lock stock coffee is closing
The saddest news: Lock Stock Coffee’s last day of business is tomorrow, Friday, March 21. We will miss this charming spot for coffee and a quick nosh. Thank you for a decade of great coffee downtown, the breakfast tartine and, of course, the kouing-amaan (pictured).
spring has sprung at zocalo
Zocalo’s greenhouse opens tomorrow, following 14 months of restoration and renovation after the devastating fire. Yippee! Help them celebrate from 7pm-9pm, Friday, March 21. Find lots of gardening inspiration as well as Tulipmania, the yearly celebration of everything tulip.
an indigenous taste of the market with chef shane chartrand
Join Top Chef alumni and author chef Shane Chartrand as he explores the Old Strathcona Farmers Market through an indigenous lens. The bi-weekly Wednesday dinners promise to be an intimate dining experience of culture through food and storytelling, where chef shares the rich history and traditions of Indigenous cuisine. The next gathering is 6pm, Wednesday, March 26. Tix: $157/p+.
frokost! with longroof brewing at three vikings
Join Longroof Brewing for Frokost, the eight-course Beer + Smørrebrød event, 4pm-7pm, Sunday, March 30, at Three Vikings (10713 124 Street). It will be an adventure! Tix: $130/p all in.
italy meets india wine dinner at monsoon
Don’t miss this delicious wine dinner at Monsoon (4485 Gateway Blvd) to enjoy exceptional Indian food with wines from the Veneto and Tuscany. Four courses plus reception and dessert, paired with six wines, 6pm, Wednesday, April 2. Tix: $125/p all in.
belasco de baquedano wine dinner at rge rd
Old-world tradition meets new-world innovation and expression in the wines of Belasco de Baquedano. The family legacy began in Navarra, Spain in the 1830’s and continues today in Luján de Cuyo, Argentina with 222 acres of century-old Malbec. Taste these exceptional wines with special guest Mikel Belasco, paired with a RGE RD multi-course menu by chef Blair Lebsack’s talented kitchen crew, 6pm, April 2. Tix: $185/p.
new sammie at sea change taprooms
Try the Pitt Boss—Pitt Country BBQ’s toothsome charcoal-smoked pork shoulder with grainy Dijon coleslaw and crispy fried onions on a toasted sub bun. Available every day at both the Happy Beer Street and Beaumont Tap Rooms.
don’t miss wing wednesday for meals on wheels
Get your tix for Wing Wednesday, the hot and spicy fundraiser for Meals on Wheels, 4pm-7pm, April 2, at the Starlight Casino. Back by popular demand is the Hot Ones panel, hosted by Rob Christie, as well as a DJ, food and drink, raffle and silent auctions and of course, wings! Funds raised support Meals on Wheels essential services and programs which provide hundreds of vulnerable Edmontonians with nutritious, ready-to-eat meals, so essential to their well-being. Tix here.
tariffs and taxes: welcome to alberta retribution
Our premier announced recently that the province would no longer purchase American-made alcohol. Fact: The province didn’t purchase it. The importer did.
Background: Those images we’ve seen of the empty shelves in B.C. and Ontario? In those jurisdictions, (actually, in all Canadian provinces except for Alberta) the province is fiscally responsible from initial purchase to final sale to the public.
It’s different here. The government of Alberta charges handling, storage and taxes. They do not own the goods and haven’t since privatization of alcohol in Alberta decades ago.
All the product sitting in the St Albert warehouse was paid for by (mostly small, almost exclusively) Alberta-based businesses months ago. Millions of dollars of product.
Why does this matter? Smith’s bandwagon gesture cost the province nothing, but costs Alberta-based businesses millions. Alberta agencies and importers are in limbo—they can’t sell it; they can’t send it back. That capital is tied up indefinitely. And, they are still being charged storage fees.
You may still find Tennessee whisky, Kentucky bourbon, or California wine at your favourite retailer or restaurant. Before you complain or post a pic of the transgression to social media, think about it. This bottle was purchased long before the tariff-tit-for-tat. Buy it, don’t buy it, your choice, but don’t be mad at the business needing to sell through their stock.
Will the ban on American spirits help Alberta’s fledgling (and fantastic) distilling industry? Let’s hope so. Spirits were spared in the latest round of new provincial tax increases, the Ad Valorem, which applies to wines that retail for more than $15/bottle. Even quality wines from countries considered great value, such as Spain, Portugal, Chile and Argentina, will be affected, as will many Alberta-made fruit wines. It is not a good thing for B.C. wine either, as most sell for over $15. So much for Canadian solidarity.
This new value tax makes unique, high-quality, small-production beauties imported by Albertans (who champion meticulously grown wine, lovingly made by family-owned, community-minded producers) cost more, even wines in the $20-$25 range. If the tax is also some sort of punitive moral judgment, keep in mind that mass-produced bulk wine—high volume, cheaply made, additive heavy—is not affected by this new tax and remain readily available on practically every corner.
Alberta had been a haven of entrepreneurial activity in wine due to the historic relaxation of government control. Now, Alberta importers, restaurateurs and retailers are struggling with the double whammy of tariff retribution and the new tax regime. Their very survival is at stake.
Final note: Does anyone else find the concept of value tax somewhat arbitrary? Why just wine? Is expensive jewelry (for example) taxed differently? Do we add a value tax on vehicles over a certain price and weight? Wouldn’t it be more straightforward and beneficial to Albertans to tax everything a little bit instead of a lot of tax on a few things? Asking for a friend.
Take a look at this petition which outlines in detail just how unfriendly this new value tax is to Alberta businesses.
tomato top100: olia’s brodetto di pesce
People always think of outstanding pasta when they think of Daniel Costa restaurants, but this stunning fish dish from the newish Olia (12016 Jasper Avenue, in the Citizen Building) wowed nominators this year.
recipe of the week: chef liana’s beef short rib grilled cheese
Just the sammie to have after a spring ski. It takes a bit of planning, but it’s ideal for a weekend project. Check out one of our fine butchers (Acme, Butchery, Modest, Popowich, Ribeye come to mind) for the Alberta beef short ribs.
