A pork-lovers guide to Edmonton’s Downtown Dining Week

 

It is not too late to get in on one of my favourite times of the year – the Edmonton’s Downtown Business Association‘s Downtown Dining Week.

For ten days, an assortment of downtown’s restaurants offer up a two course lunch menu for $15, or a three-course menu for $28 or $48. The opportunity to experience a set menu (often featuring specials not on the regular menu) at phenomenal prices is too much to pass up; I try to hit as many restaurants a I can.

This year there are 34 restaurants participating. From the bacon garnish on Chef Ryan O’flynn’s Alberta Chick’erel dish at The Westin’s Share Restaurant to the Chef David Omar’s plate featuring Alberta pork head to hock at Zinc, a number of this year’s chefs are featuring pork.

You have until Sunday March 22nd to enjoy Downtown Dining Week, and if you love pork as much as I do, check out one of these restaurant menus:

Zinc Restaurant
Hock Posole soup, green cabbage, hominy corn, fresh lime
Alberta Pork Head to Hock
Head Terrine with apple, shallot, herbs on sourdough crostini
Shoulder Braised with pomegranate molasses on puy lentils
Loin Miso marinated tenderloin, fresh daikon and pepper salad
Belly House cured and smoked belly, potato rosti, quail egg
Hock Posole soup, green cabbage, hominy corn, cilantro, fresh lime

The Common
Pork Meatballs with gnocchi carbonara

 

Lux Steakhouse & Bar
Baked Potato Soup creamy, chives, bacon bits, sour cream
Chorizo & Corn Fritter maple dijon aioli, apple salad

Hardware Grill
Mozzarella Stuffed Pork Meat Balls simple Tomato Sauce & Pecorino Cheese

 

The Free Press Bistro
Pulled Pork Pressed Sandwich pork loin slow cooked and pulled in BBQ sauce, pressed with mozzarella on ciabatta bread
Muffaletta capricolla ham, salami, corned beef, and black olive tapenade, pressed with mozzarella on ciabatta bread
Schnitzel pork tenderloin thinly pounded and breaded. Served with our famous house-cut fries

 

Share
Tundra Cassoulet Irving’s Farm pork belly, Canadian goose, lamb, bison sausage, white northern bean, and root vegetable
Alberta Chick’erel Alberta fresh lake pickerel in crispy free range chicken skin, wild chanterelle mushrooms, spiced sweet potato puree, bacon, and wild mushroom volute

The Harvest Room
Nova Scotia Lobster Chowder Lobster claw meat, boar bacon, fingerling potatoes, mussels, corn

 

The Marc Restaurant
Canard aux Petit Pois seared duck breast, peas, pearl onion, lardons, frisee, carrot puree, ginger beer mustard

 

Rostizado
Frijoles Charros pinto beans and Alberta pork belly, stewed in a rich broth, topped with sliced jalapeños, chicharron, and queso fresco
Cemita de Guisado slow braised, shredded pork sandwich, served on a fresh made, toasted black sesame bun. Topped with shredded queso Oaxaca

 

Sorrentino’s Downtown
Fennel Crusted Grilled Pork Chop red wine caramelized onions, apple confit, spinach risotto
Grilled Chicken sundried tomato butter, warm truffle potato salad, oyster mushrooms, boar bacon
Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad meyer lemon dressing, prosciutto crisp, sieved egg, asiago

 

Select
Chicken Masala Perogies sautéed bacon and onion, tamarind yogurt

 

Hoang Long Casual Fare
Kimchi Noodle Soup with pork shoulder
Pork Banh Mi
Pork Steam Bao with hoisin sauce

 

De Dutch Pannekoek House
Ham, Edam & Pineapple Tostie choice of sourdough or whole grain bread, grilled with ham, edam, and pineapple

 

La Ronde
Baked Stuffed Chicken Breast chorizo sausage and asiago stuffing, red currant jus, rice pilaf

 

Fionn MacCool’s
Bacon Clam Linguini

 

Wildflower Grill Edmonton
Organic Chicken Breast Supreme chasseur mushroom sauce | smoked bacon, fingerling potato | truffle | balsamic glazed beets

 

The Burg 
The “Norm” Burg 8oz beef patty with aged cheddar, house made bacon, leaf lettuce, tomato, red onion, and Burg Sauce

 

Central Social Hall (Downtown location)
Kale Caesar Salad Croutons, bacon, parmesan, scratch made caper dressing
Cheddar Bacon Burger Lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, scratch spicy relish, garlic mayo, served with your choice of side
Bacon & Deviled Eggs Red pepper relish aioli

 

Chop Steakhouse & Bar
The Chop Burger a hand-formed burger with aged white cheddar, double smoked bacon, Dijon, onion relish and basil aioli on a toasted kaiser. Served with our Chop cut fries
Caesar Salad double smoked bacon, shaved Grana Padano

 

Normand’s Bistro
Chicken Cutlet baked with parm ham mozzarella, saute potato arugula salad

 

Parlour Italian Kitchen & Bar
Walnut, Pecorino & Prosciutto Pizza

 

The Old Spaghetti Factory
Chorizo Sandwich served with fries
Baby Back Ribs served with choice of spaghetti or fries

 

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Pulled Pork Sandwich House made pulled pork on a garlic herb bun, served with julienne fries and “super” slaw