Wanderlust and Words

Kaleidoscope Vegetable Gardens Kaleidoscope Vegetable Gardens , who sold the most delectable mini eggplants and Asian greens at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market last year, are expanding their operations and looking for more garden space. Do contact them if you can be of assistance. They’re a lovely young couple. d’Lish I had lunch at d’Lish by Tish Café last week and it was positively d'lish. The vegetable gumbo was bursting with vegetables and nice and spicy. The roasted vegetable panini, flavoured with basil pesto and cheese, was really flavourful, and Isobel enjoyed her salad. Hops & Tapas, May 9 Head over to the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market at 6 pm on May 9 for the Hops and Tapas Fusion Experience . You’ll enjoy Loki and 1000 Monkeys Paddock Wood beer paired with six different tapas prepared by the Market tenants – Garlic Guru, Riverbend Plantation Café and Wild Cuisine & Catering. Local  When is a food local? The federal government says it must be grown withi...

Fair Trade & Ethical Investment, May 1-2  Jennifer Willems, CEO of La Siembra (makers of Camino chocolate bars), will be speaking in Saskatoon on Fair Trade and Ethical Investment on May 1 and 2: May 1, 7:30 pm, Station 20 West – What is behind the fair trade label? May 2, noon, St. Andrew’s College , University of Saskatchewan – Fair and Ethical Investing Camino is a Canadian brand of fair trade and organic food products, owned by the Ottawa-based La Siembra Co-operative. La Siembra works directly with 23 producer co-ops, supporting more than 39,500 family farmers in 11 countries. Garden Patch  The Saskatoon Food Bank’s Garden Patch is a great initiative, providing fresh vegetables to folks who must use the Food Bank. Why not lend a hand by taking responsibility for looking after a small section, supplying items on their wish list , or turning out on Wednesdays to weed? Journey Bar  Take a look at any display of energy/nutrition bars, and yo...

Cheese Seminar, Regina, Apr. 24 The Canadian Culinary Federation (CCFCC), Regina Branch, is hosting a cheese seminar from 7-9 pm , April 24, at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina. Cheese expert, Reg Hendrickson, will lead a guided tasting of 10 kinds of cheese. For more information and to reserve a place, email president@ccfccregina.ca . (via CJ Katz, Savour Life ) Eat These Words Community Supper, May 26 Slow Food Saskatoon and CHEP Good Food Inc., with The Open Cooks Society, are sponsoring Eat These Words Community Supper at 5 pm on May 26 at Station 20 West. The supper is part of the NatureCity Festival and will feature local music and “nature in the city” readings, courtesy of the U of S MFA in Writing graduate students. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance through CHEP (306.655.4575). The event is child and vegan friendly. There will be a raffle for made-in-Saskatchewan prizes and a cash bar. Root Down – Temporary Closure I was sorry to hear that Root Do...

Tilting at Windmills:  The Quest for Effective Communication  presentation for the  Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council Spring Forum   8:30 am, April 19, 2013  Changing people’s behaviour is really, really hard. You can’t tell people what to do. Frightening them doesn’t work well either. Instead, you need to: Reshape the problem; Understand your audience and their interests; Be a storyteller; and Share a positive message. Join me as I share some of my ideas with participants at the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council’s Spring Forum on April 19. Penny McKinlay, Communications Consultant

Sundays at Two Gun Quiche   Starting April 21 , Two Gun Quiche House will be open Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm , offering their regular menu as well as a special Sunday feature. Collectively Green Sale, Apr. 27 Don’t miss the Collectively Green Sale & Celebration from 10 am – 5 pm , April 27, at Grace-Westminster United Church. All the products will be planet friendly – organic, natural, reclaimed, recycled, upcycled, or used; along with musicians and food. Herschel Hills Cheese I am completely infatuated with Herschel Hills Artisan Cheese House ’s products. My refrigerator is currently well stocked with Gouda, Gruyere, Feta Marinated in Olive Oil and Rosemary, and a lovely creamy cheese reminiscent of Humboldt Fog. Do visit their stand at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Cheese. This is locally-made cheese with European flair. School Lunches 18,000 pounds of elementary school lunch garbage are sent to the landfill every year – that’s shocking! The Grade 8 Experiential ...

You want ME to use Social Media?  You’ve got to be kidding! Penny McKinlay, Communications Consultant  a presentation for the   Editors’ Association of Canada, Saskatchewan Branch  April 15, 2013, 7 pm  Jessie Miller Room, St. James Anglican Church, 609 Dufferin Avenue  From pest removal companies to pet insurance firms, everyone is on social media. Find out how you can use social media effectively to promote your business, share information, and create a sense of community. If you are interested in learning more about Social Media for Business, join the Editors’ Association of Canada, Saskatchewan Branch, at 7 pm, Monday, April 15, 2013, when I’ll lead a discussion regarding the most effective approaches and content for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and more. Everyone is welcome. The event is free of charge for members of the Editors’ Association of Canada. Non-members pay $10. Refreshment and conversation will follow the presentatio...

If you are in Vancouver, be sure to visit Granville Island . I stay at the Granville Island Hotel as it’s not only convenient but offers magnificent views of False Creek from many of the rooms. For a simple breakfast or lunch, try the Agro Café in Railspur Alley, which is very close to the hotel. They offer organic, fair trade coffee. My breakfast muffin was full of fruit and seeds and still warm from the oven. They also offer organic wine and beer, and there's outdoor seating in the warmer weather. Railspur Alley is a wonderful street to explore as there are craft stores and even an artisan sake maker. The Aquabus will take you on a circuit of False Creek with many stops along the way. It’s great fun. Be sure to visit the duck pond as well. You’ll find turtles sunning themselves on the rocks in the warmer weather. Granville Island Market has such an immense variety of fruit and vegetables for sale. Plus chocolates ... and rugelach (try t...

Coffee Museo Broadway  Wow! Saskatoon has another new coffee shop. Museo , the coffee shop located in the Mendel Art Gallery, has opened a second location at 730A Broadway Avenue, next door to Steep Hill Co-op and the Bulk Cheese Warehouse. Museo Broadway offers a full selection of espresso and single origin coffee along with pastries; the roaster is on site. The Mendel location will remain open and serves lunch. Coffee Shops – WiFi or Conversation?  Coffee shops were initially a place for people to meet and talk, but more and more they have become a place for individuals to use the internet. A pop-up coffee shop in Denver hopes that a mobile outdoor location will encourage discussion and interaction. Instant Coffee 30% of the world’s Michelin-starred restaurants serve push-button coffee made with Nespresso capsules. Sounds crazy to me. If you believe in excellence, it should apply to everything you do and serve. Saskatoon Farmers’ Market The Saskatoon Farmers’ ...