wine tastings, happenings and events
Barrel Fest is happening at Ritchie Park (7727 98 Street) from 1pm-6pm, Saturday, September 13. There are some spectacular brewers coming from across Canada: Quebec’s Brasserie Dunham, Nokomis Craft Ales, Saskatchewan, Grain Bin Brewing from Grande Prairie plus many home-grown faves like Endeavour, Sea Change and of course Blind Enthusiasm. What do they have in common? They all make beers that spend some time in wood. Tix: $38/p+ on Eventbrite.
The Vagabond Pop-Up Closing Party at Under the High Wheel is happening Sunday, September 14, from 6pm with local chefs, wines by Color de Vino and cocktails by Above Average Drinks. Walk in or make a reso here: vagabondpopups.com.
Mark your calendars: Sunday, September 21 is the Art for Everyone launch party at the Art Gallery of Alberta (2 Winston Churchill Square, youraga.ca). Enjoy refreshments, gallery tours and art making from 1pm-4pm as well as the pop-up art market with over 60 pieces of art by Alberta artists, curated by Dana Holst and Jill Davies-Shaw. The idea? Create an exciting afternoon at the AGA. The mission? To bring the membership list up to 10,000 people. This is possible in a city of over a million people, isn’t it? See you there!
The fall may be the best time to enjoy a visit to Blooms on 7 just outside Sherwood Park. The days are crisp, there are no bugs and there are tons of beautiful blooms. Or, sign up for a Sip & Snip floral design class or a botanical dyeing experience. Find all the deets and book at bloomson7.ca.
at the cooking schools
Breadlove’s (46C St Michael Street, St. Albert) popular breadmaking classes begin again in September after a summer hiatus. See the schedule and book at breadlove.ca.
Learn to make some tasty Ukrainian food during Sundays in the Kitchen at Don’ya Ukraine’s Kitchen (12153 Fort Road). Classes include a full meal. Tix: $30/p: donyaukraine.ca/shop/cooking-classes.
Check out Awn Kitchen’s new fall class schedule, with every level of sourdough making, plus pasta, puff pastry or dumplings, soups, and the Harvest Table. The six-week cooking skills program begins September 10. Find all the info at awnkitchen.com.
Celebrate the harvest season with the farmers of the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market during the Annual Harvest Festival, September 27 and 28 during market hours in front of the market. Find all the deets here: osfm.ca.
restaurant buzz
The Atrium at Sabor (10320 102 Avenue), opening the first week of September, offers café service from 8am Monday-Friday plus lunch, happy hour and dinner, as well as Saturday dinner from 5pm. It promises a vibrant evening event space too. That’s all we knew by press date, but we’re expecting great things from the Sabor team. It’s in the Revillon Boardwalk, right around the corner from Sabor. Check it out!
Vagabond (Roger Letourneau and Christine Sandford) is cooking up an eight course collab with Francine’s from Calgary (bar by Nate Wry and chef Garrett Martin) with wines from Vine Arts. September 20 and 21. Tickets on Eventbrite.
Chinatown’s Boa & Hare (10520 97 Street) is now fully open for coffee, cocktails and dinner. Yaay!
More on the new El Jardin, Culina Famiglia and Rita Trattoria in the DISH column.
Lots of cool things happening at The Marc (9940 106 Street) this fall. Bring on the choucroute! The Alsace Feature Menu runs from September 20-October 5, featuring all those delicious Alsation dishes the Marc does so well. Love chocolate? The Sunday Supper Club on September 28 features Delavoye Chocolate. Oh boy! Enjoy Harvest & Vin, to celebrate les vendanges (wine harvest) with a different French regional menu every week during October. The October 26 Sunday Supper Club will feature northern Italy. Visit themarc.ca for details and menus.
The Butternut Tree celebrates the Canadian harvest bounty with menus highlighting ingredients such as game meats, mushrooms and pumpkin. Mark your calendars for a wine dinner with Joe Gurba, from the importer Vino Al Vino, Thursday, October 16.
product news
Bella Casa (9646 142 Street, bellacasadcl.com) is having some great sales this fall: 15 per cent off Portofino and Abyss towels until September 6. From September 8-13, 20 per cent off all robes, slippers and pajamas as well as deals on Michel Design Works and Thymes lotions. From September 15-October 6 all St. Geneve stock is 20 per cent off. For Thanksgiving, check out all the new turkey tools from October 6-11. On Thursday October 11, bring in your Henckels knives for sharpening from noon-3pm.
Don’ya Ukraine’s Kitchen’s delicious frozen cabbage rolls and other Ukrainian delights are now available at the European Market (6607 177 Street, europeanmarketandproduce.com). Don’t forget to get your orders in for Thanksgiving, donyaukraine.ca.
The Back to the Kitchen Sale, with 15 per cent off cookware is on now at Heart of the Home (12539 102 Avenue,
780-705-4928). Call to reserve your spot at the knife sharpening clinic, Friday, September 26, from 1pm-4pm. The monthly promo for October is super savings on knives. Heart of the Home will be closed October 13 and October 19/20.
The new (and we hope permanent) location of The Art of Charcuterie (6728 99 Street, 780-232-3857, artofcharcuterie.ca) is now open, just a few doors down from Fuge Sausage. This is becoming a fun little foodie spot with Bagel Bin opening a location there too. Pay them a visit!
Bountiful Farmers’ Market (3696 97 Street) has over 120 local vendors, comforting fall meals, and live music every weekend this fall, Friday-Sunday until 4pm. Bountiful is open year-round, rain, snow, or shine.