Three to Eat: Impressive vegetarian selection at Taste of Edmonton 2023

Some of the vegetarian dishes at Taste of Edmonton 2023 are, from left, fried pickles, margarita pizza and roasted vegetables with rice. Photo by Jenny Feniak /Postmedia

Vegetarian dishes have come a long way from the slim pickings of the past when steamed veggies or salad were often what appeared when this meal option was requested. Indicated with a ‘V’ on the Taste of Edmonton menu, there’s an impressive array of options and all three reviewed below are solid winners.

Roasted vegetables with rice, Pom Grand

Booth 2, three tickets

This new dish isn’t your everyday bunch of roasted vegetables. First, the array of veggies is impressive: mushrooms, onions, string beans, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, green, red and orange peppers. It’s a healthy portion that completely buries the two-tone bed of rice, with a nice surprise of little red, dried berries mixed in for an unusual, yet tasty combination — a great deal for three tickets.

Face off fried pickles, The Canadian Brewhouse

Booth 31, three tickets

If you’re a pickle fan, this dish is a must. It’s not only scrumptious but easy to eat. Big spears of tangy dill pickles surrounded by a thick, herbed batter fried to crispy perfection without destroying the integrity of its contents. My first bite actually pulled the entire pickle right out of its golden shroud coat that kept its shape so the pickle could be slipped right back inside. And while the battered pickles were a score, they’re served with a creamy, homemade tzatziki for dipping — the winner of this faceoff.

Margherita pizza, La Diavola Pizzaria

Booth 30, three tickets

Regardless of which variety of pizza you choose, La Diavola’s pizza is some of the best you could hope to chow down on. The crust is soft and chewy, while cooked enough to avoid any doughiness. Mozzarella balls are melted across a simple tomato sauce topped with a single, fresh basil leaf. Minimalist perfection straight out of an on-site pizza oven.

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