Chefs and restaurant reviewers naturally have an awkward relationship at best, and at worst a combative one. Naturally, no chef enjoys being criticised, as nobody in any job would. Even less so when the chef deems the criticisms to be either uninformed or inaccurate. They’ve got a pretty valid point, but they’re kind of damned […]
Relish Burger Closes Edmonton Location
Your burger choices just got a little slimmer, Edmonton. The Relish Gourmet Burger location that opened on 124st last summer has closed its doors. John Wallace, the owner of that location, cites major cost overruns in the construction phase – more than double what was anticipated – as setting them off on the wrong foot […]
Off Menu Podcast Ep. #15 – Farmers Markets
This week we’re talking about the trials and tribulations of farmers markets with a couple fixtures of the Edmonton farmers market scene. Owen Petersen is owner and head baker at Prairie Mill Bread Company, and veteran of numerous markets including the Southwest Edmonton Farmers Market, and the City Market Downtown, on 104 st. Kirsta Franke […]
Iconic Edmonton Pizzeria Closing Temporarily
Rosebowl Pizza may be an institution in Oliver, but if you want one last pizza in their original location on 117st just north of Jasper Avenue, you better hurry. Rosebowl’s owner, Sam Moukhaiber, says he will close at the end of June, so he and his family can focus their efforts on getting a planned […]
Off Menu Podcast Ep. 14 – The Butcher Shop
The Butcher Shop The world of butchery can be demanding, but my guests this week, Elyse Chatterton from Tofield Packers, and Corey Meyer from Acme Meat Market make it look easy. These 2 butchers give some insights into their favourite cuts, their dream jobs if they weren’t butchers, and Corey reveals a man-crush on The […]
7 Tasty Reasons to Weekend in Saskatoon
Ask most Edmontonians about a great weekend getaway, and you’ll invariably get the same 3 answers from everyone – Calgary, Jasper, and Banff. While those spots are legitimately fantastic in my books too, what about our oft-forgotten neighbour to the East, Saskatoon? Surely this city of over a quarter million people just an easy 5-hour […]
Off Menu Podcast Ep. 13 – Pass the Walrus Masala
Pass the Walrus Masala It’s always exciting when you get to try something new, but imagine a dinner party where every single dish contains something you’d never even imagined eating. That’s Northern Food Night in a nutshell. In this episode, I talk with Steven Cooper, who along with his wife Twyla Campbell created what […]
Off Menu Ep. 12 – Red Cup Distillery Moonshine
For many rural Albertans, moonshine has been something to be tight- lipped about for decades, but the opening of Red Cup Distillery in Vegreville has changed all that. Old-timers are coming out of the woodwork to share their own stories of home brew, and owner Robert de Groot graciously sat down with me in this […]
Game of Scones
You don’t have to be the wisest in all the 5 kingdoms to know that Edmonton has some pretty darn good scones. The only question is who will take the Iron Throne of scones? I had a couple food friends in town a while back, which was a perfect opportunity to put their taste buds […]
Off Menu Ep. 11- Top Chef Canada Winner Dale MacKay
In this episode, celebrated Canadian chef Dale MacKay gives us some insight into the differences between working for Gordon Ramsay and Daniel Boulud, we talk about learning from “failures”, and he talks about being an unapologetic villain. If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to subscribe in the iTunes store and leave a rating […]