Page 26 - 05_June-2025

Delish
Tastemakers
Shop. Sip.
Stay Awhile.
Relish reimagines the
classic wine bar as an
elevated corner store
Every once in a while, a new dining
concept comes along that’s poised to
meet the moment. Right now, that spot
is Relish — the new bar and market in
Ritchie.
Situated across the lobby from
Campio Brewing Co., the brew pub in
the space once occupied by Ritchie
Market’s Biera, Relish is an innovative
approach in a post-COVID hospitality
environment. When high food costs,
reduced sales and a decline in late-
night lingering made Biera unsustain-
able, Ritchie Market owner and craft
beer impresario Greg Zeschuk decided
to launch an eatery that combined a
small, reasonably priced food and drink
menu with a bold retail concept. It is,
as he likes to call it, “a shop you can
have a drink in.”
Relish’s patrons (they’re not quite
diners or customers) encounter a cozy
nook with 18 seats for those seeking
the community feel of a wine bar.
But there are also numerous shelves
and coolers of food and beverages that
can be purchased to enjoy in-house
at a menu-set price or at home at a
slightly lower retail price. Developed by
former Biera chef Davina Moraiko, the
tightly focused and approachable food
26 EDify. JUNE.25
menu centres around mostly local
meats, cheeses and snacks designed to
be prepared and served by one or two
staff members. At the heart of it all are
two simple but delicious grilled sand-
wiches made with Brio Prairie Sour-
dough: a gooey Reuben stuffed with
Meuwly’s smoked brisket and a grilled
cheese oozing Havarti and Gruyere and
smeared with Shorty’s Garlic Hot Hon-
ey. You can also order a cheese plate
plumped with charcuterie, olives and
thoughtful jams. There are four “bar
snacks,” including Mojo Jojo Pickles
(proudly Edmontonian since 2011).
If you’re the dessert type, there’s a pret-
ty little pot of Peach Melba for afters,
but you can also scale up the sweets
with treats on nearby shelves, such as
Jacqueline Jacek’s jewel-inspired choc-
olates, and enjoy them at your table.
While food and high-end groceries
are part of the experience at Relish,
it should come as no surprise that
the biggest draw is the drinks.
After all, Zeschuk is the founder of
Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company
and a stalwart champion of Alberta
craft beer. There are two Blind
Enthusiasm beers on tap, plus a
rotating glass pour of the brewery’s
spontaneous or mixed fermentation
blends. If you crave other brand
favourites, such as Finest Hour
(a hoppy English Ale) or Lil’Broski
(a light beer), you’ll find them
canned in tall coolers for $8 in-house
($5 for take out).
photos JAY WALKER