Kitchen Sink

What’s new and notable

restaurant ramblings

June is Alberta Pork Month and that means some great pork dishes at restaurants such as Ampersand 27, The Common, Hardware Grill and The Marc. Enjoy bacon-wrapped pork loin and cassoulet—braised pork belly with white bean, smoked ham, apple at the Harvest Room at the Mac; toothsome pressed pork belly at Nineteen and the savoury parmesan-crusted pork loin at Pampa. For menus, recipes and the full list of participating restaurants, visit albertapork.ca.

Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse (9929 109 Street, 780-756-7030 pampasteakhouse.com) has launched their catering menu with charcoal-grilled sandwiches and skewers starting at $6.35 each and free delivery downtown: pampasteakhouse.com/edmonton/catering. As well, you can now have a quick lunch for under $15. We look forward to their lovely patio opening soon.

Seoul Fried Chicken (7904 104 Street, 780-761- 3616) Lee House is now a fried chicken joint and what chicken it is. Seven different styles; the OG (regular), Hot Mustard (yellow wasabi), Korean Barbecue, sweet with some tangy ginger heat, were suitably chickeny and tasty. Not greasy, not too salty, just delicious. Be prepared to wait, or call in your order for pick up. Dangerously good.

We’re looking forward to the new upstairs space at El Cortez, (8232 Gateway Boulevard). Have Mercy Table and Bar will channel deep south flavours and vibes; opening this summer, havemercy.ca.

Get yourself to Beaumont to check out Chartier (#102, 5012 50 Street Beaumont, 587-987-5704, dinechartier.com) for their rustic, country French-Quebecois-style menu. Owners Sylvia and Darren Cheverie raised over $100,000 in a Kickstarter campaign and opened in early April. The chef is Steve Brochu. Open six days a week, for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

wine tastings, happenings and events

Upcoming tastings at Aligra (8882 170 Street #1423,780-483-1083 www.aligrawineandspirits.com): Enjoy Ladies Night Out, an informal drop-in tasting with your girlfriends for wine and chat,Thursday May 19 and June 16, 5:30-7:30pm, free, every third Thursday; Wednesday, May 25, 7-9 pm, Rosés and Summer Sippers, explore delicious new finds for summer entertaining, led by sommelier Ken Bracke, $30; Wednesday, June 15, 7-9 pm, More Gins in June, $35, uncovers all the delights,  big brands, locally-made and craft distilled gins and new cocktails, $35.Visit www.aligrawineandspirits.com/events to register for all events.

The deadline is May 3 for Winos & Rhinos, luxury small group trip of a lifetime to South Africa & Victoria Falls brought to you by Aligra Wine and Spirits.  Email alison@aligrawineandspirits.com for all the details. You don’t want to miss this trip! Only a few spots remain.

Oysters and caviar meet your vinous partners at the May 5 Effing Oysters + Caviar Pop-Up at Cavern (10169 104 Street #2, 780-455-1336, thecavern.ca), three courses paired with two wines and one Champagne. Two seatings: 6:30 and 8:30, $80+GST.

Madison’s Grill in the Union Bank Inn (10053 Jasper Avenue, 780-401-2222, unionbankinn.com) has two exceptional Mother’s Day Brunches: à la carte in the Grill, with two seatings, $39.95 (children 5-12, $19.95). As well there is a sumptuous buffet in the Giverny Ballroom, $43.95 (children 5-12 $19.95) with three seatings. See the menus online, email madisons@unionbankinn.com for reservations.

What offers five spit-roasted Brazilian-style meats, fresh fruit, cheeses, black bean stew and grilled pineapple on the 50-plus-item salad bar and a bespoke omelette station? Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse’s (9929 109 Street, 780-756-7030 pampasteakhouse.com) Mother’s Day Weekend Brunch, Saturday May 7 and Sunday May 8. The price is $34.99, children (3-11) $19.95. Mom is not a morning person? Have a Mother’s Day Dinner, Sunday May 8, 4pm to 8pm, $49.95 (adults). Enjoy limitless carvings of 10 cuts of charcoal- roasted meat and smoked ham, the lavish salad bar, along with feature drinks and desserts. Reservations at pampasteakhouse.com. Mark the calendar for Father’s Day Dinner Sunday, June 19.

Here’s a different way to spend Mother’s Day. Partake in the Cavern Cheese School, Sunday, May 8, 2pm- 4pm for Summer Wine & Cheese Pairings at Cavern (10169 104 Street, 780-455-1336, thecavern.ca). Owner Tricia Bell knows cheese. These entertaining and informative sessions help us understand the difference between artisan and ordinary cheese, $75, tickets in advance, call 780-455-1336 to book.

Cibo (11244 104 Avenue, 780-757-2426, cibobistro.co) has amazing winemaker dinners. Their next is with the stellar Italian producer Cantina Tramin from the Alto Adige region, Tuesday May 10, five courses, three seatings, $135 with special guest Wolfgang Klotz. Call 780-757-2426 to reserve.

Do you love schnitzel? From June 4 to June 11 explore European schnitzel in all its delicious glory during Schnitzel Week at the Bistro Praha (10117 101 Street, 780-424-4218, bistropraha.com) Schnitzel specials are served after 5pm only, best to make a reso to make sure you don’t miss it.

Enjoy the Glenfarclas Whisky Tasting Wednesday May 11, 7pm, at Crestwood Wines (9658 142 Street, 780-488-7800, crestwoodfinewines.com) with George Grant, the 6th generation proprietor, six whiskies $35. Call to reserve 780-488-780.

Ernest’s at NAIT Restaurant’s (11762 106 Street, 780-471-8676) Glenfarclas Whisky Dinner is on May 12. The evening begins at 6pm with special guest George Grant. Indulge in five courses each paired with whisky, $95. For reservations call 780-471-8676.

Fine Wines by Liquor Select’s (8924 149 Street, 780-481-6868, liquorselect.com) Annual Spring Fling in support of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation is Saturday May 14, 2pm-5pm, with over 60 specialty wines, craft beers, and artisanal spirits available to try. Do some good while discovering the latest in summer refreshment; donations at the door ($5 or more) go directly to support a great cause in our own community.

Olalla Lopez-Corona, the export director of Chianti’s Barone Ricasoli is the special guest at the Ricasoli Wine Dinner, 6pm. May 17 at The Ranch Golf Club, 52516-Range Road 262. Five courses with paired wines, $95/pp. Call 780-470-4700 for tickets.

Upcoming tastings at Hicks Fine Wines (150 Bellerose Drive, St. Albert, 780-569-5000, hicksfinewines.com): Thursday, May 5, 7 pm, Think Pink Rosé Tasting, $30; Saturday, May 28, 2pm-5 pm, Annual Spring Open House; June 9, 7pm, A Trendy Tasting, $40. There is always something to sample Fridays from 3pm-6pm and on Saturdays, 2pm-5pm.

Celebrate Veuve Clicquot’s Yelloweek May 1-May 7, a tribute to creativity showcasing gastronomy, arts, fashion and lifestyle. Here’s how: Yellow By the Glass: Purchase a glass of Veuve Clicquot and receive a complimentary amuse bouche at Tzin Wine and Tapas, Alberta Hotel Bar and Kitchen, Vons Steakhouse & Oyster Bar, Woodwork, and The Red Piano from May 1-7. Yellow Table: Harvest Room Wine Dinner Thursday, May 5 with a five course menu by the Mac’s exec chef Serge Jost, paired with five Cliquot champagnes, including the 2004 Millesime, $119++. Call 780-429-6424 for resos. Yellow Night: Champagne celebration at Prive Ultralounge (10304 111 Street, 780-394-2342, priveultralounge.ca) Friday, May 6. Visit yelloweek.com for all the details.

UnWined Fine Wine Spirits and Ales, (512 St. Albert Trail, 780-458-4777 and #203, 10205 101 Street, City Centre, 780-421-0015, unwined.biz) tastings: Tuesday, May 17, 5th Annual Rosé in May, $20; Wednesday, May 18, 6:30pm Mendoza’s Finca Decero, with Stephanie Morton-Small, $40; Monday, May 23, 7:30pm, Jewish Whisky Company and Single Cask Nation with Joshua Hatton. Reservations 780-458-4777. Tuesday, June 7, Victoria Caledonia Distillery with Andrew Campbell Walls, $25; Tuesday, June 14, 7:30pm, The Accidental Sommelier Series Wine Fundamentals: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, $20. All events are held at the St. Albert store and require advance ticket purchase on Eventbrite.

Don’t miss the third annual Porkapalooza June 17-19 at Clarke Stadium. Expect smoky competition, ($16,000 in prize money for BBQ teams at this Kansas City Barbecue Competition sanctioned event) great entertainment and your favourite food trucks, including Sandwich and Sons, Attila the Hungry, Pampa, Meat, and Smokehouse BBQ. Visit porkapalooza.ca for music tickets, volunteer info and a terrific video on last year’s event. Porkapalooza is part of Alberta Pork’s mandate to help end hunger in our city.

product news

The Farmers’ Markets now have an app! The Alberta Farmers’ Market mobile app links users to up-to-date information on the Alberta approved farmers’ markets. You can search by market name, type of market, day of the week, specific date or location and tag your favourites. It also has shopping tips and a seasonal guide for fresh produce from both Alberta and BC. Find at Google Play, the App Store or at thetomato.ca.

Love the Italian Centre west end’s pizza? It’s coming soon to Spinelli’s Bar Italia (5028 104A Street, 780-989- 4869, italiancentre.ca) which is being renovated into a bright and lively space with more seating, a pizza oven and an open bakery. Expect the new look in June; ’til then, enjoy coffee and pastry or lunch in the interim café.

Enjoy bread and meat from RgRd’s Butchery, house-made sausage, country-style terrine, pâté and breads from RgRd’s (10643 123 Street, rgerd.ca) wood-burning oven. Yum. May 19, 20, 21; June 16, 17, 18 and July 14, 15, 16 from 12pm-4:30pm.

The Pantree (#550, 220 Lakeland Drive, Sherwood Park, 780-464-4631, thepantree.ca) is now open Sundays from 11am-3pm, all the better to check out the Zwilling cookware and knives, Staub cast iron and Miyabi knives on sale now. On May 6, 4-6pm there is a free Zwilling Knife Sharpening Clinic with a three Zwilling knives/pp limit.

New at Zocalo (10826 95 Street, 780-428-0754, zocalo.ca) over 40 kinds of tomatoes; San Marzano, Tiny Tim, Better Belle and everything in between. The Elemental Beer glasses, upcycled and recycled beer glasses are made in Canada by glass artists, $24 each. We loved the wine barrel items, handmade in Ontario from recycled wine and bourbon barrels. Zocalo is stocking the wine stave tea light centerpiece, $59 and the barrel stave cheese boards, $44.

cooking classes

Become a Churrasco Master during a cooking class at Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse (9929 109 Street, 780-756- 7030, pampasteakhouse.com) on May 14, 28 and June 4, 11, $119. Visit their website to book.

Want to learn more about gluten free? At Kinnikinnick Fresh (10940-120 Street, 780-424-2900, getitfresh.ca) chef Lori Grein will be on location 10am-1pm, May 7, 8, 14 and 15 preparing a selection of gluten-free samples to taste and recipe cards to take home. There is no charge for this event.

ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen Lunchtime classes (11:45am-12:45pm) $15 each plus GST: May 6, Mother’s Day Brunch; May 27, Basic Cooking with Five Ingredients or Less; June 10, Pot Luck Party. After work classes: June 15, Father’s Day BBQ Demo, $25+GST and June 29, Mexican Fiesta Hands On, $40+GST. On June 25, 10am–12pm, ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen offers the Farmer’s Market Feast hands-on class, which includes a trip to the City Market, $40+GST.

Express Cooking Classes at Gail Hall’s Seasoned Solutions: May 18, A Fresh & Quick Spring Menu; June 1, Foods for Summer Entertaining. Classes are from 6:30-8:30 pm, $49.95+GST. Details and complete cooking schedule at seasonedsolutions.ca

The Pan Tree’s (#550, 220 Lakeland Drive, Sherwood Park, 780-464-4631, thepantree.ca) upcoming cooking classes: Mexican Brunch with chef Israel Alvarez, May 11, 6pm, $90; Wine Basics and Cooking on how to pair wine with food in three courses, May 18, 6pm, $100; Vegetarian Rural Italy, with chefs Rylan Krause and Jade Wu of the Mercury Room, June 7, 6pm, $95.

in memoriam

Chef Brad Horen died March 6 after a brief illness. Brad was a graduate of NAIT Culinary and executive chef at the Manteo Resort in Kelowna. He was the Canadian Chefs Federation’s 2007 Chef of the Year, Western Living Magazine’s 2008 Foodie of the Year, captain of the Canadian Culinary Olympic Team and mentor to countless young cooks. “I was fortunate to work alongside Brad in his pursuit of excellence as a member of Team Alberta and Canada,” says chef Nigel Webber, NAIT culinary instructor. “He was an incredibly talented chef, full of passion and drive, sadly he is no longer standing behind his stove.” Brad Horen is survived by his wife Junko; daughters Hana and Ana; his mother Barb and sister Deb.

Brendan Brewster died March 6, three months shy of his 38th birthday. Fellow bartender Tarquin Melnyk knew him well, having brought Brendan to Edmonton to work with him at the Manor Café a few years back. “Brendan was the modern incarnation of Jerry Thomas, the barman poet. He was thoughtful and articulate and sweet; he had the ability to transfer enthusiasm.” He is survived by family and a legion of colleagues, protégés and friends.

Brandon Brewster once said that his greatest asset as a bartender was the ability to create regulars. That would be an asset for any human being. Brandon, we miss you.

Send new and/or interesting food and drink related news for The Kitchen Sink to hello@thetomato.ca.