June 16 2016

Upper Crust celebrates 30 years of good food

On Friday June 17^th the Upper Crust Café celebrates 30 years in business by serving favourite dishes from their first year in business at their original prices.

The popular university area café is now run by the second generation, founder Sheila Rich’s daughter Megan Rich. “ My mom used to cater out of the house. I would come home from school and clean up the lettuce,” says Megan. “Upper Crust opened two weeks after my 16th birthday. ”

The cafe remains beloved by its customers, especially for the baking. Everything is made from scratch by four full-time bakers; one, Walter Enriquez, has been with the café for over 20 years.

Here’s Friday’s menu: tandoori chicken, ratatouille with corn bread and a Mediterranean salad plate, $6 each. Desserts: chocolate pâté with a raspberry coulis (oh yes, that’s definitely an ‘80’s dessert), apple walnut bundt cake and a chocolate zucchini cake, $3 each. The cafe is fully booked for noon but there is room from 1:30pm to 4pm to celebrate. Reservations recommended.

Upper Crust Café, 10909 86 Avenue, 780-758-5599

Don’t miss the third annual Porkapalooza http://porkapalooza.ca/ Professional teams will cook for dough while attendees enjoy the food trucks and visit the Food Demo stage featuring the fabulous Diva Q, chef Doreen Prie, House of Q’s Brian Misko, chef Nelvin Reyes from Pampa Brazilian Steak House and chef Lindsay Porter of el Cortez among others. The Father’s Day weekend extravaganza is in a new location, Clarke Park, just south of Commonwealth Stadium. Inside Clarke Stadium is the music festival — donations at the door for the Fort MacMurray Fire Relief Fund. Check out the full Porkapalooza Food Demo stage lineup here: http://www.albertaculinary.com/porkapalooza-2016

Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse invites guests to take in the sun and a practically limitless array of delicious Brazilian-style tapas during a fundraiser for Fort McMurray, Wednesday, June 29 from 6pm – 9pm. Enjoy skewers grilled over hardwood, duck-wrapped zucchini and charcuterie 
along with a glass of wine or beer. Special guests include Brian Jean, MLA Fort McMurray – Conklin and Tany Yao, MLA Fort McMurray – Wood Buffalo. Tickets are $100/ person with proceeds to the Fort McMurray Fire Department. Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse, 9929 109 Street, 780-0756-7030, http://www.pampasteakhouse.com/

High Stick Vodka garners another Double Gold and Best in Show at the 2016 Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America Spirits Tasting held earlier this year in Las Vegas. High Stick was voted best of the 54 vodkas with a special mention for its unique packaging in the shape of a hockey stick. The vodka is made by Orchard City Distilling from Okanagan Valley spring water and Canadian grains. http://highstickvodka.com/

Madison’s Grill at The Union Bank Inn is having a dinner featuring the impeccable wines of Paul Hobbs, 6pm, Wednesday June 22, $90/person. Five courses are accompanied by Sonoma County wines including four Pinot, the 2013 Crossbarn Pinot Rosé, the 2011 and 2012 Russian River and the 2012 Hyde Vineyard Pinot. Special guest is Matt Hobbs.

Madison’s Grill 10053 Jasper Avenue, 780-401-2222, http://www.unionbankinn.com