Restaurant Review

If Lobster Summer were a holiday, I would put it right Christmas. Every summer, the Keg brings back their beloved lobster menu. The true definition of surf and turf.

CRAFT is in the heart of downtown Edmonton at 10013 101A Ave (off Rice Howard Way). The building is unique, with high ceilings and an overall vintage feel.

I love Indian food. In fact, when I die, you can bury me in a vat of paneer masala. Indian food is categorically delicious: the flavors oscillate between sweet, spicy, and savory, and it melds creamy sauces with soft bread, tender meat, and vegetables to make something incredible. It’s a divine synthesis that is aromatic and sophisticated without being bougie, yet has something for every dietary inclination. Recently, we were invited to the new Guru Kitchen + Bar downtown for their Date Night Experience. Almost equivocal to my love for Indian food is my adoration for date nights so you can imagine my excitement. Walking into Guru, you are instantly hit with that enticing aroma we all know and love, and you know you’re in for a treat. We did not leave disappointed.

On a warm summer day in Edmonton, a line of people has formed, neatly herded by a rope under the cover of several tents, in front of an unassuming building in a southside shopping centre. A man stands guard at the front of the line, asking individuals how many people per party and ushering in just a few at a time. No, this isn’t the scene outside some hot, new Edmonton nightclub. It’s dinnertime and the crowd is waiting to eat at Edmonton’s first Jollibee – suddenly, it’s the place to be. The first time I heard about Jollibee was after Anthony Bourdain’s visit to Manila in Parts Unknown, where he called it “the wackiest, jolliest place on earth.” Founded in the Philippines, the fast-food chain has become an absolute sensation across the globe. Store openings attract crowds days in advance – the first person in line for the Edmonton opening waited three days to be exact. So what is all the hype about?

One of my top-five favorite TV shows is Boardwalk Empire. Boardwalk Empire tells the story of a twenties gang called the Big Seven Group and their rise to gangster fame. The Big Seven came together to bring people booze during Prohibition by smuggling barrels of Canadian Club whisky across the border. Gangsters like Al Capone, Arnold Rothstein, Nucky Johnson, Meyer Lansky and, my personal favorite, Lucky Luciano. Why is this relevant? It’s relevant because right now in my top-five favorite Edmonton coffee shops is Lui-Chi’s. A shop that sells wood roasted, whisky barrel aged coffee (see what I did there? Luciano-Lui-Chis, whisky barrels… you get it).