Wanderlust and Words

Beer & Grilled Cheese Sandwich  I attended Green Drinks Saskatoon on Friday evening and thoroughly enjoyed the setting, the beer, and the grilled cheese sandwich. 9 Mile Legacy Brewing Company is a very pleasant spot for a visit with friends and I appreciate their support for community events. I really enjoyed their sessional beer brewed especially for the NatureCity Festival; next time I plan to try their tasting menu so I can sample some of the wide range of beers they brew. Dapper Dane Gourmet Grilled Cheese food truck was parked outside 9 Mile so I was able to pick up a freshly-grilled sandwich for supper. The Caprese was excellent – fresh tomato and basil, pesto, and cheese is a great combination. The food truck is named after their two Great Danes and there is a jar with dog biscuits on the counter. Brightly Coloured Beehives  Calories restaurant – with help from Monique Martin, fine arts students from Georges Vanier and St. Phillip’s schools, and Dr. Barry Brown

Farmers’ Market Shopping Basket  I buy over half my weekly groceries at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market. It’s fresh; it’s local; and I’m among friends. Here’s what I bought this week: spinach, tomatoes, potatoes, asparagus, rhubarb, apples, frozen seabuckthorn berries, pasta and sauce, vegetarian shepherd’s pie, soup, banana loaf, chocolate cookie, croissant, and chipotle chile powder. And my top hits of the week: Salted Caramel and Apple Croissant (addictively delicious) from Proof . . . Fresh Baked Creations ; Spinach Fettucine and Leek, Parmesan and White Wine Sauce from the Market’s newest vendor, Cranked – Fresh Pasta ; Rhubarb (first rhubarb crisp of the season!) from Wally’s Market Garden ; and wonderfully fresh Spinach from Kaleidoscope Vegetable Gardens . Vegan Protein Options  I’m looking forward to trying vegan wheat sausages from Gusta ( Dad’s Organic Marke t). Gusta is a Montreal-based company based at the Jean-Talon Market. They say they are exploring “the powe

Devour every Hour spring rolls Steve and Dan’s Fresh BC Fruit What a treat to find BC fruit available in May at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market . And what a great selection. There are 3 varieties of apples, pears, organic walnuts, sparkling fruit juice, dried cherries, and dried apple slices. 80% of the produce sold by Steve and Dan’s Fresh BC Fruit comes from their own farm in Oliver, BC. They only spray when they have to, favour organic sprays if possible, and sell organic or transitional (in the process of being certified organic) fruit from other Okanagan farmers. They’re on a waiting list so that they can start feeding their trees with manure rather than nitrogen fertilizer. Steve and Dan’s BC Fruit is at the Market on a 5-week trial basis so be sure to stop buy, welcome them to Saskatoon, and encourage them to return by buying lots of their lovely products. Chile Peppers I recently responded to a Facebook inquiry about where one could purchase dried chile pepper

Saskatoon’s NatureCity Festival is May 23 to 28, and there is truly something for everyone. The following are all food and drink events. May 23 to 28  Stay Wild Saskatoon  Wild about Saskatoon has partnered with 9 Mile Legacy Brewing on a festival beer featuring Saskatoon’s local water profile and local ingredients. Stay Wild Saskatoon beer will be available festival week at locations around Saskatoon, at 9 Mile and at our keynote event with Maude Barlow . A festival growler is for sale too. Hungry for Nature  Some local restaurants will be featuring a nature-inspired dish during the Festival. Check out d’Lish by Tish, Drift Café, Citizen Bakery, Little Bird Patisserie, Amigos Cantina, Una Pizzeria, and more. May 26  Compost & Soil Join the Saskatoon Compost Coaches at the Garden Patch to learn how to build healthy soil using compost and other organic techniques from 6:30-8:30 pm . Green Drinks  Have a beer and chat about all things wild, natural, green, renewa

Food Truck Saturdays in front of the Saskatoon Farmers' Market The Local Bar Story  Have you ever dreamed of selling your own food product? Find out how The Local Bar got its start . Fair Trade in Saskatchewan  The University of Regina and the City of Saskatoon are working towards a fair trade designation . The University of Saskatchewan has also been making fair trade purchases. Wild Serendipity Foods al fresco (be sure to try the Banana Coconut Lime Bread) Crew of Cyclists Turning Florida’s Lawns into Farms  In Florida, a group of pedal-powered volunteers are transforming lawns into organic gardens  to create hyper-local food networks. Flavourful Saskatoon is a weekly Monday feature. I also post articles about food that is good, clean and fair; travel; and books. You may also enjoy EcoFriendly Sask profiling Saskatchewan environmental initiatives and events.  You can follow Wanderlust and Words on Facebook , Twitter , or by email (top right corner). 

I’ve always been a fan of Purdy’s chocolates , bringing them home from trips to British Columbia or Alberta, so I was pleased to hear that they were opening a store in Saskatoon’s Midtown Plaza – and delighted to be invited to a wine and chocolate pairing to celebrate the store’s opening. I came away from the event even happier as I’d learned that Purdy’s chocolates are not just tasty – they’re also fresh, local, and sustainable. Local  Richard Carmon Purdy started selling homemade chocolates on Robson Street in downtown Vancouver in 1907. Their first chocolate factory was in a house on West 7th, and the company is still located in Vancouver. The Vanilla Caramel, Dairy Cream, and Marshmallow chocolates are still made using the original 1907 recipes. Purdy’s uses as many Canadian ingredients as possible. The ice wine is from Mission Hill Winery; the Chardonnay from Quail’s Gate. The mint oil is from Quebec and the Saskatoon berries are from – you guessed it – Saskatoon.

Mother’s Day Brunch, May 14  The Griffin Takeaway is hosting a Mother’s Day brunch on May 14 at Honey Bun Café. Open House Farm Event, June 14  Tour New Life Oranic Foods grain facility at the Witzaney Family Farm Open House on June 10. Simpkins Market Garden  I had a chat with Dixon Simpkins from Simpkins Market Garden last week and learned that they’re able to sell vegetables almost year round thanks to a large root cellar built into the side of a hill. He also told me they’re trying out a couple of new crops. They planted purple asparagus last year. He’s not sure how much will be ready for market this year – maybe next year. Apparently it’s popular in the United Kingdom. They’re also planning to grow husk cherries this year. He saw lots on sale last year at the Jean-Talon Market in Montreal. Wild Serendipity Foods  You’ll have two opportunities to purchase scones and macarons from Michelle at Wild Serendipity Foods this summer – indoors at the Saskatoon Farmers’ M