A night of Taco Therapy to help you deal with winter’s last gasp
Authentic Mexican cuisine on the menu courtesy of chefs from COMAL pop-up
An evening of Taco Therapy, presented by chefs Israel Alvarez and Matthew Marcotte of COMAL pop-up restaurant, unfolds on March 15 from 7-10 p.m.
The event — which features a range of thoughtfully curated Mexican dishes — will be held at Café Linnea, 10932 119 St. in Holland Plaza.
Tickets cost $90 and that buys you an assortment of authentic appetizers, three generous taco courses (duck carnitas, braised short rib and poblano rajas) served with condiments, and a dessert of fruit crème brûlée with tequila flambé.
Marcotte is a locally trained graduate of the NAIT Culinary Arts program with professional experience in Mexico City.
He works at Canteen on 124 Street.
Alvarez is a graduate of Mexico’s Universitario de Artes Culinarias who has worked as a sous chef under chef Enrique Olvera at the highly acclaimed Pujol restaurant in Mexico City.
Tickets can be obtained by calling Alvarez at 780-263-3701, or visiting eventbrite.ca.
EAT ALBERTA
After a year’s hiatus, the oneday Eat Alberta conference that focuses on local food is back.
This time, after getting lots of feedback from past attendees, the conference has taken on a new format. It’s to be held Sunday, April 23 in the kitchens and classrooms at NAIT (11762 106 St.). Previous conferences were held Saturday, a day when many people in the food industry aren’t available because they’re working.
Also, there are also fewer sessions from which to choose, but they are longer and more tightly focused on cooking skills.
“Back to basics is our theme, and it’s about connecting to classic Alberta dishes and learning the cultural stories behind the food,” says Eat Alberta spokesperson Meaghan Carey.
The $150-day gets underway at 11 a.m. with brunch featuring smoked salmon by local chef Robert Sgambaro, and winds down at 4 p.m. with a reception.
There will be four presenters/ chefs who will each lead 90-minute sessions.
Allan Suddaby of Elm Cafe gives a talk and demonstration on the influence of Ukrainian cooking in Alberta.
Shane Chartrand of Sage restaurant sets the stage for aboriginal cuisine.
Chartier’s Steven Brochu shares all the secrets you’d ever want to know about French food.
A presenter for the fourth session, called Chop Suey on the Prairies, about the Asian influence in Alberta, has yet to be confirmed.
The keynote speaker is community organizer, historian and eating enthusiast Jon Hall. He’ll talk about how community and history influence what we eat.
Register at eatalberta.ca.
NEW PASTRY CHEF
Jason Wang is the new executive pastry chef at the Shaw Conference Centre (9797 Jasper Ave.). A certified red and blue seal pastry chef, Wang has developed his culinary talent at the Italian Bakery and Shaw Conference Centre for the past 11 years.
Led by executive chef Serge Belair, the Shaw Conference Centre serves 250,000 meals annually for regional, national and international guests.
WORKSHOP
Slow Food Edmonton is hosting a fun event that’s open to everyone.
It’s a pork butchery workshop with local butcher Elyse Chatterton.
The $120 ticket includes a hands-on experience, plus some take-home treats, including at least three pounds of bacon in a cure, two or three types of fresh sausages and assorted cuts including chops, roasts and other bits.
The pork comes from Jeff Senger of Sangudo Custom Meat.
The event is being held at Knifewear (10820 82 Ave.) on March 19 from 5-8 p.m. Get tickets at slowfoodedmonton.ca
WISHBONE
The expansion of the Three Boars brand to Jasper Avenue gets a little closer each day as construction continues toward a spring opening.
Now the new restaurant by chef Brayden Kozak has a name. Wishbone will be located at 10542 Jasper Ave.
EFFING SEAFOOD
Those who like their seafood carefully sourced are probably already familiar with Rob Tryon, the face of Effing Seafoods.
He was at the Southwest Edmonton Farmers Market last summer, and has been working with various chefs on pop-ups for the last couple of years.
Now, the Old Strathcona Farmers Market (10310 83 Ave.) is giving his booth a test run. It will be at the indoor market throughout the month of April, so visit Tryon there if you want to help support a permanent Effing Seafood booth at the popular market. effingseafoods.com