The Next Act and La Bohème

After a great experience at Opera al Fresco this past summer, Charles and I waffled, then finally decided to take in Edmonton Opera's 2010/11 season. Kicking off the first of three with La Bohème this evening, we decided to meet up with a couple friends for dinner/drinks prior, and thought The Next Act would fit the bill.

The space itself has certainly been re-vamped, and both Charles and I loved the blend of new and old - warm hardwood flooring, clean white and grey walls, and elegant lighting somehow combine beautifully with the old bar and green furniture, and the space remains as comfy and casual as ever. And although I didn't check out the bathroom, my friend said it was clean and sparkly, versus the "interesting" state of the old one.

Pumpkin Pie spiced ale

Beer wise, Charles went with with a Steam Whistle (pint, $6), while the rest of us went for the Alley Kat seasonal brew - Pumpkin Pie spiced ale (pint, $6). I'm glad to see that Alley Kat brought back their Pumpkin Pie Ale (and that Next Act is carrying it on tap) - it has a caramel richness and pleasant spiciness that goes so perfectly with fall weather. For food we decided on a shared appetizer of crab cakes ($11 for 3), with entrees of fish and chips ($13), a halibut burger for me ($13) and a BBQ pulled pork sandwich with tobacco onions for Charles ($12).

Our crab cakes came out quickly, and we happily dove in. There were good reports on the crab cakes all around - they were light and flaky, and the red and green peppers studding them were an excellent addition... and we all fought over the last bit of dill aioli served along side. I was fine being the only one to enjoy the coleslaw - it wasn't the prettiest thing to look at, but the cabbage and carrots were fresh and crunchy, and the capers provided a welcome salty-acidic bite.

Crab Cakes

Mains were also enjoyed by all. Charles' pulled pork sandwich was rich, flavourful and moist, with bits of well caramelized pork providing a lovely sweetness. Our friend, who was desperately craving fish and chips, found two pieces of fish with a light, crunchy batter on the outside, and moist, flaky fish on the inside. After reading a rave review of the halibut sandwich by Allan Kellogg, I was happy to find it lived up to expectations. A flaky, meaty piece of lightly battered halibut came out on a soft bun, topped with coleslaw (which I was happy about... again the capers were welcome to contrast the richness here) and house tartar sauce, making an incredibly comforting, slightly messy sandwich that went perfectly with the Pumpkin Ale.

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

Fish and Chips

Fish Burger

All this turned out to be perfectly satisfying pre-Opera food - a little greasy, incredibly comforting, and perfect with beer. With friendly, casual and prompt service, a cozy atmosphere, and solid 'comfort' food that goes well with a good beer, we certainly hope to be heading to The Next Act a little more often.

*I should also note that we enjoyed our first opera, with Act II definitely turning out to be the highlight of La Bohème for us - lots of comedy, a dazzling set design, and streamers at the end that almost made Charles jump out of his seat.

The Next Act
8224 104 Street
780.433.9345
Hours: Su - Th (11am - 1am), F - Sa (11am - 2am); Weekend and holiday brunch from 11am - 2pm

$8.00 Po-Boys... Budget Friendly at DaDeO on Mondays or Tuesdays (or any day really)

Zed and I headed to our Tuesday night yoga class, after work and classes, already hungry. After an hour and a half of rumbling stomachs, we decided to stop for something quick on the way home. I know Fork Fest is going on right now, but seriously, nothing beats the $8.00 Po-Boy bargain offered up by DaDeO on Mondays and Tuesdays.

We arrived around 8:30, and the restaurant was packed (as usual), but luckily a couple was just leaving and a booth was quickly prepared for us. I love the tables at DaDeO: they are cozy but still roomy enough to store a back pack and the massive amount of winter attire we all carry around with us at this time of year; plus, every two-seater booth is set up with its own juke-box, complete with old tunes from the 50s. The vibe of the restaurant, in general, is one of the best on the Whyte Ave strip, with relaxed and friendly staff, an eclectic mix of customers and a constant supply of "old-time blues" (I love blues, especially the old, soulful, acoustic stuff...).

Our drink orders were up first, and we didn't deviate from our favourites - I went with a Cherry Coke and Zed for the classic version. We were quickly supplied with a miniature biscuit each, and a small helping of jalapeño jelly. For entrees we of course chose Po-Boys. I think I have tried every fish or veggie version of the sandwich, and last night I went with the blackened catfish. Zed went for the blackened chicken, his favourite version of any of the options. A Po-Boy comes with your choice of Potato Hash or Veggie Jambalaya and a small helping of coleslaw. Zed went for nothing but coleslaw (they gave him a bunch extra though), and I upgraded to Sweet Potato Fries (an extra $1... you really can't go to DaDeO without trying these things!).

Once the sandwiches arrived the Cajun dry spice peppering my fries and catfish hit me square in the nose, and I couldn't wait to dig in. The catfish was set out on the salsa and lettuced bun in thick chunks, blackened for a crispy, smoky outer layer that left the sweet meatiness of the fish intact. The famous Sweet Potato Fries lived up to their title once again, with a crispy battered outside and sweet soft inside, sprinkled with more seasoning, I haven't had any better in the city. Zed reported his blackened chicken to be just as good as always, with the darkened seasoned outside providing a nice tickle in the back of his throat, while still leaving the chicken moist and tender.

Blackened Chicken w/ Slaw (sorry it's so blurry)

Blackened Catfish w/ Sweet Potato Fries

As if the deep fried goodness wasn't enough, we decided to share a dessert (we scored on the sandwiches so we had to). We had sampled the pecan pie once before, so this time we settled on the in-house made coconut pie with whipped cream. A large piece of pie arrived a couple minutes later, and we dug in. The pie was pure shredded coconut on top of a thin pie crust at the bottom - I love coconut and found out this was a great way to eat it.

Coconut Pie w/ lots of whip

One of the best parts of the evening was the bill - the two of us got out of the place for under $30 (not including tip). Dessert ($6) could have probably have been left for an even better bargain.

The Monday and Tuesday Po-Boy special will always keep us going back for more, but if you are strolling down (or up) Whyte Ave., check out DaDeO for some eats that are guaranteed filling and budget friendly.

DaDeO Diner and Bar
10548A 82 (Whyte) Ave
780.433.0930
**Dadeo is a licensed bar, and you need to be 18 to go in**

A return to Padmanadi's

Zed and I ended up eating at Padmanadi's on Saturday night with a friend that we had promised to take there.

After our evening of Curry "Chicken" and Potatoes, Ginger "Mutton" and other lovely treats, Zed and I agreed that our conclusions about Oriental Veggie House the night before were still correct: while the food was good, it didn't quite reach the level of Padmanadi's rich, colourful and flavourful dishes.

Our friend, a hardcore carnivore (this was her first encounter with "fake meat"), really enjoyed all the dishes... but like most, she found it creepy how the "wheat-gluten" could so successfully masquerade as chicken, pork, shrimp and mutton/beef.

I always get questioned about "fake meat": why don't you just eat the real thing? And if you don't, why would you want anything reminiscent of meat?

I can't explain it. I enjoy the chewy, satisfying texture of the wheat-gluten products offered at Padmanadi's, but this still doesn't mean I want to eat the real thing...

In the end, a trip to Padmanadi's is wonderful; and as the lines and long waits for a table have shown, other vegetarians and carnivores think it is too. With a whole menu guaranteed non-meat to choose from (whether you like meat or not), their flavourful dishes are a treat for everyone.

Padmanadi Vegetarian Restaurant
10626 97 Street
780.428.8899

HUB Mall eats: Motherly's Bakery

I was on my way to meet a friend for lunch today in HUB, and decided to stop for a Tuna salad sandwich at Motherly's (towards the south end of the mall). To my knowledge there are only three other outlets (in HUB Mall) where I can acquire a tuna fish sandwich: Subway (not happening), Java Jive (not quite enough fixings and too salty) and The Lunch Box (similar to Java Jive's option).

Of all the choices, I quite enjoy Motherly's sandwiches: there is a simple choice of homemade white or brown bread, your choice of veggies (just plenty of lettuce and onion for me) and a pickle on the side. All this mid-day loveliness puts you back about $6.50 or so, but it's well worth it.

More on Campus eats to follow soon...