Wanderlust and Words

Eat, Think, Vote, Mar. 14  The Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership, in collaboration with the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market, is hosting Eat, Think, Vote at 7 pm , Mar. 14. Participants will have a chance to sit with the candidate(s) of their choice for an informal discussion of food security. All political parties have been invited. Zak Organics I’m looking forward to trying Saskatchewan-grown and -produced Zak Organics , a crunchy pea snack in 3 flavours: smoky BBQ, garden herb, and sea salt & lime. They’re currently available online or at SaskMade Marketplace. Understanding Clementines  I ate a lot of Moroccan clementines when I was in Wales, so I was interested to read about the history of citrus fruit , all of which have evolved from the mandarin, the pomelo, the citron, and possibly the padeda. Organic Canadian Wineries  Here’s a useful list of Canadian organic wineries . Bake Bread While You Sleep  This is a very different way to make brea...

Salmon Confidential, Feb. 27 The Saskatchewan Eco Network is showing the film, Salmon Confidential , on February 27 at the Frances Morrison Library. The film documents one biologist’s struggle to overcome government and industry roadblocks in order to save BC’s wild salmon. Growing Cities, Mar. 6 CHEP will be hosting a free screening of Growing Cities , a film about urban agriculture, on March 6 at The Broadway Theatre. Kenderdine Gala, Mar. 7 The University of Saskatchewan Biology Club is organizing a Kenderdine Commemorative Gala on March 7 to assist students who were affected by the closure of Kenderdine Campus, Emma Lake. Ken Neuman I was saddened to learn that Ken Neuman is no longer employed by SaskMade Marketplace. He is so enthusiastic and supportive of local food producers and SaskMade Marketplace was transformed under his leadership. Ken is looking for new opportunities in the food industry. Do give him a call if you have a possible opening. Vegetarian Restaur...

Root Down Sunday Brunch, Nov. 10  The Root Down Workers’ Cooperative will be serving vegan/vegetarian Sunday brunch from 10 am to 2 pm on November 3, 10, 17 and December 8 and 15 at Station 20 West. Gluten-free items will be available. Prairie Pantry Customer Appreciation, Nov. 13  The Prairie Pantry, Saskatoon Farmers’ Market, is holding a customer appreciation event in honour of their one-year anniversary from 5-8 pm , November 13. Check out the new products, sample a few goodies and meet some of their local producers.  In addition, there is a 10% discount on all items (except the new Christmas items) during the month of November. SaskMade’s Xmas Kick-Off, Nov. 16  SaskMade Marketplace will be kicking off the Christmas season on November 16 with samples, contests and in-store specials. Cake Witch, Nov. 16  The Cake Witch’s delicious German baking will be available at St. Joseph’s Craft Fair from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, November 16. ...

Slow Food Salon, Oct. 20  Slow Food Saskatoon is hosting a Slow Food Salon from 7-9:30 pm , October 20, at City Perks Coffeehouse. A conversational salon is an ongoing gathering of people who share a passion for ideas. Conversational salons can be frontiers for social and cultural change. Less formal than facilitated meetings, salons feed the human need for connection and rely on natural synergies.  The topic for the October salon is: What does Slow Food mean in the Saskatchewan context ? What is our local agricultural/food wisdom? What should we protect? What should we taste? How can we connect all the wisdom and resources in our local community to strengthen our food system? Slow-Cooked SK, Oct. 26  Stop by SaskMade Marketplace between 10:30 am and 4:30 pm on October 26 and pick up some easy recipes and tasty samples. And, if you live in Regina , be sure to visit SaskMade Marketplace in the Cornwall Centre from November to January . Home Delivery  ...

Eastview Community Gardens, Aug. 28 Eastview Community Gardens are holding an open house on August 28 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at both locations. The Arlington Garden is located behind John Dolan School on Arlington Avenue and the Louise Street garden is located a couple of blocks east of Market Mall on Louise Street. Marr Harvest Fair, Sept. 2  Bring your entries of best jams, jellies, pickles, flowers, garden produce, baking and handiwork to the Marr Harvest Fair on September 2 from 1-4:30 pm . Collective Kitchen Leadership Training, Oct. 1-2  CHEP is looking for participants who are committed to running a collective kitchen. They are offering leadership training on October 1 and 2. For more information, contact Janet Phillips at 306.655.4575 (ext. 223) or email janet@chep.org . Community Farmers’ Markets I visited the Community Farmers’ Market in the London Drugs parking lot on 8th Street last Friday for a change of pace and was pleasantly surprised to find l...

Forestry Farm Centennial Fair, May 26 Head on out to the Forestry Farm Park and Zoo from noon to 5 pm on May 26 to celebrate the Farm’s 100th Anniversary. The Centennial Fair will include concessions, wagon rides, old-fashioned games and contests, an artisan marketplace, and demonstrations. Out with the Old, In with the New Souleio is closing, effective May 25 . Fortunately, the beautiful heritage building will house a new culinary business. Chef Dale Mackay , who won the Top Chef Canada competition, is returning to his hometown and opening a restaurant that will emphasize local food. I met Dale last evening. He is planning a 100-seat restaurant with a focus on French bistro-style food. He'll be preparing his own charcuterie and operating a small butcher shop. Dale hopes to open in mid-July. Let’s Start Truckin’  Food trucks should arrive soon in Saskatoon (finally!). Dan Walker of Weczeria is ready to go. His truck will be called Joy Ride and will feature global fusi...

Brunch at SaskMade, Mar. 23 Don’t miss SaskMade Marketplace ’s Brunch celebration from 10-4:30 on Saturday, March 23. Nicole Davis will be dishing up samples of Daybreak Mill’s Sunrise Pancake and Dayspring Granola mixes. The chef of the day is Renée Kohlman , aka sweetsugarbean . Sample some quiche and enter a draw for Harden Huyse chocolates. Market Symphony, Apr. 3 The Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra will launch their new season at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market with a free concert from 11:30-12:45 , April 3. Global Access to Nutrition Index  The Global Access to Nutrition Index , released this past week, assesses nutrition-related commitments, performance and disclosure practices of 25 of the world’s largest food and beverage manufacturers as measured against international guidelines, norms and accepted best practices. Danone, Unilever and Nestlé top the list, but there is still significant room for improvement, with the highest score being 6.3/10. Slow Money Slow ...

Spring is almost here, with its fresh green shoots and blossoms. The first place to look is the land around us, but then we look backward into our cultural heritage and traditions with its wealth of spring festivals and religious traditions. Wild Treats  For early Prairie dwellers, spring brought fresh treats after a long winter of dried food and staples. On the Prairies, wild onions were blooming, adding flavour to a diet that had become bland by winter’s end, while lamb’s quarters were an abundant source of raw and cooked greens. In the northern forests, the birch trees were ready to be tapped for syrup, while the tender early spruce tips added a generous portion of Vitamin C to salads, stews or soups – not to mention spruce beer. A little later in the season there would be rose petals adding a delicate, perfumed flavour to jellies and baked goods. Many of these wild foods can still be gathered and eaten in Saskatchewan. Prairie Infusions sells a wide variety of boreal...

Christmas Shopping Goes Local LocalSask has made it easy for us to shop locally this Christmas. Their online catalogue includes everything from children's toys to alpaca socks and gourmet food baskets. And it's all local! Two Gun Quiche House My sister in law, Shelley, had lunch at Two Gun Quiche House on 20th Street last week and gave it a good review. None of the sandwiches were vegetarian, but she thought they sounded good. And at least 4 of the 8 to 10 quiche options were vegetarian, and there was a chick pea salad that sounded interesting. Shelley says that the spinach feta quiche was excellent, and the vegetarian carrot-ginger soup was awesome with a little crème fraîche drizzled on top. They were serving loose leaf teas (including vanilla earl grey) – a sign, according to Shelley (and I agree), of better quality. The restaurant is bright and colourful, and there’s lots of room between the tables so it didn’t feel crowded. Two Gun Quiche House will be expandi...

Hispanic wines, a new Alehouse, Student Cooks, British Mustard and a Harvest Supper - Enjoy! The Woods Alehouse is open!  The Woods Alehouse , Paddock Wood Brewing’s new taphouse at 148 2nd Avenue North, opens today, Monday, September 17, at 11 am . There will be a live performance featuring John Cohen at 9 pm . The Woods Alehouse will be serving Paddock Wood beer as well as special kegs from around the world and premium liquor. The September menu is posted on their website and includes lots of beer-flavoured dishes – I look forward to trying it out. Field to Fork, Regina, Sept. 19 If you’re in Regina, be sure to take part in Field to Fork in Victoria Park from September 19-22. There will be a full day of workshops (e.g. preserving, composting) on Saturday. Attraversiamo, Sept. 23 Join Chef Jenni for a mobile dinner on September 23. Appetizers will be served at Luna and Hill , while the main course will be across the street at Souleio Foods . Portuguese & Span...

From Spicy Sensations to Saskatchewan Mustard and Quinoa  with some Propaganda Gardening thrown in for extra flavour!   Premala’s Spicy Sensations SaskMade Marketplace is hosting a tasting of Premala’s Spicy Sensations chili bites along with a variety of their sauces and chutneys on Thursday, August 23 from 4-8 pm . Mustard Festival  The Great Saskatchewan Mustard Festival will be held on September 16 at the Willows on Wascana in Regina. You can follow the event on Facebook or Twitter . Quinoa  I wrote an article about quinoa for SaskMade Marketplace ’s August newsletter. “ What do the Andes Mountains of South America have in common with Northern Saskatchewan? As it turns out, they are both good places to grow quinoa. Quinoa (keen-wah) has been grown in South America for 3000 years, but it has only recently become popular in North America. " [ read more ] Incredible Edible Pam Warhurt gives a powerful TED talk on propaganda gardening and the capa...

Food news and events in and around Saskatoon – heirloom vegetables, black pansy/red clover/rose petal syrups, Castle dining, and healthy, local cafeteria eats PayDirt Farm CSA  My family has just signed up for a bi-weekly delivery of chemical-free, heirloom vegetables from PayDirt Farm in Wakaw. The CSA is a new venture by Grant Black and Patricia Robertson, local writers who are keenly interested in good, slow food. As a writer, I’m infatuated by the names of some of the vegetables – Monstrueux de Viroflay spinach, Southern Giant Curled mustard greens, North Holland Blood Red scallions, Cosmic Purple carrots, Rainbow Sweet Inca corn, and Purple tomatillos. A full share costs $400, while a half share costs $250. Contact paydirtfarm@sasktel.net for additional information. Vendor Night, SaskMade Marketplace SaskMade Marketplace is showcasing Bedard Creek Acres ’ unique syrups at 4 pm on May 24 . There will be samples of Red Clover Blossom Lake Diefenbaker trout; arti...