Wanderlust and Words

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...

It’s been an exceptionally mild winter in Wales, so all sorts of spring flowers are beginning to pop up in the garden and around Newport. Daffodils are the most prolific, but I’ve also seen snowdrops and miniature iris. The sun was shining so I headed down to the Parrog (harbour or port). Although the houses have filled in, you can tell that it was originally a separate community and there is still only one road connecting Newport and the Parrog. The estuary and inner harbour were quite calm, but the waves were fierce once I reached the mouth of the harbour. I enjoyed watching the gulls soaring on the air currents and the swans feeding in the estuary. This is such a beautiful place. I’ll be sad to leave.

It’s another wet, wild, and windy day in Wales, and I thought that some of you might be interested in how I spend my days. It’s not a holiday, particularly as I’m in a fairly isolated location with not a great many tourist attractions. Instead, it’s an opportunity to spend two months living in a semi-rural location with a completely different climate, scenery, shops, and activities. I’m housesitting a cat in a house that is half a mile uphill from the town of Newport , Pembrokeshire. It’s a big house with a large, beautifully landscaped garden out front, a paddock where I hang the laundry to dry (well, if it isn’t raining) above the house, and a woodlot to one side. There are other houses nearby, but they are mostly hidden so it feels very remote, particularly at night when it’s actually dark with no street lights. Charlie, the cat, is easy to care for. He just needs food, play, and lots and lots of cuddles. There are some household chores though – collecting firewood, ord...

Nathan on his own selling veggies last week Night Market Before Christmas, Dec. 17  The Saskatoon Farmers’ Market is hosting an evening market from 7-10 pm , Dec. 17. There will be music, drinking, and shopping. Griffin Takeaway  The Griffin Takeaway has expanded its options. You can take home frozen pies, dairy-free/vegan cookie dough, and scones. They’re also serving curries (coconut lentil, aloo gobi) as part of an expanded lunch menu. Coffee - Try Something Different  City Perks has a great selection of coffee. There’s 49th Parallel – from Vancouver, Anchored from Dalhousie, Nova Scotia, and Pilot from Toronto. Crack in Broccoli Form  I know I’m a broken record, but I wish more chefs would realize what astounding dishes they can make if they start treating vegetables with respect. Dirt Candy ’s Korean Fried Broccoli is #1 on the Zagat list of the best things they ate in New York in 2015 . Zagat says, “If you do finally manage to get a table...

Terra Madre Day, Dec. 10 Terra Madre Day is Slow Food’s annual day to promote the diversity of food traditions and production, and show how our network is using its creativity and knowledge to build a better food future. Slow Food Saskatoon suggests celebrating by sharing a meal made of local ingredients with family and friends. Noche de Posada, Dec. 12 La Taqueria Mexicana and El Mercadito Latino are hosting a Noche de Posada on Dec. 12. There will be Mexican food, Latin DJs, and a piñata smash. Craft Beer & Cheese Fest, Feb. 26 & 27 Tickets are now on sale for the Craft Beer & Cheese Fest at Prairie Sun Brewery. Tickets sold out in two weeks last year, so you’ll need to move fast if you want to attend. Slow Food Canada National Meeting, Apr. 6-10 Slow Food Canada will be holding their annual national meeting from April 6-10 , 2016, in Invermere, BC . Bringing Healthy Food to a Food Desert Neechi Foods, an Aboriginal worker co-op, is trying ...

Plant This Movie, Nov. 27  Saskatoon Food Council kicks off its monthly Urban Ag Film screening at 7 pm , Nov. 27, with Plant This Movie, showing the state of urban farming around the world. Hot Sauce Tasting, Nov. 28 El Mercado Las Palapas is holding a tasting of all 16 of their hot sauces between 12 and 5 pm , Nov. 28. Purchase your favourite and receive a 10% discount. Tea and Warm Elixir Lab, Nov. 28  Intuitive Path Superfoods is hosting a Tea and Warm Elixir Lab at 2 pm , Nov. 28. Kai Hicks will share his ultimate ingredients for optimal health. Frostfest, Dec. 12  The Glen at Crossmount is hosting Frost Fest from 1-5 pm , Dec. 12. There will be craft and baking vendors, a chance to visit with Santa, winter games, and hot apple cider. Community Greenhouse Feasibility Study  The Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre commissioned a Community Greenhouse Feasibility Study. A summary of the results is now available online. The proposed F...