Saskatoon restaurants, Saskatchewan terroir

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Are you heading to the Canadian prairie province of Saskatchewan? Looking for Saskatoon restaurants that offer a true local experience? From hemp bread to aged silver ribeye, here’s where to savour some superb Saskatchewan terroir.

 

Saskatoon restaurants, Saskatchewan terroir

It’s official. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a prairie city in Canada’s midwest, has become a culinary destination. BECAUSE THERE IS STUFF HERE TO MAKE FOOD OUT OF. So when it comes to local products, locavore love and all that same old, same old, Saskatoon restaurants are same new, same new because Saskatchewan grows unique things.

Did you know? Up to 80% of the world’s mustard seed exports come from the prairies. That means France imports mustard seeds from Saskatchewan. Take that, Dijon!

So. Next time you eat a bite of a hot dog slathered with mustard, know that you are very likely eating Saskatchewan, because like wine, mustard’s flavour is affected by its terroir – the soil and particular conditions it grows in.

AND SASKATCHEWAN’S TERROIR IS DELICIOUS.

Saskatoon restaurants – Where to find the mustard – Ayden Kitchen & Bar

If  there is one eatery that continues to get all the buzz, it’s the award-winning Saskatoon restaurant, Ayden Kitchen & Bar. Helmed by celebrity chef, Dale Mackay, the original Top Chef Canada winner, Ayden is big on local ingredients, rich in quality meat (they grind their own beef) and high on urban chic. Get your fill of homegrown mustard with the in-house-made Charcuterie Platter.

 

But bring back the asparagus

The first time I went to Ayden I had the Grilled Local Asparagus with Fried Egg, Bacon & Shallot Vinaigrette and Caper Aioli. I’ve been drooling over it ever since. The next time I was in Saskatoon I returned, filled with asparagus dreams, but it wasn’t on the menu. Instead I was forced to eat the 10 oz Aged Silver Ribeye, which (almost) replaced asparagus in my heart.

 

Ayden Kitchen & Bar  Address: 265 3rd Avenue, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Reservations: Telephone: 1-306-954-2590

Let’s talk Saskatoon wheat!

Golden waving fields and grain elevators may be a Saskatchewan cliche, and not the sexy foodie image Saskatoon wants to portray, but I say if you’ve got it, wave it like a Saskatchewan flag. Saskatchewan is still the largest producer of wheat in Canada and one of the largest in the world, supplying 10% of the world’s wheat exports.

So. When Saskatoon says freshly-baked bread, it means fresh.

Saskatoon restaurants to eat bread at

A classic: It may be more of a kiosk than a restaurant but the Doukhobor booth at the Saskatoon EX in August always has the best bread ever. EVER.

Little Bird Patisserie & Cafe

Hip and trendy, yet traditionally French: Little Bird Patisserie makes croissants that will make you cry. Your thighs will grow huge. It’s worth it. Little Bird is located in the revitalized neighbourhood of Riverdale, the area around 20th Street West that’s been written about as the happening new area in Saskatoon for the last 10 years, but now actually is.

Address:  258 Ave B South, just off 20th Street, Saskatoon.

Taking the pulse pulses of Saskatchewan. Because it has more than one.

Saskatchewan grows more lentils, beans, peas, and other dried-legume-y type produce than you could possibly stuff into a thousand trendy food trucks. This means that the best Saskatoon restaurants provide locavores (people who are passionate about locally-grown produce) with enough healthy comfort food to sustain them through one thousand and one frosty nights.

Saskatoon restaurants to take your pulses at

The Hollows restaurant offers dishes such as Saskatchewan chickpeas, hummus, kalamata and fried bread; and Saskatchewan quinoa, lentils, tomato, greens, poached farm egg and ricotta – or just opt for some hemp sourdough bread.

FYI: I meant to eat at The Hollows, and would have loved to because they also have bone marrow on the menu, and I would travel across the province for bone marrow, but I didn’t end up eating here (long story) so don’t blame me if your chickpeas aren’t delectable. Next trip I’ll check it out for myself.
The Hollows. Address: 334 Avenue C S, Saskatoon, SK S7M 1N4, Canada
Reservations: 1 306-652-1505

Move over Saskatoon berry. Haskap is all the rage in Saskatchewan (and Japan).

You may have heard of the mighty Saskatoon berry, which looks like a blueberry but is actually more closely related to the apple, but haskap is the new ‘It’ berry – you might even say it’s the Cara Delevingne of berries (and if you don’t know who this bad-girl supermodel is, you really have to start reading In Touch Magazine).

Haskap, deep purple berries native to the boreal forest might be ugly, resembling tiny deflated footballs or possibly purple misshapen elf toes, but they’re a tough and hardy berry.

Saskatchewan antioxidants

Haskap berries can weather -45 degree Celsius temperatures, so by eating them we will grasp all their inner hardiness and become strong ourselves. What? It’s more scientific than that? Fine. Haskap berries have Vitamin C, antioxidants, anthocyanins, polyphenols and bioflavanoids. Satisfied? No? Okay, they taste good, like a cross between, um, other berries such as blueberry, black current and raspberry.

Note: The maritime province of Nova Scotia may be slightly ahead of Saskatchewan in the Haskap world domination race, but this landlocked prairie province is roaring up behind it like a chuck wagon raising dust.

Where to try haskap berries in the prairies

In liqueur. Lucky Bastard Distillers makes a Haskap Liqueur. (I’m sure Cara Delevingne would approve.) They also make a Saskatoon Berry Liqueur if you’re a traditionalist. Tours and tastings are available onsite, and the website even promises that you can “stick your nose in a bunghole,” which almost makes me not want to go, but the promise of haskap would still lure me on.

Lucky Bastard Distillers Address: 1925 Ave B North, Saskatoon

 

So there you have it, some of the best Saskatoon restaurants, distilleries and artisanal cafes. Of course there are many more food fantastic places to visit. In fact, according to the Tourism Saskatoon website, Saskatoon has more restaurants per capita than anywhere in Canada. I leave you with a quick list of some favourites.

(Do you have more to add? Leave them in the comments below.)