Congratulations to the winning chefs at Edmonton’s regional qualifier for the Canadian Culinary Championship. Riverview at Glenora Park’s Chef Doreen Prei took the top spot, with silver going to Chef Jason Greene from Braven, and bronze to Out of Bounds Restaurant’s Chef Julia Kundera.
And congrats to Edmonton’s Duchess Bake Shop celebrating their 15th birthday, and to Calgary steakhouse, Hy’s, on the 10th anniversary of their return to the city!
Calgary has a new Peruvian restaurant! Sumaq (‘beautiful’ or ‘harmonious’) is a cultural education and experience as well as delicious! It’s family, with Chef Erika, from the north of Peru, and grandmum in the kitchen, following their hearts rather than recipes, and brother Eduardo is GM (the wall decorations were made by his son!). But you’re coming to enjoy the wonderful menu; to sip on one of the pisco cocktails – sours or chilcanos, and savour the beautifully balanced textures and flavours in freshly made seafood Causitas, Tiradito, Ceviche, and meaty plates of Pollada and Lomo Saltado, like we did. But save room for sweet potato and squash dessert Picarones! 1424 17 Avenue SW, closed Mondays. sumaq17.ca
Elephant & Castle has opened its British-inspired pub in Calgary’s former Rose & Crown location at 1503 4 Street SW, keeping the building alive with a major refurbishment and ensuring its future. You’ll be coming to talk business, chat with friends, or for soccer - the rooms are themed for different teams with no shortage of TVs showing the different games. The menu includes British classics: bangers and mash, fish and chips, meat pies (with a four-flight option to try them all!), sausage rolls, along with pub standards: burgers, wings, tacos… and of course a full bar list of draught and canned beers. It’s even better from 3-6 pm on weekdays, with $6 drinks and share plates! elephantcastle.com
And in Edmonton… Lawson’s British Fish & Chips has opened at the Sunwapta Centre, 10183 186 Street NW - and they know a thing or two, having run fish and chip shops across Scotland and England since 1987, launching in Canada in 2001. With pictures of English music icons eating fish and chips adorning the walls, and chip butties and mushy peas on the extensive menu (which includes steak and mushroom pie and haggis), and British beers and cider to wash it all down, we feel completely at home. lawsonsfishandchips.com
Edmonton’s Rachael King Bakery is open at 9754 182 Street, offering made from scratch, fresh, soft bread with ingredients from local farms and mills. As well as White and Butter Bread, try their signature African Sweet Bread, a Nigerian recipe much loved worldwide by people from Africa and the Caribbean. rachaelkingbakery.com
Say hi to Bonjour, Steph and François (of Avitus) Mion’s tiny sandwich shop in Calgary's Marda Loop – you’ll thank us! Choose crispy baguette with French fillings (try Bayonne ham with caramelised onions, and watch them melt the Morbier cheese with a huge blow torch!) or go for softer Schiacciata bread with Italian fillings (hot chicken pesto!), and don’t miss their Boeuf Bourguignon Comte sandwich with jus on the side. You can also build your own - pick your bread, protein, cheese, veggies, and spread, or try a meat or cheese board. Grab a non-alc beer or French soda (wine soon), and beignet for dessert. And they offer catering! 1909 34 Avenue SW, 11-5 closed Monday.
Chefs Bharat and Ashish have opened chef-driven, Namo Café Bistro in the south of Calgary, and unlike the Beltline and Edmonton Trail locations - it’s open for dinner too! Working together since their days at Belgo, these chefs have cooked all over the world, and the best experiences from their culinary journeys have inspired their menu, with must-try dishes such as the 6-inch Hoisin Duck Spring Rolls, and amazing flavours in the Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower! GM Jorelle oversees the bar and creates excellent cocktails (try the Irish Maid!). Designed by Perspective Interiors, this bright and modern restaurant serves brunch and dinner seven days (except Tuesday nights). 9737 Macleod Trail SW, namocafebistro.com
Daniel Costa’s newest venture, Olia, is now open in Edmonton’s Citizen on Jasper, and it’s the new incarnation of much-loved Uccellino! They’re getting rave reviews of ‘unbelievably fantastic food’, beautiful ambience’, and ‘fabulous service’,
with a menu that includes many Uccellino faves along with new creations, and - showcasing their made by hand in-house pasta – a pasta tasting menu with optional pairings from their exclusively Italian wine list. Wednesday–Sunday, 12016 Jasper Avenue.