We’re back…

From our amazing wine and culinary tour adventure in Alsace and Champagne – and OMG was it a good one!

Thank you to all the participants who wrote (and I’m quoting here) that the food and the wines were beyond expectations, and they experienced fantastic wineries and outstanding champagne houses. And it makes my heart sing when they say that as well as enjoying the wines and food, they’ve come home with the camaraderie of new friends who journeyed with them. Now we can’t wait for our repeat tour next autumn!

I’ve been catching up on all the fascinating happenings in Alberta’s beverage world, and it’s all good news. We’ve kissed and made up with our neighbours, resulting in legal cross-border shipping of wines, so we can openly order online direct for those wines we can’t get here, and join their wine clubs. We all win by that decision!

And now we hear that a panel of government MLAs have been looking into expanding alcohol sales outside our province’s 1,600 privately owned liquor stores, to grocery stores, just as the decision Ontario made a few months ago, that took effect October 31.

Welcome to the 21st Century Ontario! Now, not only can you buy beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages (but not spirits/ hard liquor) in convenience stores and supermarkets, but you can fill up your tank and buy your booze at the gas station too! (Some Alberta 7-Eleven dining areas are already licensed to sell alcohol, as restaurants).

Alberta has been the only privatised province for liquor sales for 31 years, so we’ve been watching developments with both eyes open, but ultimately just a couple of weeks ago, the decision was made not to change the status quo here as it could "significantly harm small businesses and could ultimately lead to widespread closures, job losses, and diminished selection for consumers."

We applaud that decision; our local liquor retailers are mostly staffed by knowledgeable and trusted, experienced sommeliers who can answer your questions, and advise on the right product for you - and there’s no shortage of wonderful, small, privately owned stores here offering us a bigger selection than anywhere else in the country!

Cheers, Linda, Editor-in-Chief

Salutes & Shout Outs

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!

Elephant & Castle has opened its British-inspired pub in Calgary’s former Rose & Crown location, 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! 1503 4 Street SW, elephantcastle.com

And in Edmonton… Lawson’s British Fish & Chips has opened at the Sunwapta Centre, 10183 186 Street NWand 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

Say “hi” to Bonjour: the tiny sandwich shop run by Steph and François Mion (of Avitus) 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.

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

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.

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, 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