Food Roundup
July 7, 2026
Blind Enthusiasm will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Shout Out Out Out Out with a street party on July 11 from 2pm to 8:30pm. The band's Nik Kozub is also a brewer at Blind Enthusiasm and helped blend a special beer in honour of the anniversary. Blind Enthusiasm says to "expect prominent floral, peppercorn, juicy mango, and apricot flavors with a lightly resinous and peppery finish, rounded out by salivating tannins and a bright, balanced acidity." The band members co-wrote the recipe like they would a song, Kozub said in a video.
Soon Come Dogs will continue its hot dog pop-up series at the party with the char ztar dog. It comes with charred jalapeño aioli, pickled red onion, and crushed cool ranch Doritos dust, wrote Justin Benson. Shout Out Out Out Out members Nik7 (Kozub's stage name) and Jaycie Jayce, as well as frequent collaborator Khotin, will be spinning tunes all evening, including the band's hits.
This is the first summer that Seventy-Gr8 Ave is an official entertainment district, and businesses are making the most of it. Bent Stick Brewing hosted a Grown Up Book Fair and Shiddy's had its second birthday party. The district closes the avenue to vehicle traffic and permits patrons to consume food and alcohol on street patios. The avenue will be closed again on July 31, Aug. 28, and Sept. 25 for a Grand Night Market.
Food Roundup Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors for helping to make our work possible:
Openings
- Ariana Kitchen has opened at 13720 50 Street NW, specializing in halal Afghan and Turkish cuisine.
- Firehouse Subs opened post-security near Gate 49 at Edmonton International Airport, making it the first airport in Canada to host the chain. Edmonton's Synergy Franchising operates the location, which serves hot subs, breakfast items, salads, and grab-and-go options.
- Meat the Bun is opening on Baseline Road in Sherwood Park on July 11. The latest outpost of the smashburger chain will offer 20% off for its first week of operations.
- YEG Exotic has opened at 15003 118 Avenue NW after leaving Station Park among a mass exodus less than a year ago.
Closings
- KB&Co has closed its original location at 10224 104 Street NW. Owner Kristina Botelho cited a sales decline of 75%, the end of the business's lease, and personal reasons. The locally founded chain has locations in Windermere, Sherwood Park, and St. Albert.
- Rhubarb Café and Cocktails has closed at Manchester Square off of 124 Street NW. "Welcome to the club," commented former Manchester Square tenant Weird Neighbour.
Save on Taste of Edmonton tickets before the festival!
Get more value from your Taste of Edmonton experience with presale tickets. Purchase a sheet of 40 tickets before the festival and save $10. Buy online until July 14 or in-person until July 15. Have unused tickets? Donate them at any festival gate or the 880 CHED Info Centre.
Headlines
- KDays has partnered with 55 food and beverage businesses to offer free tickets when customers purchase items themed around the event or make a minimum spend. The KDays Local Business Partnerships program has distributed 52,000 tickets and brought in $460,000 for business partners since launching in 2024. Plus, Explore Edmonton has unveiled more than 50 new foods and beverages for the annual new foods competition.
- Green Onion Cake Man founder Siu To spoke with CBC's Edmonton AM about the 45th anniversary of introducing the green onion cake to Edmonton ahead of an event that has been rescheduled to July 31. Meanwhile, Edify put five local renditions to a taste test, from the classic from the Green Onion Cake Man himself to Oodle Noodle's deep-fried version.
- Edify has published its Summer Faves series, featuring profiles of Edmontonians sharing their favourite local spots and experiences, many within food. Faves include the eats and culture at Cariwest, selected by poet and performer Titilope Sonuga; sushi from Japonais Bistro, selected by hip-hop artist Ardn; the chicken arepas from Sabor de Los Andes, selected by Augusta Fashion + Textiles founder Maria Augusta; and the titular fare from Queen Donair, selected by Edmonton Elks coach Mark Kilam.
- The Edmonton Journal published a restaurant guide for visitors and out-of-towners, highlighting local spots including Bar Bricco, Bundok, Little Wolf, and Normand's. Reddit users have their own ideas of what should be on the list.
- Chefs from The Butternut Tree, Braven, RGE RD, and other local favourites will compete as part of the 20th anniversary of Canada's Great Kitchen Party, an all-stars edition at the Edmonton Convention Centre on Oct. 1.
- 7 Summits Snacks, the snack company founded by University of Alberta alumni Kristyn Carriere and her sister Leanna Carriere, is featured in a U of A alumni post about building a proudly local company with international potential.
- Edify's profile of the women of DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen explores the layers of Ukrainian identity in Edmonton, focusing on how each wave of Ukrainian immigration is different and how the business has become a meeting point between the diaspora and recent newcomers.
- DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen's co-owner Janice Krissa bemoaned the lack of free parking on evenings and weekends following graffiti to parking signs that blocks zone numbers. The digital-only payment system isn't just bad for business, she argued, it creates barriers for less tech-savvy drivers — including her mother.
- Spilt Zero Proof co-founder JoAnne Pearce's literary essay Drinks that Taste of Seasides and Woodsy Walks explores the creative rewards of making and consuming mocktails. The absence of alcohol allows bartenders to explore unexpected flavour combinations — ones that often prompt genuine surprise — she posited.
- A University of Alberta student noted six affordable Edmonton eateries for students looking to dine on a budget. Her suggestions include Nhon Hoa Sandwich Bar, Farrow on Whyte Avenue, Vi Nam Vietnamese Kitchen, Shan Shan Bakery, Steel Wheels, and Kinjo Sushi & Grill.. The student, identified only as Mel, also recommended deals offered by Dragon Food Tours.
- The Sherwood Park location of the defunct L'OCA Quality Market is up for sale via Marcus & Millichap.
- Quarterly payments of the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit — formerly the GST/HST credit — began on July 3, with a 25% boost for the next five years. Eligible lower-income households could receive between a few hundred and more than a thousand dollars per year, depending on family size and marital status.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up over the next seven days:
- July 7: The Public Farmers Market starting at 3:30pm at Ritchie Community Hall
- July 7: Trivia Night starting at 7pm at The Pizza Spot (West Edmonton Mall)
- July 9: Agricultural Service Board (ASB) Farm Tour starting at 7:30am at Sturgeon Agriplex
- July 9: Fort Saskatchewan Farmers' Market starting at 4pm at Legacy Park
- July 11: Alberta Food Tours: Savour Strathcona Food Tour starting at 11am at MEAT
- July 11: Edmonton Jerk Festival starting at 12pm at Queen Mary Park Community Hall
- July 11: Afternoon Tea starting at 1pm at Alberta Railway Museum
- July 11: Summer Block Party starting at 4pm at Rice Howard Way
- July 12: Science Sundaes starting at 12pm at TELUS World of Science - Edmonton
- July 12: The Craft of: Chocolate Mixology starting at 7:15pm at Delavoye Chocolate Maker
And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:
- July 25: Chinatown After Dark at 10640 98 Street
- July 27: Reading Between the Barcode Lines: Scanning for Surplus at Magpie Books
- Aug. 1-3: Edmonton Heritage Festival at William Hawrelak Park
Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.