Month: April 2016

The Workshop Eatery helps launch new Taste Alberta dining series

On Tuesday April 5th, 2016, Taste Alberta launched a new dining series – Prairie on a Plate – aimed at giving local chefs the opportunity to create a menu that highlights the very best of what is grown, raised, prepared and served in Alberta. Organizing Swine and Dines for Alberta Pork has been an incredible journey for me in Edmonton; I found that local chefs enjoyed the opportunity to feature local producers. So, I approached Taste Alberta about a dedicated dining series that would not only include Alberta Pork, but feature small-scale farmers to industry partners that make up the entire agriculture industry in Alberta. Alberta’s prairie boasts a big blue sky and some of the best food producers anywhere – why not have a dining series to showcase and celebrate all of the flavours that come from our incredible province? I approached Chef Paul Shufelt to host the inaugural event. I thought he was the perfect fit; when he opened his new restaurant The Workshop Eatery in November, 2015, the menu shined with a number of local …

Sessa Wearables launches new collection at The Beauty Parlour

Last Monday night my friend Tressa Heckbert unveiled her latest collection for Sessa Wearables – Sheer Business – at The Beauty Parlour. Designed and produced entirely in Edmonton – Tressa has long been my favourite local designer. My closet is packed with Sessa Wearables pieces that consistently get compliments whenever I wear them. I don’t own anything black from Tressa – she helped me fall in love with wearing colours and i’ve never turned back; I think I may be the most colourful-wearing girl at the office. I had the pleasure of walking in the Sessa Wearables show on Monday where the beat on the runway was rocking out to Serbian folk dance music. Tressa’s latest collection was inspired by Serbia and the Balkan Peninsula – from traditional costumes to current turbofolk club wearers. The landscapes laid was for the colour story and the landmarks were recognized through each of the garment’s names. The Beauty Parlour is such a beautiful space – the flower-lined runway weaved a circle through the vintage salon. A big thanks to Des …