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A Taste of Alberta, Canada at Spago Beverly Hills - Yummy!!!

By Amanda Cortez - Photos by Lawrence Davis

Travel Alberta and Chef Blair Lebsack, Executive Chef of Madison Grill in Edmonton, Canada hosted a truly delectable Alberta-themed culinary experience for selected Los Angeles media, and I was one of the lucky attendees.

A Taste of Alberta at Spago Beverly Hills
A Taste of Alberta at Spago Beverly Hills

After a hectic morning, this luncheon provided the perfect sparkling Italian wine to satisfy my parched pallot, and I was anxious to work my taste buds.
Chef Lebsack worked with the renowned chefs at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago Beverly Hills to create a delicious tasting menu fusing the best of Alberta cuisine with authentically local ingredients.

Mini-bison sliders on brioche bun; wild mushroom risotto; and smoked salmon w/ lemon-herb blinis; fried oysters & cucumber Relish
Mini-bison sliders on brioche bun; wild mushroom risotto; and smoked salmon w/ lemon-herb blinis; fried oysters & cucumber Relish

I love hors d’oevres because they are tiny meals alone, these were exceptional. I started with the mini-bison sliders on brioche bun. These mini burgers were a meal alone, and I had to slap my hand to stop from grabbing another. But then the hard working servers handed out the wild mushroom risotto, smoked salmon w/ lemon-herb blinis, and fried oysters & cucumber Relish—how can food taste this good?! If I were alone with all these trays, I’d be quite the porker and fighting with my zipper. 

First course: winter salad: baby beets, endive, shaved fennel, heirloom apples, canadian cheddar, wild-boar lardoons; Second course: braised beef short ribs & grilled prime rib-eye, puree of yellow turnips, wild field mushrooms and fresh horseradish; Dessert: apple crisp tart tatin maple sugar gelato--mmmmmmm!
First course: winter salad: baby beets, endive, shaved fennel, heirloom apples, canadian cheddar, wild-boar lardoons; Second course: braised beef short ribs & grilled prime rib-eye, puree of yellow turnips, wild field mushrooms and fresh horseradish; Dessert: apple crisp tart tatin maple sugar gelato--mmmmmmm!

To start our lovely meal was a winter salad: baby beets, endive, shaved fennel, heirloom apples, canadian cheddar, wild-boar lardoons. The combination of this salad was colorful, beautifully presented and the fusion of the fresh ingredients were right on! 

Following our salad, we had braised beef short ribs & grilled prime rib-eye, puree of yellow turnips, wild field mushrooms and fresh horseradish. I thought it was a bit odd that there were no vegetables with this meal, but I remembered, the veggies were pureed and also we had most of our veggies in our salad. Anyway, this lunch was better than I thought. The portion of this wonderful beef serving was more than enough and had there been a side of veggies, I would have been too full to get through my day.

I decided Chef Blair Lebsack knew what he was doing because that left enough room for dessert—yeah! Apple crisp tart tatin maple sugar gelato—mmmmmmmm good! My mouth was hog-happy! It was a very simple dessert that shouted out with, oh so sweet, flavor. 

This very Alberta cuisine was washed down with the perfect white and red wine. The day was perfect! I wish I could eat like this every day! Thank you to Chef Blair Lebsack and Spago for a fantastic experience and bringing A Taste of Alberta to Los Angles!  

Left pic - Wolfgang Puck (L) and Chef Blair Lebsack (R) Right pic - Chef Blair Lebsack (L) and interior designer Barbara Lazaroff
Left pic - Wolfgang Puck (L) and Chef Blair Lebsack (R) Right pic - Chef Blair Lebsack (L) and interior designer Barbara Lazaroff

The Madison Grill in Edmonton is considered one of the top restaurants in Edmonton and make Alberta the “must-see” destination for 2008.

www.TravelAlberta.com





Published Feb 22, 2008
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