Back to Routine

Back to school, back to work, back to routine—and yes, for some of us, this also means back to packing school lunches. When my kids were young, I was always looking for creative ideas; one fall I bought a bento box lunch kit that I would fill it with clever snacks, treats and cut-up fruit and veggies (like Heidi Richter's fun-packed lunch ideas on page XXX). But a few weeks into the school year, my son asked me why I wasn’t making sandwiches anymore. “I thought you were sick of sandwiches,” I replied. “No,” he answered, “I was sick of the same old sandwich you made me every day but I love sandwiches!”

This sandwich epiphany inspired me to look at lunch through a whole new lens. I realized it was time to embrace the sandwich. Since then, I have had so much fun creating unique, delicious, playful sandwiches. I have used everything from wraps and pita pockets to thick slices of homemade sourdough bread, potato buns and nutty squirrel bread. I have experimented with different mustards, pickles, veggies, herbs and of course, proteins; the options are endless when it comes to creating your perfect sandwich. When I need a break from making lunches, my favourite lunch hack is to buy a delicious "meal to go" from one of the many Island food prep companies and ensure there are leftovers for lunch. This gives me a day off from making dinner and lunch. I also feel good about supporting local businesses that work hard to use local ingredients.

Fall has a way of giving us permission to try something new, and we hope this autumn issue inspires you to discover a new recipe, restaurant, farmer’s market or hidden culinary gem.

–Karen Elgersma, Publisher

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” F. Scott Fitzgerald