kitchen party podium: congrats chefs!
Julia Kundera’s (Out of Bounds Restaurant) robust Four Whistle Farm’s duck breast with a buckwheat and duck cabbage roll with crispy Chioggia beet chips, paired with the 2022 Fielding Beamsville Bench Cab Franc wowed the judges with its forthright flavours and placed Julia on the podium in her first year of competing. It was silver medallist Jason Green (Braven Restaurant) first time leading a team. His cheeky Lakeside Dairy Wagyu beef tongue tacos made with Israel Alvarez’s masa, paired with Trail & Ale’s Writer’s Blanc were delicious. Chef Doreen Prei (Glenora Park) snatched the gold with a nuanced dish of lobster and scallop with sea buckthorn, micro sorrel, tomato, and the snappiest peas with a uni vinaigrette – a faultless dish that worked on every level—paired with Joie Farm’s 2023 A Noble Blend. Chef Prei will compete in Ottawa at the Canadian Culinary Competition in Ottawa in February. Congratulation to all the competitors!
Chefs Jason Greene (silver) Doreen Prei (gold) Julia Kundera (bronze)
olia is now open!
Daniel Costa’s eagerly awaited new resto in the Citizen, Olia (12010 Jasper Avenue) opened last week. Among the highlights—charred cabbage salad, burrata (pictured), the duck ragu, the fish. Outstanding pasta, with some retooling of fave dishes from the Uccellino menu along with a few new house-made shapes and sauces. I rarely go to a resto during its first week, preferring to let the kitchen and front of house shake things out and find their rhythm, but in Costa we trust. From 5pm Wednesday-Sunday for now. Expect its companion, the sultry Bar Mimi, to open nearer the end of October. We can’t wait.
the duchess bake shop turns 15!
“I vividly remember pulling the wrapping off our cash register ten minutes before we were supposed to open and trying to figure out how to program it,” says Garner Begs, co-founder and co-owner. “Things have changed tremendously since then, but one thing remains the same—we wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for our customers.” I remember calling early in December to put in an order for the ginger cookies. The small, tired voice on the other end said; “We can’t, we will never have enough.“ Duchess Bake Shop has grown from its hand-built beginnings with 10 seats and four staff to a charming fixture on 124 Street (and a Ritchie Market location) with over 70 employees. Back in 2009, Duchess really did introduce Edmontonians to fine French pastry— French macaron, Paris Brest and what about that Duke Cake? The best birthday cake ever for chocolate lovers. Brava Duchess people! Pop by this Friday for a lovely macaron (while supplies last).
learn to make a few sri lankan dishes
Secret Ingredient YEG has a unique cooking class coming up, the Taste of Sri Lanka Experience, from 3:30-7pm on Sunday, October 20, at the C5 Northeast Hub (14017 Victoria Trail). Tix: $105/p+.
one great producer, two dinners
Taste exceptional wines from the Maremma, with a love story to match. Special guest is Javier Pedrazzini.
At RGE RD (12229 107 Avenue), Friday, October 25, 6:30 pm. Tix: $160/p
At Happy & Olive (9640 142 Street), 7pm, Saturday, October 26. Tix: $140/p++
new resto alert: wild roots bistro
“Chef Tony Tipping and his wife Chelsea have opened a casual spot in St Albert, called WildRoots (15 Perron Street.) “We wanted to create a space for community and conversation, so we built the most open kitchen,” says chef. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 9am-5pm for brunch, coffee-to-go and cocktails. Book Wild Roots in the evening for dinners or private events.
effing seafoods anniversary sale is on now!
Congrats to Effing Seafoods on nine years in business. Right now the crab bake is on sale. Check the website and their social media for more anniversary deals.
growcase for abbotsford youth project
The 9th annual GROWcase Fundraiser is Saturday, November 2, at the Foundry Room (12017 102 Avenue). Enjoy tapas from Central Social Hall, freshly shucked oysters from Effing Sea Foods along with live music by UPTOWN 780, live magic by John D Gatsby, silent auction and the Magic Memories photo booth. Proceeds support the children of the Abbottsfield Youth Project (AYP). Tix: $50/p+.
tomato top100: happy camel’s roasted garlic hummus
The mellow garlic intensity makes this a winner with nominators. So good with pita chips, cut-up veg or in a sandwich.
recipe of the week; chef Jason Greene’s pumpkin succotash
Buy a local pumpkin at the farmer’s market and make this tasty dish!
