How could you not enjoy food consumed in such beautiful surroundings, being Seville in Spain. GRAHAM HICKS/EDMONTON SUNEdmonton
By Graham Hicks
Either Spain has it all figured out, with a fabulous lifestyle when it comes to food, drink and the timing thereof … or the Spaniards have the most cockamamie eating habits on Earth.
My wife and I are back in Edmonton after four weeks in Spain with a side-trip to Italy.
Maria loves Spain and Spanish food and the café culture. But her stomach works on North American time – she needs her morning snack, lunch at noon and dinner by 6:30 p.m. at the latest.
That is not how Spain operates: “how do Spaniards manage to dine at midnight,” once wrote former Sun columnist Eric Margolis of the mysteries of Europe, “hit the discos afterwards, then go to work the next morning?”
The Spanish do not rise before 8:30 a.m. (at this time of year, the dawn does not break before 8 a.m. and night falls by 8 p. ...
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The city skyline, in Edmonton Alta. on Tuesday May 10, 2016. Photo by David Bloom ... Stock photo STK skylineDavid Bloom / Postmedia Network
By GRAHAM HICKS
Edmonton’s high-tech companies often receive gobs of publicity when they are new-born, touted by government-funded economic development agencies as can’t-miss companies with breath-taking new technology.
The expectation is of instant success.
The reality is most new, innovative companies face 10 years of blood, sweat and tears, are chronically short of investment cash, barely make their payroll and take two steps back for every three steps forward.
Everybody is looking for the next Microsoft, Apple or Amazon.
That’s not going to happen. For most start-up companies, on-going success is A) not going out of business, B) being a sound, small business generating $3 to $5 million in revenues a year, making a niche product with 10 to 50 employees, and C) if a company does shut down, its principal partne ...
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The NAIT team's ribeye was one of the most impressive main dishes on offer at the FEASTival of Fine Chefs attended by over 1000 guests at the Shaw Conference Centre on Sept. 19, 2018. Photos by GRAHAM HICKS/EDMONTON SUN
FEASTival of Fine Chefs
Show Conference Centre
September 19, 2018
By Graham Hicks
It’s called FEASTival, it’s been around 30 years, and it’s a lot of fun.
On Sept. 19, the Shaw Conference Centre’s main exhibition hall is full. One thousand people have bought tickets or come as guests.
Around the walls are booths representing just about every major hotel restaurant in town, along with a few other dining facilities such as the Royal Glenora Club.
Every booth has a number.
Every guest has a number.
Master of Ceremonies Seanna Collins did a countdown. Three, two, one … GO!
Immediately, every person jumps up to pick up the first of four courses, looking for the booth number that corresponds to the number they hold for the evening.
The chefs a ...
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These are examples of the small containers in which legal, AGLC-approved cannabis will be sold in Alberta come October 17, 2018. Photos by GRAHAM HICKS/EDMONTON SUN
By GRAHAM HICKS
Somehow I had this vision of Alberta’s new legal pot stores (as of October 17, 2018) being like a Bulk Barn, where you would scoop your favourite cannabis buds out of a bin, fill your baggie, weigh, pay at the cashier then home you’d go to roll joints.
Nope, nope, nope.
While we are soon to embark on the Wild West of legalized marijuana, this Wild West comes with rules as decreed by Health Canada, the province, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) and municipalities.
I toured Alberta pot-retailer-in-waiting Fire & Flower’s concept store on Jasper Avenue West.
This is no Bulk Barn. It’s more like an Apple or a Nike store.
Spotless, modern, art on the walls, display merchandising, no loose pot to be seen. Definitely no bins of pot buds.
(The words cannabis, ...
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A certain famous Oiler always orders the Hardware Grill's signature sea bass, and with good reason! Photos by GRAHAM HICKS/EDMONTON SUN
Hardware Grill
9698 Jasper Avenue
Hardwaregrill.com
780-423-0969
Reservations: opentable.com
Mon. to Thurs. 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Fri. and Sat. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Closed Sundays
No listed delivery service
Food: 4 of 5 Suns
Ambience: 4 of 5 Suns
Service: 4 of 5 Suns
Dinner for two excluding tip, taxes and beverages: Basic, $70; loaded $130
By GRAHAM HICKS
A bit of slippage here, Mr. Stewart.
Not that any other restaurant will knock the Hardware Grill off its perch as THE downtown place for corporate dining, special occasions, or simply to enjoy a dinner for two based on surprisingly well-priced small plates.
But last Friday’s dinner for four — at least the tenth time I’ve dined at executive chef/owner Larry Stewart’s fine restaurant — was not as effortlessly perfect as in years past.
The at-table service wa ...
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The official opening of the Hyatt Place Downtown Edmonton, 9576 Jasper Ave., was held Monday Jan. 23, 2017.David Bloom / Postmedia
By GRAHAM HICKS
Of course we need laws, bylaws rules and regulations.
Their impartial administration and enforcement have made our country safe, secure and prosperous.
But lately, Canada has been plagued by over-zealous regulation, regulation piled upon regulation.
Regulation and rules that have little to do with encouraging entrepreneurship and wealth creation, everything to do with government as Big Brother, regulation for the sake of regulation.
We have become a society more concerned with regulation than prosperity! When it comes to pipelines, an ultimate regulator — the Federal Court of Appeal — sided with a small group of protestors versus the economic well-being of the entire province of Alberta. How does that work?
Locally, over-zealous regulation has had severe, unforeseen consequences.
In late August, Alberta Health Service ...
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