This week, more provinces are opening up and easing dining restrictions. But as they head towards a busy summer, many restaurants across the country are struggling to hire workers and rebuild their capacity.
There's good news in the agriculture sector as local food producers and markets are seeing an increase in business. Read about a prairie entrepreneur who's found success turning peas into an Italian-inspired liqueur!
Here are five notable food news stories you might have missed this past week.
Alberta restaurants resume indoor dining service
As of June 10, indoor dining in Alberta has been allowed to resume after months of dining restrictions and closures. Meanwhile, the Ontario government has allowed patio service to begin and Quebec has recently reopened for indoor dining at limited capacity.
Read more about how different regional restaurant industrues are getting back to "normal" on RestoBiz.
Pandemic boosts demand for local food in Saskatchewan
While restaurants and businesses centered around in-person dining have been hit hard by the pandemic, many grocery stores and local food producers have seen an increase in business. Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector has observed a growing demand for locally-produced food, especially during periods of lockdown when many customers have relied on their local markets and grocery stores.
Visit The Star to learn more.
Edmonton entrepreneur creates pea-based liqueur
Edmonton entrepreneur Faaiza Ramji has found an innovative way to use peas, one of the most widely grown crops in Alberta.
In collaboration with The Fort Distillery, She has created a pea-based amaro that connects the prairie flavours of her Alberta home with her Pakistani heritage.
Read the story at CBC News.
Canadian restaurants face labour shortage
The restaurant industry is struggling to rebuild its workforce in preparation for a busy summer as restrictions continue to lift in most provinces.
Multiple lockdowns and layoffs have caused many workers to leave the industry, and now that things are opening up, the labour shortage may hinder the capacity of restaurants across Canada. As a result, the path to returning to "normal" likely won't be an easy one for many restaurateurs.
Learn more at CTV News.
Movie scene filmed at Calgary restaurant
Usually, Calgary's historic Lougheed House is booked for special events all spring and summer, but the pandemic has prevented those big events from happening. This week though, the historic Calgary restaurant was finally able to host a wedding—kind of—when a production crew booked the venue to shoot a wedding scene for the upcoming movie Rent-A-Groom.
As a side note, the Alberta film industry has been thriving throughout the pandemic, and all 50 of the cast and crew members working on this particular scene hail from Alberta.
Read the story at Global News.
