Cavern chef and owner, Tricia Bell, began working in the service industry as a kid and, although she flirted with the industry for many years, she took a long and meandering path through international humanitarian relief work, three degrees and a tenured teaching position at CEGEP (College d’enseignement général et professional) before arriving back where she started. Through it all, she always kept one foot in the game, because serving was fun and light, “more ephemeral than the world I was used to," she says.
After spending most of her adult life outside of Edmonton, Tricia returned to reunite with her aging parents and “to become a cocktail waitress,” she says. The relief work she was doing was draining and she was looking for respite, but what began as a break became a three-year detour and, ultimately, the realization that she wanted to be self-employed, that she wanted to do “something different." So, she opened up a cheese shop and wine bar.
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This tiny space, located underground on the 104 Street Promenade, manages to fit in a retail cheese boutique and a bistro wine bar. There’s only a handful of tables, so it’s perfect for a quiet date night spot. In addition to cheese boards, they offer fresh baguettes, foie gras, genoa salami, chorizo, salads and desserts, such as affogato, handmade shortbread, chocolate mousse, lemon tarts, cheesecake and truffles from local chocolatier,Jacek Chocolate Couture (located right across the street). In addition to wine, they serve espresso, beer, bourbon, Scotch, sherry and port.
View this Smart ListFor the cheese lover, Cavern, a bistro, wine bar and cheese shop, offers some sensational smoked cheeses: Applewood Smoked Cheddar from PEI, aged two years and infused with applewood smoke; and Idiazabal from Spain, a 100 per cent sheep's milk cheese, aged three to six months with notes of sweet caramel and the depth of smoky bacon. Pair some smoked cheese with a glass of wine and a hunk of fresh baguette for a lovely evening out.
View this Smart ListYes, Cavern does sell alcohol but it’s about more than just wine – it’s also all about the cheese and espresso. Cavern promotes the pairing of this unlikely duo, and I’m all for it. If it’s way too late for espresso, they also serve delightful, fresh and fruity iced teas and other non-alcoholic drinks. Don’t skimp on the gouda and go for a cheese board (they offer dozens of varieties of everyone’s favourite dairy product). Cavern is open until 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and until 11 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, making it a great spot for a non-alcoholic nightcap.
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