Food Roundup
Nov. 10, 2026
Green Onion Cake Man, the latest culinary venture of restaurateur Siu To, has announced its lease is up at the end of April, leaving fewer than six months for customers to visit the establishment at 9132 118 Avenue NW. "We'd love to see you in the coming months! Stop by, say hello and enjoy your favorite snack while you still can," says the restaurant's Instagram post, which doesn't indicate whether a new location is in the works. Meanwhile, customers wonder if the retail side of the business will continue at markets and stockists H&W Produce, Italian Centre Shop, Confetti Sweets, and Lucky Supermarket. Rest assured — To has shared his recipe for all the world to see.
To is believed to have introduced the green onion cake to Edmonton in 1980. He shared the full story with Let's Find Out in 2018 in response to a listener's question about how the green onion cake took hold here. The show explored To's earlier restaurants, such as the dearly departed Happy Garden. Host Chris Chang-Yen Phillips followed up with an update about the launch of Green Onion Cake Man on Alberta Avenue, a gateway to many international flavours. Along the way, To and his wife, Yeenar, brought the dish to festivals, classes, markets, and grocers, making green onion cakes a reason to love Edmonton.
Now in his 80s, To is exploring passions outside the kitchen. In 2024, he spoke to Taproot about inventing a new kind of golf club. He sells it under his NoMess Golf brand, through which he also teaches qigong movement techniques for mental and physical energy balance. "I am still alive. I'm still healthy. I'm capable. My mind is still OK," he said in 2024. "So, why not try to do something?"
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Openings
- Miss Saigon has opened its fifth Edmonton-area location, at 21664 92 Avenue NW in Winterburn.
- TORA Japanese Bistro will open on Nov. 17 at 9518 Ellerslie Road SW.
- Flame & Barrel owner Raj Mahanta spoke to the St. Albert Gazette about plans to open a second location in St. Albert later this month. The steakhouse is at 388 St. Albert Trail, in the former Thirsty Rooster space.
- The Captain's Boil is preparing to open its fourth Edmonton-area location, at 17528 100 Avenue NW in west Edmonton, following the opening of its third location in Sherwood Park.
Headlines
- Much of The Tomato's November/December issue celebrates the life of chef and entrepreneur Brad Smoliak, whose innumerable contributions include co-founding the Hardware Grill. Friends and colleagues remembered his warmth and pragmatism: "He was such a kind soul," said Kevin Toth, past general manager of the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. "He had a lot of great sayings we still use today — you can't fix stupid, or jackasses." Leanne Smoliak, Brad's wife, recounted their life as a family and Smoliak's heart condition, which he knew could take him from her too soon. "Brad never wanted his life to be defined by his illness," she wrote. "He used his illness to show people that you can fight for anything, you can fight for your life, you can fight for love, you can fight for your family, you just have to dig in." There is a fundraiser in his name for the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. The issue also includes recipes for Smoliak's Christmas baking and a porchetta dish he loved to make with his son Nicholas.
- Sabor is Edmonton's only entry on OpenTable's 2026 list of the Top 100 Restaurants in Canada. "We've hosted thousands of first dates, business dinners, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and celebrations of life," the restaurant posted in celebration. "We've seen a lot of happy tears (some sad ones too) and we're most grateful because whatever the occasion — you've chosen to spend your time and money with us."
- Duchess Bake Shop dropped its Harry Potter gingerbread theme after public criticism over author J.K. Rowling's anti-trans views. The bakery apologized and said it was building a festive holiday village instead. It partnered with the Pride Centre of Edmonton and said it would donate and match funds raised through the gingerbread fundraiser.
- In a personal essay, Jasleen Mahindru explored how Edmonton restaurants connect people with Diwali food traditions. She highlighted Goggi's Gully, Monsoon Bistro & Bar, and All India Restaurant and Sweets.
- Modern Luxuria's November issue profiles Poppy's, a new cafe and juice bar that employs people with disabilities and those who have experienced trauma. The magazine also highlights The Woodvale Room in Mill Woods.
- Great West Media's Cool Winter Guide features events around Alberta, including All is Bright along 124 Street on Nov. 14. Participating restaurants include Fox Burger and Woodshed Burgers.
- The Colombian's founders, Santiago Lopez and Kristin Panylyk de Lopez, said on their Confluence podcast that they paused opening new cafés to strengthen existing ones after opening three in one year. The episode explores financial discipline, operating systems, and workplace culture.
- Antoine Lavoie of Delavoye Chocolate Maker said the company completed its first custom order for Explore Edmonton, creating 25-gram chocolate bars to give guests and partners.
- The Tomato highlighted fall wines from vintners who held tastings at Edmonton businesses, such as Nowhere Wine Bar and Bar Bricco. The magazine also published wine-gifting recommendations from hospitality professionals at Darling, RGE RD, and more, with budget and splurge options from each.
- "Beer Guy" Peter Bailey explored holiday beer styles for The Tomato, alongside picks from local breweries and beyond. He suggested trying Analog Brewing's West Coast IPA, Alley Kat Brewing Co.'s Black Forest stout, Longroof Brewing's J-Dag dark lager, and Blind Enthusiasm's Spontaneous Manifesto, among others.
- Johanna Wasylik of Chatsworth Farm near Vermillion detailed which Edmonton businesses she makes a trip to for holiday foods. She shone a spotlight on smoked salmon and German sweets from K&K Foodliner, bread and cheese from Bonjour Bakery, and an entire smorgasbord from the Italian Centre Shop.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported collecting more than 257,000 pounds of food in Edmonton during its September food drive. Surrounding communities contributed another 137,000 pounds, with most donations going to Edmonton's Food Bank.
- The federal budget proposed a one-time 50% supplement to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit for early 2027. Eligible recipients could receive up to $339 for a single person without children or $679 for a couple with two children. Including earlier increases, 2026-27 benefit-year totals could reach $1,290 and $2,570, respectively.
Groceries cost Edmonton households $756 more this year
Food costs rose 6.9% in Edmonton's Living Wage calculation, the biggest jump of any household expense. That's $756 more a year for the average household. What would make everyday life more affordable? Join the conversation Nov. 19 at The Future We Can Afford.
Recipes and home cooking
- Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel published Weathering YEG: A Survivor's Guide to Edmonton's Seasons, pairing monthly stories with Alberta-spirit cocktail recipes. Authors Kylie Wetmore and Ryan Jones chose HALO Bar | Bistro's Manhattan recipe with Rig Hand Distillery rye whisky for November. Each purchase sends $10 to RENcares in support of the Inner City Youth Development Association.
- Lauren Kyle McDavid of Bar Trove shared entertaining recipes from her cookbook The Atelier Table. The Tomato published her takes on a pomegranate French 75 cocktail, pork tacos with pineapple salsa, and other dishes.
- Edmonton's Jainesh Bali made a mango panzanella salad and discussed his elimination from MasterChef Canada on CTV Edmonton's morning show.
- Daily Hive highlighted Duchess Bake Shop's upcoming classes at Duchess Atelier, including ones focused on German Christmas cookies, macarons, and sourdough.
- Chef Doreen Prei discussed ways to make the most of fall root vegetables on CBC Edmonton's Radio Active. Among her suggestions is a roasted beet salad.
- Dietitian Emily Mardell of Get Joyfull and ZerOne shared tips on getting more vitamin D from food during winter, including her recipe for salmon cakes, on CTV Edmonton.
- Chef and sports nutritionist Sheridan McLaren, who trained at NAIT, discussed budget-friendly whole foods and weeknight cooking on the Life Shouldn't Hurt podcast.
Agriculture and agri-food
- Aqtiva, which has come up with technology to help farmers increase crop yields, won the award for Innovation of the Year at the ASTech Awards on Nov. 6.
- Healing Homestead Store won the Tourism Business of the Year Award at the Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce's awards gala. The homestead offers agritourism experiences.
- Explore Edmonton hosted a Farmfair reception celebrating agricultural connections with Argentina at the Edmonton EXPO Centre. Argentina was the feature country for Farmfair International, which concluded on Nov. 8.
- University of Alberta researchers found that treating soil acidity benefited crops across multi-year rotations. Lime improved alfalfa growth and helped subsequent wheat and oat crops absorb more nitrogen.
- Leduc County council declared a municipal state of agricultural disaster after excessive rainfall damaged crops. It is the 13th Alberta municipality to do so this year. Administration reported that oversaturated soil wiped out a quarter of annually cropped acres. The declaration does not automatically unlock additional provincial or federal funding.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up soon:
- Nov. 10: Thoughtful Tuesday - Milked: White Lies in Dairy Land starting at 6pm at Earth's Refillery Coop
- Nov. 12: Aunt Hazel's Annual Christmas Party! - A Murder Mystery Event starting at 6pm at The Canadian Brewhouse (Windermere)
- Nov. 14: Christmas in November at Keg n Cork starting at 1pm at Keg n Cork Liquor Company
- Nov. 14-15: Hello Pretty Holiday Market starting at 12pm at Northeast River Valley Park
- Nov. 18: Top 40 Under 40 Celebration starting at 5pm at Winspear Centre
- Nov. 18: Hot Chefs Cool bEATS starting at 6pm at Royal Glenora Club
- Nov. 18: Indigenous Taste of the Market starting at 6pm at Old Strathcona Farmers' Market
- Nov. 19: Alumni Series Paired Dinner: Chef Joseph Vuong starting at 6pm at Ernest's Dining Room
- Nov. 19: Truffle Dinner with Vendemmia International Wines starting at 6pm at Sorrentino's (Downtown)
And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:
- Nov. 23: Reading Between the Barcode Lines: Gifting Outside the Box at Magpie Books
- Nov. 26: Ronald O. Ball Lectureship in Food & Agriculture From Field to Fad: Science, Misinformation and the Future of Food at Horowitz Theatre
- Nov. 27: Festival of Trees Silver Bell Soirée at Edmonton Convention Centre
Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.