forage

Forage is closed August 1^st through August 10^th for our summer break. We’ll be open Monday, August 11^th. See you then!

First off, the housekeeping… Forage will be closed for our Summer Break as of Friday, August 1^st, and we will return Monday, August 11^th. We operate with a small crew and in past summers we weren’t as refreshed as we should have been after the slower summer months. We realized that everyone was talking vacations at different times and we were operating a man down all summer long. So, this year we are closing everything down for a week and everyone should return refreshed and ready for a busy fall. Thanks for understanding. I’ll hopefully be posting from my trip to Seattle on my blog At the Root.

There is now an abundance of great Alberta products available at the markets. This week we have first-of-the-season carrots from Beck’s, Super Sweet peas from Edgar Farms, romaine lettuce and beets from Lund’s, new potatoes from Upper Green Farms, and the Chicken Tortilla soup will feature epazote from our garden. Epazote is a Mexican wild herb that has a pungent cilantro like flavor that will go nicely with the flavors in the soup.

It’s been a whirlwind at Calgary Farmers Market and as the week has gone on more details have emerged. The first one is that the building that the Market is in is coming down no matter what, so hopes of it staying where it is at are for not. With less than 18 months to plan for a future, the CFM still does not have a decision from Canada Lands on their proposal to be the anchor food store for the redevelopment of the Currie Barracks and the vendors are getting antsy. What the response from the public has shown is there is a real demand for access to local products and CFM is the premiere location for this. The public is going to have to get involved if they want to make sure that farmers get the best possible outcome. If you have the chance be sure to tell the farmers and producers of CFM that you’ll continue to support their businesses whatever happens. And be sure to get out to the other Farmers Markets around the city like Northlands and Bearspaw. Support in the form of purchases is most necessary to save our Farmers Markets and encourage growth for the future.

Here is the menu for this week:

Monday - Bison Macaroni Casserole

Buffalo Horn Ranch bison, macaroni, tomatoes, and peppers baked with cheddar $12

Tuesday - Italian Chicken Sausage

grilled Sunworks Farm rosemary and garlic sausage with peppers and tomatoes served with pasta salad $14

Wednesday - Goat’s Cheese and Beet Tart

Lund’s Organic beets and Fairwinds Farm cheese on puff dough tart served with green salad $13

Thursday - Vietnamese Chicken Salad

Sunworks Farm organic chicken, carrots, cucumber, peppers, and cilantro on rice noodles with lime chili vinaigrette $13

Friday - Closed For Our Summer Break

we are all taking a well deserved break - Forage will be open monday, august 11^th

This Week’s Salad – Blue Cheese and Bacon Potato Salad $4

This Week’s Soup – Chicken Tortilla $9

Something Sweet – Raspberry Brownie $4

Forage Hours This Week – Monday to Thursday 2PM to 7PM

Forage is closed for our Summer Break August 1^st through August 10^th

3508 – 19^th Street SW – PH (403)269-6551

What a success! We were blown away with the response to our first birthday party on Friday night. In spite of the apocalyptic weather you came out in droves and we were able to raise $1000 for our Future of Farming Fund. In our wildest dreams we did not expect the crowd so thank-you for your patience and support. We’ll be looking at which youth farmers we are going to support for Terra Madre and let you know as we get closer.

That same storm shredded my parent’s garden south of Priddis so we have 60 lbs. of slightly damaged rhubarb and we are going to offer as Rhubarb Crisp as our special sweet. The rest of their garden did not fare so well.

Also, a frenzy of response has been created by the announcement that the Calgary Farmers’ Market may close at the end of October 2009 when their lease ends. The Calgary Herald broke the story and the story has also reached CBC radio. The CFM submitted a proposal in the spring of 2007 to Canada Lands to be the anchor food store for the soon to be redeveloped west Currie Barracks. The market is hoping that public outcry will assist Canada Lands in their decision making, but realistically, they would rather see a Whole Foods or Soby’s service the 20,000 plus new residents. Check out the Calgary Farmers Market website for more information. Forage and Infuse Catering are the biggest purchasers at the CFM so we are concerned with how this is all going to play out. Regardless, we will continue to seek out fine Alberta ingredients wherever we have to.

And lastly this week… we are closed this Friday to celebrate with Jaclyn and Andy on their wedding day!

Here is the menu for this week:

Monday - Chicken and Rigatoni

Sunworks Farm organic chicken tossed with rigatoni, fresh tomatoes, peppers, basil, and spinach $13

Tuesday - Korean BBQ Ribs

Hoven Farms organic beef short ribs marinated with soy, ginger, and honey and grilled, served with potato salad $14

Wednesday - New Vegetable Pot Pie

new potatoes, Edgar Farm peas, carrots, and beans in a dill cream sauce with a green salad $12

Thursday - Beef Taco Salad

Hoven Farms Organic beef, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, black beans, cheddar, Tres Marias tortillas and chipotle buttermilk dressing $13

Friday - Closed For Jaclyn’s Wedding

we are celebrating with jaclyn and andy on their wedding day

sorry for any inconvenience

This Week’s Salad – German Potato Salad $4

This Week’s Stew – Turkey And White Bean Chili $9

Something Sweet – Rhubarb Crisp $4

Forage Hours This Week Monday to Thursday 2PM to 7PM

Forage will be closed August 1^st to August 10^th for our summer break

3508 – 19^th Street SW ph. (403)269-6551

Let summer begin! It always seems like this is the week, the week after Stampede, that the summer begins and right on cue, many of our producers are starting to harvest their early crops. We are starting to see beets, lettuces, peas, cauliflower, onions, and even tiny new potatoes. The stone fruits from the Okanagan are also beginning to trickle in but generally speaking it looks like this season is going to be shorter and less fruitful due to cool weather and hail storms. We’ll keep scouting the markets to bring the best of the season to Forage. This week we have stinging nettles from our own garden in the vegetarian option on Wednesday. They have a wonderful deep green flavour and are good for you to boot.

Forage First Birthday Party – Friday July 18^th

We can hardly believe it, but Forage is one year old on Friday, July 18th! We are so thankful that we have such great customers that we want you to come down and help us mark the occasion. We are celebrating by offering a Buffalo Horn Ranch Bison Burger, Raspberry Lemonade, and Chocolate Birthday Cake for $10. The proceeds from the special will go to the Forage Future of Farming Fund - a new fund we are creating to help young local farmers. This year we are going to support a youth delegate that has been selected to attend Terra Madre 2008 in Torino Italy, this October. We’re going to close a couple parking stalls out front, put up some tables, and BBQ the burgers to order so come down and help us celebrate! Burgers will be served from 4PM to 7PM to stay or to go and Forage will be open for regular hours.

Monday - Herb Roasted Pork

Broek Pork Acres Berkshire pork slow roasted with herbs and served with new potatoes $13

Tuesday - Chicken Burrito

Sunworks Farm organic chicken, black beans, tomatoes, rice, and peppers in a Tres Marias tortilla served with salsa salad $14

Wednesday - Nettle Tart With Baby Beets

nettles from our garden with eggs and cream in a pastry tart shell served with new baby beets $13

Thursday - Greek Chicken Salad

Sunworks Farm chicken, Gull Valley Green Houses tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, Fairwinds Farm feta, olives, lettuce, red wine vinaigrette $13

Friday – Forage First Birthday Party

Bison Burger

Buffalo Horn Ranch bison burger on canola seed pan bread with all the fixings, served with chocolate birthday cake and a BC raspberry lemonade $10

proceeds from today’s special goes to the Forage Future of Farming Fund

we will be open our regular hours and burgers will be served from 4PM to 7PM

This Week’s Salad – Blue Cheese And Bacon Potato Salad $4

This Week’s Soup – Gazpacho $8

Something Sweet – Lemon Loaf $3

Forage Hours – Monday to Friday 2PM to 7PM

3508 – 19^th Street SW (403)269-6551

So we debated whether we should offer Stampede type fare this week or not. We decided not to and instead just offer good summertime meals. So if you are looking for the alternative to beef on a bun and mini doughnuts, Forage is the place.

This week we have the last of the Edgar Farms asparagus on our Thursday salad. The asparagus ferns need about 6 weeks frost free in order to grow back next year. We are also starting to see the great Alberta produce beginning to arrive. It’s been a cool wet spring so everything is about 1 to 2 weeks behind the norm. Our menus will soon overflow with the abundance of seasonal fruits and vegetables found locally and in our own gardens.

Here’s the menu for this week:

Monday - Grilled Chicken Chorizo

Sunworks Farm chicken chorizo sausage with potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers simmered with a touch of smoked paprika $13

Tuesday - Maple Mustard Pork Chop

Broek Pork Acres Berkshire pork loin chop with a maple syrup and grainy mustard glaze served with herb roasted new potatoes $14

Wednesday - Balsamic Roasted Vegetables

bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms roasted with balsamic vinegar and herbs served with a rosemary and white bean salad $12

Thursday - Saskatoon Berry Chicken Salad

Sunworks Farm chicken, grilled Edgar Farms Asparagus, wild rice, candied pecans, spinach, butterleaf lettuce, saskatoon berry vinaigrette $13

Friday - Fried Chicken

Sunworks Farm chicken fried in our special coating served cold with picnic potato salad $13

This Week’s Salad – East Indian Three Bean $4

This Week’s Stew – Beef Chili $9

Something Sweet – Butter Tart $2

Forage Hours Monday to Friday 2PM to 7PM

Forage First Birthday - Friday July 18^th

3508 – 19^th Street SW - (403)269-6551