Brewing up iCoffee

iCoffee Opus Single Server Brewer

These days, everyone’s at least heard of a single serve coffee brewer, and a lot of workplaces have them. The most commonly known single serve coffee brewer brands tend to be Keurig, Nespresso and Tassimo. I’ve tried all of these at one time or another, with varying opinions as to the success of making a cup of coffee that actually tastes like coffee, not to mention the convenience or lack thereof in some cases.

I had never heard of the iCoffee Opus single serve coffee brewer until they sent me one to try. It’s designed to work with Keurig K Cup pods, as well as reusable fill your own pods. Having used Keurig brewers frequently, the two machines are similar in a lot of ways.

Gastropub Style at Central Social Hall

Sparkling Wine

Central Social Hall opened in 2012 in downtown Edmonton, by friends Jesse Kupina and Jerry Rota. The duo with other restaurant and night club experience under their belts noticed that there was a lack of pubs in Edmonton that actually encouraged people to socialize with one another, and generate discussions, thus Central Social Hall was born. Although it’s been on the corner of 109 Street and Jasper Avenue for almost two years, only one and a half blocks away from where I live, I have to admit that I’ve never stopped in. The idea of pub food was not particularly appealing to me, and at the menu launch event, Jesse Kupina even admitted that they neglected to make food a focus when they initially opened. In order to make themselves stand apart from their competition however, they’ve realized that they need to put an emphasis on their food, making Central Social Hall more like a gastropub.

Beautiful Bites at Bar Bricco

The brainchild of Daniel Costa of Corso 32 fame, it seems that anything he dreams up will be moolicious! Touted as a casual place to grab a drink and quick bite to eat after work, Bar Bricco is most definitely a few steps above the local pub or bar. Located in a small space beside Corso 32, it’s only open evenings and is always packed. Although snagging a table can be a challenge and requires quite a lot of patience, there is also seating at the bar, as well as at a standing bar along the window facing out to the street.

13th Annual Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival Giveaway

The 13th Annual Edmonton Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival will be here before you know it! Attending a food and wine festival is one of the best ways to try a variety of wines, scotches, and spirits without investing the money buying an entire bottle before you have had the chance to try it which can be a costly venture. As usual, the festival will be held Friday, October 24 through to Saturday, October 25, 2013 at the Shaw Conference Centre.

Seventh Heaven at Nineteen

Granville Island beer battered escargot

Nineteen is the brainchild of Chef Andrew Fung, formerly of Blackhawk Golf Course. After attending a patio opening party at Nineteen, we wanted to come by and try their regular menu. We have been to Nineteen a few times since it opened, and with the menu changing seasonally, we have always tried new things when there. In fact, sometimes the decisions were hard to make as they have too many appetizing possibilities! Although there are a few signature items they try to keep on the menu such as their Ahi Tuna Twist and Gorgonzola PEI mussels, everything else on the menu changes with the seasons.