I am not a huge “breakfast at breakfast time” kind of person. I dutifully make myself a healthy smoothie every morning to take to work, but it usually doesn’t get consumed until 10am or later in the morning. Weekends are interesting at our house, I don’t think our fridge has seen actual breakfast food in over a year.
I love breakfast, just not in the morning. I am a huge “all day breakfast” fan as well as a fan of eateries that serve brunch past 1pm.
Ronald McDonald House has been a part of the Edmonton community since 1985.
Ronald McDonald House Charities® Northern Alberta is a home away from home for families with seriously ill or injured children. Our 32 family suites provide a comforting place to stay during treatment, but we are more than just a roof over our families’ heads. We provide programs and services to help families resume a normal life as much as possible. Read more about the families we serve.
Meals that Mend
Through our Meals that Mend program, we provide families with comforting and nutritious meals when they need it most. This is a volunteer-led program that works to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner to families staying at the House and even deliver lunch to the hospital when families can’t leave their child’s bedside.
The Red Shoe Crawl is an annual fundraising event held on Whyte Avenue where you are treated to several culinary samples from different shops and restaurants along the ave. It’s a great way to enjoy local and support a wonderful charity that helps to keep families together.
What do you need to do? Get on that Twitter account and re-tweet for a chance to win! I have two sets of two tickets that just might be yours! Get on that social media and get the word out there. Help families heal!
When I received the invitation to attend the Food Bloggers Cook-off, I was excited and intimidated at the same time. Excited for the opportunity to spend time with Chef Jost and intimidated by his prestigious reputation. Chef has been with the Fairmont group of hotels for over 15 years and trained in Strasbourg, France. His cuisine is phenomenal.
The Mac sent out a tweet with a copy of this picture attached:
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:
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
Happy K-Days Edmonton!
I work in the Associated Engineering Plaza where the doomed sushi restaurant was situated. I am unsure of the name, but when I read the eviction notice on the door when I first started there, they did not look like they were very “upstanding” tenants.
I was excited to see that construction had begun with a new tenant and was intrigued by their marketing campaign. They had a few quirky videos that were advertising “Public Conversation”. I scoured Twitter and the internets to see what I could find out about them, which wasn’t much. The last month or so of the campaign they finally gave their operating name “Central Social Hall”, got their website, Facebook, and Twitter on the go. They are part of the Two12 Social Co.
The menu was not online on opening day which was a little disappointing. They had however, left a copy at our reception desk to get some interest from the neighbours. I was also fortunate that one of my clients was hired in the kitchen so he was able to recommend some of the things that he like on the menu.
The decor is pleasant. They have cozy two person booths lining the walls and group booths on the floor. The monitors were set to “Conversation Starters” – bits of trivia and information to discuss. The Manager was there to greet people and direct them to seat themselves. They do not currently take reservations for lunch.
The menu is a one page affair – relatively standard “Gastro-Pub” fare with their own flare on a lot of the items. Appetizers run from ten to thirteen dollars, salads from ten to eighteen dollars and entrees from fifteen to seventeen dollars.
The beverage menu is where Central Social Hall differs from the rest – they have a lovely variety of craft beers and martinis on tap – yes you read that correctly! Martinis on tap!
Since I was only there for lunch that day, I chose the Crispy Mac & Cheese; Deep fried Mac & Cheese squares filled with premium cheese and ham; a new spin on an old favourite.
As you can see the presentation is pleasant – the sauce on the side is ketchup.
The texture of the Mac & Cheese was pleasant. I found the taste was rather bland. I would have like to have tried it with a sharp cheddar or have had some hot sauce to accompany it.
My lunch companion had the “Fruit and Nut Salad” which she commented, was very refreshing and tasty.
I chose the appetizer as the main for lunch so that I could indulge in one of the three desserts on the menu. I chose the Creme Brulee.
As you can see from above – very nice presentation. The signature in chocolate and berry on the bottom is a very nice touch. The raspberries brightened everything up. The kitchen did a beautiful job of torching the sugar – it had a very nice crust on top.
The custard was smooth and tasty – not heavy or overpowering. Very tasty.
My lunch companion chose the Red Velvet Cake which was also very beautiful – very deep red. She commented that it was good but she had made better at home.
The downtown restaurants are notoriously busy at lunch and most strive to get the patrons through lunch as quickly as they can so they can get back to the daily grind. I was a little disappointed in the time it took to get the food to the table – 40 minutes. I was almost hesitant to order dessert but decided it should be relatively quick. I was late to get back to work, but luckily my lunch companion was my boss.
Will I go back again – yes. I will chalk it up to opening day jitters and certainly give them another try. I am a “three strikes and you’re out” kinda gal. I can see myself sipping martinis with friends and engaging in “Public Conversation”. It is a nice place to leave your social media behind and visit with great friends.
The Mercer Warehouse downtown and I have had a love affair that has been going on for years. From the art installments, to the Halloween Parties and Ghost Tours to the building being empty for years. When I was at the City Market downtown one weekend, I saw that they were restoring the building and it looked like maybe some new tenants. I hoped that they were businesses and that they were not turning it into condos.
My prayers were answered and Roast Coffeehouse and Mercer Tavern were soon to be opened.
You would think that with my food obsession I would be one of the first people in on opening day… Due to the busy summer I did not get to visit Roast until almost the end of August. I had saw a tweet about a Maple Bacon Latte and knew I would have to drop in to see what they were all about.
This is a Maple Latte – it is garnished with whipped cream and then a couple of pieces of caramelized Bacon.
The Bacon is fantastic! Crispy and gooey at the same time – it stuck to my teeth. Bacon lovers would love this taste experience.
If you want the latte to have any Bacon flavour in it you need to dunk one of your pieces of Bacon into the latte and let it float – that is, if you can resist eating it!
The Baristas at Roast took a while to get the latte out but it looked like they were having problems with one of the spouts on the espresso machine pulling shots. It was worth the wait – the shots were perfect.
The atmosphere and decor in Roast make for a very comfortable experience. The hardwood floors and open beamed ceiling are the originals from the warehouse. It has a rustic feel while the fireplaces give the atmosphere warmth and the stainless steel bar type chairs give it a touch of modern class. There are overstuffed leather chairs by the fireplaces so there are “homey” feels to certain areas as well. Sure to please many different types of customer.
Currently Roast’s kitchen is not open, but the Barista assured me that it would be soon.
If you like to avoid the hustle and bustle that the “Green Giant” offers – then you should give Roast a try. I can see myself curling up in front of a fireplace with a good book and a great cup of coffee for an hour or two.
Kudos Roast!
Part of the reason that I love Social Modern Pub so much is that the Kitchen Manager, Paul Hoshowski, likes to try his menu items with actual customers before they end up on the menu. He likes to get honest feedback on his items and is constantly striving to improve the experience.
Our Tuesday Shenanigans group adores Bacon. It’s all about the Bacon… Rumour has it that this lovely appetizer is going to end up on the next menu:
Bacon Wrapped Bacon
On a bamboo skewer you have six pieces of Canadian Back Bacon drizzled in maple syrup and then rolled in brown sugar. This is then wrapped with Bacon strips and drizzled in some more maple syrup. The skewer is then put under the broiler until the bacon is nice and crispy.
Bacon lovers rejoice! The angelic choir sings as you bite into this succulent creation!
Seriously though – for fellow Bacon lovers biting into one of these is a marriage of flavours that are perfect for one another. Maple and Bacon already pair well together – so adding the back bacon just makes the experience that much better! The crispy outside makes the Back Bacon inside tender and juicy. The sweet hint of Maple is not overpowering and would go well with a Voodoo Bacon Maple Ale (which Social Modern does not have on the menu – just sayin’!).
So as soon as the new menu is out – I will be sure to share it with you all. Until then… It’s all mine!
We found out a couple of weeks ago that our favourite pub – Social Modern, has a Kitchen Manager (Paul Hoshowski) that likes to use his regular customers as taste testers for when he is coming up with the new seasonal menus. Do we complain? Never!! Always willing to try a spoonful of this and a forkful of that…
Raspberries just happen to be my favourite fruit, seeds and all. There is not much that Paul adds to the recipes for his sorbet, I believe this was fresh raspberries with honey to sweeten it a bit and some corn syrup to thicken it up.
I am still trying to formulate some way of keeping track of where the YEG Foodtrucks are on any given day. I work downtown so am always hoping they will be close enough to my office to be able to sample their wares. I just happened to luck out this week!
The Drift has had to fight with local restaurant owners for their right to park their truck and sell their food. The food truck trend in Edmonton is a relatively new thing and the City is going to have to provide some solid regulations at some point.
I have learned that Nevin and Kara use “Twitter” to broadcast the information for their whereabouts and their menu. I happily found out that they would be near my office for most of the week. I had been very disappointed that the last Jerk Chicken had been sold to the gentleman directly before me at the last “What the Truck” Extravaganza. I made sure that I got there before the lunch crowd to avoid the lineups.
I (very happily) got my Jerk Chicken.
On the menu it is described as; “Jerk Chicken on a Ciabatta bun served with grilled pineapple coleslaw”. Drift gives the sandwiches to you served in a paper bag, as you can see I brought it back to my office and put it on a plate. I am glad I did! The juicy pineapple can make for a drippy experience.
The Jerk Chicken was absolutely delicious! It was a very pleasant afterburn. The Drift seems to have their own blend when it comes to spicing things up – their fries are spectacular as well. I think I tasted some cinnamon in the blend – but don’t quote me!
Thanks Nevin and Kara – it was totally worth the wait!
So go out and find @driftfoodtruck on the Twitter and give “The Drift” a taste!
We have been searching the city for a gastro-pub that can handle a group of between 15 and 20 people every Tuesday. We had tried Brewsters, Rosario’s, O2’s and all three had failed to provide the service or the quality that we were looking for. You would think that a pub would welcome steady income on a weeknight – but alas, no go!
Our regular Tuesday Shenanigans attendee, Michael G. had posted on his Facebook about a lovely meal he had at a gastro-pub that I hadn’t heard of before. I did the Google search and found them. It looked like they might be a good fit for our group – even though they had some pretty bad reviews regarding Wednesday nights. They had just opened in December of 2011 and seemed to still be getting their bearings. Mike is a fellow foodie with a palate very close to my own, a fellow lover of bacon – his recommendation alone was good enough for me to at least give them a try.
I made my reservation and the Manager, Ian was nice enough to give me an email back to confirm. They are located downtown, just behind Grant McEwan campus. The building was “Campus Grill” in an alternate reality. There is free parking in the small lot behind the building or on the street after 6pm. They are open daily at 4pm and generally open until midnight on the weekdays. They have a daily special that is phenomenal – and I am sure I will be posting as many of them as I can get to!
When I walked in I immediately fell in love with the decor – very minimalist done in black leather and red paint. They are high-backed bar chairs done in red with some booth-type seats in black. The place is not huge, and not handicapped accessible. It is well laid out and comfortable. There are several large screen televisions that play sporting events and they have satellite music playing that has always been a bit too “poppy” for my tastes.
The wait staff was quick, friendly and efficient. She told us about the nightly special which was that you buy any alcoholic beverage and you get the “Socialite Burger” with fries at no charge.
Of course, you have the options for the extras – the burger pictured above has added bacon and an upgrade to yam fries. The patties are hand made and spiced to perfection. I couldn’t tell you what is in it besides garlic – but it is damn good!
The Kitchen Manager/Chef is one Paul Hoshowski. His menu is thoughtful and creative. If you have someone in your party that is a Celiac or Vegan – he has ingredients in the kitchen where he can whip you up something that will agree with your stomach! He is kind enough to come out a couple of times a night to make sure that the food is up to standards and to see if there is anything that could have been done better.
The “on tap” selection is small, but the bar selection is pretty decent. As you can see in the photo above, there is an “Aprikat” from our local “Alley Kat” brewery here in Edmonton. It pairs rather nicely with the “Socialite” burger.
Paul is wonderful at the desserts as well. The menu has a couple of choices for dessert but Paul always has some kind of special up his sleeve!
Creme Brulee – not on the menu – it just happened to be what Paul had for the dessert special of the evening. It was some of the creamiest custard that I have ever tasted!
Many thanks to Ian, Paul and the wait staff at Social Modern Pub – we <3 all of you and all of us with the Tuesday Night Shenanigans group really appreciate all that you do for us!
And if you are an Edmontonian – you really need to go and give these guys a try!