Hawkers Market is based in Vancouver, BC. They have most recently set their sites on Edmonton as a place to launch their event. A Hawker Centre or “Cooked Food Centre” is usually in an open-air market format. Thanks to our lovely Alberta weather, this particular version of the market was held indoors.
Hawkers Market’s Edmonton edition was held in the Mercer Warehouse basement. If you are a patron of the “Mercer Collective” popup events featuring local artists, then you are familiar with the space. The walls have some great graffiti art that gives the space that “underground” ambiance. The market’s intention is to introduce food makers to the consumers to help launch local businesses. All done with some great live DJ’s and some of the city’s best and future best eateries.
With Hawkers Market, you pay an admission fee to cover the rental of the venue and the entertainment. You need to bring cash for payment for the dishes and the wares from the vendors.
When I worked downtown, I would always make sure I had the afternoon off to attend the RCR Annual Chili Cook Off. The shear creativity and flavour that go into some of the creations that you can sample were simply mind-boggling. You go and purchase your bowls, pick the ones that you would like to sample and enjoy! You could even vote for your favourite.
This year I get to do things a little differently… Sadly, I don’t work downtown any longer. I do have the best boss around at my new day job, and she gave me the go ahead to take the afternoon off to be a special blogger guest at this year’s cook off! <Insert Happy Dance Here>
This year the event will take place in Churchill square underneath the big tops. The event will take place from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on Friday, November 1st. This year there are 19 contestants:
Now if some of those names don’t get you excited to try this culinary experience, you may not be a foodie!
There are four different categories that we will be basing our tasting opinions on.
Best Locally Grown Chili – This award is given to the highest scoring chili cooked with locally grown ingredients. Fifty percent of the ingredients MUST be produced in Alberta.
Best Vegan/Vegetarian Chili – This award is presented to the highest scoring chili cooked with only vegan or vegetarian ingredients.
Best Overall Chili – The highest scoring chili takes home this trophy.
Best Booth Decor – This award is given to the competitor who has the most creative decor, unique names and best crowd engagement. Judges will select their top three and the booth with the most points will win.
Social media of course is an important aspect of any blogger’s assignment. I would love to hear your opinions if you can join us for the competition. The Twitter hashtag for the event is #rcr13. My Twitter handle is @yegfoodie – let me know what you think about your samples!
River City Round Up (@RiverCityRndUp) is a 10-day celebration of Edmonton’s agriculture and western heritage that takes place with events across the city from November 1 – 10. Whether you’re from the city or the country – or you’re just a country kid at heart…this is an opportunity to get your cowboy on through music, food, edutainment and good ol’ fashioned country fun with events across the city.
Two of Northland’s signature events will also be taking place during RCR including the 40th anniversary of Farmfair International from November 3-10 and the adrenaline pumping Canadian Finals Rodeo from November 6 – 10.
Come on down to Sir Winston Churchill Square on Saturday, November 2 for the official Kick-Off Celebration of the week with a day of free family fun beginning at 9 a.m. with a pancake breakfast and family activities from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Canadian Derby has been the foremost social and fashion event of the season in Edmonton since 1957. This is a chance for the ladies to display beautiful hats and fascinators. When I think of “Derby”, images of Julia Roberts dressed for the Kentucky Derby dance through my imagination.
Some Derby Trivia; this event is considered to be a “marathon” for the horses at 1 and 3/8 miles. Only three year old horses are entered into the race. It is the largest purse west of Ontario at $200,000.
Besides the racing and fashion, there is also the food.
This year, the 84th Canadian Derby will take place on August 17th. The lucky folks who purchased tickets for the Colours Dining experience will be able to indulge in some very tasty meal options while they watch the races from their tiered restaurant seating.
For $130 you get:
• A delicious three-course meal including non-alcoholic beverages
• Complimentary commemorative Canadian Derby race program
• Television monitors on every table
• Live entertainment
• Contest entry to win a new car courtesy of Londonderry Dodge/Chrysler
Your menu choices for the Colours Dining Experience are scrumptious. Chef Chris McMaster has hit it out of the park with this year’s lineup.
For starters:
Roasted Apple and Parsnip Soup with Saffron Petals
This option wasn’t available at the tasting event, but it did smell divine!
Summer Beet Salad with goat cheese, candied pecans and fresh raspberry tossed in poppy seed dressing
If you read my blog, or my Twitter feed, you know that I am not a huge salad person. This was very light and refreshing. The roasted beets went really well with the mix of flavours in the salad. A big thumbs up for this one.
Crispy Beef Dumpling with cucumber carrot slaw and horseradish dipping sauce
I really enjoyed this one as well. Not the traditional Chinese Potsticker that you would expect. The beef inside is tender and full of flavour. Pairs very well with the horseradish dipping sauce.
Your choices for Main Course:
Grilled Chicken Breast with mushroom Dauphinoise potato, sweet corn puree, thyme crepe and seasonal vegetables
Another pairing of some great flavours. The Dauphinoise potato was tender and firm. The sweet corn puree was a lovely partner to the tender chicken.
Slow roasted Alberta Prime Rib with chive mashed potato, seasonal vegetables and Rosemary Jus
Another teaser that wasn’t available for the tasters but looked and smelled divine.
Dungeness Crab Cakes with butter poached lobster, smoked tomato relish and fresh arugula salad
Who doesn’t enjoy crab AND lobster? The smoked tomato relish was a nice touch.
Roasted garlic Portobello Wellington with balsamic glaze and seasonal vegetables.
This is the vegetarian main course choice for the event. Not available for tasting but I think I may have actually enjoyed this one.
And lastly, my favourite, the desserts:
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with poached strawberry and rhubarb
This was my absolute favourite out of all of the options. I have a friend that is an amazing pastry chef and Panna Cotta is one of her favourites for breakfast. This is topped with both strawberry and rhubarb, so a nice mixture of sweet and tart. Vanilla bean is used in the Panna Cotta which is just lovely.
Chunks of brownie folded into bread pudding with salted caramel sauce.
This is a great spin on an old favourite. Chunks of brownie are folded into a traditional bread pudding recipe. It is then garnished with salted caramel sauce and real whipped cream.
Phew! That was a tasting marathon.
The In-Field Hospitality Tent is another option available for guests for the ticket price of $90. The infield presents the most unique setting to watch the Canadian Derby. Once a year guests received the opportunity to dine, lounge and enjoy all of the days exciting thoroughbred racing from the in-field. You have exclusive access to a relaxing garden setting with lounge chairs on the lawn.
Included:
• Premium lunch buffet with coffee/tea included
• Complimentary commemorative Canadian Derby race program
• Full service cash bar
• Easy access to pari-mutuel tellers and self service terminals to cover all your betting requirements
• Live entertainment between races
• Televisions displaying the races and betting information throughout the Tent and in-field
• Contest entry to win a new car courtesy of Londonderry Dodge/Chrysler
Private box seating is sold out already for this year but is normally available for $100/box. Boxes seat 4 guests. Nothing fancy. Food and drink is available at the grandstand.
There are birthdays, anniversaries, stagettes and a number of other social events being celebrated by attending the Canadian Derby. This would be a unique way to celebrate a milestone. It is also your only chance all year to be able to view the race from the in-field.
Many thanks to the Northlands Park team for the tasting event. It was nice to meet the team and Chef Chris.
K-Days is something that I always look forward to every year. Having not grown up in Edmonton, it was a big treat when we came in for the midway and it always brings back happy childhood memories.
K-Days has evolved into so much more than the “deep fried flavour of the year” for me. This year includes traditional offerings, vegetarian, gluten-free options and local Canadian cuisine. Only four more sleeps away!
“We’ve taken the traditional fair food lineup, fried it, dipped it in chocolate, sprinkled it with bacon and then fried it again to create a roster of savory, sweet and ooey-gooey goodness. Why not dig in to a deep fried caramel apple pie, Idaho Taco or some Pulled Pork Poutine. If you live on the edge, delve in to our Jalapeño Fudge and a Japanese Hot Dog. For those who prefer the basics, we haven’t forgotten to include mini donuts, corndogs and elephant ears – all with a bit more pizzazz.
This year’s fair food lineup goes gourmet! We are what we eat and if you like to know where your food came from, celebrate all the things that make our country taste great at A Taste of Canada inside the Edmonton EXPO Centre. Here you’ll find a mouth-watering selection of homegrown delicacies, including a wide selection of Canadian beers and wines. With dishes representing four of Canada’s diverse regions—East, West, Prairies and Maritimes—every taste bud will have a chance to be delighted. Lobster rolls, smoked meat, bison sliders and salmon wraps are only a small selection of what you will be able to expect!
Every taste bud gets its due at The Grand’s amazing international food court inside the Edmonton EXPO Centre. Pick almost any flavor and it’ll be there waiting for you in a variety of exciting options – designed to appeal to both adventurous eaters and those who stick to what they like. Take a trip around the globe and choose from Vietnamese, Ukrainian, East Indian Chinese, Italian and more at The Grand!”
They had me at chocolate and bacon!
The K-Days Facebook page has given us some photos to tantalize our tastebuds as well:
Broccoli Cheese Ribbon Fries – A heaping pile of ribbon fries smothered in scrumptious broccoli and cheese and topped with smoky bacon awaits you—the perfect combination of flavours to satisfy your palate. After the first bite, you might not want to share.Japanese Hot Dog – The classic hot dog gets a tasty Japanese facelift. An Angus Beef hot dog is topped with perfectly sautéed onions, teriyaki sauce, japanese cream sauce, Japanese Nori (Japanese Seaweed) and a hint of wasabi mayo to bring you the juicy delectable Japanese Hot Dog.The Works Cube Fries – A densely packed cube of perfectly fried curly fries—you might want to share when you see just how many fries there are! As you pick apart this delectable cube topped with chili, cheese, tomato, green onion, sour cream and bacon bits, all you’ll be able to say is “Mmmm.”Chocolate Bacon Caramel Apple – The sugary sweetness of chocolate and caramel tangos with the smoky addiction of bacon bits. When you bite into this “sweet tooth’s delight,” your taste buds will burst with enlightenment at the combination of sweet and smoky with a ripe crunchy Granny Smith apple on a stick.Deep Fried Caramel Apple Pie – Just like mom never made! This Deep Fried Caramel Apple Pie is made from homemade pie crust stuffed with tasty apple pie filling and deep-fried until crispy and warm. The pie is then covered with cinnamon sugar, drizzled with caramel sauce and served with vanilla soft serve ice cream for a sweet and savoury experience.Chimney Cake – Break through the sweet crunchy coating to discover the soft sumptuous interior of this Hungarian festival treat. A Chimney Cake is made of a milk-based raised dough comprised of vanilla, butter, and sugar and topped with a variety of savory toppings including cinnamon, walnuts, coconuts and chocolate. This sweet dough is rolled around a stainless steel roll and then dipped in sugar which caramelizes as it bakes in a special charcoal oven to yield a delectable sensation.
Now that you are probably drooling a little…
You will have to check back with me and follow me on Twitter (@yegfoodie) and Instagram to get the latest on the many food experiences that await you at K-Days 2013!
In the meantime – check out the other photos and news available on Facebook and on their website: K-Days Official Website
Kudos to all of the Food Trucks that were there and frantically serving the food that they were providing.
Unfortunately I did not get to try as many of the things as I had hoped to due to the very long lineups. There has got to be a better way to do a little bit of crowd control so that you know where the queue ends?
I had my heart set on the “Jerk Chicken” from Drift – but alas – even though I was there at 6ish (1 hour after start) the gentleman in the lineup before me got the last one! (Insert sad face here!) So I settled for my second choice: Braised Beef Sandwich – whiskey & coffee BBQ sauce, crispy onions & pepperoncini’s
I should have put something in the photo for size reference – this is one of their mini-sandwiches. It was quite tasty – the pickled jalapenos were not mentioned but were a pleasant surprise. The hand-cut fries were a nice touch – very yummy. The meat was tender and flavourful – the sauce was not overwhelming in the least.
My partner in crime decided to wait in the much longer lineup for the Act food truck. He sampled “The Duke” from the special “What the Truck?!” menu.
The Duke: beef pattie, smoked cheddar, hickory coffee BBQ sauce, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, mayo and pickle. This was a regular sized burger version.
He states “the burger was good but the wait was really long.”
So the food all in all was a positive experience. Kudos also goes to the Lingnan for their “Hot and Dry Spicy Chicken” aka “Crack Chicken” which I have been eating for years now – and it always makes me smile to see the expressions on the faces of the newbies that are tasting it for the first time! I would also like to add that the view on the Victoria Promenade is amazing and a great choice of venue for this event.
The negatives were the long lineups and the mosquitoes. I am not sure that there is much that could be done about either but to the customer that is trying to experience the flavours, both were very frustrating.
Will I go again – you bet! I will be prepared to arrive as early as possible and to endure the lines!
I have been following the page for a little over a month now and my schedule can finally accommodate getting to try some of the newest local eateries! The menu looks phenomenal.
Join us on the Victoria Promenade tonight to experience the mobile flavours that Edmonton summer has to offer!
