bravissimo teresa!
Teresa Spinelli, president of the Italian Centre Shops, has become a member of the Ordine della Stella d’Italia Onorificenza di Cavaliere. Teresa was presented with the honour (the Order of the Star of Italy is similar to the Order of Canada) for her work in promoting Italian foodstuffs and gastronomy by H.E. Andrea Ferrari, Ambassador of Italy to Canada, on his first official visit to Alberta. In her acceptance speech last night at the Italian Cultural Centre, Teresa spoke about food and family, how they are inextricably connected and how she wouldn’t have it any other way. We are so fortunate to have Teresa. We applaud her efforts in building, with her team, the family business started by her father Frank into a culinary powerhouse. Mr. Luigi Zorzetto was also presented with the honour. Congratulations!
Teresa Spinelli
congrats peter and james!
Two hardworking members of Edmonton’s hospitality community are Edify’s Top 40 under 40 2022. Congrats to James Grant (World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2021) and to Peter Keith (MBA, NAIT culinary alumni, co-founder Meuwly’s and director Public Food Hub). Raise a toast to James and Peter for their previous achievements and future successes! For more on James, see here and Peter, see here.
James Grant
taste of mexico at hayloft, round two
Don’t miss another Taste of Mexico with Hayloft’s head chef Picho Valasquez and libations expert Mauricio Estrada. Enjoy four courses paired with four tequilas and two mezcal, 6:30pm, Tuesday, November 8. Tix: $75
you might have to camp out to get one
The Italian Centre Advent Calendars were the hot ticket last year and 2022 promises to be the same. Here’s how to get one. Online: 100 only, Tuesday, November 15 at 10am. In store: 120 calendars per location, on sale at 9am, Tuesday, Thursday, November 17, $59.98+ limit one /person.
northern light fondue dining experience booking now
Bookings for the Northern Lights Dining Experience at the U of A Botanic Gardens near Devon are now open. It is a delight. Walk through a snowy garden of delights to nestle into a snow globe for three courses including a chocolate fondue to finish. On offer Wednesday–Sunday from November 23 until December 31. Tix: $145/p+ includes Luminaria.
start the season at bella casa
We love Frasier Fir—makes your house smell like a winter forest. Bella Casa (9646 142 Street, 780-437-4190, bellacasadcl.com) has an offer on from November 7-12—spend up to $100 and save 10 per cent, over $100, 15 per cent. And, there is a gift with purchase too. Can’t beat that.
resto awards in brief
Air Canada’s Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022 were just announced. No Edmonton restos in the Top10, though Fu’s Repair Shop, Hayloft and Pei Pei Chow Ow made the long list. Of note, Calgary’s Một Tô (#5) and Major Tom (#8) and Vancouver Island’s Fox & Monocle (#9) in Canoe Cove near Sidney. Congrats to all the winners. Meanwhile, on Trip Advisor’s Best of the Best list, Pluvio in Uclulet took top spot.
The bar at Major Tom, Calgary
tomato top100: chartier’s tourtière
And, just like that, we are in tourtière weather. Chartier does an amazing job of this old school Quebecois classic, using Thundering Ground bison and Irving’s pork, root veg and all the right spices. Buy it frozen to pop into the oven when you need a warming hearty dish.
recipe of the week: chef daniel costa’s caponata
This glorious fall we experienced (though over now, quite abruptly) means veg like eggplant had enough time to ripen. Put it together in the savoury Sicilian dish called caponata. Click here for the recipe.
