Food beat followups: Tea, treks, and tests

Just because a story is written doesn't mean it's over. Here are some updates on food stories we covered in 2022:

Vintage Fork survives pivot, prepares for new home (Jan. 6, 2022)

The original story: Sarah and Salar Melli had set the wheels in motion to move their online tea shop, Vintage Fork, into the historic Barto Residence in the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood.

Then what?: It took a bit longer than expected, but the store opened at 11425 95A Street on Nov. 3, while the Mellis were busy filling orders for tea advent calendars and other Christmas preparations. It seems to have been worth the wait. "What I saw and what I felt last week in our first couple of days in our new tea shop has proven to me that we didn't open a tea store. We opened a place for our tea community to thrive," Sarah Melli wrote in her newsletter.

Flat Out Feasts explores new territory with its freeze-dried meals (March 31, 2022)

The original story: Lisa Bélanger was getting ready to return to the Pacific Crest Trail, a hike she had to end in 2019 when she discovered she had Type 1 diabetes. That discovery led her to create Flat Out Feasts to fulfill a need for low-carb freeze-dried meals.

Then what?: Bélanger returned to the southern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail in Mexico on April 10 and made it back to Canada 135 days later, having hiked the entire 4,270 kilometres, fuelled by Flat Out Feasts along the way. She went on to complete a 100-mile ultramarathon. Meanwhile, Flat Out Feasts meals are available at seven retailers throughout Alberta as well as online.

Oonnie aims to connect consumers with local producers (June 21, 2022)

The original story: Nicole Matos of Rivet Construction was about to launch Oonnie, her online marketplace for local food.

Then what?: Oonnie launched with a scavenger hunt in Sherwood Park on June 25 and is now selling food from merchants such as Roasti Coffee, Beaver Creek Honey, and Confetti Sweets. The business was a Pow Wow Pitch semi-finalist in the technology and innovation category, and it was one of the companies showcased at Launch Party 13 during Edmonton Startup Week.

The Public Food Hub gets ready to hit the road (Sept. 13, 2022)

The original story: Ken Bautista was getting ready to launch a series of tours of local food ecosystems across the Prairies through The Public, extending the mission to connect food makers and food lovers.

Then what?: The Public Roadshow, which was supposed to take place in October, was postponed and is now scheduled to start in Edmonton on April 5. The company was showcased at Launch Party 13, and it has several workshops open for registration in its Maker Academy.

Lindsay Porter first to represent Edmonton on Top Chef Canada (Sept. 20, 2022)

The original story: Lindsay Porter, the executive chef at The Common, became Edmonton's first representative at Top Chef Canada, which launched its 10th season on Sept. 26.

Then what?: Porter faced off against 10 other contestants but was eliminated in Week 1. The winner that week was Trevane "Tre" Sanderson of Toronto, who ended up winning the competition. Porter went on to place second in the regional qualifier for Canada's Great Kitchen Party in October.

Hungry Zine satisfies appetite for new voices in food (Oct. 20, 2022)

The original story: Hungry Zine founders Kathryn Gwun-Yeen Lennon and Kyla Pascal were preparing to host a session at LitFest in October when Taproot caught up with them to learn more about their food quarterly.

Then what?: Hungry Zine is collaborating with the Mitchell Art Gallery on a zine about food culture at West Edmonton Mall. The submission deadline is Jan. 23, and the issue is to be launched March 30. Hungry also launched a twist on the CSA (community supported agriculture) model that many local food lovers subscribe to with a Community Supported Art subscription. Gwun-Yeen Lennon is among the people who appear in A Portrait of Chinatown, Jordon Hon's docuseries about the district.