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too many cooks
Wishbone (10542 Jasper Avenue, is holding a dinner fundraiser for the Bissel Centre, Sunday December 10, 6pm. It’s quite the collaborative effort with chefs Israel Alvarez (Comal); Alexei Boldireff (Baijiu); Laine Cherkewick (Farrow); Andrew Cowan (Northern Chicken); Edgar Gutierrez (Kanto 98st); Will Kotowicz (Meuwly’s/Secret Meat Club); Tony Krause (Revel); Chael MacDonald (Elm); Christine Sandford (Biera); Ben Staley (Alder Room); Sean O’Connor (Red Ox Inn) and Brayden Kozak (Wishbone/Three Boars) coming together to make the multi-course dinner. Also with drinks meisters Andre Bobber (Baijiu); James Grant (Holy Roller); Ramon Miranda (Color De Vino); Alex Pocock (Three Boars); Sam Thornton (North 53); Natasha Trowsdale (Bar Clementine); Dillion Zrobek (District) and Shaun Hicks (Wishbone/Three Boars). That’s going to be one busy kitchen and bar. Bring a donation of warm clothing as well. Get your tix here.
nineteen gift card promo
For people who hate to shop, or for businesses that give out a lot of gifts, Nineteen’s gift card promo is a good one. Purchase between $1,000-$3,000 in gift cards and receive a bonus gift card of five per cent; between $3,001-$5,000, the bonus is 10 per cent. From $5,001 and up you receive a bonus of 15 per cent for yourself. Sweet! Available until December 24. Call 780-395-1119 for all the deets.
holiday brunch
The Royal Glenora Club (11160 River Valley Road) pulls out all the stops for their holiday season brunch with carolers and an array of delicious foods including salads, house-made breads and pastry, antipasti, charcuterie, cheese board, several entrees, carving station, chilled seafood towers and lots of sweets such as their sticky toffee pudding and orange-spiced panna cotta. Better go for a ski first. The cost is $39.95, with special pricing for seniors, youths and RGC members. The Dickens Brunch is Sunday, December 10 and 17 with seatings from 10:30am. Call 780-482-2371 for reservations.
drink of the week
Seedlip is here! The British-made non-alcoholic spirit is creating raves across Europe and the US. Non-alcoholic spirit; how is that you say? This is how they do it — the herbs and botanicals are cold macerated in neutral grain spirit and water. Then, each is distilled in a copper pot, like other interesting flavour-forward spirits. The alcohol is removed before blending and bottling. The result? A bracing tonic with intense and pure flavours, yet, without the alcohol. Seedlip suggests a long drink with tonic but we bet Edmonton’s creative barkeeps will be coming up with some cool cocktails using this unique drink. Try the woodsy Spice 94 made with oak, cascarilla bark, green cardamom, allspice berries, lemon and grapefruit peel, or the floral Garden 108 with spearmint, rosemary, thyme, hops, spring peas and hay. It’s priced at $45.00/700ml, but, remember, a little goes a long way. Available at Maven & Grace. 9621 82 Avenue.
would you like some wine with your dog?
Try the Loire Valley natural wines brought in by importer Eric Mercier along with French hip-hop and Montreal style all-dressed dogs at Mayday Dogs (10359B 104 Street), Monday December 4, from 6-110pm. There will be onion rings and magnums too.
wine of the week
Giovanni Menti Roncaie Sui Lieviti (sparkling wine)
This engaging sparkling wine is made in Gambellara, a range of volcanic hills in the Veneto, from the auchtonous Gargenega (yes, the same grape as Soave). I love how lo-fi it is. Pop the crown cap with a bottle opener and pour. Experience a gentle fizziness and citrusy flavours of lemon and clementine (one taster said it was like drinking a very light mimosa) along with an intriguing, slightly bitter grapefruit pithyness and subtle almond flavours. The wine is not disgorged or filtered — expect some cloudiness. (This part of the world calls sparkling wines created by a second fermentation in the bottle col fondo.) Refreshing, lowish alcohol at 12.5 per cent, a delish quaff, $26. At Color de Vino and other fine wine shops.
who doesn’t love an edible gift basket?
The Italian Centre Shops offer gift baskets that are ideal for the food lovers on your list, filled with all sorts of delectables in several price ranges. Standard baskets (cheese lovers, tea and honey; cantina della nonna) range from $60-$105; custom baskets can be filled with all of your favourite foods. Basket orders do require some notice, visit http://www.italiancentre.ca/gift-baskets for all the deets.
bar bricco’s ricotta crostini with guanciale
We love the ease of crostini for holiday entertaining, and you can’t go wrong with this flavour combo by Bar Bricco. Ask the deli at the Italian Centre to slice the guanciale or pancetta for you, as it’s hard to get it super thin at home. Recipe
