Foodie alert! The fragrance of more than 92 foods will be wafting across Capital Plaza as 50 regional restaurants and food trucks whip up cuisine from their booths.
The much-anticipated Taste of Edmonton returns for its 35th edition from July 18 to 28 catering to hungry visitors offering food samples from around the world.
Afghanistan, India, Italy, Mexico, Vietnam, China, Jamaica, Japan, Greece, Korea, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Brazil and Canada are just a few of the countries representing the varied culinary lineup.
In this outddoor celebration of cultural cuisine, the food samples appear endless from Mandarin stew, vegetable samosa and a noodle salad, to mango chicken, slow roasted pork taco or bison cannelloni with wild mushrooms.
Or how about tasting a beef lemongrass skewer, jerk chicken or Tonkotsu ramen followed by a dessert of mango sorbet, sticky toffee cake or a chocolate fondue cup?
The sponsoring body, Events Edmonton, has also planned organized food tours, expanded beverage selections and created several tented lounges available for small groups or corporate functions.
The six walking food tours are pegged as an epicurean adventure focused on bringing together 46 food vendors and beverage crafters. There’s a Delectable Dessert Tour for the sweet-toothed foodie.
For the this-and-that diner, check out the Edmonton’s Best Brunch tour while Destination Downtown focuses on core restaurants. A Meatless Monday Tour looks at vegetarian options while the Tempt Your Taste Buds Tour zips down to the now trendy124 Street to check out established favourites.
Tour tickets are a wide range of prices from $30 to $102.50.
Back at the plaza there is also a Kid’s Corner, a chill zone for the entire family, as well as an expanded licensed area with a 7,000-plus person capacity.
While visitors satisfy their palettes diving into all the global flavours, 30 Canadian artists will entertain crowds.
We’re talking names that range from Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies to Vancouver’s Five Alarm Funk to rapper Lucas Boyd, known to fans as Classified.
On the regional level, St. Albert’s own rockers, Altameda, and jazz-soul singer Ellen Doty have been tapped for a couple of concerts as has Spanish artist David Jay and country singer Julia Vos.
An online resale price of 40 tickets runs at $59.50. Menu items average three to four tickets each. Visit tasteofedm.ca for all ticket purchases.
Taste of Edmonton takes place at Capital Plaza adjacent to the Alberta Legislature, 99th Avenue and 108th Street.
