Flavourful Saskatoon, June 9, 2014

Rhubarb Spiked Italian Solstice Dinner, June 21 
The Saskatoon Farmers’ Market and Chef Jenni invite you to a Solstice Dinner at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market on June 21. This is a seasonal, market-sourced dinner with wine pairings. A vegetarian second is available.

Beer and Food Trucks 
Saskatoon will have at least 7 food trucks this summer, but they’re not always easy to find. Prairie Sun Brewery is lining up a regular schedule of food truck visits for lunch and supper. What could be nicer? Beer on the patio with an ever-changing assortment of food on offer – sounds pretty good to me.

Vegan Beer 
Rebellion Brewing Co. will be opening a taproom with a limited food menu in Regina in Fall 2014. One of their key selling points is that they will offer vegan and gluten-free beer. (A beer is not vegan if the brewer uses something like isinglass [dried swim bladders of fish] to filter their beer.)

Out of curiosity, I asked Prairie Sun Brewery if their beer was vegan and it is. They don’t filter most of their beers, and if they do, they use a vegan filter.

Paddock Brewing Co. says that most of their bottled beers are filtered - using vegan-approved filters. They also explained that some non-filtered beers use isinglass, but they don't.

It's good to know that our local craft beers can be enjoyed by vegans.


Garlic Guru Pizza 
I had lunch at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market this week and really enjoyed my spinach, leek and mushroom pizza from the Garlic Guru. The crust was nice and crunchy and the hummus spread added lots of flavour.


Secrets of a Hutterite Kitchen
I strongly recommend reading Secrets of a Hutterite Kitchen: Unveiling the Rituals, Traditions, and Food of the Hutterite Culture by Mary-Ann Kirkby. It’s a fascinating inside look at communal living, with a focus on communal cooking. The book follows a head cook as she plans and prepares food for her community, including celebrations, funerals, and other large events.

National Food Strategy
The federal NDP have developed a national food strategy that emphasizes improving access to healthy and affordable food. It also looks at major agriculture issues and industry challenges.


Afro-Vegan Cookbook 
The Afro-Vegan cookbook by Bryant Terry is sure to add some new flavours to your culinary repertoire. The author has compiled recipes from the African diaspora so you’ll find everything from Jamaican patties to sweet pickled watermelon rinds and jalapenos, not to mention maple-glazed banana johnnycakes and gunpowder lemonade.

Not only will you acquire some new recipes, but you’ll also discover some new music and books as Bryant Terry pairs the recipes with a soundtrack and books.

Hitting the Road 
I’m heading off to the mountains to spend a few days exploring Canmore and Banff. I haven’t been in that area for years and years, so I’m really looking forward to it. I won’t be publishing Flavourful Saskatoon next week, but it will be back again on June 23.

Flavourful Saskatoon is a weekly Monday feature. I also post regular profiles of culinary entrepreneurs, new restaurants and new food products.

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