What’s new and notable
wine tastings, happenings and events
Learn how to make a killer cheese board at The Cavern Cheese School (10169 104 Street, 780-455-1336, thecavern.ca). The November classes focus on creating sublime cheese and wine pairings. Two dates: Sunday, November 6 and Sunday, November 20 from 2-4pm, $75/pp. Call to book.
Bar Bricco starts a series of Winemaker Tastings starting with central Italian (Cortona) producer Tenimenti D’Alessandro, Tuesday, November 1 and northern Italy’s Franz Haas from Alto Adige on Wednesday, November 9. Email info@barbricco.com for tickets.
The Glass Monkey (5842 111 Street, Lendrum Shopping Centre, 780-760-2228, theglassmonkey.ca) has two stellar events planned in November. A Tasting of Red Bordeaux, including some fine older vintages, $45 is on Wednesday, November 16. The popular Monkey Business, five courses paired with five wines, $89, is on Wednesday, November 23. Contact Janine to book, 780-760-2228.
Have dinner with noted Tuscan producer Antonia Zaccheo of Carpineto: Wednesday, November 9 at Pack Rat Louie’s (10335 83 Avenue, 780-433-0123 packratlouie.com), and Thursday, November 10 at Sorrentino’s Downtown (10162 100 Avenue, 780- 424-7500, sorrentinos.com). Call restaurants to book.
Sorrentino’s Truffle and Wine Dinner is at Bistecca (2345 111 Street, 780-439-7335, bisteccasteakhouse.com) Thursday, November 24. This annual dinner always sells out quickly. Call 780-439-7335 for tickets, 6pm start, $95/pp.
Upcoming tastings at Hicks Fine Wines (#109, 150 Bellerose Drive, St. Albert, 780-569-5000, hicksfinewines.com): Tuesday November 15, Wines of Northern Italy with Italian Wine Ambassador Marcia J. Hamm, 7pm, $40; HFW Annual Christmas Open House, absolutely free, December 1, 5-8pm. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, enjoy in-store bar pours.
There may be a few spots left for Cibo Bistro’s (11244 104 Avenue, 780-757-2426, cibobistro.com) Five-Year Anniversary Dinner, Monday November 7. Enjoy five courses inspired by their recent trip to Northern Italy paired with five inspiring wines. Tickets, $155/pp, cibobistro.com.
Enjoy holiday appies and wine pairings with chef Doreen Prei at Color de Vino (9606 82 Avenue, 780-439-9069, colordevino.ca) Saturday, November 19, from 7-9pm. Tickets $60, call to book. Taste the season at the Color de Vino Christmas Open House, Saturday, December 3, 1-5pm.
Lots of fun opportunities to finish holiday shopping and indulge at Aligra Wine & Spirits (8882 170 Street, Entrance 58, West Edmonton Mall, 780- 483-1083, aligrawineandspirits.com). On Fridays and Saturdays in November and December enjoy free wine tastings in-store from 2-6pm. Learn how to brighten holiday entertaining with seasonal spirits at the Christmas Spirits Tasting, Tuesday, November 29, 7-9pm, $25/pp. The Customer Appreciation Open House is Thursday, December 15, 4-8pm.
Are you a woman in agriculture? Learn more about the new Women in Agriculture group during a networking event at Farmfair International (FFI), Thursday, November 10, 7:30pm, International AgBusiness Centre (Room 202). RSVP to bobbi@cheesecakecafe.ca.
Mark the date: Join Francesca Dal Cero of family estates Tenuta Montecchiesi (Cortona, Italy) and Tenuta di Corte Giacobbe (Soave, Italy) for a tasting and dinner at Kitchen, Wednesday, December 7, 6:30pm, $135/ pp+GST. Reserve at info@kitchenbybrad.ca.
product
Knifewear, our favourite spot for cool knives and shaving gear, opens the pop-up shop From the Wild in partnership with wild-living expert Kevin Kossowan. Up the game on your everyday carry and be ready for winter camping with field-tested gear for all-season fishing, cooking equipment, hunting knives, axes, Swedish outdoor wear, and trekking foods from Jeff Senger. Owner Kevin Kent calls the collection “a curated outdoor box store.” Find it at the back of Kent of Inglewood (10816 Whyte Avenue, 780- 761-0305, kentofinglewood.com). Holiday hours starting December 8 at Knifewear and Kent: 9am-8pm Monday-Saturday, 9am-6pm on Sundays.
Don’t miss Newget for the holidays. Find at the St. Albert Country Craft Fair, November 19 and 20; The Royal Glenora Club Gift Show, November 20; Make It Show November 24-27 and at the Festival of Trees, November 24-27. This year, The Festival of Trees is helping to bring Canada’s First Stroke Ambulance to the University of Alberta Hospital.
Light up the night and enjoy mulled wine, fondue and special offers at the Heart of the Home (12539 102 Avenue, 780-705-4928, heartofthehomeyeg.ca) during the All is Bright Festival, Saturday, November 19, from 4-9pm. Visit 124street.ca for all the deets. Holiday hours at Heart of the Home start December 7, open late Wednesday, Thursday and Friday until 8pm.
Zocalo (10826 95 Street, 780-428-0754, zocalo.ca) has lots of cool new things in store for the holiday. Make your own butter using the Kilner Butter Churn, made in England and ideal for the DIYer, $60. For the tea lover, check out the Umbra My Tea, a bendable stick tea infuser, dishwasher friendly, $13. The Fiesta Collection of colourful, hard-wearing Portuguese ceramics are a cheerful complement to any table. The eight-inch pasta bowl ($15), 12-inch serving bowl ($30) and the pitcher ($25) are available now. Zocalo stocks art-inspired tea towels and dishtowels ($12-18) by April Cornell and local artist Vicki Warnekki of Mezzaluna Studios.
We love gifts you can eat. The Cavern (10169 104 Street, 780-455-1336, thecavern.ca) suggests a gift box filled with artisan crackers, jams and other delectables. For cheese lovers think Cavern Cheese Club, available in three-, six- or 12-month subscriptions. Yum.
cooking classes
Learn some updated techniques for the holiday meal during a Festive Do Ahead class at Kitchen by Brad (10130 105 Street, 780-757-7704 kitchenbybrad.ca): Tuesday, November 1, 6:30pm; Wednesday, November 8, 6:30pm; Saturday, November 5 and 19, 12pm. Classes are $135/pp +gst and include food, wine and the recipes. Kitchen also offers a streamlined afternoon class Tuesday-Thursday for a minimum of eight people. Book until December 16, $50/pp.
January means Ukrainian at Kitchen. Learn how to make pyrohy, nalysknky, nachynka, Ukrainian gravy, cabbage rolls and bigos (hunters stew): Thursday, January 5, 6:30pm; Saturday, January 14, 12:30pm; Tuesday, January 17, 6:30 pm: Saturday, January 21, 12:30pm. Classes are $135/pp+GST, recipes included.
Here are three tasty cooking classes coming up at The Ruby Apron (780-906-0509, therubyapron.ca): Canapés, November 25, 6-9:30pm, $90/pp; Sourdough Workshop November 27, 10-12pm, $65; and Brunch, December 4, 10-1:30pm. All classes are taught by Kaelin Whittaker, a graduate of Ireland’s legendary Ballymaloe cooking school. There are still some catering dates available for the holidays. Visit the website to book a class or enquire about catering.
Gail Hall’s Seasoned Solutions Holiday Entertaining Express Class: Hors D’oeuvres, is on November 23, 6:30-8:30pm, $49.94/pp+gst. To register, visit seasonedsolutions.ca. Gail plans a Culinary Tour to New York, May 18-21, including Broadway, a cooking class and other signature food experiences. Email gail@seasonedsolutions.ca for details.
November cooking classes at The Pan Tree (#550, 220 Lakeland Drive Sherwood Park, 780-464- 4631, thepantree.ca) starting with Bread Making Basics with chef Toll, November 9; Exploring India with chef Cherwoniak, November 15; Wine Basics and Cooking with chef Cherwoniak, November 16; Zwilling Cookware Class with chef Deland, November 21; Squash with chef Toll, November 22; Holiday Treats with Sarah and Jade, November 29. Holiday hours: open Sundays 11am- 3pm and open until 8pm during the week of December 19-23.
restaurant buzz
Lots of holiday merriment at Madison’s (10053 Jasper Avenue, 780-401-2222, unionbankinn.com) including holiday features November 15 to December 23; a five-course Christmas Day Dinner, $99.50/pp and a five-course dinner on New Year’s Eve, $99.50/pp. Wine pairings are available, menus online soon. Enjoy a sumptuous à la carte New Year’s Day Brunch, four courses at two seatings, 10:30am and 12:30 pm.
Take a mini-break at the Union Bank Inn using the festive rate (code XMAS), which includes à la carte breakfast, wine and cheese and free Wifi. As well Madison’s has a few dates available for private events for 75 guests. Contact madisons@unionbankinn.com to book.
Check out Sunday brunch at North 53 (10240 124 Street, 583-524-5353, north53.com) with a tasty and compact menu, nifty brunch cocktails and a DJ spinning mellow grooves.
Nineteen St. Albert (150 Bellerose Drive, St. Albert, 780-569-1819, dinenineteen.com) is having a dinner in support of the High School Culinary Challenge, 6pm, Monday, November 14. Tix $100/pp, eventbrite.ca.
There is a new chef, Daniel Diaz Mora (Daniel) and a Peruvian-inspired new menu at The Blue Chair (9624 76 Avenue, 780-989-2861, thebluechair.ca) Love music? Think of the Blue Chair for NYE.
Enjoy a casual wine and spuntini New Year’s Eve at Bar Bricco (10347 Jasper Avenue, 780-424-5588, barbricco.com) Two seatings, 6pm and 10pm. Email info@barbricco.com to book.
Corso 32 (10345 Jasper Avenue, 780-421-4622, corso32.com) has three seatings for NYE Dinner with a set menu and wine pairing. Email eat@corso32.com for menus and reservations.
Uccellino (10349 Jasper Avenue, 780-426-0346, uccellino.ca) offers their regular menu as well as a festive tasting menu and wine pairing for NYE.
Enjoy four courses with wine at Cavern (10169 104 Street, 780-455- 1336, thecavern.ca) on NYE with two seatings to choose from, 5pm and 9pm. Reservations, 780-455-1336.
Opening soon
Several bars, restos and a donut shop plan to be open before the end of the year: Malt & Mortar, 10416 82 Avenue, with menu by the burly chef Daniel Huber; Doughnut Party, Moonshine Doughnut’s storefront right by Duchess Provisions in Holland Plaza; Bundock, chef Ryan Hotchkiss’ new space at 10228 104 Street (not the ‘80’s Quebecois folk rock band) and Northern Chicken in the Relish Burger space on 124 street and 107 avenue. We’re especially excited about Baiju, the Shanghai in the 30’s concept by North 53, opening soon in the Mercer Building. The new look Hundred Bar & Kitchen, McLeod Tavern (10009 101A Avenue, 780-425- 0100) is now open.