Recap: Drift’s Swine & Dine at the Shamrock Curling Club 2019

 

Last week, Drift Food Truck’s Kara and Nevin Fenske held their second (what we hope becomes annual) Swine and Dine at the Shamrock Curling Club. A lucky 33 guests secured seats overlooking the Shamrock’s eight sheets of ice, just in time to watch the Thursday night ladies curling league. Tickets were just $45 for four courses and guests also walked away with a special Alberta Pork recipe book.

Now into their third winter season at the Shamrock, it is no longer a secret that Drift Food Truck fans can get their sandwich fix indoors at one of the longest serving and busier curling clubs in Western Canada. Thanks to the combo of great Drift food and great prices at the bar upstairs, the Shamrock is a great place to catch a game or practice your dart and shuffleboard skills.

While Alberta Pork is available on Nevin & Kara’s menu all year long, we are especially grateful that this busy dynamic duo made time for another Swine and Dine dinner. The Swine and Dine challenge – to incorporate Alberta pork from appetizer to dessert – is an opportunity Nevin is eager to take on. Here is what he served:

1st course: RICOTTA RAVIOLI
Squash puree, pork meatballs

Inspired by pasta-making sessions with his daughter over the past few weeks, Nevin kicked things off with house made ricotta ravioli served alongside squash puree and pork meatballs.

2nd course: BARLEY RISOTTO
mushroom & lemon, pork belly, choke cherry syrup

Next up, Nevin topped the earthly flavours of his barley mushroom risotto with pork belly topped with choke cherry syrup.

3rd course: ROLLED PORK SHOULDER
herb pesto & pears, mashed yellow potato & pork jus
BEET SALAD
goat cheese, arugula, & mustard dressing

While the first two dishes were plated, Nevin and Kara served up family-style platters made up of thick-cut rolled pork shoulder and mounds of mashed yellow potatoes topped with pork jus and sautéed pears. Our hearty portion of meat and potatoes were served alongside a beet, goat cheese and arugula salad.

4th course: APPLE CRISP
prosciutto, aged cheddar & balsamic

Inspired by the Shamrock’s old-school curling club vibe, Nevin shared an apple crisp accented by prosciutto, aged cheddar and balsamic for dessert. As someone who enjoys cheese for dessert, it was a satisfying bite to finish the comfort-classic fueled meal.

A huge thanks to the entire Drift crew and the Shamrock for hosting a tasty and entertaining night. Your passion for pork warms both our hearts and our bellies.

Sad you missed another Drift Swine and Dine at the Shamrock? Stay tuned to their social media accounts for hours at the club, updates on special events, and special features (that often include Alberta Pork) at the Drift Concession at the Shamrock.

Drift Food Truck & Eatery at the SHAMROCK CURLING CLUB
9330 – 80 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T6C 0T9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov 14, 2019 Swine & Dine with Drift at the Shamrock Curling Club

SWINE AND DINE WITH DRIFT AT THE SHAMROCK CURLING CLUB
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019, 6 P.M.

 

The Drift Food Truck Swine and Dine event that Nevin and Kara Fenske hosted at the Shamrock Curling Club last November was so good we all decided it should happen again. Check out the recap and you’ll understand why the event was a sell out.

From 6 – 8 p.m. on November 14, 2019, the Shamrock Curling Club will play host to our next Swine & Dine dinner, where Drift will be sharing a  multi-course menu for $45 (served up while the ladies league battle it out on the ice). Curling club etiquette is to leave your winter boots at the door, so be sure to wear your fancy socks (or at least the ones without any holes).

This is the only Swine & Dine where you get to enjoy Alberta pork from appetizer to dessert at a curling club. Space is limited for this special event, so you better hurry hard if you want a seat at the shared tables. Please email your reservation request to info@driftfoodtruck.ca and for payment confirmation.

Drift Concession at the SHAMROCK CURLING CLUB
9330 – 80 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta  T6C 0T9
Can’t Swine & Dine but need your Drift fix? visit www.driftfoodtruck.ca/hours-and-locations or use the Streetfood App for the most up to date hours).

 

Recap: Swine and Dine with Drift at the Shamrock Curling Club

I started my rookie curling season at the Shamrock Curling Club last year, which also marked the first year Drift Food Truck owners Nevin and Kara Fenske moved indoors to offer their menu for the winter season. Since they now had access to a larger kitchen than the food truck, tables, chairs, and the Shamrock lounge upstairs, it wasn’t long before I was frequently pestering them about when they were going to host a Swine and Dine.

My persistence paid off, and last week the Shamrock played host to the latest Edmonton Swine and Dine dinner, marking the first time the event had ever been held at a curling club.

 

Photo courtesy of Diane @argenplath

It was no surprise that the 34 seats for their inaugural Swine and Dine sold out quickly. At $45 per person, we were treated to a hearty Drift portioned, four-course family-style dinner featuring Alberta pork from appetizer to dessert. I can assure you – no one left the event hungry.

The Drift pork belly sandwich is a legendary item on the food truck scene in Edmonton, so I always felt that Drift would be a good fit for a Swine and Dine event. Since they use a lot of pork products in their dishes, and they enjoy collaborating, Nevin and Kara agreed.

Thursday night league action at the Shamrock Curling Club

When we arrived we took our outside shoes off at the front door and headed up stairs to the lounge. Diners were assigned seating among four tables and welcomed by our gracious hosts for the evening Nevin and Kara. The Thursday ladies league kicked off, providing free entertainment with our all pork menu.

1st course: Pork Rillettes – crostini, house pickles

The first course of the evening was a bit of a departure from the classic Drift fare and a surprise for me, until Nevin told me that he was a classically trained French chef, and that he and Kara had spent time in France (and both love the cuisine). To kick things off, each diner received a generous portion of pork rillettes. Similar in texture to pâté, but not pâté, pork rillettes is a spread made from meat that is cooked slowly in fat, shredded, and then cooled with enough of the fat to form a paste. Nevin served his version, which just happened to be my favourite dish of the evening, with baguettes and some of Drift’s house-made pickles.

 

Photo courtesy of Cindy @letsomnom

2nd course: Roasted Vegetable & Prosciutto Salad, Potato & Pork Croquettes

Our next course was a double helping of veggies with a dose of bacon and prosciutto. Roasted kabocha squash and a balsamic vinaigrette sweetened up Drift’s savoury kale, prosciutto and pumpkin seed salad. And, staying true to the heart of food-truck cuisine, Nevin knew he wanted to fry something. While Drift does serve croquettes, Nevin had never made them with pork before. He had some fun experimenting and came up with what he calls a solid recipe. Looking at the empty croquettes plates that were sent back to the kitchen, I would have to agree with him.

Photo courtesy of Cindy @letsomnom

 

3rd course: Roast Pork Loin & Belly, roasted potato, cider-braised cabbage, pureed carrots, pickled green beans


 

When it came to the main course, Nevin knew he wanted to serve a fun – family style meal. Inspired by his time working in a kitchen in Ireland, our Drift Swine & Dine main course was reminiscent of a Sunday pub dinner with all the fixings. I love eating family style, which allowed each of us to sneak a larger portion of items we liked, or so Ukrainians like myself could take extra servings of the braised cabbage (made with what I am told is extra special homemade cider).

 

4th course: Apple & Bacon Fritters – apple pie liqueur glaze

Nevin told me he had never cooked with pork in a dessert, but he knew dessert was definitely going to be fried. He experimented with a fritter batter and came up with apple & bacon fritters. The sauce, an apple pie liqueur glaze, was made extra special with a little bacon fat.

The atmosphere of being in a curling club paired with the casual fun food presented by Kara & Nevin made for a Swine and Dine I will never forget. For those who are loyal followers of Drift – you know the food is made from scratch with care. Kara and Nevin are two very hard working entrepreneurs, and you can feel the love in the food they share. Many in attendance said it was their favourite Swine and Dine to date.

I’d like to give a special thanks to Cindy and Diane for attending and letting me share some of their photos. 

On behalf of Alberta Pork and the Passion for Pork initiative – I’d like to thank Nevin & Kara as well as Chris at the Shamrock, for hosting what I hope is their first of many Swine and Dine dinners. After the holiday break the club is heading into heavy bonspeil season, so while I don’t have an upcoming Drift Swine and Dine date to announce, you can always stop by the club for some free curling entertainment and a bite of Drift.

Stay tuned to their social media accounts for updates on special events, and remember you can be sure that pork will always be on the menu at the Drift Concession at the Shamrock.

Drift Food Truck & Eatery at the SHAMROCK CURLING CLUB
9330 – 80 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta  T6C 0T9

Swine & Dine with Drift Food Truck at the Shamrock – Nov 29, 2018

Have you ever wondered what food truck operators do during the cold winter months in Alberta? Well in Edmonton, Nevin and Kara Fenske have found the ultimate partnership to satisfy the Drift Food Truck pork-belly sandwich cravings of their loyal customers throughout the year, by taking over the concession at the Shamrock Curling Club.

Now well into their second indoor season, Drift owners Nevin and Kara and their crew of merry staff are serving up stadium nachos, buttermilk fried chicken, and of course their legendary pork-belly sandwiches to a legion of curlers, as well as the general public who is in the secret they have moved indoors during the winter season.

At 6 p.m. on November 29, 2018, the Shamrock Curling Club will play host to our next Swine & Dine dinner, where Drift will be sharing a four-course menu for $45:

Drift Swine & Dine at the Shamrock:

1st – Pork Rillette
2nd – Roast Winter veg salad, with Potato & Pork Croquettes
3rd – Roast Pork with Potatoes & Cider Braised  Cabbage
4th – Apple & Bacon Fritters

Space is limited for this special event, so you better hurry hard if you want a seat at the shared tables. Please email your reservation request to info@driftfoodtruck.ca and for payment confirmation.

For those looking for a bite of Drift, you can head to the Shamrock until March for a taste. The Drift Concession is located on the main floor of the Shamrock Curling Club.

Drift Concession at the SHAMROCK CURLING CLUB
9330 – 80 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta  T6C 0T9

Those looking for a tasty beverage or a game of darts can head on upstairs to the lounge. (Please visit www.driftfoodtruck.ca/hours-and-locations or use the Streetfood App for the most up to date hours).