Flavourful Saskatoon, February 8, 2021

“The mind is like an umbrella – it functions best when open.” – Walter Gropius 


Local News 
 There’ll be an old-time outdoor dance at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market from 12-2 pm, Feb. 13 and 20. 

Longing for bagels and cream cheese? Check out The Bagel Shop at 200 Avenue B South (old location of Little Bird Patisserie). I’ve heard it’s owned by the group that also operates Congress Beerhouse and a few other Saskatoon restaurants.

It may be winter, but Our Farm is still providing Saskatoon with fresh, organic greens. You can pick up their microgreens at Dad’s Organic Market or enjoy during a meal at Calories or Citizen Café. 

I was so sorry to hear that Collective Coffee’s last day of business will be Feb. 28, 10 years after they opened in 2011. 

It’s winter, we’re in the midst of a pandemic, and there are so many hungry people in Saskatoon. I donate on a regular basis to both the Saskatoon Food Bank and Food Not Bombs Saskatoon. Here are some other options. 


Food Trends 
Is anyone in Saskatoon selling vegan Caesar salads? Apparently they’re all the rage. “Chefs love making vegan Caesars, and people love eating them. That’s because the dish requires a certain thoughtfulness and culinary education to develop. A chef’s understanding of taste and texture is what enables them to channel the attributes of one dish into another while using different ingredients, and the vegan Caesar is a mouthwatering example of this.” 

Poison 
A new study has found that exposure to glyphosate and its commercial Roundup formulation, can disrupt the function of gut microbiome (bacteria and fungi) and internal body systems with potentially serious effects on human health. “Today, glyphosate-based herbicides such as Roundup are the most widely used class of pesticides in the world. . . . This is a poison which is so pervasive that it is now present in food, air, rainwater and tapwater. Surveys of human populations have shown that the vast majority of people in both the USA and Europe contain glyphosate in their urine, suggesting constant daily exposure from different sources.” 


The Politics of Food 
Surprisingly enough, two articles about Karak Chai popped up in my reading material this week and were an excellent reminder of the important role food plays in the lives of both immigrants and tourists. 

As far as cities go, Dubai could be compared to a pair of Louboutins: vertiginous, expensive and not particularly suitable for walking. . . . As much as I enjoyed the comforts of my privileged life, the fancy dinners and weekend brunches didn’t offer me a connection to its moving parts — the people that keep the city running. I needed an intimate map to Dubai, one plotted through keen exploration and bookmarked with personal experience. That’s how I embarked on a year long affair with karak chai.” 

“Chai is that feeling of home that many Indians take with them across the globe. It is what they crave for before the day begins and the doors of their minds are flung open to the cares of the world, and at the end of a long one, when the steam gently rising out of their cups is reassurance that they did their best. Whether sipped on in the comfort of the home or outside a corner cafeteria, it is an excuse to gather with family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors, even if for a few minutes in their busy or mundane day.” 

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. 

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