“A lot of things happened here, it does have a sad history. It is truly a spirit of reconciliation, how to move forward from that and to create that community, to bring people together,” said Rowena Materne.
That is exactly what Chef Wuttunee hopes to do through his multicultural, globally inspired menu.
Wuttunee grew up on Red Pheasant Cree Nation, where his family ran a 93-head bison ranch. It was there that he learned to cook bison to perfection, while his grandmother shaped his passion for cooking.
“She would get me to help make Bannock; I learned about it from her. She got me making soups, stews and cinnamon buns and pies. I’d always be in the kitchen,” he said.
Wuttunee later pursued culinary training in Vancouver where he learned techniques in French and Italian fine dining, as well as influence in Asian cuisine. His menu at Kada will weave those global culinary influences with traditional Indigenous ingredients, offering an edible expression of reconciliation.
“We’re wanting to build more community, it’s not just the First Nations with our people, but with everyone else too in the Battlefords. There is a long road to healing, with more community, or accepting and integration with each other, instead of a lot of hatred out there,” Wuttunee said.
Future of Kada
Guests at The Ridge can currently visit the bistro for lunch as it begins its launch, with a full menu set to open the first week of March.
Kada won’t be doing it alone. Alongside Chef Wuttunee’s menu, the bistro is partnering with two Lloydminster restaurants: Chow Bao, known for its pillowy steamed bao buns, and Pack and Go, which brings Filipino‑inspired food.
Materne said the partnerships will allow the Ridge to stay open seven days a week while giving guests an even broader taste of the world.
“We were introduced to them by Chief Tanya [MGBHLMFN Chief]. She sent me a text with pictures and a message, ‘This is amazing food. How do we serve something like this in the Battlefords at our bistro,’” she said.
Kada will also host monthly themed events, which will include multicultural dishes catered by the chef. The first one includes a high tea experience to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
For Wuttunee and the team behind Kada, the bistro represents a step toward connection, using food as a common language to build a more inclusive future in the Battlefords.
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Alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com
Dining and Cooking