Secret Ingredient YEG

Happy International Women’s Day. 💜

Secret Ingredient YEG has always been about more than food. It’s about the stories, traditions, and skills that women carry with them.

This year’s IWD theme is “Give to Gain.” When women share their recipes and knowledge, we gain so much- connection, culture, memories around the table, and the chance to keep the stories and traditions of past generations alive.

Today we celebrate ALL women, and want to hilight and thank the amazing people we’ve worked with- the women who teach, share, remember, honour, and bring people together through food.

When we recognize and value the knowledge & traditions women share, we ALL gain.

For the past few years, I’ve gathered you around our table for cooking classes.

This time, we’re gathering somewhere new.

In honour of International Women’s Day, Secret Ingredient YEG is hosting our very first guided food tour — and we’ll be exploring the incredible women-led food businesses inside the beautiful, indoor Bountiful Farmers’ Market.

‘Gathered at the Market’ is a small-group cultural food tour where we’ll taste global flavours, meet the makers behind the dishes, and experience food as a way to connect — to culture, to stories, and to one another.

It’s for the food lover, farmers’ market fan, for the ones who walk past something and think, that looks good… but aren’t sure what to order.
�For anyone who believes food is more than just something we eat. For anyone wanting to get out, support local, have fun, try something new!

🗓 Saturday, March 14�⏰ 11:15 am – 1:00 pm�🎟 Limited to 15 guests�💛 Early bird tickets now available:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/gathered-at-the-market-a-cultural-food-tour-at-bountiful-farmers-market-tickets-1983320830995?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you’ve joined me in the kitchen before — or if you simply love good food and prefer someone else does the cooking — this gathering is for you.

I can’t wait to gather at the Market with you this March. 🍴💜🌎

yegsmallbusiness

Corpuz Bakeshop has been on our must-try list for a while. Back when we were often around 118 Ave, it was already on our radar- but when they recently moved to the 101 Ave area (a neighbourhood close to home for us), we knew it was finally time to visit.

This local, family-run spot specializes in Filipino and Filipino-fusion donuts and comfort food, and it absolutely delivered.

We tried three of their polvoron donuts, filled with Filipino and Asian-inspired flavours (alongside others like Oreo and leche flan). They were SO good- not overly sweet, perfectly balanced, generously filled, and flavours completely on point. Pandan was our favourite this round, but we already know we need to go back ASAP for the raspberry marscapone.

We couldn’t resist trying one of their hot meals too and ordered the bagnet silog (pork belly and garlic rice). Fantastic. The pork belly was flavourful with lots of meat and that perfect crunchy skin. The garlic rice was tasty, served with buttered corn, a sweet-savory vinegar, and of course, two fried eggs. Great portions, great value, and deeply satisfying.

We also really love the story behind this business- sharing culture through thoughtful, delicious food always hits home for us. We’ll definitely be back, and if you haven’t been yet, this is your sign to check them out. 🍩✨

A cozy Sunday night filled with good food and good vibes ✨ Esther shared a taste of her hometown through fragrant Mì Quảng soup.🇻🇳 For many of us, it was our first time using long kong chicken in this beautiful dish- a rich, lemongrass and turmeric infused broth with tender chicken, shrimp, pork belly, and quail eggs, topped with fresh herbs, rice crackers, and peanuts. So full of flavour and texture… maybe even better than pho! 😲🤭

We also cooked up crispy taro spring rolls, coconut sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf and naturally coloured with magenta leaf, and her favourite street food, bắp xào. So much flavour, laughter, and connection around the table. 💜🍜

Have you ever made authentic Vietnamese fried spring rolls? 🥢 It’s such a fun activity to do together as a family! (Photo from a private class we hosted last year 💛)

In our upcoming classes, we have two fabulous and talented instructors sharing their secret ingredients and cooking up some classic — and possibly new-to-you — dishes from regions across China and Vietnam.

The weather’s starting to cool, so it’s the perfect time to warm up in the kitchen with us! 🍲

Join us for Taste of China on November 16 and Taste of Vietnam in December, with menus full of soups, flavour, and comfort food to carry you through the season.

✨ We’re back! ✨

We know it’s been a little while (thanks to everyone who’s been asking when new classes are coming!). As a super small biz run by one person, we took some time away to deal with life things—but we’re still here, and excited to be cooking with you again. 💛

First up: our Taste of China cooking class with instructor Wilma Ho✨. We are very excited about all the tasty items on this menu- perfect for learning some Chinese classics to recreate at home as winter sets in. Tickets are live now—don’t wait, seats are limited:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-taste-of-china-culinary-experience-tickets-1758432481889?aff=oddtdtcreator

We’ll also be posting details soon for our December class, and something brand new… our YEG Supper Series! Expect an evening of shared plates at a local restaurant, connection with the owners/chefs, and insight into the culture behind their food. The first one is coming later this month—stay tuned. 🙌

— Secret Ingredient YEG

Heritage Festival is hands down my favourite festival every year. ✨

It’s such a beautiful celebration of culture and community — from seeing people gathered around their pavilions, sharing food, dance, and pride in their roots, to kids running around, performers lighting up the stage, and strangers coming together over something delicious.

Everywhere I look, I see joy.
Joy in belonging.
Joy in connection.
Joy in sharing the beauty of diversity.

And yes — the food did not disappoint! 😋

Some highlights from our evening:
🇵🇹 Portugal – Rissóis de camarão (shrimp turnovers) with a soft, creamy potato filling and a bit of spice.
🇨🇴 Colombia – Crispy chicarrón and fried cassava = 10/10. (Make sure you put on some of the salsa/red sauce they have at the front)
🇨🇲 Cameroon – Hibiscus drink, sweeter than expected and missing that gingery punch we usually love, but still refreshing.
🇹🇼 Taiwan – Savoury sticky rice perfection.
🇷🇴 Romania – Sarmale (cabbage rolls) were so good we went back for seconds.
🇧🇧 Barbados – The fish cakes (more like flavour-packed fritters!) were delish — especially when paired with Kaiso hot sauce, a locally made Bajan-style pepper sauce that’s totally unique.
🇮🇷 Iran – Crowd favourite, saffron + pistachio ice cream was the perfect sweet ending to the evening.

This year, we also noticed and appreciated the growing presence of communities whose cultures are often overlooked, erased, or caught in conflict — including Uyghur, Kurdistan, Palestine, Oromia, and Myanmar.
While Heritage Festival is first and foremost a celebration, it’s also a powerful reminder that borders don’t always reflect lived realities — and that culture, identity, and belonging exist beyond the lines drawn on maps.

We’re glad to see space being made for these communities to share their stories, their food, and their traditions. These pavilions are more than just tents — they’re acts of cultural visibility, resilience, and pride. Amid the joy, there’s also room to learn, reflect, and connect more deeply with each other.

Catch until 8pm today — we’ll be back to try a few more things and soak in all the joy. 💛🌍

We made our annual stop at Taste of Edmonton and, as always, it was a mixed bag—in the best way possible. These kinds of events are such a unique chance to try a variety of flavours from across the city, and while there were a few bites we’d happily go back for seconds (or thirds) of, there were also a few disappointments that left us wishing for more.
Let’s start with the good stuff—our absolute favourites:
* Tostones with Cuban Tomato Mojo Dip from Beya’s Catering: This Cuban classic hit all the right notes- we’re still thinking about that sauce.
* Fish Pakora from Kissan Indian Cuisine: 
Hands down, one of the best fish pakoras we’ve ever had. The exterior was crisp without being greasy, and it was dusted with this fine spice blend—likely coriander and cumin-forward—was next-level. We’ll definitely be checking out their full menu soon.
* Pulled Pork Steamed Bao from Hoang Long 888: Fluffy, soft bao with generous fillings, fresh veg, and a well-balanced sauce—this was bao perfection for us.

A few other noteworthy bites (not all pictured- we weren’t on our ‘photo A-game’), but definitely memorable:
* Sour Cabbage Rolls from Yo Baba – A classic done right.
* Deep-Fried Pumpkin Pancakes with Red Bean Paste from Dagu Rice Noodle – Crispy on the outside, strong pumpkin flavour, warm and sweet on the inside. Unexpectedly good.
* Choco N’ Dip’s “Dubai Strawberries” – We finally tried these social media darlings and they lived up to the hype.

Of course, not everything was a win. A few items missed the mark—either lacking authenticity, ingredient quality or seriously low on flavour. But that’s part of the experience. Pulling off an event like this is no small feat for restaurants, and taste is personal. We’ll just say: we hope some vendors use this as a chance to put their best foot forward, not just for festival-goers, but to encourage folks to visit their brick-and-mortar locations.

If you’re heading down for the final weekend, our advice: go in curious, share with friends, and be ready for a little adventure. There’s always something new to discover. 🫶🏼🍴

New Class Alert: Taste of Mexico – Spice Up Your Spring! 🇲🇽

Winter’s making a comeback, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay cold! ❄️🔥 Warm up with bold flavors and rich traditions at A Taste of Mexico Cooking Experience, our delicious collaboration with Chocolate Don Marin.

We’ll be joined by Yereni, the owner of local small business Chocolate Don Marin, who will be sharing her culture through food and her journey into crafting specialty Mexican chocolate and ceremonial cacao.
🍫✨ Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn, taste, and connect!

📅 Date: Friday May 9�🎟️ Limited Tickets! Reserve your spot now:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-taste-of-mexico-culinary-experience-tickets-1301652681209?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Honoring Women, Past & Present 💜

At Secret Ingredient YEG, we know that food is more than just nourishment—it’s connection, memory, and love. This International Women’s Day, SIYEG owner Steffanie gathered with some of the amazing women in her family to honor their grandmother. We each brought a dish that reminded us of her (have you dipped buttered toast in tomato juice!?), shared cherished memories, and had a heartfelt discussion about ‘Looking for Jane’—a powerful novel about motherhood and women’s rights.

While we celebrate, we also recognize that not all women have the same privileges we do. IWD is a reminder that the fight for gender equality isn’t over—action is needed, now and always, to uplift and empower women everywhere. Let’s continue pushing for a world where all women have the rights, opportunities, and support they deserve. 💜✨

Snagging a spot for a Chinatown Chowdown group lunch felt like winning the lottery, and wow—what an experience! We went to RJ Tasty Bites, my first time there, and it was absolutely lovely—modern, bright, and so welcoming.

We got to try a bunch of dishes, and everything was incredible. Kicking things off with kwek-kwek—deep-fried quail eggs in a spiced batter—was the perfect start. Quail eggs are DELISH, but deep fried….whole other level. But the standout? The kari kari. A rich, peanut stew with melt-in-your-mouth beef, crispy fried eggplant, and the most tender tripe—it was perfect. 🤤

And dessert? The taho. Warm, silky tofu, sweet arnibal syrup, and chewy sago pearls—a perfect blend of textures and flavors.

Beyond the food, the experience was made even better by the amazing team at RJ Tasty Bites. It’s a family-run restaurant, and the owners and servers were so welcoming and kind. You can feel the love they put into every dish, and we can’t wait to go back!

Huge shoutout to for this amazing initiative—breaking down barriers and bringing the community together to explore and support the incredible restaurants in Chinatown. If you haven’t checked it out yet, do it soon—the initiative runs until March! 💛

New Class Alert! Join us to step into the flavours of the Middle East, guided by Instructor Asma from as she shares her Lebanese and Syrian Heritage with us through food. Asma has a way with flavour, and we can’t wait to learn her tips and tricks to making the PERFECT Babaganoush. (We’ve tasted it, and can vouch- it’s amazing)

Come for the food, stay for the stories, and leave with recipes and skills to wow your family and friends. Let’s celebrate culture, community, and connection through food together!🌟

📅 Date: March 23, 2025�📍 Location: Details on Eventbrite
🎟️ Reserve your spot now: https://www.eventbrite.ca/d/canada--edmonton/taste-of-middle-east/