Perhaps the true epitome of a morning person, Joelle Tomlinson captivates her audience bright and early while co-hosting Global Morning News in Saskatoon during the work week. Born and raised in the beautiful Prairie city, the news co-anchor loves Saskatoon for its people, their stories and her genuine connection to the community.
Even with Tomlinson’s early morning shifts and devotion to the local community, she stays active and finds plenty of time for doing so, whether that means snowboarding throughout the winter, jogging with her adorable husky, Luna (yup, even in those sub-zero Saskatchewan temperatures), competing in ultra-marathons and even teaching a spin class or two at Ryde YXE on Broadway Avenue.
The rest of the news personality’s time is happily spent with family, enjoying a latte at any of Saskatoon's great coffee shops, of course, dining out at some of the city’s tastiest spots.
Here are Joelle Tomlinson’s favourite places to eat and drink around Saskatoon.
Coffee
My number one indulgence in life is coffee. So of course, I have a few spots to recommend. City Perks is a wonderful hangout, with great brews and an eclectic crowd, located in City Park. Along with your coffee, you can grab homemade quiche or a daily scone to satiate your appetite. Road Coffee has my favourite blends. Owner Alisha Esmail has made the art of making coffee her life, even creating an alcoholic combination with Nine Mile Legacy in town. Other great coffee shops in town include Collective Coffee on 20th Street West, Drift Café and Citizen Coffee in the downtown area.
Brunch
You mentioned brunch? I’m your girl! This is my absolute favourite meal of the day (this might be a side effect of working the wee morning hours). My number one go-to is Poached, a little gem located on 2nd Ave. You have to make sure you time it out right to avoid the lines, but it’s well worth it. I am a regular at Poached and could likely clean out their entire supply of maple bacon roll-ups. If it’s a little too busy at my favourite joint, I like to hit up Drift Café for a delicious, organic crepe, or Truffles, where I can splurge on a breakfast poutine.
Lunch
This is hard. There are so many different flavours and boutiques popping up in Saskatoon that narrowing this down to a couple is a challenge. I teach spin at Ryde YXE on Broadway, conveniently located in between Una Pizza and Freshii. It’s all about balance, right? Una has an awesome two-for-one pizza deal every Tuesday and I can’t say enough about their kale Caesar salad with fresh prosciutto and a hard boiled egg on top. My pick at Freshii is the teriyaki chicken rice bowl: both filling and satisfying. Now if I feel like exploring just a bit further east on Broadway, you’ll find a beautiful spot called Nosh Eatery & Tap. The head chef Justin O’Reilly plates colourful, primarily vegetarian meals and makes eating veggies fun again. My recommendation: the stuffed avocado salad. Yum.
Dinner
My number one spot to go to for dinner right now has to be Ayden Kitchen and Bar. Top Chef Canada winner Dale Mackay is well known in the national foodie circuit, and this was his first big hit in Saskatoon. The service is great, the spot comfy, and the burger an absolute must-have. I won’t order a burger anywhere else in the city. This is where I go when I really want to treat myself. Another spot I frequent quite often is the Cactus Club. I’m pretty sure the waitresses know my order by heart right now (quinoa salad, sub goat cheese)… I’m a gal who loves her routines.
Drinks
And where does a wine-lover go in Saskatoon? Little Grouse on the Prairie has a handcrafted wine list that I appreciate, or if you’re more of a wine-on-tap kind of gal (or guy!) The Brasserie is a funky spot right next to O’Sheas. Also, for those looking for a fun crowd, the Crazy Cactus just reopened with a new location in the downtown core. This will be the spot to watch for patio ciders this summer!
Joelle Tomlinson cooks with Dan Clapson
Joelle learns how to make this recipe for our signature homemade Irish cream liqueur on Global Saskatoon earlier this month.
