Behind every good meal there's a story....
Take a Walk on the Wild Side
Once a year Fred would ask a rogue bush pilot to fly him to the dense hinterland of Northern Ontario. With just a portable canvas shelter given to him by a band of rebellious Mennonites, and an old tin flask filled with pure Canadian mountain water, Fred would use this time to reconnect with nature, live off the land and allow the beasts of the wild to replenish. With one purposeful shove from his sky charlatan, Fred was released into what would be his home for the following 4 months.
On one particularly lonely afternoon, looking to add depth to a meal of wild berries and bugleweed, Fred stumbled upon a green, spiky plant with small white flowers and intense flavor reminiscent of black pepper. He tore off some leaves and tossed them into his meal. Suddenly Fred felt a yearning he forgot he was capable of. He was reminded of an adept matron from Chilliwack, BC with whom he once had the pleasure of acquainting. Smiling to himself, Fred recalled these same spiky leaves in his meal that night and understood why there was no need for dessert. And this is how Fred was introduced to wild savory, nature’s aphrodisiac.
On one particularly lonely afternoon, looking to add depth to a meal of wild berries and bugleweed, Fred stumbled upon a green, spiky plant with small white flowers and intense flavor reminiscent of black pepper. He tore off some leaves and tossed them into his meal. Suddenly Fred felt a yearning he forgot he was capable of. He was reminded of an adept matron from Chilliwack, BC with whom he once had the pleasure of acquainting. Smiling to himself, Fred recalled these same spiky leaves in his meal that night and understood why there was no need for dessert. And this is how Fred was introduced to wild savory, nature’s aphrodisiac.
Share Food With Others
Fred would occasionally crave the company of others and one such day fate had its way. While trailing the Trans Canada Highway, observing the local foliage and searching for kindling, a magnificent brown creature crossed Fred’s path. With rooted antlers and flaring nostrils, this creature held a piercing gaze with Fred. There was room for just one solitary animal on this path. So the moose charged.
Not knowing that Fred had dabbled in the sport of wrestling, the creature was met with a swift grip to the skull and held in the clawhold just long enough for Fred to climb on top and place the moose in a camel clutch. Fred did not want to harm this magnificent creature. He just wanted to stake his claim on this untrekked path. But the moose, not wanting to shamefully lose what should have been an easy win, succumbed in vain to Fred’s agility and skill and went to sleep. Forever.
A staidly confident Fred could not let the beast waste away so he hoisted his defeated opponent onto his back and followed the sounds of laughter and crackling fire. And this is how one adventurous man fed the company of others in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Not knowing that Fred had dabbled in the sport of wrestling, the creature was met with a swift grip to the skull and held in the clawhold just long enough for Fred to climb on top and place the moose in a camel clutch. Fred did not want to harm this magnificent creature. He just wanted to stake his claim on this untrekked path. But the moose, not wanting to shamefully lose what should have been an easy win, succumbed in vain to Fred’s agility and skill and went to sleep. Forever.
A staidly confident Fred could not let the beast waste away so he hoisted his defeated opponent onto his back and followed the sounds of laughter and crackling fire. And this is how one adventurous man fed the company of others in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Slow food is good food.
From time to time wanderers drift into like territory. While this wasn't a regular occurrence Fred was always excited to display his prowess with a fellow vagabond, in this case a barehanded partridge hunter in Yellowknife. It was during this particular meeting that the culinary renegade turned a 55 gallon drum into an outdoor oven. By using maple wood to fuel the vessel he found that the flavor penetrated the bird. And so it was that these two kindred spirits discovered the art of smoking meat. A good meal was standard for those who drifted into Fred's domain.
Eat Local.
Long before he discovered wild boar and duck fat and a fondness for feeding others, Fred was an avid fisherman spearing the waters of the Great White North in solitude. Armed with his harpoon and a cooler to keep him nourished during a long day in turbulent waters, the day's catch would be taken back to his shanty and cooked over an open flame to be enjoyed by himself.
With a crackling fire and a cold brew, Fred was never really alone. He had his fish. And his appetite.
With a crackling fire and a cold brew, Fred was never really alone. He had his fish. And his appetite.