chef ryan hotchkiss of bündok takes the gold at 2020 kitchen party
Chef Hotchkiss’s rustic autumnal dish—duck confit with farro and smoked duck stock—was precise in its execution. The confit duck was pulled apart, shredded similar to a rillette, pan fried in a baton shape, then topped with tiny orbs of silky red curry squash. It was textural, neither dry not greasy, with some crunchy bits, slightly gamey and flavourful. The farro, deeply flavourful from being cooked in whey (“We have lots of whey from all the cheese we make,” said Ryan) then sauteed with celery root, shallots and duck ham, was a deliciously earthy partner to the duck baton. Herbs, lacto-fermented blackberries, small slices of crisp apple, Asian pear and pear provided a sharp counterpoint to the richness of the dish. The wine pairing of the 2018 Lock & Worth Merlot was magnificent, its soft tannins and high acidity a foil for the gamey rich duck and vegetal flavours of the farro while the sweet berry fruit notes played off the berries on the plate.
This year’s Kitchen Party looked different—no live auctions, no tripping table to table for delicious bites and wine, no dance party at the Shaw, but the goals remained the same—to celebrate Canadian in food, music and sport and make a difference for youth. Instead the auctions were online and six previous competitors prepared beautiful meals for the in-home version 2020 Canada’s Great Kitchen Party last Friday. Judges Mary Bailey and Brad Smoliak visited each restaurant the day before to choose the medal winner. Bravo to all the competitors.
support your downtown restos: dining week on until november 8!
The Downtown Dining Week cut short last March is happening right now. Participating restaurants offer fixed price menus ($20 lunch/brunch and $35 or $50 dinners) both for dine in and for takeout. Check out the delish menus at The Common, Filistix, Grandin Fish and Chips, Madison’s, The Marc, Pampa, Red Star and other fine spots until November 8. The Downtown Business Association is relaunching the showcase to “reignite hope in downtown’s hospitality scene.” To help diners feel secure, each restaurant received a safety kit including extra hand sanitizer for guests, masks for servers and signage as well as QR codes to reduce menu use. This helps restaurants shoulder the extra expense of AHS sanitizing procedures.
the tiny comedy show returns to the glass monkey
The Glass Monkey (5842 111 Street, http://www.theglassmonkey.ca/) is home to the Tiny Comedy Show, 7pm, Sunday, November 1, with MC Kathleen McGee, headliner Sterling Scott, Don Filipchuk, Cian Beatty, Brent Ehtun and surprise special guests. Tix: $15, call 780-760-2228, (does not include dinner, no walk ins, reservations only.) The Glass Monkey Gastropub is family friendly.
rip joey moss
Joey Moss personified everything that is good about #yeg. He may not have had much to do with our food scene, but he had everything to do with Edmonton. Condolences to his family and his legion of friends.
Curtis Comeau photo
meals on wheels 50/50 by october 31
Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club is hosting an online 50/50 cash raffle for Edmonton Meals on Wheels. Tickets support the subsidized meal programs that so many low-income, senior, homebound, disabled and isolated Edmontonians rely on. Buy your ticket by October 31, draw date is November 6. Tix: rafflebox.ca.
