What’s up on Edmonton’s food scene, right now
Wine Tastings Happenings and Events
Don’t miss the Dig In Horticulinary Festival in St Albert, May 1-6. Dinner with Mary Berg of Gusto TV, Culinary Bike Tours and hands-on Make and Take Workshops; cooking with Elyse Chatterton; herbs for cocktails with Black Diamond Distillery—this event is a gardener’s delight. Tix: $0-$120, www.eventbrite.ca.
Canmore Uncorked, Thursday, May 3 – Sunday, May 13, returns to the Bow Valley with 11 days of remarkable dining experiences: the Canmore Wine Festival, progressive dinners; Craft Beer Fest, bistro tours, the Whiskey and Spirits Festival; cooking classes, prix fixe menus, and the unforgettable outdoor experience of the long table dinner. Tix: canmoreuncorked.com.
Kitchen by Brad’s Meatball Madness returns starting Friday, May18. Eat in, take out: three meatballs and a side for $9, from 11:30am-1pm most Fridays.
The Porkapalooza BBQ Festival returns for its fifth Father’s Day weekend event. The goal is 50 teams competing in the KCBS (Kansas City BBQ Society) sanctioned competition. With the BBQ Experience area, Food Stage, Kid’s Zone, and the Beer Garden, Dad will think he has died and gone to BBQ heaven. Saturday, June 16, 11am-11pm and Sunday, June 17, 11am-7pm, at the Northlands Casino and Racetrack. Free admission! Visit porkapalooza.ca for all the deets.
The 18th annual Indulgence, a Canadian Epic in Food & Wine is on June 11, 6:30pm at the Delta Edmonton South. Tix; $100, jledmonton.com, available May 1.
Upcoming tastings at Aligra Wine & Spirits (1423, 8882 170 Street, Entrance 58, WEM, 780-483-1083, aligrawineandspirits.com): Think Pink! Rosé in May with light appies, May 15, 5pm, $10/p (which will go to the Food Bank.) Gins in June (their most popular tasting) June 12, 7pm, $35/p. To book: aligrawineandspirits.com/events.
Alison from Aligra has some fun cruises lined up: AMAWaterways Enchanting Rhine River Cruise, from Basel to Amsterdam, November 19-26, with Tony Stewart from Quail’s Gate Winery. Barging in Burgundy is an eight-day barge and bicycling cruise from Dijon to Dijon, May 18-25, 2019. Email aphillips@thetravelagentnextdoor.com for info.
Meet Oscar Quevedo from Quevedo Port in the Douro Valley at tastings around town. On Friday, May 4, 6-9pm, Port Tasting and Tapas at Bodega Tapas & Wine Bar by Sabor (10220 103 Street, 780-757-1114); Saturday, May 5, 2-5pm at Crestwood Wines Spring Tasting (9658 142 Street, 780-488-7800, crestwoodfinewines.com) Tuesday, May 8, 6pm, Port Tasting at Everything Wine (25-100 Broadview Drive, Sherwood Park, 780-417-3356.)
Pyrohy and opera? Hell ya! Help raise funds for Mercury Opera’s production of Carmen in the Badlands with a ticket to the Culina Pop Up Pyrohy Dinner and Silent Auction, Friday, June 1, 5pm at the London Villas Hub, 9620-109 Avenue, Tix: $25, adults, $12 kids: tixonthesquare.ca or 780-420-1757
Two cool events at Cavern (2, 10169 104 Street, 780-455-1336, thecavern.ca) Cheese School: Spring Pairings is on Sunday, May 6, 2-4pm, $75/p. On June 3, enjoy Claustrum (a Found Space Theatre Performance) by the Third Eye Theatre—three performances at 12pm, 2:30pm and 5pm, with time between to enjoy a specially designed Cavern menu. Tickets available at Cavern, 780-455-1356.
Upcoming tastings at Hicks Fine Wines (109-150 Bellerose Drive, St. Albert, 780-569-5000) Avignonesi wines from Tuscany with special guest Giuseppe Santarelli, Monday, May 7, 7pm, $30/p; Think Pink – HFW Annual Rosé Tasting, Thursday, May 17, 7pm, $40/p; HFW Annual Spring Open House, donation to the Sturgeon Community Foundation, Saturday, May 26, 2pm; Not by the Hair of my Ginny, Gin, Gin, with Nathalie Mulder. Learn about both gin and tonic and make your own cocktail, Monday, June 12, 7pm, $85/p; An Evening of Pasetti Wines with Massimo Pasetti of Abruzzo, Thursday, June 21, 7pm, $30/p. Visit hicksfinewines.com/events-classes to book.
Juniper Bistro (9514 87 Street, 780-490-6799, juniperbistro.com) is having a Mother’s Day High Tea. Two seatings, at 1pm and 3:15pm; includes both savoury and sweet bites and a bubbly cocktail for $35/p. “It was a big hit last year,” says owner Peggy Adams. “I scoured tag sales and picked up old plates and we made our own tiered cake plates. I can’t wait to use them again.” For resos call 780-490-6799.
On Sunday, May 13, XIX Nineteen (5940 Mullen Way, 780-395-1119; 150 Bellerose Drive #104, St. Albert, 780-569-1819, dinenineteen.com) has a spectacular Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet with a lavish seafood station, bubbly mimosa bar, roast beef, outrageously delicious cookie-crusted cinnamon buns. Brunch is 9am-2pm. Book by phone, adults $52, children 6-16, $26, kids under 6 eat free. The patio will be open, yaay!
The Food Bike Tours get underway on the May long weekend and pretty much every weekend (and Thursdays in the summer) after that. The tours are fun and delicious. Visit several local food and drink businesses, guilt free on your bike. Book at foodbiketour.com. Or, book your own custom tour: info@foodbiketour.com or 780-250-2453.
Spend an evening with Castello Romitorio’s Daniele D’Antoni at Cibo Bistro’s Spring Winemaker Dinner. Enjoy five courses by chef Rosario Caputo with these exceptional Tuscan wines. Three seatings are available, starting at 6pm on Tuesday, May 29. Tix: $155/p, https://cibobistro.com/annual-wine-tasting-dinner.
Here is an awesome idea: The Eat North Rising Awards is a new scholarship competition for emerging Canadian food writers, open to all grade 12 high school students and full-time post-secondary students pursuing a degree (or have a minor) in a writing-related field. There are three categories: foodservice, fictional culinary short story and agricultural production. Submit by May 20 via the submission form on EatNorth.com.
Restaurant Buzz
Glendon Tan and chefs Peter Keith and Will Kotowicz are opening Meuwly’s Artisan Food Market (10706 124 Street, meuwlys.com) in early July. You may know them through the Secret Meat Club or perhaps you have tasted their fine charcuterie at the Duchess Bake Shop, Three Boars, Bar Clementine, Biera and other restaurants. The market will feature house-made fresh, cured and smoked meats and all the delish things to go with—mustards, pickles, preserves to eat in or take away. Expect 10-15 seats and a deli-style lunch menu (sandwiches, soup, salads) Thursdays-Tuesdays, 10am-8pm. We can’t wait.
We are eagerly awaiting the opening of Wilfred’s (10429 121 Street, 780-904-2138, wilfreds.co) in the Brewery District in early June. The whimsical space, by Shaun and Nicole Brandt and their partner Felipe Aldea, will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is a lovely long bar presided over by James Grant and team, and a custom South American blend coffee by Ace Coffee.
Just had a sneak peek at the new menu at SC, chef Shane Chartrand’s new restaurant at the River Cree Resort. We love it. It’s the right proportion of simple and good with a new smoker program, cast iron-cooked salmon and bannock flat breads. Opens in early June, can’t wait.
Cavern (2, 10169-104 Street, 780-455-1336, thecavern.ca) debuts their new Bar Snacks and Drinks Menu this month, in time for their street level terrace opening. Spring really is here.
Baijiu (10359 104 Street, 780-421-7060, baijiuyeg.com), the idiosyncratic and lively bar in the Ice District, has opened its speakeasy, called Little Hong Kong. Meant to evoke pre-war British Hong Kong, it’s available Friday and Saturday nights from 7:30pm. “Quietly ask the hostess for entry secrets,” says LHK’s Instagram, “first come, first discovered.”
The Columbian, Santiago Lopez, has been selling his family’s coffee at farmers’ markets for a few seasons. Now, he has opened a coffee bar with his partner Kristin Panylyk (10340 134 Street,780-938-5922, the-colombian-mountain-coffee.myshopify.com) in Glenora, near Vi’s for Pies. Open daily, Monday-Saturday at 7am, Sundays, 9am-3pm. Check it out!
Aarde Kitchen & Bar has taken over the former Sandwich and Sons space at 10184 104 Street. Not many details yet, but should be open soon.
Drunken Ox at Night, Sober Cat in the Morning is opening in the Metals Limited Building on 104 Street mid-May. Expect a café, cocktail bar and steakhouse in this historic building. It’s by the group that operates the successful concepts Seoul Fried Chicken, Dorinku and Japonais—if anyone can make that location work it’s them. Open daily, from 7am Monday-Saturday and 9am on Sunday ‘till late.
Thrilled to see Bar Bricco, Uccellino and corso 32, all by Daniel Costa, along with Biera and Bar Clementine get more national recognition on the Canada’s 100 Best List. Bar Clementine also nabbed a spot on the 50 Best Bar List as did Baijiu. Check out the full lists at canadas100best.com.
Happy Hour is back at XIX Nineteen (5940 Mullen Way, 780-395-1119; 150 Bellerose Drive #104, St. Albert, 780-569-1819, dinenineteen.com) every day from 3-6pm, featuring the refreshing Cucumber Mint Julep and $10 flatbread, calamari, or ginger beef.
It’s a good time to have a yen for donuts. The newest place to satisfy your passion is Apollo Donuts, available for pre-order online, at apollodonuts.ca, then pick-up at the Ritchie Market. Ohana Donuterie should be on the road soon. Then there’s Doughnut Party, 10938-119 Street, and the amazing bismarcks at Empress Bakery, 9932 82 Avenue.
Product News
Check out the new chocolate shop Francois Le Roi Fine Chocolatier (8116 Gateway Blvd, 780-278-8639, leroifrancois.com) for fine chocolate, bon bons, bars and caramels.
Bella Casa (9646 142 Street, 780-437-4190, bellacasadcl.com) is the best place to find Staub’s new La Mer colour. They have the square American grill, the cocotte and the braiser or order anything from the line. On sale: $168-$329 (regular $225- $475) until July 31.
The Pan Tree (#550, 220 Lakeland Drive, Sherwood Park, 780-464-4631, thepantree.ca) is stocking the new Epicure knives from Wüsthof. Designed to be ultra-efficient and less tiring to use, with a wider shape for safety and ease and a contoured bolster to protect fingers. Prices range from $155-$299. To introduce the Epicure line, the Pan Tree is offering 15 per cent off from May 4-12.
Dauphine Bakery is back! They will be at the 124 Street Grand Market starting Thursday, May 6, and at the 104 Street Downtown Farmers Market, Saturday, May 19. Look for their delish breads such as the dark rye, pumpkin seed granary bread and challah made with Coal Lake honey. They are also working on a new retail space and café, woo hoo!
Another thing we are looking forward to, the Effing Seafoods store. It will be in St Albert, in the Riel Business Park, and, yes, there will be shellfish tanks. Expected opening is mid-summer.
Jacob Pelletier of the Duchess Bake Shop will compete in the Savour Patissier of the Year competition at the Foodservice Australia show in Sydney, in May. Good luck Jacob!
Want to make wine? A group of amateur winemakers have been getting together since 1996 to do just that. The Edmonton Winemakers buy grapes from British Columbia and California every year. As well, they have socials and organize study trips to the Okanagan. Check out their web site at www.edmontonwinemakers.com or call Giovanni at 780-250 2043 for info.
At the Cooking Schools
NAIT offers the opportunity to learn from the pros in a supportive environment. They promise “no kitchen nightmares here.” The popular Pastry Boot Camp teaches fundamental pastry technique, chocolate work and the secret to artisan breads, July 9-13 or July 16-20, $1,475 + material fees. The Culinary Boot Camp is the original five-day, learn to cook like a pro camp, July 10-13 or July 17-20, $1025 + material fees. The Gourmet Boot Camp is the next step, four intense days building on kitchen basics, and includes a final day black box competition, July 17-20, $1,025 + material fees. The Cured Meats, Cheeses and Pickles Boot Camp is for those interested in upgrading old world skills, July 10-13, $1,025 + material fees. For all the info and to book, visit nait.ca/bootcamp.
Enjoy a relaxed class preparing some of Kitchen by Brad’s (10130 105 Street, 780-471-6248, kitchenbybrad.ca) most treasured recipes during Brad and Tracy’s Favourite Recipes. Learn to make duck confit, pan-roasted sherry chicken, pecan hummus, and chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Saturdays, May 5 and 12, 12:30pm and Tuesdays, May 8 and 15, 6:30pm. Corey and Brad in the Kitchen: Corey Meyer of Acme Meats joins Brad for prep tips for the summer grilling season and how to work with different cuts of meats, Tuesday, May 29, Wednesday, June 16, Monday, June 18, 6:30pm and Saturday, June 9, 12:30pm. Classes are $145/p+.
Upcoming demos at Barb’s (Bosch) Kitchen Centre (9766 51 Avenue, 780-437-3134, barbskitchen.com) May 3, Easy Appetizers $20/p; May 24, Hearty Soups and Chowders; May 31, Festa Italiana, $20/p; June 7, Pies and Other Crusts; June 14, Dehydrating Fruits, Vegetables and Meats; June 21, One Pot Meals. Most classes are $10/p+ and start at 6:30pm on Thursdays.
Upcoming classes and workshops at The Pan Tree (#550, 220 Lakeland Drive, Sherwood Park, 780-464-4631, thepantree.ca): Wednesday, May 9, Elixirs and Lattes with Amanda Cook C.H.N, $45/p+; Tuesday, May 29, Mediterranean Cooking with chef Stefan Cherwoniak, $95/p+; Wednesday, May 30, Healthy Kids Meals with Amanda Cook, $90/p+; Wednesday, June 13, Dumplings with chef Mai Nguyen of Prairie Noodle, 6pm, $75/p+. All classes start at 6pm. Book online.