patios now open, brad’s friday meatballs, eleanor et laurent pique-nique, plus: asparagus and radish salad recipe

patio lanterns

Find your favourite patio open for business this week. Our suggestions: The serene patio at The Marc; the flower-filled patio at The Glass Monkey, the sun-drenched Bianco terrace; the casual spot at Dalla Tavola Zenari, the rooftop terrace at La Petite Iza; the golf course views at the Greenhouse Victoria, Rundle and Riverside; Nineteen Terwillegar’s lovely patio; and the inventive parking lot patio at RGE Rd https://www.rgerd.ca/menu . Café Bicyclette’s lively outdoor dining space will be opening the week of June 21. Most are first come, first served (no reservations), there may be special patio menus, and remember, it’s max four people from the same household only (or your single cohort) and masks are required when not dining (unless you are the Premier).
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The Glass Monkey’s flowed bedecked patio
The Glass Monkey’s flower bedecked patio

kitchen by brad’s meatball madness every friday

Chef Brad Smoliak makes really great meatballs. And you can enjoy three generous meatballs and fixin’s ($11) every Friday in June. This week it’s Nonna’s Italian meatballs, with red sauce over rigatoni and grated Parm. June 10 it’s cumin-scented chili and meatballs with just-baked cornbread; June 18, Greek meatballs with orzo and tzatziki; June 25 is Gido’s Ukrainian meatballs with pyrohy and wild mushroom sauce. There is no pre-ordering so come early! Walk up to the window (Kitchen by Brad, 10130 105 Street) and order, and take to the park across the street or back to the office. First come, first served, 11:30am-1pm. Planning an event for later this year? Email info@kitchenbybrad.ca about dinners, meetings and dinners and private cooking classes.

Brad’s Meatball Madness
Nonna’s meatballs by Kitchen by Brad

pique-nique à la française courtesy eleanor et laurent

Eleanor et Laurent (10926 88 Avenue) just might have the most elegant picnic going—roast chicken with lemony roasted potatoes, baguette, tangy blue cheese, a bottle of zesty rose, and the E&L tote bag. Not your typical grocery store chicken either. Rather, it’s a free-range local bird, brined and roasted in the in-house rotisserie. Take your chances with a walk-in order Wednesday to Sunday, or, pre-order here.

eleanor and laurent picnic

music counts with the kitchen party

Canada’s Great Kitchen Party is not just about the food. Funds raised support a variety of charities, including MusiCounts which provides instruments, equipment and other resources to Canadian schools. To date, 53 schools across the country have benefitted, including 12 in Alberta, with Ivor Dent in Edmonton and Glenmeadows in Calgary being recipients this year. The support helps music educators create new music programs and has helped sustain pre-existing music initiatives during the pandemic. To find out more visit here.

music counts with the kitchen party

gins in june at aligra

Aligra Wine & Spirits (8882 170 Street, WEM, #1423) is all about gins in June with four online tastings starting tonight with Whitley Neill from South Africa. Carry on with North American gins including the appealing Empress 1908 on June 8. On June 14 taste berry-based gins such as Collective Arts Plum & Blackthorn; Thursday June 24 is all about European and British gins. Each class is $45/ p. Sign up for two or more classes and save 15 per cent. Each tasting has a terrific lineup of high quality, well-made and delicious gins. Bonus: Save 10 percent on any gins purchased at Aligra during the month of June. Register here.

aligra gin

we love otto’s dog

Otto Food & Drink (11405 95 Street) has been a perennial on the Tomato Top100 since they opened. This is why— delish house-made sausages with toothsome sides. Like the Otto pork sausage with garlic fries. Doesn’t get better than this. Available on the patio, weather permitting and to go.

Otto Dog

the grand market is back

The 124 Grand Market at 108 Avenue and 124 Street is open every Thursday evening from 4-8pm until the Harvest Thanksgiving Market on October 7. The Sunday market on 102 Avenue and 124 Street open this Sunday, June 6 until September 26. We love this market for its eclectic mix of food, both fresh and prepared; local cider, beers and spirits; things for the home, the food trucks and the bike tune up station. Visit before or after a shop (or patio dining) down 124 Street.

124st market

not too soon to be thinking father’s day!

Especially when it’s a special menu for meat lovers from Pampa. Cheesebread, salada gaucha, escondidinho (similar to shepherd’s pie) and toasted coconut cake with 100 ounces of grilled cuts such as rib eye and coconut shrimp in the large offering (feeds four-six, $149.), or the medium (40 ounces, feeds two-three, $95). Or, the ready-to-grill package: Pampa picanha, bacon-wrapped filet mignon, garlic-rubbed petite tender, marinated chicken drumsticks and Parmesan-crusted pork loin, $100. Feeds four generously. Order online.

pampa

awn kitchen’s asparagus and radish salad with spring onions

This super easy salad by chef Kaelin Whittaker is chock full of the flavours of spring.

AWN Kitchen radish salad