Taste of Edmonton 2012

3 Months is too long without a post. But I do have a back log of reviews with lots of pics to keep you, the reader, interested. Anyways, after the hoo-hah on the blogosphere and twitterverse about the big food festival downtown, I took the LRT down to Churchill station to have a look-see

The Taste of Edmonton is an annual summer event, in downtown Edmonton (Churchill Square) lasting 12 glorious days (this year held July 19-28th) and highlights the cities’ (presumably) finest purveyors of international cuisine. 42 restaurants and about a half-dozen food trucks, composing the “Curb Your Hunger” program of the annual festival.

Live country music for those inclined.

Armed with a sheet of 20-1$ festival tickets, I sought out the longest lines, because naturally, people are lazy. So you should trust the cost-benefit analysis of the general masses, so if it’s worth waiting in line for, then a crowd ensues.  The concept of the festival is fairly straight forward. Snack-sized portions offered up at 4, 5, or 6 ticket prices.

Tied – First place: Grilled Quail with Pomegranate Sauce: Hoang Long Family Restaurant

Starting from the top, and tied for first for my favorite dish on the grounds, from Hoang Long Family restaurant, the Grilled Quail with Pomegranate sauce. I found this quail to be absolutely delicious,  and though I often choose to skip quail because of it’s labor intensive requirements to eat (read: small and plentiful bones), this was a task I happily endured. Although, my chief complaint is the lack of seating outside of the beer/wine gardens, and the mob crowds that quickly occupied curb space, I felt like a caveman, munching on bones, leaning on a tree and groaning in delight. To me, quail seems to taste completely of dark meat, but not lean by any means. Nice sweet-garlic marinade, perfectly charred on the outside and chin-dripping juicy on the inside. Bravo! (5 ticket item)

Tied- First place, Deep Fried Wonton with Crab meat and Cream Cheese – Panda Hut Express

This is home-cooked comfort food for me. My mother used to make these delicious, blood pressure elevating, cardiac disease risk increasing gifts from above. Apparently voted #1 dish by the festival, or so says the sign, it exceeded the high standard of my  maternal benchmark. Crispy throughout, artfully but simply crafted, each bite rewards a gratifying crunch followed by a creamy and slightly chewy texture afforded by what is probably imitation crab. Nonetheless, a nicely executed first course to any meal. Can you tell I liked it? (4 ticket item)

Third place- (and best dessert) – Strawberries in Grand Marnier with Vanilla Whipped Cream and Chocolate Sauce – Bistro Praha

I feel a little guilty praising this because it’s so insanely simple to imitate this and impress folks at home after an excellent home cooked meal.  Easy on the booze, fresh, plump strawberries, hand-whipped cream. Delightful. For home, I might switch out the chocolate sauce with reduced balsamic vinegar, or aged (at least 50yr) balsamic. Not much else to say other than, I wish the portions were larger! (4 ticket item).

Without being long winded, here are some other dishes I tried, or wanted to try. A must-attend annual event!

One last thought. Apparently there is a food-blogger event type cook off, and was judged by a panel of blogger-peers. Where was my invite! Foodmonton will be the newcomer chef to beat in 2013! Look out!

Vince