Indigenous Excellence: Edmontons New Fine Dining Destination Challenges Convention [Video]

At its core, culinary tourism is a trip where travelers can experience local food. Although a simple concept, it is big business. Market research from The Brainy Insights estimates the global culinary tourism market is worth $1.1 trillion.

While the overall market is popular, Indigenous restaurants are challenging to find. An Edmonton chef and his wife strive to open hearts and minds to the world of Indigenous cuisine with their innovative eatery.

A Noble Mission

According to Canada’s 2021 Census of Population, about 5% of the country’s total population identifies as Indigenous peoples, a collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants. The small population directly correlates to very few Indigenous restaurants throughout Canada.

Chef Scott Iserhoff and his wife and business partner, Svitlana Kravchuk, strive to raise the profile of Edmonton’s Indigenous food scene, allowing diners to discover dishes beyond fry-bread tacos and burgers.

While Indigenous restaurants are uncommon, finding one in a downtown …