Remembering Gail Hall, Gruger Family Funghi, Confessions of a Knife Nerd, Italian Centre party platters
Remembering Gail Hall
It’s been two years since Gail Hall succumbed to cancer. Her husband, Jon Hall, wanted to have her life and contributions remembered in a concrete way. The book about Gail’s life, Maps, Markets and Matzo Ball Soup: The inspiring life of Chef Gail Hall by Twyla Campbell launched October 28. “Taking on this project was intimidating,” says Twyla. “Her story deserved to be told well and with authenticity and I didn’t want to let her down.” Twyla will be talking about the book and signing copies at Kitchen by Brad (10130 105 Street, 780-757-7704) on November 4, from 1-3pm. One of the sweetest things in the book are the recipes. Expect something good to eat while you are there. The book is also available at Audrey’s Books, 10702 Jasper Avenue, 780-423-3487.
easy peasy weekday cooking
Emily Richards and Sylvia Kong are the cooks behind the latest Best of Bridge Cookbook, Weekday Suppers and it’s a winner. Emily is a home economist, recipe developer and cookbook author who many will know from Christmas in November. Calgarian Sylvia Kong is a food stylist, home economist and consultant at Savory Palate Consulting. Expect lots of variety and flavours in the 175 recipes using regular pantry ingredients and even some store-bought time savers such as rotisserie chicken and frozen filled pastas. (Because most family cooks have to do that sometimes, right?) Emily and Sylvia’s recipes use methods that speed up cooking such as one pot cooking or using sheet pans and the pressure cooker. Emily will be at the Italian Centre South, (5028 104A Street) on November 15 cooking from Weekday Suppers.
Family Funghi
The enterprising Gruger Family is growing mushrooms in a pristine facility near Leduc. There is a variety of oyster mushrooms in different colours and the fuzzy-looking lions mane, also dried mushroom powders and some cosmetics. Find the mushrooms on local restaurant menus, at Meuwly’s, Bon Ton Bakery and the City Market Downtown on Saturdays. We can’t wait to tour this place!
Swedish Dish Cloth Christmas 2018
We love the seasonal Swedish dish cloths and look for the new patterns every year. Tuck into a hostess gift or stocking, or buy to match your kitchen. This pattern and others can be found at Heart of the Home, Wired Cup, Zocalo, Hillaby’s and Bella Casa, $7.
Confessions of a Knife Nerd
Kevin Kent, the chef turned Japanese knife sensai, has written a book about his experiences in the knife world, The Knifenerd Guide to Japanese Knives, the insider’s view of the blacksmiths, creation, care and artistry of the best knives in the world with photography by Visti Kjar. We expect Kevin’s no-holds-barred exuberance to fill the pages, but we haven’t actually seen the book yet. Available November 4 at Knifewear (10820 82 Avenue, 587-521-2034) $40.
Party Platter Central
The Italian Centre is launching new party platters for the season. The Party Snacker has smoked turkey sausage, German salami, Cheddar, provolone and Boursin and is finished with pickles and olives, $30; the Spuntino is double cream Brie and Reggiano, bresaola, spicy Calabrese salami with olives, grapes, nuts and honey, $56; the Traditional Italian Antipasto offers Genoa salami, capicollo, mortadella, Asiago, bocconcini, provolone, olives and giardinera, $73; and the Breakfast Board has hardboiled eggs, turkey, Prosciutto cotto, Asiago, dried and fresh fruits and nuts, $50. Order in store, online or by phone with 48 hours notice. Yum.
Say Goodbye to Hillaby’s
Hillaby’s, the housewares shop in the Enjoy Centre in St. Albert, is going out of business with an everything-must-go sale. “The store was my long-term plan. It’s breaking my heart to close,” says owner Lynn Hillaby. Hillaby’s was a great store for cooks. “We were the number one store in Canada in 2018 for Bellarini, the high-quality, non-stick cookware from Italy.”
Why close now? “Changes at the centre, downturn in the economy, big box stores, when Costco opened in St. Albert that was it. St. Albert was my demographic, but young families aren’t cooking,” she says.
“The sale starts now and will go through until December 31 if necessary. Everything is on sale including the kitchen sink,” says Lynn.
Ever the optimist, Lynn plans a new career in food travel. “Woman-friendly trips, a couple of trips per year, with a strong food component, starting in 2019,” is all she’ll say for now. Hillaby’s, 101 Riel Drive, 780-651-7373.