Intentional Spends and Small Biz Feature - January 2023

Intentional Spends of the MonthCommunity

Jan 19

Two local Edmonton Businesses that I spent $$ with intention at this month!

Read on to find out all about them!

Hello January.

Everything is fresh. It’s a new slate. A time to start anew.

The year of last has been covered up by teeny tiny magical snowflakes, seemingly overnight, and we find ourselves able to turn our heads to look forward into the future, instead of back at the past.

Okay - enough with the fluffy stuff.

January also means stress for a lot of people, too.

Maybe you overspent during December - in money, in energy, in time - you name it. The Holidays have a way of being sort of exhausting - right?

Whatever your story or situation right now, I hope you give yourself some grace this month. We are all truly doing our best, despite rising prices of groceries and the overall inflation of the world.

In short, I don’t do new year resolutions. But I do practice setting intentions.

This year, I intend to spend my money with more mindfulness, and with a focus on local and small businesses in Edmonton. Each month I’m sharing with you a few of the places I went.

Taylor Ellenne’s Intentional Spends and Small Biz Features - January Edition

Bent Stick Brewery

Eeee! This might be my new fav spot in Edmonton to drink a beer (inside).

Upon arrival, the building in which you’ll find Bent Stick Brewery, is one that feels lackluster, and a bit like a meat factory…

You can’t see inside. And it’s winter here in YEG, so everything is extra bleak. Big piles of snow. Beige walls. Limited signage. Hmm….

But walk inside - take a chance!

I think you’ll find yourself pleasantly surprised!

You come down a little corridor, and find yourself suddenly in the corner of a large open space!

A selection of somewhat mismatched tables and chairs, high ceilings with thick wooden beams crisscrossing above you, and the actual brewery - right there. Just barely tucked away in the back.

You’ll probably smell the brewery, way before you even see the big metal kettle’s that it’s brewed in.

But hey, that’s what makes it authentic, right?

They’ve got a super snazzy couch set made of green velvet that we didn’t get to sit at, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I’m gonna be pining for it next time!

And they have a shuffle board game for those folks that love a good drinking activity, or can’t stand sitting in one place for too long.

There’s also some windows up high, the kind that are little squares, and they face south and let the perfect amount of light and warmth into the space.

Located on 99th street and 78 ave, Bent Stick offers a wide range of beers, and they had one cider on tap when we were there.

They also offer half pints, for a steal of a deal (less than $5.00), and tasting flats for when you can’t pick just one.

I’m a girlie that drinks her drinks a bit slowly, so the half pint option is soo great for me.
It keeps my beer cold and my options open!

If you’ve never checked this brewery out, I highly recommend taking a trip to check it out! It feels like the kind of place for meeting people, mingling, or at the very least, getting a bit of people watching in.

Plus, the beer is awesome!

I promise, I wouldn’t be telling you to go if it wasn’t.
Pho King - 118th ave

Oh my goodness. When I tell you I was craving soup this month - I ain’t joking.

I mean, who doesn’t love a good fix of some delicious Vietnamese food just in general?

When it comes to Pho and Vietnamese food, Edmonton has a TON of choices. And so many of them are delicious! It can be hard to choose a favourite.

I like to think of one’s favourite Pho place as being similar to that of one’s favourite sports team. Plenty of them are good, and they’re all playing the same (or a similar) game, but there comes a time when you just have to pick one. A favourite. A go-to.

Maybe you chose your favourite all on your own by studying and trying a few different spots out, or perhaps your spot was chosen for you - whether by family or by friends. Perhaps your favourite is your favourite because you associate it with a good memory.
For me, the best Vietnamese in Edmonton is Pho King, and I haven’t looked back since.
They now have two different locations in Edmonton, one on 188th, the other in Capilano.
But the 118th spot is my go-to.

Simply put, this spot is affordable (honestly it’s cheap), it’s fast, and it’s authentic. No fancy decorations (although they do have merch), and less than 15 tables in the place. It’s cosy and local and the broth is freaking delicous, people!!

Go for pretty much anything on the menu but my favs are the:
Vegetable Pho with Beef Broth

A nice one for folks who don’t want to eat beef but want the broth + it’s actually on their menu like that, so you don’t have to be confusing when trying to ask for.
Peanut Satay with Beef

This is just IT. It’s the perfect combination of flavours, I could eat it every. day.

I order a regular size (the smallest) and it’s huge. It’s also under $13.00! Next on my “to try” list is the Lemongrass Beef Soup (Bún bò Huế).

Did I mention I love Vietnamese food??!