Wanderlust and Words

“In Just-spring when the world is mud-luscious the little lame balloonman whistles far and wee and eddieandbill come running from marbles and piracies and it’s spring when the world is puddle-wonderful” – e e cummings   A Taste of Spring  What food symbolizes spring for you? For me, it’s probably fresh, locally-grown spinach (and rhubarb). By winter’s end, I’ve had my fill of root vegetables (I do try to eat local) and am longing for greens. But in other parts of the world, spring may be something else entirely – mangoes in Mexico City , kumquats in Greece , or fresh goat cheese in Provence (Oh, yes, please!). And each of these foods has a history and a story to tell that surely influences its flavour.  Another early spring crop is radishes, but they’ve never been one of my favorites. I’m planning to try the roasted radish lemony chickpea pasta in this set of 12 unusual radish recipes , but I’m not so sure about the cinnamon ice cream topped with radishes.  Creativi...

Local News  The first episode of Jenn Sharp’s Flat Out Food docuseries launches on Feb. 24 on Citytv.  In the Garden  A California teenager has helped install seed libraries in all 50 states .  In the Grocery Store  Alicia Kennedy explains why she only eats natural peanut butter . The addition of palm oil or hydrogenated vegetable oil in standard peanut butter is convenient because it prevents separation and extends shelf life, but it is environmentally unsustainable: “What we take from the planet and don’t give back has consequences, even when we’re talking about something as seemingly trivial, as seemingly classed, as peanut butter. These small choices, these differences of a dollar or two, are meaningful.”  I’m a huge fan of beans as a cheap, sustainable source of protein, so I’m delighted to discover Slow Beans , a group of Slow Food bean farmers who are dedicated to safeguarding legumes as an agricultural priority and increasing their consumption....

“Many people say they enjoy the winter, but what they really enjoy is feeling proof against it.” – Richard Adams  Local News  I was so sorry to hear that Chef Jenni had lost her sense of taste and smell due to Covid – I do hope it’s only temporary. Nic Miller, Tales from Topographic Kitchens , talks about the importance of taste and smell , moving beyond the realm of food to encompass, memory, imagination, and beauty. She provides a list of additional resources on the importance of taste and smell and what is often discounted until it is lost.  Order a 3-course Valentine’s Day dinner from Trent at Scratch Provisions . Proceeds will support programming for student parents at Nutana Collegiate.  Second Harvest is Canada’s largest food rescue organization. In Saskatoon , they’ve partnered with the Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation to distribute food to families in need. You can support their efforts by encouraging local food businesses to contribute their surplus f...

“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come whispering ‘It will be happier’.” (Alfred Lord Tennyson)  Local News   I’m really enjoying the Swedish baked goods from Seven Tastes (virtual Saskatoon Farmers’ Market , formerly Frangipani Foods). The cardamom buns are fresh, soft, and have so much yummy cardamom flavour, while the tosca buns are topped with syrupy clusters of almond, hazelnut, and honey.  Doug Reichel Wine Marketing is offering guided wine tastings . There are two available on his website incorporating conversations with the winemakers. You can also request your own.  Angela Senenko, a sommelier at the Eighth St. Co-op liquor store, has provided a list of 8 winter-friendly beers from across Saskatchewan .  Oat milk grown, produced, and packaged in Saskatchewan will be on Co-op grocery store shelves by the summer.  Wild About Saskatoon is hosting an online conversation around  Indigenous food sovereignty and prairie cities  fr...

“Many people say they enjoy the winter, but what they really enjoy is feeling proof against it. ”   (Richard Adams)  Shop Local  We all know that independent businesses are suffering during Covid. So shop local this Christmas – please! And for those people on your gift list who have everything, consider edibles – we have so many great local producers.  A couple of weeks ago I posted an article about a coffee delivery company in Alberta and wondered if that would be a useful service in Saskatoon. Well, thanks to Daryl Grunau , barista at Sparrow Coffee , I now know that that is a lousy idea as it will take business away from coffee shops such as Sparrow, City Perks, Venn, Collective Coffee, and Underground that sell excellent coffee, either roasted themselves or carefully selected and imported. If we want our local coffee shops  to still be around after the pandemic, they need our support now. If you don’t know what to choose, the local baristas will be happy to ...

Local News  Explore a slice of local history with an online slideshow of Saskatoon’s bygone bakeries sponsored by the Saskatoon Public Library’s Local History Room at 4 pm , Oct. 1 .  The Local Kitchen is once more offering public cooking classes. Make pasta and sauces on Oct. 1 and French comfort food on Oct. 14 .  Oh, what a treat! Stuffed squash and sticky toffee pudding with a whipped cream topping. Absolutely delicious and absolutely no work thanks to Hearth Provisions. Hearth Restaurant sells a selection of heat-and-eat dishes. They change every week, but it’s a great way to have a special supper from the comfort of your own home. You can also order from their take-out menu. Or you can eat in the restaurant – Sunday night is lasagna night.  9 Mile Legacy Brewing has won gold for its angus stout . The company is the only Saskatchewan microbrewery to win a gold medal for two years in a row.  Here and Elsewhere  Japanese curry sounds like a very dif...

Local News Celebrate Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16 with tacos from La Taqueria Mexicana (formerly at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market) with beer at 9 Mile Legacy Brewing . Eat in or take out. Covid and Farmers’ Markets Farmers’ markets are flourishing during lockdown in Victoria, Australia : “Market data shows a sales increase of between 10 and 30% since the pandemic began. This is remarkable because now there are fewer tourists and browsers. So now it’s locals coming to the market for their weekly shop." Kate Archdeacon, Victorian Farmers' Markets Association "sees farmers’ markets as critical for the survival of small farmers, many of whom because of size and level of experience cannot meet the requirements of scale and consistency that supermarkets demand. She says farmers’ market suppliers are 'adaptable over time, sometimes one row of vegetables at a time.” Here and Elsewhere California has started authorizing home restaurants: “The newly impl...

“For me, it is luxurious to eat a spoonful of beans, to toast a slice of sourdough, to char an eggplant in its flesh over open fire. Every crystal of sugar, every cup of coffee, every bite of chocolate—these are luxuries; these are precious; these are from the earth and came from someone’s labor.”  ( Alicia Kennedy )  Local News  Supper on the patio at Shift was a delight. I’m giving serious thought to a return visit for a glass of wine and a slice of chocolate cheesecake. The bread pudding (pictured) is also excellent! Eat North is hosting Prairie Grid Market from 9 am-6:30 pm , Sept. 19 , at Agar’s Corner. There will be 25 vendors (food, drink, kitchenware), live music, and bar. Register for a 2-hour time slot with registration capped at 125 people per time slot. In the Kitchen Ratatouille was originally a thin, watery vegetable stew served to soldiers . How it’s changed. “A true ratatouille is a labour of love, with emphasis on labour.”  [eggpl...

Local News  The Saskatchewan Environmental Society will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with a riverside picnic from 12:30-2 pm , Aug. 30 . Registration is required as participation is limited to 30 people. Buy pasta, gnocchi, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and sodas – straight from Italy – at Beppi’s Gelato . I was sorry to learn that Little Bird Pâtisserie has closed its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What a shame! It is so important, now more than ever, to support small local businesses. There are a thousand reasons why you should shop and eat local, but one of the best is making new friends.  Padrón Pepper Roulette   I’ve been enjoying padrón peppers (quick fried until they blister) from Kaleidoscope Vegetable Gardens . But you have to be prepared to take a risk, because “unos pican otros no” or “some are hot, some are not . ” The spicy ones are in the minority, but it certainly wakes you up to what you’re eating when you bite into one of t...

Local News  Dad’s Organic Market is now selling products from Victoria, BC’s The Very Good Butchers . I enjoy their products whenever I’m in Victoria and am glad they’re now available in Saskatoon. The next time you’re at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market on Koyl Avenue , be sure to head for the rear of the hall near the exit. Tasty Habits sells rich, flavourful, addictive chocolate! I highly recommend the milk chocolate with nuts, but you can also choose dark chocolate and various other flavours. The chocolate bars are made by Rania Khiralla, a participant in the Saskatoon Open Door Society’s Women’s Business Hub , a program to help entrepreneurial immigrant women get their businesses off the ground. I also recommend the individual cheesecakes from Donna's Delectable Mini-Cheesecakes , also at the Saskatoon Farmers' Market. The Black Forest cheesecake is a personal favorite. Gluten-free versions are also available. Enjoy a picnic in the Bessborough Gardens every Fr...

Local News  Congratulations to 9 Mile Legacy Brewing who are launching a brewing and canning facility a few blocks from their current location. The current nanobrewery will focus on creativity, collaboration, and innovation. “This will not only give us more brewing capacity but it will help us add jobs, continue to work with local suppliers such as @prairiemalt @makersmalt and @saskatchewanhops and be a second sizeable investment by us in @riversdaledistrict. Plus it will get our beer to more people! . . . Grateful for the thirst everyone has for local, craft beer and excited to keep building the legacy with you!” Botté Chai Bar is now serving food for pre-order and pickup. It’s an interesting menu with appetizers (dolmeh, pickled vegetables), mains (vegetarian and carnivore), and desserts. Pickup is between 4:30 and 8 pm with 24 hours advance notice. Food for Thought  I was somewhat surprised to read that a large international study has found that “eating at least ...

Local News  If the lingering snow and cold is making you long for summer, be sure to follow Robyn at Toon Town Tomatoes  and start growing your own tomatoes. Learn to brew beer at home with Garrett Pederson, head brewer and co-founder of 9 Mile Legacy. The virtual class will use a Kolsch kit from Paddock Wood Brewing, modifying it with the addition of specialty grains and a variety of hops to transform it into a summery New England IPA. Sandra Walker, author of The Path to Wild Food: Edible Plants and Recipes for Canada , is sharing some of her recipes on Wild About Saskatoon’s Facebook page . First up is Cattail Pollen Biscuits . Jenn Sharp has put together a list of small local food businesses , many of which offer pick-up or delivery. A more comprehensive list of food resources in Saskatoon during Covid is available here. Regina’s Merawine is now producing the Vincompétant podcast . They’ll be talking about wine and food and the restaurant industry. Give ...

The Christmas tree has gone up by the war memorial in Clifford where I’m currently staying and I’m looking forward to going out for a walk every evening as different residents are taking to turns to decorate their windows as a living Advent calendar . This has put me in the Christmas spirit so here are some suggestions for supporting local when you purchase drinks this Christmas. Christmas Spirits  Black Fox Farm & Distillery’s liqueurs sound yummy – raspberry, honey ginger, and sour cherry. Lucky Bastard Distillers has everything from Christmas orange vodka to seabuckthorn & wildflower honey liqueur and bitters. You have three options for cider. Crossmount Cider Company has a winter variety pack that includes ginger apple, winter spice, and crisp and gold. Purchase your cider from Prairie Sentinel Bottleworks and you’ll be helping to support endangered species. Petrofka Orchard has soft apple cider. Living Sky Winery has fruit wines, liqueurs, and cider. Th...

Local Happenings  I had lunch at Restaurant Kashmere on Broadway Avenue on Friday. If you enjoy Indian food, this is the place to go. The dahl was creamy and flavourful. The eggplant bharja had a bit more zip – if you enjoy lots of onion, choose this one. I appreciated knowing that they were using (and promoting) Saskatchewan lentils and you could tell they were cooking from scratch. Service was excellent and the food was beautifully presented. Prairie Sun Brewery is now open on Broadway with regular hours, 7 days a week, starting Tuesday, Nov. 5. Aria Restaurant & Spirits in Rosewood offers a diverse menu with food for everyone, regardless of their dietary restrictions. Bulk Basket opens in Riversdale on Tuesday, Nov. 12, and is hosting its grand opening on Nov. 16 and 17. There is free 2-hour parking on Avenue D and 8 customer parking spaces behind the store. Products  In a potentially futile effort to combat insomnia, I have come across a range of or...

Local Happenings City Perks will be opening a second coffee shop, Sparrow , at 536 2nd Avenue North in December. The Glen at Crossmount is hosting Prairie Pours , a showcase of Saskatchewan-made alcoholic beverages from 5-10 pm , Oct. 18 . I was pleased to find a Solo Italia frozen pizza at Safeway last week. Solo Italia Fine Pasta is located in Ogema, SK, and makes wood oven pizzas and pastas. This was definitely the best frozen pizza crust I’ve ever had, but at $16 it wasn’t cheap. If you’re looking for a good bottle of Canadian wine, here are the winners of the BC Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards for 2018 . Food for Thought  Ranjan Datta, a board director for Saskatoon Open Door Society and Saskatchewan Multi-cultural Council, has written an account of how the University Community Garden has been able to address food insecurity, reconciliation, and cross-cultural understanding . The Canadian Love Food Hate Waste website has lots of information for those o...