Wanderlust and Words

Welcome to October in what I’m referring to as my Year of Staying in Place . After spending the past six winters in Europe and travelling to BC in the summers, it’s a big change and I’m doing my best to turn that into a positive not a negative. Winter is especially challenging as my back and legs really don’t like walking on lumpy snow and ice. Plus it does tend to be a tad cold in Saskatchewan! Hence the focus on indoor activities. I’m setting a theme for each month with activities that I hope will send me exploring and having fun in new directions.  The theme for October is Fungi & Mushrooms . (I realize that the term fungi includes mushrooms, but the use of both words strikes me as more poetic!) Here’s what I have planned.  Read Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Future by Merlin Sheldrake  Watch the documentary Fantastic Fungi   Read mysteries where the murder weapon is a poison mushroom  Enjoy a mushroom spread ...

Great lunch at Stokes Lawn Cafe with a pot of delicious oolong tea Local Happenings Saskatoon Spruce is offering holiday gift boxes with 3 flavours of their traditionally handcrafted raw milk cheese that has been aged on northern Saskatchewan spruce. The three flavours are Original Caerphilly style cheese, Applewood Smoked, and 9-Mile Angus Oatmeal Stout (new!). Watch the award-winning food waste documentary, Just Eat It , at the University of Saskatchewan, Dec. 6 at 10 am. Registration is required . The Saskatoon Farmers’ Market Co-operative has voted in favour of moving to a new location on Koyl Avenue near the airport. It’s an opportunity to put down roots with a long-term lease after all the uncertainty of the last few years. The Co-operative's last day at its current location is Dec. 22. It may take a few months to prepare the new site during which time they'll be holding pop-up markets on Saturdays. Some good coverage this past week in local media for Saman...

Local Happenings  TCU Place and Saskatoon Co-op Wine Spirits and Beer are hosting a Wine Expo on Sept. 27 and 28 with over 200 wines from 50 exhibitors. The sour cherry vanilla jam from The Night Oven Bakery is really yummy! It’s not cheap, but there’s local organic fruit in every mouthful. Recipes  Sarah Galvin ( Foodcraft by Sarah ) shares recipes using eggplants . I plan to try the smoky eggplant soup. How interesting to know that eggplants originated in India and still grow wild there. Food for Thought  At an organic farmers’ market in Japan, “Takako Yoshino weaves past stalls brimming with fruit and vegetables, greeting farmers and customers. She answers a question from a market volunteer and then heads to a small table to shake hands with a young man who wants to talk about how to become a farmer. For the founder and manager of the 15-year-old weekly market that serves as a hub for a growing network of organic farmers, customers and apprentice farmers,...

We talk a lot about globalization and how things are more and more the same the world over. And it’s true; you’ll find Coca Cola, McDonald’s, and Century 21 in countries around the world. But there are differences as well. Having lived for extended periods of time over the past 4-5 years in Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, I know that my shopping patterns, leisure activities, and interactions with other people change depending on where I live. Food  When I’m in France, I shop as much as possible at the local markets where I buy cheese, dried fruit, olives, flowers, and bread in addition to fruit and vegetables. In Canada I shop at the market, but usually only once a week, and there are slightly fewer food options (no dried fruit and olives). French people favour organic food and I can find organic yogurt in the local corner store. I also have lots of vegetarian options in the “bio” (organic) stores that are easy to find almost anywhere. The equivalent health food st...

One Book One Province, Mar. 29  Amy Jo Ehman’s book, Out of Old Saskatchewan Kitchens , has been selected as the One Book One Province pick for 2018. Prairie Ink Restaurant at McNally Robinson Booksellers is hosting a 5-course meal from the book on Mar. 29. The dinner will be followed by a short talk by Amy Jo. Saskatoon Goodies  I’m home! It was good to be shopping once again at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market (lots and lots of lovely root vegetables from Simpkin's and squash from Wally ), Dad’s Organic Market , The Night Oven Bakery , and Earth Bound Bakery. I highly recommend the ginger cookie sandwich with chai cream cheese icing from Prairie Pie Company , Saskatoon Farmers' Market! I stopped by Griffin Takeaway on Friday – it’s nice to have another lunch and dessert option in City Park. I was lucky enough to be invited to lunch at Shift in Remai Modern. I had a very healthy salad bowl with root vegetables, seeds of all kinds, and a little bit of goat...

Wasted, Jan. 16 Watch Wasted: The Story of Food Waste at The Two Twenty’s Community Film Night , Jan. 16. Glen at Crossmount, January  Glen at Crossmount has 3 upcoming events that may be of interest: Introduction to Cider , Jan. 23 Robbie Burns Day Lunch , Jan. 25 History of Wine Grapes , Jan. 30 Wine & Chocolate, Feb. 16 Enjoy a glass of wine and join Julianna Tan of Those Girls at the Market to learn how to make organic raw chocolates on Feb. 16 at The Local Kitchen. Kids in the Kitchen: Mexican, Feb. 22  Kids ages 12-14 are invited to make and eat a Mexican feast at The Local Kitchen on Feb. 22. Veggie fish & chips with mushy peas Volunteers Needed  CHEP Good Food Inc. is looking for volunteers to assist with an after-school children’s cooking program for grade 4/5 children. Chefs in Training sessions run once a week for 5 weeks at participating elementary schools, with several sessions running over the course of the year. If you ar...

Food Film Night, Sept. 29 CHEP Good Food Inc. and the Saskatoon Food Council are hosting a free screening of episode 1 of Cooked based on Michael Pollan’s book of the same title at 7 pm , Sept. 29. There will be free snacks and refreshments from the Boxcar Café. German Harvest Fest, Oct. 7  Be sure to attend the German Harvest Festival (Erntedankfest) at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market on Oct. 7. The event is organized by KulturGarten Saskatoon. “In Germany, Erntedankfest is strongly entrenched in the culture. The Erntedanktag is an official holiday, in most areas celebrated on the first Sunday in October, which is usually also the first Sunday following Michaelistag or Michaelmas on September 29th. Erntedankfest is not a big day of family get-togethers and feasting, rather a religious and communal celebration, giving gratitude for the harvest.” Battle of Canada Wine Tasting, Oct. 12  Jerome Chomos will help participants to enjoy the unique qualities of wine from O...

Urban Agriculture Film Night, June 23  Join the Saskatoon Food Council at 7 pm , June 23, for films about urban agriculture , food, and craft beer. Our Farm on Broadway, July 1  The first Our Farm market will be from 8 am to noon , July 1, in the parking lot of St. Joseph’s Hall – lots of lovely, local, organic veggies. Wine Tasting, July 6 Join Jerome Chomos, a member of the International Sommelier Guild, on July 6 at The Local Kitchen to taste and learn about 5 wines that are perfect for summer sipping . I’ve relied on Jerome’s advice for years now. The Next Great Food Business The Local Kitchen and Square One have a launched a competition for the next great food business . The application deadline is August 15 . Story Behind Risotto  Risotto, a quintessentially Italian dish, and yet the Romans only used rice medicinally and it was the Arabs during their tenth century occupation of Sicily who began growing it for food. By the 1920s and ‘30s, however, t...

Food Films Night, Mar. 24 Saskatoon Food Council is screening 11 short films about food at 7 pm , Mar. 24, at Station 20 West. Food Unites ALL of Us, Mar. 26  Food Bloggers of Canada are hosting potluck dinners across Canada to celebrate diversity. Noelle Chorney is hosting a dinner in Saskatoon on Mar. 26. Bring a dish that represents your family and your heritage. Co-op Liquor Tastings Co-op Liquor has a great line-up of tasting events . There’s Italian wine on Mar. 24 , Regina’s Rebellion Brewing beer on Mar. 25 , Sherry on Mar. 31 , Bourbon on Apr. 1 , and Prairie Bee Meads on Apr. 8 . Artichokes  Our Farm is growing and planning to sell artichokes. Artichokes are a perennial in milder climates. In Saskatoon, they have to be replanted every year and tricked into believing they’ve experienced a mild winter. Find out all the details on Our Farm’s Facebook page . Canada’s History in Cuisine From pemmican and tourtière to perogies, ginger beef, Yukon gold pot...

Nelson Farmers' Market Mini Night Market, Sept. 3  The Saskatoon Farmers’ Market is hosting a Mini Night Market in conjunction with the Potash Corp Fireworks Festival from 4-8 pm , Sept. 3. Dining Al Fresco, Sept. 4  Dine al fresco with the Saskatoon Food Truck Association from 4-8 pm , Sept. 4, on Spadina Avenue West between Avenues A and B. Fruit Harvesting, Sept. 15  The Glen at Crossmount’s horticulturist will share tips on what fruit to plant in Saskatchewan, how to care for it, and how to harvest it  for the best results from 6-10 pm , Sept. 15. Saskatoon Food Bank Warehouse Dinner, Sept. 23  For the first time ever, the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre will be hosting a dinner in their warehouse on Sept. 23 to celebrate community and raise awareness of the food insecurity faced by thousands of Saskatoon residents every day. There’s an option to pay for a ticket for someone who couldn’t otherwise afford it. Wanted – Collective...

Peasant's Pick, Saskatoon Farmers' Market Cowspiracy, Oct. 8 Intuitive Path SuperFoods is showing the movie Cowspiracy – The Sustainability Secret at 6:30 pm , Oct. 8. The movie, about how factory farming, cattle and dairy in particular, is decimating the planet’s natural resources, is also available on Netflix . Global Health Nourishing Equity Conference, Oct. 17 The Global Health Nourishing Equity conference at the University of Saskatchewan on Oct. 17 will look at nutrition, food security, and equity. Frozen Entrées – Wild Serendipity Foods Wild Serendipity Foods , Saskatoon Farmers’ Market, is now selling frozen entrées – in addition to her ever-popular scones, macarons, and soups. The vegetarian option this past weekend was Yam and Black Bean Enchiladas. Perfect for those days when you don't have time or don't feel like cooking. Spices – Orchard del Sol  Whole Natural Flavors – Orchard del Sol will only be at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market ...

Food Environments in Canada, May 21 SPHERU is hosting a 3-day event in May to examine food environments in Canada. Steven Cummins, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, will present a public talk on food-based interventions at the Roxy Theatre at 6:30 pm , May 21. Eat These Words Community Supper, May 24 Act quickly to purchase tickets for Slow Food Saskatoon’s fundraising dinner on May 24. Chef Jennifer Willems and Chef dee Hobsbawn-Smith will be presenting a five-course Italian menu from locally sourced Saskatchewan food. Lexicon of Sustainability, June 5  Join the Saskatoon Food Council at their monthly Urban Ag Movie Night at 7 pm , June 5, at Station 20 West for the Lexicon of Sustainability . The Lexicon of Sustainability combines “information art” photo collages and a series of short films to introduce a discussion on food sustainability and our evolving food culture. Fresh Spring Greens  What a treat to have fresh spinach and asparagus from ...

Wild Blueberry and Tomatillo Soup Shooters with Pickled Vegetables and a Chanterelle Crouton Slow Food Reading, Sept. 28 Amy Jo Ehman and dee Hobsbawn-Smith will be reading from their latest books at a Slow Food Salon from 1-3 pm , September 28, at 543 Sturgeon Drive (home of Noelle Chorney). Winter Composting, Oct. 1 The SK Waste Reduction Council’s presentation at 7 pm , October 1, at the Frances Morrison Library will cover composting through the winter months, including bokashi fermentation and vermicomposting. SK Book: Every Bite Affects the World Catherine Verrall, a Regina author, has just published Every Bite Affects the World , a cookbook that is intended to help you discover “the connections between the food we eat and our own health, also the health of soil, water and climate, of communities and farmers, both here and far away.” Ryan Meili says, “Combining original recipes, inspirational quotes, and reflections on our relationship with food and the land that pr...

Films & Fermentation I’m looking forward to attending the opening session of the Saskatoon Environmental Film Festival at 7 pm, April 24 , at the Frances Morrison Library . Following a screening of the film Growing Cities , Noelle Chorney, Slow Food Saskatoon, will lead a workshop on fermentation. Participants will learn about the fermentation process, its health benefits, and get to taste a few samples as well as taking home a little fermentation project of their own. At 7:30 pm, April 26 , at the Roxy Theatre , you can watch GMO OMG , a look at how the loss of seed diversity and the growth of genetically modified food affects our health. Saskatoon’s Terra Madre Delegate  Photo credit: Daybreak Mill Nicole Davis, Daybreak Mill , will be attending Terra Madre/Salone del Gusto on behalf of Slow Food Saskatoon. The diversity of food producers and food products from around the world showcased at Terra Madre/Salone del Gusto is truly amazing. I’m thrilled that on...

Salmon Confidential, Feb. 27 The Saskatchewan Eco Network is showing the film, Salmon Confidential , on February 27 at the Frances Morrison Library. The film documents one biologist’s struggle to overcome government and industry roadblocks in order to save BC’s wild salmon. Growing Cities, Mar. 6 CHEP will be hosting a free screening of Growing Cities , a film about urban agriculture, on March 6 at The Broadway Theatre. Kenderdine Gala, Mar. 7 The University of Saskatchewan Biology Club is organizing a Kenderdine Commemorative Gala on March 7 to assist students who were affected by the closure of Kenderdine Campus, Emma Lake. Ken Neuman I was saddened to learn that Ken Neuman is no longer employed by SaskMade Marketplace. He is so enthusiastic and supportive of local food producers and SaskMade Marketplace was transformed under his leadership. Ken is looking for new opportunities in the food industry. Do give him a call if you have a possible opening. Vegetarian Restaur...

Local HOPtion Launch Party, Nov. 15 Prairie Sun Brewery is launching the first IPA made with locally grown hops on Friday, November 15, from 11 am to 10 pm . There will be pints of beer, cheese, music, and brewery tours at 2 , 5 , 7 and 9 pm .  Collectively Green Holiday Sale, Nov. 16 The Collectively Green Holiday Sale from 10 am to 6 pm , November 16, at Grace-Westminster United Church offers earth-friendly wares and a silent auction to benefit the Saskatoon Food Bank. Slow Food Salon, Nov. 17 Slow Food Saskatoon will be hosting a conversational Slow Food Salon every third Sunday at City Perks Coffeehouse. On Sunday, November 17, from 5-7 pm , we’ll be discussing “What foodie book has changed the way you cook/think about food?” Edible City, Nov. 21 Slow Food Saskatoon and the Saskatchewan Eco Network are showing the movie Edible City: Grow the Revolution at the Frances Morrison Public Library at 7 pm , November 21. Edible City profiles a diverse group of peo...