Flavourful Saskatoon, June 11, 2012

Food news and events in and around Saskatoon – Soup on Broadway, Seabuckthorn Splash, Persian Lime Olive Oil, and Sweets in Paris 

Soup on Broadway
I wandered into Herbs ‘n’ Health on Broadway Avenue last week to see how their expansion was progressing. They’ve added a small kitchen and a lunch counter beside the window. You can order soup, salads and fresh muffins six days a week, either to eat in or take out. Borscht and quinoa salad were on offer when I was there, and the muffins looked like they had just come out of the oven.

Speaking of soup, Herbs ‘n’ Health is selling frozen vegetarian soups from That Guy’s Soup. I first ran into these soups at a farmers’ market in Vancouver, and I’m delighted to see that at least some of them are now available in Saskatoon. A Taste of Mexico is chipotle corn chowder, while A Taste of India is golden curried lentil.

Quench Your Thirst
Northern Vigor Berries, who are at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays, are now selling seabuckthorn drinks.

Seabuckthorn Splash is made with seabuckthorn purée, fresh-squeezed lemon juice and citric acid, while the Seabuckthorn Iced Tea is tea made from the seabuckthorn leaves with cranberry juice, lemon and honey.

Seabuckthorn fruit and leaves are both rich in antioxidants.

Slow Food Saskatoon
Slow Food Saskatoon needs two more members today - Monday, June 11 - to be a full-fledged convivium and send a delegate to Terra Madre. Join now and notify me so I can inform Slow Food Canada.

Oil & Vinegar
We dropped into Oliv on Broadway Avenue last week and sampled a few of their olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

The store offers a wide range of both plain and flavoured olive oils and vinegars. I particularly enjoyed the peppery, organic Olio Nuovo from California, and I purchased the Porcini flavoured olive oil, which I’m using to add an extra layer of rich flavour to rice and pulses. Shelley purchased the Persian Lime flavoured oil, which has a wonderful citrus tang.

Roasted Reisling Asparagus
Roasted Reisling Asparagus is a simple, tasty spring recipe. Do use Reisling wine as the touch of sweetness is a good match for the earthy asparagus.

Paris, My Sweet
I’ve just finished reading the most delicious book. Paris, My Sweet by Amy Thomas combines the story of an America woman who moves to Paris with her search for the best bakeries and sweets in both Paris and New York. It’s sure to make you hunger for croissants, macarons and chocolate!

Canadian Wine Industry
It’s been an uphill battle to change Canadian law and make it legal to purchase wine in another province and carry it home for personal consumption, but we’re one step closer with the passing of Bill C-311 on June 6, 2012.

An article on the BC Wine Lover website suggests that government could provide greater support for the wine industry by providing financial support for a Canadian school of viticulture and winemaking.

Flavourful Saskatoon is a weekly Monday feature. I also post regular profiles of culinary entrepreneurs, new restaurants and new food products.

Follow me on Twitter, like the Wanderlust Facebook page, or subscribe to Wanderlust and Words by email (top right-hand corner) to stay on top of Saskatoon’s evolving food culture.

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