asparagus is here!
Fresh local asparagus is back! We are huge fans of Edgar Farms who pioneered growing asparagus in northern Alberta, and those luscious spears are in the markets now—something to celebrate. Once you get tired of dry roasting spears in a pan, or eating them in a tart, try this recipe for an Asparagus Caesar (sort of a caesar salad), easy and delicious. Find Edgar’s at their new location in the Bountiful Market (3696 97 Street), just inside the south doors, across from Fallen Timber Meadery and next to Farmhouse Bakery, Friday and Sunday, 10am-4pm and on Saturdays, 9am- 4pm. Also, at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market Saturdays, 8am-3pm as well as Sundays, 11am-3pm and at the Callingwood Market (6615 178 Street), 10am-3pm on Sundays.
Elna Edgar in the asparagus field
vagabond’s fritz and spritz this saturday!
Join Lessig Ferments, Above Average Drinks and Vagabond (chefs Christine Sandford and Roger Letourneau) for a relaxed, long weekend popup of refreshing spritzes and Belgian-style frites, at Color de Vino (9606 Whyte Avenue) from 2pm-6:30pm, Saturday, May 17. Tix: for the 2:30-4pm spots are $30/p. Walks-in welcome after 4:30.
paint date with cat lavender at sushi café madang
Learn to paint a beautiful sunset at Paint Date with Cat, 2pm, Saturday, May 17 at Sushi Café Madang (8903 83 Avenue). The full menu and the special Sunset Splash cocktail are à la carte. Tix: $45/p, includes art supplies, call 587-0409-2277 to book.
own the delivery
Restaurateurs are not happy with third party delivery services–fees are high, delivery is slow and, according to co-owner Don Eglinski, drivers, denied pickups because they weren’t using a thermal bag, have been leaving 1-star reviews. “Review bombing by third-party drivers is a growing trend,” says Eglinski. “At Fn’za, no pizza leaves the shop without an insulated carrier—no exceptions. We’ll gladly collect one-star reviews from unequipped drivers if it means our customers get hot pizza.” It’s about the fees too. “We’ve seen $30 pizzas show up on people’s Skip tabs for over $50,” says Eglinski. “That’s not something I can support in good conscience.”
Several Edmonton area spots are saying: enough. Filistix started doing their own deliveries during the pandemic to save their customers the third-party fee. Doughnut Party is now offering in-house delivery too. Some deliveries are limited to a certain range and Fn’za will continue to offer third-party delivery for suburban customers, but expect this trend to grow. Down with cold pizza!
Happy Fn’za customers, from left: Sekou Sonko-Boisclair, Dan Villett, Tyler Whitfield, Beverly Gan.
tomato top100: bernadette’s bannock bites
Don’t let the intimate size and relaxed vibe throw you off, there is serious cooking happening downtown at Bernadette’s. Nominators love the bannock bites as well as the sweetgrass ice cream. Check it out!
recipe of the week: patricia wells’ sorrel soup
Citrusy sorrel is popping up all over due to the rain this week. Make this fresh and bright soup using a wonderful technique to hold the colour of the sorrel.
Pic credit: Getty Images