easter breads, hot cross buns, egg hunts and west coast wines, plus: tomato kitchen design awards

let’s talk other Easter breads

The story of the hot cross bun starts with a monk in Albans (British Isles) who gave buns with the sign of the cross to the poor on Good Friday. Now the sweet and raisin-filled bun with the cross (iced or not) is ubiquitous with Easter. They ward off bad luck if hung in the kitchen and bring good luck to those who share, according to an Irish saying. Paska is the Ukrainian bread rich with eggs and butter, tall and cylindrical with a domed top (sometimes iced) Its history predates Christianity, so we could call it a spring celebration bread. Bon Ton makes both paska and hot cross buns. If you want a road trip this week, head out to the Mundare Bakery and in the north east find at the B&A Bakery, 12908 82 Street.

paska

rge rd’s off-sales includes hot cross buns this week

Rge Rd’s (10643 123 Street, https://www.rgerd.ca) bread and meat off-sales is happening right now, ending Thursday 4pm, or while supplies last. It features house-made sausages, pate, terrines, smoked meats and fresh baked bread and hot cross buns too!

hot cross buns

never too old for an easter egg hunt

Join the folks at Heart of the Home (12539 102 Avenue, 780-705-4928, http://www.heartofthehomeyeg.ca/) this Saturday from noon -3pm for the hunt and the chance to win prizes. You probably need a devilled egg plate anyway.

easter egg hunt

regional menus for the armchair traveler

Uccelino has started to do a series of regional dinners. It’s a five-course tasting menu, with or without wine pairings, on one night only. Think of the dinners as a pop-up, as that is the only menu offered that night, but you can make a reso for when you want to go. Rome was last month, Potenza is on April 23 and Liguria is June 25. Very excited about this.

uccelino regional tomato

new hours for bundok soon

The wonderful downtown spot Bundok 10228 104Street (780-420-0192, http://www.bundokyeg.com) is changing their hours. They will be opening at 3pm Monday to Saturday, along with a pre-dinner snack menu. The patio will be open soon too, weather depending–very nice for those days when you want to bunk off earlier and enjoy the breeze. and the patio will be opening soon too. They are still open for lunch for a few weeks.

Bundok

horse driven wines from oregon

Oregon producer Illahe Vineyards, is featured at a wine dinner at RGE Rd, Tuesday, April 30. Ill-Uh-Hee, pronounced Ill-Uh-Hee, is a local Chinook word meaning earth. The wines are lovely. Really nice hands-off winemaking and they use a team of Percherons for vineyard chores. They grow Pinot, several whites and some Lagrein, a red grape originally from northern Italy in the south Tyrol. Don’t know yet what they will be pouring at the dinner, but this is a don’t miss dinner. And Bethany Ford from the winery will be there. Only 20 spots. Tix: $125/++, five courses with Illahe wines to suit, call 780-447-4577 to reserve a spot.

Illahe Vineyards

love your new kitchen?

Enter it in the Tomato Kitchen Design Awards. Whether it’s a reno or a new build, or you are a homeowner, designer or builder, there is a category for you. Also for commercial spaces too. Click the graphic below for info and to enter

Tomato Kitchen Design Awards