REVIEW | DANDYLION CONFECTIONS | EDMONTON

** This restaurant is now closed. **

 

As an avid macaron connoisseur, I've made it my personal mission to taste test all the macarons that the city has to offer. (For research purposes of course.) Although Edmonton is sorely lacking in macaron options, there's a modest but growing selection, ranging from bakeries to home businesses. DandyLion Confections is one of them; a home bakery business making its rounds through various farmer's markets around the city.

Macarons are $2.00 each, and pre-packaged in packs of two, or boxes of five and ten. I would've preferred the opportunity to pick and choose my own flavours, but at least I was able try all DandyLion had to offer.

I believe flavours rotate every week, but no flavour list or legend was given, so it was a bit tough trying to decipher what some of the macarons were. Even now, I'm not 100% sure but these are my best guesses below:

Raspberry cheesecake

Chocolate pear

Chocolate

Coconut

Coffee crisp

Gingerbread

Lemon

Pistachio

Salted caramel

Vanilla fog

DandyLion's macarons are quite large compared to other places around town. Definite bang for your buck. However, the macaron shells are a bit more chewy and stick-to-your-teeth; I usually prefer those that are softer and crumble a bit more. Some of the flavours are also more subtle, but my definite favourite was the purple gingerbread as it packed a nice punch.

Currently, DandyLion Confections are making appearances on Thursdays at the University of Alberta Farmer's Market (located in SUB) until April, and Saturdays at the Old Strathcona Farmer's Market until March. They also do special orders, which you can check out on Facebook and Instagram for more details and photos!

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REVIEW | SUGARBOWL | EDMONTON

Sugarbowl is somewhat of an icon, a fixture if you will, in the Garneau neighbourhood. Located a few blocks from the U of A campus, it's almost like a rite of passage for all university students to dine here at least once. I've gone a handful of times during my schooling, as it's one of those places that's always there if you don't know where else to go. 

Part bistro and part pub, Sugarbowl is always packed, no matter the time of day. It has a relaxed and casual atmosphere in a small and cozy setting. With exposed brick, a diverse comfort food menu, and an extensive selection of craft and Belgian beer, it's a super hip joint without the pretense.

I had the week off from work, so rather than bum around the house (like I did with the majority of my time), I decided to meet up with SC and AL for lunch after their classes. We were able to secure our choice of table, and had a lovely time catching up.

Sugarbowl's most well-loved menu item is also their most elusive. The infamous cinnamon bun ($4.50) is only served during breakfast and brunch, typically selling out around noon. Basically, get there early to avoid disappointment!

We were there shortly after 12:00 and asked the waitress if there were any left. She had to go to the back to check, but thankfully returned with good news. Out of the three remaining, we went ahead and ordered one. Served toasted and slightly warm, the cinnamon bun was massive and definitely made for sharing. Underneath the cinnamon sugar bark, the centre was fluffy and pillowy soft. It was surprisingly not as sweet as I was expecting, especially when compared to its mall counterpart.

Up next was AL's mac 'n cheese ($13.00), which was made with Applewood smoked cheddar. A large hearty portion of elbow macaroni, smothered and then baked in a creamy cheese sauce. This is comfort food to the nth degree.

SC decided on the chalkboard daily special which was a Four Whistle farm beef burger ($14.00) with sriracha mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and a slice of Gouda cheese. With any of the burgers or sandwiches at Sugarbowl, you also get a choice of side. Options include fries, yam fries, soup, mixed greens, or a Caesar salad. SC decided on the soup of the day, which was creamy tomato and dill. With the burger, SC thought that the patty lacked flavour on its own, but made up for it with the sriracha mayo.

For my main dish, I chose the chicken & waffles ($15.00): a buttermilk, spice marinated chicken breast served on top of waffles with watermelon salsa and a maple butter sauce. It seems like every restaurant now has its own reiteration of chicken and waffles, but I distinctly remember Sugarbowl as the place where I had my first encounter. It was near the beginning of my university career, so ordering this specific dish at Sugarbowl (for me at least) will always carry a bit of nostalgia with it. 

They've tweaked the recipe somewhat and added a watermelon salsa, but I felt it really wasn't necessary. The waffles, however, were still its characteristic fluffiness, with just a bit of crispness around the edges. Although they usually are pretty good at keeping the chicken juicy, this visit, I found the chicken to be a bit tough and somewhat stringy and dry.


Overall, a great place to hang as there's something on the menu for everyone. If you're not patient enough to wait through the long lines that often plague Sugarbowl, there's definitely a lot of of other places to choose from in the area. Just remember that good things do come to those who wait!

Sugarbowl 

thesugarbowl.org

10922 88 Ave

Edmonton, AB

(780) 433-8369

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REVIEW | WASHOKU BISTRO | EDMONTON

Right at the intersection of 107th avenue and 124th street, you'll find Washoku Bistro, a brand-spanking new Japanese restaurant/sake bar. Literally opened just a week ago, I first noticed Washoku back in October of last year, when signs were placed over the now-defunct Cash Store. With reLiSH Gourmet Burgers as their next door neighbour, and famed Duchess Bakeshop just a few doors down, maybe now's a good time more than ever to move closer to 124th street!

Stepping in, it's hard to believe that the space used to be anything but a restaurant in its past. A lot of wooden accents gives the room a warm, comforting vibe. Given the choice between a table or a booth, we chose the latter and was led into a small "private" room off to the side. We were the only ones in the restaurant for a good half hour, but it was nice to be secluded. It meant taking as much photos as I wanted without getting embarrassed by looks from servers!

With menu pictures already uploaded online by other customers, we walked in with a rough idea of the rolls and dishes that we wanted to try. (For example, their new style sashimi, featuring different cuts of fish seared with soy sauce and hot olive oil. Also noteworthy for us was their aburi salmon roll and some oven-baked monstrosity called a lava roll.) Unfortunately our dreams were shot down as they only offer a separate, more limited lunch menu in the afternoon which is mainly combo and bento box-focused. No biggie. I'm Asian so I'm always keen for a good deal and bentos offer exactly that. (☞ﾟ∀ﾟ)☞

I assume the restaurant is Korean-owned, hence the appearance of bulgogi and bibimbap on their menu. Their lunch roll combo is actually pretty sweet, since $3.00 more gets you a bowl of udon noodle soup and salad on the side.

We were given a bowl of complimentary miso soup to start. It hit the spot.

My brother and sister were with me, so we decided to split three items, one from each category on the menu. Their crispy crunch roll sounded the best out of the options available, so we opted to get just the roll ($13.90, combo is $16.90). The interior of the roll had shrimp tempura, crabmeat, cucumber, and avocado. It was then topped with spicy salmon, tempura bits, and a duo of sauces. I didn't find that there was much heat coming from the spicy salmon, but all of the ingredients tasted fresh overall. My favourite part of the roll was the tempura bits since it added some texture contrast to an otherwise soft bite. I thought it was also nice that they didn't pack on the rice to skimp on the filling like some places do.

Side note: we also asked if we could order a roll for takeout for my mom. The waitress said that they don't do takeout currently because they want to focus on their restaurant business first, but because it was a slow day, they made an exception. 

From the kitchen part of the menu, my brother wanted to get the chicken teriyaki bento ($13.90). The bento actually had a lot of components, starting with (clockwise from bottom left) chicken teriyaki and sauteed vegetables, rice, edamame, tempura, green salad, seaweed salad, and a segmented orange. The chicken teriyaki was actually really good. The chicken was substantial and thick, and grilled with a light basting of teriyaki sauce. The sauteed vegetables surprised me since they were tender and flavourful. A decent variety as well, including red and green peppers, carrots, onions, broccoli, and mushrooms. 

The tempura came in three (prawn, yam, and squash), and featured a nice batter that was light and crisp. The salad was your typical mixed greens with a ginger dressing and crispy flakes on top. I also really liked that they included an orange as a sweet finish to your meal.

From the sushi bar, we decided on the sashimi & roll bento ($15.90) which had 7 pieces of sashimi, 4 pieces of spicy salmon roll, 4 pieces of California roll, 3 pieces of tempura, and a salad. The sashimi selection included salmon, tuna, tilapia (I'm actually not sure but it was a white fish anyways), and surf clam. The fish was fresh, but cut a bit on the small side. The rolls were also decent, though I wish there was an opportunity to pick your rolls since California rolls aren't necessarily my first choice.


Overall, I'm pretty happy with Washoku Bistro so far and I'd like to come back to try their dinner menu. Early reviews are mixed, with quite a few complaining about wait times and slow service. I can't really comment on that since we were the only ones in the restaurant for the most part, and based on our experience, service was friendly and the wait for food pretty reasonable. Obviously they're new and still sorting out the kinks, so keep that in mind if you're ever there during their busier rushes. Also, patience, young grasshopper. 

Washoku Bistro

www.washokubistro.com

10702 124 St NW

Edmonton, AB

(780) 705-2055

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REVIEW | WOODWORK | EDMONTON

Located downtown in a beautiful, historic building, Woodwork describes itself as a "contemporary kitchen," offering elevated, yet approachable fare. The food menu is notably small, emphasizing quality over quantity, with a distinct focus on wood-fired meats. Probably more impressive is their drinks menu which boasts a large variety of unique, handcrafted cocktails. Hand in hand, the philosophy behind Woodwork sounds like it would deliver the perfect recipe for a night out.

We came to Woodwork on a Friday evening to celebrate SC's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY SC! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧). Reservations are probably recommended, as we arrived to a pretty packed house.  

The restaurant space is long, narrow, and dimly lit. A dark curtain was hung in front of the door to try to alleviate the cold winter air, but let's be real, it probably didn't do much to help those sitting nearby whenever somebody new walked in.

The bar is undoubtedly the main focal point of the restaurant, featuring shelves of liquor and a built-in ladder. The kitchen is open-concept, albeit tucked in the back corner of the restaurant, nearby stacks of firewood along another wall. Very rustic-hipster-chic.

Instead of ordering mains, SC and I decided to share three smaller plates to get a better feel of the menu. One of the items that we chose was the aquavit cured char & toast ($10.00). The dish featured three slices of rye toast, layered with crème fraîche, cured char, crispy capers, and shallots. Basically a fancy, dressed-up version of smoked salmon and cream cheese. It was decent, but I think we were both surprised by the small portion. The picture is a bit deceptive of its size, but I guess to be fair, it is listed as a 'bar snack,' so we can't really complain on that front.

My favourite dish of the night ended up being the caramelized brussels sprouts ($9.00) cooked with Woodwork bacon, pumpkin seeds, and julienned apples. It's funny because I've never had brussels sprouts growing up, but I have such a intense love affair with them now as an adult. It really is a misunderstood vegetable as they're delicious if prepared right. At Woodwork, the brussels sprouts are nicely caramelized with charred leaves and a tender core. I didn't taste much in the way of bacon but the dressing was tangy and almost creamy. Even if you're a bit iffy on brussels sprouts, get these anyways. They might convert you. 

Our last dish that we shared was the housemade meatballs ($14.00). We ended up ordering three portions, since KN and AL both got one as well. Each order came with three large meatballs cooked in a chunky tomato sauce. The dish was studded with roasted peanuts and finished off with a smear of local goat cheese. Boasting good flavour, the meatballs were soft and tender, though a tiny bit crumbly around the edges. I thought the addition of the peanuts was a bit random, but I did enjoy the healthy dollop of goat cheese. The others were a bit indifferent due to the gamey taste, but I thought it lent some much-needed creaminess to the dish.

To round out their meal, AL and KN also split the hickory frites ($7.00). KN thought the fries were very reminiscent of hickory stick chips, since they were nice and crisp and had that familiar smokey flavour. On the side was a pickled carrot ketchup which they also enjoyed, as it tasted fresh and had a nice texture.

Since a birthday meal isn't complete without cake, we also got the sticky toffee pudding ($9.00) to share. The dessert featured three slices of warm, dark sponge cake, topped with a quenelle of whipped cream and a generous drizzle of salted toffee sauce. The cake itself was surprisingly not that sweet, rather relying on the deep rich caramel to finish off the bite.


All in all, it was an enjoyable time for everyone at Woodwork. Even though it wasn't mind-blowing or particularly memorable after the fact, I'd say the food was pretty good. Service was also friendly without being over-bearing. Our waitress was always quick to top off water glasses and welcomed any questions about the menu.

If you're looking for a night out on the town, consider Woodwork as your next destination.  

Woodwork 

woodworkyeg.com

10132 100 St NW

Edmonton, AB

(780) 757-4100

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REVIEW | DA-DE-O'S | EDMONTON

Da-De-O's is a popular Whyte Avenue diner, serving New Orleans/southern-style food in a fun and kitschy atmosphere. As they're licensed as a bar, they have a strict 'no minors' policy and will ask you for your ID regardless of how old you may look (or be).

I've heard a lot about Da-De-O's, from their retro decor to their simple down-home food, but surprisingly, I had never been. (Please divert your judgemental eyes.) It's better late than never?

After a leisurely stroll through the Old Strathcona Farmer's Market, my sister and I stopped by Da-De-O's for a quick lunch. For prime lunch hour on a Saturday, it was unexpectedly chill and laidback.

The restaurant itself is quite narrow, with booth, table, and bar seating available. With checkered floors, jukeboxes, and jazz paraphernalia about, the decor has character and personality, much like the servers who work there.

After perusing the menu and placing our order, our server dropped off a plate of complimentary biscuits (one each) with a tub of jalapeno jelly. The biscuits were cute and compact, "fun-sized" if you will, with a soft interior and a lightly-browned crust. The jalapeno jelly was an interesting pairing, as it was predominantly sweet with a subtle finish of jalapeno flavour.

My sister wasn't very hungry when we arrived, so she settled for the Cajun calamari ($12.00) to munch on. The squid rings were buttermilk marinated, breaded, fried, and then tossed with red onion and Cajun spice. They were served alongside a mayo-based dipping sauce (chipotle maybe?) and a lemon wedge.

I stole a couple rings off my sister's plate and was really impressed. The calamari was tender and not chewy at all. The breading was delicate and crisp, and surprisingly not greasy. Probably one of their better appetizers to get.

Po' boys are synonymous with Cajun-Creole cuisine, and they take up a large portion of Da-De-O's menu with 13 different varieties. Usually regarded as humble fare, po-boys are basically submarine sandwiches served on a French loaf. At Da-De-O's, the po-boys ($15.00 each) come served with coleslaw, and your choice of potato hash, jambalaya rice, or their famous sweet potato fries (substitute for a $1.00 more). On Mondays and Tuesdays, the po-boys are only $12.00 each!

After narrowing down the choices, I decided to go for the blackened catfish po-boy, which came dressed with herb mayo, lettuce, tomato, and tequila salsa. Since it was my first time at Da-De-O's, I didn't really know what to expect. After my first bite, I was a bit let down... by the fact that I hadn't come here sooner! (☞ﾟ∀ﾟ)☞

Although French bread typically has a crisp crust, the loaf was actually very soft and fluffy. The catfish was generously seasoned with the blackening spice, while the herb mayo was also liberally slathered on. I didn't taste much in the way of the tequila salsa (which makes me wonder if they forgot to add it in), but overall, I really enjoyed the taste of my first po-boy! On the side, I also decided to substitute for their famous sweet potato fries, which are thickly cut and then coated in a batter. A different take on your traditional sweet potato fry, but still really delicious. My only gripe was that they were a little aggressive on the Cajun seasoning which made it a bit too salty.

Despite all that food and almost reaching food coma status, our server sold us on their weekend dessert special which were these strawberry beignets ($7.00). He didn't have to twist our arms very much because I've always wanted to try beignets! Besides The Marc downtown, I can't think of any other restaurant that makes them in Edmonton. Apparently Da-De-O's pulls these out only once or twice a year (overheard from our server), so we were very lucky!

The beignets came freshly fried, three to an order, and then topped with a strawberry sauce and copious amounts of icing sugar. A couple beside us had actually ordered a plate each, not knowing how big the serving was going to be, and they probably learned to regret that decision afterwards. Definitely a dessert designed for sharing.

After trying them, I would consider beignets as a doughnut/fritter hybrid. They reminded me of elephant ears (or beaver tails, whatever you call them), but a thicker and fluffier version. The beignet itself wasn't sweet, rather it relied on the strawberry sauce and icing sugar for its dessert status. Only question is, where can I get more???


Well done, Da-De-O's, well done.

DaDeO New Orleans Diner & Bar

dadeo.ca 

10548A Whyte Avenue

Edmonton, AB

(780) 433-0930

- CT