wine tastings, happenings and events
Get ready for the High School Culinary Challenge, starting with Competition Day at NAIT on March 7, followed by the Awards Ceremonies on March 23. Visit highschoolculinarychallenge.ca for all the info. The High School Culinary Challenge is supported by the Hot Chefs Cool bEATS (HCCB) fundraiser, 6pm, Thursday, April 23 at the Royal Glenora Club. Tix: $95/p, (early bird), on Eventbrite. More on HCCB here.
Enjoy a taste of PEI, Saturday, March 28 at the PEI Culinary Showcase at the Atrium at Sabor. Adam Loo and Chris Gibb from ADA Culinary Studios in Charlottetown, with Edmonton chefs Lino Oliveira and Davina Moraiko and Calgary chefs Roy Oh, Sterling Cummings and Rogelio Herrera showcase the incredible seafood and other products from Canada’s Food Island—Raspberry Point and East Cape oysters, lobster, potatoes, dairy from Cows Creamery. It’s going to be a delicious night. Tix: $150/p, on Eventbrite.
The Glenrose Hospital Foundation Courage Gala is Saturday, April 18 at the Edmonton Convention Centre. This year, the gala raises funds for the new modern aquatic rehabilitation facility at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. The menu, by the Convention Centre’s exec chef Serge Belair’s team, starts with a Champagne reception with passed canapés followed by lobster thermidor torte; merlot-braised Alberta beef and a showstopper of a dessert—yuzu-filled vanilla yogurt panna cotta with white chocolate mousse and a blue Curaçao consommé. “My approach blends Alberta’s exceptional local ingredients with refined global influences,” says chef Belair. The Courage Gala has raised more than $5.8 million for rehab across Alberta since 2010. Visit: couragegala.com.
Learn to make all the Ukrainian classics at a Don’ya Cooking Class. Get hands-on instruction from their Ukrainian kitchen team and recipe cards to take home. All classes are at their 12153 Fort Road location. Attention seniors: use the code GOLDENAGE for a discount. Visit donyaukraine.ca/cooking-classes to book.
Love music? Love dancing? Dance the night away, Viennese-style, at the 48th Johann Strauss Ball April 18, in the Hotel Chateau Lacombe Ballroom, to raise funds for scholarships for Alberta’s most promising young musicians to pursue advanced studies in Austria. Enjoy the champagne reception, five-course dinner with wine pairings, dancing and performances followed a late lunch of traditional Hungarian goulash soup. It’s an enchanting night, johannstrauss.ca/ball.
Are you a chocolate lover? You do not want to miss this. ChocoFest returns to Millennium Place in Sherwood Park, April 24 and 25. Discover all the goodies—craft chocolate from incredible makers across Canada and enjoy a tasting experience you won’t find anywhere else. Tix: chocofest.ca.
restaurant buzz
After several successful pop-ups, chef Fillie Lament is going full time with Jola’s (eatjolas.ca), his ode to contemporary Polish-inspired food. Find Jola’s inside Candid Coffee (6419 112 Avenue) Wednesday-Saturday from 5pm-10pm. We tasted some beautifully made dishes, including the Polish-style clear fermented borscht which makes you feel like a rock star, but expect the menu to change depending on the season and what’s in the markets. Check it out!
Padon Brenholen along with chefJuan Moncada and restaurant manager Daria Solop have opened the Woodvale Room (4540 50 Street, 780-462-3782, thewoodvaleroom.com). It’s tucked away in the woods, like the home of a secret society—intimate and a bit mysterious, even forbidden, as if you have stumbled into something you weren’t supposed to. The dining room seats 50 (plus 35 in the Study). “We wanted to provide a destination dining spot outside the core,” says Padon. “Guests can slow down and enjoy their time here, really connect. After all, sharing food is the oldest way to forge connection. We strive for refinement, rather than reinvention, to create an elevated but approachable, comfortable yet surprising, experience. My hope is that people come and say; ‘wow, that’s not something I’ve experienced before.’” Beginning this summer—weekend brunch.
A little birdie told us that Rob Filipchuk is opening a new resto on Saddleback Road. That’s about all we know but it’s expected in late spring. Woo hoo!
Don’t miss breakfast at Paperbirch in the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market. Chef Shane Chartrand is making an indigenous-inspired, breakfast smash burger/grilled cheese combo using local ingredients. Quite delicious, especially with Shane’s Famous Bannock Bits.
product news
DON’YA Ukraine’s Kitchen has all the traditional Ukrainian favourites for your Easter table, including Paska hand-made by women from Ukraine. Quantities are limited. Visit donyaukraine.ca to place your order.
The wonderful women of the Savvy Beautiful Company (Jennifer Cockrall, Kim Larsen and Mifi Purvis) have just published an adorably retro mini-cookbook for the season called Worth the Weather: A 1970s Snack-Sized Winter Cookbook. It’s filled with the delish nostalgic foods of their childhoods, cleverly updated. Super cute and the recipes are rad! Find at Tiny’s Cheese Shop and savvybeautifulbooks.com.
Lots of cool events are happening at Bountiful Farmers’ Market. Take part in a cultural experience and connect over a traditional, freshly-brewed cup at the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony by Taste of Ethiopia on March 8. Photos with the Easter Bunny from March 22 until April 5, and monthly experience basket giveaways, March 1-29 and April 3-26. Visit bountifulmarkets.com for deets.
Free Zwilling Knife Sharpening Clinic at Heart of the Home (12539-102 Avenue) on Thursday, April 2, 1pm-4pm. Call for a time slot, 780-705-4928. Cool candy for Easter: Lakrids Licorice in Caramel and Lime Crackle, and for the young at heart: Easter Funny Bunnies lollipops; Gnaw Eggs-travaganza chocolate egg; Galerie au Chocolat vegan solid chocolate bunny. HOTH is now carrying the Canadian cleaning line, Guests On Earth, Kanel salts and spices, Spring Geometry kitchen towels and Le Creuset’s Calm mini cocottes. Don’t miss the March Madness Sale—20 per cent off bakeware.
