Sep 5, 2022
The Night Oven Bakery is a popular Saskatoon spot – and with good reason. With a focus on sourcing grains locally and milling them in-house, The Night Oven’s menu showcases organic heritage grains, including spelt, rye, red fife and more.
“We source organic grain from Saskatchewan farmers and then stone mill it in-house. We don’t use any complicated, chemical ingredients. We just use basic, good, clean ingredients, and make good food,” said owner Bryn Rawlyk, adding that The Night Oven is the only bakery in the province with an in-house mill.
Photo by The Night Oven Bakery
Rawlyk spent years working in bakeries in Vancouver and Montreal before moving home to Saskatoon to open his own. Inspired by the Slow Food movement, he wanted to create a bakery that could act as a bridge between farmers and consumers, connecting them through the use of local ingredients. In 2013, The Night Oven opened its doors, and quickly gained a loyal following. Due to popular demand and the need for expansion, in summer of 2022, Rawlyk moved the bakery to a new location in the heart of Saskatoon’s Caswell Hill neighbourhood, complete with a new mill and double the floor space.
Photo by The Night Oven Bakery
At The Night Oven, the menu revolves around two things: bread and pastries. Sourdough loaves made with heritage grains, such as the lentil rye bread or red fife whole wheat bread, are all baked in a wood-fired oven, while French-inspired pastries like croissants and galettes are done in both sweet and savoury flavours. Depending on when you’re visiting, you just might be able to enjoy the bakery's seasonal and weekly items, too – including wood-fired pizza, which is available only on Fridays.
No matter what he’s baking, Rawlyk notes his philosophy is centered on ensuring that plenty of thought and time go into every single item.
Photo by The Night Oven Bakery
“I really value the process that it takes to make things. So, we make fruit cake for Christmas, but we make it in August, so it has time to soak and cure in rum. It’s the type of thing that you can’t just make more of if you run out,” he said. “We don’t cut corners in a very real way. If you place an order for bread, it has to be at least two days [in advance] because that’s how long it takes to make sourdough bread – and we literally grind the flour from scratch.”
As a bonus, stone-ground flour is also available for purchase at the bakery in 1-kg or 2.5-kg bags. And of course, the freshly made pastries and bread make for a perfect treat to take home, too!
Turn dessert at The Night Oven Bakery into a day trip or a weekend and explore Saskatoon’s Caswell Hill and Riversdale areas!
There are many hotel options in Saskatoon and plenty close by The Night Oven, too. Two Holiday Inn locations are within walking distance from the bakery, and Hilton Garden Inn Saskatoon Downtown is also close by, with an onsite restaurant, pool and pet-friendly rooms right downtown.
Another favourite local Saskatoon bakery, Citizen Cafe & Bakery, is just a seven-minute walk from The Night Oven. Stop by for coffee, lunch or one of its decadent baked goods, like the s’more cookie or caramel pecan bar. For those with allergies or dietary restrictions, Citizen also has plenty of gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan items, such as the vegan cinnamon buns! The café was recently renovated, so it’s a perfect time to check out the new space. The Night Oven is also close to Saskatoon’s Riversdale area, which is a popular spot for local food, shopping and more. Restaurants like Odd Couple, Hometown Diner and Primal all line 20th Street, in addition to Hazelwood Clothing Company, Hardpressed Print Studio and The Little Market Box, all of which are locally owned businesses perfect for doing a little bit of shopping.
Photo by Riversdale Business Improvement District
To enjoy some indoor adventure, check out Grip It Climbing, which is Saskatoon’s climbing gym located just down the block from The Night Oven. Grip It makes for a fun day activity year round and offers day rates for both adults and kids. Plus, if you’re new to climbing, it has equipment rentals available, too.
Photo by Grip It Climbing
__________________________________________________________________________
The Night Oven Bakery is located at 216 Avenue D North in Saskatoon, SK. For more information and hours, visit its website. The Night Oven Bakery is also featured in Naomi Hansen’s book, Only in Saskatchewan: Recipes & Stories from the Province’s Best-loved Eateries. Visit www.naomihansen.ca for more information.
Naomi Hansen is a writer and editor based in Saskatoon, SK. She is the author of the book Only in Saskatchewan: Recipes & Stories from the Province’s Best-loved Eateries.
Get the latest on what's happening in Saskatchewan straight to your email.
