Wanderlust and Words

Martin Dyck shows Batman around the Market The Saskatoon Farmers’ Market will be celebrating its 40th anniversary on August 22. That’s a significant achievement and a great deal of credit needs to be given to the market manager who keeps thing running smoothly. Deb Claude managed the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market for 18 years, retiring in June 2015. Stepping into Deb’s shoes, as Manager of Operations, is Martin Dyck. I was curious to find out more about Martin and his plans for the market, so I sent him a list of questions. Here are his responses: 1. What is your background and what led you to apply for a job at the Saskatoon Farmers' Market?  I grew up just outside Regina in a farming community. I spent seven years in radio and have owned my own business a few times. I guess "entrepreneurial" would sum it up. My wife, our youngest son and I moved to Saskatoon four years ago when I had an opportunity to open a branch office of a Regina-based business. After my t...

Symphony Vineyard, Saanich Bruno Cherry Sunday, Aug. 16 Bruno Cherry Sunday is on August 16 and includes a sour cherry u-pick, pancake breakfast, cherry sundaes & hot food canteen, entertainment. Victoria  I’m delighted to be back on my feet and housesitting in Victoria for the next 5 weeks. I plan to report on some of my food finds in the hope that they will stimulate similar ideas in Saskatoon. Breakfast Variety I had brunch at Shine Café in Victoria this week and was thrilled to discover lots of vegetarian/vegan options. I had Eggs Benny Provence – French toast smothered in zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, fresh spinach, goat cheese and Provencal herbs with two poached eggs and pesto hollandaise. It was a tough choice as I was very tempted to try Karin’s Brunch – any 4 of 9 vegan dishes ranging from hashbrowns and granola to a black bean patty, avocado, or sweet-chili sesame tofu. Shine Café only serves a breakfast menu ...

Fresh, crunchy vegetables on an onion baguette make a great sandwich at City Perks Stellar Gourmet Mushrooms  I’ve been jealous of the folks in Regina for a while now as they could purchase organic oyster mushrooms from Stellar Gourmet Mushrooms at the Regina Farmers’ Market. Well, now we can too! You’ll find them at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market on Saturdays and Sundays . Churchill’s British Imports  Churchill’s British Imports is moving to 3130 8th Street East , beside McNally Robinson. Their tentative opening date is September 1, 2015. They are still open at their Cumberland Square location until Saturday August 8, 2015. Urban Agriculture Open Houses, July 29 & 30  The Saskatoon Food Council is hosting Urban Agriculture Open Houses from 6:30-9:30 pm , July 29 and 30. Gluten-Free Beer  Gluten Free Loki in 6 packs and single bottles is available at the Paddock Wood Brewery . The gluten test results came back negative at the 5 ppm level, and th...

Summer – sunshine, warm breezes, flirty dresses, and bare skin. And Drift Vista Lounge is the perfect place to celebrate the season with its second-storey verandahs, wide-open garage doors and fans. Not to mention an appetizing collection of tapas and Spanish wines. Now, this isn’t to say that Drift Vista Lounge won’t be a wonderful place to while away a few hours in the winter. It will just be different. I can imagine lazy conversations or solitary daydreams looking out the windows at the city lights. The best part of all about the view is that you can’t see the freeway. Instead there are green, leafy trees, both up close and across the river. If you can’t make it to the tropics, this is a satisfactory substitute. I shared a meal and a bottle of goRu el blanco wine from Jumilla (the perfect summer wine – light and fruity) with my brother and his wife. We shared two small plates and a large one. There are lots of vegetarian options, and I’m sure that some of them are veg...

Fresh Veg. & Coffee  Our Farm is selling local, chemical-free veggies Saturdays from 8 am to noon beside St. Joseph’s Parish Hall. They’re joined by Vector Coffee , an espresso bar catering service run by Daryl Grunau, recently voted Best Barista by Planet S Magazine. El Mercado Las Palapas  El Mercado Las Palapas , Broadway Avenue, now has a kitchen and is serving up breakfast tacos, waffled churros, vegetarian scrambler, tortillas, and more. Summer Gardening Program for Kids Ag in the Classroom is hosting a summer garden drop-in program every Friday from 10-12 at the Garden Patch with activities, crafts and games. YXE Beer Fest, Aug. 28-29  Saskatoon’s first outdoor beer festival will be held in Rotary Park, August 28 & 29 – local food trucks, local bands and lots and lots of craft beer. Tickets are now on sale at yxebeerfest.com and at Congress Beer House . Indigenous Agriculture  Wanuskewin has undertaken an indigenous agriculture pro...

Spring Creek Garden, Saskatoon Farmers' Market Temperance Brewing Co-operative, July 29  Temperance Brewing Co. is hosting a meet-up at Amigo’s Cantina at 7 pm , July 29. Non-members are encouraged to attend: “The more we work together to grow the co-op, the closer we get to reaching our goals of brewing beer, opening a brewpub, and building a home for Saskatchewan's growing community of beer lovers.”  Wolf Willow Winery Wolf Willow Winery in Outlook produces cherry and haskap wine from Saskatchewan-grown fruit. They’re serving wine and refreshments (e.g. pie, quiche) on the patio from 12 – 8 pm , every day in July and August . Banff Tea Co. I’m enjoying two refreshing, summery teas from Banff Tea Company . Both would make great iced tea. Sansangria is a fruit tea with dried apple, carrot, grapes, pineapple, hibiscus, beetroot, orange peel, lemongrass and natural flavouring. Pink Grapefruit is a white tea flavoured with rosebuds, orange peel and natural flavou...