A few miles upriver from Appledore is the market town of Bideford . The town was a pleasant surprise and I didn’t have long enough to discover all its treasures. The Torridge River is still tidal in Bideford and the quays are lined with boats both old and new. In the 16th century, Bideford was Britain’s third largest port and there are still signs of its thriving past. The impressive bridge linking Bideford with East the Water (i.e. on the other side of the river) was built in 1535. There are plenty of independent stores in the streets behind the quay selling baked goods, fruit and vegetables, and books. Bideford’s market hall was built in 1884 and is referred to as the Panier Market as the farmers used to bring their produce to market in large wicker baskets. It’s a very pretty building, but it seems to sell primarily crafts rather than food. The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery & Museum was an absolute delight, and I could have spent much lo...
Tucked away in a strip mall on Primrose Drive (north of Lawson Heights Mall) is Petra Market, a treasure trove of food products from the Arabic countries in the Mediterranean. I’m fascinated by grocery stores full of unknown-to-me products but also a little nervous about trying things, so I was really happy when Nour Dabbour, the owner of Petra Market, showed me around and told me about the different items. Nour is trying to stock products from as many Middle Eastern countries as possible. He even stocks the same product from a number of different countries because he says that each country’s product tastes slightly different. Za’atar , a spice mix, is a prime example with packages from Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and each one is a slightly different colour with a slightly different taste. The most popular areas of the store are the nut and treats bars with an amazing assortment of Middle Eastern candies and mildly spiced nuts. Nour gave me a variety to try and I’m real...
It’s winter, and I’m longing for fruit, but I’m trying to buy as many local foods as possible so pineapples and mangoes are out of the question. Not to worry! I’ve found a new favourite that combines a tart, slightly tropical flavour with a heaping serving of health-giving vitamins and anti-oxidants. And it’s grown in Saskatchewan. Sea Buckthorn Berries Sea buckthorn is a deciduous shrub that was originally grown in Europe and Asia. It doesn’t mind a cold climate or poor soil, so it’s found at the foot of the Himalaya, in Siberia – and on the Canadian Prairies. Sea buckthorn has a long and storied history. Ghengis Khan is said to have fed sea buckthorn berries to his army and the leaves to his horses to keep both healthy and strong prior to battle. Tibetan medicinal texts from as early as 600 A.D. refer to the herbal remedies made of sea buckthorn for skin and digestive disorders. The tradition continues. The Indian Department of Defence recently sponsored a conference on sea ...
Olives, cheese, pasta, chutney and much, much more Bulk Cheese Warehouse has been one of my favourite haunts for many, many years. I immediately head for the cheese section to see what is new and/or irresistible, but I usually end up buying crackers or olives or fancy jam as well. So, it was a pleasure to meet with Mike Bartlett, the store’s general manager and find out more about the store. Family business Mike’s father, Scott Bartlett, started the business over 20 years ago. It was originally a wholesale business selling to restaurants, hotels and pizza parlours between Prince Albert and Regina. When the current location at 732 Broadway Avenue became available, they opened a small retail outlet. Over time, the retail business has expanded and replaced the wholesale business .The family also operates a retail store in Regina on Quance Street. Mike says that the store’s aim is to provide customers with a food experience, to help them discover new things and enjoy good products. Bu...
how not to start a business – and yet still be wildly popular Starting a business is rarely straightforward, but even I was surprised by how many unexpected events have shaped the history of Paddock Wood Brewing Co . I’ll have to make my own In 1992, Steve Cavan and his wife, Kathleen James-Cavan, moved to Saskatchewan from Ontario. Kathleen had been hired as an English professor at the University of Saskatchewan and Steve was hired as a lecturer in Classics and History. Things were looking bright for the two former graduate students, but Steve had one big problem – there was no good craft beer in Saskatchewan. The only solution was to brew his own. Using his well-honed research skills, Steve applied himself to learning how to brew beer. And that’s when he ran into the next dead end. He needed to buy malt, hops and yeast, but they weren’t available locally. Steve’s current favourite was British ale, so he contacted Paddock Wood, England, hoping to buy hops directly from the local...
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Sarah
Sweet Spontaneity