culina to go open this week!
Woo hoo! We are so excited that Culina to Go will be ready to go this week. Culina to Go joins the already-opened Brio Bakery and Plum Design in the Oliver Exchange Building (12021 102 Avenue) and we’re looking forward to dishes such as the vegetarian mushroom cheese burger, composed salads, flatbreads, daily soups and desserts at lunch; the resurrection of the Culina TV Dinners, and, the Culina breakfast sandwich, as well as omelettes and breakfast salads on the weekends. Don’t want to take away? There are about a dozen stools in Culina to Go and several tables in the attractive shared space, which is also where chef Brad Lazarenko will hold special events and dinners. In other Culina news, the café at Muttart will close July 2. The entire Muttart complex will be closed until 2021 for renovations.
knife nerd heaven
Knifewear’s (10820 82 Avenue, 780-521-2034) annual garage sale is on right now until May 19 and it’s a great time to pick up a super-cool knife. Choose from one-of-a kinds (all the Takeda knives in the sale); retired samples; repaired knives and other unique items owner Kevin Kent ferrets out on his trips to Japan.
you want to have dinner with nathalie bonhomme
One of our very favourite wine people, Nathalie Bonhomme is in town for a wine maker dinner at the Expo Centre. It’s part of something new there, called the Winery Spotlight Dinner Series. The menu, by executive chef Jiju Paul, offers interpretations of Spain’s classic dishes, including a butter-poached lobster and caviar starter. The dinner will be set up long-table style in the Ballroom foyer (across the gallery from Hall F). Six wines, six courses, starting at 6:30pm. Tix: $125/p all in, https://edmontonexpocentre.com/
wine tasting for stollery at liquor select
Sample over 60 specialty wines, craft beers and artisanal spirits along with delicious snacks from Meuwly’s at Fine Wines by Liquor Select’s (8924 149 Street, 780-481-6868) Annual Spring Fling for Charity, Wednesday, May 22, 6:30pm. Donations at the door go to The Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.
a wine and beer pairing throw down at ernest’s
Always discussing with your partner the various merits of wine vs beer or beer vs wine? Check this out: The Grapes vs Grain Dinner at Ernest’s Dining Room (NAIT, 10701 118 Avenue, 780-471-8676), features a pairing throw down between four Alley Kat beers and four wines from the Pacific Wines portfolio. Only you can decide what wins! Reception begins at 6:00pm, Friday, May 24. Tix: $112.65/p, nait.ca.
finally, asparagus
Or, at least that’s what we hope—that sunshine, warm weather and a bit of rain allowed tips to burst out of the ground. If so, here’s the recipe for the first local asparagus of the season and what wine to drink with it. Recipe of the week: Shaved Asparagus Salad with Cedar Creek Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Okanagan Valley, Canada)
