YelpYEG Elite Event: Taste Of Indigenous Edmonton

On Monday, July 22nd YelpYEG Elite’s were the honoured
guests of the Taste Of Edmonton
in their Sip' N Savour tent for: Indigenous
Cuisine Night! The extraordinary night was hosted by the
legendary Chef Shane Chartrand, of Von’s Steak House & Oyster Bar. He selected
4 local Edmonton and area Chefs and presented them with a Master Chef style
"Mystery Box" challenge. The Chefs were disclosed with a list of
foods and ingredients that are indigenous to Alberta and were tasked with
creating a modern meal for us to judge! The event also featured a Scotch Tasting from Alberta Distilleries and Highwood Distilleries.

Oh Canada, we sure have an amazing abundance of natural recourses
availible here in the Prairies! The incredible edible entrees served up were
based upon traditional Aboriginal dishes and were given a modern, culinary
kick. Starting off, Chef Eric Hanson and his team presented us with stunning smoked
Sturgeon with pickled fingerlings, figs, plum salsa, cress purée and finished
with a fig balsamic reduction and sage. And as if that was not enough, served
alongside the dish was a cocktail shooter containing potato vodka with plum
reduction and fig caviar! Chef Doreen Prei of the Petroleum Club created a
Bison Brisket dish with cherries, rosemary, ramps, baby potatoes and champagne vinaigrette!
From Team Von’s, it was a smoked Elk jerky with turnips, pine nuts, apples,
bone marrow and mint tea. Last but certainly not least, a ravishing rabbit dish
marinated in black tea with maple, sage, corn and morels on a bannock like cake,
created by Chef Joel Ghostkeeper of Normand's.

The Chefs and their astonishing dishes may have been the
stars of the show but the outstanding varieties of Scotch, Whiskey and Bourbon
were definitely an award winning supporting cast. From Tullibardine Distillery
there was the Tullibardine 225, Tullibardine 228 and the Tullibardine 300. Antiquary
12 year from Tomatin Company of Scotch definitely wowed the crowed. From the
worlds most difficult to access distillery, located out on a desolate Scottish
island, The Isle of JURA Elixir. Then there was the Dalmore: At over $250 a bottle,
the extremely rare 1995 Dalmore Age Of Exploration; aged in white oak barrels
and finished in Madeira casks for three years, before a final year spent
resting in Matusalem Oloroso Sherry butts before bottling. Not to be outdone by
the Scotts, from Canada there was North America's 1st Single Malt Whisky: Glen
Breton Rare 10 Year hailing from Nova Scotia! Pendleton Canadian Blended was
also on hand and surprised us all by being distilled in Oregon! Last but not
least, Kentucky Bourbon. Jim Beam brought out their new Devils Cut – and that it
did! And finally, Knob Creek proved that depth and sophistication can be bottled south
of the boarder ;) 

This fabulous event all took place in the middle of Sir Winston
Churchill Square. The weather was gorgeous and the patio perfectly designed and
decorated by PUR Living patio furniture. A huge thanks to our resident Yelp
Photographer, the talented Mr. Dave Tameling. And a tremendous thank you to the
organizers and dedicated staff of Taste Of Edmonton for all their hard work to
make this Elite Event an extraordinary evening!

See You On Yelp…

Cheers, Jennie M. Your YelpYEG CM!

@YelpEdmonton #yelpYEG