The Old Stone Inn in Estevan has quickly become a hidden gem for travellers and food lovers, and now its owner, Laurie Wall, is about to share her passion with the rest of Saskatchewan. Wall has been invited to appear as a guest chef in the award-winning docuseries Flat Out Food, which highlights the province’s food culture through the stories of farmers, chefs, and artisans.
Wall, who grew up on a farm north of Alameda, spent more than 20 years running Wallnuts Expressive Catering in Regina before selling the business in 2023. After some time traveling and reconnecting with her hometown roots, she took on the task of transforming Estevan’s historic stone church into the Old Stone Inn. The venue has since become a thriving bed and breakfast, known for its sold-out chef’s table dinners and beautifully crafted breakfasts made with locally sourced ingredients.
Her upcoming appearance on Flat Out Food carries a personal connection to the land she grew up on. Wall’s featured ingredient is sage, a plant that grows wild across her mother’s farm in the Souris River Valley near North Portal.
“Just smelling sage takes me right back to that land and that feeling of home,” Wall shared. “It’s always been an ingredient that resonates in my heart and soul. I couldn’t be happier to represent it.”
Beyond its cultural and spiritual ties, sage also finds its way into her kitchen. Wall has blended wild sage with rose hips and other locally foraged ingredients into tea served at the inn, and she’s eager to showcase its culinary side for the series.
Her inclusion in Flat Out Food is also a return to an earlier chapter. Host Jenn Sharp first featured Wall years ago in her award-winning book Flat Out Delicious, which celebrated Saskatchewan’s food scene through the stories of chefs, farmers, and artisans. Wall, then known for her Regina-based catering company, said this new opportunity feels like things are coming full circle.
“A few years back, Jenn included me in her book when I was still catering in Regina,” she said. “Now, instead of being in print, I’ll be on screen, hopefully without spilling anything down my shirt.”
Filming is set to take place in September, and Wall is excited not only to showcase her own cooking but also to shine a light on Estevan and the southeast. She has already been introducing visitors, many from the U.S. and Ontario, to the beauty of the region with guided nature tours and locally inspired meals at the inn.
“This series is such a gem for Saskatchewan,” Wall said. “It feels like I’m coming home, and I couldn’t be prouder to showcase this community.”
Laurie Wall, owner of Estevan’s Old Stone Inn, will be featured in the Saskatchewan docuseries Flat Out Food, where she’ll showcase sage from her family’s farm near North Portal. The appearance marks a full-circle moment after first being included in Jenn Sharp’s book Flat Out Delicious, and highlights Wall’s commitment to celebrating local ingredients while welcoming guests to experience the southeast through food, history, and community.