German-Canadian Cultural Association Restaurant

German Canadian Cultural Association Restaurant

8310 Roper Road

Edmonton, AB T6E 6E3

(780) 466-4000

While Googling to to find a different German restaurant I'd been recommended (I couldn't remember the name Bauernschmaus), I stumbled on to the website of the German Canadian Cultural Association (GCCA), and discovered it had an associated restaurant. They're open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday , as well as lunch on Saturday. In additional to their traditional German menu, on Friday and Saturday evenings they put on a buffet. I thought this sounded like a place to check out, and set up a Meetup with the Edmonton Foodies to visit. When I arrived, I was directed to the restaurant, which is located just through the lobby of the of the GCCA. The space was bright but fairly nondescript in decor, and reasonably busy. The buffet was the most popular choice with other parties, so after ordering some Erdingers, we headed over to help ourselves.

Salad bar

Though I was tempted to start with desserts (see below!), I visited the soup and salad bar first. The soups change every week, and appear to be homemade. The salads are a weekly staple, and there was plenty of options to choose from, including beet, pasta, greek, fresh veggie sticks and smoked fish. The potato salad, mayonnaise-based but shining with a twist of dill pickle, was my personal favorite.  

Plate from the main buffet

The main buffet options change week to week, and can be found in advance on the GCCA website. I'd run out of room for the salmon with lemon butter, but was able to fit most of everything else on my plate (as well as a second helping of potato salad). The mashed potatoes and roast chicken were generic, but acceptable. Though I'm generally a big fan of braised red cabbage, theirs was a bit dry and disappointing. I don't see rouladen (a mix of onion, pickle and bacon rolled up in a steak) on menus very often, and really enjoyed this one.

Desserts

I was pretty stuffed, but of course found room for dessert. Between the strudel, pies, cakes and fruit it was a tough decision, but narrowed it down (slightly). While I was not blown away by the strudel, the German chocolate cake was deliciously and gooey with a sweet filling between the layers of moist chocolate cake.

Chicken schnitzel with spaetzle

Since neither schnitzel nor spaetzle were on the buffet that night, I decided to take some home with me to have for lunch the next day. The chicken schnitzel was lackluster; I much prefer Continental Treat's. The spaetzle, however, were dusted with herbs and were cooked in butter just enough to have a few crunchy bits. They might be the best I've had outside of Germany.

The general response from my group was extremely positive. The food was fresh, which is a challenge for a buffet. There was plenty of variety, and the options were all reasonably good, and, at $18.50 per adult, the consensus was that the value was excellent. While you might not find an out-of-the-park homerun (unless spaetzle is on the buffet that week), if you're looking for a good option for a group or a  fresher buffet with comfort food and a good variety, you might find what you're looking for at the GCCA.

A few more photos from our visit can be found here.

Restaurant website

Take Out Chronicles: Al-Salam Bakery & Restaurant

Al Salam Bakery & Restaurant

10141 34 Ave NW

Edmonton, AB T6E 5X9

(780) 944-0000

Quick snapper to tell you about one of my favorite places in the South: Al Salam Pita. You can choose your own adventure as soon as you enter Al Salam. Go right to explore their Middle Eastern grocery store, turn left to enter their full-service restaurant, or straight ahead is the kitchen and take out counter.

Mixed shawarma platter

I am partial to the mixed shawarma platter. After being sliced from the spit, the beef and chicken are grilled a little bit more before being topped with pickled turnips, pickles, and peppers. The fatoush salad is a loaded with dressing, which always leads to it being a bit limp by the time it gets home. The thick hummus packs a wallop of garlic, which, as a garlic-lover, is something I don't complain about.

Pita

The pitas are made in-house, daily, and toasted as the other food is being prepared so that it's slightly crisp on the outside. The pita itself expands like a pillow and has an inside soft like velvet.

I took me twenty years to try Lebanese food. I had no particular misgivings about it, but I was restricted by the limited options available in my small hometown. Shawarma was just another word I had no idea how to pronounce.  Pitas were a finicky vehicle for tuna salad when I ran out of bread which arrived in bags, flat and lifeless, from the grocery store. Since discovering Al Salam Pita, I've ordered enough shawarma that I feel my pronunciation is getting pretty solid, and, man, now I know what a pita should really be.

Delux Burger Bar (Magrath)

Delux Burger Bar (Magrath)

14111 23 Avenue 

Edmonton, AB T6R 3T7

(780) 989-2747

When I learned that Delux Burger Bar was closing its West Edmonton Mall location, I was disappointed. I'd visited several times in the past, and it became my go-to spot for a burger fix. However, as they closed the WEM location, the finishing touches to a new location were being made in a space at Magrath Market, formally occupied by a Wok Box. Delux Burger Bar, a Century Hospitality-owned chain, offers burgers and fries in an atmosphere more akin to an Earl's than a Five Guys. The prices reflect that, with burgers ranging from $10 for a basic 7oz heritage angus cheeseburger to $20 for an 8 oz kobe, and sides available a la carte. 

I was greeted by dimmed lighting and a blue color scheme familiar to me from the other locations, and I was initially quite impressed with the the renovation of the space. However, as we squeezed past others to be seated, I quickly realized the layout was quite tightly packed for a non-bistro restaurant. The tot at the adjacent table was able to reach across the very small gap between us and touch my guest, and even our waitress commented on the challenge of serving in such close quarters. While waiting in the inevitable washroom line up (there is only one washroom for each sex) another patron commented that restaurant just has too many seats for the space available. I've got to say that I agree. 

Clockwise from top: Kobe burger, cookies 'n' cream, fries

As I've come to expect from my visits to the other Delux locations, the food was delicious. My kobe beef patty was juicy and flavourful, and combined with bacon, cheddar, and a big onion ring, made for a very satisfying burger. Delux's fries, freshly-cut, crispy and accompanied by an addictive chipotle mayo are some of my favorites in the city.

While it's difficult to fault a restaurant for attempting to maximize seating in a tight space -- and I'm glad business is doing well -- I felt the comfortable dining experience at the old WEM location fit Delux's concept and helped justify their pricing. Perhaps when the new Magrath spot is less busy it feels more spacious, but, during my weekend visit, it was notably cramped. That being said, I did enjoy the food, and will return in the future, but likely not until the novelty and crowds subside. 

Restaurant website

Bubba's BBQ & Smoke House

Bubba's BBQ & Smoke House

Gateway Boulevard 

Edmonton AB 

(780) 909-8036

It can be tricky to find Bubba's BBQ & Smoke House, a small trailer parked in a lot just south of 48th Avenue on Gateway Blvd. From that trailer, however, comes an aroma of barbecue that can be sensed by an attune nose blocks away.

Open weekdays only during lunch (11:30am til the food runs out), Bubba's BBQ and Smoke House is the retirement project for the owner, "Bubba". Though he's not a formally trained chef, or from the South, he's loves barbecue and has studied the techniques on his own. Join the often lengthy line-up at his window early to get the entree of the day before it runs out ($11, cash only). There is no flexibility to choose your sides or entree, so adjust your schedule to get what you you want. One choice of canned soft drink, Pepsi, is available for an additional dollar. Be prepared to eat in your car, or to take in the scent of your food as you drive home, as there are no tables in the lot.

Chicken and ribs

Chicken and rib day (currently Mondays) is my present favourite. The smokey meat and spiced rubs smell (I'm always salivating by the time I get the food home) and taste heavenly. The accompanying sweet and savoury barbecue sauce is perfect on the meat, and also makes the otherwise basic side of rice more interesting. 

Beef brisket

These days, if you're by on a Thursday you'll meet the hickory beef brisket. It's messy, smoky, hearty and succulent on a soft white bun. The beans are a tasty side, swimming in a tangy tomato based sauce. For something different, Wednesday offers the Carolina pulled pork sandwich with a mustard-based sauce, which is even more delicious when topped with the accompanying honey mustard coleslaw. If you prefer a tomato-based sauce, try Tuesday's Tennessee pulled pork.

If you've got a craving for meat and have some time on your lunch break, venture to Bubba's for your fix. If you're particular, you can check for recent tweets or call for menu changes before you go. But if you just line up, and get whatever's Bubba's serving up that day, it's unlikely you'll be disappointed.

MyEmpanadas

MyEmpanadas

10631 51 Ave NW

Edmonton, AB T6H 0K8

(780) 756-1345

Wedged between a laundromat and an abandoned deli on 51st Avenue is MyEmpanadas, a Argentinian empanada shop. In contrast to its dilapidated strip mall facade, the interior is clean, and alive with the aromas of spices and baking pastry. A couple of tables are available, but the business functions largely on takeout orders.

Empanadas

Though MyEmpanadas sells frozen empanadas (bake at home for 15 minutes), I had mine cooked in the restaurant. They arrived golden brown in color with a crispy, flakey crust, and were roughly the size of a pizza pop. I'd suggest 2-4 empanadas per person per meal, depending on the individual and their appetite.

Creamy spinach (L) and beef (R) empanadas

Ten varieties of empanadas are available to choose from, including three vegetarian options. I sampled the beef, creamy spinach, chicken, and cajun pulled pork empanadas. With the exception of the mild creamy spinach empanada, all had moderate--but not overwhelming--heat, allowing their rich and savoury flavours to come through. The cajun pulled pork, my favorite, burst with pulled pork and cabbage and featured a cajun spiced crust.

I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch from MyEmpanadas, I found their prices very reasonable, and I appreciate the option to buy frozen and bake at home. If you've driven by this place and wondered about it, I'd encourage you to next time stop, and head in for a delicious pocket packed with Argentinian flavour.

Restaurant website

Take-Out Chronicles: Papa John's

Papa John's Terwillegar

14030A 23 Avenue

Edmonton, AB 

T6R 3L6

(780) 439-7220

Papa John's is a US-based pizza chain that's had a presence in Edmonton for about a year now. Though there was a period of time during my undergraduate days that I subsisted almost entirely on take-out pizza, these days, the pizza I do eat is usually made at home, so I haven't had the chance to try Papa John's since the chain came to Canada.

This Monday, however, a promo code combined with an exhausting day were the push I needed to order in and try it. The promotion I took advantage of is their NFL Monday Deal which offers a percentage discount (on regular priced items) based on the highest score in Sundays football games. The Seattle Seahawks smoked the Arizona Cardinals 58-0 the day previously, so my discount Monday was 58% -- I think I could really get behind this team!

From left upper corner clockwise: Chicken pizza, cinnapie, pepperoni pizza, cheese sticks; Buffalo wings (center).

Two pizzas, a pepperoni, and a chicken & tomato, were both topped with plenty of cheese and toppings. I prefer their pizza sauce to other chains, bright with tomatoes and the zest of garlic Italian seasonings. The Cinnapie and cheese sticks were on the same pleasingly chewy crust of the pizza. Surprisingly, there are no salads on the menu, so we opted for some buffalo wings to round out our meal. These were decidedly average.

This particular Monday's discount was the highest in the course of the promotion, so it wasn't surprising that the restaurant was flooded with orders. It took just over and hour and a half for the order to arrive (despite the email confirmation indicating 45 minutes), and, it's likely the delivery driver made several stops on the way to my place, as the food was only slightly warm by the time it arrived. This was understandable in light of the promotion, and my patience was greater on account of the discount. I was not expecting to be blown away by the food, and I wasn't, but I was adequately satisfied based on the price I paid; however, had I the additional 42% for regular price, I'm not so sure I would be.

Go Seattle?

Restaurant website

Fife n' Dekel

Fife n' Dekel

9114 51 Avenue NW

Edmonton, AB

T6E 5L8

(780) 436-9235 

The founders of Fife n' Dekel started baking pies in the 1980s to supplement the ice cream at their business, which was then an ice cream parlor. A few decades and three locations later, the pies have become the main attraction at Fife n' Dekel with soups, salads, and made-to-order sandwiches available to go along with your desserts.

Arriving at their South Edmonton location shortly before noon on a Saturday, I found the restaurant moderately busy with a short line-up at its cafeteria-style food service. The initial stop is the sandwich station, which is the bottle-neck of the process. Skip it and sneak around to the pie if you're only in for dessert.

Montreal smoked meat & havarti on sunflower bread

We followed the line around and started with the sandwiches (priced at about $7). I chose their homemade bread option, sunflower, which turned out be extremely fresh, slightly dense, and loaded with sunflower seeds & their nut-like flavor. Any of their cold cut options would be excellent between a couple slices of it, and the Montreal smoked meat with havarti did not disappoint.

Soups: Wicked Thai (left) and chicken noodle (right)

We tried the wicked Thai and chicken noodle soups as we continued around to the soup and salad section. Though I was told neither were homemade, the wicked thai still was a flavorful explosion of mushrooms, peppers, and chicken with the richness of coconut and moderate heat of curry. The chicken noodle was disappointingly thin and generic.

Strawberry rhubarb sour cream pie

Before reaching the cashier, I pondered our many, many options at the pie case before selecting the strawberry rhubarb sour cream pie. The strawberries and rhubarb were in the right balance with the sugar to create the perfect harmony of sweet and tart. The creaminess lent by the sour cream added an additional richness and thick texture which worked especially well with the crumbly crust. Besides banoffee (which they don't have), strawberry rhubarb is easily my favorite pie, and Fife n' Dekel does it very well. I will need to return to try their traditional, sour cream-less variety. 

Coconut cream pie (upper) and cow tart (lower)

Our opinion of the coconut cream pie, topped with a perfect creamy topping was similarly positive. The cow tart, a rustic miniature pie, was filled with their delicious apple pie filling, subtly sweet and warm with cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg.

Fife n' Dekel's tasty sandwiches and outstanding pies are the result of the quality and freshness that comes with being homemade. Though it's unfortunate that they don't pursue similar quality with their soups, the emphasis here is on the pies and the three we had were all truly delicious. Whole pies can be ordered and purchased, but I'm looking forward to returning to work my way through the varieties slice by slice.

Restaurant website

Take-Out Chronicles: Pizzeria Prego

Pizzeria Prego

5860 111 Street NW

Edmonton, AB T6H 3G1

(780) 439-7734

I drive by Pizzeria Prego's bright neon sign on a daily basis, and have occasionally peered in their window on my way to visit Sunterra, but finally ventured in to grab some dinner. They've got a pretty big menu with pizza (of course), pasta (lasagna & spaghetti), wraps, and basic salads and they seem to particularly emphasize their gluten-free offerings.

Caesar salad (large)

The Caesar salad was slightly better than the standard I've had at a lot of takeout pizza places. I appreciated that they packed the dressing separate from the rest of the salad (to avoid sogginess) but there wasn't enough dressing for the amount of salad. I like the shredded parmesan, and the dressing was pleasantly lemony. Nothing special, but a good side for pizza.

Lasagna (individual)

One of the sins many take-out pizza places commit is using their pizza sauce as the sauce on their pastas. Pizza sauce is not pasta sauce! Pizzeria Prego's lasagna came covered in cheese, as it should, with a meaty pasta sauce -- different from what was on the pizzas! It was basic, not mind-blowing, but not terrible. I appreciated the effort.

Pepperoni & extra cheese, standard crust (8")

You can get an 8" two topping pizza for $5, cooked to order, so we decided to get one of those, and one with a few more toppings. The pepperoni pizza with extra cheese on their standard crust wasn't as cheesy as I'd hope, nor was it particular meaty. It was pretty much your standard issue pepperoni pizza.

Chicken, feta, spinach & tomato, whole wheat crust (12")

I got a bit more creative with our 12" pizza: chicken, feta, tomatoes, spinach, and mozza on a whole wheat crust. Pizzeria Prego offers several crust options, including standard, sesame flax, whole wheat, and sunflower pumpkin. The whole wheat was just the right balance of chewy and soft texture with a slightly buttery flavor. The rest of the toppings complemented the crust nicely, but the crust was a total star.

In a lot of ways, Pizzeria Prego is your standard neighborhood pizzeria with plenty of average dishes on their menu. It's clear, however, that some ingenuity has gone into their menu resulting in some gems. For persons with celiac disease or gluten intolerance it's a goldmine. Experiment with their plethora of toppings and crusts and you might even find a new favorite pizza.


Website: http://www.pregopizza.com/

Take-Out Chronicles: The 3 Amigos

The 3 Amigos

4035 106 Street NW

Edmonton, AB T6J 2S3

(780) 490-6394

The 3 Amigos started off as a takeout joint by three brothers (hopefully they're still amigos) from the state of Oaxaco in Mexica. Though they eventually expanded to a full-service restaurant, they still do plenty of take-out, and, after a crazy day at work, it was a take-out kind of night.

The take out side retains the bones of the old Subway restaurant it replaced, but it's clear that plenty of effort has been put in to make the space their own. Often on weekends a guitarist is present to serenade patrons with Mexican melodies.

Amigos nachos with chicken... minus the peppers & onions

The nachos served here are made fresh on-site, not dumped out of a bag. Frankly, I'd enjoy them just as much with nothing on them. The mild salsa provided that we later dumped on top was indeed mild, but tasty nevertheless.

Tamales

We decided to sample both the chicken and the pork tamales. We enjoyed the spicy meaty filling, but, unfortunately, both were pretty dry.

Chicken torta

3 Amigos offers seven varieties of tortas (a Mexican sandwich) to choose from, and I eventually settled on the chicken torta. It was loaded with lettuce, tomato, mayo, onions, refried beans, and avocado. The bread was nicely toasted, fresh & crusty, really complementing the contents. Tortas come with salad or fries. The salad was fresh but a bit naked without any dressing (not sure if that is how it is or if it was an oversight). I think I'll go for the fries next time.

Chicken enchiladas

I've had their enchiladas before, and I really want to like them, but they never have left me wowed. The enchilada sauce is ok. The black beans they come with are ok. I actually really like the potato and rice blend they're served with. I wish I could put my finger on what's missing.

Empanada de pina

The highlight of it all the was the pineapple empanada. The outside was perfectly crisp, and the inside was soft and sweet but could have used more pineapple. It came with ice cream, which was package separately so it wouldn't melt during the drive home. Unfortunately, even the most careful packaging couldn't save it from me forgetting about it on the counter.

Reviews of Mexican restaurants always seem to attempt to judge a restaurants authenticity. I don't think I'm qualified to rate that, but I do know we had a pretty good meal, with a particularly strong start & finish. It's a nice addition to the neighborhood, and definitely worth trying, but I'm not sure I'd trouble myself to get there for a repeat visit if it wasn't so handy.



Website: http://www.thethreeamigosedmonton.ca/