Inside the family-run Spruce Grove kitchen where fresh, locally grown microgreens and edible flowers show up across the menu from the appetizer to the dessert.
A Menu Built on Fresh, Local Detail
At Porta Romana, a basil microgreen doesn’t wait around. It goes onto the bruschetta right before the plate leaves the pass, not pulled from a bin hours earlier. That kind of timing runs across the whole menu at this family-run Italian restaurant in Spruce Grove, where fresh microgreens and edible flowers from Farm Fresh Choice show up in small but deliberate ways: a garnish on the salmon, a topping on the signature bruschetta, a finishing touch on the dessert plate.
It’s a good look at how a few fresh, locally grown ingredients can add color, texture, and flavor across very different dishes, from a shared appetizer, to a plated entrée, to dessert.
Bruschetta Classica: A Family Favourite, Topped With Basil Microgreens
The Bruschetta Classica is one of the most-ordered appetizers at Porta Romana. Toasted sourdough focaccia is rubbed with fresh garlic, then topped with cherry tomatoes, the restaurant’s own basil pesto, extra virgin olive oil, and a generous scattering of basil microgreens from Farm Fresh Choice, thin, bright green stems that add a fresh lift on top of the tomatoes and pesto.
Because the microgreens are delivered in live trays, Porta Romana’s kitchen cuts the basil fresh just before each plate goes out, keeping the aroma and flavor as sharp as possible right up to the table. It’s a small extra step that most guests will never see, but one that shows up in every bite.
“Bruschetta Classica — a favourite of ours in my family.” — Karren, owner, Porta Romana
Dill Salmon: A FullHouse Mix Finish on a BC Organic King
Porta Romana’s Dill Salmon (gluten-free) features BC Organic King salmon with a creamy dill sauce and dill oil, served alongside sautéed asparagus and carrots. The dish is finished with Farm Fresh Choice’s Fullhouse Mix microgreens, a blend of sunflower, red radish, red amaranth, and, depending on the week’s harvest, arugula or kale.
The Fullhouse Mix brings texture and a mild peppery bite on top of the rich, buttery salmon, a small contrast that keeps the plate feeling fresh rather than heavy. It’s a good example of what a mixed microgreens blend can do that a single variety can’t: crunch, color, and bite, all layered into one garnish.
Meringue: Fresh Berries, Finished With Edible Flowers
Porta Romana’s meringue dessert (gluten-free) pairs a crisp meringue base with fresh whipped cream and a mix of seasonal berries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. The final touch is a fresh viola or pansy from Farm Fresh Choice’s Premium Viola/Pansy Pack, set against the white cream alongside a few sprigs of mint. It’s a longstanding recipe on the menu, inspired by a family recipe from Karren’s own wedding in Italy.
The edible flower adds a small flash of color and a light, delicate note without competing with the berries or cream underneath, a simple way to finish a dessert that’s otherwise all about the fruit.
From the Grower
Basil microgreens are one of the more delicate greens we grow, which is exactly why Porta Romana’s approach works so well, cutting fresh right before plating instead of holding it in a walk-in cooler for hours. It’s the difference between a garnish that’s just there and one that actually adds aroma to the dish. That’s the kind of detail that doesn’t show up on a menu description, but it’s the reason a simple bruschetta stands out.
Fresh, Local, and Family-Run: Spruce Grove’s Porta Romana
It’s the kind of local kitchen Farm Fresh Choice loves supplying, harvested in Edmonton and delivered within 24–48 hours, so what shows up on the plate is as fresh as what left the farm. Whether it’s a wedding-cake-inspired meringue or a family bruschetta recipe, the freshness of the garnish is part of what makes each dish at Porta Romana feel finished.
Frequently Asked Questions
What edible flowers does Porta Romana use?
Porta Romana finishes its meringue dessert with fresh violas and pansies from Farm Fresh Choice’s Premium Viola/Pansy Pack, grown and harvested in Edmonton.
Are the microgreens at Porta Romana grown locally?
Yes. Porta Romana sources its basil microgreens and Fullhouse Mix microgreens (sunflower, red radish, red amaranth, and seasonal arugula or kale) from Farm Fresh Choice, an Edmonton-based urban farm delivering within 24–48 hours of harvest.
What is Porta Romana’s most popular appetizer?
The Bruschetta Classica, toasted sourdough focaccia with fresh garlic, cherry tomatoes, house-made basil pesto, and fresh basil microgreens, is a longstanding family favourite on the menu.
