Restaurant Ramblings
La Ronde is the place to be Tuesday July 1 for the Light the Bridge celebration. The regular menu, plus a special prix fixe menu and the Tieless Tuesday celebration with live jazz and half price bottles of wine are available while you watch the dramatic light up from the best vantage spot in the city. Executive chef Stephen Chung launches summer lunch and dinner menus for La Ronde July 4. Join @ChateauLacombe and @La Ronde on twitter and Facebook for their summer scavenger hunt with weekly prizes and a grand prize draw on September 15; and look for their pop-up lemonade stand in Churchill Square throughout the summer, Chateau Lacombe, 10111 Bellamy Hill, 780-428-6611.
The Glass Monkey (5842 111 Street, 780-760-2228) has taken away the short-of-funds excuse for not going out on a weeknight by offering budget-friendly specials — all wines under $40 are half price on Mondays; wings are half price on Wednesdays, and on Wednesday and Thursdays a pint of draught beer is $2 off between 3:30 and 5:30. Enjoy it all on their relaxed 24-seat patio, six days a week, closed Tuesdays.
We’re looking forward to the opening of Rostizado the new project in the Mercer Warehouse by the Tres Carnales dudes, especially because one of our favourite cooks, Jesse Chalmers, will be behind the stoves. Jesse, brother of Ben (corso 32) has had a long-standing interest, let’s say love affair, with the diverse cuisine of Mexico. Now he’ll get to explore them and we’ll get to enjoy the results. Opening mid-summer-ish.
Gold Medal Plates 2012 champion chef Nathin Bye is opening a new resto in the Murrieta’s space on Whyte Avenue in the Varscona Hotel. The plan is lunch and dinner, with seating for 150-180 spread over the dining room, lounge, private dining room and a patio. Joao Machado is the manager; the kitchen team is headed by chef de cuisine Greg Myshynuik; junior sous Fayth Alaeddine, Euna Lee, Alex Weir, Ronnie Tuckey, Leland Faulder and Tim Androschuk. “The look is northern European, says Nathin, “Norway/Sweden minimalistic, bleached barn board, light woods, wood and stone. “I’m defining our cuisine as food for foodies. We’re going to have some fun, with some artistic molecular stuff and down to earth cooking as well. We don’t want to go way over the top. Lots of plates to share, flatbreads, kicked-up bar food, pork cheek, bison, hangar steak, arctic char, and vegetable tastings. We’ve hired a mixologist from Victoria, Janice Bochon, who is creating some amazing craft cocktails.” The name should be announced soon, and opening date is planned for early fall.
Rge Rd’s Farm Dinner Series is now filling up: Prairie Gardens on July 6, July 20, and August 24; Nature’s Green Acres, August 2; and a Riverbend Gardens dinner is TBA. To book, 10643 123 Street, 780-447-4577.
Wine tasting happenings and events
Craving bubbles? Look no further. The Wine Room (10525 Jasper Avenue 780-756-7666) is now using the unique Perlage system which keeps sparkling wines at peak drinking after opening. Bubbles ranging from San Venanzio Prosecco Valdobbiadene Brut, California’s Thomas George Pinot Noir Brut Rosé, Agusti Torello Mata Kripta Gran Reserva Cava, and from Champagne, Pommery Brut Royal and Krug Grande Cuvee are now available by the glass. Woo hoo!
Don’t miss the High Street Summer Block Party July 6, from 10am-4pm on 102 Avenue and 125 Street. Enjoy food trucks, shopping, music and fun.
Gear up for a creative Taste of Edmonton, July 17-26, with things to eat that are much more enticing than the chocolate-dipped strawberries and deep-fried whatever of previous events. To celebrates its 30th anniversary, Taste has added terrific new programs — culinary happenings, tours, tastings, how-to demos, evening pop ups with some of Edmonton’s most interesting chefs, plus lots of adventures in the Sip ‘n Savour area. Check out these culinary adventures: BBQ Pork Monday, July 21, with Andrew Cowan from Hundred Bar Kitchen; A Taste of the Market, Saturday, July 19 and Saturday, July 26 with Get Cooking’s Kathryn Joel; A Taste of the Brewery; and these pop up restos: Tuesday, July 22: Flavours of Italy with Massimo’s chef Keomi Francheschi; Thursday, July 24: Bacon and Bourbon with Café De Ville’s Tracy Zizek. Lot’s more! Visit tasteofedm.ca for the complete schedule and to buy tickets for special events.
Love to forage in the river valley for saskatoons? How about planting some bushes? Join permaculturalist Dustin Bajer on July 19 to plant a food forest in the river valley, which is a self-sufficient perennial planting of food-producing trees and shrubs. The City of Edmonton has ambitious goals to double the urban forest, and it’s also serious about naturalization, so is providing more than a thousand native edible plants such as saskatoons, cranberries, gooseberries, hazelnuts and pin-cherries for the event. Bring a shovel and a friend. Details and directions at eventbrite.com.
On Wednesday, July 9 there is a Spanish Wine Dinner at Madison’s Grill (Union Bank Inn, 10053 Jasper Avenue, 780-401-2222). Reception, 6pm, dinner, 7pm; tickets $100/person inc tax and grat, call 780-401-2222 for reservations.
Enjoy Winesday at Sherbrooke (11819 St. Albert Trail, 780 455-4556) every Wednesday from 4pm-7pm; see the full schedule at sherbrookeliquor.com.
Free drop-in wine tastings with sommelier Richard Repchuk on Friday from 3pm-7pm and Saturday from 1pm-5pm at Campbell Park Liquor (3 Curial Dr, St Albert, 780-419-3444).
Enjoy A Trip Through Europe wine evening at Crestwood Fine Wines, Wednesday, August 27, 7pm, $30/person, call 780-488-7800 to book.
Taste Eldorado Rum’s spiced, 5-, 12-, 15- and 21-yr-old rums at a tasting hosted by the Rum Howler, Chip Dykstra, on July 16 at Unwined Fine Wine, Spirits and Ales, #2, 512 St. Albert Trail, St. Albert, 780-458-4777) The tasting begins at 7:30, tickets $25/person, call 780-458-4777 for reservations.
Product News
Kitchen by Brad will be at the City Farmers’ Market on 104 Street, Saturday July 26. Summer cooking classes: July 8, July 26, Spanish Cooking; July 12, July 15 Market Cooking, with products from the City Market 104 Street. Book at kitchenbybrad.ca.
On July 1 The Pantree (220 Lakeland Dr, Sherwood Park, 780-464-4631) offers a Saturday cooking demo with Brenda Poffenroth of Browne, distributor for the exquisite Emile Henry cookware. She’ll be teaching the best ways to use their pizza stones and tarte tatin dishes. Also at the Pantree and in stock for summer, get your retro vibe on with charming paper straws from Greenmunch in assorted barbershop stripes, $4.95/25pack.
Lots of delish summery things to eat and drink at The Cavern (10169 104 Street, 780-455-1336): house-made organic pink lemonade, Limoncello berry sangria, rosé cava, and several delectable seasonal cheeses. We love the berry cheesecake verrine, a layered French-style cheesecake served in a cocktail glass with seasonal berry toppings, made by Cavern’s owner Tricia Bell — the perfect match for bubbles, a crisp white or rosé, and according to Tricia, a truly guilt-free indulgence.
This summer, plan to go east. East of Edmonton that is. Gail Hall’s culinary tour of the Wainwright area may be sold out, but you can still enjoy several rural gastronomic events in counties east of Edmonton created by the Go East Regional Tourism Organization:
- July 17: Taste of Wainwright
August 8-10: Experience the Bounty in Beaver County. Experience over 40 happenings including a bison BBQ in Tofield; the Ryley tailgate market and rooster plop; beer gardens and baby back ribs, and the Beaver County Official Bounty Wrap-up BBQ. The Viking Museum has a pancake breakfast, a BBQ by the Viking Fire Department, and a downtown Summer Market at the hall. Holden hosts a Piche oven demonstration at the Holden Museum, and the incredibly tasty annual pig roast at the Holden Legion. Taste honey at Beary Berry Honey, visit the animals at the award-winning Sunrise Farm, or visit Camp Lake Park produce market.- August 9: Elk Island Bison Fest: Conservation, Culture and Cuisine
- August 23-24: Babas and Borshch aims to make Andrew, Alberta the Borshch capital of the world. Enjoy borshch making demonstrations, the Borshch-Off (Travel Alberta’s Anastasia Martin-Stillwell is one of the judges this year). Along with beet soup, expect a full immersion in Ukrainian culture. That, of course, means delicious Ukrainian food. Stick around for the zabava, which is, according to the urban dictionary.com, a huge Ukrainian party with dancing and lots of drinking. (Isn’t that every Saturday night?) Joe Synyshyn of Chosyn Catering is providing the feast.
Helen Zachoda’s 2013 Winning Borshch
Broth from ham bone
| 4 | potatoes, cubed |
| 3 large | beets, cubed |
| 1 c | chopped celery |
| 1 c | yellow beans |
| 2 | carrots, chopped |
| 1 c | stewed tomatoes |
| 1 c | beans in tomato sauce |
| 3 c | cabbage, shredded |
| 1 n | tomato soup |
| 1 T | soup base |
| 1 pkg | onion soup base |
Put broth, 3 cups water and the above ingredients into a pot. Simmer for one hour or until veggies are cooked. Add vinegar, sweet cream, salt and pepper to taste. Can also be served with sour cream.
- Aug 23-24: Camrose Prairie Fun Days
August 23-24: Revel in a taste of rural living during Alberta Open Farm Days. This is the second year for the province-wide open invitation to visit the farms that grow our food. Included are Tangle Ridge Ranch near Thorsby, Barr Farm near Sherwood Park; the Cheesiry near Kitskoty; Prairie Gardens near Bon Accord; Horse Hill Berry Farm; and Irvings Farm Fresh near Round Hill. There are also a number of reserved ticket culinary happenings such as dinner at Prairie Gardens with Blair Lebsack and the Rge Rd crew. More details to come at albertafarmdays.com.- September 7: The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village Harvest of the Past & Harvest Food Festival is on Sunday, September 7, this year from 9am – 5pm. The popular closing event for the Village includes making kapusta (sour cabbage) a threshing bee, harvesting and grinding wheat (the village grows the historic and rare Red fife wheat), a canning bee, and of course heaps of Ukrainian food from vendors and concession stands. For the most up to date info, visit goeastRTO.com or eateastofedmonton.com
- October 25: Spend the day with Royal Chef Darren McGrady in Vermilion. Cooking class, afternoon tea, behind-the-scenes stories, Champagne and caviar. Tickets and reservations TheGoodLifeInstitute.ca.
Send new and/or interesting food and drink related news for The Kitchen Sink to hello@thetomato.ca.
Event Calendar
sunday, july 6
Rge Rd’s Farm Dinner at Prairie Gardens, 780-447-4577
wednesday, july 9
Spanish Wine Dinner at Madison’s Grill, 780-401-2222
wednesday, july 16
Eldorado Rum Tasting, Unwined Fine Wine, Spirits and Ales, 780-458-4777
thursday, july 17
Taste of Wainwright eateastofedmonton.ca
july 17-26
Taste of Edmonton, tasteofedm.ca
sunday, july 20
Rge Rd’s Farm Dinner at Prairie Gardens, 780-447-4577
saturday, august 2
Rge Rd’s Farm Dinner at Nature’s Green Acres, 780-447-4577
august 9
Elk Island Bison Fest: Conservation, Culture and Cuisine eateastofedmonton.ca
august 8-10
Experience the Bounty in Beaver County, eateastofedmonton.ca
august 23-24
Babas & Borshch Ukrainian Festival eateastofedmonton.ca
aug 23-24
Alberta Open Farm Days albertafarmdays.com
sunday, august 24
Rge Rd’s Farm Dinner at Prairie Gardens, 780-447-4577
wednesday, august 27
A Trip Through Europe, Crestwood Fine Wines, 780-488-7800
sunday september 7
EALT Nature’s Nourishment Dinner with chef Blair Lebsack at Prairie Gardens, ealt.ca
sunday september 7
Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village Harvest of the Past & Harvest Food Festival, eateastofedmonton.ca
If you have new and interesting food and drink news for the kitchen sink please contact us.