Given the vast stretch of prairies we find ourselves in, and the numerous farmers markets in the city, it's no surprise that farm to fork dining is a growing trend here in Edmonton. RGE RD is another addition to the culinary scene that does just that - offers sustainable dining and supports local producers in and around the Edmonton area.

RGE RD - 10643 123 Street - Edmonton AB

At the intersection of farm, food and friends, we find Chef Blair Lebsack, a talented chef, local food advocate, and once culinary instructor at NAIT. I remember many times reading about his RGE RD dinners held at the Nature's Green Acres farmland, wishing I had the time (and money!) to attend the summertime meals. So luckily, Chef Lebsack decided to bring the concept into the city, opening up a 40 seat restaurant for all to enjoy.

Arriving to the restaurant, it doesn't seem to special when looking from the outside. But once you walk in through the doors, the dim lighting and wooden decor gives it a homey feel. The rustic environment is cozy, and with the many tables in the dining room, it makes the dining experience more intimate.

As the menu is dictated by what is available seasonally, it will be changing constantly. To start off the meal, I ordered the Front Porch Iced Tea for the day, described to be made with whatever was picked from the garden for the day. That night, it happened to be a Maple & Saskatoon Berry Spritzer, made with maple soaked saskatoon berries. The maple flavour was evident, and the berries were quite sweet, making it a tasty drink to accompany my meal.

To start the meal, we chose the Alberta Whitefish with BC Side Stripe Prawns ($12): liquid chilies, marinated cucumber, urban greens. First off, the presentation of the dish was beautiful. A giant piece of whitefish, accompanied by 3 smaller prawns was served up with a medicine dropper-esque contraption, filled with liquified chilies - which I believe was a mix of Habanero chilies and cayenne pepper. The fish was tender and flaked beautifully with each bite, and the small but meaty prawns in the tangy sauce were a great accompaniment. The liquid chilies were quite hot, and added a nice kick to the dish.

As my main, I ordered the Nature's Green Acres Whole Hog served in two courses ($29). First up was hog belly served with spicy coleslaw, and I was actually a little shocked as to how small the piece of pork belly was. Size aside, the belly was tender and fatty, and seasoned in such a way that it reminded me of Chinese BBQ pork. The slaw itself was crunchy, quite spicy and tangy, cutting the fattiness of the pork belly.

The second course with the hog was written as the loin served with hock and beans - but what arrived infront of me was better. I got a large portion of loin served on top of their summer cassoulet with seasonal vegetables and white bean puree. On the side was also a piece of what appeared to be small ribs, seasoned with a thick tomato paste. The loin was tender and juicy, seasoned lightly to allow the natural flavours of the pork to shine through. I found the cassoulet to be quite salty though, and was only able to eat it paired with the pork - not on its own.

The second entree we ordered was the Pilatus Farms Bison ($29): barley, kohlrabi, pickled walnut, pork jowl, onion. The medium rare bison sat atop a bed of barley mixed with kohlrabi, while small slivers of onion and the pickled walnuts accented the plate. In comparison to my hog, this dish was bland. However, eaten on its own, I really enjoyed the subdued flavours, and was able to appreciate each component on its own. The combination of different textures on the plate kept things interesting, although I can't say I'm a big fan of the pickled walnuts. For something that typically has some bite and crunch to it, the walnuts were soft, and didn't have the resistance a regular walnut would have. My boyfriend enjoyed them though - so to each their own.

To finish off the evening, all the desserts on the menu sounded delectable, but we ultimately chose the Chocolate S'more ($9): chocolate sable, graham wafer, chocolate truffle, vanilla marshmallow, ice cream. When it arrived, it just looked so cute and was the perfect size to share between two. It wasn't too sweet, and wasn't messy, making it the perfect s'more for me - only thing is that it was a tad cold and the graham wafer was pretty tough to break. I loved the toasted marshmallow, and even the vanilla ice cream had a slight smokiness to it, bringing the campfire to the table.

Leaving RGE RD with my belly full, the meal service was lovely and the food was delicious. Given the pricing on the menu, I will say that this isn't going to be your everyday choice for dinner, but I would definitely recommend it for special occasions and dinner dates. One thing I noticed on the menu was the RGE RD Trip, a six course tasting menu available for $70+, with no advance notice necessary. Wine pairings are available as well for $50, but if you know tasting menus, $70 per person is a steal! I'm sure I'll be back in the future to check it out, given that the food was excellent.

Happy Monday! I'm still off on holidays, but had to take some time to catch up with you all! I spent the last couple days along the northern Oregon Coast and had so much fun - catch up with me via Twitter & Instagram for updates!

This week I have another one of my summer favourites to share with you all - OPI's You're Such a Kabuki Queen from the 2005 Japanese collection. Oldie, but a definitely goodie. It's the perfect watermelon shade to wear on nails for the summertime, and more often than not, I actually wear it on my toes. This creamy shade has a wonderful formula, flowing easily onto the nails upon application and it levels out quickly all on its own. With up to 5 days of wear chip free, what's not to love?

Hi-Lo Dress from HK (similar) | Zara Heels (similar) | Coach Clutch
Belt from Coach Bag | Coach watch & rings | Helloberry bracelet (similar)
A little while back, I had the opportunity to join my boyfriend in attending a show by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra for the first time! It was such a great experience for both of us, and we would definitely go back again. It's so great to experience the local arts & music scene, and of course I love any opportunity to dress up! I always feel most classy in black, and to stay on trend I pulled this high-low dress out of my closet. I love the high-low trend, especially the chiffon fabrics used in the silhouette. It's lightweight and perfect for the summer time, and these dresses are available in an array of colours. It's a great dress for petites too - as the front gives the illusion of longer legs! And gosh, we all know I could sure use the height :)

If there's any city that I feel knows how to do brunch, it's Calgary. Every Saturday or Sunday morning, local restaurants in the Calgary region offering brunch are bustling with activity, and the wait times are never-ending. Luckily, one of my last trips to Calgary resulted in stumbling across brunch where reservations were accepted.

Big Fish - 1112 Edmonton Trail NE - Calgary AB

As you can probably imply from the name, Big Fish is known for their seafood. With a commitment to sustainability by participating in the Oceanwise program, and supporting local businesses, I'm surprised I hadn't heard of them before. Oyster nights, fish, seafood paella, and other crustaceans can be found on their menu throughout the week, but I had no idea what they would be serving up for brunch.

Walking in shortly after 9 AM on Sunday, the restaurant was practically empty, giving the group of 7 of us the restaurant to ourselves. We were greeted warmly upon arrival, and seated with our drinks and menus in hand shortly after. Once we placed our orders, a plate with housemade ketchup and jam was brought to the table to accompany our dishes - and both condiments were delicious.


Wild mushroom, truffle, basil and white cheddar scramble on Noble duck confit hash
For myself, I had the Dungeoness Crab Eggs Benedict with Basil Hollandaise ($14), which came out with smashed red potatoes, baby pea tendrils, and Sidewalk Citizen's toasted bread. My eggs were soft poached perfectly, yolk oozing over the top of the entire dish when broken open. I love that real crab meat was used in the dish - its so rare, so I love being able to order fresh crab off menus when its available. The hollandaise was thick and creamy, but not overpowering, so that I could still taste the crab itself. With tender, flavourful potatoes and crisp toasted bread, the dish was perfect for brunch and I didn't feel overly stuffed.


Maple fried Highwood Crossing oatmeal with orange curd and vanilla bean cream
If you're a seafood fan but your culinary counterparts are not, the brunch menu at Big Fish is diverse and has something for everyone. The portions are perfect for brunch, and everyone at the table enjoyed the dish that they ordered. Most dishes run in the $12-$15 range, making brunch affordable, and with reservations accepted, there's never a wait. I would return to Big Fish for brunch without hesitation - heck, I actually really want to join them on Sunday nights for the traditional seafood paella!

Happy Monday! It's the start of a new week, and the start of my holidays, so let's make this post short & quick! This week I have something completely different to share with you - one of which I'm sure many of us ladies are familiar with: the hair straightener.

Two months ago, Misikko contacted me and offered to send me one of their best flat irons to try out and review. Misikko carries a wide range of salon grade flat irons and hair dryers, and I'm actually amazed with the fact that there are so many different ones available out there!

The one that I received is the Hana Professional 1" Ceramic Flat Iron with Tourmaline. The tourmaline component is incorporated into the ceramic plates that should hold up and never peel or split with use. Tourmaline itself is a mineral, and when used in the plates it generates a negative ion boost to give hair shine by neutralizing the positive ions in our hair to give healthy, smooth results. The flat iron promises to provide maximum frizz-free shine, and has "floating plates" so that it can glide over any amount of hair of any texture to straighten it. With the ability to flash heat between 140-450 degrees Fahrenheit, it seems to promise quite a bit.

After 2 months of testing out the Hana Pro flat iron, I have to say I quite enjoy it. Once the iron is turned on, it heats up almost instantly to the temperature I need. The plates guide very smoothly against my hair, without feeling like its pulling or gripping tightly onto my hair strands. It straightens my hair faster than any other iron I've purchased in the past, and the results are long lasting. My hair just feels so straight and smooth after use, and I would definitely recommend this iron!

Now this iron can be used with wet or dry hair, and it works equally as well for curling hair. I actually love using this for curling as it gets the job done so fast! This particular flat iron retails for $205, but is currently on sale at Misikko for $130! So take a look if you're interested - all flat irons from Hana come with a silicone heat proof mat and a heat resistant storage bag for safety and portability.

*Disclaimer: this post contains a sample provided by PR for consideration of a review

Whenever a new restaurant plans to open up in Edmonton, people here get pretty excited. There was so much buzz on social media about the opening of Plow & Harvest - not to mention, tons of giveaways for invitations to their exclusive sneak peek tasting before opening. I was included in the bunch of people excited about the opening, 'cause who doesn't love comfort food? The winter months here can be horrible and there's nothing better than a hearty bowl of soup or a heaping portion of mac 'n' cheese on a cold night!

Plow & Harvest - 10041 170 Street - Edmonton AB

Like the name suggests, Plow & Harvest aims to focus on making connections with local producers, to use their product to create the familiar flavours in comfort food that we all know and love. Walking into the restaurant, it really does have the farm and countryside feel - white picket fence and tractor included! The wooden accents and decor have a homey, rustic feel to them, and the large windows allow for lots of natural lighting.

During the night, I had the chance to speak with Chef James Bailey, who was on the team that came up with the concept for the restaurant and designed the current menu. A chalkboard around the side of the restaurant highlighted some of the local connections that the restaurant has already made, and he informed me that the restaurant is continuing to seek long-term relationships with farmers so that the menu can be as local as possible. In the next printing of the menus, the names of producers will be printed in the description of the dishes, so it will be great to see the recognition there. I have to say though - he did mention that Irving's Farm bacon is the best he's ever had, and I've got to agree!

At each table we noticed a tablet that had a program to peruse the entire menu. With the device, you were also able to put in your orders and even pay with a credit card on the spot. Pretty nifty, but it takes out the aspect of socialization with your server.  

Another feature of the restaurant that I appreciate is the openness of the space. The kitchen is open and visible to all patrons, and the tables are set at at a good distance from one another to allow for privacy. There aren't any major barriers that block one side of the restaurant out of view from the other either.

Aside from their list of local beers and wines to drink, Plow & Harvest offers Boylan's All Natural Sodas on tap and in bottles. Seven different flavours are available - with cherry cola, ginger ale, and lemon lime to name a few. I tried out the Cane Cola and Root Beer while I was there, and did enjoy both. The sweetness is less pronounced compared to their typical counterparts as cane sugar is used. The root beer actually reminded me of the old fashioned root beer you can get at the fair - so now you can get that flavour year round at Plow & Harvest!


Disclosure: as this was a media event, views expressed in this post are solely mine. I was not expected to feature this restaurant on my blog, nor obligated to do so. This post is 100% my opinion, and as always, my priority is to you, the reader, to present an unbiased, thorough review.

Once upon a time, my friend Ray would always taunt me on Instagram with pictures of a Japanese style Bibim Bap. Thickly sliced sashimi atop of rice with gochujang paste - who could resist? When I found out it was available at a restaurant in the Ellerslie area of the city, I had to make a visit to check it out.

Kami - 2915 Ellwood Drive SW - Edmonton AB

Kami is tucked away in a new strip mall, hidden away behind other buildings so that it is hard to see from the road. The space is quite small, with seating available for about 8 people, so it's moreso meant to be a take-out sushi establishment.

On the particular day of my visit, my family decided to dine in since the place was empty. We were offered the choice to sit wherever we wanted, and promptly received tea, plates and utensils before we ordered. I learned that the man up at the counter and woman serving us were actually the owners of the restaurant, and they happened to be Korean. Sorry folks, not authentic Japanese sushi.

After ordering our food, we saw the owner working away rolling up maki and slicing fish for sashimi. Except we waited, and waited, and waited some more until our first order came to the table 40 minutes after we ordered. The wait was ridiculous. Although it appeared the restaurant was quiet and empty, they had a ton of phone in take out orders that they were rushing to complete before we even got our food. It was pretty misleading, and I really wished they would have told us something with regards to the wait time for our food.

Wait time aside, the first roll to come to our table was the Sea of Fire roll ($15.20), consisting of cucumber, lettuce, and salmon, wrapped in an inside out roll, and topped with a cooked fatty salmon and lightly scorched with a flame. The piece of salmon further topped with a squirt of Sriracha, and doused in wasabi mayo and a sprinkling of tobiko. Talk about complicated. But in all honesty, its so good! The spicy kick from the sauces is toned down by the neutral tastes in the roll, and you get a taste of the BBQ from the charred rice.

We ordered three additional rolls, which all came to the table in a platter: The Fantastic Roll ($11.50) - mayo, fresh salmon, fish roe, crab, cucumber, avocado, Dynamite Roll ($10.40) - mayo, shrimp, spicy scallop, fish roe, cucumber, avocado, and Red Kami Roll ($8.50) - fish roe, mayo, egg omelet, sweet pepper, cucumber, avocado, crab. Each roll was pretty typical, tasting they way they had been described, and unfortunately none of them really stood out to me. But the rice wasn't mushy, and the rolls held together really well. And of course I have to give Kami some points for presentation - look at how they plate everything!

Next to the table was the elusive dish that Ray always teased me with: the BiBimBap Special with Spicy Fresh Sashimi ($9.40). Basically, the dish consisted of a bed of rice, then a layer of thinly sliced red and green cabbage, and finally topped with cucumber, egg, tobiko, and chunks of raw tuna and salmon. Topped with some gochujang sauce and all mixed together, it was pretty good. I wish there was a bit more fish in there though, as the ratio of veggies & rice to fish was a bit overwhelming.

Last but not least, I had to order their Udon Soup Special ($9.40). The bowl of noodle soup came out piping hot, but was unfortunately underwhelming since the broth lacked any depth of flavour. The fish cake, egg, imitation crab and shrimp fell short and didn't add much to the dish, so I would stay away from this one!

If I were in the Ellerslie area and was craving sushi, I would return to Kami, since the sushi is fresh and you get what you pay for. Would I go out of my way just to have the sushi? Probably not. With long wait times dining in, I suggest calling ahead and making a take-out order if you're interested. They have a variety of rolls available and sometimes you just have a craving for raw ingredients stuffed inside a tube of rice. Well, at least I have those cravings from time to time. I do have to mention something that caught my eye though - they have a lunch combo advertised for just over $6. I may go back to check it out just to see how much value you get at lunch time!