What’s up on Edmonton’s food scene, right now
wine tastings happenings and events
Meet Claudio Viberti of Viberti Giovanni Wines at Keg n Cork (3845 99 Street, 780-461-0191, kegncork.com), September 5, 6pm. Call to book.
Upcoming classes at Aligra Wine & Spirits (1423 West Edmonton Mall, 780-483-1083, aligrawineandspirits.com): Wine 101—The Fundamentals, September 7, 7pm, $35/p. Cheap ‘n Cheerful—Wines Under $25, October 5, 5:30pm, $10/p. Register online.
The 28 members of the Naramata Bench Wineries Association, along with Naramata restaurants, creates one of the best Okanagan harvest parties of the season. This year, their annual Tailgate Party theme is Bootleg Bash to commemorate the founding of Naramata. Saturday, September 8, at the Naramata Heritage Inn. Tix: $125/p, online at naramatabench.com.
Dinner with Bodega & Cavas de Weinert winemaker Hubert Weber, September 11, 6pm, at The Glass Monkey (5842 111 Street, 780-760-2228, theglassmonkey.ca). This special dinner features rare wines from this historic Argentinian winery. Tix: $150++, only 20 seats available, call to book.
Two winemaker dinners at Ernest’s (10701 118 Avenue, nait.ca) you don’t want to miss; Don Triggs, Culmina Family Estate Winery, September 13, 6pm and a dinner with the Count of Buena Vista, October 5, 6:30pm. Call Tanya Wright, 780-471-8685 to book.
Here’s a new beer happening from the Alberta Beer Festival folks: The Mashing Spirits, Cider and Beer Festival, September 14 and 15. Tix start at $19/p, visit albertabeerfestivals.com for more info and tickets.
Hicks Fine Wines (150 Bellerose Drive St. Albert, 780-569-5000, hicksfinewines.com) second annual Fall Open House is Saturday, September 15, 2pm. Donations benefit the Sturgeon Hospital Community Foundation.
If it’s September, it must be time for the Sorrentino’s Mushroom Festival. Enjoy cooking classes, dinners and mushroom walks all month long. Tickets for the events are available at sorrentinos.com.
Highlights: Sorrentino’s West Mushroom Walk, Cook & Eat, Sundays, September 16, and September 23, 12:30pm, $95++. Mushroom Encore Cooking Class at Sorrentino’s Stony Plain. Wednesdays, October 3 and Saturday, October 6, $95/p++.
Dine with Filippo Vanni, the export manager of Chianti’s Ricasoli Winery at Sorrentino’s St. Albert (595 St. Albert Trail, 780-459-1411, sorrentinos.com), Thursday, September 20, 6:30pm. Tix $85++, call to book.
Merlot Meets Monet features wine tasting, music, a silent auction, appetizers and door prizes all to benefit the Alberta Diabetes Foundation. The event is at the Li Ka Shing Centre, 8602 112 Street, 6:30pm, Thursday, September 20. Tix, $25/p on Eventbrite.
Taste wines curated by Aligra and cheeses by the Italian Centre at the It Takes a Village Wine & Cheese Pairing, 7pm, Saturday, September 22 at the Muttart (9626 96A Street). Funds raised go to the Sunrise of Life organization. Tix: $50/p, on Evenbrite.
Mark your calendar for The Glass Monkey’s (5842 111 Street, 780-760-2228, theglassmonkey.ca) Monkey Business dinner, with Luigi Bosca’s winemaker, Pablo Cúneo, September 27, 6:30pm, $79/p++. Call to book.
Meet export director, Stefano Benini at the Frescobaldi winemaker dinner at Buco Windermere with chef Medi Tabtoub, Thursday, September 27. Tix: $85/p++, sorrentinos.com.
Serge Leveque, export director of the Sartori di Verona Winery, is in town for two dinners; at Bistecca (2345 111 Street, 780-439-7335, bisteccasteakhouse.com) October 3 and at Vaticano Cucina (10310 45 Avenue, 780-250-1110, vaticanoyeg.com) October 4. Call venues to book.
Upcoming tastings at Hick’s Fine Wines (150 Bellerose Drive St. Albert, 780-569-5000, hicksfinewines.com) South Africa’s inimitable Ken Forrester October 9, 7pm, $25/p; with Nicolas Galy of France’s Gérard Bertrand October 11; Germany and Austria—Europe’s Unsung Heroes of Wine with Marcia J. Hamm, October 25, 7pm, $50/p. Call to book.
Join Nicolas Galy of Gérard Bertrand for dinner at Revel Bistro and Bar (9802 Jasper Avenue, 587-524-3333, reveledmonton.com) October 12. Call to book.
Meet Mikael Falkman of Champagne Taittinger for a dinner at Solstice Seasonal Cuisine (10723 124 Street, 780-488-4567, solsticefood.com), 6:30pm; and at a tasting at Vines Riverbend Wine Merchants (2331 Rabbit Hill Road, 780-434-9444, vineswinemerchants.com), October 18. Call the venues to book.
Meet Richard Ellis of Greywacke Vineyards, at a tasting at Vines Riverbend (2331 Rabbit Hill Road, 780-434-9444, vineswinemerchants.com), October 23, 6pm. Call to book.
Check out Zocalo’s (10826 95 Street, 780-428-0754, zocalo.ca) new Lush Plant Nights: enjoy wine tasting and minty mocktails while creating planters, terrariums or succulent arrangements. Dates and booking info online.
September is beer month at Liquor Select (8924 149 Street, 780-481-6868, liqourselect.com) with Craft Beer Seminars every Wednesday. The seminars are free, but you must be on the mailing list to get an invite to the lottery for one of those seats. Check the website for all the deets.
The annual Truffle and Wine Dinner by chef Alberto Alboreggia, is in November at Sorrentino’s Downtown. The date is up in the air at the moment, check Sorrentino’s website for details. Tix: $139/p++, sorrentinos.com
restaurant buzz
The Cavern (10169 104 Street, 780-455-1336, thecavern.ca) starts Saturday Mimosa Brunch this fall. Enjoy Cavern brunch or a smoked salmon platter, including a French-style mimosa for $18, or a solo mimosa for $9—just the thing to have after shopping at the 104 Street Farmers’ Market, until Thanksgiving Weekend.
The new Meuwly’s (10706 124 Street, 587-786-3560, meuwlys.com), launches an evening menu in October. Expect bountiful meat and cheese boards, sharing plates and a well-curated selection of wine and beer.
Come to XIX Terwillegar (5490 Mullen Way, 780-395-119, terwillegar.dinenineteen.com) for the Build-Your-Own Wine Flight. On Mondays, the Build-Your-Own Wine Flight is on special—choose four tastes for the price of three. Expect a new menu later this fall with inspiring new dishes and a few perennial faves (we hope that means the lamb shanks). And, remember that XIX offers several dining packages at both locations, suitable for small and large groups for holiday dining. Book soon as the most popular dates sell out quickly.
The Royal Glenora Club (11160 River Valley Road, 780-482-2371, royalglenora.com) is having the Summer Harvest Brunch, Sunday, September 23, featuring a tasting with Eau Claire Distillery and foods from local producers, Meuwly’s, Irvings Farm Fresh and Sylvan Star Cheese. Three seatings, seniors $38.95, adults $42.95, children $19.95. Call to book.
Check out Drunken Ox at Night, Sober Cat in the Morning (DOSC, 10190 104 Street, 780-540-0606, dosc.ca), the newest restaurant experience from Issac Choi (Japonais Bistro and Dorinku) and Jake Lee (Seoul Fried Chicken). Breakfast is on offer, with Rogue Wave coffee, snacks all day and a steakhouse menu at night—several cuts in a choice of sizes from $6 to $41. Now, that’s impressive.
Sherwood Park gets its very own Vivo. Vivo in the Park (#340, 550 Baseline Road, Sherwood Park, 780-570- 0079, vivoristorante.ca) opens mid-September. Expect their family-style Italian favourites for lunch and dinner. As well, several dishes can be served individually, ideal for solo diners and those who don’t like to share.
This fall, the Culina Family (780-862-7044, culinafamily.ca) is launching a new to-go spot in the new Oliver Exchange Building (12019 102 Avenue). Pick-up catering orders or Culina’s amazing TV dinners seven days a week. There will be a private event space too. They expect to be open in November, we can’t wait!
Check out the Grindstone Theatre & Bistro (10019 81 Avenue, 780-850-9199, grindstonetheatre.ca) before or after a performance. It has a sweet little menu of sandwiches, dogs, soup and salad, along with an all-local beer list and two types of house-made punch. They had us at house-made punch.
Ribs at an Italian restaurant? Yes, sir! At Vaticano (10310 45 Avenue, 780-250-1110, vaticanoyeg.com) pork ribs are dry-rubbed with a special blend reminiscent of the flavours and aromas of the Tuscan hills. Or, enjoy the classic vitello (grilled veal chop) and the memorable pizza, available for lunch or dinner as well as take away.
product news
The Cavern’s (10169 104 Street, 780-455-1336, thecavern.ca) new delivery service launches this September. Check the website for the menu and ordering how-tos.
Meuwly’s (10706 124 Street, 587-786-3560, meuwlys.com) aims to make the Thanksgiving holiday weekend easier on the cook. Their delicious smoked honey ham, smoked turkey breast and sides, as well as charcuterie boards will be available for pre-order.
Check out the newish Pierogerie Polish Foods dumplings. Made by a local family, they are not only handy to have in the freezer, they are ready in minutes (no waiting for water to boil) because they are pre-cooked. These are well-made dumplings with a delicate thin dough and are made with local organic ingredients. They are available in six flavour combos, including two vegan. Available at Blush Lane Market and Earth’s General Store, $10-$13/package depending on the variety.
New at Zocalo (10826 95 Street, 780-428-0754, zocalo.ca) Peugeot’s new seasonal and colourful pepper and salt grinders, $89/pair. The Copper Tapas Collection, in three different styles, are ideal for warm tapas and irresistible for the copper collector, $45 each.
at the cooking schools
Cool classes at Kitchen by Brad this fall (10130 105 Street, 780-757-7704, kitchenbybrad.ca). Learn to make tasty Spanish dishes (tortilla espãnola and Spanish-style meatballs) at the Spanish Tapas Party class on Tuesdays, September 11, 18 and 25, 6:30pm and Saturdays, September 15 and 29, 12:30pm. $145/p+. The Stocks Soups and Stews: Be Winter Ready class teaches how to make hearty soups and stews, along with their accompaniments, biscuits and crackers. Tuesdays, October 2, 9 and 16, 6:30pm and Saturdays, October 6, 13 and 20, 12:30pm. $145/p+. Visit the website to book.
Upcoming cooking demos at Atco Blue Flame Kitchen (10035 105 Street, 877-429-9090, atcoblueflamekitchen.com): Freeze Ahead Meals, September 13, 6pm-8pm, $65/p; Pressure Cooking/Instant Pot, September 22, 10am-1pm, $65/p; Pyrohy and Cabbage Rolls, September 27, 6pm-8pm, $65/p. Register online or in person.
Cavern’s (10169 104 Street, 780-455-1336, thecavern.ca) Back to School Cheese School is this fall, check their website for dates and registration.
Do you want to become a better cook? Broaden your knowledge or polish technique? NAIT Culinary offers a chance to learn from the pros in a supportive environment with several cooking classes this fall: Aged Cheese Using Raw Milk, October 20 and 21, $265; Decadent Chocolates & Truffles, October 15-24, $240; Sausage Making, October 15-23, $255. Or master the basics with the Kitchen Skills series of classes. Course descriptions and registration at nait.ca.
We are huge fans of the Ruby Apron (780-906-0509, therubyapron.ca) classes, especially, their sourdough classes. A class we’re excited about; the Alberta Table Class and Dinner, 6pm, September 28, $95/p. Find the entire fall schedule at therubyapron.ca.
Send new and/or interesting food and drink related news for Kitchen Sink to hello@thetomato.ca.