A whole bird on the board, with the boning knife at the ready for cutting. Keep your knife super-sharp for the best result. Pic: dee Hobsbawn-Smith

It’s chicken day

First We Eat: If it’s from a good farmer, a whole direct-sale bird is worth that extra bit of cost

This issue’s recipe: honey lemon chicken. Chicken Day means getting whole processed birds from a local farmer, getting them home in coolers, cutting each up for bagging and freezing, then stripping the carcasses for stock and pet food.



Sweet cherries are one of summer’s most cherished fruits.

Summer brings a cherry jubilee

First We Eat: Direct off the tree or baked into desserts, the fruit is rich in both flavour and nutrients

Seeing this year’s fresh Okanagan cherries being unpacked at the local farmers’ market, in the wake of a disastrous 2024 growing season in that region of British Columbia, was a magical moment.









spinach

How we can be Gordie Howe in Canada’s kitchens

First We Eat: There are Canadian foods I’d love to see on my table if I could obtain them here

Interprovincial trade regulations exist to protect local economies, preserve regional autonomy, and of course generate local income. But even the Bank of Canada believes lowering internal barriers would boost our economy while effectively keeping our dollars in Canada.

apricot and almond stars

A literary celebration of food

First We Eat: Like a good meal, ‘One Book One Province’ is meant to offer a shared experience

On the Prairies, the month is a hopeful time for food lovers: we’re perusing seed catalogues, planning our gardens and dreaming about salads made from the season’s first greens.