Wanderlust and Words

Persian Store There’s a sale on at the Saskatoon Persian Store (223 25th Street West), so this is your chance to stock up on Persian rice, pomegranate syrup and other goodies. Their hours are 11 am to 5:45 pm from Monday to Saturday and 1 to 4:30 pm on Sundays. Mortal Sin Foods Michelle Zimmer ( Wild Serendipity Foods ) says her family enjoyed the cakes (chocolate mousse, coconut lime pound, devil’s food and chocolate cheesecake) from newly-opened Mortal Sin Foods in Stonebridge. They serve small, individual cakes, which is a really attractive idea. TWO Bistro and Deli  Tom Brown of Wild Cuisine and Teresa Giesbrecht of Garlic Guru have joined forces and will be opening TWO Bistro and Deli at 245 3rd Avenue South. They’ll be offering everything from wild game to gluten-free vegan offerings. Barbara Harder-Lutz, aka the Cake Witch, will be their pastry chef. Nosh Eatery & Tap Jenn Sharp , Associate Editor of Bridges, posted photographs of her meal at the slow opening...

Persian rice and eggplant accompanied by raclette and boiled potatoes? Why not? There is no better way to share our cultures and traditions than through food. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our differences rather than fight over them. Mahyar Behnami is the owner of the Saskatoon Persian Store . She has transformed an old grocery store just around the corner from the bus barns in Caswell Hill with an intriguing array of Iranian groceries. She recently completely some renovations and her friend Cathy Engel suggested that they host a dinner to celebrate. I was fortunate enough to be invited. The Remembrance Day meal was a surprising, but delicious, juxtaposition of Swiss raclette and a savory array of Persian dishes. Rice is a staple of Iranian cuisine, and it’s so different from Chinese rice. The grains are almost an inch long, and they are dry and fluffy, with a topping of nuts and berries. Cathy Engel works at the Bulk Cheese Warehouse , so there was a wonder...

Persian Picnic, June 30  Saskatoon’s Persian Store is hosting a picnic at 5:30 on Sunday, June 30, at Christ Church Anglican. Tickets cost $20 and are available at the Persian Store (223-25th Street West). Saskatoon Local Food Map The Saskatoon Local Food Map is a visual guide to farms, markets, retailers, restaurants and other businesses within 100 km of Saskatoon that feature food grown within Saskatchewan. The map is designed to strengthen the regional food system. It’s a work in progress and there are still so many gaps; I encourage you to contribute additional information. Community Farmers’ Markets  If you can’t make it to the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market, there are other options: A number of vendors, including Goodlife Greenhouses (heritage tomatoes and other goodies), are in front of London Drugs on 8th Street from 9 to 4 on Tuesdays and Fridays . St. James’ Farmers’ Market & International Bazaar (just off Broadway) is held year-round from 11 to...