What are four simple ingredients for a fun summer evening? Try tasty food, good beer and wine, entertaining singers and a visual feast of art and crafts.
Once again Edmonton’s Countryside Taste of Summer country cuisine returns to St. Albert Botanic Park this coming Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m.
With a background setting of scented flowers wafting through the air, the Edmonton Regional Tourism Group (ERTG) sponsors Taste of Summer’s seventh incarnation.
“The strength of this event is that everything is locally produced. It’s not chains. I believe it comes down to the personal touch and that means more to people,” says Alexis Nelson, ERTG manager.
With a philosophy of “Live local, buy local and keep our dollars in town” the four-hour event showcases local business with restaurants ranging from Morinville’s Don’s Bistro to New Asian Village’s East Indian Cuisine and Bamboche World Cuisine.
For bread and pastry lovers Sherwood Park’s Dandee Confections and Cakes introduces gluten-free scones and cookies while Tree Stone Bakery will bring in six types of whole grain bread made from flour milled at their site. And Prairie Gardens’ strawberry shortcake, a proven winner, hits the mark.
For wine connoisseurs, Ardrossan’s Barr Estate Winery brings in two types of all-fruit wine — The Other Red made from raspberries and The Barb, a dry wine developed from rhubarb. “They’ve been going to farmers’ markets but they’re moving into the tourism industry.”
Dehnamar Inc., a St. Albert company, introduces a honey spice cinnamon beverage made from a secret family recipe. “It’s from their grandmother who actually made the drink. They advertise it as an Alberta-made drink that carries the tradition of Africa.”
Also on tap are a variety of Alberta beers including Alley Kat Brewery’s Mojo A’Peel. This challenger beer is a bananas foster dunkelweiss brew that pours medium brown with a foamy head.
Seven artisans from around the Capital region display their wares ranging from pottery and outdoor art sculpture to mosaics, crocheting and beauty and bath products. St. Albert’s own Paula Paradis will add sparkle with Refractions Jewelry.
Another local gal, country singer Emily Seal and acoustic pop singers Asim Chin and Devon Belcourt add a sprinkle of panache with their bold vocal stylings.
Advance tickets are four for $15. Door tickets are four for $20. Additional tickets for $1 each are available. Organizers are capping tickets at 300.
In comparison to Taste of Edmonton where prices are pegged at 30 tickets for $27, Edmonton’s Countryside Country Cuisine appears more expensive.
However Nelson defends the pricing saying, “It is more expensive but we are looking to market this to the 25 to 45 age group. It’s an older age group and they enjoy this. It’s also a smaller event where people interact with the different venues and it could be a more personable experience.”
For more information call 780-761-0062.
