At the Tavola with... Liane Faulder from The Edmonton Journal

Liane Faulder is a food and feature writer for the Edmonton Journal. A graduate of Ryerson’s journalism program, Liane is an award-winning journalist whose features have appeared in Reader’s Digest, Today’s Parent and Chatelaine magazines. Her personal essay, "About the Boys," was published in the best-selling Canadian anthology, Dropped Threads 3.

Her first book, The Long Walk Home: Paul Franklin's Journey from Afghanistan, was published in 2007. Inspired by Paul Franklin’s story, Liane went on to create an award-winning play called WALK, appearing at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in 2018.

Liane is also a tour guide with Edmonton Food Tours, and has lead groups on a dozen international food tours to countries and cities from Italy to New Orleans.

Favourite food memory:  

There are so many! I could wax eloquent about my mom’s Yorkshire pudding, but today, I am actually thinking about chocolate milk. New Brunswick has decided to ban the sale of chocolate milk in school, because of it’s high sugar content and the problem of childhood obesity, which makes sense on some level. But I so remember the comfort and deliciousness of a carton of chocolate milk enjoyed at school. I was always a bit miserable when I had to take my lunch to school (I was lucky enough to have a stay-at-home mom and came home for lunch most days). But having a chocolate milk to look forward to (I remember pulling the container, by its pitched peak, through the maze of the milk cooler at school) always made my dull, brown bag seem a little less sad.

What makes a great host or hostess when entertaining?

I envy the folks who don’t sweat it. Who have a knack for a simple, yet well-executed meal that leaves them with the energy to welcome and appreciate their guests. These days, I try hard to do 80 per cent of my prep in advance, and generally have an easy (but delicious) cheese and charcuterie board for openers. That way, I can pour a glass of wine for my guests and me, and just enjoy it all.

What’s kitchen tool/appliance/gadget you consider to be a must have? 

My KitchenAid mixmaster is my dear friend. I love to bake, and just hearing the sound of the beaters whirling makes my heart beat a little faster.

If you could have dinner with any notable Canadian - who would it be, why and what would be on the menu? 

I have always had a crush on Bryan Adams, as he’s roughly my age and still delicious. I envision us going to the fair and sharing a hot dog. I imagine he would like to win me a stuffed toy by throwing darts at a board of balloons. Maybe we would finish up with a Fiddlestick.

Are you working on anything we should keep an eye out for? 

Funny you should ask! I have written a play, WALK, that’s going to be enjoying a 10-performance run at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival from Aug. 17 to 26. It won the 2015 Alberta Playwrights Network award for an un-produced work, and now it’s going to be produced, so I am beyond thrilled. I have a rockin’ director, Michael Bradley, and a top-notch cast. The story is inspired by a non-fiction book I wrote about a Canadian soldier who lost both his legs in Afghanistan. WALK is a family drama that looks at the aftermath of that incident. It’s moving and funny. Seriously. There are funny parts.

Please follow Liane at lianefaulder.com on Twitter at @EatMyWordsBlog or on Instagram at @eatmywordsblog.