If you like this, share it!
Todayville Top 5 is a sponsored segment produced by Jock Mackenzie (learn more about Jock below). In this feature we learn (you guessed it) 5 things about some really cool aspects of Red Deer that make this city, our home.
If our very first segment, Jock features a staple in Red Deer’s dining scene since it opened in … well let’s leave that up to Jock. Welcome to the Todayville Top 5 with Jock Mackenzie.
1 Heritage
Earls in Red Deer was the seventh-ever Earls in existence. Bill and Rhonda Olafson purchased the franchise and opened the current restaurant in 1984. Chef at the time, Andrew Lam, is still involved. Over the years, additions to the west and north have been added as has the covered, heated patio. The patio is unparalleled by other outdoor dining facilities for comfort and its Hawaii-like greenery. Today there are over 70 Earls restaurants across Canada and the United States. The founder, Leroy Earl “Bus” Fuller, brought A & W to Canada and is also the founder of the Fuller’s and Corkscrew restaurant chains.
2 Community Support
Giving back to the community is a cornerstone of the Earls Red Deer philosophy. Those in need come first: rebuilding the youth camp at Camp Alexo, the Youth and Volunteer Centre, support for the Women’s Shelter at their annual gala, title sponsorship for the last six years at Rotary’s Black Tie Bingo, a 5-year ongoing plan to support the new Child Advocacy Centre, wine and wine service at the preview dinner for the Festival of Trees since the Festival’s inception . . . and many more.
3 People
With over 80 people on staff, Earls has provided employment for high school and college students over its 35 year history. The Earls philosophy, the practical skill set, and menu knowledge make up the intensive training each support staff and server undergo. Consistency is a hallmark. Numerous staff members have made life careers at Earls–and that’s one reason why you can count on a great meal every time.
jessicakaitlynphotography
4 Menu
Fresh ingredients are key! The kitchen deals with “just in time” orders so that produce and proteins (delivered three times per week) come fresh to each table. The menu is becoming more and more inclusive–it meets an ever-increasing variety of dietary needs: numerous gluten free and plant-based options are available.
5 Interesting tidbits
Beer? Earls brews its own Rhino beers (pale ale, lager and a seasonal beer) in Surrey, BC at Central City Brewery. There are also local products from Troubled Monk, Blindman and Snake Lake as well as a wide variety of domestic beer.
Four Earls “Test Kitchen” chefs travel the world looking for new ingredients and dishes. A “Test Kitchen” in Vancouver will roll out a new dish and tailor it to an appropriate market in the 70 locations across North America–the furthest away is Miami.
Want to know more? Click to go to https://earls.ca/locations/red-deer
jessicakaitlynphotography
Todayville Top 5 features the freelance writings of Jock Mackenzie.
Jock is an original Red Deerian! Educated at Lindsay Thurber and Red Deer College (with a stint at the U of A), he became an educator himself, spending 31 years with the Red Deer Public school system.
It’s safe to say Jock knows Red Deer about as well as anyone (OK.. maybe not Michael Dawe). As a confirmed life-long learner, Jock never tires of getting to know his surroundings even better. That’s where the Todayville Top 5 comes in. In each feature, Jock shares a few ingredients that go into the mix that makes this delicacy called Red Deer the place we want to call home. As a well organized person who knows you’re busy, he’s choosing just 5 juicy tidbits to share each time.
If you’d like to be featured by Jock Mackenzie on the Todayville Top 5, just contact us at info@todayville.com.
Related
If you like this, share it!
