Flavourful Saskatoon, February 10, 2020

Local Happenings 
Chef de Partie Catering is hosting a grand opening of its new retail kitchen and tasting room from 4-8 pm, Mar. 7. There will be chef-attended tasting stations, local vendors with samples of their products, and signature zero-proof cocktails.

Chef Jenni put on her first chef’s hat when she was 4 years old and is now executive chef at Wanuskewin Heritage Park. One of her goals is to promote female chefs, “especially Indigenous female chefs, to a place of being able to talk about food and to reinterpret Indigenous food, and to shine.”

There was a 9.7% increase in the amount of barley grown in Saskatchewan in 2018, and over half was malting barley. This is consistent with the Midwest in the United States where farmers are struggling to meet the brewers’ demands.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and that means lots of people will be buying flowers. But commercially grown flowers are hard on workers and the environment. It’s a bit too early in the year to buy locally grown flowers from farmers such as Mistik Acres, but you should be able to buy fairtrade flowers at Sobey’s or from some of your local florists. Other eco-friendly options are provided on EcoFriendly Sask.

Seedy Saturday is just around the corner. Check this list for upcoming events across the province.

Food for Thought 
In the United States, the typical adult gets 1 out of 5 calories from restaurant meals. “At fast-food restaurants, 70 percent of the meals Americans consumed were of poor dietary quality in 2015-16, down from 75 percent in 2003-04. At full-service restaurants, about 50 percent were of poor nutritional quality.” Less than 0.1% were of ideal quality. These statistics horrified me. I’m assuming Canadian results would be similar.

The demand for avocados has driven up production in Mexico with concerns raised about deforestation due to the establishment of large plantations, water consumption (each avocado requires 320 litres of water), increased violence and involvement of drug cartels.

Markets 
My sister in law recorded her visit to Tenancingo market in Mexico – great photos that will make your mouth water.

Flavourful Saskatoon is a weekly Monday feature. I also post articles about food that is good, clean and fair; travel; and books. You may also enjoy EcoFriendly Sask profiling Saskatchewan nature/environmental initiatives and events. 

You can follow Wanderlust and Words on Facebook, Twitter, or by email (top right corner).