wine tastings, happenings and events
September is Beer Month at Fine Wines by Liquor Select 8924 149 Street, 780 481-6868. Four free seminars, four Wednesday nights, 40 craft beers.On four Wednesday evenings in September, a different expert will present 10 delicious beers from Canada and around the world, offering a chance to taste, ask questions, and learn in depth what makes these beers so interesting. Sounds good? Here’s how to attend:
If you are not already on their email list, sign up at www.liquorselect.com. If you are already on the email list, watch your inbox. The week before each seminar, you will receive an invite. Respond within 48 hours to have your name in the draw for a chance to win two seats at the upcoming craft beer seminar.
Save the date! On October 15, you’ll want to be at Festival Place, Sherwood Park, as three of Strathcona’s hottest young chefs battle it out in the culinary ring, complete with secret ingredients, locally grown. Cocktails and appetizers, 6pm; dinner 7 pm. This event supports the Strathcona Food Bank and inspires students in our culinary arts programs to step forward as our next champions! Tickets, $125 through Ticket Master or Festival Place Box Office.
Crazy hot culinary talent coming for Alberta Cook it Raw: Albert Adria (Spain), Elizabeth Falkner, Amanda Cohen, Preeti Mistri and Brandon Baltzley (US), Magnus Ek (Sweden) and Syrco Bakker (Holland).Tickets for the closing event at Rouge, October 11, $125/p at cookitraw.org. Don’t miss it.
Love Port? Don’t miss the Fonseca Port Party, September 9 at NAIT’s Ernest’s Restaurant (11762 106 Street), 6pm, $35/p, csoderlind@nait.ca to book.
Chef Brad Smoliak (Kitchen by Brad, 10130 105 Street, 780-757-7704, kitchenbybrad.ca) is having another lovely outdoor dinner at Elk Island National Park (yes, there is a rain plan) just 35 minutes from downtown Edmonton on September 12. Tix are $135/p, includes park admission, at kitchenbybrad.ca.
St Albert’s Dig In Horticulinary Festival is the event that merges horticulture and culinary into a celebration of eating, growing and staying local. The action begins Thursday, October 1 and continues until Saturday with high-energy interactive cooking, composting and winter gardening sessions. On Friday, October 2, enjoy the Dig in Chef ’s Collaborative Gala Dinner with a fantastic lineup of chefs participating: Andrew Cowan (Packrat Louie), J.W. Foster (Fairmont Banff Springs), Danielle Job (Holt Renfrew Café), Tony Krause (The Salt Room), Rino Lam (X1X Nineteen) and Brad Lazarenko (Culina), http://kitchenbybrad.ca.
Join whisky chef Matt Jones at Mansgiving, Friday October 23, at Kitchen by Brad (10130 105 Street, 780-757-7704 kitchenbybrad.ca). Enjoy food by Brad and handcrafted cocktails featuring Jim Beam. $145/p + gst. Seating limited, tickets on sale September 12.
Love animals? Join Nora Bumanis and Micki Ruth, rescuers of Gracie and Merlin at a fundraiser for the Animal Rescue Society at Color da Vino (9606 Whyte Avenue, 780-439-9069 colordevino.ca), Monday September 28, 7-9pm, $75/p. Nora, an acclaimed Edmonton harpist and her band mates will play a few sets with wine and snacks. Ticket price and a percentage of sales are being donated.
There are still opportunities to experience a stellar Rge Rd dinner at Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm (Bon Accord, PrairieGardens.org). On Wednesday, September 9, Fall Harvest Midweek Getaway Dinner; Sunday, September 13, Edmonton Area Land Trust Fundraiser Dinner; Sunday, September 20, Falloween Pumpkin Palooza Theme Longtable Dinner; Sunday, November 8, Last Winter Dinner of the Season: Roots, Shoots and Winter Squash. To book, visit prairiegardens.org/range-road-gourmet-dinner.
Help Color da Vino (9606 Whyte Avenue, 780-439- 9069, colordevino.ca) celebrate its first anniversary on September 12 from 1-4pm with wine and beer sampling and snacks by chef Doreen Prei.
Edmonton Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival returns to the Shaw Conference Centre November 6 7, for its 14th year. The Grand Tasting Hall offers a unique opportunity to explore new wines, premium spirits, single malt and blended scotches, port, specialty liqueurs, and craft beers in every price range. Early bird tickets on sale until September 30 at http://albertabeerfestivals.com.
Break out your lederhosen and dirndl for the 2nd annual Edmonton Oktoberfest at Expo Centre, Northlands, October 2-3, featuring craft beers, cask samples, dancing to the German Knights polka band with the Schuhplattler dancers. Tickets at albertabeerfestivals.com. Ein Protist!
Fruits of Sherbrooke has teamed up with E4C to raise $17,000 for commercial equipment, kitchen supplies and packaging materials to produce 50,000 apple snack bags for E4C’s Healthy Snack Program. It provides a nutritious mid-morning snack or breakfast every school day to over 5,600 students in 23 high-needs schools. To donate to Project: Fruit Stars, visit KickStarter.com. Don’t delay, the campaign runs until September 16.
No time like now to start thinking about family and corporate holiday parties. The Union Bank Inn and Madison’s Grill will have fall and holiday menus online in late September, unionbankinn.com
Upcoming tastings at UnWined Fine Wines, Spirits & Ales (#2 512 St. Albert Trail, St. Albert, 780-458-4777 and #203 Edmonton City Centre, 780-421-0015) Accidental Sommelier Beyond Series: September 22, Beyond Turkey; October 27, Beyond Sangiovese. Both tastings are at the St Albert store.
Color da Vino (9606 Whyte Avenue, 780-439-9069 colordevino.ca) upcoming tastings: Winemaker vs Terroir, 7pm-9pm, September 30, with sommelier Stacey-Jo Strombecky, $25/p. Check the website colordevino.ca for last minute tastings and events.
Check out the fall tastings at Keg n Cork Liquor Company (3845 99 Street, 780-461-0191, kegncork. com): September 11, 6:30pm, September 17, Drop-in Parallel 49 Beer tasting; October 1, Masi Wine tasting with snacks, 7:30pm, $35/p, book online; October 2, Drop-in Old World Wine tasting. The drop-in tastings are free and start at 4pm.
The Rotary Club of Edmonton Gateway and Kegn’Cork present Robust Reds at the Delta Hotel on September 11. Tickets, $75/p, robustreds.ca.
Don’t miss Bacon Day October 17, 6pm at the Workshop Eatery, 2003 91 Street SW) if only to watch chefs Andrew Cowan and Paul Shufelt go head to head (or is that snout to snout) in the Bacon Dessert Cook-off. October 17, 6pm, tickets eventbrite.ca. Proceeds to YESS (Youth Empowerment Support Services)
Boulangerie Bonjour is planning a series of international wine and cheese evenings to raise funds for the Help One Another Foundation starting in November. Food by chef Doreen Prei, wine by Color da Vino and bread and cheese from Boulangerie Bonjour. Full details at helponeanotherfdn.org.
Who doesn’t love a trip to the mountains, especially in November when they are not so crowded? Explore Bon Appétit Banff from November 12-22. Exceptional restaurants in Banff and Lake Louise offer unique three-course menus, including three options per course, at four price levels from $27 to $57/p. This 10-day food festival includes Dine Around Banff and unique culinary Signature Events. Visit BanffLakeLouise.com/ bonappetitbanff for participating restaurants and menus and start planning your shoulder season getaway.
cooking classes
Get Cooking (11050 104 Avenue, 780-934-8058, getcookingedmonton.com) has a terrific lineup this fall of classes with guest chefs: September 8, Modern French with David Leeder; September 10, Spanish with David Leeder; September 20, Taco Shop with Israel Alvarez; September 22, Pressure Cooking with Ben Staley; September 27, Roasting, Boasting & Hosting with The Local Omnivore; September 30, Cooking for Gents with Alexei Boldireff; October 13, A Vegan Vacation with Rylan Krause; October 17, Harvest Preserves with Ben Staley, and October 29 is the Relishfest Dinner & a Movie with chef Doreen Prei. Find all the info at getcookingedmonton.com.
Check out the lineup of cooking and product demos at Barb’s Kitchen Centre (9766 51 Avenue, 780-437- 3134, barbskitchen.com). Classes include specialty and whole grain breads, and holiday treats.
Learn some quick tips for making festive side dishes at Seasoned Solutions Express Cooking Class: Sides for Thanksgiving, September 30, 6:30- 8:30 pm, $49.95 plus GST. To book: gail@seasonedsolutions.ca or 780-437- 0761. See the full class schedule at seasonedsolutions.ca.
Wondering what to do with all those fabulous fall vegetables? The Pan Tree (550, 220 Lakeland Drive, Sherwood Park, 780-464-4631, thepantree.ca) is having a cooking class featuring the Riverbend CSA program September 29, and on September 30 a class devoted to squash. If you love veg, register on their web site or call the store.
culinary travel
Join chef Vinod Lohtia on a culinary tour featuring the flavours, culture, colours and history of south India, on the Culinary Journey of South India, September 17-30, 2016. Visit toureast. com/Destinations/IndianSubcontinent/ India/Culinary-Journey-of-South-India- with-Chef-Lohtia for all the details and itinerary. Chef Lohtia leads tours to Vietnam and Cambodia in fall 2017.
Take a culinary journey with Gail Hall: A Taste of Alberta from Camrose to Provost, September 12, 13, includes a visit to the Bodo bison hunting archeological site. South India, February 25 – March 9, 2016, explores the culinary traditions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, $5,295 plus taxes, grats and airfare. Details and highlights for all tours at seasonedsolutions.ca.
product news
Bella Casa (9646 142 Street, 780-437- 4190, bellacasadcl.com) has launched their online shopping portal at shop. bellacasadcl.com. It’s a great resource to compare styles and colour or just to check if that Le Creuset piece you are lusting after is in stock.
This time of the year can be fantastic for produce. The Green & Gold Community Garden on the University of Alberta’s South Campus (approximately 118 street and 61 Avenue, off 113 street behind the School for the Deaf ) is bursting with stellar veg up until Thanksgiving weekend. Visit Tuesday evenings 6:30pm – 7:30pm and Saturdays 11am-1pm. Buying vegetables there supports the Tubahumurize Association (www.rwandanwomencan. org), an organization for Rwandan women that supports victims of violence or socioeconomic hardship.
The Newget Kompany will be at the Edmonton Downtown Market (104 Street, north of Jasper Avenue) September 19, 26 and October 3 and at several fairs this fall: St Albert’s Country Craft Fair November 21, 22; the Royal Glenora Gift Show November 22; and Make It November 26-29 at the Edmonton Expo Centre in Hall H. Or order on-line at newget.ca, call 780-995-1115, or email newgetko@gmail.com.
restaurant news
Rg Rd (10643 123 Street, 780-447- 4577 rgerd.ca) is close to completing their new space called The Butchery, an open-concept kitchen with a second wood burning oven for their baking program by chef Rob Ingram, a full butcher shop and a private dining room with soaring open ceilings overlooking it all. The expansion allows them to fully utilize the whole animal, a fundamental aspect of a sustainable kitchen, and something that chef Blair Lebsack, partner Caitlin Fulton and their kitchen team have practised from the beginning. Now they will be able to do it all of the time. Opening late fall.
Former Century Hospitality exec chef Paul Shufelt is opening The Workshop Eatery this fall in the Mosaic Centre, 2003 91 Street. Key staffers include sous chef Andrew Morrison and chef de partie Vilma Casimiro. Chef has been in the throes of construction all summer “I have been thinking, what the hell have I got myself into?”
Expect a menu with a farm to table focus (there are bee hives on the roof for their own honey and a pickling room) in a glass/polished concrete/butcher block/ minimalistic look with 69 seats. We’re thrilled that there are more interesting places opening up in the deep south.
Spencer Thompson (Toast at the Old Strathcona Market) and general manager Brandon Baker are taking over the Tavern 1903 space in the Alberta Hotel. “It’s part of my 10-year goal to have a restaurant of this size (120 seats). Our concept is honest food and an awesome cocktail program,” says Spencer whose experience includes several years with the Sorrentino’s Group. The menus will be highlighted by produce from their eight-acre farm near Mirror. The new resto expects to be open in October.
Lazia Restaurant (10200 102 Avenue, Edmonton City Centre, 780-990- 0188, lazia.ca) offers a cool promotion to highlight their new menu— a complementary small plate with the order of any two entrees. That’s an appetizer on the house! The offer is available after 2pm daily.
Here’s the lineup for Gold Medal Plates Thursday October 22: Steve Buzak, Royal Glenora Club; Nathin Bye, Ampersand 27; Andrew Cowan, Pack Rat Louie; Bryan Cruz, The Marc Restaurant; Corey McGuire, Tzin; Lindsay Porter, El Cortez; Cory Rakowksy/Nathin Henry, 12 Acres; Paul Shufelt, Workplace Eatery; Joe Srahulek, Chateau Lacombe Hotel; Jan Trittenbach, Solstice. Gold Medal Plates has generated over $9.4 million for amateur Olympic athletes since 2004. Visit goldmedalplates.com for tix soon; Edmonton always sells out early.
The 104 Street Promenade is home to a new café called Santé (10184 104 Street @santeyeg) open 8am-4pm, serving cold-pressed juices and smoothies, salads, and baked goods from Bliss Bakery. Check it out!
enRoute Canada’s Best New Restaurants list has become the go- to source for where to eat across the country. Now diners have a chance to make sure their fave makes it to the final 10. Rostizado is the sole Edmonton contender (admittedly, we didn’t have many openings last year) and needs your vote. Visit EATANDVOTE.com to vote.
Send new and/or interesting food and drink related news for The Kitchen Sink to hello@thetomato.ca.