The Salt Spring Island movie theatre opened when I was about ten – I remember because one of the first films shown was the digitally re-mastered, re-released Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was probably only the third film I’d ever seen in a theatre. [Edit: Apparently my memory is faulty, because Nate remembers the movie theatre being open waaaaaay earlier, and unfortunately for me, it turns out he’s right. It changed hands in the early 1990s so I must be remembering the re-opening, because I swear I never saw any movies there when I was really young…! Anyway, back to the story.] Community hall by day and movie theatre by night, when I was twelve it was also the scene of my very first ever date with a boy (I wasn’t allowed to see Dangerous Minds so we watched Babe), where we sat on folding chairs because only the first few rows were proper theatre seats. Instead of the celebrity gossip and pop culture “entertainment” that precedes movies these days, they would show slide shows featuring community events, and more often than not you’d see yourself or someone you knew on the screen while you waited in line at the concession, which brings me to the best part of the Salt Spring movie theatre: the popcorn. Real popcorn with real butter instead of a coating of yellow “butter flavour”, it only cost a few dollars a bag rather than upwards of $15 for popcorn and a drink. And to season it, instead of dill pickle or cheese flavouring, there were big shakers of nutritional yeast – because on Salt Spring, we eat our popcorn yeasted. And it’s delicious.
I’m not trying to claim that the combination of popcorn + nutritional yeast originated on the island, I’m just saying that most Salt Springers are are really, really into it. Each of us has probably introduced at least one non-islander to it, and as such, I like to think that we are partly responsible for its spread. Case in point: when I attended the University of Victoria, the on-campus movie theatre concession featured a shaker of nutritional yeast for popcorn, thanks to the fact that someone from Salt Spring worked there and the fact that so many islanders end up as students there.
So, what is this nutritional yeast I speak of? It’s a deactivated kind of yeast, different from bread-baking yeast and brewer’s yeast, that comes in a flaky form and has a savoury, umami, almost cheesy taste. Apparently it is both a complete protein and high in B vitamins.
You can do many things with nutritional yeast – it is often used in vegan cuisine in place of cheese and it makes a killer salad dressing – but my favorite use is on popcorn. I pop it in a big pot on the stove because I can’t justify the cupboard space for an air popper, ie: another single purpose appliance.
In my opinion, popcorn should ALWAYS be buttered…
…and tossed with lots of nutritional yeast and salt to taste.
My favorite part is skating my finger around the bottom of the empty bowl to catch all the buttery crumbles of yeast that didn’t stick to the popcorn. Mmm.
So tell me, people of the world who read my blog: have you ever eaten popcorn like a Salt Springer, or it is just us?
This post is part of The Canadian Food Experience Project, which began June 7, 2013. As we share our collective stories through our regional food experiences, we hope to bring global clarity to our Canadian culinary identity. The theme for March is “A Regional Canadian Food”. Visit Valerie’s blog, A Canadian Foodie, on the 15th for a round-up of this month’s posts.
I love making popcorn – we do it all the time. Such a simple, tasty and healthy snack.
I, of course, definitely eat it this way! But now I put olive oil on instead of butter. A fruity olive oil is best. And I’d say it’s just as good but in a different-kind-of-taste way. (And probably better for you. Just sayin’…) Good post!
I pop mine on the stove in a pot, drizzle on Flax See Oil on instead of butter, and sprinkle with Himalyan Sea Salt !! Yum….( I’m one of the three “Nye Sisters” who ran Salt Spring Cinema back in the 1990’s ) My two sisters take their own yeast and butter into movie theatres in Ontario…..
Thanks for your comments, Louise!!
I like spicy popcorn, so In addition to the salt and yeast, I add several shakes of Tabasco sauce. I also mix my butter with garlic-chili flax oil…delicious!
Oh my gosh, that sounds delicious!
Never heard of salt springer pop corn before, but I will be picking up some nutritional yeast and give it a go, looks delicious.
Yeast on popcorn! Absurd!! I tried nutritional yeast for the first time recently when I made the famous Glory Bowl and loved it in the dressing! Perhaps I’ll give it a go on popcorn.. I rarely eat popcorn but am tempted by the idea of making it in a pot on the stove. We always had ours with icing sugar growing up..
Yes, it makes fantastic dressing! Icing sugar, hey… I’ll have to try that!
Yum – eating this now while doing a puzzle with a girlfriend. Love the umami flavours of the yeast! Salt Spring is into something good..
Ah, another convert… 😉
We use some flax oil too, just to feel really righteous!
Hah!
Oh I love it with the yeast and butter too! My new favorite is to sprinkle dehydrated lime crystals on it!! (available in the spice section at your local supermarket)
Mmm, sounds yummy!
always always eat my popcorn with yeast as well!! I crave this on a regular occasion!!
Yes, definitely!
100% agree with every ounce of this. Back in the day… I had no idea the versatility of nutritional yeast. Now I use it in everything! Cashew cheese sauce, salad dressings, soups and on top of pizza!
Sounds like Merville popcorn to me 😉
Aha, I’ve been waiting to hear where else this is popular!
I’ll have to ask my parents where it came from when they get back from vacation. I would say it isn’t as widespread in Merville, but it’s definitely there. 🙂
On Salt Spring, I think it comes from the large concentration of “crunchy granola” types who are into alternative nutrition and health food… Does that fit with Merville?
Korena this post has gone viral on my Facebook newsfeed! Lol seems all of us saltspringers are on the same page about how delicious yeast on popcorn is!!
Haha, mine too! I wasn’t expecting that kind of response but I guess it’s a topic near and dear to our hearts 😉
Ah, a little nostalgia trip. That was the best popcorn, and Danny Evanishan used to get special popcorn salt for it too. Ross found it at the local bin store, as we are using one of those big popcorn machines that were available at Costco around Christmas. I loved the slide show before the movie started. Were you old enough to remember Mrs. Cunningham playing the piano as the slide show was on? The whole thing was such a quirky special experience. Thanks for jogging the memories.
I remember Mrs. Cunningham! (She used to go to all the funerals at Central as well, even if she didn’t know the person who’d died!)
I wish I could say I remember all that, but I don’t think I ever went before the new owners took over in the 1990s. I almost didn’t even believe Nate when he said the movie theatre had been open for so much longer than I remember! lol
I have used nutritional yeast with baked kale but I have not tried it with popcorn… until later tonight. Thank you for the tip. 🙂
I bet it’s really tasty on baked kale. I hope you like it on popcorn 🙂
It’s Dill Pickle flavour for me, but the cool thing is: ANY kind of flavouring seems to be a Saltspring phenomenon….and the theatre’s been there since before my first visit in 1978!
Yes, you’re right, the theatre has definitely been around longer than I remember!
If anyone would like to have more facts, etc. about the Cinema at Central Community hall, please contact me, and I’d be happy to provide you with as much information as possible.. I have three thick Scrap Books documenting all the films shown from Feb.1991 -Feb.1997, and am in touch with Danny Evanishen, who sold Island Cinema to my two sisters and me, which we changed to Salt Spring Cinema… I also still have all the slides that were shown, which contain many unidentified Salt Springers. They’ll eventually be donated to the SS Island Archives.. ( the slides, not the Islanders! ) LOL
I am a recent new comer to Salt Spring. I love these stories. This sense of community is what I fell in love with! I also love Nutritional yeast .. and I will now try it on my popcorn!