Heat of Summer

Four kinds of peppers: red bell pepper, jalapeno, cayenne and poblano, purchased from Grandora Gardens at the Saskatoon Farmers' Market ~ delicious in this baked dish with just the right amount of sweet and heat. The recipe will appear in my food column in Tuesday's Star Phoenix.

The pepper expert ~ R.J. at Grandora Gardens' market stall ~ pictured here with the super spicy Naga pepper ~ so hot he keeps them hidden behind the till! 

Community Farmers' Markets

Saskatoon's largest farmers' market is Saturday at River Landing, but there are smaller farmers' markets throughout the week at convenient locations around the city. These are generally not the same farmers/vendors you'll find at the Saskatoon Farmers' Market. Here's the 2012 schedule for the Community Farmers' Market from their facebook page.

Top Chefs at the Market

I love to shop at the Saskatoon Farmers' Market, but it's way more fun to eat there. Take the new Executive Chef Series at the market, which kicked off Thursday evening with a lovely, fresh, local and oh-so-yummy meal prepared by Chef Anthony McCarthy.

Dinner began with carrot ginger soup topped with fresh-picked sorrel. On a cold winter's night, a little bit of fresh green tastes so amazing. The salad was so simple and so delicious: one perfect cocktail tomato with dash of basil purée, a circle of balsamic reduction and a sprinkle of powdered - yes, powdered - cold pressed canola oil.

Next, smoked whitefish with lemon pepper and horseradish cream, nestled onto a "sheaf" of fresh cut pea shoots all dolled up with hemp oil dressing and nutty hemp seeds. (During the course of the evening's conversation I learned how to grow pea shoots at home, so here's to a little winter gardening...)

The entrée featured a shaving a waygu beef rolled around a filling of wild boar, next to a gooey cheesy lentil risotto and silky roast vegetables. A light dessert was in order: sea buckthorn gelato (my favourite!) with a compote of berries and chocolate paté.   

The next event in the Executive Chef Series is Thursday, February 16, with Chef Brent Lloyd. Check it out on the farmers' market website.

New Farmers' Market in Saskatoon

This just landed in my inbox:

St. James with The Refinery, at 609 Dufferin, would like to welcome you to the Broadway Community Farmer's Market every Wednesday from 11am - 6pm. The market will feature local Saskatchewan products, a variety of organic meats and vegetables, a lunch counter with samples, and much much more!

The Community Market invites you to contact them at 384.2957 with any questions or concerns.Thanks kindly, Charlene Roberts.