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Edmonton Journal

How Taste of Edmonton focuses on affordability, food options at annual culinary extravaganza

Article content Check the Taste of Edmonton website for directions on where to find these additions. Article content The Journal will be running food reviews of a few of the new Taste offerings, as well as a number of returnees. Check back at the website as they roll in next week. Article content Drink local Article content The drive to stay local also means that this year Taste will only be offering choices from local breweries. Blindman Brewing, Leduc Brewing Company, Manual Labour Beer Co. and Polyrhythm Brewing supply the beer choices, while ciders, spritz, sodas and wines will come from Andrew Peller, Brewsters Brevy, Blindman Brewing, and Manual Labour Beer Co. Vienneau is proud of this shift, and rightly so. Article content 'Working with these companies, we were able to really hone in and keep the pricing low,' he explains. 'Last year, there were beverages for eight tickets. Now I don't know about you, but I don't think that any cocktail is worth almost $20.' Article content Article content Musical flavours Article content For many people, the free entertainment at Taste or Edmonton holds as much importance as the food. Headliners tend to be Canadian, if not completely local, and this year is no different. Big Sugar is opening the fest on Thursday night, while Trooper raises just enough hell to flavour your food of choice as the closers on Saturday, July 26. In between are Alli Walker & Clayton Bellamy (Friday, July 18), The Royal Foundry (Saturday, July 19), and Shawnee Kish on Friday, July 25. Article content Other performers include Resonate Music School & Studio, Rumba Caliente, Arlo Maverick, Caylie G, Bollywheels and The Lowly Gents. Article content 'It's really about how we can support the emerging talent in our backyard,' notes Vienneau. 'Edmonton has just a crazy, wild, cool performance and musical art scene that we're very much proud to be a part of. It really does warm our hearts to be able to put emerging talent like Resonate Music or The Visionary Centre for Performing Arts on stage. These are kids who may not have performed on a major stage, and we give them the platform to do that.' Article content Article content There's a lot more to talk about in regards to the festival, including the kids' area, the artisan market, and the inclusion of non-profit organizations like the Terry Fox Foundation. You'll just have to stroll over to Churchill Square to take it all in, or check out the website beforehand. Entry and entertainment is free, but if you happen to buy a small dish or a beverage from a local restaurant while doing so, that will make Vienneau very happy indeed. Article content 'That being said, we appreciate the support even if you only want to come and enjoy a free show,' he clarifies. 'Feel invited, our doors are open. We're really trying to really shore this up, to make it affordable, to make it fun, to make an experience. We want your friends and family to come, enjoy themselves, and not have any drama.' Article content