What’s up on Edmonton’s food scene, right now
wine tastings happenings and events
Every Monday is Happy Monday at The Glass Monkey (5842 111 Street, 780-760-2228, theglassmonkey.ca) when all bottles of wine are $20 off. Or, if Thursday is more your jam, come for $6 pints of draught on their jewel of a patio.
Mark the date for the 2018 Tomato Extravaganza at The Enjoy Centre (101 Riel Drive, St Albert). The event is ripe with talks, tomato tastings and tours, August 29, 2pm, tix $5/p, edmontonhort.com/tomato-extravaganza.
We can’t wait to feast at the Heritage Festival (9330 Groat Road, 780-488-3378, heritagefest.ca). This year 100 countries will be serving their tastiest national specialties at Hawrelak Park, August 4-6.
Don’t miss Savour (401 Festival Lane, strathcona.ca/savour) in Strathcona County. Enjoy art and music along with tacos from Casa 12 Doce and Yorkshire pudding beef dip wraps at Benny’s Yorkshire Shack, Sunday, July 8, 4pm-8pm. Food tix: $1 each, in multiples of 5.
BaconFest is back on September 2, 4:30pm-10pm, at St. Basil’s (10819 71 Avenue). Indulge in all things bacon, juicy favourites from Zinc, the Local Omnivore, Bacon Boss and Makin’ Bacon Food Truck, baconfestyeg.ca.
New and notable at Taste of Edmonton: their new location, at Capitol Plaza, (108 Street and 99 Avenue, 780-423-2822) and Taste2Remember by Sysco, which features 10 exclusive dinners with local chefs. Check out the Italian Center Shops’ booth for delish pastries and sandwiches, yum! July 18-29. Tix, info and schedules at tasteofedm.ca.
Two YEG hospitality folks are putting Edmonton on the food and drink map yet again. Evan Watson (Bar Clementine) won the regional Chaîne des Rôtisseur’s Best Young Sommeliers Competition. He sailed through two rounds of competition with the finals consisting of a blind tasting, service exams, oral theory and a pairing exercise. Because of a mix-up choosing the national winner, Evan is able to compete again next year. James Grant (Wilfred’s) competed in the Canadian Diageo World Class bartending competition in Montreal in May. He landed in the top four and won the signature cocktail award. “Other bartenders would ask; ‘are you from Toronto? From Vancouver? From Calgary?’ When I said Edmonton, they looked a little stunned,” says James, over negronis at Wilfred’s. Learn to make James’ delish coconut daiquiri, page 7.
Hicks Fine Wines (109-150 Bellerose Drive, 780-569-5000, hicksfinewines.com) is open until 8pm on Friday nights and will feature a weekly wine pick.
product news
Meuwly’s (10706 124 Street, meuwlys.com) opens Thursday, July 5. Yahoo! We’re looking forward to the charcuterie, sausages and preserves, along with other local food products.
We are big fans of the Ruby Apron’s (780-906-0509) cooking classes. Here are a few highlights—Intro to Sourdough with Tony and Penny Marshall of Highwood Crossing Foods, July 14, $85; All Things Chicken, August 9, $95; Pie Class with Jam Demo, August 28, $95. Check out the entire schedule at therubyapron.ca.
Knifewear (10820 82 Avenue, 587-521-2034, knifewear.com) is hosting three blacksmiths, Shibata-san, Ikeda-san and Hiroshi Kato-san of Masakage Knives Kotetsu on a Canadian tour this summer. They will be doing blacksmithing and knife sharpening demonstrations on July 14. “You will be able to smell the coal fire, hear the sounds and see the sparks,” says Kevin Kent of Knifewear.
restaurant buzz
The Hardware Grill (9698 Jasper Avenue, 780-423-0969, hardwaregrill.com) is closed for the long weekend, July 1-4 and July 8-10. They are open July 5-7 and regular summer hours return July 11. The summer menu includes fresh Canadian buratta and buffalo mozzarella and July features their incomparable lobster linguini. In staff news, seasoned professionals Clint Zaiffdeen, Steven Hugens and Joanne Lofeudo are back in action at the Hardware Grill, as well as the uber-talented Kieran McKinney, who heads up the baking department.
The Juniper Café (9514 87 Street, 780-490-6799, juniperbistro.com) has made friends with the folks at the Green & Gold market garden at the U of A farm and Steve & Dan’s. You can expect to see lots of fresh local produce on their menus over the summer.
Vivo Ristorante West (18352 Lessard Road, 780-756-7710, vivoristorante.ca) features the Chef’s Tasting Menu for two on weekend nights. Each four-course menu offers at least seven dishes to choose from, such as the classic grilled Caesar or sea bass, as well as new items—panzanella salad or a grilled veal chop. Prices range from $90-$130/for two, depending on the menu.
Two unexpected pairings, yoga and gin. XIX Nineteen (5490 Mullen Way, 780-395-1119, terwillegar.dinenineteen.com) is putting on a Yin and Gin event in early July, visit their website for all the deets. Check out the new summer menu while you are there with items such as pork belly tacos and Dijon-crusted halibut.
Curbside Food Truck (curbsideyeg.ca) by A Cappella Catering is open daily at different locations around the city (find them on the Street Food app). What to order? The brisket (smoked beef brisket and marinated onions on a Portuguese bun) or the Montreal smoked meat. The kitchen smokes low and slow to create delectably moist and flavourful meats for their sandwiches. Visit Curbside during the Street Performer’s Festival at McIntyre Park, July 10-15.
Check out the Middle Eastern buffet and à la carte menu at the Babylon Restaurant (11845 Wayne Gretzky Drive, 780-705-0300, babyloncuisine.ca) in the unlikely location of the Coliseum Hotel, run by an Iraqi family. We can’t wait to try quzi, slow-roasted lamb, roasted nuts and raisins over rice, okra or white bean broth.
Wilfred’s (10429 121 Street, 780-424-5911, wilfreds.co) is now open. We love the charming and whimsical look and the delish all-day menu.
The Blue Chair (9624 76 Avenue, 780-989-2861, bluechair.ca) was promised a new patio last summer and now it looks like it’s actually happening! Expect bbq and craft beers on the deck, lighter small plates along with a kids menu for a casual night out in Ritchie.
in memorium
Food columnist, cookbook author and menu consultant Barbara Kafka has died at 84. Her six cookbooks (Roasting: A Simple Art, and probably the best cookbook out there for those with gluten and lactose intolerances, The Intolerant Gourmet: Glorious Food Without Gluten & Lactose) were detailed, precise and didn’t always follow current wisdom. Her first food epiphany was over vichyssoise. Oddly enough, so was Anthony Bourdain’s.
“As you move through this life and this world, you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life—and travel—leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks—on your body or on your heart—are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt.” –Anthony Bourdain, died June 8. He was 61 years old.