On Sunday, 29 May 2016, a roomful of joyous adults and children gathered at Le Relais in downtown Saskatoon for Eat These Words 4, the annual culinary and literary fundraising dinner that also serves as the grand finale to Wild About Saskatoon’s NatureCity Festival. The evening featured a five-course seasonal locavore meal featuring local bison, sour cherries and high-bush cranberries, buckwheat, chickpeas, lentils, and foraged fare. Like the entire evening, the meal was a collaborative effort powered by volunteers, prepared by host chef Evelyn Reisner of Fresh Dish Catering and guest chefs Jenni Willems of Chef Jenni Catering, Michael Beaulé, chef-instructor at SaskPolyTech, and pastry chef and writer Renee Kohlman of Riverside Country Club.
The evening’s entertainment was provided by a local trio, The Burnt Biscuits, composed of Saskatoon writers David Carpenter, Terry Jordan and Philip Adams. In the event’s tradition, graduate students from the University of Saskatchewan’s MFA in Writing offered readings on life in the natural world, this year featuring poets Katherine Lawrence and Patrick O’Reilly. In between a silent auction for locavore experiences and the raffling of dozens of donated books and culinary items, Slow Food Saskatoon member Sarah Galvin offered insights into the new Saskatchewan Snail Trail posted online, and the convivium’s 2016 Terra Madre delegate, Glenda Abbott, provided a First Nations perspective on her upcoming trip to Torino in September. Slow Food Saskatoon wishes to thank all the dedicated volunteers, guests and donors who make this evening such a pleasure and success each year.
~ submitted by dee Hobsbawn-Smith, event coordinator and Slow Food Saskatoon member
All Photos Courtesy of Sarah Galvin
Onni Milne says
Bravo, Saskatoon, for pulling off an event that combined food, words and community connections. Thank you for the photos which added to the written description. I loved the name for the band, ‘Burnt Biscuits’, a fitting name for a group performing at a food event.