Wanderlust and Words

“The mind is like an umbrella – it functions best when open.” – Walter Gropius   Local News    There’ll be an old-time outdoor dance at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market from 12-2 pm , Feb. 13 and 20 .  Longing for bagels and cream cheese? Check out The Bagel Shop at 200 Avenue B South (old location of Little Bird Patisserie). I’ve heard it’s owned by the group that also operates Congress Beerhouse and a few other Saskatoon restaurants. It may be winter, but Our Farm is still providing Saskatoon with fresh, organic greens. You can pick up their microgreens at Dad’s Organic Market or enjoy during a meal at Calories or Citizen Café.  I was so sorry to hear that Collective Coffee ’s last day of business will be Feb. 28, 10 years after they opened in 2011.  It’s winter, we’re in the midst of a pandemic, and there are so many hungry people in Saskatoon. I donate on a regular basis to both the Saskatoon Food Bank and Food Not Bombs Saskatoon . Here are some ot...

Welcome to February! The days are a little longer and winter is a little bit shorter. My Christmas cactus is flowering and there are buds on 5 of my amaryllis. Long live sunshine and flowers! If you’re busy perusing seed catalogues, why not consider growing spices , such as dill, fennel, or mustard?  Local News  The Forest Grove Free Food Donation Box is one family’s attempt to address hunger in Saskatoon .  I’m not dining out at the moment, but that doesn’t stop me supporting local businesses. I highly recommend the pecan pie brownies from Prairie Ink , the black bean and lime sandwich from Earth Bound Bakery & Kitchen , and the citrus cardamom buns from Sparrow .  Food Trends   The thought that goes into developing new food products is quite astonishing. Here are two articles about future food trends based on flavour and colour . People are looking for adventure, travelling the world through their taste buds and there will be an increased desire for exoti...

“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...

“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...

Local Happenings Roughly 43% of the people using food banks in Saskatchewan are children , more than anywhere else in Canada. Consider making a donation of food or money to the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre. Most wanted items include baby food and formula, whole grain cereal and pasta, peanut butter, canned fruit and vegetables, and hearty soups and stews. Patrick Mundler, a professor at Laval University, is conducting a research project examining “the impact that direct marketing has on farms, farmers, and local development .” Direct marketing farmers across Canada are invited to complete the survey. In the Kitchen  Here’s a recipe for ratatouille that isn’t “diced, stewed together and sloppy . This method allows all of the vegetables to cook at the same time and melt into each other.” Thoughts to Ponder  “The diverse food experiences of refugees represents all of the complexities of our relationships with food – from health to culture to history...

G & T Night, Aug. 22  Black Fox Farm & Distillery is hosting G & T Nights . The next one is from 6:30-8:30 pm , Aug. 22, with music in the flower fields, gin & tonic, and a new drink they’ve concocted in collaboration with Living Sky Winery. Global Pop-Up Restaurant, Aug. 25 Global Pot Fusion Cuisine is hosting a pop-up restaurant at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market from 11 am-3 pm , Aug. 25. Vegetarian Fall Supper, Sept. 30  Slow Food Saskatoon is planning a 100% vegetarian and vegan-friendly harvest supper at Black Fox Distillery from 5:30-8:30 pm , Sept. 30. Come out and show your support for food that is good, clean, fair, AND vegetarian! Garden Patch Workshops  The Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre’s Garden Patch is offering several interesting workshops: Storing Veggies , Aug. 22, 6 pm Canning Pickles , Aug. 29, 5 pm Regrow from Scraps , Sept. 8, 3 pm Canning Salsa , Sept. 12, 5 pm September is a really busy month at the Garde...

Market News: BC Cherries & Goat Cheese  Little Quail Ridge Orchards will be back at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market on June 16 with cherries!! I’m also looking forward to trying the goat cheese from Hal Jadeske. Edible & Medicinal Plants in your Garden, June 27 LichenNature will be offering a workshop on edible and medicinal plants in your garden from 6-8 pm , June 27, at the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre's Garden Patch. Mission Hill Going Organic Mission Hill Winery is transitioning all its vineyards, a tenth of the Okanagan’s grape-producing land, to organic. The viticulture manager recognizes that this will take a shift in philosophy: “You can farm organically with a conventional mindset,” he says. “You can spray just as much using organic chemicals, but the way we are looking at it is not just about farming conventionally using organic products, it is about getting the land working healthily for us.”  Bridging the Summer Gap for Hungry Kids ...

Plant This Movie, Nov. 27  Saskatoon Food Council kicks off its monthly Urban Ag Film screening at 7 pm , Nov. 27, with Plant This Movie, showing the state of urban farming around the world. Hot Sauce Tasting, Nov. 28 El Mercado Las Palapas is holding a tasting of all 16 of their hot sauces between 12 and 5 pm , Nov. 28. Purchase your favourite and receive a 10% discount. Tea and Warm Elixir Lab, Nov. 28  Intuitive Path Superfoods is hosting a Tea and Warm Elixir Lab at 2 pm , Nov. 28. Kai Hicks will share his ultimate ingredients for optimal health. Frostfest, Dec. 12  The Glen at Crossmount is hosting Frost Fest from 1-5 pm , Dec. 12. There will be craft and baking vendors, a chance to visit with Santa, winter games, and hot apple cider. Community Greenhouse Feasibility Study  The Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre commissioned a Community Greenhouse Feasibility Study. A summary of the results is now available online. The proposed F...