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...

Home Delivery  A shout-out to Dad’s Organic Market . Their home delivery service can be so helpful and they phone to discuss any questions or substitutions. Petra Market Offers Syrian Refugees a Taste of Home  It’s good to hear that Petra Market is providing Syrian refugees and other Saskatoon newcomers with a welcoming place where they can purchase familiar foods. I visited it a few years ago and really liked it. Want to Make Your Farmers’ Market More Accessible? I thought that this was an interesting article about making your farmers’ market more accessible so that it serves more than the “educated, white Whole Foods” crowd. Location isn’t a problem for the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market, but I wonder if the recent increase in beer, wine, and spirits producers sends the wrong message. Healthy Habits Food Swap  I thought a healthy habits food swap was an interesting idea. This one is being held in conjunction with the Hastings Park Farmers’ Market. There are ...

Slice of History, Feb/Mar There’s a fabulous photography exhibit of Saskatoon’s bygone bakeries in The Gallery, Frances Morrison Library, from Feb. 10 to Mar. 17 . Oh, for the days when bakeries delivered their product by horse-drawn wagon. City Centre Produce Market, Feb. 25 The next City Centre pop-up produce market will be on Feb. 25 from 10 am to 4:30 pm at the Community Service Village on 25th Street East. Seeds of Time, Feb. 25 The Saskatoon Food Council will be showing the film, Seeds of Time , at 7 pm , Feb. 25, at Station 20 West. The film tells the story of Cary Fowler’s efforts to protect biodiversity and food security. Seedy Saturday, Feb./Mar. If you’re a gardener, you won’t want to miss Seedy Saturday/Sunday in various locations around Saskatchewan . In Saskatoon , you can attend Seedy Saturday on Feb. 27 at Station 20 West and Seedy Sunday on Mar. 20 at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market. In addition to choosing seeds, Seedy Saturday/Sunday is a ...

I admire clever advertising, whether it’s wine labels or restaurant signs. These ones in Shrewsbury for Stop Café, the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery’s restaurant , are funny and clever. It’s inexpensive advertising, and it works. Plus, I had a really excellent lunch with superior service. I asked if I could have a small bowl of soup alongside my quiche. Not only did they accommodate my request, but they didn’t charge me for the soup, which came with a bun and butter. On the other hand, the Loopy Shrew’s signage drew me in the door, but I didn’t stay. The server had to be reminded that she should take my order, and they’d run out of the advertised soup of the day and an alternate wouldn’t be available for another hour. And this was at 12:30 pm – why didn’t they realize they would run out and start a new batch sooner? The final sign is for my sister in law who was a Saskatoon police officer for 25 years. In this case, however, Cop refers to the location, whi...

Adopt a Plot at the Garden Patch Registration is now open for teams of green-fingered gardening enthusiasts (or not so green but eager to learn) to adopt a plot at the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre’s Garden Patch . Coteau Hills Cheese I was very sad when Herschel Hills Cheese shut down, so I’m delighted to see that Coteau Hills Creamery will be opening soon in Moose Jaw. I look forward to trying their cheese. Urban Ag in London, UK  London isn’t known for its urban agriculture, but a new generation of farmers is starting to change all that by transforming the city’s underground tunnels, industrial warehouses, and rooftops into urban acreage . Za’atar  I’ve often wondered how I could use za’atar, a Middle Eastern herb or herbal mixture that combines Syrian oregano, sesame seeds, sumac, and salt. Yotam Ottolenghi’s za’atar recipes include a Levantine flatbread, amaranth-stuffed mushrooms, and a pâté/dip. Barolo Wine – Truth or Fiction?  Th...

The Invasion  In February 1797, the British mainland was invaded for the last time . 1400 French soldiers landed just outside of Fishguard in west Wales. The plan was to proceed inland and invade Bristol, drawing the British Navy away from another assault in Ireland. They then planned to turn around and “liberate” Wales from “English tyranny" (French Revolution, 1789). The plan failed – completely. 190 part-time British soldiers, with help from local residents, captured the soldiers and forced them to surrender. It was an amateur battle with many amusing episodes, and they are all captured in The Last Invasion Embroidered Tapestry . One French soldier fired at a clock because he thought someone was hiding in it. Other soldiers became ill after undercooking the poultry they had stolen. The French imagined there was a large British army coming to meet them when they saw local women in traditional red shawls and black hats marching round a hill. Th...

Cardigan is a short bus ride to the west of Newport through green fields and valleys full of sheep. It’s a small shopping centre, and little remains of its illustrious past as one of Wales’ most important ports. Town Centre The town is laid out higgledy-piggledy, with streets full of odd twists and turns. There is one long, narrow high street winding its way from one end of the town centre to the other. Stray off this shopping street, however, and you’ll find twisting roads leading nowhere and an unexpected cluster of shops in what may once have been an inn’s inner courtyard. It doesn’t appear to be a rich town. Many houses are in poor condition, and there are no splashy retail parks or dazzling window displays. But there are a variety of businesses and two larger supermarkets on the outskirts of town. Not to be missed is Bara Menyn Bakehouse – a lovely bakery and café on one of the narrow side streets. History  Cardigan, at the mouth of the Teifi River, was fo...

Newport's butcher shop - excellent fresh fruit and vegetables The Changing Politics of Organic Food, Feb. 11   Lisa Clark, author of The Changing Politics of Organic Food in North America , will be speaking at Innovation Place from 3-5 pm , Feb. 11. Raw Chocolate Workshop, Feb. 13  Intuitive Path Superfoods is hosting a raw chocolate workshop including raw chocolate body painting (!) from 2:30-4:30 pm , Feb. 13. Cooking on a Budget, Feb. 16 (Swift Current)  Sarah Galvin is offering a free Cooking on a Budget class at 5:30 pm , Feb. 16, in Swift Current. Email sgalvin@shaw.ca to register. Flavour 101, Mar. 8 (Swift Current)  Sarah Galvin will share her knowledge of how to add flavour to your food at 6:30 pm , Mar. 8, in Swift Current. Sarah says herbs and spices are just one way to add flavour. Your choice of fat, stock, and vegetables also makes a difference. Student Iron Chef Competition  Working in teams of four, with help from a Mar...