Taste of Markerville
long table dinner
One of those can’t-quite-believe-how-perfect-it-is nights, that (perhaps) we have had our fair share of this summer. An evening truce between the mosquitos and the wasps; a zephyr of a breeze occasionally ruffling the wildflower bouquets sashaying down the table dressed in pickle jars. Amusing fellow diners and just enough Sumac Ridge wine and Alley Kat beers paired with an amazing dinner — eight courses by Calgary chefs Darren McLean, Downtownfood; Duncan Ly, Hotel Arts; Andrew Winfield, River Café; Top Chef alumnus Pierre Lamielle, and John Jackson and Jessica Pelland of Charcut/Chabar; working with 13 local farms and ranches such as Markerville Berry and Vegetable Farm and Sweet Meadow Farmstead Cheese. After the last bit of just-picked strawberries with sichaun peppercorn shortbread, after the goodbyes and see-you-soons, we drove home, the sun sinking to the west, knowing we are the most fortunate people on earth.
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Have your cake and eat it too
Liz Pearson’s philosophy of a little positive thinking along with good food and the occasional indulgence reaches full flower in her latest cookbook, Broccoli, Love & Dark Chocolate (304 pages, Whitecap Books). Our first response to the cookbook cum chicken soup for the soul, was ‘why, oh why’? But it turned out to be a bit like Mary Poppin’s spoonful of sugar, easy going down and entirely engaging and fun. Dive into the extensive nutrition info with 69 healthy, family friendly recipes coupled with (really) charming life lessons with each one. |
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| Relish The Movies Love food movies? Don’t miss the inaugural Relish Film Fest November 13-16. Enjoy savoury drama, spicy comedies and food for thought docs including the Western Canadian premier of the Slow Food Story, Carlo Petrini’s biopic. (He may not dance like James Brown, but he’s quite the character nonetheless.) The home for Relish is Metro Cinema; expect delicious French language screenings at La Cite Francophone and Dinner and a Movie nights at several restaurants around town where you can watch fave food flicks such as Ratatouille, Eat Drink Man Woman, Tampopo and Big Night. Find all the deets at http://relishfilmfest.org including volunteer opportunities, tickets and passes, and the opening night gala. |
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Food + wine + music = tavola
Daniel Costa’s groundbreaking new app has more than 50 traditional and modern Italian recipes along with suggested wine pairings and a musical playlist. Why an app? “I wanted to create an experience that gave emotion to the recipes and a traditional cookbook couldn’t deliver that,” the co-owner and exec chef of Corso 32 and Bar Bricco says. The app is fully interactive featuring dramatic photography, crystal clear directions and an easy-peasy user interface. Chef Costa collaborated with local design firm Versett. “Music and food are a natural fit and we knew that the iPad was capable of completely reinventing the cookbook experience, ” says Doug van Spronsen, Versett’s managing director. To download, visit the Apple App store or usetavola.com |
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Room Service
Catch the premiere of Voila! Saturday September 20, 4pm at Metro Cinema (8712 109 Street, metrocinema.org). Voila! (12 min/2014) is the coming-of-age story of an 11 yr-old girl named Patty who experiences luxury for the first time circa 1969. In an effort to experience some of the exotic grandeur surrounding her, Patty orders room service. Voila!, filmed at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald and in the kitchen at the Shaw Conference Centre, was written by Conni Massing and directed by Geraldine Carr. For the premiere, Isabelle Ortiz-Martinez of Olive Me has created a special olive treat (California olives stuffed with pickled onion and Crissa and Peruvian olives, dressed with fresh dill and a light Dijon mustard sauce) called The Empress.
| Diner en blanc avec deluge
Glasses of champagne and good company made up for the inclement weather at Edmonton’s first Diner en Blanc in Louise McKinney Park earlier this summer. Wind gusts and pouring rain didn’t dampen the enjoyment of the combination outdoor picnic and promenade started 25 years ago in Paris, now a world wide phenom. Favourite outfit? The matching white pillbox hats worn by a mother and daughter duo.
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Even Julia Child dropped the bird
Struggling with a steaming hot cooked turkey is always fraught. We love the elegant clean lines and the utility of this new poultry lifter from Oxo. Move the bird from roasting pan to cutting board effortlessly. $15. |
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