Last night, Kasia and I were able to be a small part of something very special – the first official Live Local Edmonton Dinner. Hosted by the Blue Plate Diner, it was an event meant to connect the local food suppliers and producers with some of their more passionate consumers. Speaking as one of those consumers, I think it went very well.
Even though the rest of the restaurant was in normal operation, the twenty or so of us in the back corner were in our own little world. In close proximity to each other along two tables, the more communal-style setting allowed for conversation up and down the tables. We were lucky enough to have at our table Kirsten from Spring Creek Ranch, Neil from Alley Kat Brewing and the Head Chef of Blue Plate Diner, Dwayne, among others.
It’s not often, outside of a private home, that one gets to eat with those that have produced and prepared the food that is sitting in front of you. It definitely adds to the experience, especially once you appreciate the passion and attention that each one invests in their contribution.
The meal itself was a veritable feast of local goods, starting with a Wapiti River Elk carpaccio. The beautiful raw meat was complemented by dried herbs and peppercorns along with shaved percorino and delicious extra virgin canola oil. I know most people have never heard of extra virgin canola oil, but it is a local product worth searching out. The colour tends towards a yellow-green, and the flavour is like no canola oil you’ve had before, with a nutty, slightly herbal taste.
The elk was paired with a Pinot Gris from Kettle Valley Winery in the Okanagan. This was, surprisingly enough, a rosé instead of a white wine. This style of Pinot Gris was a first for me, but the off-dry wine did pair well with the rich flavours of the meat.
Next, we were presented with a light and fluffy wild mushroom and walnut paté. The mushrooms came to us by way of Mona Foods, which specializes mostly in wild edibles. The paté was well-received by everyone, and multiple comments were overheard on the great flavour and texture. I have to agree with them, this dish was excellent and the flavours were rich without being overpowering.
The paté was paired with a locally produced apple wine from en Santé Winery. While I do occasionally enjoy fruit wines, the apple wine seemed a little weak and the flavour lacked depth.
After a little palate-cleansing sorbet, it was time for the star of the show – the beef tenderloin from the aforementioned Spring Creek Ranch. The melt-in-your-mouth meat was paired with a barley risotto and root vegetables. Topped of with just the right amount of sauce comprised of dried blueberries, sage and port, this rustic looking dish tasted very modern and sophisticated. The beef was delicious, but the barley risotto almost stole the spotlight, with it’s semi-crunchy texture and earthy flavours combined with just the right amount of creaminess. I would definitely like to have this dish again.
Here is where the Alley Cat beer came into its own, complementing the beef and barley the way few other things can. Beef and beer together make the never-ending wait for summer just that much harder to take.
Thoroughly full, we moved onto dessert – a Chevre (goat cheese) baked cheesecake with a vanilla bean and sour cream sauce. The creamy goat cheese worked very well in this style of dessert, but alas, I couldn’t find my way to the end of it.
Another fruit wine accompanied the dessert, this time a raspberry wine from en Santé. This wine was much nicer, with great raspberry flavour without being too sweet. Fruit wines cannot match the nuances of traditional grape wines, but they do offer the option of having something a little different once in a while.
All told, the dinner was fantastic and the conversation great. This was a definite success for Live Local Alberta, and its local representative Allison, as well as John and his staff at Blue Plate Diner. Events like this are a great way to help us all focus on supporting local business and industry first. I look forward to taking part in more of the upcoming dinners (they have plans to host one a month at various locations) and seeing this spotlight continue to shine brightly on deserving local businesses and producers.
p.s. Most of the picture credits in this post go to my wife Kasia. Make sure to visit her blog over the next couple of days for her take on the event and see more photos of those involved.
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