Calgary roundup

A new and improved Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers’ Market kicks off its season Wednesday, June 2 at the community centre (1320 5th Ave. NW). Lots of new vendors, offering grass-fed beef, local veggies, organic B.C. fruit, and whole grain bread, have joined the roster. The market runs every Wednesday 3:30-7:30 p.m., rain or shine, until Oct. 6.

Tickets are now on sale for Bonterra’s annual patio party, June 8 at 5 p.m. For $35, you get wine and hors d’oeuvres on Calgary’s best patio.

Thomsons restaurant and the Sandstone Lounge in the Hyatt downtown has opened its patio with some fancy pampering for customers, including Evian spray misters, sunscreen for sunny days and blankets for cool evenings. New menu specials include fresh tuna tacos with mojitos and Caesar-steamed mussels with Hoegaarten pints. Now all we need is the sun.

Check out restaurant samples and browse galleries on 17th Avenue S.W. and support a good cause during Gallery Calorie on Saturday, June 12. Proceeds this year go to Servants Anonymous and Birthday Buddies charities.

I loved the concept of SOS Cuisine when I first heard about it. Based in Quebec, it’s a website that helps you plan weekly meals, generate recipes, and even track of what produce is in season and on sale in your area.

The problem was the seasonal produce tracker, and the weekly supermarket flyer specials weren’t synched up outside of Quebec, so I kinda lost interest. But now, SOS has added all 10 provinces (including Alberta) to its services, so I can now find what’s on sale and in season and have recipes suggested to me all in the same place. It’s pretty genius.

Continuing the local food campaign it launched last year, Hellmann’s, the mayonnaise peeps, has allocated $100,000 in grants for local community initiatives. Any community, school or family group can apply for money for their projects that may include starting a community-based garden, or organizing a local food event. The deadline is June 30, 2010.

are you gonna eat that?