Food Roundup
June 16, 2026
If you've noticed mortadella sandwiches all over your feeds in the past few months, you're not alone. The silky, white-flecked pork sausage born in Bologna is an increasingly prominent part of menus around the city of late. Food influencer Linda Hoang has named Milk & Honey on the west side as the best of the best, citing its crispy focaccia bread as an element that edges out the competition. Edify also gave the shop's "Morty" a shout-out last fall, noting the complementary whipped garlic mascarpone, pepperoncini, and arugula toppings at the time.
The same magazine has added to a chorus of fanfare for the mortadella panino at Daniel Costa's Va. It's served with black-truffle ricotta, arugula, and parmigiano. Plus, Beb's Bagels has a mortadella special right now, The Tomato notes. The meatstuff is served alongside spinach-and-artichoke cream cheese, gremolata, and pistachios.
Yet what's new is old, as seen in The Takeout's 2024 piece remembering Anthony Bourdain's love for mortadella sandwiches. Indeed, Teresa Spinelli of the Italian Centre Shop told Taproot her family has sold the meat for 65 years without a drop in popularity. She added that the shop began with domestic mortadella, but now sells a version imported from Italy with the fatty white component forming a heart shape. Add truffle cheese, artisanal honey, pistachios, bitter greens, and crusty bread, and you've got the makings of a quintessential mortadella sandwich at home.
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Openings
- South Indian restaurant Dosa Glory is now open at 9316 34 Avenue NW.
- Multicook Edmonton, which makes frozen Ukrainian food, has opened a second location in the Edmonton region, at 800 Broadmoor Blvd., Unit 370, in Sherwood Park.
- Boxer Albertan Kitchen & Bar has opened its rooftop for the summer. It offers Mexican fare and provisions from Okie Dokie Smokies, a tubesteak and barbecue joint charting a meaty course for success.
- Toronto-based HolyShakes, offering sweet treats and milkshakes, is now open at 965 Tamarack Way NW.
- Live Bowl'd will be opening a new location on June 23 at 10336 Whyte Avenue NW.
- Portuguese bakery Luso's Bakery and Bistro will be opening soon at 11745 84 Street NW.
- Sicilian Pasta Kitchen is opening a new location in Griesbach at 9810 137 Avenue NW.
- Afghan and Turkish restaurant Ariana Kitchen is opening soon at 13720 50 Street NW.
Closings
- Kommune has ceased operating in Wîhkwêntôwin. The Whisked matcha brand, which was hosted at Kommune, is looking for new opportunities for matcha enthusiasts.
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Headlines
- Mitsoh has expanded its line of protein-dense snacks based on Indigenous knowledge to include grass-fed beef sticks, in addition to the original line of bison pemmican and dried meat. The company, which was named the Inclusive ScaleUP of the Year at the ScaleUP Awards on June 10, is aiming to expand from 1,000-plus stores to as many as 5,000, co-founder Ian Gladue told Taproot at a ScaleUP Week event. The company's growth has been fuelled by a November 2025 investment by Raven Indigenous Capital Partners.
- The winners of the Best of Brunch fundraising campaign by Edmonton Meals on Wheels are Highlevel Diner for best overall; Darling for best alternative; Duggan's Boundary Irish Pub for best creative brunch; and the egg and cheese sandwich at Rosewood Foods was the bestseller. Each brunch special from participating restaurants raised $1 per dish for the charity. The Community Champion award had yet to be announced as of press time.
- Vagabond pop-ups are transforming Overflow Cafe into a neighbourhood pizzeria on June 27 and 28, with fermented sourdough pizzas, seasonal sides, and desserts. Tickets are $12 per person, which includes a glass of sparkling wine.
- Five restaurants have launched a rotating pop-up at the vacant Station Park food hall on Whyte Avenue. They are Dorinku, Japonais Bistro, Menya Mori, Pablo Cheese Tart, and Hello Mochi. The Old Strathcona Business Association told CTV Edmonton that the format removes the pressure of a long-term lease and gives businesses a chance to reach new audiences, after EPIC Market vacated the space earlier this year. The pop-up runs Thursday through Sunday from 3pm to 11pm. Allen Gao of Menya Mori spoke to CBC's Radio Active about the opportunity.
- In honour of the Culinary Tourism Alliance's Taste of Place Summit, which concludes on June 16, Explore Edmonton compiled a list of cocktails to enjoy, including offerings by Bar Trove, Little Wolf, Next of Kin, Rosewood Foods, and Woodwork.
- Kate Chernoff joined the Reluctantly Podcast (hosted by her dad, Terry Evans), to discuss being named Bartender of the Year by Canada's Best 100. She shared her path from elite synchronized swimming to award-winning bartending during the show's 100th episode.
- Clementine bar manager Corbin Brocks spoke to Edify about summer cocktail trends, noting that warmer months call for fruit-forward, refreshing profiles. He highlighted signature house creations alongside classic options and non-alcoholic alternatives for home bartenders.
- CBC Edmonton's Radio Active's beer columnist, Jason Foster, explained what's going on in the city-approved entertainment district on 78 Avenue, where patrons can move freely between venues with their drinks during summer events.
- Theresa Shaw, owner of Crown and Anchor Pub, welcomed changes to Alberta's new liquor service regulations, allowing bars, restaurants, and pubs to serve alcohol as early as 6am, rather than requiring individual approval for special events. Meanwhile, any establishments that want to run promotions during World Cup games will have to navigate licensing fees, FIFA sponsor rules, and other restrictions.
- Lift Me Up on the Lake has faced both challenges and success since opening at William Hawrelak Park in April, general manager Meigan Stringer told CBC's Edmonton AM. While the restaurant by the team behind the Tiramisu Bistro restaurant group has been packed, some diners have struggled to park. "There have been quite a few challenges," she said. "We've had some people who have had to cancel their reservations because they couldn't find parking."
- Juanita Gnanapragasam of Converse and Cook shared tips for planning a picnic or barbecue at Hawrelak Park with CBC's Edmonton AM, as the park reopened following a major rehabilitation project. "A great barbecue starts with salting your meat," she said, noting that its best to do so the night before the cookout.
- For the first time since 2022, the Edmonton Heritage Festival is returning to Hawrelak Park. CBC Edmonton's Radio Active checked in with festival organizers and some of the people running the pavilions ahead of the event.
- The Afro-Caribbean Food Bank at 11546 80 Street NW serves about 400 people each month and specializes in providing culturally significant food to under-served communities. Program director Ranti George told Rat Creek Press that the organization goes beyond food distribution, offering financial literacy workshops, cooking classes, and a children's summer program.
- John Freeman, owner of Liberian Cuisine on Wheels on 118 Avenue, spoke to Rat Creek Press about the origins of his restaurant, which started with free home delivery during the pandemic. Freeman's menu blends West African and American cooking, with popular dishes including jollof rice and egusi.
- The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse's Carrot by Moonlight fundraiser challenged local chefs to create dishes using mystery ingredients, with proceeds going to Arts on the Ave. Chef Priya Winsor, founder of Compass Chocolates and winner of Season 11 of the Spring Baking Championship on the Food Network, was among the participants.
- Momma Tong is among the vendors headed to The Public Farmers Market in Ritchie. The market is open on Tuesdays until the end of September at 7727 98 Street NW.
- Edify's summer steak series turned to flank steak, with Popowich Meat Company owner Mike Popowich advising on how to select, season, marinate, and slice the cut, noting it remains one of the more economical options despite rising beef prices.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up over the next seven days:
- June 19: Pitt County BBQ with Braven Terrace starting at 6pm at Braven
- June 20: St. Albert Farmers' Market starting at 10am at St. Albert Place
- June 20: South Common Farmers' Market starting at 10am
- June 20: Savour Strathcona Food Tour starting at 11am at MEAT
- June 20: Summer Block Party starting at 3pm at Rice Howard Way
- June 20: Zoobrew Vol. 1 starting at 5pm at Edmonton Valley Zoo
- June 21: Callingwood Farmers' Market starting at 10am at The MarketPlace at Callingwood
- June 21: Father's Day Brunch Featuring All The Steak starting at 10am at Chartier
- June 21: Sundays at the 124 Grand Market starting at 11am at 124 Grand Market
- June 21: Father's Day Dinner starting at 4pm at Chartier
- June 22: The Orchards Farmers' Market starting at 3:30pm at 4059 Orchards Drive SW
And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:
- June 24: Seasonal Ingredients Wine Dinner Series: Al Fresco – Asparagus at Sorrentino's (Stony Plain)
- June 27: Chinatown After Dark at 10640 98 Street
- July 3: Made in Edmonton: Celebrating at Green Onion Cake Man
Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.