Category: Casual Dining

There’s a new Bannock maker in town!

There’s a new Bannock maker in town!

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Tee Pee Treats is a brand new indigenous owned and operated restaurant that just opened in Edmonton today.

“I started Tee Pee Treats because I wanted a food service that represents our people in Edmonton, Alberta as there is a lack of representation in the industry. We are a 100% Indigenous owned and operated company and our goal is to get quality food to customers of all walks of life and to Give Back to our people. Tee Pee Treats has been 10 years in the making. I started off selling bannock out of my backpack in 2011at Pow Wows in the Edmonton area. Our future long term goal is to have a restaurant built as tipis all across the globe where people can come dine in and enjoy Indigenous music and watch our cooks prepare meals right in front of their eyes. I want people to come not only for the food but for the experience of it all. ” Curtis Cardinal

Curtis is an amazing human that has overcome a lot of adversity to be able to open up Tee Pee Treats today. Curtis is the chief cook and bottle washer, doing just about everything all on his own to make his dream a reality.

That dream opened today.

Due to COVID restrictions, Curtis determined that it would be safer for all concerned if the business opened with take-out and delivery only for now.

Tee Pee Treats Menu

 

As you can see, there are 2 specials available per day as well as some desserts.  Each special is named after an indigenous Chief.  Each daily special has a Cree name; E.g. “Tansi” means hello.

**it is worth it to note that on Tuesday, you can snag some gluten free bannock!

From selling bannock out of his backpack at powwows to this:

Chief Crowfoot Chili

Chief Crowfoot Chili with cheddar bannock.  You have your choice of air fried (thank you Curtis!) or baked bannock to accompany this 16 oz of rich, warm chili.  It’s not super spicy, but it does warm up your insides and it is hearty!

I have a terrible sweet tooth.  I just can’t do a lovely lunch like this without trying the dessert.  I chose the wildberry bannock cake.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t this!  I was pleasantly surprised. It’s so pretty.  The air fryer crisps up the outside of the bannock and leaves the insides nice and soft.  That is a non-dairy whipped topping dripping in chocolate sauce and sprinkles.  What a lovely, delicious end to the meal.

If you have an event that needs catering, Tee Pee Treats has got you covered! There is much more variety (for now) offered for catered events.  Prices are reasonable and food quality is awesome.  I can’t wait to try the rest of the menu.

Now go out there and get some bannock before he sells out!

You can follow them everywhere:

Twitter
Facebook
Tik Tok

Easy-Peasy Meal Prep

Easy-Peasy Meal Prep

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Food lovingly prepared by The Burly Chef
Please order by 4pm today – limited spots available.
Join me in ordering some delicious pre-made meals for your upcoming busy week!
All meals can be protein boosted for an additional $1
• Cheesy Broccoli, Chicken and Rice Stuffed Bell Peppers
Creole rice pilaf and cheese baked bell peppers with delicious BBQ Chicken. Eat healthy AND
happy.
• Sous Vide Steak Fajitas
Slow cooked Sous Vide AAA Beef to a mouth-watering tenderness, served with a fresh Chimichurri,
sliced peppers, sauteed mushrooms and a fresh peach, mandarin and cilantro salsa.
• Pancetta Pasta Primavera with Sweet Peas and Sage
Delicious and savory light cream sauce with sweet peas, fresh Sage, crisp Pancetta and sweet
onion.
• Thai Coconut Curry Shrimp Noodle Soup
Red curry paste, lemongrass, lime juice, coconut milk and soy sauce. Fresh veg bursting with
refreshing flavor and citrus!
Vegetarian Option: (Please keep available for Vegetarians only)
• Bulgogi Roasted Spring Vegetable Bowl
Bulgogi marinated cauliflower mushrooms and spring vegetables served atop fresh spinach with
delicious lemon herb brioche croutons. Meatless and delicious.
Meals are $10 each.  Free delivery on Sunday for a minimum 10 meal order.
Please email danielhuber at shaw dot ca to order.
The Burly Chef May 29th Menu
Contact-less Meal Delivery!

Contact-less Meal Delivery!

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Tired of meal prep? Don’t want to brave the grocery stores? Want something quick and delicious?

Let Chef help!

I order these myself, high quality, reasonably priced, good sized portions.

The best thing is when you order, you also help someone in need.

Prepared in an AHS approved kitchen with quality, local ingredients.

Please message me for contact information. (r dot reid at yegfoodie dot com)

————
Meals are $10 (including delivery, GST)

Deliveries are on Sunday between 2-6 pm and are contact-less drop off.

Proceeds from meals are donated in the form of additional meals to community nominated families in need.

Here’s the menu. Order by 4 pm on Friday (please and thanks)…

Some pictures of last cycles menu are below!

Spring Salad.
Spring mixed greens and spinach with cherry tomatoes, red onion, matchstick carrots, goat cheese, bacon crumble and a champagne vinaigrette. Toasted Herb trio croutons.

Beef Stroganoff
Red wine braised AAA (farm sources, no more Cargil) Beef in creamy herbed sauce atop olive oil and seasoned Egg Noodles.

Honey Garlic Cashew Bowl
Honey Garlic Smothered chicken and vegetables atop ginger rice pilaf and served with sesame seeds and dried chow mein noodles.

Fresh Bruschetta and Garlic Bread.
Homemade bruschetta with fresh basil, fresh garlic, Roma tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and served with a bakeable loaf of Garlic Bread

Sausage and Caramalized Onion Pasta
Basil and Garlic Pomodoro sauce, baked Artisan Sausage atop Penne and served with shredded Gran Padano Cheese

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Century Casino Edmonton Logo
Century Casino – Edmonton Edition (Fort Road)

Century Casino – Edmonton Edition (Fort Road)

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Disclaimer:  most of this post is regarding a visit where I was invited by the business to have the full “date night” experience.  Prior to attending the VIP event, I did visit on my own to be able to compare the two different experiences. Please note that all opinions are my own and will not be affected by the complimentary passes.

A co-worker was the first to point out to me that the casinos in Edmonton had really great food specials on a nightly basis.  This gets you in the door so that you will buy a couple of drinks, do some gambling and maybe catch a show. There is actually a lot to do in one of the stand alone casinos here in Edmonton.  She had invited me out to the Century Casino in St. Albert for the rib special one night before a class we were taking together. It was a huge portion, it was really cheap and it was okay (you need to remember I am picky about my BBQ!)  None of us are gamblers, so it is a decent, inexpensive night out with friends.

Fast forward to my invitation.

The original invitation was for one of the concert series of events. It took me forever to try to find a band that I would enjoy watching. (I enjoy really obscure Power Noise bands) I finally picked one and unfortunately one of the members fell ill and they had to reschedule the show.  My schedule is nuts on a good day, so I saved the date to go to the Mid City Grill on my own bill.

It was the Friday Night Buffet for $24.95, but we didn’t do the buffet.  I had a steak sandwich and my husband had one of the burgers. I also had to try the cactus chips with the queso dip. The food was good, my husband really enjoyed his burger.

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At the beginning of the meal, our server was attentive and awesome.  When it came to the end of the meal, not so much. My husband likes to enjoy a post meal beer and some conversation, maybe some dessert.  Our server was intensely focused on cleaning up after the dinner rush and didn’t check in to see if we would like anything else. We got frustrated and just ended up paying our bill and leaving.

So my regular visit synopsis;  the food was good and a good value.  The service was also good but could have been better.

The Influencer experience was similar, only the staff had been briefed that we were visiting.  We were warmly greeted by the Yuk Yuk’s Manager (I am so sorry, I am terrible with names) who escorted us to Mid City Grill.  We were shown to our table.

Thursday night’s special is prime rib for $8.99.  Sold! Prime rib is one of my favourite things to eat.   My husband ordered a very nice looking Beef Tenderloin steak with lobster Bearnaise sauce ($35) that he thoroughly enjoyed.  My Prime Rib was also delicious; juicy and tender. My only wish was that you could choose your “doneness” like you would at a carvery.

They have a really great new featured cocktail menu.  I tried their Negroni, and it was really nice, very refreshing.  I am sure that the rest of the choices are also top notch.

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This time the service was spot on.  Our server was absolutely delightful and made sure that we were well taken care of. We were very full from our meal so decided that we would grab dessert at Yuk Yuks.

We had some time to kill before the Yuk Yuk’s show, so onto the slot machines we go.  Sorry gamblers, it’s not something we do hardly ever.  We put a nice chunk of change in the machines and unfortunately didn’t come out as winners.  It’s a fun way to pass the time though while you wait for your show.

Being all about local, I wanted to attend the comedy night that featured local comedians.  I love to see what talent is up and coming. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Ryan Short was the headliner.  We had the opportunity to catch one of his shows previously and really enjoyed ourselves.

We got upgraded to one of the booths along the back wall when we were seated at Yuk Yuks.  Usually that will cost you an extra $20. I had my eye on a frozen drink from Mid City Grill that I wanted to try with dessert.  I didn’t see it on the Yuk Yuks’ cocktail menu. When I asked the server, they actually have separate menus for the restaurant and the theatre.  She was amazing and went over to Mid City to get me the drink. Thank you!  It was chili and chocolate and delicious! I would go back for a visit just for one of those. Spicy and chocolate is a favourite in our house.

We both chose tiramisu for dessert.  The slabs of cake were HUGE. Neither of us could finish them.  They were very good though, one of those things that you can’t stop eating when it is just sitting there.

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I love that Yuk Yuks is giving the local entertainers a chance at some stage time.  They don’t get long for their set so there were a lot of different acts on the stage.  Honestly, we enjoyed most of them. There were only awkward silences maybe a couple of times where the punchline didn’t land.

Thank you to Chef Walter Esser and the rest of the kitchen team, the food and drinks were top notch!  Thank you to Yuk Yuk’s for the awesome comedy experience.  Thank you to the rest of the Century Casino team for making our “date night” one to remember.

Website:
https://www.cnty.com/edmonton/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/centurycasinoedm

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/CenturyCasEDM

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/centurycasino_edmonton/
Underground Tap & Grill Re-Visited

Underground Tap & Grill Re-Visited

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Disclaimer: Although I have been to the Underground several times on my own, this particular visit was at the invitation of the business.

I can’t remember how long the Underground Tap & Grill has been around, I know it’s been a few years now.  It used to be a place that I frequented when I worked downtown because it was right across the street and the whole “craft beer” thing was relatively new.  Duck has always been the Chef’s specialty and nothing goes better with a nice cold beer than a nice salty Duck Confit poutine.  My huge dislike for the Underground was that I would go to visit with friends on the weekend and not be able to have a conversation because the music was too loud.

Fast Forward to Today…

No longer working downtown.  Let’s face it – since the new “ICE” district came in the parking is ridiculously expensive on a night where there is an event in the arena.  Most people who have a decent head on their shoulders avoid the whole downtown situation whenever possible at great detriment to the local businesses that depend on us.

Well… Underground has tackled the parking problem and oh so much more!

$3 evening parking after 4pm in the parkade located in the tower right next to Tres Carnales.  Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the Underground.  Aptly named, you will be going down the stairs to the pub to enjoy some great food and now 72 different beers on tap.  72!

There is a wonderful selection of different styles of beer from different breweries.  The selection is always changing.  There is a monthly tap takeover and when the keg is gone, it’s off the menu.  They even have the lovely Brittany as the Beer Manager.  She knows her stuff and is more than happy to help you make an educated choice when you are overwhelmed by the menu. There is also a weekly rotation for the beer cocktails.  These are fun and creative mixtures that will leave you wanting more.

And huge bonus, there is no more live DJ on the weekends so that you can now have a conversation with your friends without having to yell!

Now onto the Food

The menu has also gone through some recent changes.  Duck is still Chef Lang Hsiao’s specialty.   Therefore, we had to try something with duck in it.  We had the Adobo Buffalo Duck Wings ($15) which are also available for the “Wing Wednesday” menu special for half price.  These were just the right amount of spice, moist and delicious.  We will definitely be back for more of these.

There is a new weekly “Chef Special” where Chef gets to be creative.  Of course, I had to try it.  My choice was the “Canadian Back Bacon” which was “Bourbon maple glazed local farmed pork loin, dry cured in house for 10 days.  Served with baked potato, grilled zucchini and egg plant.  Although the flavours were all really good, this was not as tender and moist as I was expecting.

My husband tried the 8 oz. striploin with the peppercorn sauce.  He says the medium rare was done perfectly; tender, moist and delicious.  These come with “all you can eat” sides which are served buffet style.  The peppercorn sauce had a bit of a kick to it that was delightful.

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The Beer…

Oh the beer!  Brittany was wonderful about explaining what a Gose was, as I had not yet had the opportunity to sample one.  The tap takeover was with Red Racer brewery and they had a delicious sounding Gose; the Lime Margarita.

“Inspired by the beaches of Mexico, the essence of a lime margarita is captured in a craft beer. This lightly salted, slightly tart beer is infused with lime juice and a splash of Tequila to give a tropical cocktail take on a German style ale.”

This beer was amazing!  Such a refreshing beer that needs to be enjoyed with some sunshine out on a patio.  I’m a new fan.  Hubby had the Beavertail Raspberry Ale by Grizzly Paw in Canmore.

  • So if you have any burning questions about a particular brew and Brittany is on shift, she has all of the knowledge to help you.
  • We had no room for dessert, however there are 6 lovely choices on the menu for you to enjoy.
  • We were also informed that there is a Saturday Brunch menu available from 11 am to 2 pm on the weekend.
  • The venue is usually accessible but during our visit the elevator was being repaired.
  • There are gluten-free and vegan options available on the menu.

Thank you Underground!  We had a wonderful evening trying the latest menu and taps.  We are looking forward to our next visit.

Website:
http://www.undergroundtapandgrill.com/

Insta:
https://www.instagram.com/undergroundtapandgrill/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/underground_edm

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TheUndergroundTapGrill/?fref=ts

High Mountain Tea
Formosa – The Beautiful Island

Formosa – The Beautiful Island

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“Formosa” is the former name for the country of Taiwan.  It means “beautiful island”. The owners of the Bistro are lovely people that make the space warm and inviting.  They are often there to answer your questions and make sure you are cared for.

Best Asian Food in Canada

Doing my research before I wrote this article was an eye-opener.  Formosa has won “Best Asian Food in Canada” from asiastar-tv.com in 2018.  I must admit, I have never been to Taiwan but have read that there is a lot of North American influence in the Taiwanese cuisine.  Oreo cookies and cornflakes crumbs are two that come to mind. If you read a review from anyone actually from Taiwan, they complain a lot about pricing and state that they could make the dishes at home.  Please don’t let them distract you from a visit, I promise the food is good!

Best Asian Food in Canada

 

I was originally introduced to Formosa through a Northern Bites experience.  We were treated to the “triangle sandwich” and a panacotta bagged lunch for the ride to the winery.  When we arrived back at the Bistro, we were able to sample the spicy won-tons, popcorn chicken, the yam fries and a Taiwanese version of kimchi.  Chef Yu-Lin Shen showed us all how to make spicy wontons. The highlight of the night was the high mountain tea and an information session on the different types of tea and how they are served.  So informative!

My “solo” journey is when I dragged my husband all the way to the other side of the city because I was craving both the popcorn chicken and the yam fries.

The menu is extensive, but not pages and pages like my favourite Chinese restaurant.  Since Formosa is a “hidden gem” it is not usually busy, although I would love to see that change.  We were promptly seated, I ordered a high mountain tea and hubby had a beer. The tea was a lovely, light flavour compared to most green teas.  They do have a loose leaf version, but unless you specifically ask for it, you will get the convenience of the bagged tea.

High Mountain Tea

I wanted to share my favourites from my preview visit with my husband, so I ordered the yam fries, popcorn chicken and the gyozas.  My husband ordered the Teppanyaki Noodles with Deep Fried Pork Chop.

The yam fries are not like our typical North American sweet potato version.  They are light yellow in color and lightly breaded. They smell like mini-donuts when they are placed on your table!  They have a slightly sweet flavour to them and just the right amount of salt. It tastes like it should be a dessert.

Taiwanese Sweet Potato Fries

The popcorn chicken also has a hint of sweet to it.  You can taste the 5 spice in the breading. They are crispy, not greasy and hard to stop eating!  Tender juicy morsels of deliciousness.

Popcorn Chicken Taiwanese Style

The Gyoza – not the ones you would think… No overpowering vinegar here. Perfectly fried, beautiful texture and a sauce that has a touch of vinegar, grapefruit, soy and wasabi.  The sauce was the perfect companion.

Taiwanese Gyoza

The Teppanyaki Noodles did have the frozen veggies mixed in with them but it doesn’t distract from the taste of the dish.  The noodles were tender without being mushy. This dish is served with a fried egg on top as well as the two large pieces of deep fried pork chop.  It is a very large portion size.

Teppanyaki Noodles

Speaking of portion sizes, Formosa is generous.  After we had eaten our fill, we still had food to pack up in to-go containers.  For two of us, high mountain tea and 2 beer, the bill was right around $50. Great value for your money compared to a lot of places.

The food is nicely plated and the atmosphere is cozy and homey.  The owners try to ensure that everyone feels at home when they walk in for a meal.

It truly is a “beautiful island” tucked away in a strip mall. I will look forward to my next “stay-cation” soon.

Website:  https://www.formosabistro.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BistroFormosa

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/formosa.bistro.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/formosa.bistro/

Golomein Frozen Meal Packs
Golomein – From the Streets of Brunei

Golomein – From the Streets of Brunei

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Ever since I was introduced to Golomein at Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market, I have been hooked.  When you get a craving for BBQ Pork Golomein, nothing else will do.

What is Golomein?

“In a traditional broth based noodle, the flavour is contained in the broth itself. With Golomein, the dry mix or “Golo” noodles are cooked separately and then blended with marinating sauce infusing the flavours of the delicious sauce directly into the noodles. The noodles are then complimented with the addition of their homemade oven roasted BBQ pork, spiced ground pork mixture and fresh bok choy.”

Once you have had a taste of these noodles, you won’t want to go anywhere else.

There is always a lovely story on how every small business started and Alex’s story is inspiring as well:

“Our Dad developed the recipe initially 52 years ago where he worked the streets of Brunei, as a hawker trying to earn enough money to support a family of 10.  Struggling against all odds, he developed the awesome recipe he would later bring to North America”.

He made his noodles only to serve his friends, family and coworkers charging them only for their gas and their time it took them to visit his home.  He even delivered packages to his mother who always looked forward to the tasty treat.

The fabulous noodles caught on and before long, everyone wanted more.  People searched for the delicious meals, but they were at the mercy of whenever Dad felt like making them and his kitchen was the only place this amazing taste could be found.

Alex, the youngest, was unable to sleep one night, so he decided to do a marathon session of watching 5 episodes of “Dragon’s Den”.  Tired of beating his head in the corporate world, he decided a change was in order.

It brought back memories of the work his Dad put into his noodle recipe that he created over 50 years ago.  The noodles were so good that Alex’s childhood friend, Paris, would ride his way-too- small bike halfway across the city just to eat the noodles.

Recognizing the incredible opportunity before him, he immediately told his 2 brothers, Albert and Allen.  Alex’s enthusiasm was infectious and it didn’t take much convincing to persuade his 2 siblings to join his quest to bring their dad’s noodle recipe to the masses.  All 3 brothers were excited about continuing their beloved Dad’s legacy and making noodles for future generations.”

For the frozen meal packs, the noodles are lovingly prepared and then packaged in a neatly folded square of butcher paper. Then they are frozen. They are sold individually ($13) or in packages of 5 ($60). You simply pop the frozen package, paper and all, in the microwave for 5 to 6 minutes and then unfold the package to open and enjoy! You don’t even need to transfer the contents to a plate or bowl. They are available with beef, pork or chicken.  I recommend the pork.

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Golomein is located just south of the south leg of the Henday on Ellwood Drive.  It is a bit of a drive for me. I was THRILLED to hear from Alex that the frozen meal packs can be delivered through Skip the Dishes now!  So if you don’t live way down in south Edmonton, you can arrange a time to have the frozen meals dropped off. Bonus, meal prep done for the week.

The restaurant hours are a bit all over the place as the Golomein family is at the Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market, the Salisbury Farmer’s Market and the Sherwood Park Farmer’s Market.  If you look them up on Google Maps, the hours listed are very accurate. For an up to date list of markets and hours, please be sure to visit their website.

Website: https://www.golomeinrestaurant.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/golomein/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golomein/

Skip the Dishes: https://www.golomein.ca/

 

The Sicilian Pasta at Amore Pasta
Amore Pasta – New Downtown Location NOW OPEN!

Amore Pasta – New Downtown Location NOW OPEN!

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From the makers of Cafe Amore Bistro and the Black Pearl Seafood comes the new and improved downtown location of Amore Pasta.

Family recipes passed down from Italy will tantalize your tastebuds on this budget-friendly, build-your-own menu.  Yes, there is an Amore Pasta on the south side, but that location is just pasta and pales in comparison to the new downtown location.  They are open at 8 am for breakfast – yes, breakfast!

There is a lovely cappuccino bar to serve up some espresso and baked goods in the morning.  If you need something heartier, they have some signature omelettes available as well as the build-your-own versions.  Choose how many eggs you would like, add your choice of veggies, protein and cheese.  You can even choose to have a side of Amore hash (crumbled Italian sausage, cheddar cheese, green onions, mushrooms and peppers).  Can’t decide?  There are five signature Baked Eggs al Forno and omelettes to choose from.

Franchise? No!

The Crudo Family will have none of that!  They would love to have Amore Pasta all over the countryside, but they want to ensure quality over quantity.  They have a central “warehouse” location where the sauces etc. are made lovingly called “Papa Giuseppe’s”.   They are hoping to have more “in-house” made fresh pastas in the future.

Lunch and dinner will knock your socks off!

You can order a beer or wine to go with your dinner creation.  Make sure you try the fried lasagne bites with Papa Joe’s red sauce to start off with, they are very tasty!

This is similar to a Subway concept where you go up and order your food and bring it back to your table to enjoy.  Lunch can be quick, delicious and painless.

The “Return of the Mac” shall be triumphant.  They have 5 signature choices and the macaroni is made fresh daily.  “Pizza Me” is pictured in my slideshow; red onion, mixed peppers, crumbled Italian sausage, cheddar and mozza cheese.  This rib-sticking delight will surely satisfy.

Create Your Own Pasta starts out with the pasta and sauce, you add your choice of veggies, your protein and cheese.  Again, there are five signature pastas to choose from if you can’t decide or are in a hurry.  I couldn’t get enough of the “Sicilian”; made with homemade Strozzapreti, marsala cream sauce, green onions.  All of the flavours blend together beautifully.   It was a delight to eat.

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Where is it?

10235 101 Street, right in the Ice District.  There is a surface Impark parking lot located across the street but that can get pretty pricey during a game night.  There is also parking available in the tower which is much more reasonable.  Open at 8 am for breakfast and closes normally at 9 pm on weekdays.  Open at 11 am and close at 9 pm on weekends.  They will be adjusting hours to the crowd and are wanting to be open for food and drink after the games.

Gluten Free options available.

Since you are building your own meal, you have the option to pick items that are gluten free.  Your food is cooked right in front of you. Ask your server for details.

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Rendezvous Pub

Rendezvous Pub

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As I reflect back on some of my favourite moments in 2018, a large quantity of them came from Rendezvous.

As well as being a food judge, I am also a huge metalhead. Rendezvous is like a second home to me.  Calvin, Dez and the rest of the staff have always been welcoming and it feels good to be recognized when you walk through the doors of your favourite pub.

The Vous has stepped it up a lot over the past year.  I can remember the good old days when there wasn’t a lot of choice for what you were drinking when you sat down to enjoy a live show.  Now there are local breweries available on tap. There is a great selection of bottles as well. This beer snob appreciates the chance to enjoy local.

Although the Vous is not renowned for its food, the wings are some of the best that I have been able to find in Edmonton.  Thoughtful right down to the finger bowls, which no one else in the city seems to do any longer. Wing night is Wednesday and they are 40 cents per wing with a minimum order of 12.  You can’t beat that deal!

There is a menu featuring a selection of your pub favourites.  Nothing fancy, just simple, delicious food. If you go for food, be patient.  The kitchen is always open, but there isn’t always a cook for the late night hours.

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Earlier this year, the City of Edmonton had proposed a plan where the building that houses the Vous was to be demolished and the LRT track was going to be built there.  This gave a lot of us in the community a huge panic attack. Calvin and the rest of the crew were not going to stand for it and went directly to City Hall to let them know this was not okay!  Thankfully the decision was rescinded. Way to go team Vous!

The Rendezvous is so supportive of the local live music community.  It’s not a huge venue, but they bring in some great talent and there is a live band just about every weekend.  Calvin is awesome about supporting local charities as well. The Christsmash Eve event complete with Church burning at midnight was awesome for us Christmas orphans. The Edmonton Food Bank was the charity of choice for the night.

I almost forgot about karaoke!  I’m too chicken to get up on stage myself, but I know most karaoke places don’t have a lot of metal on the playlist.  It’s cool to see your favourite front man from a local band belting out some karaoke tune. Only at the Vous.

And we can’t forget about Calvin… Calvin has been the Manager of Vous for as long as I can remember.  He is generally quiet and can appear a bit intimidating, but don’t let that fool you. He works hard for our little community and brings all of his wrestling and Dead Jesus experience to the table.  It’s much easier to book shows when you have actually put in the time on the stage. Thank you for all that you do for us Calvin!

I am looking forward to many more Wednesday Wing Nights with my crew in 2019 and can’t wait to see what awaits the Vous for live shows.

Check out the Vous this year where the wings are hot, the beers are cold and the shows are live!  Tell them YEGfoodie sent you.
Otto Food and Drink

Otto Food and Drink

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Anyone that knows me, knows I am not a fan of what Christmas has become…  To me it is not about all of the commercialism and who buys what for whom.  It should be about celebrating with family and friends, spending time with loved ones and enjoying wonderful food and drink together.

Otto was started on that premise.  It was meant to be a gathering place for families and friends where you can enjoy some great Alberta craft beer and some great company.  The food was not the focus, but is still a wonderful part of the celebration that is Otto.

Owner Ed Donszelmann (previously of Culina Mill Creek) is the creative force behind this little neighbourhood Gem tucked away in the Norwood community.  The decor is simple and warm. There is an overhead garage door that can be opened for the summer months. Ed ads to the warmth of the space by being present and making his rounds.  He makes sure each guest is well taken care of.

The liquor menu has a lot to choose from.  The focus is on the beer, but there is a full bar and a wine list available as well.  There is something to quench everyone’s thirst, or to pair with the simply delicious food.

The food… You can clearly see Ed’s Dutch influence on the menu.  Otto’s specialty is Fuge Fine Meats which are now exclusively available only at Otto.  You may have experienced some of Steve’s sausage at one of the local markets. The sausages are flavourful, tender and delicious – even the vegan option!

For our visit we tried the “Otto Dog” and the vegan “Smoked Apple Sage” sausage.  Monday night is a great time to visit with $6 pints of beer and $6 sausages. The sausage is served naked with a small serving of sauerkraut and a home made pickle. If you want a bun for that bad boy, it’s only an extra $2.  The mustards that you have to choose from are also amazing. If I remember correctly, Red Head Condiments supplies them.

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I don’t normally like many versions of vegan/plant-based “meat”.  It is usually an awful texture and not that tasty. Fuge has managed to make a plant-based sausage that is the same texture you would expect from a normal, every-day meat sausage.  The flavours were nicely balanced, slightly smoky and delicious. I enjoyed a side order of the deep fried cauliflower.

My handsome dinner companion was nice enough to give me a taste of the Otto Dog; Sylvan Star smoked Gouda, caraway and fresh garlic are the standouts in this undeniably rich, flavourful sausage.  They are not joking with that description. Juicy, tender and delicious. He had the garlic herb fries with spicy mayo as his side.

I thought that between two of us we would be able to try a few options, but we tapped out after the single sausage and side.  Not even room for dessert! (I hear good things about dessert too though!)

Otto does focus on local suppliers and ingredients, you can see the loving detail that went into the menu with each item that is shared.  You can taste the difference.

Children are welcome at Otto.  Sundays they have a kids meal for only $5.  You won’t break the bank with a visit to Otto, the prices are very reasonable.

Grab a couple of friends and enjoy some great beer, food and sparkling conversation at Otto.

 

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