chinatown dining week until january 23
There is still time to catch some delicious deals during the Chinatown Dining Week. Various restos are offering $10 and $18 specials, like King Noodle House Pho Hoang’s Combo A—big bowl of pho and spring rolls, $18, or Spirit Bistro’s big rice noodle with salted fish fried rice, $10, or two $10 gift certificates at Shan Shan Bakery, $18. Dine in, take out, or both, depending on the resto. Find all the menus and plan your visits here.
let’s talk friday lunch
Have you had Kitchen by Brad’s soups? January’s menu has a homey Ukrainian theme—this Friday it’s mushroom barley and next week it’s borscht with crème fraiche, always with a fresh sesame seed bagel. The bagels are ideal— crispy with just the right amount of chew, never doughy and absolutely delicious. Available at Friday lunch only, pick up an extra half dozen to see you through the week, 11:30-1pm,10130–105 Street.
cool gin tasting at century park this friday
Century Park Cellars (2349 111 Street, 780-395-0503) is having a drop-in Gin Tasting this Friday, 5-7pm, and a sit-down version on Saturday, 5-7:30 pm, featuring some cool gins from Italy—Kapriol citrus gins as well as three Irish gins from the Glendalough Distillery and two from our very own Fort Distillery. Now that’s the way to wake up a mid-winter palate. They are also keen to host private tastings for between six to 14 people any night of the week. Great for book clubs, birthdays, office get togethers, from $25/p+. Call the store or email info@centuryparkcellars.com for more info.
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check out deep freeze: a byzantine winter fete this weekend in borden park
Explore this year’s theme Under the Ancient Arctic Sky in three locations—Borden Park with ice sculptures, giant lanterns and art installations featuring Ukrainian, Francophone, Indigenous, Inuit and Métis folklore. Pipon Village (118 Avenue) offers wagon rides, firepits and Indigenous storytelling, this weekend from 11am-9pm.Then there is the Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse for hot drinks, concerts and a terrific little art gallery curated by Edwin Aquino. The festival wraps up with fireworks in Borden Park, January 22, 6 pm. This clever and refreshing winter festival, whose themes reach into antiquity and help us survive the coldest season, is the brainchild of Christy Morin, executive director of Arts on the Ave. “We need to find ways to embrace our winters,” says Morin. “Winter is probably one of our longest seasons, but probably one of the most beautiful and we should celebrate it.” Visit here for more info.
prairie gardens winter csa
Tam Anderson at Prairie Gardens want us to know that local veg are available, direct from the farm, in the winter too. They have started a winter farm share and it’s worth checking out. All those beautiful root veg—Brussels, cabbage, kohlrabi, turnip, kabocha squash, blue pumpkins, potatoes, carrots, beets—fresh as can be. Winter-grown greens and herbs too, as well as seeds, wheatberries and sprouts. Sign up for the egg share, from 25 different heritage breeds. Pick up at Meuwly’s on Thursdays or visit the farm in Bon Accord on Thursdays or Sundays. For more info and to sign up visit here.
awn kitchen in-person classes are back in march
Awn’s classes are online right now but come March in-person classes will be back on the table. Highlights: of course, the Sourdough Classes March 9, 13, 15 and 31; The Hungry Months is all about eating local even at the end of the root veg season, April 20, The Irish Table March 17, The Middle Eastern Table March 24 and 25; and two fantastic classes with Alejandra Reynoso Garzon—The Spanish Table, March 11 and The Mexican Table on April 22.. For the full lineup and to book visit here.
recipe of the week: glasshouse kitchen and bar’s lentil burger
Lentils are cheap, low in calories and packed with nutrients. Chef Julia Kundera shows just how delicious they can be in this easy burger recipe.
tomato top100: coffee bureau coffee
Fans love the mellow vibe, the St-Viateur bagels and the coffee. We keep hearing rumours of a second location, but for now, duck into the spot on the south side of Jasper at 10505 Jasper Avenue.
we say goodbye to a friend of local restaurants: adrienne pan
Adrienne was smart and funny, a little sarcastic (which we loved) and a wholehearted contributor to our community. She was a first-rate journalist and broadcaster. You may remember Adrienne from anchor duties on CBC TV and, most recently, on CBC Radioactive where we found out just how serious Adrienne was about local food. Our condolences to her husband and family, her colleagues, coworkers and friends and her dog Otis. Our local food scene and local radio mourns. Watch CBC colleagues’ homage to Adrienne Pan here.
