Eight things you need to know about brunch at The Next Act: 1. It is located on 8224 104 Street just off of Whyte Ave, in close proximity to the Strathcona Farmers Market and the annual Fringe Festival.

Seven things you need to know about Seoul Fried Chicken: It is located at 7904 104 St NW, tightly hidden just off of Whyte Ave.

Four things you need to know about Prairie Noodle: 1. It is located at 10350 – 124 St. NW, a few steps away from a small office building and Credo.

Five things you need to know about Zwick’s Pretzels: 1. It is located on 12415-107 St, at the end of pretty questionable strip mall. I use the team strip mall very loosely.

I love celebrity gossip.  For instance – did you know, that back in 2012 when Justin Bieber was in Edmonton that he went to the Blue Plate Diner with then girlfriend Selena Gomez?  Yep, its true. And if you have ever eaten at the Blue Plate Diner (10145 104 St), you would understand.  There is something about the food and atmosphere that make the 104st Street fixture unique.  The staff are accessible and friendly.  It is just plain good.     Green Onion Cakes ($6) – with chili sauce and black vinegar       Bacon & Smoked Cheddar Beef Burger ($18) – house mustard blend, crispy bacon, aged cheddar, roasted garlic aioli and all of the fixings on a brioche bun     Roasted Jalapeno Grilled Cheese ($14) – served on grilled Parmesan-crusted sourdough bread     BBQ Meatloaf Sandwich ($17) with sweet potato fries and spicy mayo (add…

Generally speaking, when I go out to eat, I like to go out for things that I can’t easily make at home.  Sushi is one of those things and lately I have had a craving for it.  To satisfy the craving, we decided to go to Mikado downtown (10350 109 Street).   It had been a long time since I visited any of the Mikado locations, but not much has changed.  In terms of bang for your buck for sushi, Mikado might take it.  It’s delicious, affordable and the service is outstanding.  Simply put, they have a large selection of high quality, great tasting food.   Miso Soup ($3) – with seaweed, tofu, and green onion.   Spicy Tuna Roll with sesame ($9) – An inside out roll with spicy tuna and cucumber.   Dynamite Roll ($16) – Tempura shrimp, avocado, chopped scallops, cucumber, spicy sauce and tobiko (flying fish roe). Alaskan Roll…

I confess, I had no idea what the word “gastropub” meant when my boyfriend and I went to try Malt & Mortar, the self-proclaimed “gastropub” which joined the growing dining trend in October. And, I confess, that after we left, I still had no idea what the word meant.  So, I turned to Google.  I love Google.     Malt & Mortar, which opened in October, is located in the heart of Whyte Avenue (10416 82 Ave).  The inside is a modern take on a classic pub-style restaurant with high-ceilings, lots of brick and vintage photographs. The large central bar is surrounded with multiple seating options and no shortage of TV’s, which interestingly enough were playing everything from hockey to curling to Indiana Jones.  They have made a modest attempt to differentiate themselves from the usual pub suspects, which I think is a prerequisite of calling yourself a “gastropub” (versus just a…