so much for a fresh strategy
The City of Edmonton has awarded the contract for the river valley golf course restaurants (Rundle, Riverside and Victoria) to a global food service company based in Houston, contrary to their own Fresh Strategy, which promotes not just the idea of local food but the idea of local food business.
The former operator, the home-grown Culina Family, has laid off 10 employees and is scrambling to fill their catering book for the summer (they usually book light due to the golf course business).
Brunching at Dogwood Café while watching the skiers on the golf course in the winter was a thing of beauty. Culina Family created that. Expanding the idea of eating at the golf courses beyond a quick snack after the ninth hole was a risky idea. Yet, they made it work for three glorious seasons. What do they get for creating excellent casual restaurants in scenic locations for all Edmontonians to enjoy? Nothing nada, zip. It’s bye bye Dogwood.
Oh, so all the rules were followed in terms of awarding the contract? I’m sure they were. Maybe the city will save a few bucks running the golf courses, surely not a massive line item in the budget. But it seems to us that Edmonton spends money on many ridiculous things, including creating a food strategy they have no intention of following.
Rather, by changing operators, they have missed a golden opportunity to actually stand by something good, something local and something entrepreneurial. Something real.
why not collaborate?
Chef Robin Wasicuna of the Twin Pine Diner in Yellowknife is joining chefs Levi Biddlecombe and Tyson Wright of the Why Not Café & Bar (8534 109 Street, 780-297-5757) https://whynoteat.ca for a pop-up Tuesday, April 10 from 5pm-10pm. Expect modern comfort food with some ingredients from Yellowknife on a one night only menu of five dishes from $10-$20 and two cocktails. Or, enjoy the entire menu for a discounted price. Call the Why Not for resos.
photo Yellowknife Online
come by curbside
A Cappella Catering debuts their brand spanking new food truck Curbside by A Capella at the spring sale at Sundance Ski & Snowboard Shop (4745 Gateway Blvd), 10am-5pm, Saturday, April 7. A new ski jacket and a terrific lunch at the same time. How efficient!
california wine fair woo hoo!
The California Wine Fair rolls into the Shaw Convention Centre Monday, April 10. Raise a glass to California and sample a selection of more than 400 premium wines from dozens of California’s most interesting producers. You don’t have to be an expert, but you do have to be a wine lover. Proceeds to Easter Seals. Tickets for the evening event (7pm-9:30pm) are $75, available here: https://eastersealsalberta.akaraisin.com/ui/16537. Registration for the trade tasting (hospitality and wine shop folks) (2pm-5pm) avail here: https://www.eventbrite.ca
eat alberta is back!
Eat Alberta is a one-day conference on food at NAIT’s Hokanson Centre for Culinary Arts, Sunday, April 29, starting at 10:30am. The theme is More with Less with butcher Elyse Chatterton, chef Blair Lebsack, RGE Rd and the pickle maker with all the mojo, Johwanna Alleyne of Mojo Jojo Preserves. Visit eatalberta.ca for all the deets. Tix: $150/p, eventbrite.com.
soup for bitter spring days
It’s still soup season and what better way to use up old bread and less-than-tip-top veg from the back of the crisper than in ribollita, the hearty Tuscan bread soup. That and a bottle of Chianti and you’ve got dinner. Chef Daniel Costa’s recipe here: https://thetomato.ca/tomatoquarantwo/2018-march-april/tuscany-chefs-eyes
