May and June are jam-packed with fabulous cooking classes, wine dinners, tastings and events. Get out and enjoy our hospitality community.
Discover new ways to pair wine and food with the Tomato’s own certified somm Mary Bailey at Host Edmonton, May 22-24. The seminar and event sced is jam-packed with entertaining experts Kevin Brauch, chef Christine Cushing and Mark Murphy plus lots of local talent. Whether you cook, bartend or serve for a living or just love to cook, bartend and serve at home, there’s something for you at HOST. Don’t miss the kick-off featuring the Sheepdogs. See the complete lineup and buy tix, starting at $35.
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Something new at La Ronde (10111 Bellamy Hill, 780-428-6611); Tieless Tuesdays, a more casual way to enjoy the view. Enjoy live jazz, specialty cocktails and half-priced wines on Tuesdays from 5pm. |
There may be a few tix left for the Castello Romitorio dinner Sunday May 4 at Cibo Bistro (11244 104 Avenue) with special guest Filippo Chia for a multi-course dinner paired with the superb wines of this fine Tuscan estate, $125/person++, 780-757-2426.
Enjoy a toothsome four-course dinner featuring Alberta pork at the Massimo’s Swine ‘n Dine dinner, Thursday, May 8. Check out the menu and note the excellent line-up of optional wine pairings from Sicily, Tuscany, and Campania chosen by Fine Wines by Liquor Select, $55/person++, 780-439-4869, 5012 104A Street.
Meet Peter Bright, considered one of the top oenologists in the world, and taste the wines of his Alentejo, Portugal estate Terras D‘Alter at a wine maker’s dinner Friday, May 9 at Sabor Divino (10220 103 Street, sabordivino.ca), $100/person++; 780-757-1114.
Taste some delicious fish dishes and learn more about programs such as Oceanwise at Hooked on Slow; sustainable seafood in Edmonton at Lux Steakhouse, Tuesday, May 13.
Tastings at Unwined Fine Wine, Spirits and Ales (#2, 512 St. Albert Trail, 780-458-4777): Cinqo de Mayo Tequila Tasting, Sunday, May 4, 6pm; Where’s the Fiore? Featuring the wines of Alessandro Fiore Tuesday May 7; Accidental Sommelier Series: Rose in May, Tuesday, May 13, 7:30pm; Accidental Sommelier Series: Down in Douro, Tuesday, June 17, 7:30pm. All tastings are $25 in advance. To book, call 780-458-4777
Wednesday tastings at Aligra Wine & Spirits (1423, 8882 170 Street Entrance 58, West Edmonton Mall, 780 483-1083): Moscatos in May, May 21, $25/person; Gins in June, June 11, just in time for World Gin Day, June 14, $30/person. Every Saturday in June, pop by to taste a different rose, perfect for summer drinking.
Bar Bricco (10347 Jasper Avenue) is now open. No reservations, perch yourself at the bar or one of the few tables. Enjoy a fabulous lineup of wines and an extensive menu of what Italians call spuntini, or small plates. The uova da raviolo (a whole egg cooked inside ravioli with ricotta, then showered in a lavish dusting of pecorino) is amazing, as are the thin slices of culatello and San Daniele ham off the direct-from-Italy hand-slicers anchoring one end of the bar. Wine prices are reasonable, and the staff are as adept with making thoughtful suggestions from the mostly Italian list as they are with handling the Coravin, the ultra-efficient single bottle wine preservation system. Open from 5pm until late
Once upon a time there was a CTV Edmonton news anchor named Leslie Miller. Now Ms. Miller is Mrs. Rich Frank of Napa’s Frank Family Vineyards, in town Thursday June 12 for a wine makers dinner at the Edmonton Petroleum Club (11110 108 Street), $115/person, 780-474-3411.
Sorrentino’s Downtown (10162 – 100 Street, sorrentinos.com) hosts a magnificent wine dinner with Signor Alberto Zenato from the prestigious Italian winery Zenato, Tuesday, June 3 $135/person++, 780-424-7500.
Check out this stellar lineup for 2014 Gold Medal Plates: Shane Chartrand, Sage; Keoma Franceschi, Massimo’s Cucina Italiana; Andrew Fung, XIX Nineteen; Sachin Joshi, L2Grill; Brayden Kozak, Three Boars; Blair Lebsack, Rge Rd; Shane Loiselle, Daravara; Lindsay Porter, Mercer’s Catering; Doreen Prei, Edmonton Petroleum Club; Ben Staley, North 53. Edmonton’s Gold Medal Plates competition heats up Thursday October 23. Funds raised support athletes in reaching the Olympic podium. Tickets and sponsorship information.