festa dell’uva this saturday!
Every town in every Italian wine region has a fall festival of the grape harvest. Come on down to the Piazza (10831 95 Street, across the street from Zocalo) for the YEG version, Saturday, September 28, from 11am-4pm. Enjoy gelato, grape stomping, a wine tasting at Culina and yes, Umberto will be playing his accordion. Check it out!
order now for a delicious thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving may be a few weeks away yet, but if you desire a local turkey or ham, you need to order soon. Here is the roundup of who has what:
Popowich Meat Company (6853 170 Street) has a limited number of whole turkeys and breasts (which they are happy to stuff) and hams. Reserve in store or by phone, 587-462-8926.
Irvings Farm Fresh offers their outstanding bone-in hams, both smoked and unsmoked (gammon) as well as smaller boneless, fully cooked ham nuggets. Call 780-672-2787 or order online, while supplies last, and pick up at the farm shop near Camrose or their booth in the Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market.
Stawnichy’s Mundare Sausage has fully smoked turkeys in the 11-15pound range. Pre-order by phone, 780-764-3912, by October 2, and pick up by October 9 at the store in Edmonton (4824 118 Avenue) or in Mundare.
Order your Sunworks bird (whole turkey, breast or thigh) here by October 5. Choose your pick-up location when you order: Friday, October 11 at the Bountiful Farmers Market or Friday evening pick up at the new shop (7520 Gateway Boulevard, south of United Cycle) and Saturday, October 12 at the Old Strathcona and St Albert Farmers Markets.
The Butchery by RGE RD has a terrific assortment for Thanksgiving, from whole and half turkeys, to prime rib and bone-in smoked ham (cured and smoked over beechwood, fully cooked, just heat and serve). Then there are the sides—mashed potatoes, turkey stuffing, sausage dressing, or pork, sage and thyme sausage (outstanding for a Thanksgiving brunch) sausage rolls and dinner rolls as well as turkey gravy, cranberry sauce and their new haskap compete. And, Lakeside Farmstead cheeses! Pop in to place your orders (12229 107 Avenue), or call 780-443-0000, or email by midnight October 6.
Meadowcreek Farms offers several options of Thanksgiving veg boxes (carrots, onions, potatoes) and protein boxes (chicken, bacon, various sausages, bone-in hams), grown or raised on the farm near Waskatenau; a terrific way to fill your pantry and freezer. Visit here to see all the options.
Meuwly’s offers smoked turkeys, brined with honey, sea salt and spices, then slow-smoked over beechwood. Or, pre-order the award-winning smoked ham, lightly brined with honey, sea salt and spices, then smoked over beechwood—boneless, fully cooked, simply re-heat and serv. In two sizes.
l.a.s. dinner at monsoon
What do you need to make great wine? According to winemaker Nic Peterkin, luck, art and science. Here’s the opportunity to enjoy these incredible Margaret River wines paired with a toothsome Indian multi-course menu at Monsoon Bistro & Bar (94485 Gateway Blvd), 6pm, Thursday, October 3. Tix: $110/p all in.
bodegas enguera dinner at darling
The wines of Bodegas Enguera are featured at a dinner at Darling (9616 82 Avenue). Choose between a tasting, or à la carte menu, to enjoy with five exceptional wines from this sustainable property in Valencia. The menu and wines look amazing, definitely a don’t miss dinner, Thursday, October 3, from 5pm.
taste some great wine here
Explore the offerings at the Fall Walk Around Tasting at the Canadian Liquor Store (#101 18003 105 Avenue) Saturday, October 5, from 2 pm-5pm.
ramos pinto at devines
Join Rodrigo Lencastre, export director of Casa Adriano Ramos Pinto, at Devine Wines & Spirits (10111 104 Street), 7pm, Saturday, October 5 for a comprehensive tasting of seven wines and Ports. This venerable Port house (founded in 1880) possesses 360 hectares with four quintas on granite and schistous soils, ideal for the creation of not just fine Port, but exceptional table wines as well. Tix: $55/p+.
craft beer+charcuterie +chocolate? yes!
Join Aric Johnson (Folding Mountain Brewery), Peter Keith (Meuwly’s) and Jacqueline Jacek (Jacek Chocolate Couture) for a unique pairing event, Sunday, October 6, at Folding Mountain Brewery in Hinton. A portion of ticket sales supports the Jasper Hospitality Fund. Two sessions, noon and 3pm, $50/p+.
kitchen party on october 10!
Enjoy a dynamic night at Edmonton’s Kitchen Party, Thursday, October 10 at the Edmonton Convention Centre. Eight terrific Edmonton and area chefs compete for the opportunity to represent the city at the Canadian Culinary Championships this winter. Jason Green, Braven; Eric Hansen, The Marc; Julia Kundera, Out of Bounds Restaurant; Doreen Prie, Riverview at Glenora Park; Naga Singh, Belgravia Hub; Tamara Solon, Chartier Restaurant and Mother Bakery; Max Straczek, Pryo Wood-Fired Grill & Kitchen and Joseph Vuong, Café Bicyclette. Along with the action in the kitchen, taste some of the best in Canadian wines, local craft brews and spirits, along outstanding entertainment provided by Jim Cuddy, Anne Lindsay, Devin Cuddy, Sam Polley, with special guest Martin Kerr. Kitchen Party supports MusiCounts, Spirit North and e4c Alberta. Don’t miss it! Tix.
tomato top100: fuge sausage’s chorizo verde chicken sausage
The chicken chorizo verde was nominator’s number one; try the fennel and lemon and arugula or the Italian fennel. Fuge offers a quick Friday lunch option too—sausage in a bun—always different, always delicious, at their facility at 6736 99 Street. And, there are Oktoberfest features on right now. Check it out!
recipe of the week: chef kundera’s apple cake
Out of Bounds chef and Kitchen Party contender Julia Kundera makes this traditional Polish apple cake with the apples from her father’s tree. If you do not have access to a father’s tree (or any other local apples) look for a good tart variety for best results.
