What’s new and notable this month.
happenings and events
Experience the Flavours of 124 Street, a small plates celebration every weekend in September, starting September 10. The grande finale is at Manchester Square, Saturday, September 25, from 6-10pm. More info? Visit 124street.ca/events.
The new Italian Centre Shop Sherwood Park (8005 Emerald Drive, Emerald Hill Shopping Centre, 780-416-4869, italiancentre.ca) is having a Grand Opening bash, Saturday, September 11, 11am-4pm. Look forward to live entertainment, giveaways and a vendor piazza. Woo hoo!
Don’t miss Bangers & Beers YEG Sausage Battle at You Need a BBQ (65 Chippewa Road, Sherwood Park), Sunday, September 12. It’s a chance to eat superlative sausage and help raise funds for WBC Team Canada to travel to the World Butcher Challenge in Sacramento. (Local butchers Elyse Chatterton, Popowich Meat Co. and Corey Meyer, Acme Meat Market, are members). Popowich, Acme, The Glass Monkey, the Glasgow Butcher, The Butchers Son, Irvings, Grove City Meats and Master Meats are participating. Tix $25/p+, eventbrite.ca.
Mark your calendar for the Ukrainian Harvest Market, Saturday, September 18, 4-8pm at the Strathearn Centre (9534 87 Street). Find art exhibits and food vendors, with fresh dishes to eat on site, and frozen to take home. This tasty event is organized by the Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts, acuarts.ca.
Enjoy the Festa dell’Uva Little Italy September 18-19 at Giovanni Caboto Park (9425 109a Avenue). The free, outdoor family festival, modeled after Italian harvest events, offers a grape stomp, music, dance, street performers, children’s activities, bocce, food and wine tasting. Part of Alberta Culture Days, it compliments the Italian Centre’s wine grape season. Check it out!
restaurant buzz
Three Vikings (10713 124 Street, 780-249-6302, threevikings.ca) is part of the Flavours of 124 Street, September 10-11, September 17-18, September 24-25. And, expect delish schnitzel specials and German beer features as they celebrate Oktoberfest, September 28 to October 2. Zum Wohl!
Chef Doreen Prei has signed on to the new Prairie Catering at the AGA, formerly Zinc (2 Sir Winston Churchill Square, 780-222-9575, prairiecatering.ca). We can’t wait to see what’s in store.
The Piazza Food Hall is looking for chefs for the new space in Little Italy. A food hall is a way for chefs to try out new concepts and share in the expenses and good vibes while creating an innovative restaurant concept. Shared common spaces and an easier start-up process allow chefs to get busy doing what they love: creating great food. Contact 587-882-5087 or mdcthepiazza@gmail.com for info.
A Cappella Catering (12105 120 Ave, 780-454-2642, acappellacatering.com) offers the popular Thanksgiving and Christmas Take & Bake Dinners (a family-style dinner for four-six for under $25/p) again this fall. Get it delivered for a few dollars more. Call 780-454-2642 for all the deets and to order.
Bodega Sherwood Park (410 Baseline Road, 780-417-4670, bodegayeg.ca) is now open. Chef Lino Oliviera is bringing memories of this mom’s Piri-Piri Chicken to Strathcona County this fall with this Sunday night take-out special—a whole roasted chicken, potatoes and salad. Visit the website for details!
La Boule, the Old Strathcona bakery home to exquisite viennoiserie and patisserie, baguettes and boules, closed August 22. “This was my baby,” says owner/head baker and chef Jennifer Stang. “We were immensely successful and we have an amazing customer base. The hardest thing was telling my staff. We have an amazing talented group of people. But the landlord wanted too much.” Jennifer does plan to reopen in their own building, nothing is firm yet.
Product news
Bella Casa (9646 142 Street, 780-437-4190, bellacasadcl.com) is having a Fall White Sale, September 20-October 21—save up to 20 per cent on all bedding. October 4-9, the Crestwood shop features lots of Thanksgiving ideas and products.
Heart of the Home (12539 102 Avenue, 780-705-4928, heartofthehomeyeg.ca) has Staub pumpkin cocottes on sale, just in time for Halloween and Thanksgiving, while quantities last. Zwilling’s free knife sharpening (three knives per customer) is Friday, September 24, 2-5pm. In October, $1 from every purchase will be donated to a local animal rescue. There will also be a donation bin in-store for needy pets. Sign up for the loyalty card and receive 15 per cent off the tenth purchase.
Bountiful Farmers’ Market (3696 97 Street, 780-818-3878, bountifulmarkets.com) is having a Back to School event September 4-6. Expect fun, engaging activities for kids and parents alike. Local Edmonton artists celebrate the fall equinox with a stunning piece of artwork on September 18-20. The buskers are back at the year-round, multi-day indoor market and there is a Thanksgiving event on the October 9 weekend. Starting September 10, and running through the fall, there are Bountiful Basket Giveaways. Visit website for more info.
at the cooking schools
Awn Kitchen’s (5125 122 Street, 587-469-4955, awnkitchen.com) fall schedule is up now—sourdough basics and advanced; breads, croissants, puff pastry, pizza and pasta, along with guest chef classes too. Visit the website to sign up.
Chef Brad Smoliak’s cooking classes at Kitchen by Brad (10130 105 Street, 780-757-7704, kitchenbybrad.ca) are intimate, fun and suitable for both great cooks and those who like to be around great cooks. Visit the website for the full range, or to contact Brad for private classes and parties.
MoJo Jojo’s Pickles Nosh & Quaff (9627-82 Avenue, 780-479-2831, mojojojopickles.com) is offering several pickling and canning classes this fall in their new location on East Whyte, including a Holiday Canning Party on November 14. Visit the website to book.
Get Cooking (11050 104 Avenue, 780-566-2106, getcooking.ca) has a new web site this fall. All the better to sign up for one of their virtual or in-person classes with guest presenters. Classes start Tuesday, September 7. For more info and to sign up for the newsletter, visit the website.
Send interesting food and drink news for Kitchen Sink to hello@thetomato.ca.