January 15

Love Local Dinner

Madison’s Grill in the Union Bank Inn (10053 Jasper Avenue, 780-423-3600) latest Love of Local Dinner in the lovely Vintage Room, features local producers Irvings, Doef’s, Sylvan Star Cheese and Mo-Na Foods in a savoury five-course menu by exec chef Charla Padilla, $85 plus tax and gratuity, Wednesday, January 29, 6:30pm reception. Call for 780-423-3600 for reservations.

Introducing the Tomato Test Kitchen

Have you ever made a recipe that didn’t turn out? Find a recipe that doesn’t work? Has missing ingredients? Or, is missing a method? That happens to us all the time! Which is why we develop the best recipes we can for each issue, and test the recipes sent to us by chefs and contributors. Now you can, too. Participate in our new workshop, The Tomato Test Kitchen, Thursday, January 23. Learn the best techniques, plus tips and tricks from Tomato editor Mary Bailey and research chef Brad Smoliak of Kitchen by Brad.

The evening will be a hands-on preparation and cooking class with wine, prizes and giveaways, $125/pp. Questions? Email marybee@telus.net. Purchase tickets online.

Bar Bricco

We’re looking forward to Daniel Costa’s new place on Jasper (beside Corso 32) called Bar Bricco, taking its inspiration from the spuntino bars of Italy — small places to have a seat at the bar and “a plate of proscuitto, chicetti, little creative things, really good quality, yet a straightforward menu,” says Daniel.

“We’re focusing on sparkling, including Champagne and Cava, as part of an extensive good-value Italian list. We used the same architect again, Joe Johnson, Connect Architect. And, it’ll be dark, really dark.” Intimate, seating under 30 people, enjoy after work or late night, opening mid-February.

Love French wine?

Taste your way through France region by region and become a certified French Wine Scholar. The course is designed for those seeking in-depth understanding of France’s amazing oenological diversity. Enjoy the camaraderie and the savings (in wine costs) of a group class. Classes are offered by the Art Institute of Vancouver and held at the Edmonton Petroleum Club, with lots of parking. New format: weekly Monday night classes rather than full weekends, from February-March 24. Visit the website to register.

Canadian Culinary Championships

Cheer on Edmonton’s Gold Medal Plates champion chef Paul Shufelt as he vies for the national title at the Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna, February 7, 8. For ticket and package information visit the Gold Medal Plates website or email ccc@goldmedalplates.com.

Liane Faulder’s tour of Barcelona & Catalonia

Friday, January 31 is the deadline for Edmonton Journal food writer Liane Faulder’s eight-day tour of Barcelona and Catalonia, March 21-March 30.The tour includes four nights in the delicious and architecturally significant city of Barcelona, and four nights in two smaller towns in the nearby Catalonia region of Spain known for the production of wine, olive oil and cured meats. The package includes:

On Tuesday January 28, La Ronde in the Chateau Lacombe (10111 Bellamy Hill, 780-428-6611) opens for lunch. Enjoy spectacular views, soak up their new look, and experience the contemporary menu from Tuesday–Friday, 11am-2pm.

Check out Woodwork (10132-100 Street, 780-757-4100) in the historic McLeod Building. Cocktail impresario Andrew Borley, and chef Mike Scorgie, (Nomad Food Truck) have built a stellar kitchen team including charcuterie maven Emmanuel Theriault (Montreal’s Joe Beef/Liverpool House, Pied De Cochon and Le Chien Fumant); Cedric Boeglin (Red Ox); Erica Vliegenthart (Duchess Bake Shop, Mugaritz, Spain); Filliep Lament (Au Pied De Cochon, Three Boars); Kelsey Johnson (Highlands Kitchen, Duchess Bake Shop), and well-known bar man Brendan Brewster. We love the high-celinged room focused on bar and wood grill, the charred cauliflower and the toothsome brassica salad with kale, cheese and a poached egg.

Viju Vasudevan is the new food and beverage director at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. Viju comes to Edmonton backed by a choice resume, including stints at the prestigious Taj Group, the Sheraton in Doha, Fairmonts Dubai, Southampton, the Chateau Lake Louise and now Edmonton. Viju was the 2012 Leader of the Year at Chateau Lake Louise.

Alex Sneazwell (formerly Manor Café) joined Shane Chartrand’s kitchen at Von’s Steak House & Oyster Bar (10309 81 Avenue, 780-439-0041) late last year. All part of a plan it seems as Shane has decamped to Sage (300 E Lapotac Blvd, Enoch, 780-484-2121) where he started his culinary journey.

Karen Virag, editor, writer, broadcaster, teacher, and one half of The Grammar Gals, died January 11 after a brief illness. I always felt blessed when Karen would email with a story concept, or I would ask her what did she think of an idea — knowing that she would tackle the subject with élan. Everyone at the Tomato loved Karen’s take on food and food issues — her stories were supremely well-researched, erudite, funny. We’ll miss her. Sorry Karen, words fail.

Karen was past president of the Editors’ Association of Canada, Prairie Provinces branch and past national vice-president of the Editors’ Association of Canada (EAC). She leaves her mother, brother Steve, cat Stanley (since adopted by a friend) and numerous friends and colleagues.

For a taste of Karen’s work:

• The Naked Truth About Raw
• Some Ruminations on class, food and great divides
• The Revenge of Bud the Spud