"Seasons change, beers change..."
Cheers! Santé! Prost! На здравје! Živeli! 

Summer has seemed to whirl by me.  It feels as if it has come and gone, within a blink of an eye, and I am left hopelessly trying to recall what I did and where I went.

I did try my hand at gardening this year.  Try, being the key word.  Ha! Between my dislike of weeding, the drought-like condition of my soil from going away on holidays and simply forgetting to water, I had disappointing yields.  I have always considered myself a city slicker and this summer confirmed that I certainly did not inherit my parent's green thumbs.  I anticipated as much but a girl could always hope!

The two things that flourished in my garden was the arugula patch, which I had no part in as it self-seeded on it's own, and a plot full of dutch elm trees, that I just refused to weed when I realized they were in fact trees and not the various greens I had planted.  I think I will pass back the responsibility to my better half and stick to cooking.

As for cooking, didn't do too much of it either these past months.  It was a summer of sandwiches, simple quick-prep meals and salads.  Plenty of salads.  And when in a pinch for time, a simple lemon yogurt dressing.  A cup of your favorite yogurt, a tbsp or two of lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.  Four simple ingredients combined to give a light dressing that works for many different combinations of salad.

Salad always makes me think of summer and lately, I find myself lingering with every plate.  Maybe to appreciate all the beauty that summer grows or maybe just to reflect on where my summer went.  Either way, here's hoping the warm temperatures stay put for a bit longer.

 

Harvest, harvest, harvest!

I absolutely LOVE the look of cherry trees in the spring time.  Beautiful flowers that jump start the transition from winter to spring.  I have 2 varieties of cherries growing in my front yard: the Evans cherry tree and a Nanking cherry shrub.   This year, I had no Nanking cherries to harvest, not because the shrub didn't produce but because the birds ate them all.  Damn you birds.  Damn you.




But the birds left the Evans cherries alone, probably because they are sour. You can eat them off the branch if you prefer but you will have a slight pucker face.  Best for other uses such as jams/jellies or making cherry wine.  Pit them and use it in cooking and baking, such as a sour cherry cake.



Did you know that the Evans Cherry was rediscovered here in Edmonton?  It is a hardy self-pollinating tree  that really flourishes and is easy to maintain in our zone.  Even if you don't harvest the cherries, the aesthetics of the tree with it's green branches full of bright red cherries is simply worth having it in yard.

Belgravia Hub has been open for several months and I was fortunate to attend the launch party back in mid-May.  There have since been many great reviews about the restaurant both online and in print. 



I had the pleasure of hearing all the adventures in opening of the restaurant since my dear friend Leslie first mentioned that this undertaking was a GO!  For myself, as a food blogger and an avid home cook, I used to love hearing all the details of culinary school as Leslie became a Red Seal chef. With the opening of the restaurant, I would hear tidbits and updates along the way and as an outsider looking in, it all seems so seductive and exciting however I can definitely say that opening a restaurant is not for the faint-hearted.



Permits, design decisions, menu planning and hiring of staff is no easy undertaking but Leslie and, her business partner, Barry's efforts have resulted in a phenomenal outcome that is Belgravia Hub.


I am so proud of her hard work and I wish her so much continued success.

Congratulations my friend, you have earned it!!!

Belgravia Hub is currently featuring their summer menu, be sure to check it out!

...

Belgravia Hub
7609-115 Street
Edmonton, AB
#780-756-3344

Several weeks ago we attended Avenue Edmonton's 2013 - 25 Best Things To Eat Launch.

We arrived half way through the event to see many empty tables and a hungry after-work crowd pounce on anything edible.  It was a tad sad that it was not better organized.



But props to those who made the list.  I have had several things from the list already and was able to try a few new ones at the launch and they are indeed worthy of the title "2013's best things to eat".




Congrats to all those chosen and looking forward to working my way the list this year!