Kitchen Sink: May June 2019

What’s up on Edmonton’s food scene in May and June—wine dinners and tastings, new products, new farmers markets, openings, closings, cooking classes.

restaurant news

Cibo Bistro (11244 104 Avenue, 780-757-2426, cibobistro.com) has a new menu inspired by the flavours of southern Italy. Taste hearty dishes like fedelini pesto alla trapenese (almonds, tomato and colatura di alici, the heady fish sauce made in Cetara) or, rigatoni with a spicy Calabrese ragu. Enjoy on the leafy and quiet patio which opens early May.

Every Monday is Happy Monday at The Glass Monkey, (5842 111 Street, 780-760-2228, theglassmonkey.ca). Wines under $40 are half price, over $40, $20 off. Other special deals—Wednesday for half price wings or Thirsty Thursday for $6.95 pints. They are also having special Game of Thrones viewing parties including the final on Sunday, May19.

Madison’s in the Union Bank Inn (10053 Jasper Avenue, 780-401-2222, unionbankinn.com/madisons-grill) has a brand-new chef, Daniel Mongeon. Originally from Ottawa, chef Mongeon comes to Edmonton from the Sawridge in Jasper. We welcome him to Edmonton and look forward to the new spring and summer menus.

Uccellino (10349 Jasper Avenue, 780-426-0346, uccellino.ca) wants us to explore the flavours of Liguria. Best known for its basil, also wild greens, seafood, walnuts, crispy focaccia and some of Italy’s best olive oil. Sound good? Yes! Enjoy on June 25 when the menu will be 100 per cent Ligurian. The five-course menu is $75; with wine pairings, $135. Reserve on the website. Uccellino plans a regional dinner once per month.

product news

The Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market will be in its new home come the May long weekend at 10305 97 Street. The new hours are Saturdays from 9am-3pm and Sundays from 11am-3pm. It’s all good news for market hounds and we wish the market a prosperous future in their new home.

The Ribstone Creek Brewery in Edgerton has released a Berliner Weisse. The German-style beer is a pretty pink, with a subtle sour tartness balancing the sweet raspberry. Try it at the speciality cask night May 16 from 5-9pm at Chartier (5012 50 Street, Beaumont, 780-737-3633, dinechartier.com).

It will be a little harder to get to the Juniper Café & Bistro (9514 87 Street, 780-490-6799, juniperbistro.com) as 95 Avenue will be closed until November. But it’s worth it. Their menu, including Sunday brunch, is excellent. As well, they will have a Mother’s Day High Tea on May 12. No word yet on the menu, but you know it’ll be delish. Also in the neighbourhood, the lovely and special Wired Cup at 9418 91 Street closes its doors on June 1.

Vivo Ristorante (6143 Currents Drive, 780-244-5920, vivoristorante.ca) opens its third location Wednesday, May 1 in Currents of Windermere. The new restaurant differs from the other location in that dishes are not family style. The kitchen is helmed by the extremely capable Medi Tabtoub, so you know it’ll be delicious. The new Vivo will be open from 11 am every day. Watch for Happy Hour specials and Wine Wednesdays.

Get fresh veggies delivered weekly directly to your place of work. The Riverbend Gardens CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program offers office delivery to Edmonton Tower, Stantec Tower and Enbridge Centre. The season starts July 4, but you must sign up: riverbendcsa.ca.

The Bon Ton Bakery (8720 149 Street, 780-489-7717, bonton.ca) is making their country loaf and heritage loaf breads available as pan breads now. It’s the same dough, fermented for seven hours instead of the usual 30. Bon Ton sent all their long fermentation breads for nutritional analysis. Now they can give customers all the information they need regarding nutrition.

Owen Peterson, who was the friendliest baker we have ever met (remember him at Prairie Mill Bakery? In the hat?) is now in the distillery business. He has opened Greenwood Distillers in Sundre with his wife Bronwyn Peterson and Daniel and Dallas Groom. Their first product, a spiritous cordial called Wassail, is available now. Go Owen and Bronwyn! Visit their tasting room, 306 Main Avenue, Sundre, open every Saturday from 12-5pm, greenwooddistillers.ca.

Zocalo (10826 95 Street, 780-428-0754, zocalo.ca) has a new line of German-made pots called Lechuza. These pots are completely self-contained (self-water) in fun, contemporary colours and are ideal for kitchen herbs. Two sizes, a four-inch and a six-inch cube, $24 or $40.

wine tastings, happening and events

The Butternut Tree (9707 110 Street, 780-760-2271, thebutternuttree.ca) has several special dinners in May and June. Kelowna’s Sperling Vineyard is featured on Wednesday, May 8 with Ann Sperling. The menu looks amazing, paired with six wines. Tix: $115/p+.The Spring Tasting Menu, Wednesday, May 15, is 15 courses featuring all the fresh tastes of the season including unex-pected edibles such as cherry blossoms, nettles, chamomile, maple flowers and leaves, as well as halibut, ramps, lamb and asparagus. Tix: $140/p+. And, there is a dinner featuring the cheeky Blasted Church with wine maker Evan Saunders, on Tuesday, June 11. Call 780-760-2271 to book any dinner.

Enjoy a Beast Wine Dinner with the Okanagan’s Summerhill Pyramid Winery at the Cave Paleo Beastro (6104-104 Street, 780-540-2283, the-cave.ca). Five courses with wine pairings, 6:30pm, Thursday, May 9. Tix: $100/p, thecavebeastdinner.eventbrite.com.

Meet proprietor Don Triggs at the Culmina Wine Dinner at Ernest’s Dining Room (NAIT, 10701 118 Avenue, 780-471-8676). Five delicious Culmina wines with four courses, 6:30pm, Friday, May 10. Tix: $112.65/p, nait.ca/ernest-events.

Madison’s in the Union Bank Inn (10053 Jasper Avenue, 780-401-2222, unionbankinn.com/madisons-grill) features a special à la carte menu for Mother’s Day Brunch. Two seatings, 10am and 12:30pm, $44.95/p+, children’s menu, $19.95/p+. There are also special Mother’s Day room rates; check out the Union Bank Inn website.

XIX (5940 Mullen Way, 780-395-1119 and 150 Bellerose Drive, St, Albert, 780-569-1819, dinenineteen.com) are laying on the Prime Rib + Champagne Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet, 10am-2pm, Sunday, May 12. (Available at both locations.) Enjoy the mimosa bar, prime rib, omelette station, pasta, fresh seafood and pastry; $48.95 for adults, $26.95 for 8-18, and kids under 8 no charge. Call the location of your choice to book.

The Butternut Tree (9707 110 Street, 780-760-2271, thebutternuttree.ca) is offering both a Mother’s Day Brunch, Sunday, May 12, 9:30am-2pm and a Father’s Day Brunch, Sunday, June 16, 10am-2:30pm. No word yet on the menus or prices, but you know it will be seasonal, Canadian-focused and stellar.

Rosé all (Mothers) Day at Cavern (10169 104 Street, 780-455-1336, thecavern.ca). On Sunday, May 12, from 1-4pm, enjoy a rosé-themed Cheese School, $100/p+. Call to book.

Upcoming tastings at Aligra Wine and Spirits in West Edmonton Mall (8882 170 Street, 780-483-1083) Thursday, May 16, 5pm is the Rosé in May Fundraiser for the Edmonton Food Bank. Donations at the door. On Wednesday, June 19, 6:30pm is Gins in June, with sommelier Ken Bracke, $40/p includes appetizers. Visit aligrawineandspirits.com to book.

The Fine Wines by Liquor Select (8924 149 Street, 780-481-6868) Annual Spring Fling for Charity (The Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation) is Wednesday, May 22, 6:30pm with over 60 specialty wines, craft beers and artisanal spirits available along with delicious snacks from Meuwly’s.

Have dinner with Nathalie Bonhomme (a Québecer making fab wine in Spain) Wednesday, May 22 at the Expo Centre. Tix: $125/p, edmontonexpocentre.com.

The Grapes vs Grain Dinner at Ernest’s Dining Room (NAIT, 10701 118 Avenue, 780-471-8676), features a throwdown between Alley Kat Brewing and Pacific Wines. Reception begins at 6pm, Friday, May 24. Tix: $112.65/p, nait.ca/ernest-events.

Sherbrooke’s Undercover Wine Tastings in May and June are on Saturdays, May 25 and June 22. Undercover is a fun monthly event where you taste six wines in black glasses, all at the same temperature. The idea is to let other attributes of the wine come to the fore and to have you guessing about the usual things, like, is it red or white? Sign up for one night or for the whole series. Tix: $20/p+, Eventbrite.

The annual Asparagus Festival at Edgar Farms is on three Sundays this year, May 26, June 2 and June 9 from 10am-4pm. Visit with farm animals, compete in a duck race, do a giant floor puzzle, paint your face, and pick up some fresh asparagus. The first acre of asparagus at Edgar Farms was planted in 1986; this year they will harvest 30 acres. The farm is just west of Innisfail at 1465 Township Road 352. Visit edgarfarms.com to download the map. Admission is $5, kids under 5 free.

Chef Andrew Fung of XIX (5940 Mullen Way, 780- 395-1119, dinenineteen.com) visited Australia recently and brought back lots of fresh new menu ideas. Taste them at the Australian Wine Dinner, Monday, May 27, five dishes with five wines, 7pm. Tix: $125/p+, call 780-395-1119.

Taste six whiskies during the Glenfarclas Masterclass with George Grant at Chateau Louis (11727 Kingsway, 780-452-7770), 6:30pm, Tuesday, May 28. Tix: $40, adam@chateaulouis.com.

Indulgence A Canadian Epic of Food and Wine, is Monday, June 10 at the Delta with 46 chefs, ranchers, food artisans, producers, wineries, breweries and distilleries participating. It’s your best bet to taste Alberta’s bounty and see what’s new. Tix: $100/p, jledmonton.com

Plan to be on Alberta Avenue from June 17-23 for Dine the Ave, a week of dining specials with menus from $10-$20. And, you can take a mini tour June 12 for a sneak peek. Use #Eatson118 for a chance to win a giveaway. Visit alberta-avenue.com for participating restaurants, menus, preview details and tix.

at the cooking schools

The Ruby Apron (therubyapron.ca) has a new schedule and you might want to book a July class right now. Things sell out fast! The next Sourdough class available is Friday, July 12. We like the idea of the Ice Cream and Granita Workshop, Tuesday, July 23. For more info visit Ruby’s website.

Check out the spring classes at the Atco Blue Flame Kitchen (10035 105 Street, 780-420-7282, atcoblueflamekitchen.com). The hands-on kids class, High Tea Hi-Jinks, is on Saturday, May 4, $60. Thursday evening classes are $65/p and start at 6pm; Gnocchi Know-How, May 2; Vietnamese Vittles, May 16; Sizzlin’ Steaks, May 30; Mad About Bacon, June 13; The Summer of Pie, June 20; Seafood on the Barbecue, June 27. On Saturday, May 11, 10am, Hands-on Interactive Mother’s Day Brunch, $85. Summer Solstice Sippers and Starters, Friday, June 21, 6pm, $100/p. Call to book.

Learn to make dishes destined to become classics in your house during a For the Love of Alberta Cooking Class at Kitchen by Brad (10130 105 Street, 780-757-7704, kitchenbybrad.ca). Dishes like bison barley meatballs, pyrohy, beer-braised brisket and Saskatoon berry crostata, made from Alberta’s signature foods. Saturday, May 18, 12:30pm. Tix: $145/p+, kitchenbybrad.ca/classes.

Send interesting food and drink news for Kitchen Sink to hello@thetomato.ca.