Recipe of the week: Bulgogi Braised Pork Shoulder
Do you have a passion for pork? Barbecued, grilled, roasted or braised? In a meatball, as a pasta sauce or a burger? Several Edmonton and Vancouver chefs will participate in the summer long Passion for Pork Promotion. Look for the weekly recipe here and at passionforpork.com
Did you get tickets for #Indulgence12? They’re all sold out now, but for the days leading up to the event, they’re giving away Indulgence-y prizes. Watch the twitter account @IndulgenceYEG, Facebook page and website for daily prizes.
Who will be top of the podium for October 18, 2012? Edmonton 2012 Gold Medal Plates contenders: Nathin Bye, Wildflower Grill; Paul Campbell, Café de Ville; Shane Chartrand, Murrieta’s, Ryan Hotchkiss, Jack’s Grill; Jeremy McKinnon, The Westin; Sean O’Connor, Red Ox Inn; David Omar, Zinc; Paul Shufelt, LUX, Deependra Singh, Guru and Ganesh Subra of the Fantasyland Hotel. They compete October 18 for the opportunity to represent Edmonton at the Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna next February. The stellar fundraiser for Olympic athletes is a bold, don’t miss event, filled with action from the two dozen or so athletes that join as performers and guests, and great food and drink. For more information, visit www.goldmedalplates.com. Tickets: Lisa Pasin, lisa@comlinks.ca, or 780-448-5917. Gold Medal Plates competitions across Canada have raised more than $6 million for the Canadian Olympic Foundation, which supports athletes and high-performance programs such as Own the Podium. Along with star spotting, noshing and mingling, guests can bid on spectacular getaways with Olympians and Canadian entertainers to Tuscany, Chile, Provence, South Africa and Kelowna for the Canadian Culinary Championships.
Enjoy snacks and bevies by Culina Millcreek, Everything Cheese, Battista’s Calzones, Crestwood Wines and Yellowhead Brewery at Virginia Park Elementary’s Fine Arts Night: Feed Your Imagination, Friday, June 1, Concordia University College 6:30 p.m. Chef Cindy Lazarenko (formerly of Highlands Kitchen) is helping to organize the event, so you know the food will be good. Tickets, $15, virginiaparkfan.com, at Virginia Park and Mandolin Books and Coffee. Funds raised support the school’s Arts Core curriculum, including its artist-in-residence program.
Love asparagus? Join the Edgar family for Get into the SPEAR IT of Spring! Asparagus Festival. Enjoy tastings with southern Alberta chefs Andrew Winfield and Darren Nixon, along with a reading and book signing by dee Hobsbawn-Smith, author of Foodshed: An Edible Alberta Alphabet. The kids will enjoy the petting zoo, hayrides, playing in the bale fort and a chance to meet Mr. Aspara-gus. June 2/3, 10am – 5pm, rain or shine, $5/person or $20/family, under three free. Directions: Exit 365 West off QE#2. Follow signs to Cottonwood Road, then 10 Km west.
Thinking about taking a wine course in the fall? Choose WSET and the French Wine School programs taught in Edmonton by Natasha Susylinski and Mary Bailey. Enroll at winecollege.ca.
Enjoy the 104 street Al Fresco Block Party Saturday, June 9; Downtown Edmonton Community League pancake breakfast from 8-11am; City Market, 9am-3pm; City of Edmonton Kids Zone, 4-8pm; deVines Tasting Room noon-8pm; extended patios by 104 street restos and wine bars; music by DJs and performers including a drag show, and the What the Truck food event. The goal is to raise $15,000 for the Zebra Child Protection Centre.
Cally’s Teas (10151 Whyte Avenue, just east of the new Roots on Whyte) is now open and well-merchandised with a terrific selection of goodies to eat with tea. We especially like the Duchy Originals savoury and sweet biscuits, including several varieties of shortbread, which make a decadent hostess gift.
Recipe of the week – Daniel Costa’s (Corso 32) Asparagus Milanese
May is Altantic lobster season. Celebrate with two canners and a Keith’s, $24.95, at Billingsgate, 7331 104 Street.
Thinking about taking a wine course in the fall? Check out the offerings at winecollege.ca. Choose WSET and French Wine School course taught in Edmonton by local wine women Natasha Susylinski and Mary Bailey.
Fine Wines by Liquor Select’s (8924 149 Street) annual Spring Fling, Saturday, May 26, 2-5pm. Enjoy sampling over 60 wines, beers and spirits at the wine shop’s smashing annual spring fest.
Get your delicious Newget at the City Market Downtown, May 26 and June 2, 9,16. Citrus, foods for entertaining will be at the City Market on May 26 and June 2,9, 16, 23, 30, with tortas, dips, spreads, and savoury kale chips.
The Magnifique Wine and Cheese Fantasmagoria, Thursday, May 24, 6pm, benefits the Canadian Studies Institute. Special guests are Jean-Michel Gires, president and CEO Total E&P Canada, and master cheesemaker Patrick Chaput. The elegant raw milk cheeses of Fromagerie Chaput are featured along with wines to suit. Contact MC Levert for tickets 780-465-8771, levert@ualberta.ca.
Upcoming tastings at Aligra Wine & Spirits (Phase III, West Edmonton Mall, 780-483-1083): May 26, International Chardonnay Day, 2-5 pm; June 19, Gins in June, 7pm, $25/person. Register at aligrawineandspirits.com.
Gardeners! Grow a Row for Meals on Wheels. Plant an extra row of produce to help the organization provide fresh and local meals to seniors and housebound Edmontonians. Produce can be dropped off at Meals on Wheels (11111 103 Avenue) weekdays, 8am-3pm. Call 780-429-2020 for more information. Compost a little short? Pick up a bag of compostable vegetable peelings from Meals on Wheels.
Who will be top of the podium for 2012? Edmonton 2012 Gold Medal Plates chefs will be announced shortly. They compete October 18 for the opportunity to represent Edmonton at the Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna next February. Jan Trittenbach of Pack Rat Louie was top of the podium in 2011 and Andrew Fung, of Blackhawk Golf Club, in 2010.
4th & Vine Winebar and Bistro’s (11358 104 Avenue, 780-907-3773) chef Lindsay Porter’s new dinner menu includes salmon tartar with a beguiling hint of black licorice and roasted squash soup seasoned with curry, cardamom and fennel. Visit 4thandvine.ca for a sneak peek of both lunch and dinner menus.
Check out the utterly charming newsletter called the newsleek at culinafamily.com. Chef Christine Sandford’s new menu at Culina Millcreek features more seasonal food and incorporates their unique whole animal program. At Culina Muttart, chef Heather Dosman is preparing dinner every Thursday, along with lunch and weekend brunch. Here’s a terrific Thursday night special: $35 gets you a three-course meal and 20 per cent off admission to the pyramids.
Julia Kundera, featured in the article A Women in the Kitchen (March/April Tomato, thetomato.ca) is now at Holt’s Café, creating beautiful new dishes using vegetables and meats from local farmers. Check it out!
Get your mojo on with Johwanna Alleyne’s delectable pickles. Mojojojo are available at Everything Cheese (14912 45th Avenue, 780-757-8532). Enjoy pickled quail eggs, pickled beans, turnip or zucchini — all fantastic accompaniments for your cheese board.
Yvan Chartrand of Boulangerie Bonjour (aka Treestone Bakery) finds that even his customers are still confused by the terms whole wheat/whole grain. “Whole grain is a cereal grain with all three components, germ, bran and endosperm, still intact,” he says. Whole wheat, on the other hand, could have up to 70 per cent of the germ removed. We mill local Alberta grown grain right at the bakery from heritage wheat varieties such as Marquis Heritage. Nothing added, nothing taken away.”
Enjoy the 104 street Al Fresco Block Party Saturday, June 9; Downtown Edmonton Community League pancake breakfast from 8-11am; City Market, 9am-3pm; City of Edmonton Kids Zone, 4-8pm; deVines Tasting Room noon-8pm; extended patios by 104 street restos and wine bars; music by DJs and performers including a drag show, and the What the Truck food event. The goal is to raise $15,000 for the Zebra Child Protection Centre.
The new british invasion: crisps
Look out Ms Vicky and Mr Lay, there’s a new chip in town. Some very proper British chips (or shall we say crisps, as they do across the pond) have made it to our shores. Salty Dog and Darling Spuds are hand-cooked by dog lovers Judy and Dave Willis. Both crisps (Salty Dog comes in a host of flavours) are crispy and potatoey with a pleasing balance of salt and oil. Which do Labrador puppies prefer? Watch the video at thetomato.ca. Available at Sandy View Farms, The Wired Cup, Wild Earth Foods and probably a host of other locations post invasion.
Recipe of the week – Daniel Costa’s (Corso 32) Fresh fava bean and spring pea crostini with pecorino, mint and pine nuts
Last chance to taste The World in 80 Bites, May 16, featuring the cuisine of Asia and Africa. The tour includes Vietnamese at Pho Huong and Mama’s Pizza, Somali food at African Safari, then toothsome Filipino delicacies at Fat Jakks. The World in 80 Bites Walking Tour, $30 (doesn’t include drinks and gratuity), rain or shine. Tickets: northedgebiz.com.
Pulses, including dried peas, beans, lentils and chickpeas are featured until May 20 during the Savouring Pulses event at Café de Ville in the Park, Wildflower Grill, High Level Diner, Sabor Divino, and Jack’s Grill. Look for full menus and recipes on the Pulse Alberta website or check out our recipe of the week: Daniel Costa’s fresh fava bean and spring pea crostini.
The Staff Meal collaboration will be making dinner with a French theme at Duchess Bake Shop, Sunday May 20, $50/person. Visit the website for ticket info.
Saturday, May 19 is opening day at The Kalyna Café at the Ukrainian Village east of Edmonton. Friends of the Ukrainian Village Society collaborated with chef Brad Lazarenko and Brad’s sister Cindy to create a fresh new menu inspired by pioneer recipes and foodstuffs from the neighbourhood. Enjoy honey cookies like the ones made in the Grekul’s kitchen, kubassa from Olde Country Sausage, bread from Smoky Lake Bakery and Marina’s pyrohy. Visit the Ukranian Village website for directions.
Frank and Andrea Olson of the Red Ox Inn will open a casual 50 seat eatery on 124 street this fall. “Frank will be in the kitchen,” says Andrea. “We wanted a comfortable place, with the kind of food we want to eat; somewhere you can go for a bite and a beer in the afternoon,” says Andrea. “We live in the area, and we’ve been flirting with the idea of a second restaurant for so long.” Chief design wrangler is Chris Kourouniotis of CK Design Associates.
Destination: Edmonton’s Eat Street
Downtown’s 104 Street is becoming one of the city’s more interesting gastronomic destinations. The City Market moves back into the fresh air this weekend with a new configuration on the south end of the market. City Hall was good, but outdoors is better. The new Pangea Market (main floor Icon Tower) is now open, and will be fully stocked by June with organic vegetables supplied by Halwa Farms, supplements, packaged goods, organic dairy and a deli. We’re all intrigued by Evoolution (beside Lit wine bar), an olive oil and specialty vinegar tasting bar, soft opening this weekend.
We had a sneak peek of what will be downtown’s coolest bar, Mercer Tavern. Barring more problems with makeup air units and other boring but essential construction items, MT plans to be open in early June. Expect a soulful industrial chic look including a private rooms for smaller parties; four audio zones; craft beer on tap, and a delicious looking gastro pub-style menu.
May is Altantic lobster season. Celebrate with two canners and a Keith’s, $24.95, at Billingsgate, 7331 104 Street.
Tasting wine with Yalumba’s Jane Ferrari is an education and a wild ride all at the same time. Whip smart, she is as generous with stories and opinions as the wines are generous in flavour and expression. The outrageously good value Y Viognier continues to impress with its superb balance and over all drinkability. The single vineyard Virgilius is cellar worthy, a glorious exploration for those who love Condrieu, white Burgundy or Hermitage Blanc.For the full meal deal on vines, winemaking, the Barossa and Jane’s contagiously quirky worldview, check out her blog.
Citrus, foods for entertaining will be at the City Market Downtown on May 19, 26 and June 2,16, 23 and 30, with tortas, dips, spreads and savoury kale chips.
Get your delicious Newget at the City Market Downtown, May 19, 26 and June 2,9 and16.
Fine Wines by Liquor Select’s (8924 149 Street) annual Spring Fling, Saturday, May 26, 2-5pm. Enjoy sampling over 60 wines, beers and spirits at the wine shop’s smashing annual spring fest.
Vagner Montemaggiore, Vinícola Salton’s export director, pulled out the maps to show exactly where their Brazilian wines come from: the hilly Serra Gaucho in the Rio Grande del Sul region in the south of Brazil near Uruguay, similar in latitude to Chile, Argentina and Australia’s best wine growing regions. Salton was started by a family from the Veneto (Italy) in 1910 and now produces 18 million bottles mainly from grapes purchased from dozens of family farms.
Just released: 100Anos Cab Sauv/Merlot/Cab Franc celebrating 100 vintages. Find Salton wine at Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse, Sherbrooke Liquor and other fine wine shops.
The Bothy, the idiosyncratic wine and whiskey bar tucked into a strip mall across from Weber Motors, opens a downtown location this summer at 10124 124 Street. This was recently home to the Common, which has moved to 9910 109 Street. They now have seating 150 and lots of room for live music and fashion events.
It’s all truffles all the time at the Italian Centre Shops, jarred, in oil and in cheese. We love the Boschetto, a cow/sheep pecorino cheese from Tuscany studded with black truffle.
Café de Ville’s (10137 124 Street, 780-488-9188) new menu features a delicious duck breast served with a springy lemon rhubarb compote and cardamom-scented basmati rice. Or try the cauliflower gallette with quinoa and madras curry cream. Who knew cauliflower pie could taste so good? Café de Ville’s patio, tucked off the street like a secret garden, is opening soon, just the place for a leisurely Sunday brunch.
The Magnifique Wine and Cheese Fantasmagoria, Thursday, May 24, 6pm, benefits the Canadian Studies Institute. Special guests are Jean-Michel Gires, president and CEO Total E&P Canada, and master cheesemaker Patrick Chaput. The elegant raw milk cheeses of Fromagerie Chaput are featured along with wines to suit. Contact MC Levert for tickets 780-465-8771, levert@ualberta.ca.