Tour to promote Downtown Dining Week
Edmonton Food Tours has created a custom walking tour on March 2 to highlight the plethora of choices available to foodies in downtown Edmonton.
The Anti-Freeze Food Tour is sponsored by the Downtown Business Association to promote Downtown Dining Week, which runs March 9 to 18. The tour will gather participants at The Marc restaurant for a nibble and a beverage, and then skip down Jasper Avenue to enjoy tasty options at popular downtown stops including Wishbone and Kitchen by Brad.
The tour costs $89, all-in, and includes food by four downtown vendors, including Jacek Chocolate Couture. This is a small tour, so book early to avoid disappointment. For more details, visit edmontonfoodtours.com
The City of Edmonton has a new pilot project called Hello, How Are You? that aims to connect neighbours through community meals. The project has partnered with River City Events and Edmonton’s Food and Urban Agriculture Strategy to offer neighbours an opportunity to borrow place settings and food service equipment, including tables and chairs, for free to encourage community get-togethers.
Kits are only available for community or neighbourhood events and can support a group up to 24 people. Kits will be limited to one rental per organizer for the duration of the pilot.
The initiative kicks off Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at River City Events, 10560 107 St. RSVP through eventbrite.com.
North 53 is moving downtown to Jasper and 104 Street from its location on 124 Street later this year. Co-owner Kevin Cam says he’s trying to consolidate his restaurants in one area (he also runs Baijiu in the Mercer Warehouse) and to focus his attention on the Ice District.
“124 Street has been great to me and I hope the customers continue to support us when we move downtown,” said Cam.
Chef Steve Buzak of the Royal Glenora Club hosts a Swine and Dine night that’s all Alberta, all the time — featuring pork from Bear and The Flower, and beer from Edson’s own Bench Creek Brewing.
The four-course meal will be held March 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Royal Glenora (11160 River Valley Rd.). It starts with a fennel-roasted pork belly, and moves to a second course of seafood chowder with doublesmoked bacon crouton, followed by a spice-rubbed pork loin. Dessert is S’mores creme brulée with maple candied bacon. Tickets are $75 on eventbrite.com.
Carmelo Rago and Stella Rago have opened another restaurant in their family of eateries, with a second new property soon to follow. The first, BUCO Pizzeria and Vino Bar, is open now in the Upper Windermere area (12249 Windermere Way SW ). The second BUCO, to be located in the Epcor Tower, is to open in mid-March. The original BUCO opened in St. Albert in 2015.
Macarons and Goodies (10548 101 St.) has opened a second location, this time in St. Albert. The new location is larger and more fancy, said co-owner Fadoua Derbel, but has the same products as downtown, including sandwiches, crepes and quiches. They also offer catering. “Our signature is still the macaron and our eclairs,” says Derbel.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and Saturday from 9 a. m. to 5 p.m. The new location is at 103, 50 St. Thomas St. Call 587-290-0505.
The Devour Food Film Fest is coming to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge on March 2 with a weekend of delicious eats inspired by films and created by some of Alberta’s top chefs, including Edmonton’s own Blair Lebsack of RGE RD.
One element of the weekend consists of a gala dinner at which six chefs will create six courses inspired by a short, culinary themed film. During the dinner, the chefs and a winemaker will speak to the film, and how it inspired their specific dish and wine pairing.
There are numerous other food and film events throughout the weekend, including wine tasting, a chili smackdown, live music, stargazing and a S’mores bar. A number of the cosy cabins at the lodge will be decked out in film themes and guests can visit to nibble great eats and chat with celebrity chefs, plus see films and enjoy signature beverages. There’s also an East Coast Kitchen Party hosted by chef Michael Howell, a founder of Devour! The Food Film Fest in Wolfville, N.S.
Rates for the weekend-long package start at $449 per person, based on double occupancy. Details are at fairmont.com.