A foraging we will go

Last Friday night, I caught the Food Network’s 100 Mile Challenge, a TV show where six families take part in a daring gastronomic journey/social experiment for 100 days, only consuming food grown within 100 miles.

This particular episode involved a foraging trek, where the families followed a master forager through the BC wilderness to gather edible plants and berries they’d later cook for dinner.

And what was the dish du jour? Fried dandelion blossoms scrambled into eggs. While it sounded a little daunting, the families seemed to lap them up. Who knew those pesky little weeds could harvest such heavenly goodness?

Or maybe they were just hungry. Who knows.

What I do know is that this episode got me very excited, because this Sunday I too will be participating in a foraging trek of my own, just down the road at McCully’s Hill Farm. Spaces are limited but it sounds like a fantastic opportunity, planned by the Slow Food Perth County Convivium.

Expert forager Peter Blush will lead Sunday’s trek through the St. Marys countryside as we search for Perth County’s seasonal and most indigenous bounty. Afterward Chef Chris Woolf, of Woolfy’s Restaurant, will prepare a menu including the ingredients found during our foraging adventure and lunch will be served!

I’m so excited. I can’t wait. Now to get the Food Network to come to Stratford for a 100 mile (km?) challenge...