Savour Life Magazine is on Holiday until the week of September 6-10, when we will be back with more great Saskatchewan News!  Have a great Summer!

Our Saskatoon Correspondent is on Holiday.

The Wheatland Café Renews for a 5th Season ACROSS SASKATCHEWAN – The popular noontime cooking show, The Wheatland Café, returns for a fifth season on CTV. Cooking host CJ Katz will be back cooking up delicious meal solutions that are made from scratch but are simple and quick to prepare. A big focus on the past two seasons has been showcasing Saskatchewan food and local producers and that focus will continue this season. Angel Blair will be back cooking with CJ after a year on maternity leave. The new season starts on Wednesday September 8th. Tune into CTV across the province at 12:15 every Wednesday.

Oatstanding Bakery Closes REGINA – It’s a sad day when a business closes and even sadder one when a business with a quality product closes. Last Friday July 23rd, Oatstanding Bakery, owned by Rob Fuller closed its doors. According to Manager Angela Fuller, a big problem was Health Canada not permitting the company to list the product, which is made with uncontaminated oats, as Gluten Free. Uncontaminated oats (oats never grown near crops that contain gluten), are for all intents and purposes gluten free. Health Canada has very strict guidelines regarding health claims and only a handful of ingredients fall into that category. What is particularly sad about this closure is it leaves a big hole in the gluten-free market across the West, where Oatstanding distributed their products. It’s extremely difficult for those who have a gluten digestion issue to get enough fibre in their diet and oats fit the bill superbly. Oatstanding Bakery is selling the formulation for all of their products as well as all bakery equipment. There is also a 3-year lease left on the building if you’re looking for space. For more information, contact the bakery at (306) 565-6287.

Italian Star Taking a Holiday REGINA – Owner Carlo Giambattista and his family will be taking a well-deserved vacation from September 6 – 19th. During this time, the popular deli will be closed. Make sure you stock up all those good things before then.

Regina Farmer’s Market News

• SunEarthYou (also known as “The Sprout Guy”) will soon be selling frozen wheatgrass shots. Make Henry Dyck’s booth your last stop when leaving the market. They will be sold in 1 oz shots. Just take them home and pop them in the freezer. Add a frozen cube to smoothies for quick boost.
• FarmGate Food is back selling eggs again. My suggestion would be the preorder as these sell really, really fast. They also have Berkshire pork and lamb, which you can also pre-order. Contact FarmGate at www.farmgatefood.ca.
• Lincoln Gardens is bursting with produce. If you’re looking for some different veggies, try their orange beets (don’t forget to cook up the beet greens. They are incredibly nutritious.), red carrots and yellow zucchini.
• Over the Hill Orchards has fresh sour cherries for sale. They are not pitted because pitted cherries are highly perishable. No worries though. I hand pitted 2 ½ cups in just 10 minutes. These cherries make the most delicious pie!
• Lajord Colony has orange cauliflower. Market Manager Ada Bennett says it has a creamy buttery taste.
• Golden Prairie has many cuts of wild boar as well as sausages.
• And here’s some interesting news – the market may soon have a vendor next year selling goat cheese. We’ll keep you posted on that development when it happens.

0 Comments CJ Katz submitted 42 days ago

Time for Saskatoons and Great Pie!

• REGINA – Beginning this Saturday July 24 and running through Wednesday July 28th and ending on Saturday July 31st you can dig into a slice of locally baked and made Saskatoon Berry pie at the Regina Farmer's Market. Just $5 will get you a delicious slice of pie along with a cup of coffee or juice. All pies are baked by market vendors. Gluten free and diabetic pie is available. This year, all proceeds benefit the Regina Home Economics for Living Project. The market is open from 9:30 am to 1:30 am and is located at Regina City Hall.
• And speaking of Saskatoons, check around for Pick Your Own orchards to spend an outing with family picking a great Saskatchewan product. Saskatoons are now ready for picking.
• Ada Bennett, manager of the Regina Farmer’s Market says that “Saskatoons are coming in strongly at the Market. Tyler Weisbrod on the corner of McIntrye and Victoria has at least 200 pails. Ed and Linda Schropp of Linda's Jams and Jellies on Smith Street reported that they would be bringing in a large amount as well. Ada says she had some at last market, and they are so sweet this year.
• Bernard Callebaut now has delicious Saskatoon-Berry chocolates. Imagine a berry puree in a milk-chocolate boat, sprinkled with white chocolate. According to David Loblaw, owner of the Regina location, tourists go crazy and buy anything containing Saskatoons.”

Bruno Cherry Festival This Weekend BRUNO – If love the taste of Saskatchewan-grown cherries, take in The Cherry Festival this weekend in Bruno. This is the 8th year the festival has run and it promises to be “the premium celebration of the Cherry for the Prairies.” The event runs Saturday and Sunday and includes a Country Supper on Saturday evening. For compete information on the event, go to www.cherryfestival.ca

Visit a Fruit Orchard LUMSDEN – If you’ve never visited Over the Hill Orchards and seen how Dean and Sylvia Kreutzer grow their many varieties of fruit, now’s your chance. Their property is located just outside Lumsden and everytime I visit there I think I’m in paradise. The couple is offering tours of their orchard every Sunday this summer. Cost is $10 per person and includes a homemade slice of their Prairie Cherry Pie. Tours last about 1 to 1 ½ hours and must be prebooked. There will also be plants available for purchase. Contact Dean at (306) 530-9133 to make arrangements.

Catriona le May Doan Named Gold Medal Plates Ambassador SASKATOON – Stephen Leckie, CEO and Co-founder of Gold Medal Plates has announced that Catriona le May Doan has confirmed that she will stand as this year's Honourary Ambassador for Gold Medal Plates in Saskatoon. “We, as I am sure the City of Saskatoon and the Province of Saskatchewan, are delighted with this development!” says Stephen. The first-ever Gold Medal Plates Saskatoon-Saskatchewan will take place October 30th, 2010. If you are interested in purchasing tickets to this event, click here.

Awesome Trips and Culinary Tours

• Exploring Turkey: Savour Life Magazine’s Saskatoon writer, Darlene Gulas Bomok and her husband Leon will be hosting an expedition to Turkey. Their tour - Exploring Turkey – will include shopping in the markets, enjoying Middle Eastern cuisine and experiencing it all within the comfort and well-being of a guided tour from April 19th to April 30th, 2011. You’ll be travelling to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Derinkuyu, Pamukkale, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Sardis, Pergamum, and Troy. Price is $3630.00 (single supplement of $350.00) which includes international airfare from Saskatoon to Istanbul return; entry visa for Turkey; all taxes; all transfers; Comprehensive Travel Insurance; breakfasts and dinners; accommodation in four star hotels; flight ticket from Istanbul to Cappadocia; 24/7 English-speaking professional Turkish guide; deluxe motor-coach for all transfers and touring (as per itinerary); entrance to all archaeological sites and museums (as per itinerary) along with Leon and Darlene’s personalized services throughout the tour. If you would like to see the itinerary and receive payment information, email Leon at leonbomok@hotmail.com or call Darlene at 306-934-6815 ASAP (airline tickets need to be purchased soon).
• Tahiti and French Polynesia: Capture bliss! Sail with CAA to paradise on the annual CAA Chairman of the Board cruise to the South Pacific. Travel aboard the Royal Princess, February 21st, on a small ship voyage that’s larger than life. Visit islands that have names in classic yarns of sailors, pirates and buried treasure! View swaying palms, white sands, and the aqua coloured water than defies description. To find out more, contract your local CAA travel office or 1-800-564-6222.

Looking for a Knock-Out Event to Attend? Here are some to keep you busy this summer.

• REGINA – The summer edition of the Battle of the Breweries Beer Tasting Event coming up on August 31st at The Bushwakker Brew Pub is sold out, but don’t dispair, tickets for the fall edition go on sale on August 31st at the Bushwakker. According to marketing manager Grant Frew, “the underdog, Bell's Brewery of Kalamazoo, Michigan takes on the powerful heavyweight, Brooklyn Brewery from New York. Don't count out the underdog just yet for there is strength in numbers. Should be one "knock-out" event!”
• REGINA/SASKATOON – Beginning Sunday, July 18th at 12 noon until closing on Tuesday July 27th, 2010 all Regina Brewsters Brewing Company & Restaurant locations will be participating in the CBCF (Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation) “Paint Canada Pink Week.” Twenty-five cents from each "Pink Pint" sold will go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. This is the second year that Brewsters will be participating in this initiative.
• REGINA/SASKATOON - For the fourth year Saverio Schiralli Agency Ltd. Will be donating 50 cents from each bottle of Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio sold at select SLGA stores in Regina and Saskatoon to the Scotiabank AIDS Walk across Canada. The campaign begins on August 15 and runs until September 11. To date over $100,000 has been raised for the charity.

EMMA International Collaboration Auction NEAR BIG RIVER - The 2010 EMMA International Collaboration will be holding its dispersal auction on Sunday, August 1 at the Ness Creek Festival Site near Big River. The event will feature local and world-renowned craft artists for a week of collaborative creation,” said Mark Stobbe, Saskatchewan Craft Council Executive Director. “At the end of the week, we hold an auction to sell the art that has been created.” This year 100 artists from six provinces and 18 states will be participating, along with artists from Great Britain, France, Romania and New Zealand. The auction is on Sunday August 1 beginning at 2 pm. “To make it easier for people to get to the auction, we’ve booked a charter bus. It will be leaving Saskatoon at 9 am, and returning after the auction,” said Stobbe. Tickets are $30, and include return transportation, a gourmet lunch, and an interpretive presentation about EMMA. For information call 306-653-3616 ext. 0 or scc.director@sasktel.net. Also, check out www.saskcraftcouncil.org.

0 Comments CJ Katz submitted 48 days ago

Orange Izakaya Now Open with Full Menu REGINA – Orange Fusion Café and Bar (also known as Orange Izakaya) opened with a full menu this week offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Orange Izakaya is located in the former Café Orange/Kitchen Toys and Tools location in Cathedral Village on Robinson St. It’s still a coffee shop with the full gamut of coffees and steamers and a few pastry options but it’s also offering traditional Canadian breakfast. Lunch is available from 11 am onward when the menu moves from a Canadian theme to mostly Korean with 9-item menu with such traditional dishes as Bi-Bim-Bab, Bulgogi Dup Bap, Don Katsu and a Kalbi burger. At 4 pm, the menu switches to a more Japanese theme with tapas (izakaya) dishes. The 16-item menu features such dishes as Kushi Yaki (prawn and scallop with sauce), Unagi (grilled eel with unagi sauce), various sushi rolls, Okonomi Yaki (Japanese pancake), Tako Yaki (Japanese style deep fried octopus ball), Geso Karaage (deep fried squid leg) and more. Prices for lunch range from $9 to $13, and for tapas between $4-$14. On our visit there we tried the miso soup which comes with tofu and seaweed, the Geso Karaage, which we liked very much – very, very lightly breaded with an interesting garlicky rice wine vinaigrette. We also had the Bi-Bim-Bab which is Bulgogi and vegetables serves with rice and a side of hot sauce, and the Chicken Teriyaki which comes on a bed of sitr-fried cabbage, onion, carrots and broccoli and a rice. Portions for lunch are very large. Currently the restaurant is without a liquor licence, which they expect to have the first week of August. Until then, hours are Mon-Fri 8 am – 8 pm, Sat 9 am – 9 pm, and Sun 10 am – 8 am.

Saskatchewan Lentils Make Their Way to Chicago SASKATOON – Move aside deep-dish pizza, Canadian lentils are making their way into the diets of North Americans. The Saskatchewan Pulse Growers are down in Chicago this week promoting the health benefits of Canadian grown lentils as a nutritious whole food ingredient at the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting and Food Expo. Research has shown that lentils grown in Canada are high in fibre and protein, and micronutrients such as iron, zinc, selenium, and beta carotene. One ½ cup serving of cooked lentils provides 36% of your daily recommended fibre intake and 38% of your protein intake. Lentils recently hit the news when Dr. Al Slinkard several weeks ago received the Governor General’s Award In Celebration of the Nation’s Table for the development of the Eston and Laird lentil varieties. If you’re looking to increase lentils in your diet try lentil flour. Research is showing that lentil flour can be incorporated into in a variety of foods such as crackers, pasta and puffed snacks.

Cold Stone Arrives in Saskatchewan REGINA – When a new ice cream shops opens, the city is starts salivating and lining up for great ice cream. This ice cream may not be local and Cold Stone Creamery may be a franchise… but boy is it good. So far the franchise hasn’t compromised on the creamy mouthfeel we expect in ice cream which explains that glee people feel when they line-up to dig into some darn good ice cream. Cold Stone, if you’re not familiar with the concept, is ice cream that you can add “custom” add ons to. A signature element of the concept is a frozen granite countertop where staff fold your add ons into the ball of ice cream. I had the Berry Berry Berry ice cream - Sweet Cream ice cream into which real strawberries, raspberries and blueberries are folded in. My son also chose the Sweet Cream ice cream but add in fresh Oreo cookies and chopped almonds. Cold Stone in Regina is located inside the Tim Horton’s at the corner of Prince of Wales Drive and Hwy #1. A second location opened today (Friday) in Kindersley. Additional locations are planned inside Tim Horton’s in other areas of Saskatchewan.

Toontown Smokedown for BBQ Lovers! SASKATOON – If you love BBQ then you’ll want to take in the second annual Toontown Smokedown on August 21-22, 2010 at River Landing (same location at the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market). Pitmasters from across Western Canada will be competing for prizes and cold hard cash! These cooks stoke their fires all night, providing tender loving care to their beef briskets, pork shoulders, chicken, and pork ribs. Starting at 11:00 on Sunday, they turn in their results to a panel of certified BBQ judges who score them on appearance, tenderness, and taste. It's a competitive battle to see who will emerge as Grand Champion! There will be real Southern BBQ cooking for sale from Saskatchewan's best BBQ cooks. There will be lots of activities to enjoy. Bring the whole family down for an afternoon of savoury, smokey, saucy good times! According to organizers there is representation from all four Western Canadian provinces and if all goes well, they will be able to bump up the prize money to make this event the highest cash pool for any competition in Canada. To find out more about being on a team or becoming a judge, visit the Toontown Smokedown site at www.saskatoonbbq.com. 

New Chef at Hotel Saskatchewan REGINA - The Hotel Saskatchewan has announced the arrival of their new Executive Chef - Milton Rebello. Chef Rebello comes with nearly twenty years experience in the food industry including working with chefs in India, Dubai, Bahrain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Doha, and the United States. He pursued his education with Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island and worked with 'Four' star restaurants in New York and Connecticut. He is a Journeyman Red Seal Chef and has worked in leadership roles with Coast, Fairmont and Westin Hotels in Canada.  

0 Comments CJ Katz submitted 55 days ago

NEW RESTAURANT: Tangerine
REGINA – Last week, Tangerine Food Bar, located at 2234 – 14th Avenue in Regina (next to Nature’s Best) opened its doors. The eat-in take-out place is the latest business venture for Aimee Schulhauser of Evolution Catering. Walk in and you’ll be greeted to a wall size chalkboard with whatever they’ve chosen to make up that day. Expect a different experience every time you go. On our visit this week, we tried a selection of salads – Lemon-dill spinach and couscous; Beet with feta and spicy pepitas; Tomato, black bean and smoked mozzarella; and Curried lentil, wild rice and orzo salad. For sandwiches we tried a Southwestern Chicken wrap; and Roasted Veggies and Goat Cheese on Focaccia. We even tried a Pop-tart (blueberry), and a Brownie with cream cheese. Everything at Tangerine is fresh and made from scratch. They are open 7 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday; Saturday 9 am – 4 pm, and closed Sunday. Check their website daily for menu options at www.tangerineregina.ca

Orange Izakaya Soon to Serve Full Menu
REGINA – It’s been a long opening for John Oh, one of the owners of Orange Fusion Café and Bar (formerly Café Orange/Kitchen Toys and Tools) located on Robinson St just a few doors down from Bernard Callebaut Chocolates. John tells us that the hold up has been getting all the plumbing done. The place opened a few weeks back selling only coffee and pastries. Next Monday he expects to be open for lunch and dinner offering Japanese and Korean specialties. Although Izakaya means Japanese tapas, Orange will be serving full meals, including the popular Korean BBQ.

A Symbiotic Relationship: Jazz Festival and St. Tropez Bistro
SASKATOON - St. Tropez Bistro, at 238 Second Avenue South, and the Jazz Festival seem to resonate and attract folks to experience both together. St. Tropez (306-652-1250) has been around a long time and their formula of fresh and simple, tinged with the exotic such as Thai or the spice of jalepeno and cilantro, has guaranteed a loyal clientele through the years. Re-visit the Tropez and you might find a previous favourite or something completely different. Both could happen. During the Jazz Festival, you may even see a performer or two or at the very least, an organizer or three.

Market Finds

• REGINA – Here are some new “finds” at the Regina Farmer’s Market this week.
  • Fresh local strawberries at Over The Hill Orchards and Heliotrope
  • Mini Eggplant at Kan-Gro
  • Spicy Stout Mustard at Scandinavian Sweethearts
  • Baby Potatoes and Peas at Lajord Colony
• SASKATOON – Living Soil Farms at the Saskatoon Farmer's Market is now selling poutine made with certified organic purple potato fries topped with authentic cheese curds and gravy made by another market vendor, the Sous Chef. Condiments such as ketchup and BBQ are from Souleio.

Bits and Bytes

• REGINA/SASKATOON – Looking for a refreshing drink this summer? Drop into Cuppa T in Regina (13th Ave) or Saskatoon (Lawson Heights Mall) and ask about iced teas and sun teas. Both locations can help you choose a Summer favorite. At the Saskatoon location, you can drop in for a cool and refreshing iced tea on the go.
• REGINA – Speaking of tea, a new tea store has opened in the Cornwall Centre – Davids Teas. They are located on the second floor near Booster Juice. They have a huge selection of loose teas plus tea “stuff” such as teapots, cups, doodads, and more.
• ACROSS SASKATCHEWAN – Sobeys has announced that effective July 2, 2010, their grocery stores will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except in Manitoba where stores there will close at 6 pm on Sundays.)
• SASKATOON – Saskatoon Farmer's Market merchants only (not the farmers), Garlic Guru, Sous Chef, Giuseppi's at the Market, Cava Cuisine and Riverbend Plantation Market Cafe are extending their hours on the weekends. As of Saturday, July 3rd they will be open 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and on Sundays from noon to 5:00 P.M.
• SASKATOON - Saskatonians will have noticed that the Uptown Market on the corner of Second Avenue North and 23rd Street East has closed. With some new investment, there is hope that it may re-open over the summer.
• NEW ORLEANS – According to www.plateonline.com (June 29/10) New Orleans Chef Susan Spicer, of Bayona has spearheaded a class-action lawsuit against BP “for damages to restaurants that have lost normal seafood supplies since the April 20 explosion of BP's deepwater oil rig”.
• REGINA - One of Regina's long-standing restaurants, India House has closed and will be reopening as a sushi place. 

0 Comments CJ Katz submitted 64 days ago

Christies’ Bakery to Open Second Location SASKATOON - Foodies who love Broadway Avenue will love it even more come August 2010 when Christies’ Bakery opens their second retail bakery location combined with Il Secondo, a 26-30 seat eatery focusing on Italian coffee, panini and authentic wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza. Tracey Muzzolini, who owns Christies’ with her brother Blair, went through a series of training sessions with the Verace Pizza Napoletana Americas (VPN) in California and will be certified in accordance with the guidelines of the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association based in Naples, Italy. The VPN requirements demand that Tracey have:

1. a wood-burning oven;
2. ingredients including Italian flour, “San Marzano (plum) tomatoes, all natural fior-di-latte or bufala mozzarella, fresh basil, salt and yeast” — the VPN specifies, “only fresh, all-natural, non-processed ingredients are acceptable”;
3. correct technique involving “hand-worked or low speed mixed dough, proper work surface (usually a marble slab), and oven temperature of 800° F”; and
4. “Review by the designated representative of the association assuring that the ingredients, technique and final product conform to the tradition.” (taken from http://anticapizzeria.net/vpn/VPNAmericas) on Tuesday, June 15, 2010).

Tracey struggled with the “flour” requirement and has experimented with local products; however she has to admit that Saskatchewan flour “behaves differently” and she reluctantly feels obliged to use the Italian flour for the authenticity factor. Tracey reiterated, “Not everyone gets to go to Italy so I’m bringing a little bit of Italy here.”

The Pita Place Operates Under New Name REGINA – The Pita Place (formerly Pita Cravings) has undergone a name change to Zam Zam Restaurant and Catering in an effort to rebrand itself and place a stronger emphasis on Middle Eastern food. “We’re trying to go more traditional,” says Boutros Skaf, owner. Zam Zam is an Islamic term referring to “a miraculously-generated source of water from God (Wikipedia).” The restaurant is now offering Mediterranean platters on Friday and Saturday that include such traditional dishes as dolmades, hommus, kebabs, roasted potatoes, chicken and more. Cost is $7 to $15 depending on the size. Zam Zam has also extended its hours and is open until 7 pm on Friday and Saturday evenings. Coming soon, they will be open on Sundays. Current hours are Mon-Thurs 10-5; Fri and Sat 10-7. They are located at 628 4th Avenue (522-9727) behind The Wheatland Fireplace.

International Reception an Orgy of Local Food

Jacy Reinhardt (Rob Reinhardt's wife) assisted in the preparation of the meat. Photo: Jeff Weimer

REGINA – The International Reception at the 2010 Western Canada Farm Progress Show was brought to new heights this year with a pig-out the likes of which no delegate has ever experience before. Held at the Queensbury Convention Centre, the Agricultural Producers of Saskatchewan together with SaskMade and other stakeholders put on a buffet that received rave reviews from Bob Bjornerud, Minister of Agriculture and attendees from Australia and France. The event really illustrated – not just visually but tastewise – that Saskatchewan is truly a doorway to the world. The food was presented as a celebration of Saskatchewan food and culture with the joint efforts of the province’s primary producers, food manufacturers and export leaders. Stations featured food from South Asia, North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and a tasty array of desserts from Canada. One of the hits of the reception was two fully grown hogs (donated by SaskPork) that Prairie Smoke and Spice smoked on a huge Traeger Grill. This was “some pig,” to quote Charlotte (see photo). At least 50 producers, restaurants, commodity groups, and bakers, from around the province provided food for the event, which hosted delegates from across Canada and around the world.

Fresh & Wild at Charlie’s SASKATOON - For those who prefer wild over farmed fish, Charlie’s Seafood Market, 8th Street and McKercher Drive (306-955-7127), has fish that will satisfy the pickiest fish-lover. Last weekend he had fresh wild Pacific halibut fillets ($39.99/kg) and steaks ($34.99/kg); fresh wild tuna steaks ($59.99/kg); fresh wild pickerel fillets ($34.90/kg); fresh wild pike fillets ($20.99/kg) and wild Louisiana shrimp ($35.24/kg).

Gold Medal Plates Chef to Cook in the Mountains SASKATOON – One of our featured chefs in the upcoming Gold Medal Plates event on October 30, 2010 in Saskatoon will be “Cooking in the Mountains.” On July 10, 2010 Lee Helman of Truffles Bistro will be offering a one-of-a-kind cooking experience at The Residences at Fairmont Ridge in Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. The 3-hour cooking experience will give you a chance to get up close and interactive with Lee as he cooks up classic French recipes and shares his culinary secrets. Guests will spend the evening sampling innovative French food and French wine, courtesy of J Webb Wine Market. Cooking in the Mountains has hosted two previous installments with Canadian food critic, Gail Hall and Calgary-based chef, Steve Smee. The event has attracted second home buyers and chefs from across Canada to experience mountain living in a casual dining setting while combining the joys of cooking and eating. For information, contact The Residences at Fairmont Ridge at 250 345 6095 or info@fairmontridge.ca. Individual tickets are $70 per person for the evening and include all food and wine. For information or to purchase tickets to Gold Medal Plates on October 30, 2010 at TCU Place in Saskatoon, click here.

Saskatchewan Wins at Amateur Winemaker Competition This year marks the first year Saskatchewan has entered the International Amateur Winemaker Competition and the province, which competed against 4,508 entries snagged 2 gold; 4 silver and 7 bronze medals. Thirteen of the 14 medals were won using wine kits sold at Wascana Wine and Brew in Regina and made by RJ Spagnols Craft winemaking (a Vincor Company). The competition was held April 16-18, 2010 at the Equinox Resort, Manchester, Vermont and included entries from eight countries, 50 U.S. states and eight Canadian provinces. Wascana Wine & Brew's Bill Fassett received a gold medal for his own Cru Select's Valpolicella Ripassa finished in a Hungarian oak barrel. This marks another "first" for Wascana Wine & Brew - having the only internationally recognized (gold) medalist on full time staff for Craft on Premise winemaking.

San Marzano Tomatoes San Marzano tomatoes are a particular variety of plum tomatoes, which gets its spectacular flavour from the ash-enhanced soil around Mount Vesuvius in Italy. San Marzano tomatoes can be grown anywhere, but like the terroir, which makes grapes perfect for wines, the Vesuvian soil apparently brings out the best in these plum tomatoes. Unico packs a “San Marzano type” tomato in 796 ml cans as part of its Premium Collection. You can find them at the Lawson Heights Safeway in Saskatoon. San Marsano tomatoes can also be purchased at Italian Star Deli in Regina.

2 Comments CJ Katz submitted 83 days ago

Fiddleheads and Morels The article I wrote two week’s ago on my morel hunting adventure, plus the Recipe of the Week last week (Stir-fried Asparagus and Morels), and likely the one we’ll air next week (Fiddleheads with a Lemony Blenders Hollandaise), have created some activity in our mailbag. People are curious about where to purchase these delicacies. Morels are very perishable and it’s not commonplace to find them fresh. Just about any good grocery store will carry dried morels and other wild mushrooms like chanterelles and porcini. You’ll most often find them in the produce section hanging in cellophane bags. Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee that they are Saskatchewan mushrooms. Fiddleheads are actually tougher to find. Several Facebook fans on the Savour Life Facebook page said they found some at the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market just recently. I’ve not seen them here in Regina. If you have any contacts up north, a good bet is to get them to pick them up for you and ship them on the bus to wherever you live  – mine arrived safe and sound the same day they were shipped.

Update: Since the publishing of this article, one reader - Gerry Ivanochko - sent this: "There is a company in White Fox that supplies wildcrafted product. It is called White Fox Gold Harvesting. The owner is Lorne Terry. His telephone number is 306-276-2495. The fiddlehead season is over but he may have morels now and chanterelles later in the season."

Creek Bistro Debuts New Spring Menu REGINA – Chef Martin Snow has released his new spring menu, which came out last week at the Creek in Cathedral Bistro. We dropped in for a tasting and the flavours are big, bold and spicy. “Big flavours satisfy the appetite. There’s no need to eat as much,” says Martin. There are no whimpy flavours here. Try the Indonesian Pork Satay, which comes with three skewers plus a spicy peanut sauce. The Prawns and Scallops are also packed with a power punch, which Martin softens with a rich and creamy guacamole ice cream. If you like cumin, try the Blue Corn Flour baby calamari which he hits with a good measure of cumin in the last second of cooking. The flavours are a tad overwhelming for my palate but my husband devoured them. Portions are plenty ample here – I had a hard time finishing everything. The Chipotle Rubbed 8 oz Ribeye is big and loaded with flavour and takes steak to a whole new flavour level. It comes with a Tequila lime butter, a salsa fresca, and Lumsden Potato Salad, but if you’re adventurous a better pairing instead of the potatoes is the tabouleh of quinoa that comes with the Chili Mint Crusted Lamb Chops, which themselves are kicked up a notch. You’ll be asking Martin for the quinoa recipe before you leave.

Borscht and Homestyle Dinners in MJ

An employee gets ready to dish us up some samples of Borscht to try.

MOOSE JAW – Finding delicious Ukrainian borscht isn’t easy when you’re in Moose Jaw… unless you know where to go. We often hear of those little finds that are off the beaten track, well, Yesteryear’s is one of them. I called a Moose Jaw friend of mine to see if he’d heard of Yesteryear’s. “Oh yes,” he exclaimed. “I’ve bought many a bottle of soup there for my daughters who are now living on their own.” Yesteryear’s is not a restaurant. It’s a take-out spot with several small round tables convenient enough to sit and have a free sample of their homemade soup – three varieties of Borscht and Bamm!, a cowboy-style soup that is slightly sweet and hot. We stopped in to try the soup last Saturday and sampled the Beef, Chicken and Vegetarian borscht, as well as purchased a take-out lunch, which we ate in right in the shop. Lunch ($7.95) was like eating a homey Ukrainian meal – two perogies, one cabbage roll, and one smokie sausage plus a bowl of borscht. Dinner ($9.95) is similar except you get extra perogies and cabbage rolls. And if you want, you can also take out soup and bun for just $4.50. All their soups are bottled in large Mason-style glass jars and ready for sale ($10.95/1 litre jar). Borscht is their specialty but it seems that ready-to-heat gourmet pretzels are too. These handmade treats are big, fat and stuffed with all sorts of fillings including chocolate crumb, mixed berry, cheese lover’s pizza, jalapeno-cheddar and a whole lot more. Yesteryear’s is located at 34 River Street, Moose Jaw. Open Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 5:30 pm. Tel: (306) 692-3454. www.yesteryearsborscht.ca

Sandwiches Made Just The Way You Like ‘Em WHITE CITY – Choice Family Meats is picking up where most of us would like to leave off – stuffing our kids' lunch box. Owners Denise and Allen Kilback, themselves parents, are offering a new service - custom-made sandwiches for your child's lunch box, or even for working folk who haven’t the time to think about what to take for lunch. Choice Family Meats makes pretty much all of their deli meats right on site – from delicious roast turkey to various styles of sausages, and smoked brisket. Since they have also started baking on-site as well as carrying a few fresh produce items, making sandwiches seemed a logical step. Call ahead to pre-order the type and number of sandwiches you need. They are made fresh with your choice of mayonnaise, mustard, various deli meats, lettuce, and tomato on a hoagie-style bun. Each sandwich is cryovac’d to stay fresh. They also sell fresh baked cookies too. Choice Family Meats is located in the main mall on Great Plains Road in Emerald Park/White City. Tel (306) 781-2645.

Opening Soon REGINA – Tangerine – the food bar is a new food venture by Aimee Schulhauser of Evolution Catering and Fine Foods. This 24-seat café and take-out is a funky new food concept that will focus on the whim of the chef – menus will change frequently and have a distinct healthy feel – no greasy food here. “You won’t find bacon and eggs on our breakfast menu,” says Aimee. Instead look for homemade granola, fruit parfaits and homemade pop tarts. Lunch will also revolve around seasonal ingredients. Aimee is known for her emphasis on healthy ingredients and she is a frequent shopper at the Regina Farmer’s Market, where she purchases product to supplement what is grown in her grandmother’s garden – a garden which supplies produce to Aimee’s other business, Evolution Catering. Located at 2234 – 14th Avenue, Tangerine will be open for breakfast and lunch and provide take-away meals perfect for supper on the run (7 am to 7 pm). The café is expected to open before the end of June. You can visit them on-line at www.tangerineregina.ca.

Best Bacon? SASKATOON - A Calgarian foodie who visits Saskatoon periodically stocks up on slab bacon from the Smokehaus Deli in Martensville. Call 306-955-9791 or email smokehaus@sasktel.net before heading out. The bacon, which has received honours from the Saskatchewan Meat Processors Association, is prized for its flavour and balance of smoke and salt. But great bacon can be had at most independent butchers around the province. In Regina, try the bacon (both pork and beef varieties) at Butcher Boy on Park St., and the pork bacon at Choice Family Meats in White City. Both do their own smoking.

BBQ Competition - August 21-22, 2010 SASKATOON - Toontown Smokedown will be held this year on August 21 and 22 in Saskatoon at the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market. The event is being put on by Rob Reinhardt of Prairie Smoke and Spice in Regina, Schryers Smokehouse and Giuseppi's Restaurant in Saskatoon. As many as 20 teams are expected this year. For more information, go to www.saskatoonbbq.com.

Sask Fish at Beer Bros REGINA - Chef Malcolm will be serving summer fresh fish features at Beer Bros Bakery and Cuisine located in the F.W. Hill Mall. Saskatchewan has a robust and varied freshwater fishery with some of the finest trout and pickerel to be found in the world. “A little known fact... Saskatchewan is home to the most northern Bass fishing in North America. The out-flows from the hydro project at the Rafferty Dam are heated just enough to support this warmer water scrapper,” says marketing manager Greg Hanwell. When everyone else is huddled in ice-fishing shacks, the oddest sight in a Saskatchewan January may be fishermen in survival suits fishing for bass from their boats below the spillway.

Farm Tours for Chefs SASKATOON - In order to foster relationships with the local producers, the Saskatoon Branch of the CCFCC (Canadian Culinary Federation) is proposing that chef members participate in “farm tours” as part of the association’s activities. A bus would be rented to visit three to five farmers, to investigate their farms and test their products. Chefs and farmers interested in this proposed activity may contact Chef Anthony at anthonym@saskatoonclub.com.

Saskatoon Farmers’ Market News

• On June 15th, pay-by-space parking will begin operation in River Landing and around the Farmers’ Market. Coins, cell phones and credit cards can be used to pay for parking.
• From June 19th to (approximately) October 9th, 2010, Sonnenschein Way between Avenue A and B will be closed on Saturdays for the Farmers' Market and International Market vendors.
• More than 50 craft artists will be presenting crafts, visual arts, and specialty food products at River Landing outdoor sale this Saturday (June 12). All exhibitors are juried by the Saskatchewan Craft Council to ensure “nothing but the best” is for sale. Admission is free.
• Cava Cuisine is now open at the Farmers’ Market from Tuesdays to Fridays, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and Saturdays, 8:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
• A Market Dinner is being planned for Sunday, June 27th at the Farmers’ Market. Call 306-384-6262 to get your tickets early since they were sold out quickly last time.
• Chefs for Chef at the Market cooking demonstrations are still required to help add value to and awareness for the Farmers’ Market. Applications will be accepted until the summer schedule is filled. If interested, call Deb at 306-384-6262 to see what dates are still available.

Regina Firm First to Receive Fair Trade Certification REGINA - Farmer Direct Co-operative Ltd. (FDC), a farmer-owned business of 70 certified organic family farms is the first business in Canada and the United States to receive domestic fair trade certification. “People usually associate fair trade with coffee, sugar, bananas and other crops from the global south, but fair wages to farm workers and fair prices to farmers are just as much a concern in industrialized nations like Canada and the United States,” explains Murray Horkoff a FDC farmer-owner from Kamsack, SK. "Now organic consumers can purchase fairly traded, flax, wheat, beans, hemp, peas, lentils and other crops grown in the Northern Hemisphere," adds Horkoff.

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Cava Secreta Opens a New Location

Doug Reichel (rt) with Keith Watt

SASKATOON – They’ve vacated their start up location at River Landing where the Saskatoon Farmers Market is located and where Saskatchewan’s first specialty liquor store outgrew its premises before they even opened the doors. Now called Cava Wines, just walk across the street from the market, up a short flight of stairs and you’ll find yourself in an inviting environment that will have you sampling wine and browsing racks of bottles in search of the perfect vino for tonight. Last Saturday I dropped in and Doug Reichel of Doug Reichel Wine Marketing was on hand, speaking with customers and introducing them to a new B.C. wine – Morning Bay Estate Vineyards and Winery and owner/wine maker Keith Watt. They were sampling new wines to Saskatchewan – available at both specialty wine shops in Saskatoon and Regina. And they are the Pinot Gris 2007, Syrah 2004, and the Merlot 2005. In addition to wine makers coming to pour wine, the store also features a sampling wall where you can dispense and small amount of wine to taste before buying. A great idea! Cava Wines is located at 110 19th Street West (Tel: 664-CAVA). Open hours are Mon-Wed 10-8; Thu and Fri 10-9, Sat 8-8, and open Sundays 12-5.

Saskatchewan Smoked Cheese SASKATOON – Sadly there are no artisanal cheese makers in Saskatchewan, at least none that I know of. But that isn’t stopping the Sous Chef from dabbling in the cheese game. Stop by his booth at the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market and purchase a wedge of his smoked gouda. Wow – you’ve never tasted a smoked cheese like this one. And what’s really interesting is the local connection – the Sous Chef smokes the cheese with cherry wood from Over the Hill Orchards in Lumsden. You can purchase the cheese at the market or at their location at 2-406 Ludlow Street in Saskatoon.

New Restaurants Just Opened

• REGINA - Orange Izakaya, located in the former Café Orange Kitchen Toys and Tools location (A-2136 Robinson St, Tel: 779-0779), is finally open, but don’t go rushing down for Japanese tapas and sushi just yet – they are only open for coffee for the next few weeks. A reader, who is anxious to sink his teeth into the food there, sent me this description of the interior, “The place has been redone with swanky low recliners and small tables, in deep browns and off whites, with lots of chrome at the counter and new chrome sets for the patio.” Sounds modern and hip.
• REGINA - Fiesta Filipino Pastries, a new restaurant/pastry shop opened just two weeks ago serving authentic Phillipino fare. They have a limited take-out menu for lunch and dinner with a few tables to eat in. This is a bare-bones sort of place but that doesn’t seem to be stopping them from developing quite a following. The menu seems to change regularly but on the day I was in, the white board was featuring Sisig – pig cheeks chopped and served with rice; Lechon Paksiw, a type of pork stew; and a Filipino-style chicken curry. Most of their main dishes include pork. They sell a range of pastries from BBQ Pork Buns, to plain buns, coconut-filled buns, steamed buns and savoury empanadas. If you like your desserts on the sweet side, you’ll do well here. They are open 9 am to 8 pm daily, closed on Sundays. They are located at 2926 13th Ave, Regina. Tel (306) 352-0750.

Nicky’s Café Closing REGINA – Don’t freak out… it’s just temporary! Nicky’s Cafe is closing for the month of July to give the place a complete overhaul. According to Nicky – that means everything. When you return in August there will be some big changes including new lighting, new paint, new washrooms, removal of the stained glass embellishments, and more, except the paintings, of which Nicky has quite a collection. Nicky’s Café and Bake Shop is located at the corner of 8th Avenue and Winnipeg St.

Cool Saskatchewan Products

• Sask Salt: It seems that those ancient saltwater lakes across the province produced more than just salt for detergent. The mine near Unity is producing food grade salt and Michelle Zimmer of Wild Serendipity at the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market is selling it as a gourmet product. She has several varieties of infused salts ($3/vial) including a Chili-Lime, Lemon-Rosemary and a Peppercorn Fusion. I’ve been using the salts in my salt grinder, as well as for sprinkling on vegetables before or after cooking/grilling.
• Fiddleheads: It’s morel and fiddlehead time in northern Saskatchewan. According to Gerry Ivanochko of SaskAg in La Ronge, the fiddleheads can be found in and around Cumberland House, Carrot River, Nipawin, White Fox and host of other areas north of Saskatoon.  
• Morels: It seems the article I wrote in my Sugar Cubes column last week – as well as the video (click here to watch it on our YouTube Channel) was hit with readers. One reader – Sherry Davis – sent this photo of a monster morel her brother picked. Gerry Ivanochko of the SaskAg office says morels are still in season. If you’re interested in picking, check out spots that had a forest fire last year, or where logging was done. I understand Canwood is a good area this year.

Internet Marketing Benefits Guest article by Harley Rivet The last time you made a significant purchase, discovered a new recipe, or planned a vacation there is a good chance you turned to the Internet for research. In fact, for the first time in history Internet activity on a weekly basis has surpassed TV viewing in Canada, according to a recent survey from Ipsos-Reid. It shouldn't be surprising then that a similar survey reported more than 80% of Marketing Managers intend to increase digital initiatives this year while scaling back on traditional items such as radio, television, and print. The old methods of advertising are increasingly less effective and their costs unjustifiable considering the return on investment is difficult to track. Do you know how much business a billboard or radio ad generates? Nobody knows and neither does the agency selling the services. However, Internet marketing initiatives can be tracked easily by measuring clicks and conversions. Some things to consider are banner advertisements on local websites like savourlife.ca, developing an e-mail newsletter, starting a blog, creating an online video, and experimenting with social media networking. There are a number of cheap tools available if you want to tackle this yourself or you can utilize the services of a digital agency to get things set-up for you. Regardless of your approach, it would be good to jump in the game as soon as you can since mistakes are easily fixed and tactics can be changed with the click of a button. Your customers and audience are spending most their time on the web, so you can be a great host by meeting them there.

Harley Rivet is a Saskatoon-based Internet marketing specialist who provides website strategy, online marketing, and social media consulting. With over ten years of experience in the interactive industry he has worked with clients such as ESPN, CN Rail, Rogers and Tim Horton’s. His experience spans online research, Internet software, and website development. To learn more you can visit him online at http://harleyrivet.com/blog or http://twitter.com/harleyrivet or http://ca.linkedin.com/in/harleyrivet

To inquire about on-line advertising in Savour Life, contact Pamela Irving at Pamela@savourlife.ca

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We’re Now on YouTube Savour Life now has its own YouTube Channel! If you’re looking for past videos we’ve aired or ones we think you’d be interested in viewing, you can log onto our channel and check them out. Just click on the YouTube icon in the left hand column on our home page. You can also get to our channel by clicking here.

Local Olive Oil? REGINA – Admittedly, you can’t grow olives in Saskatchewan, at least not yet anyway. But, Nicky Makris of Nicky’s Café in Regina is now selling his very own olive oil from his family’s olive grove in Greece. The oil pressed from his property in Eleohori, located in the middle of the mountains in the southern province of Arkadia. Nicky has been bringing olive oil back to Regina for years, and he often shares bottles with family and friends. I’ve been lucky over the past years to get bottles of Nicky’s oil and it is excellent. You can purchase either 375 ml or 500 ml bottles right at the café. Nicky’s is located at the corner of 8th Avenue and Dewdney.

Fresh Sea Asparagus REGINA - Fresh sea asparagus is now in season and available beginning May 31 at Pacific Fresh Fish on 13th Avenue. The season will probably last around six weeks. Customers were really happy with the product last year and the store is looking forward to having another interesting item for the summer. As well, fresh wild spring salmon is in already and fresh wild sockeye will start soon.

Marketing Assistant Wanted Savour Life's marketing consultant Pamela Irving is seeking an assistant for the summer. Are you a marketing student looking to test your new skills? Are you passionate about Savour Life and want to be part of the team? Contact pamela@savourlife.ca.

Saskatoon Farmers’ Market To Be Open Thursday Evenings SASKATOON - The Saskatoon Farmers’ Market will be open on Thursday from 5:00 P.M. till 9:00 P.M. starting July 1st to mid-September for you to enjoy an evening at the market for dinner and to pick up some market fresh products.

Infused Saskatchewan-Mined Salts SASKATOON - When invited to someone’s home for dinner, it’s always apropos to bring a little something for the hostess. Whether a guest at your neighbour’s or out-of-province, a perfect gift would be Saskatchewan-mined salts infused with Chili Lime, Lemon Rosemary, or Orange Cranberry at Wild Serendipty Foods at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market.

Aniello’s Bread at the Bulk Cheese Warehouse on Broadway Avenue SASKATOON - You don’t have to drive all the way to the north-end to get “Aniello’s bread”. Bulk Cheese Warehouse on Broadway Avenue has it for sale on Saturdays. The North End store (formerly Aniello’s Pasta Supreme, which still has Aniello’s signs on it) is presently open Tuesday to Saturday but the sign on the door tells us it will soon be open seven day a week.

New Chef Line-Up at Truffles SASKATOON - Chef Jean-Francois Dionne who was Sous Chef at Truffles (230 - 21st Street East) is now at Scratch (215 - 2nd Avenue South). The chefs’ line-up accompanying Executive Chef Lee Helman at Truffles now includes Bill Stevenson as Sous Chef, Jesse Papish as First Cook, Julian Helman, Pastry Chef and Adam Cenaiko, Pastry Apprentice. Pastry Chef Julian Helman operates the Vanilla Pastry Company, which prepares beautiful sweet creations with no additives or preservatives.

Mosaic Starts Next Week REGINA – One of biggest multicultural food fest starts this coming week. Organizers at Regina’s Multicultural Council tell us that Mosaic pavillions will welcome visitors from 5:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. beginning Thursday, June 3rd, 5:00 p.m. until midnight on Friday, June 4th and 2:00 p.m. until midnight on Saturday, June 5th. Pavillions will be stationed all over the city of Regina featuring multicultural fare that virtually encompasses every major region of the world. Forget making dinner at home – drop by Mosaic and eat the flavours of the world and enjoy dancing and singing too. Free bus transportation, via four routes, will be provided between pavilions and the host hotel, the Regina Inn Hotel and Conference Centre – available Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.; on Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 2:00 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. Free parking for those using the Mosaic bus service will be available in the SaskPower parking lot on 13th Avenue, between Hamilton and Scarth after 5:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday and all day Saturday. Passport prices for 2010 are: Adult (13 - 59) $12.00; Youth (6 - 12) and Seniors (60+) $9.00; children 5 and under free. Passports are available at the Cornwall Centre Guest Services, Regina Inn Hotel & Conference Centre, Southland Mall Guest Services, Conexus Branches, RCMP Heritage Centre, Northgate Mall Guest Services, the Regina Multicultural Council office and from all the hosting pavilions and their members. For more information contact Brenda Heisler, Executive Director, Regina Multicultural Council at 757-5990 or rmc.pa@sasktel.net. Check out additional details at www.reginamulticulturalcouncil.ca.

0 Comments CJ Katz submitted 104 days ago

Third BBQ Class! Saturday May 22nd REGINA – BBQ Euphoria has hit Saskatchewan in a big way. The two BBQ classes that were run last weekend with Brian Mishko of House of Q and Rob Reinhardt of Prairie Smoke and Spice were instant sell-outs. Although Brian had to fly back to B.C., Rob will be running another class this Saturday May 22 from 10-3 at JB Sausage on Park St in Regina. Cost is $75. Please call Rob directly to register at 502-5360. If you’re wondering what to expect, here is a video of one of the classes taught last weekend. Curriculum will be the same with Rob.

New Restaurants

• SASKATOON - Schnitzel Meister has opened in the former Smiley’s Buffet Express at 152 Second Avenue South. The new German-style restaurant offers schnizels, spaetzle, wraps, sandwiches, coffee and dessert between 7:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. In keeping with German tradition of a sweet something with coffee in the afternoon, Schnitzel Meister offers a dessert special from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. for $2.25. Schnitzel Meister is open Monday to Friday, from 7:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
• SASKATOON - Are you ready for a chapal kabab and a sweet lassi? Mogul Divaan, featuring the cuisine of Pakistan at 2115 – 22nd Street West, is now open after a longer than anticipated opening back in February. Owner Monsoor has a base take-out menu, including appetizers, curries, meat rolls, rice, breads, roti and naan, barbecue and kababs, desserts and beverages, that is supplemented with more daily veggie curries in a buffet with approximately 20 items. Mogul Divaan is closed Monday and open Tuesday to Saturday, 11:30 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. and Sunday 12:00 Noon to 10:00 P.M. Call: 306-343-5005.

Farmer’s Market News

• REGINA - One of the cool things about Farmer’s Markets is the variety of product available. For instance, this week, I purchased my entire lunch at the Regina Farmer's Market – tomatoes and cucumbers and sprouts for a tasty salad, chicken pot pie and beef pie for the main course along with cinnamon bread (I couldn’t resist!), and Saskatoon Berry Pie for dessert. I also managed to pick up a raft of herbs for my garden, which will flavour more meals to come. But there was more – green eggs – yep green! – Dead Sea bath salts, pot scrubbies (the best), and dilled pickled carrots. When you’re there, check out some of the new vendors you’ll want like Pure T Organics which sells organic grains such as spelt, spring wheat as well as lentils and other legumes and a new veggie burger mix they’ve created – I bought a sample and will let you know how it tastes. Cup ‘n Cake is another new entrant selling cupcakes and muffins – you’ll see their baking on the video below. If you love asparagus, Linda’s Jams and Jellies (where I bought the dilled carrots) now has the first spears of asparagus for sale.

Last week I featured a video I put together that included just under half of the market vendors. This week, I shot most of the other half. Check it out.

 

• WHITE CITY - Cityview Farmer’s Market will begin shortly - on Friday June 11 and will run from 3-6 pm in the Ice House Parking Lot in Emerald Park.
• SASKATOON - Living Soil Farms started planting May 10th and anticipates that freshly picked produce will be available by the end of July to the beginning of August. Living Soil Farms’ farms without chemical fertilizers or pesticides and has been certified organic since 2007. Fran’s House of Herbs had large healthy basil plants for $7.50 that will provide more than what you may need for the summer. Just keep trimming it back, at the stem, so that it does not flower. Do not just pluck off individual leaves. The Saskatoon Farmers’ Market is also looking for an energetic, experienced person to help start up a Friends of the Farmers' Market Association. Call Debby Claude, Manager of Operations for the Saskatoon Farmers' Market at 306-384-6262.

New Location for Cava Secreta SASKATOON - On May 6th Cava Secreta (Saskatoon’s privatized specialty wine shoppe) opened its new location on 19th Street West and Avenue A (across the street from the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market). There is “no parking” allowed directly in front of the building therefore one must park across the street or half a block down and around the corner.

0 Comments CJ Katz submitted 112 days ago

An Edible Evolution: Gardening in Saskatchewan — Heritage Potatoes SASKATOON - In 1917 a Swedish couple, who settled in Fairyglen between Melfort and Tisdale, brought potatoes from their homeland. In 1967, a young man of Swedish heritage took seed potatoes from his grandparents’ stock over to a new-to-Canada couple, a Swede married to an Austrian. In 2009, the Canadian-Swede and Austrian, who belong to the same wine society as Darlene Gulas-Bomok, savourlife’s Saskatoon correspondent, gave her some Swedish “almond” potatoes. The now popular “heirloom” potatoes were Swedish Peanut aka Swedish Almond Fingerlings, which are exceptionally productive (last year a record 42 were harvested from a hill in the Bomok garden) and disease resistant — a necessary quality when you are emigrating to an unknown land. Now they are categorized as “gourmet”. The Swedish Peanut’s taste is earthy and robust for such a little potato but it does require more time to mature. It is not advantageous for taste or cooking requirements to harvest baby fingerlings. Be patient and harvest mature potatoes when the vines die back. After harvesting, brush the dirt off but don’t wash them until you’re ready to cook them. If you are planning to plant fingerlings, expect approximately one pound of fingerling seed pieces to produce up to 20 pounds of potatoes.

Taste of Spring

Rob Dobson with Kym and Sue Hooper of Cafe Jaffa Winery

REGINA – You know spring is here when Taste of Spring has its three-day wine, beer, liqueur and cooler show at Evraz Place. This year, the venue was moved to the indoor soccer pitch next to the Queensbury Centre and from what we understand, the larger space gave wine reps and attendees an easier time to get around. For the past two years, a trade tasting has been held in advance of the show. This has been a great opportunity for writers such as our columnist Rob Dobson and reviewers Steve and Tracy Hurlburt a change to meet and talk with reps and often times the wine maker. Rob Dobson and CJ attended this year and several winemakers were there including the Kym and Sue Hooper of Cape Jaffa Winery in New Zealand (see pictured with Rob Dobson) and Rodrigo Rodero of Errazuriz Winery in Chile. The trade tasting unfortunately is just two hours long and sadly did not allow nearly enough time to visit all the booths that we wanted to sample wines from. That said, the fine wine area was a good addition and this year, reps were pouring some very good quality wines, two of which are featured this week in Steve and Tracy’s Yum Yum column (these were rated with a very rare Mmmm!, by the way.) Watch upcoming Yum Yum columns for some of the wines that were poured in the fine wine area at Taste of Spring.

The Bone China Tea SASKATOON - The silver is polished and the tea cups are set for an elegant afternoon tea held at the Top of the Inn, overlooking the Saskatchewan River valley. The Bone China Tea, a fundraiser for Osteoporosis, Canada, Saskatoon Chapter, will be held Sunday afternoon from 2:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M., May 16th at the Top of the Inn in the Sheraton-Cavalier Hotel. Tickets are $25.00 each and are available by calling 306-931-BONE (2663) or at the Osteoporosis Canada office in Market Mall.

Sunday Dinner at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market SASKATOON - The first Sunday Dinner at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market, held on May 2, 2010, was sold out two weeks prior to the event. Since it was labeled as the first, we are anticipating the next one; however, it is a vendor volunteer event and it is a busy time for many. No date has been set for another, although due to its popularity we all hope the volunteers will set dates for more. The premise is that each course of the menu will be provided and prepared by market vendors. For example: at the May 2nd event, Michelle Zimmer of Wild Serendipity Foods prepared the Thai Carrot Coconut Soup, one of the openers. The artisan breads and foccacia were prepared by In Our Hands and Fruition. Giuseppi's at the Market prepared the roast beef that was provided by Benlock Farms beef and the tamales and the accompanying seasonal veggies came from Living Soil Farms. The chocolate mousse came from Sliced Decadence and from In our Hands, the vanilla cheesecake along with sour cherry sauce from Prairie Sun Orchard. Coffee was provided by Orchard del Sol. With a flattering menu such as this, the subsequent Sunday dinners will predictably be sold out even more quickly.

Prairie Feast Launches

Amy Jo Ehman at the Prairie Feast book launch in Regina. (photo: Kim Jay Photography)

REGINA/SASKATOON – Saskatchewan author Amy Jo Ehman was in Regina speaking on her new book as part of a series of book launches that will take her all over the province, and as far east as Toronto. About 50 avid readers turned up at the Munro Show Home in Harbour Landing to listen to Amy Jo speak on her new book, Prairie Feast, and her life eating only Saskatchewan-produced product for one year. Her next stop is “McNally at the Market” at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 15. Throughout the summer McNally Robinson will be bringing Saskatchewan books and authors to the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market for book signings.

More Sushi in toon Town Further to our previous article about sushi in Saskatoon, here are a few more to add, thanks to a reader, plus a few more.

• Otawa, located at 227 Second Avenue South, is well-known for its sushi and Japanese inspired fare and has been one of Saskatoon’s favourite sushi spots for almost 15 years. Over those years “sushi” availability slowly expanded.
• Yohei at 3602 Taylor St. E, (306-343-0012) opened as a family-run neighbourhood restaurant in the Wildwood area serving okonomiyaki, sushi rolls, and miso.
• The “nori” at Fuzion, a sushi place on 22nd Street, became a favourite among those working downtown soon after it opened.
• Sushiro Sushi Bar on 10th Street, right behind Starbuck’s on Broadway Avenue, started out in the City Park area but maintained its loyal clientele who wouldn’t go elsewhere.
• Asian Sakura Garden formerly the Asian Garden was taken over by a former Otawa employee and offers a Japanese menu including lists of sushi a la carte nigiri and sushi a la carte rolls.
• Occasionally restaurants with more varied mainstream menus, such as the BarKing Fish and Earl’s, will include “sushi” on their appetizer, tapas or lunch menus.
• If you would rather, Charlie’s Seafood on 8th Street has a nice variety of sushi that you can pick up on your way home, for a picnic or to the party.
• Learning the art of sushi making is as easy as arranging a cooking class with some of your friends at Wild Serendipity Foods (306-477-4437). If you already know how, Charlie’s Seafood has all the fixings along with the required wasabi and soy sauce.
• Then in February of 2009, the Sushi “all-you-can-eat fresh-to-order” buffet was first introduced to Saskatoon by Jerry Xie, who opened New Island Sushi at 2036B Quebec Avenue. On September 21st of the same year, the second New Island Sushi opened its doors at 240 – 22nd Street East. Nagoya at 1036 Louise Avenue came next and Go For Sushi on 8th Street is the most recent.

Culinary Travel - Barcelona Culinary Adventure Like all of us who work and play at Savour Life Magazine, Marketing consultant Pamela Irving always has a hankering for excellent cuisine and travel, and what better way to combine passions than a culinary tour. Pamela recently spoke to Judy Phillips of Canadian Automobile Association Saskatchewan (CAASK) about a nationally promoted Culinary Trip to Barcelona coming up in October. This one-stop city adventure will highlight sculptural architecture, mouth watering cuisine, award-winning wine and Flamenco dance! Enjoy a walking tour into Barcelona’s Old Quarter, visit the Codorniu Cava Cellars, Freixenet Cava Cellars, Torres Winery and take part in two cooking classes featuring Paella and Tapas! To book or for more information contact your local CAA Travel office or on the web at www.caask.ca .

Bits and Bites

• REGINA – Orange Izakaya will be opening soon in the former Café Orange location on Robsinson St (near 13th Avenue). This will be a Japanese tapas bar that will be serving fusion style food.
• REGINA - Fiesta Filipino Pastry (13th Ave & Robinson)is expected to open any day now. They are located on 13th Avenue several door east of the Mercury Café.
• REGINA – Evolution Catering will be opening a food bar next door to Nature’s Best. Expected opening is sometime in June. This will be another healthy addition to the lunch scene with a selection of soups and sandwiches and whatever owner Amy has a hankering to make that day.
• SASKATOON – Earthbound Bakery has new summer hours: Tues-Fri 7-6, Sat 8-4, closed Sun and Mon. They are also making fresh fruit sorbet in various flavours. 100% organic, lightly sweetened with cane sugar simple syrup. Earthbound is also 'proud sponsors' of the Saskatoon Curbside Recyclers, and CFCR community radio. Bring in your membership card and get 10% off regular priced baked goods.

 

 

 

0 Comments CJ Katz submitted 119 days ago