keeping people working; keeping us happily fed and watered, week four; plus easter chocolate!

“While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour. Using the great advances and science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed—and that success will belong to each and every one of us. We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return. We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet again.” – Her Majesty the Queen.

Easter Chocolate

The locally-owned Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut stores, although closed to in-store shopping, have curb-side service and delivery available. Choose from milk chocolate, dark and white bunnies in all the popular sizes; Easter specialty chocs such as hazelnut praline and, of course, the beautifully packaged collections. Call the stores, Westend (10103 124 Street, 780-488-0690) or Pleasantview (11004 51 Avenue, 780-436-0908) or email Edmonton.orders@gmail.com.

The Jacek Chocolate Couture stores are closed to traffic; order by phone or online. We love their Easter treats—milk and dark chocolate eggs; adorable bunnies and lambs; robin’s eggs filled with salted caramel and a vegan collection. Same day Edmonton delivery is $12, free delivery on orders over $125.

Violet Chocolate have their delicious bars available online, the-violet-chocolate-company.myshopify.com and they ship on Tuesdays. Sadly, they did cancel the Easter collection and have paused production for now.

Local Suppliers

Stay safe, stay healthy and stay two meters apart.

Our restaurant community makes me so proud. I am in awe of their creativity, their resourcefulness and especially their resilience. In a remarkably short time many restaurants have pivoted to a whole new form of business—creating delicious take-out menus to keep their customers happy and people at work. The Edmonton Independent Hospitality Group, spearheaded by Kris Harvey and Katy Ingraham, is a voice for locally-owned food and drink businesses. Check it out! yegihc.com

X1X has a take-out menu for curb-side pick-up at both the St Albert (780-569-1819) and Terwillegar locations (780-395-1119). Terwillegar is also offering limited delivery in the Terwilligar, Magrath and Windermere neighbourhoods, as well as DIY cocktail kits. Also, sushi, new menus weekly.

A Cappella Catering offers take and bake specials such as lasagna with complementary delivery. For people still at work they have developed safe serve-style menus that provide individual portions for groups, so no worries about social distancing—sandwiches, boxed breakfasts and lunches, chili, lasagna and sides, call 780-454-2642 or visit: acappellacatering.com.

Ace Coffee is offering pick-up or delivery of coffee and donuts Monday-Friday, call 780-244-0223 or email info@acecoffeeroasters.com.

Biera is now offering the Biera Box—Quebecois and international cheeses, a sourdough focaccia loaf, house-made condiments and a bottle of Substantially Complete. You could also purchase add-ons such as cured meats, accompaniments and more beer. It’s a weekly offering, so if you missed it this week, try back next week. Email BieraBox@blindenthusiasm.ca to claim your box and get an order form. Delivery is Friday afternoon, or pick-up at the Ritchie Market from 4-7pm. The prices start at $50, includes delivery.

The Blue Plate Diner offers pick-up orders order.ypdine.ca or delivery via ubereats.

Cavern is open for retail and to-go orders, Tuesday-Saturday from 11am-5pm. Send an email to info@thecavern.ca or call 780-455-1336 for all cheese emergencies.

Corso at Home is offering arancini, pasta kits, salads (such as Bar Bricco’s Sicilian fennel salad) frozen sauces and wine via https://corso32group.com/corso-at-home/. New menus on Saturday, place your order by Monday noon for Thursday, Friday and Saturday pick-up. Their amazing wine list is available too.

Culina To Go is offering free delivery on Culina catering items, call 780-250-7044, Tuesday-Saturday, 10-6pm.

Filistix is offering delivery or, pick-up at the restaurant, lunch 11-2pm; and dinner from 5pm. Email FiilistixDelivers@gmail.com to order. Hint: the chicken inesal is out of this world delicious and great value.

Get Cooking offers items such as lasagne or soup available at their location on the MacEwan campus as well as at Popowich Meat Company and Irvings Farm Fresh (Bountiful Market). Call 780-566-2106 for pre-orders.

The Glass Monkey Easter Weekend menu includes lamb, ham and all the fixings!! Call 780-760-2228, Wednesday-Saturday, noon -7:30pm or email Rob@TheGlassMonkey.ca.

Kind Ice Cream is open for pick-up, call 587-759-0080 and online delivery. Check kindicecream.ca for the schedule and other info.

Little Bear Gelato is doing free delivery every Thursday.

The Marc Place an order between noon-4pm with a credit card, email patrick@themarc.ca and pick-up between 4:30-7:30pm. The short rib was amazing. Visit themarc.ca weekly for menus.

The Marc’s Patrick Saurette with curbside delivery
The Marc’s Patrick Saurette with curbside delivery

Northern Chicken offers pick-up, call 780-756-2239 for frozen biscuits or wings, and, of course, fried chicken.

Paddy’s Cheese offers curbside pick-up and delivery (free for orders over $50 and $3 for orders under $50).

Prairie Noodle offers take-out at 10 per cent off, call 780-705-1777.

RGE RD offers a new take-out menu every Monday on rgerd.ca and social media. Order by phone 780-447-4577 from noon Monday and pick-up curbside after 3pm. Each weekly menu features items like pyrohy, pot pies, empanadas and charcuterie. Family dinner is available on the weekends. They also have something called the stragglers which they say are things they prepared but forgot to put on the menu. You can also add wine to your order. Yahoo!

Sabor is open for pick-up orders only, 4-7pm daily. Call 780-757-1114 after 2pm to place the order. Missing the piri-piri prawns? They are available along with a somm’s choice wine, $20. This week’s menu: sabor.ca.

Smokehouse BBQ in the west end offers a southern-style Easter special for pre-order today. They are open Tuesday-Saturday, with the full menu available for curbside service. They also have several heat-and-eat packages on offer—ribs, brisket, pulled pork, fried chicken—call 587.521.6328 or email terry@smokehousebbq.ca.

New from Smokey Bear is Pedro’s Tacos with a tasty lineup of tacos, empanadas and sides. This week’s guest taco chef is Christine Sandford of Biera. They also have a la carte and family menus and a few larder items, minimum $50 order. Explore both menus at  smokeybearyeg.com or call 587-759-0209, Thursday to Sunday.

Why Not Café offers a takeout food and cocktail menu this week along with fresh and frozen meal prep and large order takeout. Call 780-297-5757 for more info or to order.

Wishbone offers take out Tuesday-Saturday 4-9pm  eatwishbone.ca, or call 780-757-6758 to order. Farrow offers farrow2go (with the BLTime Being subbing in for the Grick sandwich as they found it didn’t travel well); call Richie, 780-757-0132; Garneau, 780-757-5170 and 124 Street, 780-249-0085.

Burgers and pizza

Fox Burger is take-out only, Monday-Thursday 4-9pm; Friday 4-10pm; and Saturday, noon-10pm, call 780-250-0369.

Three Boars offers High Dough Detroit-style pizza, Wednesday – Saturday, 5-11pm for pick-up only. Phone orders only—call 780-757-2600.

Ragazzi is offering pick-up and immediate area delivery and have limited their hours. Call to order, 780-414-0500.

Rosso Pizza is offering pick-up on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 5-8pm from a select menu of 10 pizzas (including their fan faves, Rosso and Margarita.) Check out the menu pizzeriarosso109.com and call 780-433-5382 with your credit card to order. Bottled beer and wine, available, 25 per cent off the regular menu prices.

Sepps offers pizza-to-go, order online: seppspizza.com.

Woodshed is offering burgers-to-go and also take and bake pizza. It’s a collaborative effort with their neighbours Meuwly’s and Northern Chicken, thewoodshedyeg.com/. Ordered burgers for pick-up the other day, seamless online experience, and delicious.

Bakeries

The Art of Cake is closed for now but are offering a limited Easter menu. Check their Instagram for what’s available—call 780-441-1339 to order; cut off is 3pm Friday. 

Artistic Bakery has markers for social distancing and is closing at 3pm Tuesday-Saturday. Those delicious German pretzels are available daily. Enjoy with Meuwly’s mustard.

Bon Jour Boulangerie is open Tuesday -Saturday, restricting entry to a few folks at a time for their toothsome sourdoughs. New hours

Bon Ton Bakery is offering pre-order and curbside pickup. Call 780-489-7717.

Brio Bakery in the Oliver Exchange is open Wednesday-Saturday, 9-3pm.

Buns and Roses Organic Wholegrain Bakery is temporarily closed for gluten-free baking and bread.

Duchess Bake Shop is now offering delivery free with $25+ order. Check their website duchessbakeshop.com for all the deets. Café Linnea meat pies are available there too.

Food in the Nud is open, with a limit of one customer at a time in the shop. Call ahead and they will bring your order to your car, 780-540-3663. Try their delicious cookies.

La Boule is open Wednesday-Sunday for pick-up. Call 780-760-2253 to pre-order.

Sugared and Spiced offers their mini egg mini cheesecakes are (4-pack, $24) as well as their delish cookies cakes and other sweet treats.

Meat Shops

Acme Meats is open Tuesday-Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday 9:30am-4pm. Yaay! Remember they have goodies in the freezer such as Gourmai Dumplings too.

Four Whistle Farm is offering delivery, call 780-499-2726 for details.

Meuwly’s is open on 124 Street (they have closed the farmers’ markets booths for now) and offer delivery of grocery boxes via their website: meuwlys.com. Talk about making shopping easy: choose from veggies and essentials; spice lover’s; two dinners for two; charcuterie night; their amazing smoked honey ham and an Easter weekend box. Wednesday-Saturday, noon-5pm. Email info@meuwlys.com for special requests.

Popowich Meat Company is open and offers curbside pick-up, email mike@popowichmeatcompany.ca or call 587-462-8926). The buffalo chicken sausage is delightful; it’s hard to get chicken sausage right (it’s a texture thing) they nailed it. They also stock various sauces, tortilla chips and other locally-made delights.

Wine Shops

After the intial “gaaahh, we’ll be locked up for days, must buy alcohol!” response from their customers, things have calmed down and stores are offering a variety of pick-up and delivery scenarios.

Aligra is open and offering delivery, call 780-483-1083 or 780 884-6486aligrawineandspirits.com.

Bin 104 is restricting traffic inside and offering curbside pick-up and delivery, 780-436-8850. The $10 delivery fee is donated directly to the Edmonton Food Bank. Check here for all the details: bin104.com.

Color de Vino is closed to foot traffic but is offering curbside pick-up and free delivery with a $50 order. Visit colordevino.ca or call 780-439-9069.

Devine Wines, open until 6pm everyday (Friday 7pm), is restricting traffic to control the numbers of shoppers. They offer curbside as well a free delivery with a minimum purchase of one case, or a $5 fee within downtown for smaller purchases, 780-421-9463.

Hicks Fine Wine is open, disinfecting after every customer, offering gloves and curb-side service, 780-569-5000. Delivery services are in the works.

Sherbrooke Liquor is closed to foot traffic but is offering online ordering and curb-side pick-up. Visit sherbrookeliquor.com for all the deets. Delivery soon.

Grocery Stores

Blush Lane is open and also offers delivery via Spud; spud.ca.

Earth’s General Store has changed their hours to 9-6pm daily. They have a really good Covid19 article on their website, earthsgeneralstore.ca, outlining how we all need to behave now.

The Farmers’ Markets (Bountiful, Downtown Edmonton and Old Strathcona) are open for now, restricting numbers inside and upping cleaning protocols. Last Saturday afternoon, the Downtown Market had no line-ups and felt spacious, it was easy to stay three metres apart.

Local businesses owners Aga Wajda-Plytta, Nina Karpoff and Candyce Morris have collaborated on a shopping portal called Good Goods Co. featuring a hyper-local focus and a single shipping fee. Check it out goodgoodsco.ca.

The Italian Centre Shops are open (restricting numbers and the cashiers are now protected with plexiglass shields) and offering delivery call 780-424-4869, press 1, or email groceries@italiancentre.ca, $75 minimum order. Curb side pick-up too as well as a seniors’ hour first thing in the am.

Kinnikinnick is open and you can order from their website for gluten free staples, kinnikinnick.com.

Sunterra is offering a 25 per cent discount on all Sunterra in-house food products (ready-made meals, soups, salads, deli items, fresh bread, baking and desserts) purchased in-store to all Alberta Health Service workers. Alberta health care workers will be required to show their AHS ID cards at registers in-store to receive the discount. Visit sunterramarket.com/ for details.