Chef Shonn began his culinary education at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology's School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. Soon after, the St. Albert native found himself apprenticing in the kitchens of a number of Edmonton restaurants. In pursuit of his culinary dreams, Shonn traveled the globe to work and study. His stops ranged from Hawaii to Switzerland, where he finished his formal education at Centre International de Glion in Bulle. But it was Singapore that turned Chef Shonn's eye and palate toward Asian cuisine, and after honing his skills he returned to Canada where, at the tender age of 26, he opened Characters Fine Dining. His understanding of cultural influences and international flavours are intuitively and spontaneously translated into his own highly original cuisine. The unparalleled menu abounds with tempting dishes in the style of Canadian continental, Asian and French cooking.more...See more text
Antiquated brick, warm, glossy wooden accents, a crackling fireplace – Characters truly does have, well … character. It was named one of the 50 most romantic restaurants in Canada, certainly not by coincidence. This is the place to come if you want an intimate, cozy, entrancing evening with someone you love in one of Edmonton’s most adored
locations.
There are multiple private dining options at this restaurant. They offer a Chef’s Table for four people, where guests sit right in the kitchen and can chat with the chef’s as their meal is prepared. Another cool option is a private table for up to four people, set up in a converted elevator shaft (it’s fancier than it sounds!). There are also four other rooms - for 12, 14, 20 or up to 50 guests, respectively. One of the spots has a projector screen and internet, while the largest room has a built-in LCD projector and drop down screen.
Beef tartare is available on the dinner menu of this lovely restaurant. The appetizer comes with minced raw beef, balsamic onions and grilled black bread, for a little twist on the traditional tartare. They also offer a vegan version, made from beets. It’s flavoured with horseradish root and walnut oil, and is part of the three-course vegan meal available on the dinner menu.