This blog chronicles our experiences, stories, recipes, discoveries from our experiments with eating within a 100 mile radius. For those blessed to be in California, or Oregon, or Florida, or even eastern Canada, this may not seem like a big deal. We, however, are located smack dab in the middle of the prairies, in cow town. Not satisfied to eat just wheat and beef, we decided to embark on an experiment - 4 meals, 4 seasons, 8 people.
We were inspired by the book the 100 mile diet - the chronicles of a year of eating locally, by a Vancouver couple. Hah - that's no challenge at all compared to our 4 meals. The prairies, you might recall, was considered to be an agricultural wasteland - and, in some cases, rightly so - given that we're one of the few semi arid ecosystems in Canada.
Extreme localism, you say? Nut cases? Perhaps - but we consider ourselves intrepid travellers into the delicacies of prairie eatin'. Bull testicles, anyone? (okay - shot down by Kelly)
Summer Menu: July 28th, 2007
Filtered water infused with mint leaves
Grilled zucchini and tomato with gouda
Garden fresh salad topped with Nasturium flowers (buttermilk basil dressing)
Elk ravioli
Tarragon chicken
Saskatoon Rhubard Pie
Wild Rose and Big Rock Beer
Saskatoon Berry Wine
Lemon Verbena Tea
Successes:
Getting creative with what you can find in your own backyard (literally) and chatting up the local producers at the Farmer's Market.
Finding a local source of wheat and organic to boot at Highwood Crossing Farms.
Enthusiasm and sharing what we found.
Comraderie!
Challenges:
No salt or pepper. One pal joked that she traded for salt with Tibetan nomads.
Being as authentic as possible.
Trying to make a dressing without vinegar or lemon or mayonaisse.
Next meal - Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey has already been ordered!
* Okay, there are some things that we just couldn't do without or find within 100 miles, even 500 miles. This was the glocal part of the meal (global and local)
