’s latest Off Menu Podcast features Twyla Campbell and Dan Clapson discussing the food scenes of Edmonton and Calgary.
• Vue Weekly profiles Passion de France, an upstart pastry shop on 118 Avenue.
• Liv had a great piece in the Globe & Mail covering the evolution of Edmonton’s coffee roasting scene.
• Did you know that cereal has been on a downward trend? The big brands are trying to find their way back into consumers hearts.
• We finally checked out Planet Organic’s new location at 12210 Jasper Avenue. No doubt it’s a beautiful store, with an expanded ready-to-eat section (it was great to see Phil & Sebastian coffee available).

Planet Organic

• On Saturday, Mack and I finally had the chance to pop by Blue Hour Tea’s storefront located in Vacancy Hall in basement of the Mercer Warehouse (10359 104 Street). The local company blends their own teas, and at Vacancy Hall’s season opener on March 12, 2016, they’ll be debuting their version of an iced tea. We picked up some of their Sleep blend to try.

Blue Hour Tea

• We couldn’t help but pick up Confetti Sweets cookies over the weekend at the City Market. It was the perfect snack to accompany an evening with an Oscar-nominated flick (Spotlight, a movie we really enjoyed).

Confetti Sweets

• Marry your love of chocolate and charity – the Red Shoe Society is hosting a tasting of Jacek chocolates on March 5, 2016 that will benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Northern Alberta. Tickets are $35.
• I’m disappointed that Chef Ben Staley’s new restaurant, The Alder Room, has shifted from its previously announced location in McCauley, but at least it’s moving forward. They announced last week that they’ve secured space at 10328 Jasper Avenue, and it will be home to not one, but two restaurants – Alta will be a natural wine bar and cold kitchen.
• Congratulations to the winners of the third annual Winter City Edmonton Signature Drink Competition.
• Nando’s of peri-peri chicken fame, is opening up its first Edmonton location on February 26, 2016 at 4210 Gateway Boulevard.
• Jonny is the first to review the Northern Chinese eatery Wheat Garden Noodle & Dumpling Bazaar on 107 Avenue.
• Speaking of 107 Avenue, Wheat Garden took over the former Old Szechuan Restaurant digs, which has since relocated to Old Strathcona. Vue Weekly visited their new location.
• Ms. Hangry Foodie checks out The Local Omnivore.
• Phil’s latest Brunch Odyssey took him to Ampersand 27 and Wildflower Grill.
• The Local Grill shines a spotlight on Spencer Thompson and his restaurant, Alberta Hotel Bar & Kitchen.
• Restaurants have to account for rising food costs too – but instead of passing the buck to diners, some chefs are getting creative to manage menu prices by substituting cheaper ingredients for pricier ones, or reducing serving sizes.
• It was disheartening to hear about the fire that razed the Beverly location of the Italian Bakery that prepared 99% of the businesses’ bread.
• Dynasty Century Palace has been fined $42,000 for public health violations.
• Congratulations to Confetti Sweets, which will again be heading down to spread cookie joy at a pre-Oscar party in Hollywood.
• Mel shares that Dial and Dine has shut down.
• Eat Alberta shared some changes they’ve made in 2016: they’ll be launching a series of smaller events this year, and will be postponing the workshop conference until 2017.
• Worried about the rising cost of produce? Support local and family farms by choosing Community Supported Agriculture. Vesta Gardens is currently selling shares for the 2016 growing season.
• There’s a forthcoming bubble tea cafe coming to Downtown in April, called Bohemian Tea Zone at 10173 109 Street.

Bohemian Tea Zone

It was great to have an extra day off – I hope you were able to enjoy it with your loved ones! On to this week’s food notes:

• Rostizado will be hosting a five-course collaboration dinner with Top Chef Canada winner Rene Rodriguez on February 21, 2016. Tickets are $150 and include wine pairings.
• The Westend Food Hub Alliance, in partnership with The Organic Box and Trinity United Church, are hosting a free screening of Michael Pollan’s documentary “In Defense of Food” on February 26, 2016.
• Prairie Noodle will be hosting a pop-up with Effing Seafoods on February 28, 2016. $50 will get you freshly shucked oysters, a seafood ramen bowl, and drinks.
• Soy and Pepper, billed as a “modern Korean eatery” is now open at 11212 Jasper Avenue.
• The Chvrch of John is also now open with a focus on interesting cocktails.
• Sandwich and Sons is expanding downtown, and will be sharing Sante’s space at 10184 104 Street. They hope to open up by the end of February.
• No Way Jose’s Taqueria opened in Sherwood Park back in early December at #144, 160 Broadway Boulevard.
• Andrea is the latest to visit Love Pizza.
• Twyla was disappointed by her two meals at The Almanac and recommends that patrons stay for drinks and skip the food.
• The newest Off Menu podcast is all about tipping.
• The 2016 Golden Fork Awards ballot is now out – vote for your favourite dishes and restaurants for your chance to win $500 in gift certificates.
• The Journal dives into how grocery stores are trying to vye for your business amidst rising prices.
• Dan shared his scratch ramen noodle recipe on Lillian’s blog – if you’re ever wondered if it’s possible to recreate it at home, Dan has done the legwork for you with his research.
• Grub Street ruminates on the “ridiculous rise of viral food and the great line apocalypse”.
• After too many desk lunches to count, it was nice to get out last week for some warming noodle soup at Tao Garden.

Satay soup with egg noodles, tofu puffs, beef balls and wontons

• Our Chinese New Year celebrations continued over the weekend, including our annual prosperity toss.

Happy Chinese New Year!

• Mack and I also checked out the Lunar New Year festivities in Chinatown – our annual dose of firecrackers and lion dancers. It was a mild one, which I’m sure the performers and audience members were more than happy about!

Dragon dancers from McNally High School

• Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Jacek has joined in on the subscription trend – for your sweetheart with a sweet tooth, Jacek is offering a Valentine’s Chocolate Subscription with a half dozen deliveries over the next 11 months. The cost is $200.
• The next COMAL Mexican Table Dinner is taking place February 24 and 25, 2016, but it looks like tickets are only available for one of the dates. 6 courses for $86.
• The latest Friends of the Royal Alberta Museum dinner celebrates Persian New Year with the Ismaili Council for Edmonton on February 28, 2016. Tickets are $49 and include a feast, music and dance.
• Mark your calendars – the Local Good’s annual Green Drinks centering on local food will be taking place on March 2, 2016 at 7pm.
• NAIT announced today that Vikram Vij is this year’s Chef in Residence. The annual luncheon, prepared by Chef Vij and NAIT Culinary students, is taking place on March 11, 2016. Win one of four pairs of tickets to the luncheon here. Also, this is the eighth year of the Chef in Residence program – relive the past seven years of guest chefs here.
• Most beer and wine tastings rarely focus just on locally-produced labels, so it’s great to see that 7degrees Beer School on March 18, 2016 is choosing to highlight 13 different beers from 13 Alberta breweries.
• I’m so glad to hear that the Edmonton Journal has reversed their decision about Liane Faulder. She’s back in a full time position, but will write about food part-time.
• Cindy has the jump on Seoul Fried Chicken, the newest Korean fried chicken purveyor in Edmonton. It’s located in the former Lee House space in Old Strathcona (7904b 104 Street).
• Thanks to Wendy, I received the news that Bubba’s has since moved from their Osman Auction location to a new temporary shop at 97 Street and 58 Avenue.
• It looks like Coco Deep Fried Chicken has opened a second location on the north side, at 12620E 132 Avenue in Kensington.
• Andrea checked out Washoku Bistro on 124 Street.
• Congratulations to Yvan Chartrand of Bonjour Bakery for winning the Bakers Journal Business Innovation Award. I was also interested to learn that he’ll be launching a line of house-cured charcuterie.
• Rebecca shared the news last week that B’s Diner will be closing down due to the steep rent prices in Old Strathcona. She’s subsequently started a crowdfunding campaign to help owner Brenda Der continue B’s Diner in the form of a food truck.
• Did you know that Press’d, since opening in 2010, has grown to a dozen locations in Alberta through the franchise model? They’re also considering expansion into neighbouring BC.
• The popular Whyte Avenue cafe Block 1912 is closing from February 15 – March 15 for renovations.
• If you’re looking for a local meat supplier, you may want to investigate 12 Acres Farm, which supplies the restaurant of the same name in St. Albert.
• I know I’ll be watching Michael Pollan’s new series, Cooked, when it drops on Netflix February 19, 2016. Check out the trailer here.
• The downtown branch of State & Main located at First & Jasper (10065 Jasper Avenue) will be opening its doors on February 10, 2016.

State & Main

• It was great to see the products of Untamed Feast, an Edmonton-based company, on the shelves of the Italian Centre this weekend! The product line includes an assortment of dried wild mushrooms, as well as risotto and soup mixes.

Untamed Feast

• A few friends and I headed to NongBu for dinner on Friday night. Service was spotty, and though I enjoyed the 3 mushroom japchae, I think I do prefer Lee House’s version.

3 mushroom japchae from NongBu

• We had a weekend of Chinese New Year celebrations, with more to come. Happy Lunar New Year to those celebrating!

Our Chinese New Year Eve dinner

• The YEG Food Crawl is hosting a second crawl in Little Italy on February 18, 2016. Tickets are $40 a person and will be released on February 4, 2016. They sold out in less than a day last time, so be ready if you’re interested in attending!
• MacEwan is hosting a panel on local and sustainable food on February 9, 2016, featuring food writers and an industry professional.
• Little Brick Home School is back in time for Valentine’s Day. Learn to make homemade pasta and taste some champagne with your sweetheart on February 11, 2016. Tickets are $100 each.
• Avenue Edmonton will be celebrating Edmonton’s best restaurants at the launch of their March issue. The event will be held on February 29, 2016 at The Oasis Centre. Tickets are $40 each.
• Love Pizza (10196 109 Street) officially opened its doors on January 29, 2016. It’s already receiving positive reviews, most notably from Cindy. If you’re planning a visit, you might want to join their loyalty program to get $5 off your first pie.
• St. Sophia Parish will be hosting a perogy supper on March 12, 2016 from 4:30-7pm at Archbishop Jordan Catholic High School (4001 Emerald Drive). $15 for adults, and $5 for kids aged 6-12.
• Cindy shares her recent lunch experience at Edmonton’s newest Japanese restaurant Washoku Bistro (10702 124 Street).
• Jonny is the first to file a review on The Almanac, a new gastropub on Whyte Avenue.
• Phil is beginning a new Odyssey this year – a quest to find Edmonton’s best brunch. He starts off with meals at Hart’s Table and Workshop Eatery.
• On the topic of brunch, Cindy checks out Cured’s foray into the brunch scene.
• Cindy also recaps the Anju pop-up at North 53 that took place over the weekend.
• The Journal is the latest to check out Prairie Noodle Shop.
• Jonny puts RGE RD back on the radar with a rave review on their food and service.
• It’s a direction most writers aren’t taking, but Liv will be moving back to print media by contributing to the Globe & Mail, and ceasing her regular blog updates. She published a piece in the Globe last week about the transition from food trucks to brick and mortar shops for some Alberta vendors.
• The Tea Girl has started a crowdfunding campaign to support its expansion into the neighbouring space. They’re hoping to raise $10,000 which will go towards the renovation costs.
• CBC provides a peek into Reclaim Urban Farm’s indoor vertical garden located in the warehouses of Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery Edmonton.
• Edmontonian Rebecca Schellenberg is undertaking a project called Suppers with Strangers, her quest to eat 15 meals with 15 strangers in February and document it all.
• Is it worth it to order a custom burger at McDonalds? Liane dives into the subject on behalf of CBC.
• Applications for the 2016 Canadian Food Championships are now open. The categories include: bacon, burger, dessert, sandwich, seafood and a new category, steak. Winners of the CFC get to represent Canada at the World Food Championships in the US.
• We’ll see how long it takes for the elimination of tipping to trickle to Edmonton, but it’s interesting to see that a public poll in the US shows that a majority of Americans are for tipping.
• I’ve been under the weather lately, so I haven’t had the energy to leave the house, much less venture onto roads less travelled, food wise. And though it may not have been the wisest choice for a recovery meal, we indulged in some Chinese takeout over the weekend. Although Garden Bakery was efficient, the food wasn’t as good as I remembered.

Our Garden Bakery go-to dishes – fried rice, beef chow fun and chow mein

It’s been a whirlwind few weeks at work, so a weekend getaway to Jasper was just what I needed to relax. Though I always look forward to periodic planned vacations, it was a good reminder that even a day or two away can be rejuvenating. On to this week’s food notes:

• The biggest news this week is an unfortunate item – amongst the Postmedia staff laid off on Tuesday was Liane Faulder, the Edmonton Journal’s food writer. To say this is a loss for #yegfood is an understatement, as there are few local writers who profile our food community in the way that Liane has over the last eight years. She will be missed in that role, but I have no doubt she will be on to another exciting chapter.
• North 53 will be opening up a sister restaurant in Mercer Warehouse, and even more exciting, they’ll be trying out a different concept.
• Careit Urban Deli is the first confirmed business for The Fox’s retail level. I’m looking forward to having a deli in the neighbourhood!
• There’s a new tea purveyor in town called Blue Hour Tea, and they’re open in Vacancy Hall (the basement of Mercer Warehouse on 104 Street & 104 Avenue).
• Edmonton will soon be home to another local brewer called Polar Park Brewing! They’ll be opening up in the former Bee Bell Bakery (80 Ave & 104 Street), and though they’ll have a tap room, a full-service restaurant isn’t in the plans.
• There’s also a new distillery based out of Nisku, called Big Rig Craft Distillery.
• Christine shared her Sunday brunch experience at Yellowhead Brewery (where they serve $2 beer mimosas).
• Speaking of brunch buffets, Linda checked out Fort Edmonton Park’s Hotel Selkirk brunch, and is offering the chance to win brunch for two.
• The Journal also featured a brunch review of Café Bicyclette last week.
• I hadn’t heard of Lan Phu Thai until seeing it on Jonny’s blog – it’s about a year old in the former Café du Sol space.
• Also from Jonny – he revisits Mama Lee’s Kitchen and finds some unfortunate changes.
• The Edmonton Food Council is interested in learning about your thoughts and perceptions about the local food system. The survey will be open until February 15, 2016.
• It’s never too early to start thinking about summer: Reclaim Urban Farm just opened up their Community Supported Agriculture shares for 2016.

• Farm to Fork Eatery is a forthcoming restaurant in Sherwood Park (Unit 148, 2755 Broadmoor Blvd), with their first dinner service taking place on January 20, 2016.
• YEG Women in Wine is made up of a group of wine professionals who “empower women to realize the full potential of a career in the wine business through education, networking and mentorship.” They are hosting a Food & Wine Series that kicks off 2016 at Workshop Eatery on January 25, 2016. The cost is $32 for a 3-course meal.
• There will be some sort of collaboration between Calgary’s popular Korean restaurant Anju and North 53 on January 31, 2016. More details to come.
• The first Edmonton Food Fight of 2016 sees Chefs Doreen Prei and Steven Brochu go head to head on February 1, 2016. Tickets are $59 each.
• There’s a lot of discussion about rising vegetable prices (everyone was talking about the price of cauliflower, in particular, it seems), so get ahead of the curve and think about supporting local at the same time with a Community Supported Agriculture share from Riverbend Gardens.
• Liane shared some food news, including a new brunch option at Get Cooking, starting January 23. Chef Dorren Prei will be preparing food in the open, serving up dishes family-style. Prices are $45 for adults and $22.50 for children 7-13.
• Liane also learned about the Westin’s new chef, Chef Geoffrey Caswell-Murphy, who won a bronze in Regina’s Gold Medal Plates competition.
• The new JW Marriott in the arena district will feature a restaurant operated by Toronto-based Oliver and Bonacini.
• I still have yet to visit 1st RND (though I’m holding out hope that Real Sports might one day make it out west), but it sounds like the Journal was satisfied with the experience.
• Linda is the latest to visit Sambol Sri Lankan Kitchen.
• Jonny reviewed Won Jung Gak, a once much-lauded Korean/Chinese restaurant which has probably fallen off the radar for many.
• Vue Weekly explores how some food truck operators keep busy in the off-season.
• Eat North explains the facts behind some Edmonton restaurants’ numbered names.
• Phil’s latest Off Menu podcast is an interview with Yellowknife resident Chef Robin Wasicuna.
• Chefs with Issues is a website that helps bring awareness about the mental health challenges faced by staff in the hospitality industry.
• It was cold out there on the weekend! Mack and I warmed up with some soup at Pho Hoan Pasteur.

Pho with brisket and meatballs from Pho Hoan Pasteur

• We also had hot pot with the family, for the second time in a week. It’s definitely a cold weather dinner!

Hot pot at home

• The third annual Winter Signature Drink Contest is now open! You have until January 31, 2016 to submit your concoction for a warming alcoholic or virgin brew.
• It looks like the demand for food crawls is alive and well – the tickets to the YEG Food Crawl in Little Italy on January 28, 2016 sold out in less than a day. Hopefully there are more events to come!
• Sad food-related news to share: Call the Kettle Black is closing on the eve of their twentieth anniversary, due to changing shopping habits skewing to more online sales and the adjacent bridge closure. They will be open until January 30, 2016 to vacate their remaining stock.
• Both the Journal and CBC paid visits to Workshop Eatery.
• More love for Prairie Noodle Shop from the Andrea and the Edmonton Sun.
• Cheryl visited 97 Hot Pot for lunch, and found a great deal for $13.
• Vue Weekly stopped by South Indian restaurant Kerala on the south side.
• Jonny reviews a hidden gem in Little Italy – Abyssinia Restaurant.
• Lillian made some respectable food resolutions for 2016. I know for us, we will continue to reduce our food waste at home.
• I failed to link to Vue Weekly’s 2015 wrap-up articles last week – on notable restaurants, the year in food, and Edmonton’s year in wine.
• I also haven’t yet linked to Jennifer Cockrall-King’s piece on the trend of modern dining experiences – is good food not enough?
• The U.S. released their 2015 Dietary Guidelines, and it’s full of euphemisms and confusing language, the result of the involvement of lobbyists and political interests.
• A colleague and I needed a quick lunch in the neighbourhood on Friday, and with a jam-packed Prairie Noodle, we opted for Delicious Pho a few doors down. Unfortunately, it did not live up to its namesake, with a broth that is unlikely made from scratch.

Pho with brisket and meatballs from Delicious Pho

• We celebrated Mack’s birthday with a belated dinner at Tzin over the weekend. While we couldn’t pass up their famous bacon, we also enjoyed their paella for two, and the true standout of the evening, grilled bison with a great northern bean puree and a shiitake compote.

Bison with a great northern bean puree and a shiitake compote

• It was a cold one on Saturday when we stopped by the Deep Freeze Festival. So we padded our winter fat by indulging in the poutine.

Guilty pleasure

I was back at work last week, so gave myself a bit more transition time from the holidays with another week away from the blog. I hope your 2016 has started off happy! On to this week’s food notes:

• 12 Acres is hosting a collaborative dinner on January 16, 2016, featuring a 6 course meal prepared by Chefs Cory Rakowski and guest chef Robin Waiscuna from Yellowknife.
• The Tomato is currently compiling its list of 100 Best Things to Eat in Edmonton. Submit your favourites from January 4-29, 2016.
• Phil posted that the new Washoku Japanese Bistro is set to open on January 12, 2016 at the corner of 124 Street and 107 Avenue.
• Eva noticed that the former Wok Box storefront on Jasper Avenue and 112 Street is soon to be a Korean restaurant called Soy & Pepper.
• Driving past it the other day, we just noticed that the New Asian Village location at 10149 Saskatchewan Drive has changed ownership, and is now The Great Indian Factory. Anyone been?
• Linda checked out Walia Ethiopian Restaurant, the newest establishment to join the 124 Street neighbourhood.
• The Journal wished for more consistency from Alberta Hotel Bar & Kitchen.
• Jonny visited another new-ish Korean restaurant called Korean Grill.
• Liane put together a great piece summarizing Edmonton’s food scene in 2015. Looking forward, she also does her best to predict what we might see in 2016.
• CBC shared their round-up of best food establishments in a variety of categories, including best breakfast spot, cheap eats, and best food truck. In my opinion, the category of best ramen should have been saved for another year when there will be more options to choose from, but to each their own.
• Where Edmonton named Workshop Eatery its best new restaurant of 2015. I think it shows a lot of promise, but given it only opened in mid-November, were there no other longer-standing options?
• YEGFoodie shared her 2015 year in review.
• John Gilchrist names Calgary’s best new restaurants of 2015, with Charbar, Pigeonhole and Whitehall tying for the top spot.
• Mack sent me an article about Mast Brothers, and their not-so-secret past passing off Vahlrona-based chocolate as their own bean-to-bar concoctions. To that effect, the NYT did a blind taste test of various bars, where the Mast Brothers did not make their top ten.
• I couldn’t quite catch it while whizzing by, but it looks like the Old Szechuan Restaurant has relocated from their 107 Avenue digs to Old Strathcona. A new restaurant has already put up signage in its place.

Wheat Garden Noodle & Dumpling Bazaar

• This was a notice up at a Superstore branch we stopped at last week. I’m sure it won’t be the last notice of its kind over the next year.

Customer Notice at Superstore

• Though my holiday wasn’t as long as I would have liked, we certainly made up for it in food. There was dim sum at Tasty Noodle (creeping up to be my favourite dim sum restaurant in Edmonton).

Dim sum spread at Tasty Noodle

• We also had brunch with friends at Meat, which continues to be a hidden gem in Edmonton’s weekend scene.

Beef brisket benny at Meat

• And to celebrate Mack’s birthday, we had our first Cake Club delivery of an absolutely stunning (and delicious) carrot cake.

Sugared and Spiced carrot cake for the birthday boy!

It’s been a whirlwind December, so I’m looking forward to Christmas now more than ever. All the best of the season to you and your family! On to this week’s food notes:

• The Hoang Long Fresh Market is hosting a free lunch for the less fortunate on December 30, 2015, from 2-4pm.
• RGE RD’s expansion next door – called The Butchery – is now open, offering terrines, sausages, breads and other savoury treats.
• Board games café Table Top Café is preparing a second location, located at 10235 124 Street. The opening date is tentatively set for January 9, 2016.
• The relocated Planet Organic in Oliver (12230 Jasper Avenue) has signage announcing a January 13, 2016 opening date.
• As expected, Prairie Noodle Shop’s brick and mortar location has been overrun since opening last week. If you can get in, you can expect good things, as reported by Cindy, Linda, Robyn and Twyla. Learn more about Prairie Noodle from Phil’s latest Off the Menu podcast.
• Another new restaurant to our city, The Workshop Eatery, has continued to garner its share of reviews, this week from Andrea.
• Vue Weekly checks out the southside mainstay Al Salam.
• Did you know the Yellowhead Brewery serves up brunch on Sundays? It looks like they’ve also added a side of jazz to the meal as well.
• You’ve been waiting for it: Phil’s final Edmonton Perogy Showdown post crowns its ultimate winner. Sounds like Taste of Ukraine is the place to go!
• Jason Foster predicts some of the craft beer trends to come in 2016.
• If you’re still hunting for a gift for a cookbook lover on your list, Grub Street has a great list of suggestions.
• The downtown location of Da Capo is finally underway at 9888 Jasper Avenue! The original timeline for completion was December or January, but I think we can safely push that back.

Da Capo

• Mack and I met up with Phil and Robyn at Bru last week. It’s a lovely spot in the evening, and I like the fact that both coffee and beer are available.

My mantra in the mornings

• It’s been eight months since I had a Vatican City from The Burger’s Priest, but I just had to go back for a second. Man, did it hit the spot.

Vatican City (aka a double burger with two grilled cheese buns)