Sheri Sommerville is closing the Sommerville Wine Room. http://somervillewine.ca/ “I’m so grateful to all our patrons for their loyalty and good company over the last four years,” says Sheri. “I am especially grateful to our chef Neil Chamberlain who poured his heart and soul into this kitchen and taught me so much about food and about this business. He is absolutely the reason for our success; it was my privilege to present his food every night and bask in the glow of the happy diners. And, I have enjoyed being a part of the revitalization of 124 street — the street is exploding with new energy. It was great fun being part of that evolution.”
Gold Medal Plates champion Jan Trittenbach will be opening Solstice Seasonal Cuisine in the wine bar’s space at 10723-124 Street later this fall. Fade out for Sommerville Wine Room is this Saturday, September 6.
Celebrate all things Brazilian at Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse’s (9929 109 Street, pampasteakhouse.com, 780-756-7030) second annual Brazil Independence Day Weekend Celebration, September 5-7, including live Samba dance performers during dinner service.
Two new Mexico-inspired restaurants opened over the summer, El Cortez Tequila Bar and Kitchen (8230 Gateway Boulevard, 780-760-0200, elcortezcantina.com) featuring artisan mescal and tequila and Alex Sneazwell’s modern take on Latin cuisine, and Rostizado (102, 102 Mercer Warehouse, 10359 104 Street, 780-761-0911, rostizado.com) the delicious new venture from the Tres Carnales dudes. And coming soon to the Central LRT station is Nate Box’s new venture called Burrow, bringing a new and tasty dimension to riding the LRT rails.
Want to tell your chenins from your chards? Or learn why some wines taste like vanilla and others like butter? Learn to taste like a pro in a Wine Spirit Education Trust (WSET) program, taught in 58 countries, and in Edmonton by wine professionals Natasha Susylinski and Mary Bailey. Level I Foundation begins Mondays, October 6-November 10 (no class Thanksgiving weekend); Level II, Wednesdays, October 8-December 17; and Level IIIa Advanced, Tuesdays, October 7-December 23. Visit winecollege.ca, or call 1-888-988-8009 and ask for Angela Landon.
Get ready for a jam-packed season of winemaker dinners and tastings this fall. The amazing lineup starts with a four course winemakers dinner with Gerard Bertrand (2012 Red Winemaker of the Year) with export director Jean Pierre Turgeon, September 10 at The River House (8 Mission Avenue, St Albert, riverhousedining.net, 780 458-2232). Tickets are $80++.
Love Italian wine? Don’t miss the 2014 Italia with Gusto, Thursday, September 25, at Porsche Centre Edmonton (11107 – 170 Street) from 7pm -9:30pm. Tickets: $100, mealsonwheelsedmonton.org, 780-429-2020. It’s the best Italian tasting of the year bar none. Proceeds to Edmonton Meals on Wheels.
Lots of events to choose from at Dig In!, St. Albert’s Horticulinary Festival, October 10 and 11. Enjoy hands-on seminars on landscaping, gardening, mixology, jam-making, pickling and an interactive wine tasting October 11 with the Tomato’s certified sommelier, Mary Bailey. The Blue Flame Kitchen will be there, and you have the opportunity to bake with Top Chef Canada’s Karine Moulin. Don’t miss the Alberta Ate Chef Collaborative dinner featuring chefs Blair Lebsack (RGE RD); Julia Kundera (The Glasshouse Bistro); Doreen Prei (Edmonton Petroleum Club); Danielle Job (Holt Renfrew Café); Brad Lazarenko and Steven Furgiuele (Culina). Book dinner tickets and your sessions at diginstalbert.ca.
You can now purchase Mojo Jojo Pickles (mojojojopickles.com) in the local section of several SaveOn Foods in Edmonton and Sherwood Park, Baseline, Summerwood, Fir Street, Ellerslie, Hamptons, Summerside, Strathcona and Railtown, with more to come. “It’s been a game changer for us,” says chief pickle creator Johwanna Alleyne. “We’re really excited for the support and partnership they’ve shown our small but mighty local company.”
About.spud.com spud is a new online grocery delivery service headed by Edmonton-born, Seattle-based Peter Van Stolk, the founder of Jones Soda. Spud joins locally owned Organic Box in offering organic, local and specialty groceries to Edmonton area households.
Paraiso Tropical (9136 118 Avenue, paraisotropical.ca 780-479-6000) our favourite Latin American grocery, is opening a second store on the south side at 6924 Calgary Trail. “It’s a replica of our first store, only bigger,” says Aura Magana. “We’ll still have a take out food area and eventually, we hope to open an actual café.”
Check out Earth’s General Store (9605 82nd Avenue, 780-439-8725, 10150 – 104 Street, 780-757-3274 egs.ca) second location on the 104 street Promenade. It’s marvellous — friendly, well-stocked, well-organized and carries Q Tonic. Owner Michael Kalmanovitch is a pioneer in organic and eco-friendly products; it’s great to see this addition to downtown.
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s annual Christmas in November ramps up with three packages November 7-16. Reason enough to attend: the inestimable chef Lynn Crawford, Iron Chef, Top Chef, 2014 Hokansen chef in residence, and proprietor of Toronto’s Ruby Watchco. If you need more reasons, RGE RD’s Blair Lebsack and Caitlin Fulton; John Jackson and Connie DeSousa of Calgary’s Charcut Roast House; Julie van Rosendal and Pierre Lamielle; Anna and Michael Olsen (who will be working with Alberta Pork on the secrets of the charcuterie board) and Tres Carnales. Find all the details at christmasinnovember.com.