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Epicureous in Edmonton
Food Notes for January 13, 2020
Local Talent on Western Living's 40 Foodies of the Year
Several Edmontonians made this year's Foodies of the Year list, put out by Western Living Magazine. While the list will crown the "top 10" on March 7, 2020, three individuals were included among the forty finalists.
Lindsay Porter was recognized for her take on British classics at London Local, Cyrille Koppert for his gem of a French restaurant in Partake, and Keenan Pascal of Token Bitters was highlighted for his line of locally-inspired bitters.
Restaurant Yarrow and its accompany 12-seat Bar at Yarrow opened in early January. It is Chef Ben Staley's latest foray into the Edmonton restaurant scene, after Alta and Alder Room closed in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Dining at Yarrow requires a prepaid reservation at $170 per person for a meal ranging between 18-22 servings.
Lan Noodle is the newest hand-pulled noodle restaurant in Edmonton, located at 10475 82 Avenue.
Ice District has a new tenant – Delux Burger Bar in the Edmonton Tower is now open.
Japanese Village is now open on BRBN St. at West Edmonton Mall.
Kitchen by Brad is hosting Kitchen Suppers on Wednesdays until the end of February. They will be serving a 3-course, $35 dinner; reservations are recommended.
The third Nowhere Kitchen event will take place on January 26, 2020 with Chef Chris Tom-Kee, and focus on Chinese cuisine. As with their previous events, it is hosted by chefs of colour focused on their cultural identity and food justice. Tickets start at $30.
Filistix continues with its series of special events highlighting aspects of Filipino cuisine – this time, with a Kamayan Feast ("kamayan" translates to 'eat with your hands'). Tickets for the January 31, 2020 dinner are $56.75 plus fees.
Graham was "delighted" with his recent meal at Old Strathcona newcomer Smokey Bear.
Twyla recommends the pizza and prosecco at Bianco, Rosso's sister restaurant.
The Journal had a pleasant experience at Terrace Heights Vietnamese restaurant Thien An.
Forbes featured Edmonton as a travel destination, highlighting Bundok, Pip, Biera, Uccellino, Old Strathcona Farmers' Market, and Strathcona Spirits as notable stops.
An Edmonton candy store called Sweet Convenience is offering customers a "cold weather discount" in January equivalent to the freezing temperature.
Retired professor of food marketing David Hughes spoke at a retail food trends event on Monday about the continued demand for plant-based alternatives.
IKEA plans to "diminish food waste in all IKEA stores by 50 per cent before the end of 2020" and IKEA Edmonton has "led the way with an accumulative food waste reduction of 40 per cent in one year."
Campio Brewing Co. executive chef Hans Pinto visited the Global Edmonton test kitchen to preview their menu.
A local high school student spent 16 hours inside the Denny's on 104 Avenue downtown and documented the entire thing on Reddit.
What I Ate
It was definitely a soup kind of week – I started with a warm-up at T and D Noodle House. Their bun bo Hue has perhaps replaced the two-colour vermicelli as my go-to dish!
Bun bo Hue from T and D Noodle House
On the weekend, I met up with some friends at Chinese Hot Pot Buffet. I'd never been before, but I can see why they have many fans – the serve yourself (for most things) model means nothing stands in the way of you and getting food in your belly! I also appreciated the opportunity to have a chicken soup sauna for a couple of hours on a cold night, heh.
Our (first of many) spreads at Chinese Hot Pot Buffet
Mack, Emily, and I went to Syphay's Chinatown location for the first time for Chinatown Dining Week (which continues until January 19, 2020). They're offering a great deal – either curry or pad Thai, plus soup and spring rolls for just $18. I really enjoyed the pad Thai, and Emily happily munched on the spring rolls.
Chinatown Dining Week special at Syphay
Sharon Yeo	food, notes	Leave a comment January 13, 2020 January 13, 2020 3 Minutes
Food Notes for January 6, 2020
CBC Names RGE RD and Corso 32 Best Restaurants of the Decade
CBC Edmonton released their fifth annual Best Restaurants list for 2019, and to help round-out the decade, included their picks for best restaurants of the decade.
Food Explorer Twyla Campbell chose RGE RD, who attributes their success to the fact that the restaurant is a genuine farm-to-fork establishment, where "the staff eat, live and breathe it, unlike others who profess to be, but fail to abide."
Radioactive host Adrienne Pan and food writer Phil Wilson selected Corso 32, based on its standards and consistency, writing that the restaurant "ushered in a new standard for quality and flavour."
The rest of the list includes neighbourhood-based categories, and a cheeky "don't skip the dishes here".
Calle Mexico's third location (in the former Atlantic Trap & Gill) is now open at 7704 104 Street.
Barbarella is a new restaurant at 17115 100 Avenue (former Milestone's). They completed their soft opening week on January 6.
The Delta Hotel has opened their fully renovated restaurant and cafe in Edmonton City Centre, rebranded as District 102. Interestingly, they offer a 15% discount to "neighbours", which I take to mean Downtown residents.
New cafe alert: Take Care Cafe is now open at 9621 82 Avenue.
Also on the cafe front, Overflow Cafe has taken over Da Capo's Whyte Avenue location (8135 102 Street).
Love Pizza announced a second Edmonton location on the south side at Rabbit Hill Crossing.
BaoBao is a forthcoming Chinese dumpling and noodle restaurant that has replaced Watari Express at 10544 Jasper Avenue.
Wing Snob, an American-based chain, is opening its first location in Canada in the Brewery District (11988-104 Avenue).
Chain Leopold's Tavern will be opening in the revamped Strathcona Hotel this summer.
Holt's Cafe closed on December 28. Liane wrote a beautiful tribute to the restaurant, incorporating the memories of lunching with her mother.
The Woodrack Cafe relocated to Old Strathcona, but that meant closing their original location at 7603 109 Street.
There's still time to enter Deep Freeze Fest's tourtière baking contest on January 12, 2020! The deadline to enter is January 11.
Chinatown Dining Week runs January 9-19, 2020. The event showcases 16 businesses in Chinatown who are offering $18 multi-course dinners or $10 take-away deals.
Silver Skate will be putting on a series of Long Table Dinners from February 7-17, 2020, featuring a number of Edmonton, Calgary, and Saskatoon-based chefs. Tickets for the 4-5 course dinners are $150 per person.
Graham enjoyed his visit to Dorinku Osaka, stating that their "lunch menu [was] a true winner."
The Journal raved about Fox Burger's addition to the Highlands neighbourhood.
Avenue tried out China Burger's namesake dish.
Stephanie had a mixed experience at Huma.
Chef Lindsay Porter will be back at El Cortez in February with a new menu!
Phil (aka Baconhound) pulled together a list of Edmonton's most notable restaurant openings in 2019.
As always, Liane put together a great wrap-up of the Edmonton food scene in 2019.
Graham's round up of 2019 in food emphasizes the success of more casual restaurants and food delivery. In the piece, he also shares that Black Box Hospitality sold Little Brick.
Skip the Dishes shared some of their 2019 data, listing Rice Bowl Deluxe, Mikado Sushi and Robata and Panini's Italian Cucina as the most popular local restaurants.
Onward to 2020, Global Edmonton tackles the trends to watch for this year, including meatless meals, ghost kitchens, and low or no-alcohol options.
Speaking of ghost kitchens, Avenue features a couple of business owners who have, or will be bringing the concept to Edmonton.
Where Edmonton's January/February 2020 issue features their annual Where to Dine awards. The People's Choice award for Best New Restaurant went to Woodshed Burgers.
Linda started a new Food Crawl series and starts with recommending 4 places to eat in Chinatown.
Sharon shared photologs of her recent visits to Menjiro Ramen and Nara Chicken and Tonkatsu.
Chef Ryan Hotchkiss is currently the National Arts Centre's Resident Chef, cooking up "modern cuisine inspired by local ingredients and culinary history of Western Canada."
1st RND celebrates five years in business, and is on its way to opening its first location in the US.
Beyond Edmonton
The National Post numbered 10 of the biggest food trends of the past decade.
While I wasn't intending on taking a break from the blog over the holidays, with family in town, it was a nice excuse to relax! It also meant we ate really well, and perhaps indulged a little too much. We started with a family brunch at OEB, which seems to have become a tradition for us.
My usual order of Confit de Canard
We also introduced some of my family to one of our Downtown favourites – Love Pizza! Emily is a fan.
Our Meatatarian standard at LovePizza
My sister Amanda then introduced us to her favourite donair in the city, which she has to have while in town. Mack and I had never been to Swiss Donair, but clearly, based on the line-ups that day, it is well-known to the Edmonton community. We were amazed at how fast they were.
Mack attempted to finish the jumbo-size donair at Swiss Donair
We had a pretty great meal at Langano Skies; with such a big group, we were able to sample many of their meat and vegetarian dishes (I particularly loved the split peas with curry).
Our beautiful platter from Langano Skies
We also had a chance to finally try the "bring your own soup pot"-style bun bo Hue from Calgary-based Bun Bo Hue Deli. Even after six generous bowls, the $40 pot my sister brought back yielded enough leftovers for at least another meal for four.
Home-style bun bo Hue!
Sharon Yeo	food, notes	Leave a comment January 6, 2020 January 6, 2020 4 Minutes
Food Notes for December 16, 2019
Chinatown Dining Week Returns for a Third Year
Chinatown Dining Week is back for its third annual celebration of delicious eats in one of Edmonton's most underappreciated neighbourhoods. It will be the biggest event so far, with a total of 16 participating businesses, doubling last year's total.
Running January 9-19, 2020, participating restaurants will offer $18 fixed priced 2-course dinner menus available after 5pm. In addition, a new category will feature other businesses that may not focus on the sit-down experience, and offer $10 takeaway packages. Full menus will be released the week of December 16, 2019 on edmontonchinatown.ca.
Disclosure: while Chinatown Dining Week is an entirely volunteer-run initiative, I am the co-founder and a part of the volunteer team.
Pampa's offshoot cafe A Bite of Brazil is now open at 10114 104 Street.
YEG Smoked Meats is open in the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood at 8246 118 Avenue.
The Downtown location of Doan's is currently closed for kitchen renovations until the New Year. The southside location remains open.
Looks like the renovated Garden Cafe in Chinatown was never really able to get off the ground; it is now permanently closed.
Formosa Bistro is celebrating their second anniversary with lion dances and discounts on December 21 and 22, 2019.
The menu for The Marc's special brunch on December 29, 2019 is now up; call the restaurant for reservations.
Save the date for Silver Skate's new Battle of the Neighbourhoods event on February 12, 2020. Restaurants representing 4 neighbourhoods (Oliver, Ritchie, Downtown, Old Strathcona) will be judged on their best stew creations. Entrance to the event is free, but tickets will be required for food and drink samples.
Graham reviewed Braven and states that it is "a satisfying replacement for the late, great Hardware Grill."
Twyla raved about the traditional flavours served up in a modern way at Tiffin.
The Journal had a positive experience at Noi Thai (located in the former Viphalay space).
Stephanie shared her impressions of Brasserie Bardot after attending a media event.
In the Journal's latest Food Notes column, writer Tom Murray sheds more light on Royale and Pablo (both opened by Kevin Cam, the man behind Baijiu and Little HK), and also shares his favourite bites of the year.
The Yards' latest Best in the Core includes categories for best brunch, best date night, and best grab-n-go.
Avenue vouches for the seafood poutine at eatery FrenCheese (8943 92 Avenue).
Also from Avenue – check out their Christmas Day dinner guide if cooking isn't for you.
Congratulations to Eat Local magazine, who just published their first anniversary issue!
Chris Lachance, the restauranteur behind the Century Hospitality Group, and designer Chris Kourouniotis commemorated their 20-year partnership this year.
The latest episode of "Josh Eats Edmonton" on CTV News features Old Strathcona mainstay Langano Skies.
The second episode of Global Family Favourites features Lisa MacGregor's recipe for rosette apple pie.
Epicurean Adventure Tours founder Bryanna Kumpula-Yung started a pop-up called Adley's Bakeshop in honour of her daughter; all proceeds will be directed to the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation. Orders for cookies can be placed until December 19, 2019.
If you're looking for holiday cocktail recipes, Avenue has some festive suggestions.
Urban Agriculture and Farming
Exceed Solar is working with the University of Alberta to "study and perfect cold climate greenhouses in an effort to increase locally grown food supplies in colder climates." The project includes building a solar powered off-grid greenhouse at the U of A Students' Union's community garden.
Continuing to taste our way around Chinatown, the Chinatown Dining Week crew tried Shijing Taste Mixer last week, one of only a few restaurants in Edmonton offering Malatang street food. Named after a spicy mala sauce used to flavour the dishes, orders can be customized to include a variety of meat, other proteins, and vegetables, which are then stir fried with noodles and the sauce. It was a tasty and warming dish perfect for a cold night!
Chinatown Dining Week special from Shijing Taste Mixer
We don't order Skip the Dishes very often, but a craving for Padmanadi on the same day as their infamous Christmas Buffets meant I was more inclined to choose the delivery option in favour of line-ups.
Padmanadi delivery
The kouign amann from Lock Stock is easily my favourite pastry in the city, and it's a treat every time I'm early enough to snag one. Mack also tried their snegl (a Swedish cardamom bun).
Lock Stock pastries
Sharon Yeo	food, notes	Leave a comment December 16, 2019 3 Minutes
Food Notes for December 9, 2019
Dine Under the Stars Coming to Edmonton
An international event series is coming to Edmonton in 2020. Dine Under the Stars organizes pop-up 4-course dinners that take place in unique locations, with diners seated inside weather-resistant Garden Domes. The events have taken place in cities across Canada, the United States, and Europe.
In Edmonton, the domes will be situated on the terrace of the Edmonton Convention Centre, with spring and fall event dates listed, from April 15-May 15, 2020, and September 10-October 11, 2020, respectively. Dome reservations run $110 without a promotional code, with food costs priced at an additional $92 per guest plus gratuity.
Dine Under the Stars held one successful event in Calgary this past May at Fish Creek Provincial Park, with another that was planned to take place at Deane House in September. Ultimately, the fall event was cancelled because the venue had been flooded, and prospective diners have been experiencing challenges acquiring full refunds.
It is also worth noting that the Riverside Bistro at the Courtyard Marriott has similar weather-resistant domes on their river valley terrace.
H-Mart's second Edmonton location will open on December 11, 2019 at 8225 112 Street.
Royale, billing itself as a "modern day diner" is now open at 10145 104 Street.
A new Korean restaurant has opened in Lendrum called Machef, located at 5818 111 Street. Stephanie shared her recent experiences with their food.
Malina Ukrainian Bakery is coming soon to 629 Cameron Heights Drive.
I neglected to link to the closures of five Tony Roma's locations in the fall.
The Edmonton Downtown Farmers' Market is hosting a series of gingerbread making workshops on December 14 and 21, 2019 led by Meat Street Pies. Each kit sells for $27 and includes $5 in market bucks.
For a taste of the holidays, The Associazione Giovani Italiani Di Edmonton will be roasting chestnuts on an open fire outside of the Italian Centre in Little Italy on December 15 and 22, 2019.
Lydia was invited to try new Japanese restaurant Tokeo Station.
The Journal's wine columnist Juanita Roos paid Old Strathona's Smokey Bear a visit.
Graham enjoyed the "French-inspired" fare at Brasserie Bardot.
Two Edmonton restaurants made the cut on Open Table's list of Top 100 Restaurants in Canada for 2019: TZiN and Sabor.
Bloom Cookie Company celebrated the first anniversary of its storefront last week.
I was asked to be a guest on Avenue's November's episode of its Sidebar Edmonton podcast where we talked about my recent Top 40 Under 40 honour, but also about the local food scene.
CTV's Josh Classen started a series called "Josh Eats Edmonton" highlighting different restaurants in Edmonton, including Panciteria de Manila, Haus Falkenstein, and Turquaz Kebab House.
Global staff will be sharing their recipes in a series called "Global Family Favourites", with Laurel Gregory's marinated tofu up first.
Chef Shane Chartrand was interviewed on CBC's The Current last week about his life and inspiration for his cookbook, tawâw.
The Edmonton Downtown Farmers' Market put together a Christmas Gift Guide this year.
Jared Serben, owner of Serben Farms, shared on social media that his sons were in a school bus accident, and while one son was released, the other will have a long road to recovery. A crowdfunding campaign was started on behalf of the family and has since raised nearly $15,000.
While shopping at Superstore on the weekend, I noticed a fridge marked Flash Food; it's an app used by some grocery stores to sell items nearing their best before date at a discount. Loblaws has rolled this out at many of their stores across the country.
A new report states that the average Canadian family will pay up to an additional $487 for food in 2020. The anticipated increase is mainly tied to climate change causing unpredictability with crops.
This Toronto-based article captures some prevailing threads in the food world related to the marginalization of certain cuisines based on conscious or unconscious racial bias.
In search of a cold remedy last week I ended up at King Noodle House for their comforting bun bo Hue.
Bun Bo Hue from King Noodle House
Mack, Emily and I were invited to check out the Edmonton Christmas Market at ATB Place over the weekend. We loved the light installations and the beautifully-crafted vendor huts outside. While there weren't as many warm food options as I was expecting, they did have a hot beverage menu reminiscent of European Christmas markets. Thanks again to Wild Heart for having us! The market takes place from Thursday to Saturday until December 21, 2019.
Mack and Emily at the Edmonton Christmas Market
Sharon Yeo	food, notes	Leave a comment December 9, 2019 December 9, 2019 3 Minutes
Local Businesses Remedy Cafe and Tiffin Continue to Expand in Edmonton
Many in the hospitality industry are struggling in this current economic climate, but two local businesses are continuing to expand their footprint in the Edmonton area.
Remedy Cafe opened its seventh location in Sherwood Park on November 27, its first outside of Edmonton. Located in the Savona Centre at #110, 200 Festival Lane, founder Zee Zaidi has even committed to hiring only Sherwood Park residents for that branch. Additional locations are in the works, including another Downtown in the Bell Tower.
Tiffin expanded to its third location on November 30, adding a storefront in Windermere at 6089 Currents Drive. This is the second new storefront for the fast casual Indian restaurant this year; they opened their "flagship" restaurant on 104 Street back in May.
Royale, the new burger-focused restaurant from the folks behind Baijiu, will open this week; details to come. Royale is located in the former Blue Plate Diner storefront at 10145 104 Street.
Adding to the idea that 104 Street is the new "burger district" in Edmonton, chain Wayback Burgers will be opening its first Alberta shop on Jasper Avenue & 104 Street.
Calle Mexico will be opening a south side location at 7704 104 Street.
Polar Park Brewing opened after a lengthy renovation period in Old Strathcona (10416 80 Avenue).
Also in Old Strathcona, wood-fired eatery Smokey Bear is now open. The Journal has information on what to expect at the restaurant.
Whyte House Cafe opened in the space formerly occupied by Gama Cafe (10813 82 Avenue).
The Alberta Beer Guide is launching their Winter edition on December 4, 2019 at Dirtbag Cafe. Tickets will be available at the door.
The annual Christmas Market held at La Cite Francophone will be held on December 6, 13, and 20, 2019 from 5-9pm, and will feature roasted chestnuts and mulled wine, in addition to vendors and music.
Filistix has organized a Christmas edition of their popular Bayanihan dinner series on December 18, 2019, which again brings together more than a half dozen Edmonton-based Filipino chefs. Tickets for this 8-course dinner are $85.
The Journal had a positive experience at Shojo Izakaya, with "well-priced small plates" to share.
Twyla offered a mixed review of Braven; while she enjoyed her mains, she felt "shortchanged" on the service end.
Graham reviewed a pair of fairly new brew pubs – Campio and Polar Park. He preferred the food at the latter.
Phil started a new web series called Through the Pass, which will explore some of the "stories behind our favourite foods." The first episode focuses on the chefs at Panini's Italian Cucina, who happen to be from Eritrea.
A vlogger with a travel and food YouTube channel called Cup of TJ toured Edmonton; her visits to the Green Onion Cake Man and Yelo'd were highlights.
Ever wanted to re-create the famous University of Alberta Tuck Shop cinnamon buns at home? Here's your chance.
Food Network will debut a new culinary competition show featuring amateur cooks called Wall of Chefs on February 3, 2020. Among the 33 professional chefs who will be part of a rotating judging panel is Edmonton's own Chef Shane Chartrand.
I've been spending a lot more time in Chinatown as of late, as we gear up for the third annual Chinatown Dining Week, January 9-19, 2020 (more details to come!). We had a planning meeting last week at one of my favourite Chinatown restaurants, Gui Lin. I love their fried noodles with pork.
Fried noodles with pork from Gui Lin
I was back in Chinatown over the weekend, and picked up one of my favourite grab 'n' go lunches – a $5 combo sub from Nhon Hoa. They make their own bread, too.
Combo sub from Nhon Hoa
Food Notes for November 25, 2019
Chef Ben Staley to Launch New Restaurant
Chef Ben Staley has released more details about his forthcoming new restaurant, Restaurant Yarrow.
Described as a "place to interact with regional, seasonal cuisine and those who prepare it", Yarrow seats 10 and will offer only tasting menus ranging between 18-22 servings. Tickets must be purchased in advance and cost $170 per person. Seatings are available starting January 3, 2020.
Chef Staley first made a name for himself at North 53 in 2014, where he created a menu using exclusively Canadian ingredients. Although he would depart the restaurant less than a year later, his next two ventures operated with similar hyper-local parameters. Alta, which opened in 2017, served small plates at room temperature or cold, but would close within months. Alder Room opened in the same year next door, offering elaborate tasting menus at a 12-seat bar. It garnered national acclaim, landing on enRoute's Best New Restaurants list in 2017, but unfortunately, closed in 2018.
Downtown has a brand new coffee shop: Cafe Rosa is now open just above El Beso (10432 Jasper Avenue). They brew Rogue Wave Coffee, and offer baked goods sourced from Lock Stock.
Green Onion Cake Man has opened a second location downtown, at the kiosk above the Central LRT Station (10020 Jasper Avenue). It is open 11am-2pm on weekdays.
Bubble Cream is now open at West Edmonton Mall, serving up Hong Kong-style waffles and ice cream (they did have a kiosk at the Premium Outlet Collection by the airport for a time, but that had since closed).
Sepps Pizza, from the folks behind Leva Cafe, is the latest ghost kitchen to open in Edmonton. Orders for their "classic New York pie with a northern twist" can be made through their website or Uber Eats.
Jay Bee's Diner is opening a second location on 127 Street north of 137 Avenue.
The University of Alberta has published a cookbook featuring 25 recipes and stories from their campus community. The official launch takes place on November 28, 2019 and is free to attend.
Whole Family Health has partnered with Chef Blair Lebsack of RGE RD to host an event titled Mindful Eating to offer tips about how eating more consciously can help prevent illness. The workshop will be held at RGE RD on December 1, ant proceeds from the $50 tickets will go towards Movember.
On the heels of their successful Filipino-focused special events, Filistix will be hosting "Jajan: an evening of Indonesian Cuisine" on December 11, 2019. It is an opportunity for two of their chefs of Indonesian heritage to present dishes from their country of origin. Tickets are $60.
The Marc will be offering a special brunch on December 29, 2019.
Sharon raved about her first experience at Sherwood Park's Kobachi, perhaps "one of the best Japanese restaurants" she's tried the Edmonton area.
The Journal praised the food and value at Lyon in Old Strathcona.
Twyla enjoyed the fare at June's Delicatessen, stating June's "Is all about detail and quality."
Graham was hoping for more from Toast Culture.
A handful of eateries were featured in enRoute's Edmonton City Guide, including Baijiu, Biera, Bundok, Cibo Bistro, Partake, Prairie Noodle, and Woodshed.
Open Table released a list of the top 25 restaurants for solo dining in Canada, and Tzin made the cut.
Graham interviewed Chef Brad Lazarenko about his current venture, Culina To Go.
Jason Foster points out the unfortunate results of the annual Edmonton Journal Readers' Choice Awards for "Best Craft Brewery".
The Hotel Macdonald unveiled their 2019 gingerbread house earlier in the month – this year's creation stands 20 feet tall.
Also from Graham, he wrote about his experience at the first Culinary Team Luncheon hosted by the NAIT chefs in preparation for the Culinary Olympics in Germany next year. NAIT will host two additional practice sessions on January 18 and February 1, 2020. The events are open to the public; tickets for the lunches are $20.95.
In commemoration of the Silver Skate Festival's upcoming 30th anniversary, they've put together an ATB BoostR campaign to help manage the increasing costs of the event. A number of rewards offered are food-related, including a private tasting tour of their food event, Spirits on Ice, and a private dinner from the Chef Richard Toll of Under the High Wheel.
Sharman shared a recap of the recent Swine and Dine dinner hosted by Drift at the Shamrock Curling Club.
This video from the Alberta Motor Association features Darren and Sylvia Cheverie on the origin story behind their restaurant Chartier.
Sweet Lollapalooza was recognized with a silver and bronze at the 2019 International Chocolate Awards.
I learned about another new-to-me small batch coffee roaster based in Edmonton called High Horse Coffee. The product is available through their online shop, as well as at Save-On Foods.
The 5th annual Cookie YEGTweetup, supported in part by Cookies by George, raised $500 for the Christmas Bureau.
It looks like the Downtown Edmonton Farmers' Market is finally able to open on Sundays from 11am-3pm in addition to Saturdays.
CBC wrote a piece highlighting the indoor farmers' markets open in Edmonton, including Bountiful.
Mack, Emily and I were in Chicago last week and so I decided to take a break from the blog. We had a lot of great eats, much of which were Mexican owing to the neighbourhood my sister lives in. These tacos from Rubi's, a vendor at the Maxwell Street Market, were amazing.
Tacos (with fresh-made tortillas!) from Rubi's in Chicago
Upon our return to Edmonton, I tried several new-to-me restaurants. On the more casual side was DeRose Fine Foods, located in a light industrial area off 99 Street. They offer two breakfast dishes, but were no less busy because of it. The breakfast bowl ($12), featuring tater tots, a very tasty house-made brisket, and an over easy egg, was enough to feed two people. They also host Bagel Bar and offer a variety of meat cuts and sausages.
Breakfast bowl from DeRose Fine Foods
Revel has flown under the radar for me for some time, but I was looking forward to trying it. Of the dishes I shared, the short rib was my favourite.
Short rib from Revel
Mack, Emily, and I had been to Filistix for dinner, but this weekend was our first sampling of their brunch menu, offered 11am-3pm on weekends. I always welcome the opportunity to have noodles for breakfast, and Filistix offers this and more! I particularly enjoyed the beef broth underlying my brisket noodle soup.
Beef brisket noodle soup from Filistix
Braven was my first taste of the new O & B run-restaurants at the JW Marriott. Service was excellent, and there's something to be said about a well-designed room. We enjoyed all of the dishes, including the short rib, but this plate of roasted BC black cod was too pretty not to share.
BC black cod from Braven
Sharon Yeo	food, notes	Leave a comment November 25, 2019 November 25, 2019 5 Minutes
Local Amateur Baker Wins National Baking Competition
Edmonton-based Nataliia Shevchenko was crowned the winner of the third season of CBC's The Great Canadian Baking Show. The show hosts ten amateur bakers from across Canada to compete in themed challenges.
The finale aired on November 6, 2019, although the episode was actually filmed back in June. Although she works as an administrative assistant by day, she learned to love the kitchen by cooking with her mother.
Nataliia plans to launch an online baking channel with Chris Koo, the other Edmonton-based contestant on the show this season.
Dorinku Osaka (the sister restaurant to Dorinku in Old Strathcona) is now open at 10328 Jasper Avenue. In addition to the main restaurant, there's also a ramen bar called Osaka Noodle tucked in the back of the space.
The first of Century Hospitality Group's ghost kitchens is now open. Orders for The Flying Dodough (serving pizzas, rotisserie chicken, and salads) are available only through Skip the Dishes and Uber Eats.
Apparently Tokeo Station, the long-awaited restaurant in the McLeod Building at 10009 101A Avenue, is finally opening on November 12, 2019.
Pablo (10432 Jasper Avenue), hosted a soft opening last weekend, but hasn't yet announced an official opening date.
Doughnut Party has moved the opening date of their Ritchie storefront back to some time in early 2020.
The Christmas tree in Churchill Square will officially be lit on November 15, 2019, with roasted chestnuts, maple taffy on snow, bannock, hot chocolate, and cookies.
All is Bright returns to 124 Street on November 16 from 4-8pm; expect s'mores, food trucks, and a beverage garden. Thankfully, the organizers have decided to again close 124 Street for the festivities.
Turqaz Kebab House gets more love from local media, this time from Graham.
Edmonton business Caramunchies has launched a different kind of crowdfunding campaign – they're hoping to raise $5,000 to help them host monthly suppers at a local soup kitchen.
Sweet Lollapalooza is a 2019 finalist in the International Chocolate Awards in two categories: flavoured dark chocolate and milk chocolate ganaches or truffles.
The Edmonton Downtown Farmers' Market reopened the doors of their indoor location on Saturday after finally resolving their permit issues.
Mack, Emily, and I finally made it to Woodshed Burgers, encountering a packed house on Friday night. While we had to try their now infamous fish sandwich, it was their namesake burger that we most enjoyed – the tomato jam and the red wine braised onions sealed the deal! Emily, as predicted, preferred the fries.
The Woodshed from Woodshed Burgers
Although the Edmonton Downtown Farmers' Market is open, they still don't have a coffee purveyor on-site. Thankfully, Peche Cafe is just a half block away. The sister cafe to Die Pie, they also offer an entirely plant-based menus (think soy, almond, and oat milk-based drinks). We tried some oat milk lattes (a first for us!), and a generously-sized dark chocolate scone. With great service and an inviting space, I hope more people discover it!
Dark chocolate scone from Peche Cafe
Mack, Emily, and I also stopped by Toast Culture on the weekend. The ahi tuna toast was good, but the real surprise was the pizza, featuring Meuwly's soppressata. I appreciated the crust that was thin but sturdy enough for the toppings. Given pizza makes up approximately half of the evening menu, they could easily be called "Pizza Culture With a Side of Toast", heh.
Meuwly's soppressata and pesto pizza from Toast Culture
Sharon Yeo	food, notes	Leave a comment November 11, 2019 2 Minutes
Food Notes for November 4, 2019
Kanu Closes to Make Way for Plant-based Pizzeria
Kanu, a partnership between local developer Sherry Schluessel and American chef Matthew Kenney, has transitioned to a new concept after just over a year in operation. Kanu re-opened as Doppio Zero on October 31, 2019, and joins Die Pie as the second plant-based pizzeria in Edmonton.
When Kanu opened back in September 2018, it was heralded as a major step in the city's embrace of plant-based cuisine, as it was the first higher-end restaurant of its kind. However, as told to the Journal, it appears Kanu struggled because of ingredient costs.
"It was very difficult to manage because of some of the ingredients," [Sherry Schluessel] says. "Especially the nuts. We don't, for example, grow macadamia nuts here, and even some of the micro greens were very expensive. Keeping the quality of the dishes intact was just a bit more than we could afford, even if we had a faithful, repeat customer base who loved what we did. It just wasn't sustainable for Edmonton."
This is the sixth Doppio Zero location (known as Double Zerio in the US), joining branches in New York, LA, Boston, and Baltimore.
Little Duchess (the smaller, sister location of Duchess Bake Shop) is now open in Ritchie Market, located at 9570 76 Avenue.
The Woodrack Cafe is opening a new location, taking over the Cafe Besos space in Lyon.
Thamel Bistro, offering Nepalese cuisine, is now open at 12413 118 Avenue.
Flamingo Restaurant, which has been operating for more than 40 years in west Edmonton, is closing on November 30 due to expropriation for the Valley Line LRT.
Nowhere Kitchen is a new cooking class/workshop series that will be hosted by chefs of colour focused on their cultural identity and food justice. The first class will take place on November 10, 2019 and feature Chef Addie Raghavan at Get Cooking. Tickets are $30.
Linda is leading a Food Crawl and Instagrammable Walls walk in Chinatown/McCauley on November 17, 2019. Tickets go on sale November 5.
STEM Sisters will launch their first event on November 28, 2019 with an interview and tour with Lisa Davis of Yellowhead Brewery, one of the few female brewers in Alberta. Tickets are $10.
Save the date for the first Edmonton Christmas Market, organized by Wild Heart Collective (the folks behind the 124 Grand Market), on Thursdays to Sundays from November 28-December 21, 2019. It will be located Downtown at ATB Place.
Twyla raved about the food from Filistix.
The Journal uncovers a hidden gem in the Turquaz Kebab House.
Graham shared his favourites from the recent Pizza Pigout fundraiser, which included Sepps (the new ghost kitchen operating out of Leva), Panini's Italian Kitchen, and Pink Gorilla.
Good luck to the last Edmonton-based contestant on The Great Canadian Baking Show, Nataliia Shevchenko. The finale airs November 5.
The Journal has more details behind new restaurant Brasserie Bardot (which moved into the building formerly occupied by Manor Cafe).
Avenue highlights Say Uncle, Woodshed Burgers, and the new location of Blue Plate Diner.
Did you know Wishbone started offering brunch back in September from 10am-3pm on Saturday and Sundays? Even better, they allow reservations.
Red Robin's announced the closure of their Alberta restaurants by the end of the year; what I didn't know was how inclusive they are to those who are visually impaired.
It's getting more than tiresome to report that the Downtown Farmers' Market has again run into challenges with their new location – they shared that a permit issue was the reason behind their closure on Saturday.
I was in Calgary with Mack and Emily last week, and was able try a couple of new-to-us restaurants. We always seem to stay in the East Village, but hadn't yet sampled the fare at the historic King Eddy. Though we had to duck out before the live music started, they offer a very respectable mac and cheese – creamy, and nicely textured with breadcrumbs, bacon, and mushrooms.
Mac and cheese from King Eddy
Before we left the city, we had the chance to grab lunch at Chix Egg Shop, the latest addition to the Charcut/Charbar empire. It's a cute, modern diner located in the Alt Hotel in the East Village, only open for breakfast and lunch. I enjoyed my hot fried chicken sandwich, and Emily loved the shoestring fries. Calgary continues its brunch domination of Edmonton.
Hot chix sandwich from Chix Egg Shop
I don't get to Brio Bakery nearly as often as I would like, but when I do, I load up on bread (their Prairie loaf is my favourite in the city), and add a cruffin for good measure.
Cruffins from Brio Bakery
I was honoured this past week to be recognized as one of this year's Top 40 Under 40 in Avenue Edmonton, in part because of my contributions to the local food scene. It's been such a pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful community – thanks to all of you for reading and for supporting the events I've participated in.
Sharon Yeo	food, notes	Leave a comment November 4, 2019 3 Minutes
Food Notes for October 28, 2019
Edmonton Downtown Farmers' Market Opens Year-Round Location
The Edmonton Downtown Farmers' Market opened their new year-round location on October 26, 2019 in the GWG Building located at 10305 97 Street.
This date came about after numerous delays and confusion. In March, it was first reported that the market would not return to 104 Street in the summer, and instead, would transition from their previous winter home in City Hall directly to their new digs in the Quarters. Then, after operating outdoors for a few weeks in May and June adjacent to the GWG Building, the market returned to 104 Street for the remainder of the summer season. Permitting issues delayed their move indoors in October, despite the market's announcement of a grand opening party.
Although the Downtown Farmers' Market has plans to become a multi-day market (to operate on Saturdays and Sundays), for the time being, they will only be open on Saturdays until further notice.
El Beso, the new tequila, mezcal and taco bar was offering a sneak peek this past weekend, and are now into their soft opening. It is located at 10432 Jasper Avenue.
Popowich Meat Company is now open at 6853 170 Street.
Detroit-style pizza is now available in Edmonton at Big Bite Pizza & Donair (16620 71 Street).
Gangnam Street Food is preparing to open their third location at Londonderry Mall on November 4, 2019.
A new breakfast and lunch placed called Rosewood Foods is coming soon to Rice Howard Way, at #101, 10150 – 100 Street.
Two Sergeants Brewery announced they are permanently closing due to zoning issues.
The next discount Fruit & Veggie Sale run by Food4Good is scheduled for October 29, 2019.
Seconds, Please, a web series documenting stories and traditional recipes from immigrant families is launching their newest Diwali-centred episode with a free event on November 6, 2019 featuring food, and a Bhangra dance workshop.
The next Swine & Dine event will be hosted by Drift at their winter home (the Shamrock Curling Club) on November 14, 2019. Tickets for the multi-course meal are $45.
As the NAIT Culinary Team continues its preparation for the Culinary Olympics, they are hosting a lunch on November 16, 2019 that will serve as one of their practice sessions. Tickets are $21 plus fees.
The final Winery Spotlight dinner at the Edmonton Expo Centre takes place on November 28, 2019. Tickets are $125 each.
Lydia had a positive experience at Japanese restaurant Kobachi in Sherwood Park.
Stephanie had a complimentary staycation at the JW Marriott that include sampling the fare at their bars and restaurants Alchemy, Kindred, and Braven.
Graham offers an ode to Chef Shane Chartrand in celebration of his new cookbook.
There is a new web series launched about a month ago called Edmonton Uncovered, which profiles different businesses in Edmonton. Their first few episodes profile Otto, Cafe Linnea, and Battista's Calzones.
Passports and Pigtails shared her experience attending the Strathcona Brunch and Bakeries tour operated by Alberta Food Tours.
Hole's Greenhouses announced their sale, effective January 1, 2020.
Alberta was shut out of En Route's 2019 Best New Restaurants list.
I attended Lit Fest's sold out Food Matters event over the weekend at The Common. It was a great afternoon featuring an (all female!) panel of writers – Ann Hui, Lenore Newman, Twyla Campbell, and Giselle Courteau. Giselle even brought some macarons from Duchess to share!
Macaron treats at Food Matters
Mack, Emily, and I are in Calgary for a few days as I'm attending a work conference. It's been an excuse to get some take out, and we ended up going back to Pow Pizza for their Detroit-style pizza.
Italian street meat from Pow Pizza
Sharon Yeo	food, notes	Leave a comment October 28, 2019 October 28, 2019 2 Minutes
Edmontonians Win Big at National Coffee Competition
Two Edmonton-based baristas were recognized at the 2020 Canadian National Brewers Cup in Montreal over the weekend. Organized by the Canadian Chapter of the Specialty Coffee Association, they sanction regional and national-level competitions that feed into World Coffee Events.
Ply Pasarj of Rogue Wave Coffee won first place, while Santiago Lopez of The Colombian took third. Ply will go on to compete in the 2020 World Brewers Cup Championship in Melbourne, Australia in May.
Shojo in the Brewery District is Edmonton's newest izakaya, located at 10425 121 Street.
The Grand Cafe (located at 10802 124 Street) is now open. It is located on the ground floor of the new development situated on the site of the former Colonel Mustard's.
Plant-based restaurant Gidget's is now open in St. Albert (125 Carleton Drive, #101).
A new Korean restaurant called Banjoo is open at 3212 Parsons Road.
Mini Kitchen and El Gringo, offering ready-to-eat Indian, Thai, and fusion Mexican food has opened a storefront at 9729 42 Avenue. They're a familiar face at farmers' markets in the city, and in addition to their reheat and serve dishes, they'll also have a small deli.
All Alberta locations of Red Robin will close by December 8, 2019.
High tea at Ernest's is back on October 26, 2019. Tickets are $46 per person.
Vignettes is offering a Dinner Series involving chef-led cooking classes on October 26 and November 2, featuring Chefs Blair Lebsack from RGE RD and Chef Mariana Yanez Sanchez from Bottega 104, respectively. Tickets are $125 per person.
Chef Larry Stewart will be preparing Hardware Grill tribute dinners at XIX19 on November 3-4, 2019. Tickets to the 3-course dinner are $145.
The meat at Woodshed Burgers gets a thumbs up from Twyla, with a note to work on their buns.
Woodshed also received a positive review from Graham, but he was looking for more from Fox Burgers.
The Taste of Edmonton shared that they will be returning to Churchill Square in July 2020, after two years hosting the event on the Federal Plaza.
Beverly Dining Week continues until October 25, 2019. I had the chance to attend a media preview of the event last week.
Woodshed Burgers was in the news when owner/chef Paul Shufelt shared that McDonald's had contacted them from infringing on their trademark "Filet-O-Fish" with their "Effing Filet O' Fish" sandwich.
Forbes spoke with Calgary-based writer Dan Clapson on his recommended eats in Calgary and Edmonton.
A student at the U of A highlighted some of Edmonton's newest ice cream shops.
Lydia shared her most recent complimentary chef's table experience at Central Social Hall.
Earls co-founder Bus Fuller passed away at age 90. He opened the first Earls restaurant in Edmonton in 1982.
Co-authors Chef Shane Chartrand and Jennifer Cockrall-King discuss their new cookbook tawâw.
Prolific blogger and cookbook author Karlynn Johnson was recently interviewed on the Welcome to Town podcast on the topic of what Albertans eat.
A new local start up Keto Simple, offering keto meals and desserts, has launched a crowd-funding campaign.
Emily and I met up with the Chinatown Dining Week team last week at Boualouang in preparation for the third iteration of this event, coming in January 2020. Among the dishes we shared was a delectable mango salad – even Emily approved!
Mango salad from Boualouang
Mack, Emily, and I tried one of our new neighbourhood additions on Friday. Dagu Rice Noodle has had consistent line-ups since opening a month ago, so we were lucky to get seated right away. They make their rice noodles fresh on-site, and feature no MSG in their broths. I tried the rice noodle soup with braised bone-in beef ($14.99). I did enjoy their broth and noodles, but I would have hoped for some more vegetables. Still, their service was fast and friendly, so we'll be back!
Rice noodle soup with braised bone-in beef from Dagu Ride Noodle
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