Wanderlust and Words

Wishing you a happy Christmas and many blessings in 2021.  “Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is blue water, soft sand, and warm weather.” (unknown)  “May we rest safely this night, sleep in perfect peace, and rise with the morning light.” (Celtic prayer) A European Advent Calendar, Part IV

Ups and downs. Ferris wheels and merry go rounds! Happy Solstice!  “If there’s one thing I could wish for right now, it would be to have one of those horses from the merry go round – they were the most exciting thing to go on as a kid.” (Deborah Madison)  “And the seasons they go round and round and painted ponies go up and down. We're captive on the carousel of time. We can't return we can only look behind from where we came. And go round and round and round in the circle game.” (Joni Mitchell)  “What did I tell ya? There’s the whole world at your feet. And who gets to see it but the birds, the stars, and the chimney sweeps.” (Mary Poppins) See Also A European Advent Calendar, Part I A European Advent Calendar, Part II A European Advent Calendar, Part III

“Now winter nights enlarge the number of their hours . . . Let now the chimneys blaze, and cups o'erflow with wine.” (Now Winter Nights Enlarge, Thomas Campion) Local News  I made a donation to Food Not Bombs Saskatoon recently. Just a quick look at the polite requests for food on their Facebook group are a reminder that so many people don’t have enough to eat, and the situation has only become worse during Covid. "Food Not Bombs shares free vegan and vegetarian meals with the hungry in over 1,000 cities around the world every week to protest war, poverty and the destruction of the environment." You can make an online donation to Food Not Bombs Saskatoon at fnbsaskatoon@gmail.com You may be interested in the Covid-19 Resource Guide the Saskatoon group has prepared.   In the Kitchen  I’m delighted to learn from David Lebovitz that vegetarianism is becoming more popular in France. And his recipe for Faux Gras  with its mix of lentils, mushrooms, and nuts look...

We’re on the brink of an adventure, children. Don’t spoil it with questions.” (Mary Poppins Returns)  “Relishing this health, this singleness, I reach myself out along the surface of a crystal . . . how simple this motion, how free of life and death, how like a god’s in his changing!" (The Night Skater, Frederick Morgan)  “Isn’t it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive–it’s such an interesting world. It wouldn’t be half so interesting if we know all about everything would it?” (Anne of Green Gables)  “Hello, Rabbit,” he said, “Is that you?” “Let’s pretend it isn’t,” said Rabbit, “And see what happens.” (Winnie the Pooh) See Also A European Advent Calendar, Part I A European Advent Calendar, Part II

“Always on Christmas night there was music. An uncle played the fiddle, a cousin sang.”  (A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Dylan Thomas) Is your home ready for Christmas? Bring in a tree, a young Norwegian spruce, bring hyacinths that rooted in the cold. Bring winter jasmine as its buds unfold – bring the Christmas life into this house.” (The Christmas Life, Wendy Cope)  “Bring red and green and gold, bring things that shine, Bring candlesticks and music, food and wine. Bring in your memories of Christmas past. . . . Bring the Christmas life into this house.” (The Christmas Life, Wendy Cope)  See Also A European Advent Calendar, Part I

“ December, in my memory, is white as Lapland, though there were no reindeers. ” (A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Dylan Thomas)  This is a strange, often difficult Christmas season for many of us. Over the next month I’ll share some of my European Christmas memories accompanied by quotes that I hope will brighten your day.  First up are the bears!  “There’s a polar bear in our frigidaire – he likes it ‘cause it’s cold in there. He’s slurping the soda, he’s licking the ice. And he lets out a roar if you open the door. And it gives me a scare to know he’s in there – that polary bear in our fridgitydaire.” (Shel Silverstein)  “When you see someone putting on his big boots, you can be pretty sure that an adventure is going to happen.” (Winnie the Pooh)  “I don’t feel very much like Pooh today,” said Pooh. “There, there,” said Piglet. “I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.” (Winnie the Pooh)

“The imagination is not an escape, but a return to the richness of our true selves; a return to reality.” – George Mackay Brown  Local News  Blue Plate Special: 100 Years of Saskatoon Restaurants , an online slideshow sponsored by the Saskatoon Public Library’s Local History Room, will be on Facebook and YouTube at 4 pm , Dec. 3 . I’ll try and include the link in a future issue of Flavourful .  The University of Regina Centre for Lifelong Learning is offering a 4-session virtual course exploring the major wine-producing regions of the world from Jan. 21-Feb. 11. What a fun idea! Chef de Partie is selling Christmas cookie decorating kits – as well as ready-to-eat Christmas dinners for one or many that include vegetarian options and lots of extras.  Sparrow Coffee is now offering a weekly menu plan and delivery, while City Perks is working on a winter patio and kitchen staples – plus fresh-baked pretzels on Saturdays.  A new website, onesmallstepsk.ca , “con...

“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 Happenings  A Blaine Lake couple loved sour cherries and Saskatoon berries so much that they started a business, Cherry & Berry Delight , to share their taste for locally grown fruit. I’ve been told that the Sour Cherry and Saskatoon Berry Pastry Filling is particularly good. They deliver for free in Saskatoon. Enjoy perogies and cabbage rolls in support of Station 20 West on Jan. 25 . The Saskatchewan Environmental Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020 with a series of fundraising events to ensure their ongoing sustainability. First up is a series of musical events : Jan. 14 – Appetizers & Music by Jay Semko Feb. 25 – Dinner & Music by Jay & Jo Mar. 24 – Dinner & Music by Eileen Laverty Apr. 21 – Dinner & Music by Rick Fines Cheesy mushroom appetizer from Hearth Food for Thought  I am absolutely delighted that Hearth restaurant has been noted as one of Canada’s top restaurants . I think they make great foo...

Local Happenings  Mayfair United Church is hosting a Christmas Baking Walk at 10 am , Dec. 14 . Get there early to choose your favorites as supplies run out fast! Celebrate Christmas at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market on Sunday, Dec. 15 . Santa will be there from 11 am-1 pm, and there will be live music and lots of good food and artisanal products. The Food Centre has introduced a new business development program for women entrepreneurs and women business owners in the food processing industry. Awesome ’s program goal is to advance women entrepreneurs through skill development, opportunity identification, manufacturing advice, and export marketing. Reading Matter  There are lots of books I’d like to read in Civil Eats’ Food and Farming Holiday Book Gift Guide . Here are two of them: Food Town USA: 7 Unlikely Cities that are Changing the Way We Ea t by Mark Winne looks at cities that are making progress in building local, sustainable, equitable food systems. Two...

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 FoodRenew is saving food from going to waste by picking up donations from local businesses and taking them to community centres. They are looking for a volunteer to pick up food on Wednesday afternoons from Extra Foods on Broadway. Check out the Farm to Fork Christmas Market on Dec. 6 hosted by The Pig and Pantry and The Wandering Market. Join winemaker Pierre Jhean of Domaine Henri de Villamont for a Burgundy wine tasting on Dec. 6 . Sample some of importer Doug Reichel’s wines at a come-and-go, reception-style event from 3-4:30 pm , Dec. 7 . Hearth Restaurant is my favourite place to go out for a special meal in Saskatoon. Local food prepared with care, a seasonal menu, old-fashioned plates, and a comfortable environment. Mushroom-cheese dip to start, followed by pasta and polenta, with sticky toffee pudding and chocolate truffles for dessert – yum! Recipes 10 different vegetarian lasagna recipes! There’s herbed tofu lasagna for vegans and g...

I took the train from Torquay to Exeter last week. It’s a scenic trip as you are right beside the sea for a significant part of the way with the salt spray coating the train windows and tunnels through some of the rockiest sections. Torquay train station Exeter is a modern city with a bustling city centre with large department stores and chains. However, you can still trace sections of the old city wall as well as view the remains of a castle. There are also some narrow alleyways filled with interesting stores, including a delicious chocolate shop, Chococo. I enjoyed a walk through a large park that is also a green bridge with train tracks and buildings below. A Christmas market was set up in front of Exeter Cathedral. Most of the crafts and products were locally made. I bought a Christmas pudding and fudge. Fudge appears to be a specialty of this region, possibly because Devon cream is so famous.

Caturdays, Nov. 17 & 24, Dec. 1  Enjoy tea in a cat-themed, cat-friendly art gallery at 1 pm , Nov. 17 and 24 and Dec. 1 at BAM Art Gallery. All the cats will be adoptable from Street Cat Rescue. Local Indigenous Food, Nov. 29  Enjoy supper and a presentation on local Indigenous foods at Station 20 West on Nov. 29. Register in advance with Janet at CHEP (306-655-4575 or janet@chep.org) . Marshmallows by Sarah, Nov. 30-Dec. 2  Sarah Galvin, FoodCraft by Sarah , is an excellent cook and baker who puts time and quality ingredients into all her products. She’ll be selling handcrafted marshmallows at Wilson’s 17th Annual Christmas Craft and Trade Show from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. Marshmallow flavours include Crème Brulée and Rocky Road with Peace by Chocolate Chunks. Deluxe marshmallows - photo credit Sarah Galvin Make Your Own Chocolate Kit  Make your own raw chocolate with a kit from Harmonic Arts - now available at Dad’s Organic Market . From Fr...

Chef Jenni Launches Season , Dec. 23 Exciting news! If you love Chef Jenni’s cooking, you’re sure to want a copy of Season , a collection of stories and recipes featuring local ingredients. She’s launching her book at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market from 11 am-2 pm , Dec. 23. And, if you haven’t yet bought a copy of Renée Kohlman’s All the Sweet Things , here’s your chance. Scotch from the Islands, Jan. 12  Taste a sampling of Scotch from the Islands around Scotland on Jan. 12 at Co-op Wine Spirits Beer. Latte Art Throwdown, Jan. 20  Venn Coffee Roasters is holding a Latte Art Throwdown on Jan. 20. Email bear@drinkvenn.com to register or to watch. Cooking Classes  Cooking classes for January and February are now listed on the Simon’s Fine Foods’ website . There’s everything from Pulses, including chickpea pancakes and chocolate lentil brownies, to Young Chefs, Afternoon Tea, and Sushi. Is Your Snack Bar Really Healthy? Raising the Bar: Choosing Health...