Food Roundup
May 5, 2026
Shiddy's Distilling launched a reposado tequila on May 2, just in time for Cinco de Mayo. The word "tequila" can only be used for liquor distilled from the agave plant under specific conditions in certain parts of Mexico, such as its namesake city. This one was made in Jalisco before Shiddy's aged it in bourbon barrels for almost a year. The process makes it something of a pan-North American spirit.
A Canadian-ish tequila fits into the elbows-up trend that has taken hold among tariff turbulence with the United States, but not everyone has been convinced to divest from American spirits. Alberta had a brief ban on American liquor imports in the spring of 2025, but liquor stores here now sell U.S. alcohol as usual. Harsh Atthi, the owner-operator of Liquor Nerds in downtown Edmonton, told CBC's Sam Brooks that his customers don't mind buying American. "They'll buy it regardless," Atthi said. "They don't care what the origin is." Data from Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis shows imports of U.S. wine, beer, and "refreshments" have dropped by 42%, 92%, and 70%, respectively. In comparison, spirits have declined by just 13.5%. Candace Bouteiller of Woodwork told CBC that, given a choice, diners tend to choose non-American wine, but they often come specifically for bourbon, most of which is made in Kentucky.
Meanwhile, the provincial government is working on legally defining what can be called "Alberta whisky", giving it similar protections to those applied to tequila and bourbon, if not the even more stringent protected designation of origin applied to Scotch and Champagne. Part of the government's plan is to eventually foster a trail of Alberta whisky distillers similar to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
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Openings
- Brio Bakery has opened its second location, in the French Quarter at 9614 82 Avenue NW.
- Dirty soda shop Sip Soda Co. has opened its second location, at #110, 840 St. Albert Trail.
- No Frills opened a new store in Edmonton's Westwood community, with donations made to Edmonton's Food Bank and Coronation School at the grand opening.
- Dickey's Barbecue Pit is opening a fourth Edmonton location in the Ellerslie area on May 15. The new spot at 5250 Ellerslie Road SW will host an opening celebration from May 15 to 17.
- Always Coffee will open its second location on May 5, in Windermere at 6070 Andrews Way SW.
- The patio at Johnny's Store in Namao is now open for the season, offering baked goods, hot food, coffee, and adult beverages.
- Indian bakery Shree is opening a second location, downtown at Edmonton City Centre (10025 102A Avenue NW).
- The Lounge by CTK is now open at 240 St Matthew's Avenue in Spruce Grove, which Invest Spruce Grove celebrated on Instagram.
- North American chain Punjabi Chaap Corner has opened a location at 1075 Parsons Road SW. All dishes are made with plant-based protein.
Closings
- Transit Smokehouse has closed its Fort Road location as of May 3, but will be opening at 10732 Whyte Avenue NW soon.
- Canadian chain Basil Box is shutting down all its locations. The final day for its lone Edmonton shop in Edmonton City Centre is May 14.
Headlines
- Baijiu has the best bar patio in Canada, according to Canada's 100 Best. The patio, built on a former parking lot to serve patrons outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic, is on land leased from a private landlord, so it isn't subject to the city's new fees for patios on public lands, owner Kevin Cam told Postmedia. Leasing costs more, and the city's fees are "a fair price to pay, especially since these businesses haven't been paying since 2020," Cam said. Next of Kin landed at #46 on the Best Bars list.
- Mitsoh, which makes pemmican strips, and Gummy Nutrition Lab are among the Edmonton companies named as finalists for the 2026 ScaleUP Awards. The awards gala takes place on June 10 in Calgary. ScaleUP will also host a breakfast in Edmonton on June 12.
- To Do Canada published a guide to Mother's Day activities in Edmonton for the May 10 weekend, with options including brunch events, craft markets, high tea, workshops, and outdoor activities in the river valley. Among them is a fundraising brunch in support of the Compassion House Foundation at State & Main that runs until May 10. Also featured is a drag brunch at Spotlight Cabaret on May 10.
- Choogle Dogs are now available at Acme Meat Market within Ritchie Market. Proprietor Stu Chell makes the tubesteaks at the Meuwly's commercial kitchen on 124 Street, which is now part of the Scale Kitchens brand for food entrepreneurs.
- Edify published a guide to five sandwiches worth seeking out, including Va's mortadella panini on ciabatta; the focaccia chicken club at Pals; Farrow's vegan bánh mì-inspired sandwich; Tulip Sandwich Shoppe's sausage, bean, and walnut sandwich on brioche; and the smoked beef and stracciatella focaccia at the Lift Me Up sandwich concept by the Tiramisu Bistro group.
- La Morenita owner Angelica Cruz spoke about her involvement in a taco festival on May 2 with CBC Edmonton's Radio Active. Cruz also shared the significance of Cinco de Mayo, which falls on May 5.
- The Old Red Barn in Leduc County hosts Farm to Flame dinners from June to September. The multi-course open-fire meals are prepared by owners Matt and Melissa Schur and resident chef Tyson Wright, who won the gold medal at the Great Canadian Kitchen Party in 2025. Past menus have featured fire-smoked beef tenderloin, braised bison short rib, and coal-roasted vegetables.
- Julie Van Rosendaal shared how to make green onion cakes based on the recipe from Siu To of the Green Onion Cake Man.
- Edify profiled author Paul Fischer, emphasizing his love for the area around Little Brick in Riverdale. Fischer is the author of The Last Kings of Hollywood: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg — and the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema, a New York Times bestseller.
- Buco chef Alberto Alboreggia cooked an Italian-inspired hot dog pizza and a chicken parm calzone for the Off Air Talks podcast, inspired by the now-ended Oilers playoff run.
- Doreen Prei shared ideas for a spring herb garden menu with CBC Edmonton's Radio Active, offering tips on dishes such as a roasted chicken salad with tarragon, sage, and other garden-grown herbs.
- Blind Enthusiasm, the wild fermentation brewery founded by former BioWare co-CEO Greg Zeschuk, is researching microbiomes in brewing and is now expanding internationally. The brewery already sells in four Canadian provinces and the Netherlands, with European expansion underway and entry into the U.S. and Asia under consideration. "I thought I was a good businessman, but running a restaurant turned out to be hard," Zeschuk told the Washington Beer Blog about folding Biera, a former staple of the Ritchie Market that has been replaced by Campio Brewing.
- Edify rounded up Edmonton whisky experts' favourite high-end bottles, with recommendations from Sherbrooke Liquor CEO David Owens and Whisky Drop owner Graham Usher. Top picks include a $234 Inchgower 2008 single malt, a $225 Brave New Spirits 28-year single grain, and a $462 Compass Box Metropolis Scotch blend.
- The Tipsy Trivia quiz night takes place at many popular bars and restaurants across the Edmonton region, and has grown from a local company to operating in Calgary, Fort McMurray, and Kelowna. Owner Curtis Dominique told Edify that events are coming soon to MKT Fresh Food and Beer Market.
- The Green & Gold Community Garden at the University of Alberta's south campus has launched a GoFundMe campaign to purchase a walking tractor for its minimal-till farming operation. The volunteer-run, 2.5-acre garden and fruit orchard has directed all proceeds from its produce sales to Tubahumurize, a Rwandan women's organization, for the past 18 years.
- The Tomato explored the role of bees in Alberta food and agriculture, including a hive inspection with Dustin Bajer, who manages five beehives on the roof of the Edmonton EXPO Centre. The hives are tended on behalf of Explore Edmonton and the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Alberta produces more than a third of Canada's honey, with beekeepers facing growing challenges from Varroa mites, climate change, and annual hive losses.
- Linda Ho of NAIT's Centre for Culinary Innovation discussed the new warning labels that pre-packaged food products sold in Canada must now carry when they are high in saturated fat, sugar, or sodium. Alberta Food Processors Association executive director Bianca Parsons previously told Taproot the move puts Canadian producers at a disadvantage in the age of tariffs.
- MOVATI Athletic raised more than $80,000 and collected more than 3,400 pounds of food for Edmonton's Food Bank and Feed Ontario, providing more than 164,000 meals through its spring food drive and Shake Days fundraiser.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up over the next seven days:
- May 5: Spilt Spring Series - Fresh Herbs starting at 6:15pm at Spilt
- May 6: Chill-able Wines: Reds vs Whites starting at 6pm at Color de Vino
- May 7: An Evening in the Loire Valley starting at 5pm at The Marc
- May 7: The Taste & Silent Auction starting at 7pm at Devon Community Centre
- May 8: A Taste of Loire with Maxime Bourret starting at 6:30pm at Signature Wines, Spirits & Craft Beer (149 Street)
- May 9: ChocoTALKS: The botany of bean-to-bar with Janice Cooke starting at 7pm at Delavoye Chocolate Maker
- May 10: Mother's Day Royal Brunch starting at 9:30pm at Northeast River Valley Park
- May 10: High Tea with a Twist: Mother's Day High Tea starting at 11am at Halo Bar and Bistro
- May 10: Community Cooks: Nepalese Cuisine starting at 12pm at Dovercourt Community Hall
- May 10: Mothers Day at Felice starting at 1:30pm at Felice Cafe
- May 10: Perogies Cooking Class starting at 3pm at DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen (Fort Road)
And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:
- May 21: Borshch Cooking Class at DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen (Fort Road)
- May 25: Reading Between the Barcode Lines: Queuing Up Customers at Magpie Books
- May 26: Pierogies and Pints at Leduc Brewing Company
Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.