Flavourful Saskatoon, August 8, 2011

Foodie news and events in and around Saskatoon – vegetarian magic, scarlet-red coffee, local beans and oats and cooking classes

Local Bounty
I dropped in at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market on Sunday, August 7 to check out the local food samples available from the local chefs participating in Local Bounty. Calories, White Birch Catering, Cava Caffe, Riverbend Plantation and Garlic Guru were on hand with an assortment of small bite-sized dishes, and it could be accompanied by a glass of wine.

There was only one vegetarian option (Garlic Guru), but the lemon-mint panna cotta from Riverbend Plantation was yummy and made up for the lack of variety. There were lots of people and lots of activity in the food court area. Put it in on your calendar for next year.

White Birch Catering – Vegetarian Dinner
White Birch Catering is offering a vegetarian banquet on Saturday, August 27 at 6 pm. It will be held in the old Aberdeen church, which has been converted into the family home of Carmen and Keith Dyck, Fruition Orchards. White Birch says that they will shock and amaze us with their vegetarian magic. Call 881-2033 or go online to www.whitebirchcatering.com to make a reservation.

Las Palapas Mercado
Las Palapas Resort Grill will be opening a Mercado – Mexican Imports & Specialty Grocery on Broadway Avenue (next door to Bud’s). It should be fun. The sign in the window doesn’t indicate an opening date. (photo and story via @WaywardReporter)

Simon’s Fine Foods
Simon Reynolds has posted his list of Fall/Winter Cooking Classes. There’s everything from a Trip to Asia, to Culinary Boot Camp, to desserts, pulses and tapas.

Museo Coffee
Museo Coffee has two new varieties of locally-roasted coffee – Shakiso Guji from Ethiopia and Sangre de Toro from Costa Rica.

We’re full of beans!
The September issue of Canadian Living magazine features a Saskatchewan harvest menu. While they were in Saskatchewan, they participated in a media tour hosted by the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers. Watch the slideshow of their tour and download some recipes incorporating peas, beans and lentils.

New Oat Varieties
The University of Saskatchewan Crop Development Crop Centre has launched three new varieties of oats, each with distinctive characteristics. CDC Nasser has the feeding qualities of barley but doesn’t need to be processed. CDC Morrison is an early oat with a combination of nutritional qualities that makes it attractive to Quaker Oats and the milling industry. CDC Big Brown has high yields and is resistant to wheat. (via On Campus News)

Flavourful Saskatoon is a weekly Monday feature. Email me (penny@axonsoft.com) if you have products, events or places that you would like me to include.

See also:
Flavourful Saskatoon August 1, 2011
Lindsay Adams, Apprentice Chef

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