Street food in St. Albert is pretty limited to hotdogs and hamburgers sold outside hardware stores. And when the outdoor farmers’ market is in season, the selection spikes with pea meal bacon and poutine.
Being cooped up during the winter for so many months, it doesn’t quite seem like summer without the opportunity to eat food on a stick at a fair or festival. If you’re a foodie at heart who enjoys noshing alfresco, check out the annual Country Cuisine: Taste of Summer on Sunday, July 11 from 4 to 7 p.m.
“Last year we sold out with 400 people coming and going in spurts. It was steady throughout the event,” says spokesperson Jennifer Brosseau.
This year instead of fine dining, regional producers and chefs are directing their energy to create adventurous cart food that can be easily nibbled while strolling down the street.
To tease the palate, there’s a strong focus on ethnic offerings so show up with an appetite for Cook’s Corner hand-cut tortilla chips paired with salsa or Cobb’s Turkish bread partnered with Mediterranean spices and bruschetta.
Why not sample Bamboche World Cuisine’s coconut saffron basmati rice or The Happy Camel Mediterranean Deli’s curried chickpeas with rice.
Hungry revellers looking for more traditional fare can bite into The Dinner Factory’s alpaca burger or Cook’s Corner cran-apple-sage sausage rolls.
And Prairie Gardens, one of the festival’s founders, has paired with Adventure Farms to offer fresh strawberry baskets, dilly garlic roasted baby potatoes and strawberry shortcake.
Save room for Alley Kat Brewery’s organic lager, enSantĂ© Winery’s organic wines and Tinhorn Creek pinot gris and merlot.
Traditionally the food fest has been hosted at St. Albert Grain Elevator Park, however due to renovations it will take place at the St. Albert Botanic Park, 265 Sturgeon Rd.
With tents spread across a grassy carpet, the festival’s atmosphere carries a rural flavour. In addition to food, there will be a selection of artisan booths and entertainment provided by St. Albert’s Jessie Delamont Duo.
Advance tickets are $15, available online at www.edmontonscountryside.com or by calling 780-761-0062. Limited tickets are available at the door for $20. Admission includes six eating tickets. Additional tickets are available for $1.
