Saskatchewan’s food scene is about quality and revelry. The province is home to many marvelous establishments including Odd Couple restaurant, pictured above. (Photo courtesy of Discover Saskatoon, Carey Shaw Photography)

One of the cool things about the people of Saskatchewan is how far they will travel to get a good meal.

To be clear, there is no shortage of outstanding food in the “Land of Living Skies”. Take a ride to any of the major cities — Regina, Saskatoon or Moose Jaw — and you will find many outstanding restaurants and cutting-edge chefs. “Top Chef Canada” champion Dale MacKay, owner of Little Grouse on the Prairie, has made a name for himself in Saskatoon and Regina. Nightjar Diner Co. in Swift Current fuses flavours from Northern Europe and Korea into stellar Canadian dishes.

But good food doesn’t just live in the city. One of the interesting things about the province is that some of the best food can be found in remote places. Take a ride to Shaunavon, Eastend or Lafleche and you will see what I mean. It wasn’t uncommon, when eating in beautiful, tiny towns to meet people who had travelled an hour and a half for dinner. For them, that long drive was all part of the fun.

During my summer road trip I was able to experience a taste of what Saskatchewan has to offer. This article covers just a tiny snippet of the food visitors can enjoy in the province that’s often referred to as the bread basket of Canada.

SCHOOLHAUS CULINARY ARTS

REGINA

I love taking cooking classes when I travel. There is something immersive about learning different culinary styles from local chefs who use food grown by local producers. Owned by CEO Aimee Schulhauser, Schoolhaus Culinary Arts Regina caters to individuals, couples, or friends looking to get out for a delicious time. All the ingredients and equipment are provided including the apron. I found this helpful because nobody has ever accused me of being a tidy cook.

Lucky for me, chef instructor Taunia Stevens had tons of experience dealing with enthusiastic but disorganized amateurs. Stevens began cooking professionally in 2002 straight out of high school and honed her skills at Saskatchewan Polytechnic (SIAST), where she earned her Red Seal certification in 2006. For the past five years, Stevens has brought her expertise, leadership, and love of food to Schoolhaus Culinary Arts, where she continues to inspire students and colleagues with her dedication, warmth, skill, and humour.

The course I took, fittingly titled “A Taste of Saskatchewan”, featured Creamy Dill Pickle Soup, Saskatoon and Goat Cheese Crostini, and Pan-fried Pickerel with mustard cream sauce, wild rice and mushroom pilaf. For dessert, we created and celebrated flapper pie parfaits. I’ll be honest — cooking classes are not for everyone. The kitchen was hot, we were on our feet for a long time and it’s hard to focus on the ingredients when you’re hungry. That said, no one in the class could argue with the quality of the final result. Schoolhaus offers in-person and virtual classes, birthday parties, and bachelor and bachelorette parties.

Website: schoolhausculinaryarts.ca
Address: 2171B Lorne Street, Regina, Saskatchewan

Cool Stop Along the Way: If you find yourself exploring outside the city,  Twisted Sisters is another stop you will enjoy. Just under a one-hour drive from Regina in a village named Chamberlain, Twisted Sisters is a seasonal, family-owned restaurant and ice cream shop. For people making a road trip between Saskatoon and Regina on Highway 11, a stop here is the perfect place to plan your lunch. Known for juicy homemade hamburgers, fresh-cut fries, hot dogs, and a wide variety of ice cream, it is the perfect spot to get away for a quick bite on a long, lazy drive in the countryside.

FREE BIRD

LUMSDEN

Talk about creating magic in a rural area! The first stop on my culinary road trip was a half-hour drive north of Regina in the Qu’Appelle Valley. Lumsden is a town best known for its scenic river and rolling green fields, Lumsden is where you will find Free Bird and Chef / Co-owner- JP Vives. He says Free Bird is about making common food uncommonly well. His career has included stops in the bigger cities of the province before he chose to move back to his hometown to start Free Bird.

The first thing that struck me about Free Bird was the art. A Johnny Cash poster showcasing his 1968 concert at Folsom State Prison adorns the wall, along with a Second World War-era Cold Beer sign. Pictures of Jimmy Hendrix and Snoop Dog also decorate the walls. The brunch menu included a Smoked Salmon Benny ($24), French Toast ($20), and their signature burger ($25). Vives did a great job with each colourful, delightful dish, proving again that culinary experiences in Saskatchewan’s rural towns are just as exciting as in the city.

Website: www.freebirdeats.com
Address: 240 James Street North, Lumsden, Saskatchewan

TRIGO FOOD + DRINK

LAFLECHE

Located 205 kilometres (130 miles) from Regina, Lafleche is a bustling town with 382 people. It is the last place you would expect to find Trigo Food + Drink, a unique and exceptional dining experience anchored by chef Adam Henwood.

A former lawyer, Henwood had worked as a dishwasher, host, bus boy, bartender, and waiter while he put himself through school. Being a lawyer paid the bills but the pull in his heart to open a restaurant was too strong to ignore.

What makes Trigo unique is the menu. Henwood, who has travelled to several countries, selects items that focus on different countries. During my visit, I sampled the Georgian menu that featured Pomegranate and Spiced Marinated Grilled Pork, Eggplant Rolls with Walnut Paste, and Mixed Seed Crispbread. Previous menus have highlighted Austrian, Peruvian, and Italian cuisines. At the time of my visit, Henwood’s focus was shifting to the bold flavours of Ghana.

Website: www.trigo.restaurant
Address: 132 Main Street, Lafleche, Saskatchewan

HARVEST EATERY 

SHAUNAVON

Located 350 kilometres (215 miles) from Regina and 217 kilometres (135 miles) from Medicine Hat, Harvest Eatery is another example of a fantastic rural restaurant. The establishment is often referred to as Harvest Eatery and The Blind Boar because of a section in the back of the restaurant that occasionally functions as an event space for board games and open mic nights. 

I have had the opportunity to visit Shaunavon twice and each time Harvest Eatery was on my itinerary. A collaboration of husband-and-wife team chef “Rusty” Garrett and Kristy Thienes, Harvest is a 45-seat restaurant that focuses on “gourmet comfort food.”

And by comfort, I mean juicy, well-seasoned, thick steaks. Don’t even think of walking through the front doors if you’re vegetarian. Menu includes Brisket, Baby Back Ribs, and The Harvest Burger. Watching Garrett and his sous-chef put dinner together on a busy night was like watching the 1990-91 Pittsburgh Penguins on a power play, seamlessly scoring with one delicious entree after another.

During my visit I met two workers who had driven miles from their work station to get a burger. Another couple had made a 90-minute trip — not uncommon for people in Saskatchewan — to enjoy dinner at Harvest. It’s just another example that in this province good food is worth the journey.

Website: www.eatharvest.ca
Address: 492 Centre Street, Shaunavon, Saskatchewan

Cool Stops Along the Way: When we think of dinosaur fossils we often think of the heavyweights like Drumheller, home of the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta. But if you are planning to make a trip to Shaunavon for dinner be sure to schedule in time for a 20-minute excursion to the village of Eastend, home of the T.rex Discovery Centre. A natural history museum opened in 2001, The T.rex Discovery Centre houses several fossils including the remains of a Tyrannosaurus nicknamed “Scotty”, the largest T.rex in the world.

Before visiting the T.rex Discovery Centre be sure to stop for lunch at Jack’s Café, a lovely and welcoming diner serving burgers, steaks, and pastas.

THE GALLERY CAFÉ, YVETTE MOORE GALLERY

MOOSE JAW

Following a visit to the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery, I took a lovely stroll over to the Yvette Moore Gallery. It showcases the breathtaking and detailed art of Yvette Moore along with extensive collections of handcrafted pottery, jewelry, sculptures, glass works, and gifts created by artisans from across Western Canada.

Here you will find The Gallery Café. A favourite among locals and tourists, it’s a great place to grab a sandwich, coffee, and tasty dessert while checking out all the delightful things in the space. Dishes on the menu include Pear and Walnut Spinach Salad ($19), Pear and Brie Chicken ($20), and Chickpea Omega-3 Salad ($20).

Be sure and get yourself a Homemade Saskatoon Berry Iced Tea ($6). It’s a delicious and crisp drink that offered me another opportunity to try the province’s favourite berry.

Website: yvettemoore.com/gallery-cafe
Address: 76 Fairford Street West, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

PIQUE CAFÉ

SASKATOON

Owned by chefs Tazia and Karan Thakur, Pique Cafe is a bakery, cafe, and restaurant all rolled into one. The menu offers house-made pastries, artisan breads, and sandwiches for those seeking a quick snack or coffee.

But the spot also serves dinner. I began with a delicious roasted asparagus velouté with morel mushrooms, butter-and-herb fried Saskatoon wild rice croutons, and house smoked duck prosciutto crisp. I had the Ponderosa Bison Ranch wellington, served with sautéed wild fiddleheads, roasted heritage potatoes, and brandy peppercorn sauce. Dessert was a preserved local raspberry and pistachio tart.

Website: piqueyxe.square.site
Address: 130 4th Avenue North, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Cool Stop Along the Way: Run by co-owners John Cote and Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote, Black Fox Farm and Distillery sits on 80 acres of rolling green farmland that is a short drive from Saskatoon. Visiting this distillery is an opportunity to enjoy an excellent day trip and award-winning drinks.

MORE ABOUT SASKATCHEWAN

Tourism Saskatchewan: Website

Discover Saskatoon: Website

Tourism Regina: Website

Tourism Moose Jaw: Website

Shaunavon Visitor Information: Website