Driven by a passion for Alberta’s terroir and abundance of quality produce, Chef Blair Lebsack’s philosophies around using local, healthful and ethical food was the foundation of his dream to build an urban gathering place where the farm dictates the menu. At the heart of Edmonton’s RGE RD (call it “Range Road,” from the abbreviation for Western Canada’s north-south survey roads) find a wood-burning oven that consumes birch and maple at 700°F during service six days a week and during off-service hours – smoking cured pork from nearby farms and mussels from BC’s Salt Spring Island while even dehydrating milk.
Since 2013, the rustic 60-seat restaurant located just outside of Edmonton’s downtown core invites guests to “eat off the beaten path” sourcing ingredients and provisions from farms and small-scale producers across Western Canada. On any given day, the menu boasts wild game, sustainable seafood, seasonal vegetables and local grains alongside wines from the Okanagan and local craft beers. The ever changing nightly special fondly referred to as “Questionable Bits” influenced by Chef Blair’s whole animal program, utilizes every nook and cranny from nose to tail and has developed a very devoted and adventurous fan base.
In addition to day-to-day restaurant operations, Chef Blair and partner Caitlin Fulton have also developed an urban-rural partnership with Central Alberta’s farming community by hosting long table pop-up dinners held at local farms. From organic farm Pease on Earth in North Edmonton to Nature’s Green Acres by nearby town of Viking, lucky ticket holders are hosted to a farm to table experience showcasing wood-fire cookery, stories from the fields and of course, a glorious prairie sunset. Each course featuring ingredients found just steps away from the dinner table.
RGE RD has been named Avenue Magazine Edmonton’s #1 Best Overall Restaurant and included in Canada’s Best 100, while Chef Blair was named one of Western Living Magazine’s Foodies of The Year in 2013 and continues to hold the top spot in offering the most authentic Alberta culinary experience in the province.
We are pleased to support Chef Blair and Caitlin on PR, marketing and community investment strategies, a brand refresh and the opening of their new retail endeavour, The Butchery by RGE RD.
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