What’s new and notable
Want the latest YEG food and drink news delivered to your inbox weekly? Sign up for The Bite at the tomato.ca.
wine tastings happenings and events
Join noted German winemaker Andreas Bender for dinner at Kitchen by Brad, Wednesday, May 3, 6:30pm. The multi-course dinner will be paired with Bender wines from the Mosel and Pfalz regions, as well as craft beers from Franconia. TIX: $145/p+, email info@kitchenbybrad.ca.
If that’s a no go, Andreas Bender will be at Holts Café (2nd floor, Manulife Place, 780-425-5300), Thursday, May 4, 6pm. This menu explores the tastes of spring with Bender’s Paulessen Zenit, I Love Mosel Riesling, Rotwein and Gewurz. TIX: $75/p+, call 780-425-5300 ext. 62903. We have been enjoying chef Julia Kundera’s food since the days of Two Rooms on Whyte Avenue. Julia’s food with Andreas’ wine? Giddy up!
Didn’t book any Northern Lands events yet? There are still some tickets available for seminars, dinners and tastings showcasing the best of Italy and Canada, May 2-6. Visit northernlands.ca.
Join special guest Alberto Zenato from the Zenato Winery in Veneto, Monday, May 8 at Vivo Downtown (10505 106 Street, 587-525-7500, vivoristorante.ca). Enjoy four courses created by chef Medi Tabtoub paired with these outstanding wines. TIX $140/p, 587-525-7500.
Join special guest Misun Bu at the NK’Mip Winemaker Dinner at La Ronde, Wednesday, May 10. Five courses with wines to suit. TIX: $100/p++, 780-420-8366.
The Long Table Dinner at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village is Saturday, May 27, with chef Brad Smoliak. This dinner combines delicious food and history, which comes alive during the intimate tour telling the story of Red Fife wheat. Along with the tour are cooking demos, a horse-drawn wagon ride and music. Tix: $130/p, 18 spots only, email info@kitchenbybrad.ca or call 780-757-7704. Visit kitchebybrad.ca for travel info.
Upcoming tastings at Aligra (1423 West Edmonton Mall, 780-483-1083, aligrawineandspirits.com) Meads in May, May 16, 7pm, $30/p; Gins in June, June 13, 7pm, $30/p. Register and prepay online at aligrawineandspirits.com/events.
Here’s the lineup of spring tastings at Hicks Fine Wines (#109, 150 Bellerose Road, St Albert, 780-569-5000, hicksfinewines.com). Evening tastings start at 7pm, prices vary. Cristiana Tiberio of Tiberio Wines (Abruzzo), Monday, May 1, 7pm, $20/p; Thursday, May 11, Prosecco with Marcia J Hamm with Riedel glass to take home, $65/p; Thursday, May 25, celebrate National Chardonnay day with the ChardonYAY Tasting with Stacey-Jo Strombecky, $30/p; Thursday, June 8, Think Pink, Hicks Annual Rosé Tasting, $40/p. Call 780 569-5000 to reserve your spot. Saturday, May 27, is the Hicks Annual Spring Open House from 2pm-5pm.
Yelloweek celebrates all things Veuve Cliquot with several dinners, tastings and events throughout the city. Highlights: Champagne pairing dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Wednesday May 3, 6:30pm. TIX$95, GM@ruthschrisedmonton.com. YellowBrunch, Sunday, May 7, 12pm at North 53 (10240 124 Street, 587-524-5353, north53.com). Find Cliquot by the glass at the Hardware Grill, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, Woodwork and Atlas Steak & Fish.
Heart of the Home (12539 102 Avenue, 780-705-4928 heartofthehomeyeg.ca) is one of the High Street merchants participating in the High Street Mile where there will be an outdoor market, artists and musicians. Check it out!
The Fifth Annual Gluten Free Cravings is Sunday, June 11, from 11am-3pm at the The Agora, 401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park. Free admission and tasting cards are just $10. Learn about a gluten-free diet and sample what’s new in gluten-free products from local merchants and restaurants, spcravings.com.
Savour celebrates the best independent food and art in Strathcona County. Browse the work of the local artisans, enjoy tasty dishes from local restaurants and food trucks such as Casa Doce, Truckin Good Eatz and One Cool Cookie while enjoying the musical lineup. Lots of kid’s activities too, Sunday, July 9, 4pm-8pm at The Agora, 401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park. Admission is free and taste tickets are $1 each.
Party down on Saint-Jean Baptiste Day, Saturday, June 24, at the Real French Canadian Kitchen Party at Café Bicyclette (8627 91 Street, 587-524-8090) with a special menu. On June 23, there is a pig roast-type dinner and BBQ and the traditional five gun salute. Café Bicyclette is also extending their Café Happy Hour until 7pm on Sundays, Wednesdays and sunny days for craft beers, wine and shareable snacks.
Sherbrooke Liquor (11819 St. Albert Trail, 780-455-4556 sherbrookeliquor.com) has a spiffy new tasting room. Meet George Grant, the grandson of the original Glenfarclas clan and taste Cask 105, 12, 15, 21, 25, and the 30 year at the May 25 tasting, 6pm-8pm, $75/p. The Forty Creek Whiskey Masterclass is on June 20. Register for Tasting Room events at sherbrookeliquor.com/event-calendar/
Live at the Winspear presented by Sherbrooke Liquor: Benjamin Grosvenor, May 5; the Mike Farris Trio, May 23; The Head and the Heart, May 29. Enjoy special tastings in the Founders Room. TIX: winspearcentre.com/tickets-wins/live-at-the-winspear.
Mark your calendars for the annual bbq extravaganza Porkapalooza, June 10-11 at Northlands Expo Centre. For all the deets visit porkapalooza.ca.
Indulgence 2017 is Monday, June 12 6:30pm-9pm at the Delta Edmonton South, 4404 Gateway Blvd. Enjoy tastes from 16 restaurants including XIX Nineteen, The Glass Monkey Gastropub, The Marc and Vivo Ristorante, indulgenceedmonton.ca.
mother’s day!
La Ronde (Chateau Lacombe, 10111 Bellamy Hill Road, 780-420-8366,) offers a fun Mother’s Day Brunch (also in the Alberta Ballroom). Enjoy roving balloon artists, a colouring station and the family photo booth along with the lavish brunch buffet, $44/adults,
$41/seniors, children 6 and over, $18. Resos 780-420-8366.
Check out the offerings for Mother’s Day Brunch at XIX Nineteen. Terwillegar (5940 Mullen Way, 780-395-1119) has a lavish buffet and St. Albert (104, 150 Bellerose Drive, 780-569-1819) is á la carte.
Holt’s Cafe (2nd Floor Holt Renfrew, 10180 -101 Street, 780-425-5300)
hosts Mother’s Day Brunch on Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14. Special menu items include corn cakes with fennel sausage and sweet crepes with banana brûlée and passion fruit curd. Call 780-425-5300 ext. 62903 to book.
Juniper Bistro (9514 87 Street, 780-490-6799, juniperbistro.com) is having a special Mother’s Day High Tea from 2pm-4pm. Reservations are a must. The High Tea menu includes sweet and savoury and a glass of bubbly, $35/p. Juniper plans something equally fun for Father’s Day; it will likely involve beer.
Vivo Ristorante Downtown offers an Italian pranzo experience for Mother’s Day, a seven-course family-style lunch with fresh-baked breads and pastries, salads, charcuterie, pizza, their house-made pasta, a variety of choice meats and desserts and $5 mimosas. Two seatings, 10am and 1pm, on Sunday, May 14, TIX: $60/p, $30 for children ages 5-10, no charge for the under 5 set, bring your own hi-chair or booster seat. Call 587-525-7500 for resos.
restaurant buzz
Bündok (10228 104 Street, 780-420-0192, bundokyeg.com) is open for lunch Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday starting May 3. They will start opening for Saturday brunch at 9am, on the May long weekend Yaay! That’s just about perfect for shoppers at the City Market Downtown on 104 Street.
Looking for a new Friday lunch spot? Love meatballs? Check out Kitchen by Brad’s (10130 105 Street, 780-757-7704, kitchenbybrad.ca) Meatball Madness for a casual lunch or takeaway, 11:30am-1pm every Friday (not Canada Day, July 1). Three meatballs and side dish of the day, $8. Can’t beat that.
Wishbone (10542 Jasper Avenue, 780-757-6758, eatwishbone.ca) the new member of the Three Boars Group, expects to be open mid-May. The new seafood and vegetable friendly restaurant is dinner only for now, but they do expect to be serving lunch and brunch soonish. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Coming mid-June to the Mercer Building is Mayday Dogs (10363 104 Street, 587-989-5456, maydaydogs.com). Expect Canadian-made gluten- and nitrate-free beef hot dog in six different combinations and a chef s special once a month. The first one is by Daniel Costa. Open Tuesday–Friday from 5pm and Saturdays from 12pm.
This is a sweet idea. Café Bicyclette (8627 91 Street, 587-524-8090) offers a Bikes and Baskets Picnic Kit. They supply the delicious picnic basket prepared by chef John Lau and the blanket. All you have to do is bring your bike. It’s available from Mother’s Day, May 14, until September. A family picnic basket could be had as well. Pre-ordering is recommended, 587-524-8090.
product news
Now you can enjoy Ace Coffee Roasters’ exquisite espresso downtown at The Cavern (10169 104 Street, 780-455-1336 thecavern.ca).
Find Brad’s BBQ Rub, Devil’s Butter and Bacon Jam at the 124 Grand Market, Thursdays from 4pm-8pm throughout the summer.
Heart of the Home’s (12539 102 Avenue, 780-705-4928 heartofthehomeyeg.ca) Tiki-themed one-year anniversary party is July 8. Expect drinks, snacks, prizes, swag bags! Sign up for the newsletter at heartofthehomeyeg.ca to get in on all the good stuff.
Celebrate Celiac Awareness Month during Time for Tea at Kinnikinnick Fresh (10940-120 Street, 780-732-7524, getitfresh.ca). Enjoy tea sandwiches and pastry with chef Lori Grein and take the recipes home, May 4, 5 and 12 from 10am-1pm.
Knifewear (10820 82 Avenue, 587-521-2034, knifewear.com) suggests that spring is the ideal time for a tune-up on all things sharp and shiny. Free-hand wet stone sharpening starts at $6 per knife, with axe and hatchet sharpening and repair available, often while you wait.
at the cooking schools
ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen classes are held at 10035-105 Street, main level. Weeknight classes run from 5pm-7pm and are $50 plus GST. Thursday May 11, Sweet and Savoury Crêpes; Wednesday May 17, Thai-Inspired Appetizers; Wednesday May 31, Jams and Jellies; Thursday June 8, Intro to Indian Cooking; Thursday June 15, Mediterranean Appetizers; Thursday, June 22, Celebrate Canada’s Birthday. Join the ATCO Blue Fame Kitchen on a Farmers’ Market Feast Featuring June Ingredients; a tour of the City Market Downtown on 104 Street followed by cooking a garden-fresh lunch with ingredients from the market, Saturday June 24, 10am-12pm, $50/p+.
Two cooking classes at the Pan Tree (220 Lakeland Dr #550, Sherwood Park, 780-464-4631, thepantree.ca) with chef Israel Alvarez caught our eye: Moles, May 24, 6pm, $95/p+ and Ceviche, June 28, 6pm, $ 95/p+. To register, visit thepantree.ca.