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Home > Where to Eat Edmonton

Where to Eat Edmonton

A Cornucopia of Cuisine: Authentic International Dining in Edmonton

In the May/June 2013 issue of WHERE Edmonton, we told you about some of the best spots in Edmonton to go for an authentic international dining experiences — restaurants that not only serve great international cuisine but that also had immersive decor and an ambiance that makes you feel as if you had been transported to the country of origin to dine on fine cuisine! In addition to Mikado, Koutouki Taverna, The Creperie, and Tres Carnales, here are three more great dining options for enjoying authentic international cuisine:

Creperie

What’s the next best thing to a trip to France? How about dessert crepes from The Creperie — How can you resist!

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Garlic Fest Edmonton

Foodies can indulge in a celebration of THE favourite ingredient in Italian cooking, the 22nd Annual Garlic Festival takes place from April 8 – May 11, 2013.

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Visit any Sorrentino’s or Bistecca location to enjoy the feature menu, where garlic makes an appearance in every  dish from small plates to entrees, and even dessert! The salted caramel garlic popcorn and the vanilla bean garlic gelato will tickle your taste buds with their addicting combinations of salty and sweet flavours. Thirsty? Pair your food with a glass of garlic-flavoured Chardonnay, an exclusive garlic beer brewed by Hog’s Head Brewing Co. in St. Albert, Alberta, or a Caesar spiced up with — you guessed it — garlic. If you feel there still isn’t enough garlic between all of your courses (if you need to ward of vampires, or if you’re on a really awkward first date) you can ask to add an extra dash (or two, or three) of freshly chopped garlic to any dish!

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Dishcrawl: Experience Local Edmonton Dining

Dishcrawls are a contemporary culinary trend, with events held in major cities across Canada and the United States. The format of the event mimics the idea of a pub crawl – but with food and great culinary experiences as the goal of the evening! They allow participants the opportunity to discover and experience exciting local restaurants in their city. Edmonton is hosting it’s own Dishcrawl on February 19 and 20 at 7 pm, with a tour of the High Street area. The exact restaurants to be visited will be kept a secret until the event date, and the meeting location and first restaurant will be revealed to participants 48 hours prior to the event via email. 

During the event participants will visit four restaurants and sample a variety of dishes from each one. They will also get to meet with the chefs or owners behind the creative menus at these venues, and learn about what inspires some of the most unique, quality dining in the city. Come alone, with a date, or as a group; either way you’ll get to meet new people in a fun, social setting and have the opportunity to try delicious new foods at places that just might become your new favourite restaurant!

Vegetarian options are available, and some venues can accommodate other dietary restrictions. Contact Zoë, the Edmonton Dishcrawl Ambassador, at zoeg@dishcrawl.com prior to the event to inquire about dietary requests or with any other questions.

Tickets are $50 per person and includes all food served during the dishcrawl. Purchase tickets online at www.dishcrawl.com/edmonton.

Pop-up Dining: A Food and Word Pairing at The Common

You’ve been told not to play with your food, but wordplay is definitely involved in the latest themed pop-up dining experience at The Common (9910-109 St.), which takes place on Tuesday, February 26, with seatings at 6 pm and 9 pm. In-house Chef Jesse Morrison-Gauthier has designed this innovative pop-up dinner around the descriptive words that inspire reviews, trends and the promotion of foods, creating a dining event called ”Adjective: A Food and Word Pairing.”

Photo courtesy of The Common

Chef Morrison has asked that guests provide him with an adjective (descriptive word) that may be used to inspire each of five courses he will prepare for the event. Adjectives may be used to describe any aspect of food, from an origin, nationality, or ingredient, to a word describing the size, flavour, or texture. Are you intrigued by foods that are savoury, sweet, local, classic, sugary, drizzled, infused, moist, browned…? Pick a word that comes to mind and let Chef Morrison know!

Why is it called a pop-up dinner? It’s spontaneous, it’s one night only, and it’s fun! You won’t know what the five courses are in advance, so be adventurous and ready to try some innovative and delicious culinary creations. Likewise, the evening’s menu will be created and prepared by Chef Morrison especially for this event, so you’ll be dining on unique creations not served any time else! Follow The Common on Twitter (@TheCommonYEG) for updates on upcoming pop-up dining features.

The cost for the five-course meal is $40 per person. Reservations are required; email Alexis at alexis@thecommon.ca for reservations. In the email, be sure to include one adjective that you like to use to describe food, and specify the seating time (6 pm or 9 pm) you would like. Pop-up dining events usually sell out in advance, so be sure to reserve early if you want to experience an extremely creative dining experience!

And, if you haven’t been to The Common already, go! Their innovative menu puts a delicious, unique twist on upscale comfort-food favourites; their chicken and waffles with goat cheese and blackberry compote is simply the best version of this meal I’ve ever had. They also host a variety of music events and weekend dance parties featuring an ever-changing selection of electronic, indie, funk, hip hop, and soul artists. The Common is open Tue – Thu 11:30 am – Late; Fri 11:30 am – 2 am; Sat 5 pm – 2 am; Closed Sun. For more information, visit www.thecommon.ca or call 780-452-7333.

– Breanna Mroczek

Tea Cozy: Top 5 Spots for Great Tea in Edmonton

Enjoying a flavourful cup of hot tea is always a great way to relax, and with hundreds of flavours of each variety there are many ways to enjoy this classic beverage. Teahouses provide a great environment to relax and cozy up with a good book, enjoy a conversation with friends, or even to work or study (several teas have caffeine in them, perfect to give you that extra jolt of motivation or inspiration!) Plus, they are always stocked with several flavours of tea — so you can order whatever flavour or properties you fancy! Here are our recommendations for top places to grab a spot of tea in Edmonton, based on their tea selection and atmosphere:

Cally’s Tea | 10151 Whyte (82) Ave. | 780-757-8944
This retro-furnished tea shop/tea room resembles a quaint 50s-style kitchen and has over 250 teas from around the world to choose from. You’ll definitely want to order a homemade baked good to accompany your tea; baked fresh daily with organic ingredients, there are both sweet and savoury options to satisfy your taste buds. There is a great variety of homemade gluten-free breads, cakes, meringues, and crackers to snack on, too! Every Thursday from 1pm-5pm, Cally’s hosts a children’s tea with a special menu that incudes mini scones, finger sandwiches with strawberry cream or cucumber mint, fruit tea or lemonade, cookies, fruit, and ice cream. Reservation are required for children’s teas; $6-$15/child, custom themes by request. Tue – Wed 11 am – 6 pm; Thu 11 am – 8 pm; Fri 11 am – 6 pm; Sat 10 am – 5 pm; Sun 1 pm – 6 pm; Closed Mon.

Photo courtesy of the Rutherford House.

The Harvest Room | Fairmont Hotel MacDonald, 10065-100 St. | 780-424-5181

In the tradition started by the Duchess of Bedford (1783-1857), the Harvest Room serves a delectable Royal Tea every afternoon. Enjoy a pot of tea alongside a 7-course offering that includes a fresh fruit salad, vegetables and salad, three varieties of sandwiches, and a variety of delicious desserts like rose-scented shortbread and macarons. Reservations are recommended. For more information, visit their website.

Steeps Urban Teahouse | 12411 Stony Plain Rd. | 780-732-4832 
Settle into one of their comfy chairs and relax with a pot of tea – there are over 200 varieties of loose-leaf tea to choose from. A second location is located at 11116 Whyte (82) Ave. Downtown: Mon – Sat 10 am – 10 pm; Sun 11 am – 9 pm. Whyte: Mon – Fri 10 am – 11 pm; Sat 11 am – 10 pm; Sun 12 pm – 10 pm.

Cha Island Tea Co. | 10332-81 Ave. | 780-757-2482
The relaxing vibe at this casual eatery makes it a great  place to enjoy a selection from over 100 loose leaf and herbal teas, complimented by freshly made light fare like waffles and paninis. Daily 1 pm – 11 pm

The Arbour Room at Rutherford House | 11153 Saskatchewan Dr. | 780-422-2697
This elegant historical tea room is the perfect place to enjoy a pot of tea and a High Tea platter, which includes a delicious mix of finger sandwiches, scones, and petite treats. A specialty brunch High Tea platter can be ordered on weekends, which is served with a variety of quiches instead of sandwiches. Their tea selection changes frequently – it’s supplied by Acquired Taste Tea Company – but they always offer their exclusive blends: Rutherford Rose and Rutherford House Blend. The dining room is small, so reservations are recommended on the weekend. If you have not seen the historic Rutherford House and are curious about its history, book a customized “Tea and Tour” for your party; call 780-427-3995 to book. Tue – Sun 11 am – 4 pm; Closed Mon. [As of May 6, 2013, the Arbour Room has been closed until further notice.]

Savour Local Flavour: Fork Fest Edmonton

Experience the culinary excellence offered by some of Edmonton’s best independent restaurants at the annual Fork Fest showcase. During this event, select local restaurants each offer a fixed-price, set menu so that diners can try some of the restaurant’s best foods at incredibly affordable prices.

An excellent variety of foods are represented by the participating restaurants, so whether you’re feeling like an adventurous foodie and are looking to try something new, or are wanting to stick to familiar favourites, you’ll be able to find something to try. From Italian food to pub fare to steak and seafood to Indian cuisine, Fork Fest represents some of the best places in Edmonton’s local food scene — some  you may not have heard of, but  are definitely worth trying out! Pick a restaurant and enjoy amazing food and drink at a great price, whether its at an intimate spot for a date, casual family restaurant, or lively pub to enjoy time with friends.

Enjoy some of the delicious food (Gorgonzola Pizza is pictured here) from 124th Street’s trendy comfort-food favourite, Tiramisu Bistro, during Fork Fest. Photo by Stefane Berube

Each participating Fork Fest restaurant offers a multi-course meal for $25 or $45, depending on location and the time of day; some restaurants have different set menus for lunch and dinner.

Fork Fest runs from Sunday, January 20 – Thursday, January 24 and Sunday, January 27 – Thursday, January 31 during each restaurant’s regular operating hours. To view a full list of all 23 participating restaurants, menus, and/or to make a reservation, visit the Live Local website.

Best Restaurants in Canada to Open in 2012

Best Restaurants in Canada—Vancouver

The Vancouver pick on our list of the best restaurants in Canada to open last year (Photo: KK Law)

Where magazine’s Best Restaurants in Canada is an annual award program that celebrates the top dining establishments to open in the past year. Recognizing some of the best restaurants in Canada from coast to coast, this award serves as the highest recommendation from the editors of Where. One amazing eatery from each of the Where regions is highlighted below in the Best Restaurants in Canada 2012 list—Calgary, Canadian Rockies, Edmonton, Halifax, Muskoka-Parry Sound, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg. From classic comfort foods to refined fusion fare, this year’s selection offers a range of cuisines that’s as diverse as the regions they come from.

See Where’s picks for the best restaurants in Canada to open in 2012 » 

Ousia: New-Age Mediterranean

The wind might not be quite blustery enough to blow you straight to Athens, but it can send you scurrying somewhere just as good — our very own Ousia. This intimate eatery takes the flavours of the Mediterranean, tosses in twists and turns galore, and transports them right here to Whyte Avenue.

Photo by Stefane Berube

Fried cheese has got to be the ultimate Greek comfort food, but who knew there was a way to make it even better? Well, Ousia takes feta cheese, wraps it in sheets of flaky phyllo pastry and then fries the whole lovely little package. The result: Feta Phyllo Parcels that are all golden and crispy on the outside and warm and oozy on the inside. A drizzle of honey finishes them off and makes them positively lick-your-fingers worthy.

HOT TIP: Every Sunday evening Ousia serves up a four- or five-course family-style dinner that’s meant to be shared. The set menu changes every week, so call ahead to see what the chefs are working on, or simply pop in for a delicious surprise.

You could just eat plate after plate of those amazing little bundles. But if you did that, you’d miss out on what owner Matthew Lakis likes to call Ousia’s “shwarma in a bowl.” House made Sheftalia sausage, spiced chickpeas, prunes, and pickled beets mingle with an intriguing caramel tahini sauce to provide all the sweet, salty, sour and spicy tones you know and love in a shwarma (and the drip factor is much more manageable)!

10846-82 Ave., 780-761-1910, Wed – Sun 4 pm – 11 pm

— Jan Hostyn

NOTE: Where Edmonton would like to apologize to Ousia for spelling the restaurant name incorrectly in our January/February printed issue. It is now correct in this post, and in the online version.

The Makk on 124

Where Edmonton’s Best New Restaurant of 2012 is The Makk on 124

The Makk on 124 partners Alex Hasham, Chef Kasiran Simin, Stephen Simmons, and Matthew Klatt
Photo by Stefane Berube

Located in the heart of the 124th Street gallery district, The Makk on 124 seems to blend the impeccable plating and flavour of fine dining, with the laid back, yet refined atmosphere of an upscale local pub. 

Photo by Stefane Berube

Art from the Daffodil Gallery next door hangs on the walls, local suppliers — many of them personal friends of head Chef Kasiran Simin — stock the kitchen shelves, and the diners look relaxed as they dig into their decadent dishes.

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You Are Here: Garneau!

For the November/December issue of WHERE Edmonton, we explored the trendy Garneau Area along 109 Street South, where something interesting is always going on — whether you’re out shopping, looking for a place to grab a bite, or looking for something to do. You can view all of our highlighted spots here, plus here are some more of our favourite venues in the area:

High Level Diner (10912-88 Ave.): Stop by for breakfast to try one of their gigantic cinnamon buns, view the ever-changing displays of local artwork that adorns the walls, or come by for lunch/dinner and sample some delicious comfort food. They even have a separate menu for those who need to eat gluten-free, including a delicious Ukrainian plate with gluten-free pyrogys.

The Californian Hot Dog from Urban Diner

Urban Diner (8715-109 St.): Waffles with wild berry compote! Three cheese grilled cheese sandwiches! Fried chicken and gravy! Yum! In addition to their regular menu, Urban Diner has recently started hosting beer + dinner pop-up parties that have been quite successful (Jelly Donut Beer and Gourmet Hot Dogs, anyone?). The best way to find out about these hot dining events? Follow @whereedmonton and @UrbanDinerYEG on Twitter to get up-to-date information.

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5 Best Burger Spots in Edmonton

Nothing beats a good burger! After a lot of taste testing — with a few suggestions from our local Twitter followers — we’ve selected the 5 Best Burgers in Edmonton so you know where to go to grab a bite when hunger strikes:

1. The Next Act Pub (8224-104 St.) 
This trendy watering hole features some of the best burgers (and beer!) in the city, each version is made with a housemade patty and loaded with fresh ingredients. Topped with bacon, cheddar, and an over-easy egg, The Class Act burger is a toothsome indulgence — just be sure to have some extra napkins on hand! There’s even a delicious veggie burger option, topped with avocado and pea shoots. Need a burger alternative? The Sweet & Savoury Chicken Sandwich is simply addictive with its mix of goat cheese, rosemary honey honey, and roasted pecans combining for a sensational taste and texture experience. The staple menu options are always complimented by a weekly burger special affectionately referred to as The Cameo: each weekly special is packed with unique ingredients to create taste-bud-exploding combinations. Pop-culture favourites like Popeye, Honey Boo Boo, and James Bond have all made appearances at The Next Act in the form of a delicious burger tribute.

2. Delux Burger Bar (14111-23 Ave. & 9682-142 St.) 
Alberta beef from the Spirit View Ranch is used to make all the succulent burgers at this innovative hamburger hot spot. Try one of their nine varieties, or get yours in fry-form with their delicious Hamburger Poutine. Going gluten-free? Ask for one of their freshly made gluten-free buns! Feeling adventurous? Attack their Grilled Cheese Stacker: a 7 oz patty, and delicious toppings, piled between two grilled cheese sandwiches! Or try the monthly specialty burger — their Peanut Butter Burger was such a hit that you can now ask them to add crunchy peanut butter anytime.

One of the delicious – and intense – burger creations from Delux Burger Bar.
Photo by Troy Griffith

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Movember Madness: Shopping + Dining Edition

It’s almost half-way through the month of Movember, and men everywhere are boldly donning their various versions of the ‘mo and raising funds for men’s health awareness and research. If you’re getting discouraged by the way your moustache is–or isn’t– growing in, or you’re sick and tired of looking at the “lip sweater” the men in your life are donning, have some fun with these Movember products and events that can be found around the city:

Movember Shopping:

Pick up a pair of moustache-printed socks from The Briefing Room to coordinate with your Movember ‘stache.

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