Saskatoon Bumbling

Smithey Recommends:

Bread Rolls from Vietnamese Restaurant 224

This crunchy appetizer is very much like a Vietnamese spring roll but instead of wrappers, fried bread surrounds the traditional pork filling. These bread rolls are a winning partner to 224′s wide variety of soups.

#17 Bread Roll: 2 for $3.95 or 4 for $7.50

Vietnamese Restaurant 224 | 224 3rd Ave S. Saskatoon | (306) 664-4566

Garden of Early Delights

Fundraising Dinner and Renaissance Concert

Location: Christ Church Anglican (515 28th Street West, Saskatoon)

Suggested Donation: $30 

Proceeds toward pipe organ refurbishment at Christ Church Anglican 

In concert: 

Renée de Moissac - Organ

Prairie Wynd Consort - Recorder Ensemble

Members of Saskatoon's Ecumenical Choir and Friends 

Luthier Weldon Gray with locally-crafted period instruments

Lutes * Hurdy-Gurdies * Giant Psaltery * Organistrum * Harps * More

Menu: 

Roasted Meats 

Various Vegetable Dishes 

Savoury Tarts and Pies 

Puddings and Sweets 

Beverages (Yppocras, Mead, Ale and Non-Alcoholic Cider available for purchase)

For more information phone: (306) 242-0165

Facebook event page: http://bit.ly/2kXKML2

CFCR 90.5fm and Amigos Cantina 

present

Third Annual Record Fair

Sunday February 26, 2017

11am - 4pm

$2 Admission

Location: Amigos Cantina (806 Dufferin Ave)

All proceeds to CFCR, Saskatoon’s Community Radio Station

* Live DJs * Musical Treasures * New * Used *

Food & Nutrition/Hotel & Restaurant Management Students

present

Chinese New Year Buffet

Time: 11:00am - 12:30pm

Date: Thursday January 26, 2017

Location: Corner Cafe, Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon Campus (1130 Idylwyld Dr N)

Tickets: $12.95 per person (tickets available for purchase from Food & Nutrition Management Students from 11am - 12:30pm Jan 23, 24, 25 or from Cafeteria Cashier anytime - debit available)

Menu: Shanghai Noodles, BBQ Short Ribs, Chicken Balls with Sweet & Sour Sauce and Assorted Sushi

Saskatchewan Polytechnic Food Services Facebook page: http://bit.ly/2keWa8K

Robbie Burns Feast

The Nutana Legion will be hosting a Robbie Burns Day celebration on Saturday January 21, 2017. Doors open at 5:30pm and a Scottish-themed feast will be served at 6:30pm. Haggis, soup, roast beef, peas, tatties (potatoes), neeps (rutabagas), coleslaw and a trifle dessert are on this traditional Burns Supper menu. Musical entertainment includes traditional bagpiping by the 96th Highlanders Pipes and Drums with post-supper dance music performed by Harry Startup. Dance cover charge applies. Prizes for best-dressed as well as a 50/50 draw.

Tickets are $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Reserve your tickets by calling 306 374 6303. Tickets can be purchased at the office or lounge bar. 

The Nutana Legion is located at 3021 Louise Street in Saskatoon. 

Silver Cove

presents

Saskatoon Bead Show

January 28 and 29, 2017

10am - 5pm

Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre Saskatoon (102 Cardinal Crescent)

Free Admission

* Beads * Fossils * Gemstones * Minerals * Carvings * Spheres * More *

Plain Burger - Marlena’s Cafe 

Today at lunch I hoofed it over to the Medical Arts Building at 750 Spadina Crescent East in downtown Saskatoon. I heard tell of a cafeteria on the premises and as some of you know, I often crave institutional culinary fare. It turns out the Medical Arts cafeteria has been transformed into less a hospital cafeteria and more a cozy cafe restaurant. Signs of the former cafeteria remain as I found my way to the lower level of the building:

The signs led to a delightful alcove of reasonably-priced breakfast and lunch fare. I ordered the Plain Burger ($4.50, $4.75 with tax) at the counter and proceeded to marvel as the sole cook (perhaps Marlena herself?) prepared both hot and cold nourishment to customers. I would like to add that most cafeterias require multiple workers - very impressive to go it alone! As I waited in the charming dining area there were chalkboard menus to peruse:

No item is over $8! While the posted menu are foods of a Western variety, the daily specials feature dishes of a decidedly Eastern spin (note the Tomato Rice Soup served with Vermicelli):

The burger and bun sizzled away on the grill and soon I was served my cheapskate’s delight! I inquired whether the burger patty was made in-house and this was confirmed though I need not have asked - it was so flavourful and had a more-ish texture that was unmistakeably made from scratch. Plain Burgers traditionally come with no condiment adornment and I didn’t miss the ketchup/mustard/relish at all. Definitely a win! I scurried away with my hand-held delight with side of crunchy dill pickles and scarfed all but the plate down as I braved the January weather back from whence I came. 

This is a hidden culinary oasis that is not to be missed - when next you are downtown it is well worth checking out. Bring some folding bills or coin - this is a cash only establishment.

Marlena’s Cafe (750 Spadina Crescent East) is open Monday to Friday from 8am - 4pm. Closed weekends and holidays.

Contact Marlena via phone at 306 242 4747. Catering is also available.

Did you know that CHEP offers some of the most reasonably-priced cooking classes in Saskatoon? Here’s one that features a Saskatchewan culinary tradition: Pyrogies!

CHEP Good Food Inc Holiday Cooking Workshops

presents

Pyrogy Making 101 

December 15, 2016

6pm to 9pm

Station 20 West (1120 20th St West)

$10 per person (subsidy available for low-income participants)

Space is limited for this workshop featuring the dumpling-making wizardry of Yvonne Hanson. 

To register call 306 655 4575 ext. 232 or email [email protected]

CHEP Good Food Inc Website: http://bit.ly/2giptEj

CHEP Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gALtYQ

CHEP Facebook: http://bit.ly/2gQybui

Saskatoon - City of Opportunity

Welcome to Saskatoon Bumbling. This blog will feature the local history, culinary finds and community events found in this shining prairie metropolis.

Although I’ve only been newly returned to Saskatchewan for a little over a month, many discoveries have already crossed my path. I look forward to sharing these with you as I continue to bumble around Saskatoon’s many neighbourhoods.

- A.L. Smithey