The Foodie-file: How to plan a hundred mile menu in a Canadian winter
The test kitchen recently hosted a luncheon for visiting guests of one of our American counterparts to swap ideas and talk about current trends. We decide to use the occasion to showcase the biggest trends we see on the food horizon and as well as recipes from the Canadian Living, Homemakers magazine and the web. We wanted to incorporate artisan products, locally produced products, and seasonal foods - a nod to the 100 mile trend and a bit of a challenge since we are in the dead of winter in Canada. The starter was a Root Cellar Soup based on the Irish Root Soup in the March 2007 issue of Canadian Living; a puree of rutabaga, potatoes, leeks and aromatics. Bacon, made by Cumbrae Farms in Toronto, fried crisp to a savoury salty crunch was the garnish and a foil to the creaminess of the earthy soup. Cumbrae’s pork comes from Berkshire pigs bred by a small family farm in the Georgian Bay area.
Our main course consisted of Quebec’s Oka Cheese with caramelized onions and caraway seeds melted on rye bread. Served alongside was a salad of pickled beets made during the preserving extravaganza in the test kitchen last summer tossed with apples and toasted walnuts – a twist on a Homemakers Magazine recipe coming up in the September 2008 issue. Dessert was a recipe the Canadian Living Test Kitchen has developed from one of my own recipes for an Italian-style Crostada or fruit tart – a slightly sweet pastry, spread with fruit preserves and topped with a lattice crust. Alongside we served a riesling from Niagara County.
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April 4th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Just recently opened on Queen St. East is an
Organic Butchers called Rowe Farm Organic Meats.
They have everthing organic; from whole chickens, prime rib,frozen enchiladas, frozen dog food, sausages, dairy products, deli meats etc.
Leslieville has become a much more rounded out neighbourhood since institutions like the Cheese
Market, Brick St. Bakery and newcomer Rowe Farms
moved in. The demand for Organic product is here
to stay as people are educating themselves on the
nutritional importance of eating organic.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I used to think that organic produce was too expensive, but the prices seem to be coming slowly down. If you comparison shop, you’d be surprised –there are deals to be had! To make things more affordable, I just look at my weekly supermarket flyers for the organic produce that’s on sale. I also like to shop at St. Lawrence Market not only because it’s close and I can walk there, but because I like to support our local farmers. TIP: If you go near the end of the day on Saturdays, you can get some deals because the vendors want to get rid of stuff.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
With all the changes in the world I have become more aware in the last years, purchase all my greens through my local Wheat and Berry Vegetarian organic store (red chard)etc, also purchase Kosher products through Loblaws. I beleive highly in nourishing our bodies with locally organic products healthier shows in our whole overall appearance, physically and mentally skin is glowing mind is clearer, helps combat the prices are now comparable more variety. I use the supplement “RHODIOLA” BEING A O Positive BLOOD TYPE helps me focus without having my mind all over the map, amazing. Household products are Green Clean products environmentally friendly no harsh fumes, for myself and my three cats and partner which are purchased at my local Co-op store help save our planet, makes more sense.
April 8th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
What could be better local lobster and potato salad
April 8th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
There is a place in Ottawa called the Wild Oats that serves oragnic and mostley vegetarian meals (they serve eggs and dairy), and while we absolutley love this place I find that (and with a lot of (vegan/vegetarian/organic restaurents and stores the people dont seem to be all that friendly.) As if to almost say, HEY, we know your a faker and you eat meat and non organic foods sometimes! I just think the staff could sometimes be a little friendlier to customers who may not know what to order in a non-traditional restuarent.
Now, I do recommend the food at Wild Oats on Bank St, in Ottawa because the experience as a whole is fantastic (try one of there breakfast specials, you wont want to eat anyone elses eggs ever again) They also provide a wide variety of fair trade coffees and teas, a bakery with fresh organic breads and desserts and the best part is the local paintings for sale that adorn the walls of this eclectic restaurent.