The best things to eat or drink in Edmonton according to our readers
Every year we ask readers ‘what is the best thing they ate or drank last year?’ What caught everybody’s attention this year? Baked goods and pizza reign supreme—so many pizzas we had to give them a separate section. Pasta, of course. Only a few burgers, which is unusual, but several steaks. And people are being adventurous, with several set-menu explorations nominated. Newly opened restos garnered lots of nominations, which is a healthy sign.
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1. Charcuterie Boards, Art of Charcuterie
In a few short years Diana Harrison’s artful charcuterie boards have quickly become the most favoured party accessory. They are a visual and gustatory delight. No filler, only a magnificent array of cheeses, charcuterie, condiments and accompaniments including flowers and chocolate. She works with several local purveyors to source unique flavours. You can order snack-sized handheld cones or boxed duos for an event, or you can allow Diana and her team to install a boardroom length work of edible art. “Because of the artistic way she puts together high-quality food. Not only does it taste great, it is also a feast for the eyes,” says Dorothea U. “It was fresh, beautifully prepared with meats, cheeses, fruit, vegetables, dips, salsas and edible flowers and presented in a stunning display with greenery, florals and ribbons,” Mary T.
2. Brodetto de Pesce, Olia
Nominators had a hard time picking only one thing at Olia, the new resto by the Corso Group in the Citizen building. It’s a generous menu with several favourite dishes from Uccellino (pollo al mattone, leek arancini) and many outstanding new dishes too. The brodetto di pesce, loaded with sablefish, Hokkaido scallops and prawns, as well as the pork saltimboca (pictured) have many fans. Misty H. had this to say about the charred cabbage with walnut pesto: “crisp and smoky edges on the cabbage with a rich, nutty pesto and a generous sprinkle of parmigiano—main-character energy in a starter dish!” And let’s not forget the house-made goat ricotta, whose first iteration at Corso 32 started the entire ricotta on toast trend.
3. Lychee Green Szechuan Aguachile, Fu’s Repair Shop
You might think the retro Hong Kong nightclub vibe of Fu’s new Jasper Avenue location means it couldn’t possibly take food seriously. You would be wrong. Chef and co-owner Winnie Chen’s kitchen delivers some of the best flavours in the city. Fu’s menu is packed with savoury delights, but these dishes stood out for nominators: “The aguachile is savoury and addictive, and the green szechuan sauce will leave you curious and wanting more. Each bite is packed with flavour and texture,” said Anna L. “Wai Siu Chow Fan is savoury, smoky and sweet, but not too sweet, with well-rounded flavours that play with your tongue,” said Johanna B. “God, I could eat these noodles every day of my life,” Lucy C., about the Mala Cheung Fun noodles.
4. Whipped Ricotta, The Butternut Tree
Nominators love a lot of things about The Butternut Tree, the views, the pan-Canadian focus of the menu and wine list, the lingcod, the tasting menu (“such a unique experience and the ambiance is absolutely unbeatable,” says Kelly O,) and the whipped ricotta; “Impossibly smooth and perfectly complemented by the herbal warmth of rosemary. A touch of balsamic and confit shallot adds depth, while the focaccia provides the perfect golden, airy bite to bring it all together. Proceed with caution—and a second helping,” Anon.
5. Poached Leeks, Bar Bricco
Chef Micah Joffe and team continue to produce clever and delicious dishes out of one of the tiniest kitchens. Nominators love the fonduta agnolotti, the fennel salad with pistachios and mint, the various high-quality Italian salumi on offer and the egg yolk raviolo with sage is a perennial favourite. Most nominated? The spectacular poached leeks—a little spicy, a lot tender. Also the heavenly focaccia. You could call them great bar snacks, but they are so much more than that. Bar Bricco’s soulful reno last year elevated its moody ambiance. The good thing about that? Your chances of actually finding a seat.
6. Questionable Bits, RGE RD
RGE RD is known for its dedication to local ranchers and producers and whole animal cookery. One of the best ways to experience this is with the Road Trip; “a beautiful, delicious and varied dining experience that elevates past expectations,” Jaden D. Or the Questionable Bits, the special everchanging menu that features non-primal cuts. “It emphasizes the deliciousness of local ingredients and offal/off cuts,” says Josh B. Not up for that much exploration? Never fear, there is west coast fish, gnocchi made with Lakeside Cheddar, pyrohy made with Lacombe’s Grizzly Gouda and their outstanding house-baked breads.
7. Sablefish, Darling
Mill Creek and Ritchie residents were thrilled when this charming bistro opened in the ’hood. Just the place for cocktails, dinner, brunch and within walking distance. Nominators love the daily croquettes, the carpaccio (‘it’s the greatest thing you’ll ever put in your mouth,’ said one nominator), the Turkish eggs at brunch, the coulotte steak (top sirloin cap, one of the most underrated cuts of beef). “We order this pretty much every time we go to Darling and it’s always perfectly cooked and delicious,” Robyn G. And, especially the sablefish; “memorable, well executed, prepared beautifully,” Chris R.
8. Sweetgrass Ice Cream, Bannock Bites, Bernadette’s
Chef Scott Iserhoff and Svitlana Kravchuk are raising the awareness of indigenous cuisine one dish at a time. Their charming spot on 104 Street, dedicated to their grandmothers, houses a spectacular mural by artist bb iskew. We love the old-timey serving ware and the thoughtfulness of the food. The menus change with the seasons, and following on Instagram is probably the best way to find out what they are cooking in any given week. Nominators love the bannock bites (pictured) the jingle dress salad, brisket and the sweetgrass ice cream; “It is such a unique flavour that is also nostalgic in some way! There is nothing else like it in Edmonton and it absolutely deserves recognition” says Hillary S.
9. Seafood Paella, Sabor
The recent reno at Sabor created several private rooms, all the better to enjoy chef/partner Lino Oliveira’s incredibly satisfying Iberian-influenced food with your best mates, your family or your work colleagues. The wine list, ably managed by Cory Levy, has garnered several international awards. Nominators love the scallops (“cooked to perfection and the salsa that pairs with it is amazing,” Annie T.), bacon-wrapped dates with quince, anything with salt cod and especially the luscious seafood paella—calamari, prawns, mussels and clams in a tangy broth. Outstanding!
10. Daily Fish, The Marc
“I love seeing what Chef Eric Hanson decides to do with the daily fish feature at The Marc. It is always cooked perfectly and is never the same. Once I had it with squash and a brown butter risotto that was to die for. We often opt for the brassica salad to start, and I believe the German-style chocolate cake is one of the best in the city. And the ribeye! It’s now prepared with grade A foie,” Cindy G-H.
11. Gnocchi Parisienne, Bündok
It’s a toss-up which nominators liked better, Parmigiano soup or the gnocchi Parisienne; “the gnocchi are like little pillows. The dish changes seasonally and it is so good every single time!” Tammy-Jo M. Or the steelhead crudo; “Thai basil, citrus, chili, olive oil, apple, a light, unique and perfectly balanced dish. I have recommended this dish to my friends and family. It’s on my list to recreate.” Harman K. We love everything chef/owner Ryan Hotchkiss gets up to in his cosy downtown spot.
12. Uovo Tonnato, Bar Henry
“Daniel Costa continues to blow me away with his creativity and creations with every new restaurant he opens, Bar Henry just being one of my personal favourites. To this day, I still am yet to find better Italian food anywhere else,” says Ashley P. We loved the pine nut salad last summer, the winter menu brought the gilda Siciliana, an outstanding snack to have with a glass of wine, and the Millie has many fans: “this otherworldly grilled cheese, made with black truffle, pecorino and honey, is Pienza on the plate,” Misty H.
13. Butter Chicken, Monsoon Bistro & Bar
This comfortable south-side eatery puts out mouth-watering northern Indian food under the careful eye of proprietor Goldie Hazrah, who could teach many a thing or two about hospitality. Nominators love the butter chicken “rich and delicious.” Also nominated, and also delicious, the luxurious ki dal makhni—black lentils with ginger; the sprightly kerala fish curry, tandoori lamb chops, the dill naan and the toothsome dahi bhalla—lentil croquette with house-made yogurt and tamarind chutney.
14. Portuguese Salt Cod Fritters, Bodega
Nominators are big fans of the grilled sardines, the piri piri prawns as well as the braised boar cheeks. The Portuguese salt cod fritters garnered the most noms, (“so good!” “The best.”). Diners love these little balls of umami. We’re thrilled that the newest location on Whyte Avenue is opening soon, which brings this extraordinarily successful, home-grown (Christian Mena and Lino Oliveira) group to seven locations.
15. Kobachi
“Kobachi offers the most authentic Japanese Cuisine experience that has ever existed in the Edmonton area,” says Tyler K. Nominators love the sushi, the hokkaido uni, the duck udon. “I would probably kill for the yuzu pudding. I always recommend Kobachi,” Steve F. “Sushi. It’s so fresh! Very thick cuts of fish! My well-travelled colleagues compare Kobachi to a sushi joint they would find in Vancouver and New York,” Dave D. “Small place with big heart. I believe the lovable and kind personalities of the owners is reflected in their sensible, health-conscious dishes,” Yumika V-L. “I also love their seasonal selection of nigiri,” Josiane C.
16. Panini, Va Caffe
Nominators are loving the paninis, the sweets and the pizza at Va. We love that you can have coffee and pizza for breakfast. That is, if you are not seduced by the pastry, like the Roman-style pistachio maritozzo, or the panini, like the mortadella (pictured). “All of the paninis are great here,” says Andy C. “I was blown away by the melanzane (eggplant with buratta) panini.” “Tartufo truffle, leeks, cheese, and honey; I can’t stop thinking about that perfect slice. Love this combination so much that I struggle to convince myself to order anything else, it’s so good! Also love that they serve their pizza with scissors to cut it yourself—so fun,” Amelia T. To end on a sweet note: “the strawberry granita at Va,” says Amanda L. “I have dreams about it. I hope it comes back this summer.”
17. Steak Sandwich, Hayloft Steak+ Fish
West-enders must be thrilled to have this casual yet super high-quality Cameron Heights eatery close by. Nominators love the Nonay beef, dry-aged on premise, available in several different cuts and price ranges, including an outstanding steak sandwich, which makes this superb quality beef an affordable indulgence. Nominators also love the fish and seafood. “My husband and I split a salad, the oysters, the sablefish and either a burger or the flat iron depending on how hungry we are, and it’s a delicious night out,” Karen B.
18. Smoked Salmon Latkes, Happy & Olive
The smoked salmon latkes have many fans, and we’re thrilled that latkes have their own section on the menu. Frank and Andrea Olson have been happily feeding people over three decades (Red Ox Inn, Canteen). They teamed up with their friends Ann and Dave Jackson to open the Crestwood spot, named after Frank’s great uncle Happy and his wife Olive. Now, they are creating another love affair with their customers who throng the comfortable dining room and patio from morning coffee on. Nominators also love the saganaki. “That fried cheese is incredible, a great way to start,” says Mike H.
19. Romaine Tonnato, Mimi
Mimi, one of the trio of new spots in the Citizen Building by the Corso Group, is a mini vacation. The luxe lobby bar is sumptuous, elegant and very comfortable. The food leans to elevated snacks like the romaine tonnato. “The best bite of salad I’ve ever had,” says Shaun B. All the better to enjoy while people watching and imbibing a classic martini (pictured) by Mitchell Hopkins, made with Poli Marconi 46 Gin—crisp, clean and delicious. Or the Trident, nominated by Claudia V.; “amazing vibe and interior. Great music. High-quality drinks.”
20. Okonomiaki Crisp, Sushi Café Madang
This sushi resto in the green house, just off Whyte Avenue, features a madang (yard in Korean) that is a wonderful place to be in the summer. Nominators loved the Okonomiki (Japanese pancake). “Crisp and crunchy with a moist savoury centre, one of my favourite pancakes,” says Gunnar B. Also nominated, the Takoyaki (octopus balls). “They are amazing, with bursts of flavour and the perfect texture,” Emma K.
21. Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, May
May features brunch from Wednesday-Sunday until 3pm, giving guests lots of opportunity to enjoy the light and fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes. “Lemon pancakes with the cherry sauce, so delicious!” Annie G. Another fave is the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. “God, we love this,” says Brian F. Also nominated were the strip loin and the risotto. Dig in, some great food here.
22. Croque Monsieur, Café Bicyclette
“It’s a delicious dish; they make it perfectly! The cheese sauce on top is incredible,” Chelsea M. Donna B loves the poutine déjeuner bicyclette and the boeuf coréen bennie “They’re super careful with allergies,” says Donna. “Their food is amazing and they change it up to provide variety for their customers. They also use local ingredients to support the local economy.” The saumon à l’orange has fans as does the roast duck with haskap drizzle.
23. Beef and Cheddar Sandwich, The Butchery
Next door to RGE RD is The Butchery, where you can purchase several of the cuts served at RGE RD, as well as delicious sausage rolls, soups and sandwiches for lunch. Nominators are all in on the beef and cheddar sammie. “It is an absolutely incredible sandwich that is by far consistently the best sandwich I’ve had in the city,” Sam S. “They make everything in-house, from the bread to the meat and cheese sauce. Locally sourced,” Luke C.
24. Pork Schnitzel, Little Wolf
Shaun Hicks, one of the most inventive chefs in Edmonton, works out of a tiny space in the Bridge district—a bar downstairs with a few stools and seating upstairs plus a street-side patio. Jarret G. had this to say about the toothsome pork schnitzel: “it’s a massive portion of crispy pork with the right balance of sweet and savoury. Other than the Negroni, it’s the menu item I order the most.” Nominators also love the Japanese curry poutine, the black cod and the cocktails. “Great example of fusion food. Little Wolf is so great at pairing flavours,” says Kyle K.
25. Sweet + Sticky Pork Ribs, Three Vikings
Nominators called this dish game day ribs as Three Vikings first brought them on as a playoff special. They proved to be so popular they became a regular menu item. Nominators also love the smørrebrød (open-faced Nordic sandwiches, especially the shrimp) the Danish hot dog called a pølse and the all-day breakfast sandwich.
26. Tuna Twists, XIX
Along with the evergreen tuna twists, nominators found many things to love, including cocktails. “Every old-fashioned connoisseur knows XIX has one of the city’s best old fashioneds. From the brandy-soaked cherry (made in-house) to the rock-sugar stir stick to the Spicebox whiskey, this is a perfectly balanced cocktail. And it’s on the Happy Menu, so there’s no excuse not to try one…or more,” Misty H. Also nominated, the smoked gochujang bison tartare, the hoisin-glazed short ribs and the Peking duck special.
27. Tomahawk Steak, Barbacoa
Drive into a commercial strip south of the highway near Spruce Grove and you will find an outstanding steak house. Surprised? You bet! Inside, discover industrial chic—dramatic lighting, wood and iron showcasing a large open kitchen where cooks use Alberta hardwood and mesquite charcoal in the custom Grillworks Exopro grill to cook North Country beef. You just might have the best steak of your life. Nominators certainly think so. “It’s frickin amazing,” says Patt R. about the tomahawk. “Locally-raised Alberta beef treated with respect and cooked to perfection,” Tia W. Also nominated, the bacon bruschetta “It is one of their creative spins on bruschetta—house made focaccia with a whipped fromage blanc, bacon marmalade and pickled shallots,” Cassia O.
28. Yubu Bites, MJ’s Korean Kitchen
Pastry chef Minjin Lee creates really great tasting food in her kitchen at the Bountiful Market. Nominated: “Yubu bites, specifically the gochujang tofu. The tofu is unrealistically crispy. I don’t know how MJ does it and am consistently flabbergasted every time I eat it (which is weekly at Bountiful Farmers’ Market).” Nick L. says “perfectly bite-sized. Stupid crispy. I could easily eat 10-20 in one sitting,” Also nominated: “Japchae noodle. Every single dish is amazing but her japchae is just perfection! Well-seasoned, always fresh and so reasonably priced!” Jang J. “MJ’s special gochujang sauce is incredibly flavourful, and you’ll be hooked from the first bite,” Misook B.
29. Tomato-flavoured Crossing the Bridge, Dagu Rice Noodle
“Love the diversity of flavours in this Crossing the Bridge selection,” Donna N. Also nominated: the salt egg, coconut chicken, mala rice noodle, coconut mango smoothie and the milk tea (“the best milk tea in town with a wide variety of options”). “A truly satisfying and enjoyable meal!” Zhenyuan Z.
30. Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich, Out of Bounds Restaurant
Don’t be fooled by the golf course setting—one of the best chefs in Edmonton, Julia Kundera, helms this kitchen. The fried chicken sandwich was most nominated; the semi-regular Global Flavours dinners and the homey Hungarian Goulash have fervent admirers too.
31. Token Steak, Workshop Eatery
“Not only is the steak unbelievably good, so are the accompaniments—crisp brussels sprouts and chorizo tater tots,” says Britanni G. “The Token Steak dish made me fall in love with Brussels sprouts.” Also nominated, the bold flavours of cabbage bliss (pictured)—crispy garlic, shallots, chili oil with tamarind yogurt, yum.
32. Molotitos de Requesón, Luna
“All of Luna’s street food menu is so authentic and delicious, a little trip to Mexico for my mouth. The molotitos de requesón are on another level—delicious corn pockets with spicy cheese, crema and hot sauces. Perfection,” Lynsee L.“The tacos de lengue are a flavour bomb. Perfectly cooked beef tongue on artisan tortillas, bursting with beef flavour while also being super buttery. Topped with the guacamole, lime, radish and the cremosita salsa—a perfect symphony of textures and flavour. Best taco in Edmonton,” Mark C.
33. Beef Tartare, Nowhere Wine Bar
“Nowhere Bar has quickly become a staple in the west downtown area, with the perfect vibe to enjoy an after-work vino and have a snack,” Joel E. We second that, especially when those bites are made by chef Fillie Lament, who manages to pull off amazing feats with, basically, a toaster oven. Like the much-nominated chip stack and meatball sub. Then there is the popular beef tartare. “A unique dish with the creme fraiche, the dill, the pickles and of course the horseradish. In my opinion, the best tartare in the city,” Kelsie M.
34. Porterhouse, Braven
“Grilled to perfection and showcasing the best of Alberta beef. Sides are all incredibly prepared and offer the perfect accompaniment. If you’re going to get a steak in Edmonton, Braven is the place to do it. Unsurpassed,” Margot R.
35. Brisket Pyrohy, Don’ya Ukraine’s Kitchen
What started as a way to help out Ukrainian newcomers has become a thriving social enterprise. And the food is terrific. Consider the smoked brisket pyrohy. Don’ya uses brisket smoked and cooked by Old Strathcona’s MEAT. “The pyrohy are sooo delicious and showcase an amazing local collaboration,” says Gabi S. “We love their food for its uniqueness and the social impact,” Roman L. “Super delicious. The combination of MEAT’s smoked brisket and Don’ya hand-made pyrohy and traditional dough recipe is a match made in heaven,” Jonathan H.
36. Purple Wheat Loaf, Bonjour Bakery
Nominators are excited about Bonjour’s purple wheat loaf. We can thank a collaboration between baker Yvan Chartrand and organic wheat farmer Ward Middleton.
“The colour comes from pigments known as anthocyanins, antioxidants found in beets and Saskatoon berries too,” says Yvan. “The source of the colour traces back to tetraploid wheat that has been grown in the highlands of Ethiopia for thousands of years. I received a handful of grains eight years ago and planted them in a flowerpot. Then, I seeded those grains into my garden for two years. We finally had enough seed to plant on a small organic plot. Two years ago, Ward had a large enough harvest to allow us to mill the purple wheat at the bakery. It’s been an eight-year journey and feedback from customers has been amazing.” Nominators also love the paysanne and the epi loaf.
37. Wagyu Ravioli, Central Social Hall
Central Social Hall is way more than just a place to watch the game with a beer. Menu items are consistently nominated—chicken wings, the Ronald burger, the ’Berta sushi (yes, with beef), the honey fried chicken sandwich that Daksh M. says “tastes like freedom.” Nathan T. calls the waygu beef ravioli “absolutely stunning, little pockets full of goodness with a robust flavour.”
38. Salami, Fuge Sausage
Fuge Sausage makes high-quality, small-batch, hand-crafted fresh sausage. Last year they decided to delve into the other world of sausage and brought on fermentation master Will Kotowicz to develop their process for fermentation and dry curing. The result? Locally-made artisanal salami—cacciatore, finocchiona, landjager, soppressata and Spanish chorizo. Nominators were torn between the fennel and the Spanish chorizo. Try them all!
39. Bone-in Ham, Irving’s Farm Fresh
Irving’s produce their beautiful traditional hams (smoked, unsmoked (gammon), bone-in and boiling hams) near Camrose. They are especially popular at the holidays, both Christmas and Easter. Nominators love them for their provenance and rich taste. “The best ham! It has fat, but not too much. Lean and flavourful, skin on, which makes the crackle everyone reaches for,” says Karen C.
40. Cake, James David Patisserie
Artisan baker and pastry chef James Holehouse is best known for his chocolate work and the stunning bespoke cakes he crafts to order. “James’ attention to detail is impeccable, and his cakes are gastronomical journeys of decadence. The buttercream icing, delicate layers, handcrafted chocolates and sublime flavours are truly magical,” Nicola L.
41. Chocolate Honeycomb, Kind Ice Cream
The chocolate honeycomb—dairy-free dark chocolate with chunks of sponge toffee, was a popular choice among nominators this year. Also nominated: maple bourbon pecan, salted caramel and the rotating dunkaroo flavours. One nominator wrote an ode to the vegan salted caramel fudge non-diary ice cream, which, sadly, is no longer available.
42. Smoked Honey Ham, Meuwly’s
“We started ordering a Meuwly’s ham for Christmas several years ago. It’s versatile; fully cooked, all you have to do is heat it up and slice it, and leftovers for omelettes and sandwiches through the week. Easy and convenient,” Marg O.“It tastes divine. The perfect amount of salt, smoke and sweet,” Colleen P. Meuwly’s smoked honey hams, along with the smoked turkey, are available to order during holiday periods. And, keep in mind that you can find the ham at Chartier, Lunchbox Sandwich Shop, Partake and the Royal Glenora Club.
43. Rosemary Focaccia, Breadlove
The breads and baked goods at downtown St. Albert’s jewel box of a bakery have ardent fans. “The rosemary focaccia is so pillowy on the inside and crispy on the outside with the perfect level of saltiness—a perfect bite each time,” Diana H. “Unbelievably tasty bread and bread products,” Janetta C. Angela B says this about the sourdough bread: “Delicious complex flavour with a beautiful texture. The scones are spectacular too.”
44. Rosemary Sausage, Popowich Meat Company
This west-end butcher gets high praise from its customers. “This an amazing butcher shop. The staff always educate me about what I’m buying, how best to prepare it and give me new ideas for my next visit,” Kenneth L. Dozens of nominations for the stuffed pork loin, the Maui ribs, and the wide variety of sausages, especially the rosemary pork sausage. “On top of that, Mike, Treena and the team are such lovely people, I always leave with a big smile on my face,” Gabriel L.
45. Hot Chocolate, Delavoye Chocolate Maker
The Delavoye hot choc is a lusciously thick, European-style drink, served in a small cup with a house-made marshmallow that is torched right before serving. “It is the best hot chocolate. Everything they make is amazing (the bean-to-bar, single origin chocolate bars are wonderful). Also, this business is committed to ethically-sourced cacao, community and sustainability (compostable packaging, glass straws, etc),” Chenoa A.
46. Black Sesame Cruller, Rosewood Foods
Among all the delicious things (breakfast bowl, patty melt and assorted pastry and treats) made at Rosewood, the crullers stand out. “All of the crullers at Rosewood are great, but the black sesame has the perfect level of sweetness, nuttiness and saltiness. You can eat the whole thing bite after bite and never get tired of it,” Shaun H.
47. Bone Broth, Ribeye Butcher Shop
Nominators got very excited about the Ribeye bone broth. “It is available daily, hot and ready to drink. They don’t add any salt which is great. If you want salt they can add Chicken Salt. Good quality product,” Sina F. “It’s amazing. Healthy. Tasty. Always available,” Shauna N. “The best hot beverage for a cold day when you are over your coffee limit,” Braden P. “It’s a really nice experience when I shop at Ribeye and then leave with my goods and a cup of bone broth to go!” Nicole M.
48. Lamb Chops, Argos Bar Bistro
St. Albert’s Argos serves a beautiful grilled, double-cut lamb chop; “crusty on the outside, medium rare on the inside; these thick chops with a garlicy tzatziki are amazing,” Peter V. Also nominated, the melitzana (smoked eggplant dip) and pulpo (octopus) with hummus.
49. White Chocolate Raspberry Scone, Sugared and Spiced
Lots of good things at this Old Strathcona alley bakery. Nominated: peanut butter marshmallow squares, girls’ night in cookie, the s’mores squares: “It’s better than an actual s’more. The textures are perfect,” Jane P. And especially, the raspberry white choc scone; “never dry, incredible flavour, a must try!” Vanessa L.
50. Pistachio Cherry Stuffed Bar, Colleen’s Chocolates
Colleen Heidecker loves chocolate. She crafts delicious bars and holds chocolate tastings and events. Let’s call her the ambassador of chocolate. “The most vibrant and flavourful chocolate I have ever tasted. Absolutely delicious!” Joanne M. “Amazing, handmade, customized attention to best ingredients, many locally sourced from saskatoon berries, honey, raspberries etc. Chocolate melts in your mouth. Just pure deliciousness,” Tracy S.
Pizza Pizza Pizza
Pizza at Va. Randee Armstrong photo.
Is there no end to our appetite for pizza? Pizza lovers get loud about their favourites and what’s the best style and technique. Thin crust? Deep dish? New York? Napoli? Roma? Chicago? And so on. All these spots had dozens of nominations. We are being very Canadian about this and listing them alphabetically. All winners, pick your style and go.
The Arbour: The Nduja pizza has the right amount of spicy, according to nominators.
Birch and Bear: The Birch are vegan or vegetarian, the Bear have meat toppings. Nominators love the Green Machine and the Capicola with pineapple. Find Birch and Bear Pizzas at Ale Architect on Happy Beer Street too.
Fn’Za: A relatively new entrant to the pizza wars, the cheeky bunch at Fn’Za proof the sourdough for a few days resulting in a very flavourful thin-crust pizza. Most nominated: the Vietnamese and the Cheesy.af.
The High Dough: The darling of deep-dish pizza lovers, especially They Call Me Bruce and Kim’s Convenience.
Italian Centre Shop: Thin-crust and so easy to pick up after a grocery shop. The Prosciutto Arugula was most nominated as were the pizzas of the month.
Love Pizza: Offers a wide variety of styles, including plant-based and gluten-free crusts at five locations in the Capital region. Nominators love the Mac & Cheeza, which isn’t on the regular menu. A conspiracy perhaps?
Ragazzi Bistro Italiano: Godfather’s Choice is the most nominated pizza at this homey spot on Whyte Avenue, beloved by many.
Rosso Pizzeria: Nominators love that chewy, charry wood-fired crust and say that Rosso’s Margherita is the best in town. Also, the Funghi Misti (pizza bianca) and the spicy Soppressata.
Sepps: Classic New York-style thin crust pizza. The Apulo garners the most noms, but the Vegetarian and the Meat Lovers are not far behind.
Va Caffe: The new kid on the block, making Roman-style pizza al taglio, with a focaccia-like crust, which you cut with scissors. Most nominated, the Tartufo and the Rossa with Burrata which you can also have for breakfast.
Top Events, Pop Ups and Classes
Aperitivo and Weekend Pizza Nights at Va: Enjoy aperitivo, Italy’s answer to happy hour (a beverage and a snack—slice of pizza, some olives), from 4-6pm, right before they close. And on Friday and Saturday Va stays open for full-size pizza, to eat in or to take away.
AWN Kitchen and Workshop Cooking Classes: The classes are hands-on, not demonstration, and you sit down and have dinner together after. Of special note are the six week-long cooking skills program and the sourdough classes—we figure Kaelin Whittaker has taught hundreds of people how to make sourdough.
Canada’s Great Kitchen Party: Watch some of Edmonton best chefs go head-to-head at a splashy, high-energy charity event held in 10 cities across the country. The winner goes on to compete at the national Canadian Culinary Championships.
Dining Weeks: The volunteer-led Chinatown Dining Week has reintroduced Chinatown as a dining destination, with some great food at even better prices. Downtown Dining Week offers prix fixe menus at scores of eateries in the core. Feed the Soul Dining Week introduced us to the flavours of the Caribbean via several of the city’s black-owned restaurants. This year’s events kicked off with Callaloo + Chow, a celebration of Trini-Chinese cooking.
Hot Chefs Cool Beats: Enjoy a dozen or so chef stations from local independents at the annual fundraiser for the High School Culinary Challenge. This year it’s at the Royal Glenora Club on April 2.
Ina Mo: Chef JP Dublado’s dining pop ups at the Epic Market are an intimate exploration of modern Filipino food and flavours.
The Kitchen at EPL Cooking Classes: Chef Zofia Trebaczkiewicz runs The Kitchen on the second floor of the Edmonton Public Library. Classes are inexpensive, include a variety of cooking styles and there are guest chefs. The in-person classes are not demos, you will actually be cooking.
Toc Toc: The semi-regular Sunday night wine party at Bar Bricco is a trip. The idea is to taste and sample this and that in a convivial atmosphere. No resos, first come first served.
Vagabond Pop Ups: Chef duo Christine Sandford and Roger Letourneau are cooking some of the most interesting food around at various locations, including the back garden at Take Care on Whyte Avenue in the summer. They may be itinerant chefs, but word has it they are opening a permanent spot soon.
