Feb 8 2017

chef eric hanson wins bronze

Congrats to chef Eric Hanson of the Prairie Noodle Shop, bronze medallist at the 2017 Canadian Culinary Championships held in Kelowna last weekend. Chef was strong in all categories, mystery wine, black box and the finale dish. See Eric on Global Morning News,  8:50am Thursday, and find images of all the dishes at https://www.instagram.com/tomatofooddrink/.

It was a good day for Alberta. Chef Jinhee Lee of Foreign Concept in Calgary won the gold medal along with a two-year lease of a BMW 435i xDrive Gran Coupe, donated by BMW Canada. Chef Joe Thottungal from Ottawa’s Coconut Lagoon took silver.

Chef Lee also won the People’s Choice for the Mystery Wine Challenge with a pork belly dish paired with the Unsworth 2014 Pinot Noir from Cowichan Valley.

cocktails and chocolate: a marriage made in heaven

Chocolatier Rebecca Grant (Violet Chocolate Company) and her brother James (bar manager, Woodwork) have created a tasty collaboration: chocolate truffles with cocktails. Love what we have tasted so far — the crisp and lemony Whisky Sour made with white and dark chocolate; the warm Scotch and citrus flavours of Blood & Sand are sublime, and the Bijou (pictured) possesses a delicate and refreshing yin yang of sweet and bitter from the tangy green notes of the Chartreuse.

Along with the cocktail-inspired bon bons, Violet has delicious bars and caramels in their Valentine’s collection, including their popular Devil’s Food bar. Find at www.thevioletchocolatecompany.com with some truffles available at the Barking Buffalo Café. The cocktails are available at Woodwork.

Bijou Cocktail

Tools: Mixing glass, strainer

Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass over ice. Strain cocktail into a glass and garnish with a cherry.

glass monkey valentines

On Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14, The Glass Monkey will be serving their regular menu along with several feature dishes. Open 3:30 – 10:00 pm. To book: www.theglassmonkey.ca. The Glass Monkey, 5842 111 Street, 780-760-2228.

no time like now for winefest

Purchase your tix for Winefest at the Shaw Conference Centre, Hall D, for any of the following sessions: Friday, February 17, 7-10 pm; Saturday, February 18, 2-pm; Saturday, February 18, 7-10pm. http://www.celebratewinefest.com/edmonton.html. Tickets include wine samples, hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary wine glass along with the chance to win some fun door prizes. Bring a non-perishable food item or monetary donation for the Edmonton Food Bank and enter to win a $100 Sobeys or Safeway Grocery Gift Card, or, two tickets to the 2018 Winefest Saturday afternoon session.