local - belonging to or relating to

Local local local, it really counts. Recently I filled my day with all things local.
We started the day off at Duchess Bakeshop (http://duchessbakeshop.com) for breakfast. I enjoyed the Quiche Lorraine which was highlighted by creamy gruyere and wonderful, flaky pastry. I also treated myself to the chocolate raspberry brioche. Also very yummy. My friend enjoyed her favourite, the hearty Cheddar Pepper scone.

It was busy and our seats were surely going to be snapped up as soon as we left, so we headed on our way. Next stop was to be a Local Designers sale being hosted by Red Pony Consignment on 101 street and Whyte Avenue. But approaching Treestone Bakery on 99th street I decided to stop to get some bagels. Sadly they were already sold out of what I was seeking (it wasn't even noon!) but I picked up a loaf of bread instead.

Arriving at the sale we were greeted by familiar faces and browsed through the selection of handmade clothing and jewelry. I knew what I was looking for and after trying it on happily purchased it from Bridget of Fridget Apparel (http://iamfridget.blogspot.com/). Find her at the Royal Bison Craft Fair in 2 weeks or at another sale at Red Pony on December 10th and 11th.

After satisfying my need for a new piece of clothing we headed down Whyte Ave to see what else we could find - I was specifically hoping to find a miracle at Gravity Pope, but the highlight was turned out to be stumbling upon the new Greenwoods Bookstore space at 10309 Whyte Avenue (http://www.greenwoods.com). After browsing, making a purchase and placing a special order we continued on our way.

The last stop on our journey was Churchill Square to check out the Olde Time Fair. My sister wanted to get poutine from Drift Food Truck and we couldn't resist the roasted chicken and butternut squash sandwich. After enjoying our lunch we warmed up with some cranberry apple cider from Molly's Eats and perused the Farmer's Market. I picked up some veggies and my friend got tips on how to knit mittens. Maybe she'll make me a pair (hint hint..)

Well after all our travels we were tuckered out and headed back to my place for a macaron and cup of tea.. and after a few hours of down time and a stop at Credo for a cappucinno, it was off to a girls night gathering with treats from Duchess, Queen of Tarts, and even Corso32.

What a lovely, local day I had. And yes, this is in Edmonton. Aaah, it's really happening here at home where I belong.

every day

I haven't posted for awhile. You see I haven't really been anywhere new to me lately. I return to my favourite spots. I am a creature of habit.

Last weekend I did visit the "new" Highlands Kitchen - formerly Culina Highlands, formerly Bacon. Not a lot seems to have changed. I still enjoy the ambience and the food is still good enough for me to be sure I will return again. I had the Kalyna Platter, which came with 3 pyrohy, 1 sausage and lazy cabbage rolls. At first glance it seemed not a very large portion for $15, however I was very full as I polished off my final bite. Highlands focuses on quality over quantity, which in my opinion, is always a good idea.

Thanks friends - till next time, happy eating!

Summer in the city.. farmers market bruschetta

Thanks to my sister for contributing to this post.

On a sunny Saturday morning, my sister and I headed to the Downtown Farmers Market to pick up some fresh veggies and fruit, including the ingredients for bruschetta.

The essential ingredients:
tomatoes
garlic
basil
olive oil
baguette (we recommend baking fresh bread or picking a loaf up from a local bakery but in a pinch a grocery store baguette will do)

One of us thought grape tomatoes would be better and the other thought cocktail, so we got both. After collecting other goodies such as carrots, onions and a tasty coffee to fuel us for our cooking adventure, we walked back to my place.

We diced the tomatoes, keeping both kinds separate so we'd be able to compare the two varieties. After adding a small amount of olive oil to the bowls containing the tomatoes and finely chopped garlic and basil we heated the tomato mixture in a frying pan for just a bit. We prepared the baguette by slicing and buttering on one side and then toasting slightly in the oven. We then topped each piece with the tomatoes mixture.

We plated one kind first and tasted.. yum.. the first kind was very good. Very tasty. We proceeded to the second kind.. also very good. We both decided that the cocktail tomatoes worked the best. Bruschetta is a fairly simple and healthy snack and when all the ingredients are available locally it seems like a fantastic way to enjoy summer.

Guru

On a Sunday afternoon a friend and I headed to the west end to fulfill a random craving I knew Guru could fulfill. It was just after noon and we were seated in an empty dining room. We ordered the butter chicken, a side of plain rice and an order of garlic naan to share.

As we waited for our food a few more diners were seated. Our dishes arrived quickly and we filled our bellies with the warm chicken in its rich red sauce, rice and yummy, buttery garlic naan. After we were more than satisfied there was still enough to pack up for my sister to try.

For a slightly high end dining experience I recommend giving Guru a try. Located amidst many chain restaurants I hope people notice Guru and enjoy what it has to offer.

Lan's Asian Grill

I was recently told Lan's had great pad thai so I headed there for an impromptu fix of one of my favourite dishes. It was almost 7 but there were only a few other diners. We were seated and decided what to order quickly as were very hungry.

We ordered a large size pad thai with chicken to share and four vegetarian salad rolls as well. We went with spice level one out of three. The food arrived and we dug in, quickly discovering the pad thai to be very spicy (I do have a low tolerance for spice). But the flavour was very good and we enjoyed it, despite the unexpected heat. The salad rolls were nice and fresh with peanut sauce on the side. I like my peanut sauce a little thicker and slightly more "peanuty".

Tom is a great host and I was pleased to see the restaurant fill up as we ate our meal. I will return again to explore the menu further.

Tres Carnales

On this hot Wednesday evening I headed to Rice Howard Way to try a taco or four at the newly opened Tres Carnales Taqueria. We went in and the place was buzzing with happy diners. We went to the counter to order our food and first posed a few questions to one of the three "carnales". We ended up choosing 4 pork carnitas tacos and 4 chicken tacos, a side of guacomole and a pitcher of sangria. I was a bit surprised by the bill coming to almost $40 (the tacos are a deal at four for $10) but reasoned that wasn't bad for dinner for two with drinks. We proceeded to our table to wait for our food. It came after a short wait and looked delish.

Our tacos were quite tasty. The food is authentic and the atmosphere fun. I will be back again soon.

Battista's Calzones

On a chilly Saturday in June a friend and I headed from the downtown market to Battista's on 118th avenue. We walked into the brightly painted building which set the tone for the trip.

We took a quick look at the menu board:

I chose the Classico and my companion chose the Spicy Italian. Our calzones arrived shortly and the portion size was generous and accompanied with a side of tomato sauce. The first bite did not disappoint and was worth the wait (I have been wanting to get there for ages). The dough was tasty and surprisingly light - none of the greasiness I have experienced at other establishments. The flavours combined well and I was stuffed after finishing just half of my calzone. My friend also thoroughly enjoyed her calzone and had to pack up the other half as well - so really we could have shared but why not have some leftovers to enjoy later!

Battista is a phenomanelly warm host. He chatted with us for awhile and I felt like we were in his home. I definitely recommend making the trip to Battista's Calzones soon.

Prairie Bistro

On a windy Sunday afternoon we headed out of town to a field in between Edmonton and St.Albert. We came upon the huge Enjoy Centre and made our way through the maze of shoppers to find the Prairie Bistro which was situated on one end of the huge, beautifully colourful space. The brunch menu was slightly different from what we had viewed online but sounded just as good.

We quickly ordered the fresh pastry starter which included 3 pastries; one mini apple cinnamon muffin, one croissant and one cheese and herb filled pastry. They didn't last long as we divided each one into a few tastes each.

We then ordered our entree selections; my mom ordered the eggs benedict, my sister the french toast with brie and berries, and I ordered the pork tenderloin with potatoes, greens and a bacon flan. When our food came we were not disappointed as we had our first bites.

When the pork tenderloin arrived my first thought was that it was a small portion. This idea however disappeared quickly as I realized the allusion created by the different components being stacked together. Some of the pork was placed on top of the bacon flan. The rest of the pork lay beside the potatoes and greens. Every flavour combined deliciously together. I was filling up quickly and with half left I offered to switch with my sister and try her french toast.

The french toast was crispy on the outside but pleasingly soft on the inside. The brie surprised me and combined well with with the sweet berries. I finished my piece and felt too full to get a coffee (they are using 49th Parallel) for the road. We are glad we caught brunch while we could, they are taking a break from it during the busy summer season as it is not possible to serve 300 people for lunch and 4000 in the cafeteria on the same day! All in all a lovely meal complete with friendly staff to boot.

Culina at the Muttart

On a rare weekday off I headed to Culina at the Muttart for lunch.

We arrived around noon and it was busy. I was pleased to see they had added more tables since I had last been there. The special sounded interesting - a mushroom and brie filled filo pastry.

I decided to go for it but ultimately wished I had gone with soup and a sandwich, which are always satisfying. The special was served on a bed of greens, I enjoyed the flavours of the brie and mushrooms but wished that the mushrooms had been sliced thinner. My sister had a ham and gouda sandwich which she enjoyed.

All in all Culina at the Muttart is always lovely. We also walked around the pyramids (we had admission tickets thanks to a Groupon deal). It was fun to look at all the different exhibits. I also purchased a lovely hydrangea plant while there. I hope to make it to weekend brunch there soon.

Culina Millcreek

On a windy Wednesday evening I headed to Culina Millcreek for a 5pm dinner reservation. The room is so inviting and comfortable but sophisticated at the same time. I had enjoyed my last visit a few months ago and had been looking forward to coming back. I thought I would have the chophouse salad again as I had enjoyed it very much (substituting the blue cheese for feta). However the cold wind made me want some warmth, so I decided to explore the menu.




We decided to share an appetizer and chose the applewood smoked cheddar and goat cheese with grilled garlic toasts. Our server graciously checked on whether the cheese was from one of their local suppliers and confirmed that the chevre was from Crystal Spring Farm in Coalhurst (southern Alberta). The smoked cheddar was not as they have not secured a local supplier yet. The dip was delicious and the toasted bread a good companion for it.

One of my friends selected the vegetarian special for their main course which was vegan spring rolls served with a miso tofu soup and the other chose the quinoa salad and added prawns. They both enjoyed their selections.

After some debate over the sable fish special, I chose the line caught wild salmon served with a goat cheese almond sauce and cucumber tomato salsa on orzo pasta. The salmon and salsa were very flavourful and the orzo pasta went nicely with it, however the goat cheese sauce kind of wrecked it for me. It was too "goatey" for my taste, but still a beautifully executed dish, and a good sized portion.

By the time dessert was offered we were all too full to think about partaking. I will return again soon - the weekend brunch menus sound yummy!

Z is for Zocalo

Zocalo had been on my "to get to" list for quite awhile and though I often drive north on 97th street, I always forgot to skip over to 10826 95 street to check it out. Finally last week I changed that and discovered  among other items, many beautifully bright bouquets and blossoms! I love flowers- and have been particularly missing them lately as I reminisce to springs spent in Portland a few years back.

Zocalo is celebrating the arrival of spring (this week it should actually arrive I believe) with "Tulipmania". From now until April 3 there are special prices on all things tulip, with a five-stem bunch specially priced at $4 and a 6" plant at $10.

The bouquets are not cheap - but if you are looking for something amazing, you can find it at Zocalo. The arrangement shown above was $60 and I believe most of the bouquets below were about $35. They are large and would fill a vase nicely. I resisted buying myself a bouquet but will certainly return for one in the future.

Besides the breathtaking flowers Zocalo offers a variety of retail items, ranging from mugs to greeting cards. You can also grab a tea, coffee or treat while you are there. On Saturday mornings they boast fresh cinnamon rolls.

Swing on by on your way to or from downtown or make a special trip if you need a bouquet for a special occasion. The shops hours are Monday to Wednesday 9-6, Thursday 9-8, Friday and Saturday 9-6 and Sundays 11-5. If you are looking for a specific flower you may want to call ahead, their number is 780-428-0754.

Queen of Tarts.. now open!

Queen of Tarts opened somewhat quietly on Thursday, March 3. With several delays fans didn't know when the lovely new bakery and bistro would open. Well they are now open for business Tuesday to Saturday. I apologize, I am not aware of their hours, I believe they are opening at 10 or 11 in the morning until about 6 and staying open into the evening Thursday and Friday.

When you open the door you walk down the stairs past 29 Armstrong and are amazed by how much light fills the space. The white marble certainly helps to create a sense of royalty among us (many of the offerings are fit for a queen I'd say).

I must admit I am amazed at how much they are doing from the get-go. Not only do they have a generous assortment of cakes, tarts and other treats, as well as savoury items such as quiche and soup, they are also producing several types of pain levain bread.

I enjoyed take out quiche for lunch on opening day. It was delicious. The filling was creamy and the pastry so flaky, it almost seemed to be a puff pastry masquerading as a pie pastry. I also enjoyed a carrot tulip which is topped with an amazing cream cheese icing that is so good I could almost eat it by itself.

After getting sweet treats and even soup to go a few times, I finally got to sit down and enjoy the cafe space the other day. I decide to order the brownie and the Yorkshire tea. The brownie was decadent. I even offered a bite to my friend as it was so rich I felt I could spare some. The tea was good although steeped a bit to strong by the time I was able to take the tea bag out (perhaps I was too busy snapping photos on my phone or chattering to my companion).

They are still working out some kinks, such as where to order what,  and the sizes and prices of items. I suggest avoiding Saturday afternoons for now as I have heard it can quite busy and chaotic. I am sure  they will figure everything out soon. They already have some loyal followers - I count myself among them. What a lovely new addition the Edmonton food scene!

so much

Tonight I quietly reflect on the abundance I have. I ate so many meals out this past week. There is no lack in my life.. yes I don't drive the fanciest car or wear the fanciest clothing.. but life must be simple in some ways.. I am thankful that I don't have to worry where my next meal is coming from. I am sorry so many people do find this their main concern in life. While I have few suggestions on how to solve world hunger, tonight I will remind myself how much I have to be thankful for and pray that somehow the hungry can be filled and the thirsty refreshed.

Oh Duchess...

On my first Saturday off in over a month I scheduled a trip to Duchess Bake Shop.  We arrived around 11:45 on this snowy February day. It was quite full but we managed to get one of the tables for two and borrowed a chair from another table to seat our party of three.
I already knew I wanted to order the ham and cheese croissant and have it warmed up, but wasn't sure what sweet ending to go with. After devouring the wonderfully tasty croissant I decided to go with the bakery's signature dessert, the Duchess.

Garner sold me on it by explaining they use marzipan imported from Germany. I also ordered a Buckingham Palace tea, which is my default beverage choice every time I go to Duchess ever since my sister recommended it to me. The Duchess was so beautiful that I almost felt guilty to eat it. The white cake was moist and the layer of raspberry along with the layer of pastry cream was quite sweet - but the marzipan provided a pleasant zing.

There was a steady flow of people coming and going the entire time we were there and I was pleased to give our table up to a familiar face when we finally decided to leave over an hour after arriving.
Duchess never disappoints and offers a wide selection of reasonably priced, beautifully crafted cakes, cookies, croissants, and of course, macarons. A visit to Duchess is sure to bring joy to anyone's day!

another week of culinary exploration

This week I ate out more than my fair share. Such goes the life of a busy single gal like me. I got Blue Plate Diner take out on my lunch break the other day and enjoyed my favourite dish there- the mac and cheese with a side Mediterranean salad. 

presentation of mac and cheese when dining in

I also dined at Corso32 for the third time - and again enjoyed an amazing meal. My friends were unsure about the goat cheese ricotta crostini but we shared it between the three of us and they both loved it.

the amazing crostini (taken on my phone)

the bacon cinnamon bun cut into three 

Over the weekend I enjoyed brunch at Culina Highlands. First we shared one of the specials- a cinnamon bun with bacon. The salty sweet combo was great-  we were glad to split it three-ways as one to myself would have been too much! While my friends both chose the special- a strata, I went with the Ukrainian Breakfast, a cheddar caraway omlette with kubassa and perogies on the side.

I always enjoy brunch at Culina Highlands. Though the servers are busy they are easy going and attentive to fill your coffee mug and water (they leave a wine bottle full of water at your table and fill it as needed).  I will definitely be back! Where to next- I'm not sure but you'll find out soon!

Brunch at Blue Plate Diner

I enjoyed weekend brunch at Blue Plate Diner the other day. We arrived at 11 and were seated quickly (well my friend was seated and I joined her five minutes late!) We were both okay with water (I enjoyed a home made americano on the drive there) and decided on the eggs benny (friend) and the breakfast burrito (for me). (I ate half the burrito before taking the photo below).

Both of us enjoyed our meals and ate up every bite although I needed to cover  my potatoes with  ketchup to enjoy them fully. My friend opted to substitute fruit instead of potatoes (beware there is an upcharge for this).

As we left an hour later we walked past the lineup that had formed all the way to the door and were pleased that we had come at 11.

I couldn't resist going across the street to Credo for a coffee and chose a tasty Columbian single origin and then decided I would have a Jacek chocolate too. The spring like weather had drawn quite a crowd at Credo as well. I left after finishing the last drop of my coffee and purchasing a few more chocolates to share.

here and there..

I stopped in at The Sequel Cafe last week.  I love the rainbow magnets that cover the menu board. Great selection of homemade soups. Well priced. Unfortunately it's only open Monday to Friday, 8-4. But if you live, work or play nearby check it out in the National Bank Building right across from City Centre, Churchill Square and the downtown library.

Also made it to Crave Cupcakes on their opening day, February 4. Yummy creations. Too bad the Whyte Ave/ University area is becoming saturated with cupcake shops while most of the rest of the city has to travel so far their sugar craving may have gone away by the time they reach the destination!

I worked my last day at my office job yesterday and had my going away lunch at Bistro La Persaud. The service for our large group was slow but the food was awesome. I enjoyed an incredible Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich.

I am now truly pursuing my dreams of owning a cafe here in Edmonton. On Tuesday I start full time hours at Credo, a wonderful cafe on 104th street that I have been working at part time for three months now. The first time I walked into Credo I told Geoff I could imagine it being in Portland (where I lived for three years) and after tasting the latte he made me I said it could almost pass for Stumptown. I am thrilled to be part of the team at Credo. 

Finally

My closest friends have been encouraging me to do this for awhile now. They ask me for advice on where to eat in Edmonton as I make it a priority to dine at local restaurants as often as possible. I made a list last year of restaurants I wanted to check and worked my way down the list. Some places I haven't been to yet, but there were additions of new places that have already become some of my favourite places that I return to often. The list kept reminding me to get out and try new places.. the thing is, when I find a favourite, I like to keep returning to it!

A short list of my favourite places in Edmonton to go for amazing food, coffee, or both:

Corso32

Credo

Culina Highlands, Mill Creek and Muttart

Duchess Bakeshop

Elm Cafe

MRKT

and now in 2011 I want to make it to The Marc as soon as possible!

..This blog is going to be a place I record my Edmonton and beyond discoveries. I started the year in Japan and my next trip will probably be to my second home, Portland. I am excited for the day Edmonton rivals Portland in its food and beverage offerings. I know we have it in us!