The Trigo Effect: Inside Saskatchewan’s Most Ambitious Culinary Destination

Almost at the end of Main Street in the small town of Lafleche, Saskatchewan, sits a small white and straw coloured building that’s quite easy to drive by without a single glance. From the outside you wouldn’t know it’s a restaurant without looking at the sign that says “Trigo Food + Drink”, but inside its walls, the typical prairie expectations of “steak and potatoes” are being dismantled. What awaits diners is a strong contender for the best restaurant in Saskatchewan, led by Adam Henwood, someone who traded the courtroom for the heat of a professional kitchen.

Adam Henwood of Trigo Food + Drink

Adam Henwood – The Man Behind the Menu

Adam’s story is the ultimate “second act.” Before he was fermenting dough and sourcing exotic spices in rural Saskatchewan, he spent 17 years as a family and child protection lawyer in Alberta. His was a job that had a high emotional impact on many lives, many of them young. In the courtroom he was successful, but it was highly stressful as you’d imagine. Eventually he hung up his robe and headed down a totally different path that led to a kitchen.

The culinary world wasn’t entirely foreign to him. While studying, Adam worked at various restaurant jobs to pay his way through law school. He learned the ways of a kitchen and understood the pride that comes with a well-executed service. After leaving the courtroom behind, his plan was to travel and maybe move overseas but a series of events brought him to Lafleche where he came across the building that currently houses Trigo Food + Drink and he decided to purchase it.

The friendly staff at Trigo Food + Drink

Recommended reading: The Ultimate Regina To Saskatoon Road Trip: A 5-Day Itinerary Of Hidden Gems.

A Self-Taught Visionary in the Prairies

Since taking the helm at Trigo Food + Drink, Adam has built what many now consider the best restaurant in Saskatchewan, an achievement made even more special by the fact that he’s entirely self-taught. He didn’t attend a formal culinary institute but instead, he used his analytical “lawyer brain” to deconstruct recipes and master global techniques.

A six-month stint volunteering in Ghana as a young lawyer formed the foundation for his current vision. It wasn’t just about the legal work that he was doing, it was about being immersed in a culture where food served as a language of community. When he finally bought the building in Lafleche, he didn’t want to just open a diner, he wanted to create a rotating window to world cuisine.

Kninkali being served.

The “Trigo Effect”: Feeding a Town’s Economy

In Lafleche, the population hovers around 370 people but the success of Trigo Food + Drink extends beyond the restaurant’s dining room. It has created something that could be referred to as the “Trigo Effect,” where a single culinary destination acts as a driving force for the local economy. And Trigo Food + Drink can definitely be considered a culinary destination, often entering the conversation when locals and travelers alike debate what actually is the best restaurant in Saskatchewan.

Adam has built a reputation, and menus, that draws diners from Regina, Saskatoon, and even across provincial lines so, in a sense, he’s importing capital into a community that might otherwise be bypassed by the highway. The economic ripple effects are tremendous.

Beef and pork dumplings

Mixed seed crispbread with beetroot and spinach pate

Adjarulian Cheese Bread

Grilled pork skewers

Georgian Eggplant Rolls

Since Trigo Food + Drink operates ten months of the year, is reservation-only, and only open on Friday and Saturday nights, it creates a predictable “surge” for the town. When a group drives four hours for a table, they aren’t just buying dinner.

These “food tourists” drive in to dine at Trigo Food + Drink and they also often book rooms at the small, local hotel. When it’s time to head home, they’ll need to fill up at the gas station and then most likely will stop in at the convenience or grocery store for their road trip snacks.

Trigo also provides skilled jobs in a small town, but more importantly, it fosters a sense of community pride. It proves that a small rural dot on the map can be a clear leader in excellence, encouraging other local entrepreneurs to keep their doors open.

Plan your full Southern Saskatchewan road trip itinerary to see what else is in and around Lafleche.

The Logistics of Global Flavor

What makes Trigo stand out even among the best restaurants in Saskatchewan, is the fact that Adam basically opens a new restaurant in the same space twice a year. From March to July, their tasting menu, and restaurant decor, is focused on a particular country, and from August to December they switch to another. In 2026, opening day will be on March 20th and guests will be treated to a menu filled with Taiwanese fare. Come August the kitchen will pivot to another international cuisine for the latter half of their season. These culinary journeys are priced at $85 per person which is an absolute steal for the dishes and quality of ingredients guests get to experience.

This is a logistical nightmare for most but the Trigo team has figured out a way. It involves training staff on entirely new techniques and cultural histories. The staff has to learn as much as possible about a particular cuisine as well as the ingredients used in that cuisine. They have to acquire the skills to expertly prepare and serve these dishes while maintaining respect for the food they’re serving.

Wines from Georgia imported specifically for this Georgian menu

While all of that is daunting, the other mountain they face is the sourcing of ingredients. When Adam decides on his next menu he can’t simply call a local distributor. His team is their own logistics manager. They find and import specialty spices from bigger markets, like Toronto, and even track down niche liquors that have never sat on a Saskatchewan liquor board shelf. This commitment to authenticity, even when it’s expensive or inconvenient, is what keeps people coming back.

A Rotating Legacy

When I visited, Trigo was serving their Georgian menu, but at the time of this article being written, the kitchen is preparing, and training, for the launch of their Taiwanese menu. This constant evolution is why Trigo is more than a restaurant, it’s a destination. If the menu stayed the same, you might visit once. Because it changes, you have a reason to return to Lafleche again, and again.

Adam Henwood has provided a sustainable model for growth in a small Saskatchewan town. He swapped his law books for a set of global recipes and has ensured that Trigo Food + Drink remains a top choice for anyone looking for the best restaurant in Saskatchewan and his restaurant is now a living part of Saskatchewan’s culinary story.

Want some more road trip culinary experiences?

• Lunch In Saskatoon: Local Gems and Restaurants in Downtown Saskatoon
• Saskatoon – Meet The People and Restaurants Shaping The Culinary Scene In The Paris Of The Prairies
• Where We Ate in the Eastern Townships: A Food Lover’s Guide

Huge thanks to Tourism Saskatchewan for hosting us on this trip. Even though I wasn’t compensated for this article all opinions expressed are completely my own.