FOODIE FAMILY SET TO OPEN TWO NEW EATERIES THIS FALL
The Crudo family — the force behind Cafe Amore and Black Pearl Seafood — are launching not one but two more concepts in Edmonton.
One of the new eateries, due to open late this year, is Bottega on 104 Street downtown, not far from Rogers Place and the new Ice District. Co-owner Nick Crudo describes it as being inspired by Soho in New York, with an Italian influence. Much of the equipment is being imported from Italy, including a pizza oven.
“There will be pizza, tapas, entrees and a wine and grappa bar,” says Crudo. “It’s open for breakfast, too, with paninis, which is going to be fantastic.”
Bottega is a joint effort between the Crudo clan and another familyowned business, D’Amore’s Mercato, which has two Italian delicatessens in Edmonton (4612 99 St. and 12943 127 St.).
Opening in October is a satellite of the Crudo’s popular first restaurant, Café Amore (10807 106 Ave.) Located at Terwillegar Heights Towne Square (14032 23 Ave.), the new iteration will be a quick-service outlet where customers can create their own pasta and sauce combinations to take home. There will be some tables, but no liquor licence.
“It’s more of a to-go concept,” says Crudo, noting the new spot will also sell Italian sodas and specialty coffee.
Another new eatery is scheduled to open in late fall near the new arena. Buco Pizzeria and Vino will be located in the Epcor Tower, just a block from Roger’s Place.
Voted one of Edmonton’s top new restaurants in 2016 by Avenue Magazine, Buco has its first location in St. Albert at 130 Bellerose Drive and is owned by the Rago family, including son Antonio (who runs the St. Albert outlet), dad Carmelo and mom Stella. The Ragos also own the Sorrentino’s restaurant chain.
“Carmelo’s decision to open the new Buco Pizzeria in the Epcor Tower was fuelled by the desire to grow our presence in the downtown area and be closer to the new arena,” says co-owner Stella Rago in an email.
She says the downtown Sorrentino’s location, long a staple on 101 Street, is also working up new ways to link with Rogers Arena. The new Buco will feature a contemporary Italian style with a rustic interior and high ceilings. It will be open in the morning for espresso, and for lunch, as well as dinner service.
Rago says offerings will include Buco’s Neapolitan pizza, plus house-made pastas, and locally focused entrees with a focus on “assaggini,” or “little tastes,” such as crispy pig ears with wild fennel to prosciutto-wrapped figs, and polenta fritters wrapped in soppressata.
The annual Gold Medal Plates event — a highlight of the culinary calendar in Edmonton — is an important fundraiser for the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic teams. Edmonton regularly sells more tickets than any of the other venues in the country, and sells out in a flash. Since 2004, it has raised a combined total of $11 million for Canadian athletes.
This year, the lineup is dazzling, and I’m glad to see two talented female chefs in the mix, as well as some newcomers.
So far, here is who is competing at the event, to be held Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Shaw Conference Centre: Shane Chartrand — Sage; Bryan Cruz — The Marc Restaurant; Geoffrey Caswell-Murphy — Share at The Westin Edmonton; Emmanuel Theriault — Packrat Louie; Tony Krause — Privada Wine+Tapas; Steven Brochu — Chartier; Eric Hanson — Prairie Noodle Shop; Lindsay Porter — El Cortez Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar; Doreen Prei — Get Cooking; Paul Shufelt — Workshop Eatery.
I could be accused of going on and on about outdoor farm-to-fork, long table dinners. But I do think they are a special experience that’s uniquely Alberta, and not-tobe-missed.
To that end, I will point out that Tam Anderson of Prairie Gardens, the charming farm, U-pick and family fun facility near Bon Accord, is hosting such an event on Sunday, Aug. 21 from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Anderson calls it The Fire Roasters and Long Table Stories Dinner and is working with farm chef Terra Slifka, as well as chefs from Solstice.
It’s part of Open Farm Days and tickets are $156.45, including a fivecourse meal, beverage pairings, a herb and garden tour, and a special gift of a herb and salt rub. For more details, visit the Prairie Gardens website at prairiegardens.org.