Explore Edmonton? Yes!
Explore Edmonton invited me along on a tour of iconic Edmonton experiences during the Taste of Place conference. (These tours are set up for visiting media to showcase what the city has to offer.) I was thrilled to go, to see what visitors get to see. A lot! It was a jam-packed two days. I left with new friends and a happy insight into the work that the Explore Edmonton organization does to promote our city.
Tiramisu Bistro in Hawrelak Park
Our first stop was the newly refurbished William Hawrelak Park. It’s a gem. All the things we love have been given a glow up—the lake, the grass, the flow and the iconic pavilion buildings, designed in 1966 by Bittorf and Wensley Architects. They look spectacular, and this intelligent and respectful restoration allows them to thrive for another 60 years. Kudos to the design team. Make sure to have coffee or lunch or drinks on the patio at Tiramisu in the bustling main pavilion. Plan to ride your bike or get a ride though. We were there on a sunny day along with throngs of people—the parking lot was full and cars were lined up to get in.
S’more tower at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald’s Harvest Room
Dinner that night was on the patio of the Harvest Room at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, hosted by the Mac’s communications pro, Chelsea Smallwood, and exec chef John Lance. It was delicious, modern cooking, not too heavy—tuna crudo, beef tenderloin and a lovely s’more tower for dessert. The Harvest Room is getting its own glow up; can’t wait to see the result later this year. Drinks on the patio is a coveted reso for locals and visitors alike, for good reason. That view!
View from the streetcar over the High Level Bridge
If you haven’t taken the streetcar over the High Level Bridge, you need to get on that. It’s a rare and impressive view from high above the river, the visitors were impressed, not bad for a Prairie city. The conductors, all volunteers, charming and a wee bit corny in the best possible way, restore and operate these vintage trolley cars from all over (Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Osaka and Melbourne) via the Edmonton Radial Railway Society. We didn’t have drinks or food this time, but several Edmonton restos rent the streetcar for parties.
Next up was Spilt Bar where JoAnne Pearce explores the culinary side of non-alcoholic cocktails (mocktails) using local herbs and flowers and loads of different techniques such as fermentation to create distinctively unique flavours. Let me tell you, these drinks are not a pale imitation, they are lacking nothing. Check it out!
Snacks at Woodwork
The Bernadette's Scott Iserhoff
After well-made cocktails and some snacks at Woodwork we strolled over to Bernadette’s for dinner. (Yes, we ate, a lot.) Bernadette’s is owned and operated by chef Scott Iserhoff, from the Attawapiskat First Nation, and Svitlana Kravchuk from Ukraine. It’s bijou, warm, with creative cocktails, a small but inventive wine list and outstanding food. Bernadette’s is inspired by both their grandmothers and named after Scott’s—his cooking evokes the feeling of being at her house and all the warmth and memories associated. Recommended: Jingle Dress salad and the summer stew.
Evert Poor guides our journey at the Indigenous Peoples Experience
The highlight? The walk through the Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park. Our guide, Evert Poor, made the experience a visual, aural and emotional journey through time. Every Edmontonian needs to go explore it. We walked back through Fort Edmonton, it wasn’t open yet and had that stillness, allowing us to imagine living there many generations ago. Haven’t even thought about Fort Edmonton in years and now will go again, because it’s a a special place.
Shane Chartrand at the OSFM
We popped into the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market for lunch, joined by Connie Olson, the energetic market manager. This is the home base of globetrotting chef Shane Chartrand who decided to make us the entire menu, the courses just kept coming. (I usually just get the breakfast wrap, but the pancakes are on my mind.) Chef talked about food and life and this fun casual menu, along with some market vendors, including Adam from Maplewood Gardens, who talked about the multigenerational business he now heads.
OSFM pancakes
It was marvellous to be a tourist in my own city, to see it through a visitor’s eyes. And remember, the city’s most charming spots are for us too, not just for visitors.
Edmonton Explore Trolley
Check out the Edmonton Explore Trolley, a great way to introduce guests to YEG or to explore it for yourself, until Thanksgiving, edmontonexplorer.travel.
