| Two fine Okanagan fellows and their wines are visiting Color da Vino (9606 82 Avenue) today and tomorrow. Pop by the wine shop at 4pm to meet Bob Ferguson, co-founder and winemaker at Kettle Valley Winery (Naramata). On Friday meet the irrepressible Tyler Harlton of TH Wines from 3-4pm. Tyler will be pouring the just released TH Rosé hey hey! |
| Think patios are only for summer? Think again! Enjoy the Winter City Patio Party, April 1-3, where après-ski meets urban chic with cozy blankets and warm heaters at Little Brick, Cafe Bicyclette, Urban Green Café, Wild Earth Zoo (at the Valley Zoo) and at bistro tables at Sir Winston Churchill Square. Visit wintercityedmonton.ca for the full list of venues. |
| There are a few spots available in the special one-day Level One Foundation Wine Spirit Education Trust (WSET) class on Saturday, April 9. To book: alandon@aii.edu. |
Taste the music. Hear the food. Don’t miss Canmore Uncorked, starting next weekend, April 6-17, jam-packed with gastronomic events with typical Canmore sporty style, including April 7, Long Table Dinner; April 8, Whiskey & Spirits Fest; April 9, Beer Festival; April 15, Culinary Symphony with Quartetto Galato; April 16, Wine Fest. Find all the info at www.tourismcanmore.com/canmore-uncorked. |
 Click to zoom When only the classics will do. Enjoy this little black dress of a Chardonnay, the 2013 Drouhin Laforet (Burgundy, France). It’s the quintessential lunch wine, crisp and fresh with lovely citrusy notes, around $22 at better wine shops. Partner with leftover turkey sandwiches, pork tenderloin, roast chicken, cheese and crackers. |
| Chef Brad Smoliak thinks of southern cooking when April rolls around. Maybe it’s the Masters on TV or that Alberta’s golf season will be starting soon, or maybe it’s just because southern food is so darn good. Whatever the reason, April classes at Kitchen by Brad offer a little southern comfort: baked ham with apple butter ‘pot licker’ sauce; corn bread featuring blue corn meal; fantastic mashed sweet potatoes; ham and bean soup with spotted prawns from BC’s coast and a southern praline Bourbon cake. Classes are $135/pp+GST, Tuesday April 5 and April 19 at 6:30pm and Saturday April 9 and April 30,starting at12:30pm. To register: info@kitchenbybrad.ca or call 780-757-7704. |
| Edmonton author and part-time Naramata resident Jennifer Cockrall-King has written a glorious book called Food Artisans of the Okanagan (TouchWood Editions, $24.95). In it she profiles over 125 growers and producers of craft food and drink including chefs, farmers, cheesemakers, butchers, foragers, beekeepers, distillers and craft brewers, in both the Okanagan and Similkamen valleys. Complete with maps, lists of farmers’ markets, shops, farm gate markets and fruit stands, this book will become your indispensable guide to food in this verdant part of the country. It’s marvelous! In bookstores April 5; at 7pm Wednesday, April 13, join Jennifer at Audreys Books for the launch.
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| Upcoming at Get Cooking (MacEwan, 11050 104 Avenue, 780-934-8058, getcookingedmonton.com); April 2, 6pm, Syrian Fund-raising Gala Supper, $120; April 20, 6pm, Swine & Dine dinner with chef Doreen Prei and Irving’s Farm Fresh, $95. To book visit getcookingedmonton.com/class-list.
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The Italian Centre Shops (10878 95 Street, 780-424-4869; 5028 104A Street, 780-989 4869; 17010 90 Avenue, 780-454 4869, italiancentre.ca) offer several new items in their house-made Massimo’s Cucina Italiana line: pasta sauces including a hearty Bolognese made with the Messenger Meats Piemontese beef; a bright tomato sauce and a creamy béchamel. Try the chicken noodle or minestrone soup, and satisfying one-dish salads. Chef Renata Berlingo heads up the Cucina Italiana program; here she is with chef Vittorio Colacitti. |
| Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse’s (9929 109 Street, 780-756-7030, pampasteakhouse.com) five-year anniversary celebrations continue with weekly promotions. Check the website for what’s up this week. Their splendid five-year anniversary party garnered proceeds to the Youcan Youth Services charity. |
| Unwined Fine Wine, Spirits & Ales (#2, 512 St. Albert Trail, 780-458-4777 and #203 Edmonton City Centre, 10205-101 Street, 780-421-0015, unwined.biz) spring sessions of the Accidental Sommelier Series Wine Fundamentals. The sessions are at the St. Albert store, 7:30pm, Tuesday nights, $20/p. Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot will be compared on April 22. |
| Aligra Wine & Spirits (8882 170 Street 780-483-1083, aligrawineandspirits.com) upcoming tastings: April 6, 7pm, $30, Best Wines You’ve Never Heard Of; April 27, 7pm, $40, Wines from The Pacific Northwest. To register visit aligrawineandspirits.com/events. |
