It seems a critical mass of Albertans has developed on the Slow Travel boards and I think it would be fun to get together, if possible, in April. Not the greatest time of year, perhaps, for travel, but I'll be back home visiting my family in central Alberta at Easter and maybe some of us could meet then. I'm committed to family until Thursday, April 12 when I plan to return to Edmonton to visit friends there for a few days. So anything from a late lunch or dinner on Thursday April 12, through to brunch on Saturday, April 14 before my flight back to Ottawa would work for me....anyone else?
Unequivocably yes, with whipped cream and maraschino cherries on top, Sandra! Thanks for starting this GTG topic...now we need all of the others from this part of God's country to sign on! Shall I choose the restaurant for meeting and eating?
The best time for me would be Friday afternoon and evening, because I can close my office for that. So, a long Saturday brunch works also for me, but you have a flight home that day, am I correct?
Marie, Rhonda, Tim, anyone else? I'm wondering if we can entice our west-coasters to join us? That'd be cool, huh?
The best thing about a GTG is the conversations that flow like spring water, so I'd vote for a long GTG...early dinner and then a long time after to visit and enjoy each other's company. If I lived in or close to Edmonton, I'd host it at my home, so we could hang out for as long as we wanted!
"If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them, I'd be at the bottom to catch them. Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say. We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere." ~ Tim McGraw Brenda
Yea, Brenda! I'm so glad to hear that you're in...I know that it's quite a drive down from Fox Creek!
Friday afternoon-evening is great for me for the GTG and anywhere that everyone wants to meet will be just fine. I'll be staying with friends on the northside, but the southside is fine, too (I used to live on the southside)
If Friday isn't great for others, a Saturday brunch would also be okay; my flight doesn't leave until about 4:30, so I probably wouldn't need to worry about leaving for the airport until 2:30-ish at the earliest.
Count me in! Just tell me where and when and I'll be there. Looking forward to meeting you, Sandra, although I feel as though I already know you from your posts about your trip with your mom and your great trip report!
Marie, that's great news -- I'm looking forward to meeting you, too! Does Friday work for you as well?
One great thing about Edmonton is the fact there are so many good restaurants to choose from. Sheena, I always liked Cafe Select, too, and I've heard great things about the Hardware Grill.
But the Sicilian Pasta Kitchen sounds intriguing, as does La Table de Renoir....and Sorentino's is good, too (if I'm thinking of the right place, on Whyte Ave).
Sandra, tell me what you like to eat and I'll find a place for you! There are a few other restaurants, as well... 1. Four Rooms...yum! 2. Il Portico 3. Vi's for Pies...a perennial favorite. She has opened in a couple of difference locations and always serves excellent food. 4.Normand's...the only restaurant that I know of that serves freshly baked saskatoon pie, year round! Ahhhhhhhhhh....
Anyway, food's not going to be a problem! There are a ga-zillion great places to meet and eat, so just get here, ok??? Hurry! I can hardly wait!
AND, a major bonus...Marie? You betcha! This'll be our 2nd GTG, Marie! Remember when you and I were the only 2 Slowtravellers who showed up for our first GTG a few years ago?
"And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and the sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." ~ Kahlil Gibran Brenda
Friday evening works well for me too. I like this place tucked into a weird semi-industrial area in south Edmonton: B-Bim-Baab I'd also be happy with any of the other places mentioned... with a preference for non-chain, individually owned places such as Hardware Grill, Normand's or Cafe Select. If Sandra will be staying on the north side then a downtown location might be best? - Marie
So many restaurants, so little time.....I really am a pig in a girl suit, so I'll eat just about anything!!!
Marie, the Korean restaurant looks good but I have this sense the occasion calls for Italian (maybe because we all seem to love Italy!) That said, it can be tricky sometimes to find a good Italian restaurant, and I agree that I'd prefer a privately owned place rather than a chain. I was shocked to click on Sorentino's link -- I had no idea it was part of that big a network, yikes!!
On the other hand, I've wanted to check out the Hardware Grill, as you've suggested Brenda. And Cafe Select is always good.
And don't worry about staying on the northside. I always rent a car when I come to Alberta (my family lives in a rural area) so I'll have wheels and can go anywhere!
YIKES!!! I cant believe i almost missed this?!? I am in as long as work isnt too busy by then ( i work with farmers and if it is dry enuf they are out in the fields but with this much snow i am sure i'll be fine). Any of the above mentioned places work well for me. I have been to the pasta kitchen and i think it's good because it's not too loud in there. Bust most of the opther places i have not been to, so it'd be neat to check them out too! For another italian restaurant there is Tasty Tomatoes downtown - i was there a long time ago but i drove by i the other day and i think i saw a sign that it was nominated for the best italian rest in the city? So there is another choice. Or for the garlic lovers, Thats Aroma is good too! I mean come on, who can pass up on garlic icecream????
Hey Limoncella, so glad that you clicked in. i hope you can make it to this GTG. Sandra, no one ever has to twist my arm to eat Italian food! A friend recommended Allegro Italian Kitchen. I have never eaten there but I could try it out in the name of Research. - Marie PS Actually I could pass on garlic ice cream- yecchhh!
Rhonda...happy to see you found this GTG! I was thinking about contacting you and Marie, to let you know this was in the works, and here you both are!
I have to let y'all in on a little secret about Marie...the first time I met her, we had lunch at the Sicilian Pasta Kitchen, and after our triple gelato, she did her best to teach me a little Italian...prepping me for my first trip there. I'm horrified to share this...the only phrase that Marie taught me that day that I can still remember is this...'un belle ragazzo', complete with the rolled r! She told me that this means 'the guy's a hunk'...I thought it on MANY occasions while in Italy, but never had the mozza to say it out loud!
I'm all for any new Italian place, Marie...you get to taste test it for us, please? ...there's also a Tasty Tomato in the west end, on Stony Plain Road, I think.
“My final, considered judgment is that the hardy bulb, garlic, blesses and ennobles everything it touches - with the possible exception of ice cream and pie.” Angelo Pellegrini, 'The Unprejudiced Palate' Brenda
I like the sound of Allegro Italian Kitchen. The Tasty Tomatoes - thats the one i was thinking of. For some reason i think of that location as downtown Years ago, my grandma was very persistent that i try her choco chip cookies. I did and thought they were fine. Until she told me she put garlic in them!! I didnt think i could really tell there was garlic in them even but made myself think i could taste it. Marie, from what Brenda said, i think i will like your Italian language lessons! I am sure 'un belle ragazzo' is a very useful phrase for someone like me Sandrac i am glad that you are able to make it out! I am really looking forwrd to this! ciao for now!
Allegro's has some pretty stylin' reviews, people! Maybe we should send Marie for a taste test, at least twice, just to make SURE??? Actually, I could drive in, meet her there and we could try it?
“There are three types of friends: those like food, without which you can't live; those like medicine, which you need occasionally; and those like an illness, which you never want.” ~ Unknown Brenda
Well, Marie, the pressure on you for further language lessons, along with our GTG is building! I'm in desperate need of help; I've been taking some Italian classes, but kinda stalled. I get it all muddled up with my French language classes and it's creating an ungodly mess!! Nothing some good wine can't fix, mind you.
Most of the reviews look good for Allegro's -- thanks for all the links, Brenda! But I'm easy as far as where we go. It'll be fun just to all get together!
Sandra, I'm sooo happy to hear someone else mixes up French and Italian! I pronounce the Italian words with a French accent! Gets me into a huge pile of trouble, occasionally.
For example, someone recommended that I buy a Carte Agile in Florence, a multi-use bus pass. I went into a LOT of tabacchi, asking for a 'cart-e a-shzi-leh', to no avail. Finally, in desperation I wrote it out, handed it to a tabacci owner and he lauughed out loud and said, "Oh, you mean a 'cart a-geel'...yuh, that's what I mean!
Even on this last trip I was using the French pronunciation a lot! That comes naturally for me and I am not even aware that I'm doing it, until someone corrects me or gives me a strange look!
"As they say in Italy, Italians were eating with a knife and fork when the French were still eating each other." ~ Mario Batali Brenda
Brenda, I just noticed the time on your last post. Are you suffering from insomnia or was it a late party night? Italian language lessons from me?! Puh-leeze! Un bel' ragazzo is about the extent of it, I'm afraid. That, and I know how to pronounce bruschetta (or more importantly, how not to.) My daughter who is in her second semester of university Italian knows more than I do now. Anyway I will try to get my husband to come out to Allegro Italian Kitchen with me next weekend. He never wants to eat pasta out since he "can get that at home". Sigh. - Marie
My italian language lessons have stalled as well. Thats what i get for a "do it myself" course and there is a tv in my house that i like to see what's on just for 5 minutes... and hour or 2 later i shut it off and go to bed. Thank God it's close enuf to french so it's a bit easier to understand... but the speaking i can undertand how the 2 could be mixed up! Marie, let us know how Allegros turns out. This last weekend, my aunt told me about Rosa's/Rosie's its a pinkish house close to the provincial museum. I am not sure if she ate there or what but she said the smell inside of there was an amazing italian food smell. Has anyone ever eaten there?
Brenda, trying to keep the accents straight IS a killer! I know a few people here who are trilingual (Italian, French and English) and they really amaze me!
Marie, thanks to you and your posting a while ago on the Italian language board, I think I now pronounce bruschetta correctly -- after many years of wrongly using a ''ch'' sound. D'oh! If you do get a chance to check out Allegro, that would be great!
Limoncella, I can think of a few restaurants on the east side of the provincial museum and the bridge that crosses above Groat Road....I remember there used to be a great Mongolian Food Experience, and now there seems to be a collection of rather posh shops on the south side of the street. I wonder if that's the area your aunt is refering to? I went to an Italian restaurant in an old house, just behind those stores about a year ago, it was very good but I can't remember the name!
Hi everyone! How has everyone been? I have been plugging away at planning "The Trip". I just want to say i am really looking forward to meeting with you! Marie, did you check out Allegro's? Is everyone still able to make it out?
Slow Travel Talk 
