Loving Local Living

It's not folklore: Raintree Cafe has healthy eats

2012-01-21T16:52:00.003-05:00

As featured in the January 19, 2012 edition of Dining Out, Waterloo Region Record.

If you intend to keep your resolution to eat healthy beyond the New Year – even when dining out – add the Raintree Café to your list.

Upon entering the split-level eatery near King and University in Waterloo, ignore the whimsical décor; it might have you questioning whether a garden gnome will seat you (service is quirky, but not that quirky). Instead pay attention to the Eat Smart! award of excellence on the wall, the tried-and-true menu – perfected over the last 14 years – and the continuous stream of fresh, fragrant and colourful dishes that fly out of the kitchen like magic carpets.

Our New Year lunch started quite healthily with spicy chicken satay ($12.45): five skewers of incredibly tender chicken marinated in a symphony of Thai spices and served with artichoke and asiago ‘venus dip’ (it’s all about moderation, people). Select the ‘greens’ accompaniment instead of focaccia, and it’s served atop an artistically presented salad of fresh mesclun mix, red and yellow peppers, cucumber, tomato, carrot, radicchio and alfalfa sprouts. Our server recommended the lime-ginger dressing, a concoction so good it will leave you wanting more. In fact, for $4.50, the restaurant will sell you a cup of any of its homemade dressings to take home. The portion of this appetizer is more than ample for lunch. But to satisfy your curiosity, dear reader, we needed to forge on.

We also tried the trailblazer salad ($4.95) – predictably good and chockfull of apples, trail mix, and shredded carrots amidst greens. The citrus mango poppyseed vinaigrette was enough to blaze the trail for me. Two checks for healthy eating. Practically deserving of reward, don’t you think?

Our server’s description of the pasta special ($13.99) sealed the deal: spinach and ricotta stuffed ravioli, asparagus, baby spinach, mushrooms, cooked tomatoes and asiago in a delicate tomato cream sauce. So Jenny Craig might not agree, but I was certainly won over. It had vegetables! Come to think of it, I have no idea how Raintree found such fresh-tasting asparagus in January. The vegetables’ natural flavours came through beautifully in this dish, which made it seem healthier, save the carbs and cream sauce.

Should her current job not pan out, our server could easily excel in sales. Mere suggestion that the steak sandwich ($13.45) was the best in town practically had my husband scribbling down his own order. One bite confirmed it. He was particularly impressed with how it “wasn’t all gooped up” with ingredients. Served open-faced and topped with caramelized onions, mushrooms, melted cheddar and a pickle on the side for good measure.

Now many of you won’t be interested in hearing about dessert, but important information to know should you ever be questioned. First I must convey my dessert philosophy, which is, quite simply: don’t mess around. Enjoy it in all its full-fat glory, embed it in your memory for the non-dessert days that follow, and move on (by way of treadmill).

One glance at the dessert menu and I knew we were kindred spirits: 11 varieties of Dufflet desserts, Illy coffee, brewed in a Bunn – that’s how it’s done.

My husband chose the squirrel tart ($3.50): a gratifying chocolate crust layered with fudgy peanut butter mousse, caramel, peanuts and finished in a dark chocolate glaze. Nut-tacular. I opted for the raspberry chocolate truffle ($4.95): four luxurious layers of light chocolate cake nestled between raspberry and rich chocolate truffle cream. Snap! (Goes the belt buckle.)

So we skipped dinner. It was worth it. Eating healthy is easy at the Raintree Café. Harnessing your appetite is not.
Two and a half forks

Raintree Cafe
220 King St. N., Waterloo
519-884-4953
www.raintreecafe.com

Hours
Monday to Friday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. (kitchen closes at 9 p.m.)
Saturday: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. (kitchen closes at 9 p.m.)
Closed Sundays

Wheelchair Accessibility
Inaccessible.

Cuisine
Kitchen staff didn’t just ride in on a turnip truck; they could run circles around the Mediterranean, Indian, Thai, Mexican, Cajun and American dishes they’ve perfected. What’s evident is their respect for freshness and the innate flavours of the carefully selected ingredients.

Reservations
Necessary, especially at lunch.

Atmosphere
Whimsical to the point that it needs an update (e.g. the toilets have instructions for proper flushing). Folklore meets industrial, warmed with wood. Eclectic? Bold blue walls filled with local paintings and photography, wood tables, sadly upholstered leatherette chairs. But the sari-like silk pillows lining the banquette seating always make me feel cozy. Live music some evenings.

Menu
Inventive homemade soups (‘license to dill’ caught my eye), four to five varieties each of zesty salads (with amazing homemade dressings), appetizers, wraps, sandwiches and entrees.

Drinks
Seven chalkboard offerings of local and international and wines by the glass ($5.95) and half-litre ($17.95). Nine varieties are available by the bottle ($25.95). Several local and imported beers in bottles and draught-style cans as well as hard liquor and liqueurs. Variety of lattes, teas, juices and natural soft drinks.

Service
Friendly, quirky, informative but I felt a bit rushed.

The bill
$75.65 (including tax, before tip) for a salad, appetizer, two entrees, two desserts, two glasses of wine and a coffee.

In a nutshell
This place has mastered its dishes. They don’t change often, but they’re consistently good.

Stamp your culinary passport at MeMe's Cafe

2012-01-06T16:09:00.005-05:00

As featured in the January 5, 2012 edition of Dining Out, Waterloo Region Record.

If you can’t jet set to an exotic destination this holiday, you need go no farther than MeMe’s Café in New Hamburg to sample multicultural cuisine from around the world.

That’s right: New Hamburg.

Meredith Hagen, owner of MeMe’s Café, grew up in New Hamburg but later lived in Paris and spent time in Italy, Greece and the Caribbean along the way. In a post-review conversation, Hagen credited her travels to her expanded understanding of global cuisine, which often agrees with her food allergies and gluten intolerance. She came to appreciate the slow-food mentality of these countries: preserving traditional and regional cuisine and encouraging farming of the local ecosystem, ideally organically.

When Hagen returned home and opened MeMe’s Café in 2001, she envisioned merging local, mostly organic food with international recipes to provide wholesome, feel-good options for patrons, including those with food sensitivities. Her chef, Stephen St. Christian, lived most of his life in Toronto, where he was captivated by the city’s ethnic smorgasbord of culinary marvels. These memories continue to inspire MeMe’s constantly changing menu today.

Our epicurean adventure started with callaloo ($3.25), the Caribbean version of gumbo. Spinach lends this soup its rich green colour but takes a back seat to fragrant coconut milk, hearty plantains and a hint of that Jamaican secret ingredient: allspice. It was served piping hot with soft, oven-warm bread. Had my lunch ended here, I would’ve been quite content.

But we had barely left the runway. A tour of the Mediterranean followed with MeMe’s feta salad ($5.25), which I hear has hooked locals with its organic mixed greens, sesame and sunflower seeds, almonds, red pepper, raisins, marinated feta and honey Dijon vinaigrette. Delightful.

Next came an oversized bowl of Greek seafood stew ($10.25), which had me thanking Zeus for its savoury roasted tomato and fennel broth bursting with bites of fresh sole, shrimp and calamari. I’m a bit squeamish when it comes to squid but could’ve easily taken home another bowl had it not sold out.

We also paid homage to Germany’s quiche ($9.95), with a roasted apple thyme and swiss rendition. But it was served cold, which didn’t win me over, and its flavour paled in comparison to the other dishes.

Fortunately, dessert was its redeemer, and let’s just talk about MeMe’s heavenly baked creations: gourmet cookies the size of your head, pies, squares, tarts — all godsends. Makes perfect sense that baker, Kim Frere, is a local minister’s wife.

I confess that the dessert I selected was a little more sinful, entitled “tits of the Andes” ($2.75). I’m not kidding. Apparently, this is a commonly known dessert in parts of Europe. Large, chocolate-covered coconut macaroons with white chocolate peaks were va-va-voom. Now how often can you order something off a restaurant menu with a name like that? And gluten-free, no less!

On a more wholesome note, we also sampled a zesty lemon tart ($4), which reminded me of something my sweet little Irish grandmother would lovingly prepare. Lovely.

Now don’t be disheartened when you pull up to MeMe’s unassuming exterior (OK, the interior’s nothing to write home about either). Because you know that magic is bubbling over in the kitchen when a continuous stream of customers float in and out its doors, many hugging brown paper takeout bags and sporting anticipating grins.

Who needs airport lineups, jet lag and turbulence when you can enjoy this kind of hassle-free baggage claim?

MeMe’s Cafe
102 Peel St., New Hamburg
519-662-2828
www.memescafe.com

Hours
Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Closed Sundays, and Jan. 1 to 9 for holidays.

Accessibility
One step up to the entrance makes this café not accessible.

Cuisine
Internationally inspired dishes with a local twist.

Reservations
Not necessary.

Atmosphere
A dim but homey café with barn-board floors and eclectic wood furniture amid retro Formica and aluminum tables and chairs. Walls covered with local artwork.

Menu
Soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches, entrees and many delectable desserts. Varieties change daily. Many marked gluten-free options. MeMe’s Café also has a catering menu for weddings, private dinner parties, corporate events and luncheons covering areas as wide as Stratford to Toronto. All culinary creations — including those served at the café — are prepared at its off-site industrial kitchen, also located in New Hamburg.

Drinks
Several varieties of Baden Coffee Company organic javas, dry sodas (in unique flavours such as rhubarb, juniper berry, vanilla bean and lavender), organic juices and all-natural sodas. Not licensed.

Service
Friendly (know most customers by name) and accommodating.

The bill
$40.06 (before tax, including tip) for an order of soup, a salad, two mains and two desserts.

In a nutshell
Excellent food, great value, charming little café. Two and a half forks

Crazy for Stratford's Pazzo

2011-12-15T13:49:00.005-05:00

As featured in the December 15, 2011 edition of Dining Out, Waterloo Region Record.

Stratford transforms into a charming Victorian Christmas card this time of year. Downtown gleams with wreath-encircled lampposts, white lights, garland and red velvet bows. Add gently falling snow, and your heart can’t help but ignite with the magic of the season.

Holiday shopping Stratford’s unique storefronts provides a refreshing alternative to the mall, and a great excuse to eat in a city known for award-winning cuisine. Having lived there several years, I had the privilege of enjoying numerous fine meals prepared by meticulous Stratford chefs, many of whom unite with local farmers to bring fresh, honest, intrinsically good food to your table.

I feel like a kid in a candy store when deciding where to eat in Stratford. But after a recent downtown shopping excursion on a blustery December afternoon, one comfort food came to mind: pizza. Specifically, the best pizza I’ve ever had, found at Pazzo Pizzeria.

Articulating its splendor should come easy to a writer. However, I’m not sure there’s an English word to do it justice. Let’s just say that ‘pazzo’ is Italian for ‘crazy’ and you’d be crazy not to go.

My recent Pazzo reunion started with an old-time favourite: Caesar salad ($9), which is nothing shy of extraordinary. Its tangy, from-scratch dressing has the perfect combination of garlic, anchovy, lemon and Worcestershire. Fresh bite-sized romaine hearts layered amidst crispy pancetta, quality parmigiano-reggiano and airy herbed croutons. You haven’t truly appreciated a caesar salad until you’ve tried this version.

My husband’s antipasti plate ($12) was an assortment of marinated olives, artichoke hearts, pickled cauliflower and beets, roasted shallots, goat cheese, mozzarella, prosciutto, spicy salami, capocollo and arugula. Its fresh, local, quality ingredients bellowed, “Welcome to la dolce vita!” on a plate.

I forgot to mention the bread. Spongy focaccia with a delicately salted crust (prepared at Pazzo’s Bakery next door) accompanies every meal along with a shallow dunking dish of fruity olive oil and syrupy balsamic, demonstrating again that ‘quality’ and ‘simplicity’ forge a powerful union.

Onto the main event: the thin-crust pizza, available in plain or whole wheat. A variety of cleverly named renditions – the don corleone, soprano, Vatican and marco polo, to name a few – are all virtuoso in their own rights. My favourite, the medici ($10), is a spicy little number with hot peppers, kalamata olives, diced tomato, pesto and buffalo mozzarella. The smell alone has imprinted my memory for dentist chair visits when I need to go to my “happy place.” What’s more, it sings ‘O Sole Mio’ when dipped in Pazzo’s signature chili oil.

My husband ordered the ricotta gnocchi ($13) after our server said she could eat it all day and all night. Now we get it. Tender pillows of potato perfection, drenched in a rich Gorgonzola cream sauce balanced with colourful grilled radicchio: delightful.

There was no turning back now so tiramisu with espresso cream ($7.50) and a flourless chocolate square with double-chocolate sauce ($7.50) followed. The quality of the chocolate and coffee percolated through each bite.

The pizzeria’s ambiance– Stratford’s oldest cellar transformed into a sleek but warm urban resto-lounge – is molto cool; yet not so cool that you couldn’t bring your kids. Our two-year-old always enjoys dining at Pazzo.

While we’re visiting family in Stratford this Christmas, I think we might grab a meal from the new ‘Pazzo to go’ take-out menu. Perfect for those frosty late-December days when you feel like eating like kings in the comfort of your own pajamas.

Pazzo Ristorante, Bar and Pizzeria
70 Ontario St., Stratford
519-273-6666
www.pazzo.ca

Pizzeria Hours
Sunday to Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Closed Mondays

Wheelchair Accessibility
Through the back door off Erie Street. Ristorante accessible through Ontario Street.

Cuisine
Simple, fresh, quality Italian food made spectacularly. Locavores live here.

Reservations
Recommended, especially during the theatre season.

Atmosphere
Pazzo is divided into two restaurants: the downstairs pizzeria is a swanked-up cellar that’s hip, casual and warm. Pazzo’s street-level ristorante (only open during the theatre season, although occasionally for New Year’s Eve) provides a stunning and formal atmosphere with a more adventurous menu. Take-out meals can be picked up at the Pazzo Bakery next door.

Menu
Amazing salads, appetizers, pizza, pasta, gnocchi and a few gluten-free dinner mains such as risotto, beef short ribs and olive brine braised chicken.

Drinks
An extensive drink list dominates the menu. A variety of martinis, manhattans, sparkling wines and cocktails, local and imported beers on tap and in bottles, premium and bar-brand liquors, selection of whiskeys. Wines are available by the glass ($6-$10), by 500 ml-, 750 ml- or 1,000 ml-carafes or bottles ($38-$75). Dessert menu features Italian liqueurs, grappa, sherry, port and specialty coffees. A few fancy non-alcoholic options as well.

Service
Down-to-earth, knowledgeable, easy-going and attentive.

The bill
$82.49 (including tax, before tip) for two glasses of wine, and two orders of appetizers, entrees and desserts.

In a nutshell
Three and a half forks.

Soup-to-nuts dining at The Cellar in Elora

2011-12-01T13:04:00.006-05:00

As featured in the December 1, 2011 edition of Dining Out, Waterloo Region Record.

A cellar conjures all sorts of images: a fruit cellar sparkling with homemade preserves, a root cellar amassing harvested vegetables, a storm cellar providing shelter during inclement weather, and my personal favourite, a wine cellar, aging row upon row of Domaine Romanée-Conti pinot noir. A girl can dream, can’t she?

And then there’s the cellar (read: basement) you’d find in an old fieldstone farmhouse: home to a mishmash of soup-to-nuts sundries and wares with the odd hidden gem. This is what you can expect to find at The Cellar Pub and Grill in Elora.

Tucked behind a Mill Street jeweller, The Cellar’s entrance is authenticated by rickety stairs descending to what appears to be a pub, with exposed beams, wine barrels, a flatscreen and bar. But round the corner, and you’ve entered a dining space adorned with espresso tables, oversized chairs and contemporary art amidst gilt-framed landscapes, silk flowers and cascading ivy. Step onto the deck and you’re transported again, this time to a stonewall patio framing Grand River views.

The eclecticism continues on the menu: Smoked pork Kesseler, pad thai, salmon Wellington, chicken curry, jumbo chicken wings, Cajun calamari and Italian sausage penne to name a few.

While part of me wanted to embrace this eclecticism that’s quintessentially Elora, the Type A in me wanted to focus! What was this place all about – what was it known for? And who better to ask than our server, whose friendliness and wit made us feel like regulars.

Trusting her suggestions, we started with steamed mussels ($11), which were fresh, tender and soaked in a spicy white-wine garlic sauce. We also shared the baked goats cheese ($10), pursed in flakey phyllo pastry and floating in a delicate raspberry ginger sauce. I’m sure it comes as no surprise that this app was heady goodness, I mean let’s face it: when sweet seduces tangy and then rolls around in a blanket of phyllo, nothing short of magic happens on the palate.

Next came the suggested mains, along with my unfortunate desire to stuff them back into the cellar.

My salmon Wellington ($19) was a disappointment, especially since I was on such a roll with phyllo. Unlike the appetizer, this pastry wasn’t cooked evenly, causing the outside to appear very brown while the inside felt like raw dough. The salmon itself tasted burnt to me, and the criss-cross grill marks were quite black in parts. The saving graces for this dish were the chunky, steamed vegetables, fluffy basmati and scrumptious dill sauce that I could’ve quite easily bathed in.

My husband’s AAA NY striploin ($24) was a mixed bag. While he appreciated its simple seasoning and size (no man-versus-beast Medieval Times portions here), he was visibly bummed when it arrived medium, not his requested medium-rare. My husband will eat anything (except creamed corn), but couldn’t understand why this was considered a house specialty.

Then came the desserts: chocolate brownie torte ($6.25) and sticky toffee pudding ($6), both hidden gems, although I say this in trust because I didn’t actually taste the sticky toffee pudding (my husband devoured it quicker than I could say ‘Werthers’). However, he did offer this review: “It had raisins. And cinnamon?” Proof of its delectability was clearly in the pudding.

Now I’m a girl who’s sweet on the underdog, so while I long to write about a rare and magnificent find you must check out immediately, I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you of the unpredictability that lies within The Cellar. Treasures – such as those mouthwatering appetizers – are there, you just need to know which shelf of the menu to search.

The Cellar Pub and Grill
13 Mill St. E., Elora
(519) 846-1333

Hours
Monday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Tuesday: closed
Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. – midnight
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Wheelchair Accessibility
Through the back patio doors.

Menu
Pub grub, barbecue, seafood, pasta, elegant-sounding entrees – a true mixed bag. Ignore the website’s drool-inducing gourmet pizza pics: pizza isn’t on the menu (at least not while I was there).

Reservations
The website recommends it. We made reservations but only two other parties dined while we were there one early Thursday evening in November, along with a few bar patrons.

Atmosphere
An exercise in juxtapositions. Go ahead and wear your jeans.

Drinks
Draft and bottled beers, selection of wines, cocktails, frozen drinks and teetotaler options.

Service
Friendly, attentive, anticipating your next need.

The bill
No pub change. $105.37 (including tax, before tip) for two glasses of wine, two appetizers, two entrees and two desserts.

In a nutshell
Two forks.

Localicious lunch @ Jacob's Grill

2011-10-20T06:46:00.005-04:00

As featured in the October 20, 2011 edition of Dining Out, Waterloo Region Record.

The locavore in me explodes at this time of year. Fall’s bountiful harvest matures into a feast for the senses, drawing my gastronomic compass to everything local, fresh and at the peak of flavour. Recently, it lured me 3 km north of Waterloo to downtown St. Jacobs’ newest hotspot: Jacob’s Grill.

Formerly Vidalia’s, Jacob’s Grill opened in April under the same Stone Crock ownership but with a new bistro-pub concept and menu. Executive chef, Erin Helwig, is passionate about local food and has participated in events like Foodlink’s Taste Local! Taste Fresh! for years.

Erin showcases the fertile soil of our 100-mile backyard through the Jacob’s Grill menu, consisting of appetizers, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, mains, desserts and specialty coffees. Its location is prime, adjoined to Stone Crock’s restaurant, bakery and deli.

Location is everything. And being this close to an in-house bakery, deli, eco-rich farm country, and Canada’s largest year-round farmers’ market influences the menu, which is peppered with ‘JG’ symbols highlighting local ingredients. All are sold at the Stone Crock Bakery or Meats & Cheese shop.

Committed to lunching local, my husband and I started with two savoury appetizers: cedar plank-baked brie (the restaurant uses local Harmony Organics or a Toronto cheese producer), which oozed onto a bed of bakery-fresh parmesan crisps and rosemary focaccia. This sweet and salty dish, topped with homemade mango chutney ($11.99), had just the right hit of heat.

Then came the hushpuppies ($8.99). And these are no A & W variety. Piping hot and packed with whipped Woolwich goat cheese, these jalapeno-speckled cornbread poppers tasted even better dunked into the charred Niagara-tomato coulis.

When it came to mains, we were tempted by the obvious choice: the ‘local eats’ ($9.99) featuring Noah Martin summer sausage, Pine River havarti, maple dijon (using West Montrose syrup) on a Stone Crock viking roll. Instead I opted for the curried turkey salad panini ($10.99) made with Bright’s cheddar, sliced apples from Martin’s Family Fruit Farm and homemade cranberry-mango chutney smeared on grilled naan. Confession: I did not see a tandoor oven at the Stone Crock Bakery. However, even my best efforts to eat local are occasionally trumped by my Punjabi roots. (Who can resist naan?)

While these flavour combinations danced Bollywood on my palate, a couple pieces of the turkey felt tough in my mouth, putting me off a bit. But the accompanying salad of St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market seasonal vegetables, glistening with white balsamic vinaigrette, redeemed it.

The blue burger ($12.99) was made with Norwich Packers beef and prepared thick and small like my husband’s mother used to make on the farm. By the time you added the blue cheese, red onion marmalade and homemade bun, it was so thick that he wasn’t sure whether to squish it or use cutlery (he squished). A tomato-based beef and cabbage soup – another salute to fall – rounded out his meal with a comforting hint of sweetness.

Did I mention the Niagara-on-the-Lake Reif Estates chardonnay ($6.85 a glass)? Just doing my part to go local.

The fresh berry almond meringue ($4.99) was sprinkled with seasonal fruits, fragrant mint and drizzled with Bauman Apiaries honey from Millbank. Delicious. The chocolate grand marquis ($4.99) was a “frozen chocolate bar,” which I didn’t quite understand or particularly enjoy, but I savoured its glorious Stone Crock cherry preserve. The half-dozen desserts listed on the menu are all prepared and sold at the bakery next door.

As our observant and friendly server cleared our plates, my husband sipped on the hot cinnamon specialty coffee (Goldschlager and Wellesley hot apple cider) and I marveled at the patio doors that opened onto the quaint streetscape of fieldstone buildings. How this 80-seat restaurant was half-full on a non-market Tuesday afternoon in October baffled me. But clearly, the word is out.

Great service + warm atmosphere + a fresh and localicious menu = Three forks.

Hours
Tuesday and Wednesday: 12 – 9 p.m.
Thursday to Saturday: 12 – 10 p.m.
Sunday: 12 – 5 p.m.

Wheelchair Accessibility
Yes.

Cuisine
Refined international pub fare with a wholesome local twist.

Reservations
Recommended on Thursdays and Saturdays when the market is bustling.

Atmosphere
Casual, contemporary and warm

Menu
Soup, salads, deluxe pub grub, pizza (gluten-free options), burgers and sandwiches. A variety of mains from near and far – coconut cashew lamb curry, chipotle sticky ribs, steak frites, grilled seafood and sesame chicken Thai noodles – and half a dozen decadent desserts.

Drinks
Selection of affordable ($6.65 – $8.95) wines by the 6-oz glass from Ontario, Italy, Argentina, Australia. Bottles ranging from $28 – $33), local and imported drafts and bottles, martinis, cocktails and a variety of specialty coffees.

Service
Attentive, courteous and knowledgeable.

The bill
$89.88 (before tip) for two glasses of wine, two appetizers, two burger/sandwich combos, two desserts, a coffee and a specialty coffee.

Not the Loo I remember

2011-07-05T08:25:00.023-04:00

Oh people, it's been too long. I've vanished from bloggersphere for months now. It started with a move from Stratford to Waterloo when I was... eight months pregnant. I know - insane. When my brother and sister-in-law moved at six months pregnant, I was Judgy McJudgypants, wondering what the heck they were thinking. Never in a million years did I think I would be in their shoes, packing up boxes and watching my dear husband orchestrate our biggest move yet. Only pregnant-er.

Then came Christmas. And New Year's Eve, the day our precious daughter decided to make her debut. Carry the colic and a winter that felt like it would last centuries. Baptisms, birthday parties (our first-born turned 2), and here I am. I'm actually not sure where this blog is going anymore, but if you're patient with me, maybe we'll figure it out together.

So, let's talk about my new old city: Waterloo. Having grown up here, I'm surprised at its refreshing revitalization. Or maybe I'm also seeing the city in a new light since children. My days have been spent exploring Waterloo's many playgrounds and trails, the Waterloo Tennis Club (a return after 20 years - I can't even believe that), the St. Jacobs Market (YUM! More on that later. Oh, and our son is fascinated with taking the train there), Waterloo Park, The Museum, Vincenzo's, Thrive, The Bauer Kitchen, La Patisserie, City Cafe Bakery, Stork , and Romeo Salon and Spa. I've joined a great book club, met some amazing neighbours and I'm consistently amazed at the beautiful mature trees in my neighbourhood and the quality of life Waterloo has to offer.

I'm looking forward to this month's Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival, and next month's Kitchener's Blues Festival.

All's well in Kitchener-Waterloo. And it's good to be home.

Stratford 2 Waterloo

2010-11-07T10:12:00.019-05:00

Last month, my world got rocked, which is the reason for my absence from Bloggerville.

It all started one seemingly normal Tuesday morning, when my husband and I were trying to get ourselves ready for work and our son prepared for daycare. I had a presentation at work that day, so I was a little more frazzled than usual, but in no way expected the train of events that would follow.

On our way into work, I realized I forgot something at the house, and so we had to turn around and go back home to pick it up. This wouldn't be a big deal for most people, but my husband and I both work in Waterloo (our son attends daycare there as well), so this small change of schedule threw everything off.

It's not that we aren't used to the drive; my husband and I have been doing it for the last 6.5 years. But something changed after I returned to work from maternity leave and suddenly we found ourselves leaving Stratford early and arriving home late. With the drop-offs, I was finding myself on the road two hours a day. And on that particular Tuesday morning, it all came to a head. Essentially, we snapped and realized what we had been denying for so long: commuting was getting the better of us and we needed to make a change.

The thought of moving to Waterloo had crossed our minds many times in the past (usually in the dead of winter when even the highways couldn't take the harshness of winter in the snow belt), but our decision always returned to staying in Stratford because we love it so much here. We're nestled on the Avon, a short distance from the theatre, the downtown core is vibrant and alive, creativity flows as freely as the WiFi and we've been so excited about what the University of Waterloo Stratford campus and Stratford Institute are promising our fair city. More importantly, we're close to family and have experienced a sense of community here like nowhere else.

But as pretty as this picture may be, it all comes at a price. And I'm not talking just gas or time: I mean sanity! We realized that we're living in Stratford for the weekends because on the weekdays, we're too exhausted to do much else.

And so, on the Wednesday following that crazy Tuesday morning, we made the bold move of peeking on a real estate website to see what was available in Waterloo and lo and behold, we found a house that felt right and was situated fewer than five minutes from our places of work and daycare. Long story short: we bought it, and moving day is just around the corner.

Before we could get excited about the many wonderful things Waterloo has to offer our growing family, we had to mourn the loss of Stratford. We saw ourselves here for a long time, but thankfully, we will be back often to visit family and friends.

One of the many benefits of moving to Waterloo will involve reducing our carbon footprint, which also feels right to us. We calculated that we'll be saving 16 days a year off the road (and I mean 24-hour days!). I grew up in the area and so I'm familiar with the city, but so much has changed since I lived there and I look forward to making many new discoveries that I will post in this blog, along with some old (and new) favourites from Stratford and the surrounding area.

So there you have it - my long story not so short after all. I want to thank the many people who have made my time in Stratford over the last 6.5 years so memorable. You are a wonderful community that I was proud to be part of and a little piece of my heart will always belong to Stratford.

In the words of William Shakespeare, "Parting is such sweet sorrow," but it's time to move on, and I look forward to discovering many of my own unearthed joys in my new but familiar city and surrounding area.

So stay tuned. And thank you for accompanying me on my journey.

Savour Stratford 2010: Sept 25 and 26

2010-09-25T12:55:00.005-04:00

It's here, it's finally here! Savour Stratford is alive and well and bustling up Stratford this morning.

As I write this, artisan vendors are beautifully lining York Street and Veterans Drive like a Parisian Saxe-Breteuil Market. The day will be graced with outdoor concerts, a York Street Carnivale as well as Tasting Tent, Stratford Chefs School Learning Centre demonstrations, an Ontario wine and craft beer pavilion, a Culture Days Tent and so much more.

Tonight, sit back and enjoy the BBQ, Blues and Brews event and make sure you get lots of sleep tonight. Savour Stratford continues tomorrow with another full day of sumptuous events.

This event makes me so proud to live in Stratford. If you haven't been, you MUST GO! Each of your senses will thank me.

Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival: Sept. 25

2010-09-24T19:42:00.005-04:00

When my husband and I started dating, I asked him if he would go to the Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival with me. Part of my request was tongue-in-cheek; I had never been before but thought it sounded 'cheesy' enough to be a fun second or third date. When he gracefully turned me down because he made plans with a buddy to attend a Michigan football game, I thought I'd have a little fun with it. I decided to attend with a couple family members anyway and make a photo diary of my excursion (so he'd see all the fun he was missing!).

These were pre-digital days, and if I had a scanner I would show you some of the goofy pics I took for him. Pics of the blue grass bands, square dancers, long line-ups to delicious fritter- and dumpling-land, ice cream makers - everything you'd imagine from a typical fall fair scene.

The Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival is a riot. I've been several times and always get a kick out of it. It's happening TODAY, Saturday, September 25 (what isn't happening today?!) and if you feel like some ol' fashioned cheese, go and check it out.

More to do in Stratford this weekend!

2010-09-24T12:55:00.008-04:00

At the risk of sounding like an informercial – wait, there’s more!

I forgot to tell you about the Stratford Fall Fair this weekend, September 25 and 26. I took my son last year along with a friend and her daughter. We were so surprised at the number of roller coasters, rides and carnival games available for kids of all ages. And imagine my delight when I discovered Ken's chuckwagon was even there. Who needs cotton candy when you've got the most delectable local fries on site?

If your kids love animals, you'll want to check out the petting zoo inside the fairgrounds, as well as the 4H dairy shows. Fun for the whole family.

One Tasty Week in Stratford

2010-09-23T16:34:00.019-04:00

Culinary Week 2010 is on in Stratford, and it’s all leading up to the Grand Poobah of events: Savour Stratford, this weekend, September 25 and 26.

Perhaps you’ve already checked out Garlic Festival, the Edible Tour of Stratford, the "Farm to Table" photography exhibit, or the Shake Your Martini fundraiser at the Gallery Stratford this week. You might have even participated in the 'For the Love of Cheese' tasting at The Milky Whey, A Feast of Comedy or maybe you even have tickets for Pubs, Pilsner and Spirits tonight (complete with spooky stories about what haunts local establishments). But if you haven't participated in Culinary Week yet, don't worry - there's more.

Friday (September 24), another Edible Tour of Stratford is planned, as well as Beerology Craft Beer Tasting (unfortunately it's sold out), Food Doc Screening Tableland and let's not forget the Savour Stratford Launch at Fosters.

Graze and sample as much as you're able, but don't tire yourself out: more on this weekend's bountiful activities. Clear your calendar - you won't want to miss the many delightful festivities in store.

Dive into fall with sumptuous events: Sep 18 & 19

2010-09-16T12:52:00.033-04:00

Once I got over summer's sudden dissolve, it was easier for me to embrace the amber warmth of fall, especially with all the festivities planned throughout Stratford and area in the coming weeks.

In fact, the multitude of events have transformed my September calendar into what looks like a football playbook sketch! Watch for a series of posts on all the fantastic activities you won’t want to miss, starting with Birtch Farms' Apple Festival, September 18 and 19.

You might have caught last year’s blog post about Birtch Farms and one of its treasured fall festivals. If you have kids or are in love with autumn delights, you'll want to put it at the top of your to-do list this weekend.

And it's only the tip of the cornucopia. We’ve also got the Stratford Rotary Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, as well as the delicious outdoor Stratford Garlic Festival.

To top it off, this weekend marks only the start of a week's worth of culinary events in Stratford, leading up to Savour Stratford, September 25 and 26: the Mac Daddy of all culinary festivals in Ontario.

So pull out your warm sweaters, rubber boots and fall palate for a gastronomic adventure that'll leave you hungry for harvest hootenanny.

Local vs. Organic - what do you think?

2010-09-01T14:09:00.024-04:00

I'm having a local vs. organic dilemma. As you've read, buying local is very important to me, and harvest certainly is plentiful this time of year. However, buying organic is also near and dear, especially now: I'm 5.5 months pregnant and trying to provide my growing baby, 17-month old toddler, husband and self with ample nutrition, free of as many pesticides as possible.

While the grocery store isn't my favourite place to buy food, I find it difficult to completely avoid. I'm pleased that our Zehrs in Statford is promoting local foods in a prominent section as you enter the store, but much of its organic food comes from afar.

Just last Sunday, I found myself hovering over the produce section: do I buy my toddler Ontario peaches - local, fresh, his favourite and also part of the dirty dozen - or do I opt for the organic nectarines from California? It's not helping my cause, but this time I chose the nectarines.

Thankfully there are places like the Organic Oasis, Pfenning's Organic and the Gentle Rain in Stratford that offer local organic alternatives (which aren't as expensive as I initially thought). But their offerings are limited and won't help me come winter.

I suppose I could set aside some time to do some freezing and canning like I tried for the first time last year, although the energy stores are low these days! I wish a return to organic farming was as popular in Ontario as it is in California.

While 'organic vs. non-organic' is one of today's hot topics, I've read enough about carcinogenic effects of pesticides to steer me clear of the dirty dozen.

Maybe I'll chat with LOFT Market again at Savour Stratford in September to see if they're reconsider adding Stratford to their drop-off route.

And if you have any other suggestions (who's up for an advocacy campaign?!), I'd love to hear from you.

The Beach + Forager Foods = one tasty vacation

2010-08-13T13:16:00.021-04:00

My family just arrived home after a week at the lake - Lake Huron - where the beaches are sandy, the sunsets are spectacular and the natural scenery is breathtaking.

We rented a cottage in St. Joseph, a little town I hadn't heard of between Bayfield and Grand Bend. It was my son's first time swimming in a lake (last year he was just a few months old and it was too cold for the little monkey) and it was a joy to watch him dipping in and out of the shallow water with sheer delight buried in his giggle. For this reason alone, we spent a lot of our time at the beach.

However, on a rainy day, it was also wonderful to stop into the two neighbouring towns. In Bayfield, I found a fantastic little shop called Forager Foods. This locavore-friendly and environmentally responsible food shop offers natural and family farm raised pork, veal, chicken and grass-fed beef as well as duck, bison, elk and venison, all raised within a short distance of the store.

And if you're a pseudo vegetarian like me, you can also enjoy other local products like fresh produce, cheeses, preserves, pastas, pot pies, soup, sauces, curries and stews and prepared items like salads, sandwiches and even gourmet mac n' cheese.

Forager Foods has partnered with more than two dozen farmers and food producers to offer unique Ontario-centric shopping experience for foodies and fresh junkies alike.

And something about being at the beach makes it taste even better.

That is, if you can keep those little hands out of the sand long enough to savour a few heavenly bites.

The County Food Co: fresh, local, responsible, delicious

2010-07-25T14:34:00.020-04:00

My parents own a building downtown Stratford, and one of the tenants in that building is The County Food Co., located at 38 Erie, just south of Ontario Street.

While I had been there a number of times, I found The County Food Co. really came in handy the days and weeks after our son was born. My husband and I were in no mood to cook yet we craved local-fresh, wholesome comfort food to nourish our joyful but exhausted souls.

The County Food Co. offers an extensive menu of a la cart dishes, which allows you to mix and match to create your own meal. It has a gorgeous salad bar, prepared sandwiches, local cheeses, meat and vegetarian dishes, dips, pies, breads, focaccia pizzas and desserts. I particularly love its grilled salmon fillet with lemon and herbs, as well as its sesame and ginger salmon fillet. Cooked to perfection and chalk full of savoury goodness and omega-3s.

The pot pies are known to miraculously cure the blues and the potato pancakes and tomato basil risotto cakes round out any meal, especially for those last-minute dinner drop-ins that your fridge or sanity aren't quite stocked for.

Chef/business owner Janet Ashworth graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in New York and she's built masterpieces in kitchens in Toronto, Denver and England. She's also been a caterer, food stylist for film and television, as well as a restauranteur. Her tasty fare has even gathered attention from Toronto Life Magazine, the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.

She's also crackers about local food. You might see her gathering the freshest and brightest produce at the Stratford Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings. She supports local farmers and food producers and proudly displays them on her website.

And when she's not just buying local produce at the Stratford Farmer's Market, she's also selling it. Under the name Starfish, Chef Janet provides quality fresh fish to the Stratford area, complete with point-of-origin information for interested customers. Starfish strives to offer fish that come from sustainable and responsible resources, with an online selection list that's updated every Thursday afternoon.

And the list goes on. The County Food Co. also offers a unique Balance program, which is a line of single-serving meals designed to deliver balanced portions of proteins, carbohydrates and fats (also available in convenient frozen packages).

What's more, The County Food Co. welcomes its customers to bring their own containers, to help with disposable waste.

Fresh, local, responsible and delicious. These are the ingredients for 'real food.'

And really, what more could you ask for?

Small-Mart: go small or go home

2010-07-18T12:21:00.055-04:00

I've always cheered for the underdog.

This could be why I find it so refreshing to discover a new local haunt, my favourite new underdog, that represents the antithesis of Walmart in every way.

The name of this place? Small-Mart General Mercantile. And don't you just dig it already?

Located at 121 Ontario Street in Stratford, Small-Mart carries quirky, retro-inspired gifts, unique candy, jewellery, design items and cool Canada-esque paraphernalia.

It proudly displays local goods too, some of which include Red Canoe Heritage Brands, Klockworks, Biko Jewellery, Canada Flip Books and the hot new return of the '70s Solair chair, made in Quebec. Small-Mart even partnered with McCully's Hill Farm to create its very own maple syrup.

Small-Mart owners Carrie and Jeremy Wreford, who also own Bradshaws in Stratford, insist that their hip new haunt isn’t a sneer at the big guy, but a cheer for the small guy, and a modern adaptation of the traditional general store.

Stratford, like many other communities (notably Guelph), has fought for years to keep Walmart out of the city, because of its urban planning issues (often located on the outskirts of town and re-zoned to serve its needs while wreaking havoc on the environment and congesting roads with traffic), global mass produced products that help drive prices down while threatening small business owners trying to make ends meet. Stratford's thriving downtown, which has been praised by planners and environmental groups north and south of the border, is just too important to the city to jeopardize.

Ah, consumerism. Isn't it grand?

At least we all have choices. And Small-Mart has become one of mine.

Get your kicks at The Annex

2010-06-26T13:59:00.029-04:00

There's something about the Annex Room Restaurant that just exhales comfort. The menu is elegant but casual with comfort food abound: gourmet pizzas of multiple varieties, dijon-crusted chicken surpreme (one of my favourites), beef tenderloin, Asian mango salmon, pastas like shrimp or chicken linguini, teriyaki chow mein, spinach and ricotta ravioli. Yumm.

Its appetizers are fabulous, and I use that word sparingly. When I was there last Saturday, I ordered its salad special: a Thai-inspired beauty with cabbage and peanut sauce that had me thanking to Buddha for such a delicious gift. I also couldn't pass up the 'Annex Mezze Plate for Two' with a trio of dips and spreads served with warm pita bread. And then I remembered - every meal at The Annex starts with a warm bulb of roasted garlic that spreads on freshly-baked bread "like butta." Let's just say I had to take half of my main course home. My eyes instantly grow bigger than my belly at this place!

And why wouldn't they, especially with so many dishes being inspired by fresher-than-fresh local offerings. Talk to Christine and she'll tell you that many of The Annex's fruits and vegetables come from her father's own garden.

Christine is just one of the members of The Annex who will make your experience first-rate. This place is all about service and extreme hospitality. Last year, my husband and I decided to host our son's post-baptism lunch at The Annex for 30-some family members. I was, and continue to be, amazed by the outstanding - and affordable - food and impeccable service. Each time I go in there I feel like family from the moment I walk through the door.

Cheers to The Annex Restaurant. You've raised the bar on the Stratford dining experience. And that is really something.

Rush to Stratford's Slow Food Sunday Market

2010-06-08T19:42:00.025-04:00

As I attended Stratford's first Slow Food Sunday Market on June 6, a Margaret Mead quote kept running through my mind: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

I like to think of these vendors as food whisperers. And what are they whispering to that gorgeous, ethical and socially responsible food? "Good, clean, fair." It's the Slow Food motto, after all.

So what is a Slow Food Market? First and foremost, it's community run, which strengthens local food networks. It provides access to quality food you can trust, bought directly from the producers. It offers fair prices for consumer and producers, fostering local economies, and locally-sourced food that reduces food miles and shortens the food chain. What's different about a Slow Food Market is that consumers become co-producers, learning from producers and educational activities.

Like a well kept secret, it's a bit tricky to find. It's located at 49 Griffith Road at the Monforte Dairy. The market runs Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through to the end of October.

What the first Sunday market lacked in quantity, it made up for in the quality of vendors, which included Koert Organics, Deeply Rooted Farms, Anything Grows, Kawthoolei Organic Farm, Soiled Reputation, Creton's Garden Fresh Produce & Herbs, Bizjak Farms along with host, Monforte Dairy.

Of course, as the growing season ripens, the market will continue to grow, along with each vendor's offerings. New vendors are also invited to e-mail the Slow Food Perth County Convivium at info@slowfoodperthcounty.ca to learn how to participate.

Sundays often turn into my Slow Food cooking days, and now with a Stratford Slow Food Sunday Market and the "season of fresh" upon us, who knows what sweet or savoury dishes might leisurely emerge from my kitchen.

Hooray for Herrle's!

2010-06-06T09:13:00.016-04:00

Imagine my surprise and delight when Herrle's Country Farm Market, intended to open mid-June, opened its doors to aisles of gorgeous seasonal local produce on June 2 instead!

Located at 1243 Erb's Road in St. Agatha, Herrle's is a family-run farm that has been in operation for 152 years. In 1964, Howard and Elsie Herrle started a retail farming business when they grew a few acres of sweet corn and sold it from their garage. The Herrle name soon became known for its fresh-from-the-field sweet corn. And six generations of Herrles later, the sweet corn fields mingled with strawberries, peas, beans and pumpkins too.

In 1988, the Herrles built their Farm Market - what you'll see today - which opens from June until the end of October. Field production expanded to add cucumber, beets, spinach, zucchini and squash. Herrle's also built a bakery that same year, and today customers are greeted with the aroma of freshly baked pies, muffins, butter tarts, chelsea buns, and cookies. And raspberry tarts! Oh, I couldn't keep my eyes off those when I visited last Friday.

Another great feature of Herrle's is its pick-your-own-patch option for customers wishing to foray into the fields for freshly picked berries. Although with a motto like "Freshness Makes the Difference," you're sure to be surrounded by freshly-picked freshness in every aspect of the farm store too.

While I was pressed for time on Friday, I couldn't resist visiting Herrle's for the first time this season. I picked up fresh strawberries, peas in the pod, peppers, cherries, mushrooms and asparagus.

To continue on this local and fresh path, today I think I'll venture over to the new Stratford Sunday Slow Food Market at 49 Griffith Road to enjoy more fruits and vegetables of the season. More on that later.

The season of abundant Ontario farm-fresh produce is officially open! And it tastes spectacular.

Swan Lake

2010-06-02T20:00:00.003-04:00

Another Stratford joy: the magestic swans that glide across the Avon like ambassadors to our fair city. Many river walks have been interrupted by a need to stop and marvel at their beauty and elegance. I'm continuously transfixed by the baby cygnets that breathe new life into our waters. It's no surprise that swans are symbols of gracefulness, calmness, sensitivity, love, and beauty.

In fact, swans are revered in many cultures, including Hinduism, where they are compared to saintly persons whose chief characteristic is to be in the world without getting attached to it, just as a swan's feather does not get wet although it is in water. The Sanskrit word for swan is hamsa or hansa, and the vehicle of many deities like the goddess Saraswati. It is mentioned several times in the Vedic literature, and those having attained great spiritual capabilities are sometimes called Paramahamsa ("Great Swan") because of their spiritual grace and ability to travel between various spiritual worlds.

Ironic, in light of recent events. I wouldn't want to be the karmic recipient of this one.

I've been saddened and disturbed by what happened last weekend to Angela, the gentle swan who mothered her eggs in a nest below the William Hutt Bridge. A cruel and unfathomable attack by bullies - human bullies - brought an abrupt end to her life, as well as the lives of her seven babies expected to hatch this week.

It saddens me that kindness and goodness were so far removed from this random act of violence. Many times I've wondered how the attacker(s) felt in the moment. Did regret follow? How are they sleeping at night? My heart sinks a little each time I pass the abandonned nest where Angela's mate, Nick, paces. Most swans mate for life and can grieve the loss of a partner for up to two years.

This post pays tribute to Angela, Nick and the 18 other swans in our local flock that have brought joy to so many. May you find peace, tranquility and security again.

And thank you to all who love and care for these precious animals. Your kindness is noted and appreciated.

The gallery has left the building

2010-05-27T20:47:00.013-04:00

I love Stratford in the summer. And Lord knows, this week has felt like it. The bustle of the tourists makes me giddy. The swollen downtown core, the buskers outside the Avon Theatre (this is where I first saw Justin Bieber - ever heard of him?), the kids lined up outside Scoopers Ice Cream, the peddle boaters, the HMS Razzamajazz that glides down the Avon on Wednesdays and Sundays with a quartet of spirited jazz musicians - it's all just so breathtaking to me.

I also love how, for the last 42 years, Stratford has offered Art in the Park, an outdoor gallery for round-the-river strollers peckish for a tad more culture. What's unique about this casual set-up is that it often lends the opportunity to chat with the artist to learn more about their work and creative process. The exhibit features fine art, sculptures, pottery and jewellery - all available for purchase.

So take a stroll down Lakeside Drive on Wednesdays, Saturdays or Sundays during the summer months (weather permitting) to absorb the alluring artisanal exhibit that radiates true talent and charm.

A tip of the hatzo for Pazzo

2010-05-23T11:32:00.034-04:00

Why has it taken me so long to write about Pazzo? I'm pazzo about Pazzo! I've been there more times than I can count. Mostly to the pizzeria because pizza happens to be one of my favourite foods and Pazzo is my all-time favourite pizzeria (Chef Greg Kuepfer belongs in the Pizza Hall of Fame and thank you a thousand times for inventing the Medici). However, on Sunday night, I gathered my crew and ventured upstairs to the ristorante where we basked in the swanktacular decor and were served up the most scrumpterrific dishes.

I'm not going to lie to you - the evening began with cocktails. Martinis to be precise, and our dear friend Megan whipped us up a rainbow of the prettiest little elixirs, including: a Farmer's martini, the Bee's Knees, Pomtini and Do Not Go Gentle. Rrrow!

And then came the food. But before we get to the courses, can we please pause for a minute to pay tribute to Pazzo's focaccia? I'm not sure where they get this stuff (maybe it's made in house) but deLICIOUS! Soft spongy interiors with a lightly crusted top that is sprinkled with quality salt. You know, the fleur-de-fancy stuff that just tastes better.

Onto the appetizer: I started with a salad of roasted asparagus, ricotta salata and beets with walnuts and thyme vinaigrette. There's nothing like just-plucked asparagus in its prime.

I'm a sucker for risotto, so I just couldn't pass it up on the menu, especially after our server sang its haute praises. She didn't let us down - I don't think I've tasted vegetable risotto accented with mascarpone and mint. Amazing.

And that, my friend, is what I love about Pazzo: if it's in season, they're serving it up. Chef Sean Collins and Sous-Chef Yva Santini take special care to ensure you're enjoying the plentiful harvest that Perth County has to offer.

The Grand Finale: lemon and olive oil tart with creme fraiche gelato. I mean, seriously.

So yeah, I'm running out of adjectives for this place and its food. Spectacular. There's another. Just go. You'd be pazzo not to!

May-cation 2010

2010-05-18T08:47:00.006-04:00

Six years ago when my husband and I were married, we promised each other to always take the time to celebrate our anniversary in a special way. And so this year, we spent a day packing up our 13-month-old son's belongings to transport to Nana and Papa's house, where he'd spend a glorious weekend being spoiled while we did the same for ourselves in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

There's nothing like a May-cation to kick-start the summer. Even if the weather's a little cool, you know patio season is just around the corner. We spent two enchanting days strolling through the downtown shops, daydreaming about the magnificent properties we'd purchase with lottery winnings, sauntering off to vineyards for "educational tours" and ahem...a few tastings. Oh, and we ate like nobility.

My favourite sights: the Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum (journalism grad, what can I say), Vineland Estates, Frog Pond Farm Organic Winery, The Olde Angel Inn, the Stone Road Grille, the Charles Inn and sightseeing at the foot of Brock's Monument.

Once again, I was bamboozled by the beauty that surrounds us here in Ontario. My father-in-law, a man of many words, has often remarked that "we live in the land of milk and honey." And you know, that wordy-but-lovable man was onto something.

Skip answering to customs officers and cruise down the QEW instead for a splendid local getaway to this enchanting part of the province.

Canada's emerging culinary mecca

2010-04-30T12:04:00.038-04:00

This morning, I pulled the dreamy 2010 Stratford and Area Culinary Guide from my mailbox. Developed by the Stratford Tourism Alliance, it's a step-by-step guide on how to eat your way through the jewel in Canada's gastronomic crown: Stratford, Ontario.

Sure, I'm a resident, and therefore a little biased, but don't just take my word for it: aol.ca named Stratford Canada's Hottest Food Destination.

The proof is in the pudding: Stratford is home to the highly esteemed Stratford Chef School, which has received international attention throughout its 27-year history, and recognition for being the only culinary institute in Canada operated by working restaurant professionals. You might remember the Food Network's program, Chef School, a few years ago, which centred around this school's burgeoning culinary geniuses.

And Stratford Northwestern Secondary School acts as an incubator for this post-secondary program. It's here where high school students can learn from Paul Finkelstein, affectionately known as "Fink" and Canada's Pied Piper of good food, about culinary arts and how to eat, taste, cook and appreciate what's on their plates and the bountiful goodness offered by the Perth County agricultural community. Fink also founded the Screaming Avocado Cafe, which has won the hearts of Jamie Oliver and Chef Michael Smith, among many others.

A disproportionately large number of restaurants per capita has fermented Stratford's rich culinary culture. Here you will find a full range of epicurean delights from haute cuisine to gastro-pub fare. We even have our own culinary festival - Savour Stratford - in its third year, and running September 25 to 26, 2010. Mark your calendars now - I'm still coming down from last year's high.

If all this isn't enough to electrify each taste bud, Stratford Delicious kicks off this weekend, where some of Stratford's hottest restaurants are offering three-course lunches starting at $20 and dinners starting at $35 throughout May and June. Join A Delicious Stratford Stroll this Sunday, May 2, to whet your appetite for what's to come over the next couple months.

Kudos and link love to Matty Ian and The Local-Come-Lately who join me in blogging about Stratford's finest.

Really, what's not to write about?

If you can tear yourself away from the feast.

A walk on the wild side

2010-04-25T16:34:00.037-04:00

Nothing connects me to the bigger picture like a walk in the woods. It's here where I find pieces of my soul hidden under dewy rocks, curled into fiddlehead spirals and peeking through the flaps of jack in the pulpits. On Sunday morning I discovered these and countless other treasures on a foraging trek at Wildwood Conservation Area, led by expert forager Peter Blush.

It's amazing what plentiful harvest you'll find on the forest floor: morel mushrooms, watercress, fiddleheads and wild leeks just a 10-minute drive up the road. A calm misty rain only added to the splendor; I haven't traipsed through the mud like that since I was a kid. I loved the way the fresh air seemed to electrify each cell. And the sound of my rubber boots suctioning to the earth: pure joy.

Chef Chris Woolf of Woolfy's Restaurant, at the edge of St. Marys, joined us and later treated the group of 18 foragers to a freshly plucked meal, including wild leek and potato soup. It was absolutely delicious, as was the rest of the meal, which ended with a white mousse made with McCully's Hill Farm maple syrup.

I will definitely return to Woolfy's soon. In addition to impeccable service, the food is fresh, delicious and clearly made with the greatest of care.

Thank you to McCully's Sara Bradford for organizing such an enchanting event. I'll be back for next season's series.

A foraging we will go

2010-04-22T20:11:00.016-04:00

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...

I heart Sirkel Foods

2010-04-16T11:37:00.010-04:00

It's good, it's fresh, it uses local produce and carries only Ontario wines and beers. And it's home to the greatest Thai-inspired "bikini salad" in town: it's Sirkel Foods at 40 Wellington St., one of my favourite lunch spots in Stratford.

Sirkel is family-friendly with its bright yellow walls, kids' play area, chalkboard specials and no-fuss decor. You're not there for the atmosphere or hit-or-miss service, but for the creative and deliciously gourmet foods, with lots of vegetarian options and extremely reasonable prices.

I love grabbing a sandwich or salad to go and taking it down to the river to savour and enjoy amongst the swans.

I rarely let a week to go by before circling-back for more.

Run, don't walk.

Restoring joy to every blade of grass

2010-03-31T20:58:00.016-04:00

Easter weekend will be blessed with unseasonal temperatures, possibly reaching up to 24 degress in Stratford. Commercial greenhouses will surely bloom with eager gardeners and spring fever patients who want prepare their lawns and gardens for the summer season ahead.

As we consider lawn maintenance approaches, it’s important to remember long-term effects to ourselves, our family members, pets, neighbours and the earth. While pesticides are now banned in Ontario, there are several products that duck just below the radar, still laden with harmful chemicals.

The potential health threats of using pesticides far outweigh the benefits of having a weed-free lawn and garden. Recently, scientists have observed associations between pesticide exposures and adverse effects on reproductive and neurological health, as well as some forms of cancer. Spraying lawns and gardens also kills good forms of life. Eventually the area is dependent on chemicals for survival and can no longer sustain the natural balance that keeps it healthy.

In Stratford, we’re fortunate to have a wonderful – and free – resource called Stratford Naturally, a group advocating a new approach to gardening in this area, without the use of any harmful chemicals. Following its environmentally-friendly guidelines will help us rebuild our ecosystems, banish health risks to people (particularly more susceptible infants, fetuses, children, prospective parents and the elderly) and enjoy healthier lawns, plants and flowers filled with enchanting and helpful butterflies, songbirds and bees.

Here are some brilliant lawn care tips, taken from the Stratford Naturally website:

1. Aim for healthy soil without adding substances that kill organisms in the fragile soil ecosystem (even vinegar) if you can.

2. Aerate your soil. Once it’s healthy, the earthworms will do the job for you.

3. Overseed with grass. Use a three-way mixture: perennial rye grass, creeping fescue, Kentucky blue.

4. Consider adding White Dutch Clover. As a legume, it will provide critically important nitrogen fixing in your soil.

5. Set your mower high. Cut to a height of 3”. Grass is a plant and its blades need to absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide. Short grass stresses the plant and soil, leaving it open to pest infestation.

6. Leave grass clippings on the lawn. They provide natural compost.

Let’s work together to garden naturally and inspire others in our neighbourhoods to do the same.

“When one tugs at a single thing in nature; he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” – John Muir

Vinyl records turned eyewear at hip new local haunt

2010-03-24T07:29:00.071-04:00

When I was a kid, I loved playing vinyl records - especially my mom's old 45s and those Walt Disney book-and-record sets that prompted you to turn the page with a chime. I loved the feel of them in my hands, full of lustre, beautifully crafted with mesmerizing lines that guided you to the next song. I was always so careful not to scratch them too because let's face it - a scratched record had an immediate way of becoming useless junk. Or so I thought.

Whatever happened to all those scratched vinyl records - the ones that didn't make it to halls of fame, E-bay or collector exhibits? Well, I recently discovered where some of these retro little numbers have found rebirth: in eyewear, of all places!

Yesterday I took a drive with my son to beautiful Bayfield, Ontario. It was here that we visited three-week new Main Street Optometric, practice of Dr. Richard Samuell and home of the grooviest eyeglasses this side of Toronto.

Now I'm a sucker for designer frames, so I was giddy to learn Main Street Optometric carries Gucci, Dior, Versace, Jimmy Choo, Boss, Ray Ban and Silhouette (Tag Heuer's on the way). But what really caught my eye - pardon the pun - was Tipton, a hot new eyewear line made from recycled products such as cinematic film and vinyl records.

Main Street Optometric knows where it's at, having discovered the sweet spot between hip and green. Even its furniture and cabinetry have been reclaimed, recycled or restored and it carries the coolest line of vintage frames from the 1950s and 60s.

There's a great selection of kids wear too. Introducing glasses to a young one seems daunting enough, but show them a pair of Spiderman, Batman, Moxie or Juicy Coutures, and you've just sweetened the deal.

What's fantastic about Main Street Optometric is its location; why worry about scheduling an eye exam or picking out new frames at home in the frenzy of your week when you can book an appointment or browse unique and designer frames at your leisure when you're at the cottage, beach or out for a Sunday drive to a glorious part of the province? Especially when the prices are comparable to those you'd find at big scale eyewear chains.

Check out Main Street Optometric for your next eye exam or when you want to own a pair of frames that stick out from the crowd.

Or if you just really miss the feel of those old vinyl records.

Dr. Richard Samuell's wife and business partner, Erin Samuell of A Simple Photograph (the most talented photographer I know), took some photos of yesterday's adventures in eye-candy-land.

Best RMT in town helps cultivate self-care

2010-03-19T21:45:00.042-04:00

About six years ago, I wrote a column for The Record called 'Confessions of a Newlywed.' I remember one article where I confessed my cluelessness in the garden, insisting the perennial patch my husband and I acquired with our new home was infringing on our wedded bliss. It's amazing how much I've grown over this period of time. Today, as a more, dare I say, "mature" wife and mother, I have learned to find solace in the garden. It has a funny way of making me kinder. More patient. Nurturing and compassionate toward living things. Amazing that these powerful life lessons were found in a pile a dirt.

Of course, I've only just touched the topsoil. I still have many layers to unearth.

Taking care of the garden has also helped me understand how important it is to take care of myself. Simple but true: you reap what you sow. And so during this busy maternity leave year that is quickly coming to a close, I've learned that taking care of myself just makes everything else in my life (and notably, in my family members' lives) run smoother. It's the replenishing rain that isn't just a nice touch, but necessary.

One way I've learned to take care of myself is by scheduling monthly massages. And I'm confident that I've discovered the best registered massage therapist (RMT) in town. Her name is Nonie Ferguson and she works at the Brunswick Massage Centre in Stratford.

Nonie is clearly passionate about her craft and it was no surprise to learn that she was top of her class. Before she begins treatment, she spends time talking with you to understand what muscles to target and the best approach to take that day. She's incredibly knowledgeable and even when I was nine months pregnant, I trusted her completely.

I like that Nonie consistently greets me afterward with a glass of water and a short debrief on what she noticed during treatment. She's quick to demonstrate exercises you can do to target specific muscle groups to continue the healing at home. I leave Nonie's office feeling like all the stress and tension I had (and some I didn't realize I had) lift away like a cloud on a breeze. I always sleep better that night and feel the effects of the massage the next day.

Self-care isn't a luxury. It's important. It has the power to prevent you from slipping into depletion and martyrdom. Running on fumes isn't good for you or the people around you - believe me, I know. Massage therapy is one way to take back a little piece of yourself; its nourishment always seems to have a ripple effect.

Many employers cover registered massage therapy in benefits packages because it contributes to healthy living. In a sense, it removes the weeds and nourishes the soil, helping you grow into the colourful living entity you were meant to be.

And as my shoulders reunite with the raking, digging and planting season, I have a feeling Nonie's going to have her work cut out for her this spring!

Noodle nirvana

2010-03-12T08:35:00.040-05:00

I just love visiting the St. Jacobs Farmer's Market. There's something magical about roaming the long aisles, absorbing the divine colours, just-picked smells and witnessing the camaraderie between the vendors and shoppers. It's so old world, yet experiencing a revival thanks to socially conscious consumers concerned about health, the environment and wheezing Mother Earth.

I visited the market yesterday and purchased many gorgeous vegetables that starred in last night's ratatouille. It was a relatively easy dish to make and what made it so amazing was the freshness of the produce. I have a serious case of spring fever and can't wait until the planting and harvesting start up again so those farmer's market aisles swell with even more tantalizing treats.

As my stroll moved indoors, I was delighted to stumble across Maria's Homemade Noodles. The stand alone was a work of art with a rainbow of vegetable noodles made from spinach, parsley, tomato, beets and carrots, to name a few.

Maria's Homemade Noodles are crafted using traditional cooking methods without any additives or preservatives. Noodles are made in Kitchener, dried naturally and sold fresh. Many grain varieties are available, including gluten-free. Local eggs and vegetables are also used in their production.

All this wholesome, fresh and good stuff and they're just plain pretty! If you're up for sharing, a package would make a terrific host/hostess gift or an elegant addition to a gift basket for someone special.

Delizioso.

What may be lurking in your lingerie drawer...is edible

2010-03-07T20:34:00.036-05:00

It's not just to aromatize your bathtub, potpourri your drawers or repel scorpions in the south of France (ever seen 'A Good Year?' Brilliant movie). Lavender is for eating! The French have been ingesting it for years and I hear they think we're tellement fou for not cooking with it sooner!

Culinary Lavender is totally hot. Gastronomic gurus from near and far are using it in their most decadent dishes. It's popping up in ice cream, preserves, honey and even chocolate.

Lavender Blue was one of the many joys I discovered at the Stratford Garden Festival last weekend. It's a line of gourmet products and gifts derived from an exquisite lavender farm just outside of Sparta, Ontario.

Proprietor, Suzanne Steed, is a Stratford native and collaborated with her sister, Kristene Steed, owner of Rheo Thompson, on Lavender Blue chocolate. While I was suspicious of its splendor, I was sold at first bite. This stuff is awesome.

I also picked up a jar of lavender-infused honey. It's wonderful in herbal teas and baking and I understand it makes a terrific glaze for grilling chicken or pork.

Lavender Blue's line extends to bath and body products, jams, jellies, house and garden products and gift baskets.

But seriously, about the chocolate, you gotta try some. There's a stash of it at Rheo Thompson and I'd love to hear if you enjoy it as much as I do.

Blooming good fun

2010-03-05T07:28:00.023-05:00

Spring has sprung in Stratford. The sun is shining, I'm tracking mud into the house and the Stratford Garden Festival is blooming all weekend at the Rotary Complex, in support of The Lung Association.

Each year, I am amazed at the work that must go into this indoor festival. It's absolutely enchanting, like a magical fairy garden nurturing each of your senses.

As I walked past the admission booth ($8 for adults), the first thing that struck me was the glorious smell of fresh spring flowers. Nothing overpowering, just fragrant and full, offset by the rich, earthy smell of cedar wood chips. The sound of gently flowing waterfalls relaxed me, as did running my hands over the smooth, beautiful stone that surrounded them.

In addition to the splendid display gardens and interesting exhibits, there are presentations and a Speaker Series, where you can learn about everything from planting an organic vegetable garden, pollinators, and how to reduce garden maintenance, to garden edibles, water enhancements and making the most of your garden containers.

Tonight is Family Fun Night, where 'little sprouts' can create a garden craft, participate in a scavenger hunt and enjoy storytelling, face painting and complimentary refreshments.

If you happen to fall into a bad mood this weekend, do yourself a favour and go to this festival. Go anyway! You can't help but feel alive, well and joyous. Everyone is smiling.

Peace out

2010-03-04T01:53:00.015-05:00

I can't sleep. And for no good reason. So I came downstairs, opened the pantry (how Nigella Lawson of me) and discovered a beautiful herbal tea I completely forgot I purchased from Vincenzo's. It's called Peace Tea (couldn't we all use a little more of that?) and it's made by The Algonquin Tea Co. in Eganville, Ontario.

Peace Tea is said to promote security, tranquillity and sleep; so with any hope, this blog entry will be short. The other five varieties include:

Sweetfern Tonic - a daily immune booster
Sacred Blend - for tranquility and focus
Homestead Blend - for cold and flu
Awakening Tea - balanced energy stimulant
Lucid Dream Tea - enhanced dream recall (zowee, maybe I should've tried some of that!)

All of The Algonquin Tea Co. herbs are sustainably handpicked in the wild. Rarer herbs are grown organically using non-mechanical, ecologically integrated and permacultural methods. It uses bleach-free tea bags and its packaging is 100% Canadian-made, using 100% recycled materials.

The Algonquin Tea Co. advocates that Canadian herbs are renowned worldwide for their medicinal potency and have been used for thousands of years. The company harvests wild plants in canoes by glistening rivers, in warm morning fields of flowers and cool spring valleys full of roots.

And that image, my friend, is soothing enough to put me to sleep.

My cup is now empty.

Night-night.

Gold medal dip

2010-02-26T08:09:00.014-05:00

I've been consumed by the Olympics lately, which explains my vanishing blogger act. I'm so proud of our Canadian athletes, and moved to tears when I see the celebration that erupts after years of intense training, sacrifice, dedication, perseverance and faith.

Of course, these qualities are written all over their bodies. Spandex has never looked so hot! Lean, mean, chiseled machines that more closely resemble superheroes than humans. It almost makes you want to hit the gym for a rigorous Tommy Europe-esque workout.

Or, you could become an armchair olympian, sporting a remote control, soft cozy blanket, bellowing cheer and a bag of chips. And do I have a dip for you!

Have you ever been to McCully's Hill Farm in St. Marys? It's a charming little spot with year-round activities and the sweetest farm shop and retail store carrying fresh, local and wholesome foods. It specializes in maple products, natural meats, homemade baking and preserves, and garden-fresh produce such as sweet corn, pumpkins and other seasonal vegetables.

Last time I was at McCully's, I picked up a basket full of goodies, including a jar of Maple Onion Chive Dip. Okay, I know it sounds like an odd combination, but trust me - this stuff is fantastic. And natural. And free of MSG! Just mix a tablespoon of the spices with a cup of sour cream or plain yoghourt and presto: you've got a gold medal dip.

That totally owns the podium.

Now back to the games...

Fidoodling around

2010-02-18T09:29:00.016-05:00

Thursday P'lovers series

If you're looking for unique, organic, non-toxic toys to warm a little one's heart, don't fidoodle around - head straight over to P'lovers in Stratford to find these endearing Fidoodle toys, made in a small Toronto design studio.

Inspired by storytelling, imagination and creative play, Fidoodle products are built to intrigue children and adults. Designs are based on adaptations of classic fairytales, myths and made-up stories.

Inventor, Jen Bulthuis, builds Fidoodle products from natural materials, including birch from well-managed forests, sheep wool, organic cotton, non-toxic ink and some recycled fabrics.

In addition to the animal dreamers (see photo), Fidoodle also makes mobiles, pillows, limited edition puppet puzzles, wooden blocks, wood panels and t-shirts.

Four other Toronto retailers carry Fidoodle products, including the Art Gallery of Ontario Shop. See website for locations near you.

English breakfast with a local twist

2010-02-14T11:45:00.046-05:00

Alicia Silverstone's new book, The Kind Diet, is loaded with so many amazing recipes, incorporating foods I knew were good for me, but didn't know what to do with. Like kale.

Don't let the title put you off - it's not about 'dieting' (we used to use that four-letter word to describe what we ate). It's about being kind to yourself, the earth and the environment. Sound better? After making a handful of these recipes over the last couple weeks, my body is already thanking me. When I eat these foods I feel luminous from the inside out.

This morning I made her vegan English breakfast. While it wasn't your traditional bangers and mash, it was extraordinarily tasty, filling and healthy. It was also so pretty on the plate, I was tempted to call up Queen E to join me.

I used as many local ingredients as I could find - farmers' markets and locavore shops like The Gentle Rain, Pfennings Organic and Organic Oasis are great starting points.

To ensure a hot meal at the end, you'll need to dance between dishes. Neil Diamond helped with this one - he pairs beautifully with a Sunday morning.

Here's how I brought together a regal breakfast for two:

- Slice a medium tomato length-wise, top with a bit of butter (or Earth Balance butter if you want to go vegan), salt and pepper and I pushed a little fresh basil through the holes of the tomato. Put in a glass baking dish and broil for about 5-6 minutes. Top with more fresh basil.
- Saute about 8 button mushrooms (halved) in a little butter and minced garlic for about 6 or so minutes. Finish with a sprinkling of salt and pepper.
- Warm a can of baked beans in a saucepan.
- Steam some fresh kale leaves (I used curly kale and removed the main artery) for about 4 minutes
- Toast four slices of fresh, preferably whole grain, bread and top with butter or Earth Balance.

The assembly: Put two slices of buttered toast on each plate. Top one with mushrooms and then kale, and the other with the baked beans. The baked tomato graced the side of each plate, as did some leftover kale and mushrooms.

When I first read this recipe, I was dubious about the kale because I thought it would be tart and strong, especially in the morning. Yet it tasted wonderfully mellow and buttery with the mushrooms and toast. Kale is loaded with beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium, so you can't go wrong.

Who knew it would make a Holly Holy Dream of a breakfast?

Hand-me-up mittens

2010-02-11T14:35:00.015-05:00

Thursday P'lovers series

If I wasn't allergic to wool, I'd be all over these beautiful mittens, made by Toronto designer, James B. Fowler of James Fowler Texti'll.

They're made from 100% recycled wool and cashmere sweaters, proving that green can be absolutely luxurious! You can find them at P'lovers in Stratford or at the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto.

They're bright, warm and easy on the environment. James Fowler Texti'll also creates recycled wool and silk scarves and a new line of cozy recycled wool slippers.

A wonderful gift idea - maybe even for Valentine's Day?

A pizza pie that's amore!

2010-02-08T08:59:00.026-05:00

Spelt pizza dough: it sounds far too healthy and tasteless, doesn't it? But not the case with the Grainharvest artisanal variety made on Lexington Avenue in Waterloo.

On Friday I constructed the most beautiful pizza pie - I mean one of those enormous gooey things you see in the window of a gourmet pizzeria. I know I sound boastful but hands down, I am the most baking challenged individual you know. Even though I found a tub of pre-made, no-brainer stuff at Pfenning's Organic and More in St. Agatha, I was still dubious. You would be too if you saw the "baked," ahem, "goods" that emerged from my oven in days gone by.

But Grainharvest Breadhouse made my job easy. I simply floured my work surface, rolled out the dough and carefully transferred it to a pizza stone. I turned in the edges, coated it with olive oil, tomato sauce and sauteed vegetables (I even sprinkled chopped Extreme Beans and what a delicious zing!) and an obscene amount of cheese, naturally, and baked on 425 for about 18-20 minutes. It was my weekend masterpiece - I just wish I took a moment to consider a photograph before diving in.

The bread was the show stopper; you can taste the quality baked right into the dough. Grainharvest says the key to artisan baking is using wholesome ingredients free of additives and preservatives, and slow fermentation, which gives enzymes enough time to break down complex carbohydrates therefore making the bread easier to digest. It creates lactic acid, contributing to better digestibility and unique flavour, and acetic acid, which acts as a natural preservative.

Grainharvest uses local ingredients such as Ontario eggs. Its spelt and kamut flour come from Saugeen, Ontario and the rice flour is from Scotland, Ontario.

There are few people I know who don't like pizza. Instead of buying the pre-made packaged stuff at the grocery store, often loaded with synthetic fillers to make it through the long truck ride, try something fresh, local and wholesome like Grainharvest. You too can transform into an artisanal breadmaking god or goddess in the time it takes to order delivery.

Mighty mushroom risotto

2010-02-05T06:48:00.040-05:00

Holy shiitake - I made the most delicious mushroom risotto yesterday, using three varieties of local mushrooms: white buttons, shiitake and portabello.

I found the white buttons - Essex Kent brand from Kingsville - at Zehrs. The Gentle Rain in Stratford supplies the other two: organic shiitakes from Weth Farms in Goderich and portabellos from Windmill Farms in Whitby.

It was steamy, creamy, delicate yet hearty and doused with green peas and a sprig of fresh parsley. I takes a little longer to make but this delectable slow food dish is absolutely divine and worth every minute you invest. I usually set aside 45 minutes of uninterrupted time to make it (you need to constantly stir the rice). Prepare your ingredients ahead so you just have to drop them into the pan, pour yourself a big ol' glass of wine and sink into the loveliness of the process. Here's how I make it:

- Heat 4 C reduced sodium chicken broth in a saucepan over med-low heat
- In a larger saucepan over med-high heat, melt 2 tbsp butter and with a wooden spoon, saute a minced shallot and as much garlic as you like until translucent (about 2 mins)
- Add 1 C aborio rice and stir until coated (about 1 min)
- Add 1/3 C dry white wine and stir until absorbed
- Ladle 1/2 C hot chicken stock into the mixture, stirring continuously. Once absorbed, add more hot stock until you're almost out (this will take around 15-18 minutes or so)
- Toward the end of the broth, add as many chopped mushrooms (I remove the stems from the shiitakes and portabellos) and frozen peas as you'd like to the large saucepan
- Continue stirring and adding broth
- When broth is all used up, the rice should be still firm to the tooth and the peas cooked through. Remove from heat, stir in 1/3 C freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano (or more!), cracked pepper and freshly chopped parsley. Serve immediately and enjoy!

If you still aren't sold on making this for yourself and the ones you love, here are some additional facts about mushrooms. For more than 6,000 years, the Chinese have used shiitake mushrooms medicinally. Shiitakes have lentinan, an active compound that powers up the immune system and strengthens its ability to fight infection and disease. Against influenza and other viruses, lentinan has been shown to be even more effective than prescription drugs; it even improves the immune status of individuals with HIV and cancer.

Shiitakes are also good for your heart, being chalk full of eritadenine, which lowers cholesterol levels and L-ergothioneine, a potent antioxidant. Portabellos and criminis have the most L-ergothioneine, followed by white buttons. White buttons contain up to 5 mg per three ounce serving-12 times as much as wheat germ and 4 times more than chicken liver. And more good news, L-ergothioneine is not destroyed when mushrooms are cooked.

Good for you, good for the local economy, good for the planet and crazy delicious. Does it seriously get any better than this?

Tashodi me happy

2010-02-04T11:15:00.042-05:00

Thursday P'lovers series

Self-care is important. It's often what slips through the cracks when we're busy taking care of everyone else. As a new mother, there are times when I feel like I'm frantically paddling upstream in a sponge canoe just to make it through the day. I attest to leaving the house like I never once would - grey roots exploding like lightening, teeth barely brushed, face splashed and streaked with whatever moisturizer's in arm's reach (yes, diaper cream has found its way to my t-zone). It ain't always pretty, but it's my new frazzled reality.

Despite often feeling like I need a quick fix, my vices are few: I don't smoke, drugs are limited to a rare sip of Pepto Bismol (I'm not sure if you've noticed but I do enjoy food), shopping doesn't give me the thrill it once did, and drinking? Well, I enjoy a glass of wine as much as the next girl but it usually hits me faster than I can finish a story and believe me, my friends have validated this theory.

So instead of buying cigarettes, expensive over-the-counter remedies or retail bargains that aren't usually bargains anyway, I choose to vote green with my green and treat myself to something good for both me and the planet. It may cost $22.95 a jar but it's worth it. I'm worth it. And no, I'm not talking about hair colour (while my roots could surely use it).

I am talking about Toronto-based, Canadian-made Tashodi body scrubs, which come in the most exquisite tea and lemon, green coffee, pure lavender and ocean mineral varieties. Used in a steamy hot bath, these aromatic eco-friendly crystals exfoliate all your worries away, helping you get back to you. My suggested pairing: Tashodi SLS-free foam wash, a chilled glass of good pinot grigio and a dusted-off tiara.

Tashodi offers a range of bath and body care products that also include body bars, soaks and baby products. You can find them at P'lovers in Stratford, as well as a number of eco-conscious retailers across the country.

Tashodi is committed to offering paraben-free products that are transfair, certified organic, genuinely natural and otherwise green. Its founder, Natacha Rey, began her career studying Chinese and homeopathic medicine, as well as aromatherapy and reflexology. After five years of study, Natacha practiced in a medical clinic where she had a hard time keeping up with the demand for the skin care products she hand-blended for her patients. Soon after Tashodi was born.

Everything about Tashodi products makes you feel good, right down to the plant-fiber packaging and promotional material, both biodegratable and recyclable. And feeling good leads to doing good, which is really what it's all about, isn't it?

Put your best (exfoliated) foot forward and treat yourself to some Tashodi.

Niagara nightcap and nibble

2010-01-30T09:12:00.022-05:00

Dear Reader,

For your kindness, encouragement, supportive comments and choice to return to the page, I thought it was only fitting for me to drink to you.

And so last night, I raised a glass of Henry of Pelham 2007 pinot noir in your honour, with its elegant structure and intense black raspberry, ripe pomegranate, tangy cranberry and clove spice flavour.

Still, in all its medium-bodied, oaky, silky and luxurious loveliness, it didn't quite capture the magnitude of my appreciation for you, dear Reader. And so I raised two more. Ironically while watching the movie, The Hangover.

The Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery is located on the premium grape growing land of Short Hills Beach - a United Nations biosphere - in St. Catharines, Ontario. The Speck family owners believe that fine wine is grown and not made, and so it takes low yields and tends its 170-acre estate vineyards with meticulous care. Only small volumes of handmade wines are produced to ensure the highest standards of VQA-stamped quality.

Now I firmly believe that quality begets quality. So it only made sense to pair this finicky, fickle, fine and fragrant wine with something just as special: cheese. Niagara Gold from the Upper Canada Cheese Company. And great gurnsey, this artisanal cheese is good!

Niagara Gold is an Oka-style semi-soft, washed rind cheese fashioned after recipes developed by the Trappist Monks of the Loire Valley. This is a cheese with nutty, earthy overtones and mellow, buttery flavours. I bought it at The Milky Whey fine cheese shop in Stratford, where owner Liz Payne carries a variety of lovely local cheeses.

A Niagara nightcap and nibble in your honour. Somehow it still just doesn't seem quite enough. Perhaps the bottle of Coyote's Run Estate Winery from St. David's, Ontario in the wine rack will repay my debt of gratitude later...

Hockey Day in Canada: Jan. 30 in STRATFORD!

2010-01-29T12:59:00.050-05:00

I'm not even a hockey fan and I'm so freakin' excited about Hockey Day in Canada tomorrow, right here in beautiful snow-covered Stratford!

The celebration kicked off Wednesday and there have been so many fantastic things happening around the city to hail the Tim Hortons-sponsored event, including NHL alumni games and lunches, CBC radio broadcasts, school events - even a Randy Bachman concert at the Festival Theatre hosted by Ron MacLean.

Last night, Peter Mansbridge hosted The National on an illuminated Avon River, as cheerful skaters glided through the background. In fact, the frozen river has turned into a real-life Canadiana patchwork quilt with half a dozen ice rinks available for one and all to enjoy.

Wendel Clark was at Bentley's on Thursday for a book signing, the Stanley Cup visited the Stratford General Hospital and nursing homes, and there are various Hockey Hall of Fame art and trophy exhibits at the Optimist Club Hall.

Let me catch my breath...

There's a hockey homecoming dance tonight and my neighbour from down the road, Peter Mansbridge (he has no idea who I am), is back hosting The National again tonight.

Tomorrow is the main event, with even more excitement whirling around the city. I feel like I'm living in a beer commercial right now (funny how Canadian pride is synonymous with beer commercials), as I'm quite tempted to run down the street with my arms in the air screaming, "I AM CANADIAN" just to release some Canuck brouhaha.

I'm so proud of our little city of 30,000. I knew the summers were always rocking with tourists, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, not to mention Savour Stratford, Stratford Summer Music, Art in the Park and the Rotary Dragonboat Festival - heck, we're even hosting Canada 3.0 conferences so Canada can lead a global digital media revolution. And now our winters are jamming too.

Back to tomorrow - CBC will be broadcasting from the William Allman Arena throughout the day (where Wayne Gretzky scored his very first goal), there will be hockey clinics, a jamboree, a ball hockey tournament, "Proud to be a Hockey Mom" storytelling and photo ops with the Stanley Cup.

I'm volunteering at the Slow Food Perth County tent in the Kiwanis Centre parking lot where we're serving up warm and sumptuous "good, clean, fair" local food, including smoked and roasted pork on a bun with homemade baked beans and hot Wellesley apple cider. Slow Food approached the Chefs of Stratford with a challenge to cook up the best condiment so don't forget to vote.

Did I mention Don Cherry's coming to town?

The 10th broadcast of Hockey Day In Canada will be hosted by Ron MacLean (Don will deliver the spice) from the Allman Arena beginning at noon ET, and in addition to segments, there will be three all-Canadian NHL matchups, with Montreal at Ottawa kicking things off at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Saturday night games featuring Vancouver at Toronto and Edmonton at Calgary.

Yes, it's going to be friggin' cold, but we are Canadian and our pride (and tuques!) will keep us warm. So come on out to Hockey Day in Canada and bring your enthusiasm and love of the game.

Maybe I do like hockey after all?

The good ol' hockey game, it's the best game you can name...

'S' is for Scrabble. And Sarah!

2010-01-28T07:44:00.043-05:00

Thursday P'lovers Series

A woman of words, I’m also a sucker for Scrabble.

Sure, I love learning more about language and developing new strategies for kicking my husband’s behind (ha!), but even at a sensory level, I love the feeling of those smooth little indented tiles between my fingers.

So I was absolutely delighted when I discovered beautiful, picturesque necklaces made out of Scrabble tiles at P'lovers. A miniature winter photograph on one side and a 'S' on the other (only worth one point but easily used to make a triple-word score) made a wonderful personalized birthday gift for my Scrabble-loving friend, Sarah.

What made me feel even better about the purchase? It's local.

Tansy & Co., established in 2006, is a handmade line of home decor, lighting, jewellery and art made by St. Catharines' photographer and designer, Sandy Middleton. The line, using Sandy's own images, ranges from table and ceiling lamps with handcrafted photographic shades, pillows, clocks, coasters, cards and jewellery. Today, Tansy & Co. is sold in more than 50 galleries and shops throughout Canada and the US.

Again, I ask: What's not to P'love? Now back to P'lovers to find me a 'T.'

Snacking on sunshine

2010-01-24T15:23:00.022-05:00

I'm in another pickle...jar. This time it's Sunshine Farms' pickled asparagus from Thamesville, Ontario (between London and Windsor) and I should've considered taking the photo before opening them. These babies are addictive!

They're crunchy, earthy, fragrant and wholesome. They kinda squeak when you chew them and the spices are fantastic hosts to the party that will soon erupt in your mouth.

I also like the story behind Sunshine Farms and the evident humility of owners, John and Claudia Jaques. They started growing asparagus in 1982 and Claudia canned and pickled the produce for the family's consumption.

"Our sons, Josh, Ben and Adrian, just loved their mom's recipe for pickled asparagus. And, you know, you can't keep something like that all to yourself," John said on his website. "We gave some to our friends as gifts. Of course, they just kept asking for more and our business blossomed nicely from there."

Today, Sunshine Farms offers 23 types of pickles - from the more traditional variety to asparagus, beets, carrots, garlic, jalapeno peppers, beans and many more. Half its pickles are certified organic; all are Kosher. I bought my jar at Vincenzo's in Waterloo.

"We don't use preservatives, fillers or additives," John said. "All the vegetables are processed right away, fresh from our fields. You can taste the sunshine in them."

The Romans were onto something when they deemed asparagus a delicacy. They're a fantastic source of vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium and zinc, and an excellent source of fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, rutin, niacin, folic acid, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese and selenium.

In fact, six little spears contain some 135 micrograms of folate, almost half the adult recommended daily intake, 545 micrograms of beta carotene, and 20 milligrams of potassium, which sure does make me feel better about devouring them in mass quantities.

Pickled asparagus from a lovely farm down the 401: guaranteed to offer you sunshine on the cloudiest day.

What's not to P'love?

2010-01-19T09:36:00.037-05:00

P'lovers - short for 'planet lovers' - is Stratford's environmental department store, thriving in its new location at the corner of Erie and Ontario Streets. Its mission is simple: to help people live more sensitively with the earth.

Environmental enthusiast or not, you're going to love what this store has to offer. So from past posts I'm learning I have a thing with smell, but I must say this place just smells plain good for you! Perhaps it's because P'lovers only cleans with non-toxic materials (not to mention low-energy equipment). Or maybe it's because so many of its products are natural, organic, and even fair-trade certified. Could it be the wonderful assortment of eco-friendly bath and body products? For all one knows it could be the symphony of all these things working together in sustainable harmony - I don't know - but I do know this: if you want to make yourself feel good, follow your nose into this store. It offers and oasis of goodness that invokes pride with each purchase.

Cultural anthropologist, Margaret Mead, once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." I love this quote. It's something we all need to remember when the world seems too big to change. I don't know why it took me so long to figure out that the sum of all our small individual changes, absolutely, unequivocally, without a doubt makes a difference to each of us as well as the collective whole. It's win-win. There are many things I'm unsure of in this world but this I know is universal law.

P'lovers Stratford owners, Susan and JD Graham, agree.

"We believe the actions of each and every one of us can positively affect the quality of the world in which we live," they said. "By modifying our lifestyles, using our purchasing power to reflect our values, and supporting activities which respect and protect the diversity of life, we can make a difference."

P'lovers Stratford is one of five Canadian and one U.S. retail chains. Since P'lovers is committed to finding regional products, there are too many wonderful local products to include in one post! So I will be launching a P'lovers series every Thursday over the next few weeks. Please return for a planet-loving gander.

Next Thursday: Tansy & Co. handmade jewellery from St. Catharines, Ontario.

A Simple Photograph

2010-01-17T13:26:00.059-05:00

For as long as I can remember, I've had this thing about putting photographs to music. Something about the combination makes my heart soar. On the last day of class before summer vacation, my high school would hold slide shows in the auditorium; a collage of photographs from throughout the year brought to life by music. I remember bubbling up with bliss as I watched, feeling a deep connection to people I didn't even necessarily like, sprouting this overwhelming urge to wrap my arms around my high school brothers and sisters, pull them in close and just love up on them!

Documenting life is important to so many of us. It takes us back to moments we may have otherwise forgotten, gives us permission to revel in the past and helps us share similarities and differences. Photographs, in all their glory, have a magical way of punctuating our existence.

Seven years ago, I stumbled upon a photographer so gifted, her work sings all on its own. She's local - currently resides in Goderich - but I know she's travelled all over to meet people who want to capture a treasured moment, feeling, or the hands of time in an exquisite photograph.

Her name is Erin Samuell and her company is A Simple Photograph. I've worked with Erin on a number of occasions, as have my friends. Last summer, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival even had her running around town snapping shots for its website and promotional material. No matter what you're looking for (wedding, family, corporate photos or other), Erin has a way of making you feel so at ease in front of a lens.

What's more, instead of charging by the photo, as so many photographers do, Erin gives you a complete DVD of all your photos so you can get as many copied as you like, wherever and whenever you want. She's also down to earth, heaps of fun to work with and creative beyond measure. I guarantee you will be blown away by the brilliance that emerges from a wee two-hour shoot.

Simply put, A Simple Photograph is a national treasure found right in our own backyard. Lucky us.

The joy of 'family'

2010-01-16T12:50:00.020-05:00

This is a bit of a different blog entry today. Not about food, an amazing new haunt, or an artisan you just need to check out. Those will all come - I promise - but today I must admit I'm having a hard time seeing the abundance of joy that I know dangles before my dampened eyes.

A relative passed away yesterday. There was an accident, something that could've happened to any of us, and something no one thought would result in him moving from this life onto the next five short days later. But it happened, and in a most abrupt and disheartening way, reinforced the fragility of life.

Bryan was a poster child for the sum of a good man. Salt of the earth, humble, incredibly kind, loving, community-focused and ever curious about this earth and all the marvels it has to offer. He and his adorable wife parented six amazing children, each of whom continue to make this world a better place by sheer virtue of breathing and being themselves. My heart aches for them and what they're all going through right now. This is something no one can fix; time can only slowly heal.

Throughout this agonizing week, I have come to understand a couple fundamental truths. One: there is no greater joy, to me anyway, than family. 'Family' comes in many forms and blood doesn't strengthen this bond - the heart does. The people you call your 'family,' your 'peeps' in whatever way, shape or form that may be, will do far more for you than you could possibly conceive. They will rally behind you when you've lost your pep, celebrate the milestones and the seemingly mundane, and be your soft place to fall when the world beyond your door seems too cruel to face.

Two: there's something so beautiful, raw and honest about being accepted unconditionally. 'Family' has a way of unequivocally knowing - as clearly as they know the sun will rise - your good qualities that you may have a hard time seeing or accepting yourself. Masks, fronts or long sweatshirts that cover your growing behind aren't necessary because these people accept and love you for who you are, right here, right now. Dr. Seuss put it best: "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

I have been blessed with people like this in my life who love me for me, standing still with my socks on. And for people who arrive into this world alone and must pass on to the next alone, is there any greater joy than sharing this sort of bond with another human being?

Nougat ist wunderbar!

2010-01-13T13:35:00.025-05:00

I had one of those gong show mornings that started with stubbing my toe when I got out of bed. You know one of those domino-effect-gone-bad scenarios? I'll spare you the details but yap, that was my morning. Know what made it all better? German pastries!

Nestled between St. Mary's Hospital and downtown Kitchener, you will find a pretty little Queen Street shop called Nougat Bakery and Delicatessen. It specializes in fresh, quality foods that offer European flavours, atmosphere, and aromatherapy the moment you walk through the door.

While many of Nougat's products come from afar, you'll also find some locavore-friendly gems by way of meats, dairy, prepared foods and can we just talk about the bakery for a moment? Um... exquisite! Artisanal breads baked around the clock using old-fashioned methods with lots of wholesome, all-natural ingredients, without artificial preservatives or flavours. One little loaf of bread can take in excess of eight hours to prepare - my slow-food friends would be positively delighted!

But back to the pastries.

Since I was in Kitchener, known as Berlin until 1916 for its many German settlers, I thought it was only fitting to try some delicious blytterteig (that's German for pastry! Oh Google, my friend...) from ze old country.

The first: Bienenstich, or "bee sting cake," which earned its name when the inventor was stung by a buzzy little critter who became quite territorial about its sweet, almond-crusted honey topping. I can't say I blame him. In the middle of this cake has to be about three inches of soft, creamy mousse-like custard - so airy you'd swear it only had double-digit calories. All this nestled atop a beautifully flaky crust. I mean, seriously. Is this stuff legal?

And then there are the almond ring danishes. It almost looked like it was shaped in the form of a heart - or perhaps that was my infatuation at first sight. Light. Flaky. Sweet. Gorgeous.

To round out my Bavarian blowout (as in, the seams of my clothes were blowing out at this point but in my defense, I did share), German apple strudel, or Apfelstrudel, which is way more fun to say, especially if you accent the 'f' and roll your r's a bit. Gemuetlichkeit! That's another fun one to say. But about the strudel: irresistible. Flaky crust, almond-soaked cake bottom (that always reminds me of cherries, yumm) and chunky, fresh apple slices like nobody's business throughout. I'm exhausted with emotion just reliving it. Ugh. Seven more hours on the elliptical machine. But SO worth it.

Prost! To Nougat. And German pastries that make you so happy, you want to throw on a pair of lederhosen and bust out the chicken dance! (See, more calories taken care of right there).

Extreme caesar, anyone?

2010-01-11T08:29:00.056-05:00

Here's a product that Vincenzo's in Waterloo has a hard time keeping on the shelf: The Extreme Bean, pickled hot and spicy beans created by Matt and Steve's Tasty Beverage Co. in Mississauga.

If you like 'crunch combined with zing' and want to feel good about getting your vegetables in January (from June to November they use Ontario beans), this product is for you. They are addictive on their own - I've been eating them since 8:30 this morning - or you can use them to garnish bloody caesars. Matt and Steve have found a way to take caesars to a whole new level: Extreme Caesar-dom. Here's how:

1) Run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass
2) Pour your favourite caesar spices onto a saucer (perhaps you'd like to try Matt & Steve's glass rimmers). Dunk your glass rim first into the spices and twist. The lime will make it stick.
3) Carefully plop a few ice cubes into the glass and splatter them with Worcestershire and Tobasco sauces. The flavour infuses the ice this way.
4) Add vodka to your heart's content (you are your own liquor control board) and fill the rest up with Clamato juice.
5) Place one or two Extreme Beans into the glass so they shoot out like a straw. Sip (or guzzle) and enjoy!

The Extreme Bean has done for caesars what ketchup has done for french fries. Its hot zing sneaks up on you and its awesome crunch sticks with you to the end. I also hear they're great in martinis and on an antipasto plate. Or you can buy Extreme Bean Bites to add to nachos, pizza and burgers. Here's where you can find the product near you.

A bit of Canadian history about the caesar:
In 1969, Walter Chell invented the bloody caesar cocktail at the Westin Hotel in Calgary to commemorate the opening of Marco's, the hotel's Italian restaurant. Using its Italian cuisine for inspiration, he came up with a mixture of hand-mashed clams, tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper; then garnished it with a celery stick and named it for the Roman Emperor - a 'Bloody Caesar'. Later, with assistance from Chell, the Mott Company went on to develop 'clamato' juice. The popularity of the cocktail spread and today, about 250 million Mott's Clamato Caesars are created and consumed annually.

Sunshine in a jar

2010-01-10T13:25:00.038-05:00

When you rise regrettably early on a Sunday morning to opal skies and an outdoor thermometer reading of -19 C, you have to do something to prevent yourself from running out the back door in your housecoat, tuque and untied boots, jumping onto the iceblock called the seat of your car, and hightailing it all the way to Florida without mere mention of your fandangled plans to a single family member.

Er something like that. To warm up and brighten your day and stuff. Sigh.

So this frosty January morning, I found solace when instead I walked my fingers through the pantry and landed on a half-pint jar of jellied sunshine: Moss Berry Farm Pure Apricot Jam.

I'm not a fruit preserve junkie like some of my relatives from across the pond, but something about apricot jam spread on warm, slightly buttered toast complemented by a hot cup of peppermint tea, was such a civilized way to greet the day. If only Coronation Street was broadcast that early in the morning.

Located at RR5 Embro, about 25 km from Stratford, Moss Berry Farm makes a variety of preserves from the best fruit available on the market for retailers across Canada. I bought my jar from Bradshaws in Stratford. Moss Berry Farm also offers farm kitchen samplings and tours, a gift shop, tea room, and nature walks through its 20-acre black walnut grove; it even caters lunches for 20 or more.

I have yet to tour this local hidden treasure - mostly for fear of facing the bitter outdoors right now - but I'm storing the idea in the back of my mind for a warmer Sunday afternoon drive.

Berry soon, I hope.

Blueberry muffins gone wild

2010-01-07T09:32:00.030-05:00

Oh honey... it's difficult to write this post, but here goes...

If you haven't visited The Honey Tree Patisserie at 105 Albert Street in Stratford (tucked between Nile and Waterloo Streets), you haven't stepped into the techni-colour world of baked goods.

It smells like Christmas in there, you'll practically levitate when the aroma lifts you four feet off the ground, and its blueberry muffins? Quite possibly the recipe for world peace, if only we could learn to share. Slightly crispy, finely sugared domes are juxtaposed by soft, moist centres that burst with obnoxiously huge - yet organic - blueberries. (Antioxidants, people!) If you go on a Saturday morning before 10:30ish, there's a good chance you'll be able to get your hands on some (wise locals shop early) and they'll likely be warm and uber-aromatic.

If you've ever had a muffin at Balzac's, you've already tasted an overpriced one. These superb muffins pair gorgeously with a good stiff coffee and bountiful conversation.

So why is it difficult to write this post? It's the service. Every time I walk through the door, I get the impression I'm interrupting, and consequently annoying them with my 'paying customer' bit. It gives me a Seinfeld character flashback and I fear the day I'm shooed away and told "NO MUFFINS FOR YOU!"

But I can't stop going.

The food is too good! I've ordered cakes there for several different occasions and they're so tasty and delicious - I love cakes that don't taste too sweet. And their lemon and poppyseed loaves? Amazing. Don't get me started on the chocolate treats. They even have frozen logs of chocolate chunk cookie dough that you just thaw overnight in the fridge, slice and throw in a 350-degree oven for 8-10 minutes. The result? Outstanding cookies every time, even for people like me who can't bake! I've served them to company who had no words, just near cross-eyedness and slow-chewing moans.

I'm telling you - this place is fantastic! If you can handle lousy service. Oh, and they also change their hours and take extended vacations with little or no warning (they're presently closed until January 19).

So mark your calendars for January 20 and head over to The Honey Tree Patisserie for some irresistible delights!

Who knows, maybe they'll return feeling a little sunnier?

Behold the Mint Smoothie

2010-01-04T16:24:00.048-05:00

Whenever I eat good - I mean really good - chocolate, my face kinda sweats.

I don't think it's noticeable, but I can definitely tell. Has anyone else experienced this? I imagine it has something to do with arousal, but it's not exactly something I feel comfortable discussing with my doctor. Not that it happens enough for me to issue a concern. Once a day. Maybe twice. Okay, it has happened more often, but rarely!

While it's quite a peculiar phenomenon, I can't say I really mind. It allows me to gauge quality. Narrows the ranks. Separates the amateurs from the aficionados who sacrifice countless hours, energy and unbridled enthusiasm to produce a remarkable product.

Chocolate, in all its glory, has the power to transform even the darkest day into one where you have no choice but to close your eyes, throw your head back and sigh heavily as the words, "Life is gooood" escape from your lips.

Such a remarkable product lives here in Stratford, at Rheo Thompson Candies.

Walking through the tall double doors and inhaling will be worth your visit. I gain five pounds each time I do this, but I happily trade the extra minutes on the treadmill. I think there must have been some sort of clerical error in the midst of, well, a tempest, and what William Shakespeare intended to write was "Mint smoothies are such stuff as dreams are made on."

Now I know what some of you are thinking: "I don't like mint chocolate." I wasn't a huge fan either, having sampled those mint green coloured squares from another Canadian chocolatier. However, a Rheo Thompson mint smoothie is pure, digestible joy. If you haven't, you must try one. If you have, try more. Chocolate is good for you! And it could very well be the best $1.30 you ever spent (for an individually wrapped bar, which, by the way, is now available in dark chocolate).

It's local - you can find it at 55 Albert St in Stratford, and all 100+ products (beyond the mint smoothie, there are other delectable chocolates, fudge, hard candies and caramel corn) are handmade on site, from whole ingredients using dairy from local farms. Does it get any better? Oh yeah, and it's been in business for 40 years. Quelle surprise.

Rheo Thompson's mint smoothie: another feather in Stratford's cap.

It'll even put the glow in your cheeks.

Better than sliced bread

2010-01-03T04:33:00.021-05:00

A warm, just baked loaf of sea salt, cracked pepper, lime zest and oregano bread - doesn't it just sound like something you could curl up and fall asleep with? This was my Saturday morning local treat and I found it at The Butcher and The Baker in Stratford's downtown core.

Many of us remember Luke Sheepers, the 'baker' of The Butcher and The Baker, as that friendly and eccentric owner of the former Breadworks. He may be working in a different building with new business partner, Rick Frank, but he continues to produce the best darn bread in town.

There's just something so wholesome and nurturing about bread. I'm not sure if it calls up a biblical reference for me, or if the smell reminds me of childhood innocence. What I do know is there's a reason why our real estate agent told us to bake a loaf before we had an open house years ago. The smell of freshly baked bread gets you every time. Did the house sell? You bet your baguette it did.

I like that Sheepers doesn't slice his bread either. Sure, it would be more convenient, but there's something meditative about slicing your own bread. Sawing through that golden crispy crust until you hit the soft supple inside that glides on the blade like a daydream on a cloud.

To pay homage to the sea salt, cracked pepper, lime zest and oregano combination, I built a beautiful sandwich. On one side I spread some mashed avocado laced with lime juice and salt. I layered it with juicy turkey breast, creamy havarti, a little onion, tomato, leaf lettuce and topped it with a bit of mayo and dollop of homemade salsa. It practically belted out Pavarotti ballads to me on a plate!

And like a lost love, my taste buds are still reminiscing about it today.

Sigh.

A refreshing Stratford Pilsner to close off the decade

2009-12-31T13:24:00.011-05:00

Happy New Year! I hope 2010 brings you an abundance of love, peace and joy.

Coincidently, these are three of the ingredients found in Stratford Pilsner beer.

I just returned from Sirkel Foods, where they serve up the refreshing brew. I don't drink a lot of beer, but when I do, I like it cold, light and crisp. With a little help from Sirkel Foods in the refrigeration department, Stratford Pilsner exceeded my expectations with its bright apricot, spice, lemon, and floral undertones.

In business since 2004 and family owned, the Stratford Brewing Company upholds the highest standards in traditional craft brewing, producing premium beer brewed in small batches using the best natural ingredients. Committed to its community, Stratford Pilsner is brewed using Stratford water, which is drawn from deep wells that are cased in bedrock. All the spent mash generated from the brewing process is donated to local farmers to use as nutritious feed for their animals. Maybe they'll even taste better too.

So if your taste buds fancy a magnificent brew this New Year's Eve, raise a glass of Stratford Pilsner (now available at the LCBO).

And cheers to another local success story! I can't wait to uncover more local treasures in the year ahead.

Joy to the Spa

2009-12-29T12:02:00.020-05:00

My face lit up like a Christmas tree when I opened a gift certificate for Stratford's E-spa. And having just returned from a heavenly facial, I'm surprised it took me a whole four days to use it.

What isn't surprising is that E-spa was named "Best Spa" in the 2008 Stratford Gazette Readers Choice Awards. The service is impeccable. The atmosphere: clean, serene and comfortable.

Desiree was the esthetician who transported me from 20 Cooper Street to nirvana in 120 seconds flat. Now one might think a 'Pick-me-up facial' implies a quick fix of sorts. I was rejoicing that the treatment lasted 1.5 hours and in addition to the cleansing, steaming and layer upon layer of lotiony-potiony goodness, it also included a hand, foot, scalp, neck AND face massage. I mean, seriously - "Pick me up?" More like pick me up off the floor. With a mop. And a bucket.

The cost of all this luxurious pampering? Sixty-five dollars. Unless you have a gift certificate, and aside from giving a much-deserved tip, you'll also want to throw rose petals any direction Desiree steps.

While the facial products E-spa uses aren't from around here, it carries several Canadian skin products and jewellery lines.

But the service was local. And an absolute joy. So in the name of necessary pampering and self-care - especially around the holidays - I only see it as my duty to tell you about it.

Run, don't walk. Your scalp to soles will thank me.

Will travel for good cheese. But no need...

2009-12-27T14:43:00.026-05:00

Nothing says the holidays like an abundance of cheese.

Today I'm nibbling on Millbank organic cheddar with sundried tomatoes and garlic, and it is freaky good. I bought it at the Gentle Rain in Stratford. Its smell is quite strong, but it lands on your tongue like a calm August breeze and mellows there for a while before giving you a saucy kick of savoury tomato and garlicky goodness.

While some beautiful artisanal crackers lay perched in my cupboard just waiting to accompany it, I'm eating it with Christie's Bacon Dippers. I know, I know, but I can't resist. Growing up, December marked the Bacon Dippers' annual debut. They take me back to retro Christmas Eve nights when my mom would serve them with MacLaren's Imperial Cheese...you know that sharp flakey cheddar stuff in the red and black tub. And guess what? I just learned that Alexander Ferguson MacLaren, founder of MacLarnen's Brothers cheese export company, started his 1891 business in Stratford, Ontario!

I'm discovering that there are so many great cheese producers in the area - C'est bon, Millbank Cheese, Monforte Dairy, Harmony Organic Dairy Products and Festival City Dairy, to name just a few. And while Stratford has cheese making roots, it seems like our area is witnessing an artisanal cheese revival - and we're not alone. Between 2000 and 2008, national production rose 10.4 per cent to 222,035 tonnes. During that period, Ontario production rose 9.7% to 63,065 tonnes.

Tons of delicious fresh cheeses at our door just waiting for us to discover. Makes my heart melt. Kinda like a good gruyere...now there's an idea...

Loft Market Food Box Program: Local, organic, seasonal, delicious.

2009-12-23T09:18:00.032-05:00

In September, I attended the Savour Stratford Perth County Culinary Festival. It was SO incredible, I know I'm still on a high from it. I returned twice that Saturday, in the rain, beaming with pride and ignited by passion. I'm already doing the countdown to the 2010 festival and have recruited a number of out-of-town friends to join me.

While at Savour Stratford, I was introduced to the Loft Market, a co-op that connects local eaters with local sustainably grown organic food from family farms in the Perth, Waterloo and Wellington Regions of Southwestern Ontario. Loft Market fills its bags and boxes each week of the year with local sustainably grown organic food, which it delivers to 16 depot locations in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Wellesley, Elmira and New Hamburg.

"What about Stratford?" I squealed like a whiny six-year-old. I was so taken by the idea, I had little time to compose myself. The representative said Loft Market was considering expanding to Stratford and asked me to send an e-mail with my request (there were several inquiries that day). I barely had my rain boots off before I was pushing the send button. I haven't heard back from Loft Market yet, but I won't be surprised if Stratford is next on its map.

At the festival, I chatted with James Harrison, a farmer from Shakespeare, Ontario, who is part of the Loft Market program. He was a sweet, humble man who had the most gorgeous and delicious produce I think I have ever tasted. He even had tomatillos! Over the years I've come across several recipes that called for them and could never track them down. They were heavenly and added a terrific punch to my homemade salsa (a first canning experience for me this year!).

Like Soiled Reputation (see yesterday's post), Loft Market makes local eating easy. And so fresh, your taste buds will be singing from the rafters.

Off the beet-en path

2009-12-22T17:46:00.034-05:00

For the last two days, each time I open the fridge I've been eyeing up a bag of golden beets, elegantly wrapped with a shoulder-to-knee drawing of Adam and Eve on the label, below the arousing words: Soiled Reputation.

A few years ago, I would have never put the words "eyeing up" and "beets" in the same sentence. "Soiled," yes, but arousing? Not likely. Like so many of us, I grew up with 'pickled beet pushers' and no matter what kind of marketing spin they attempted, one small bite resulted in an immediate "Yeeeeech."

If you can believe it, beets popped up as a craving for me when I was pregnant. Perhaps it was because they so closely resembled the colour of a good shiraz. Or maybe it was the cheese I laced them with, I'm not sure. But beet salad with goat's cheese (pasteurized, of course), arugula and toasted walnuts in a red wine vinegar (hey, you gotta get your fill somewhere) and an extra virgin olive oil emulsified dressing....sigh...it instantly transported me from Yeeeeeech to Yummmmm. Mama was one happy girl and the craving for beets never did truly subside.

So today I put the holiday wrapping and yuletide dinner planning aside and gave into my temptation. And did something kind for myself. Beets have vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and C, don'tchaknow. They're an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, sodium and iron. The greens even have more iron than spinach. Okay, I didn't eat the greens, but good to know!

I didn't have walnuts or arugula in the house so I substituted baby spinach and pine nuts and switched things up again by using golden beets instead of my usual red.

The golden beets came from Soiled Reputation, a 40-acre certified organic farm (80-acre farm all together) in Sebringville, Ontario. It's home to Tina VandenHeuvel, and Antony John, who many of us knew as the Canada Food Network's Manic Organic.

I just learned Soiled Reputation supplies gourmet greens and heirloom vegetables to restaurants, markets, and homes in southwestern Ontario. After tasting these luscious, buttery jewels, I'm so looking into this home delivery service in the New Year.

Santé!

When you're open to finding joy, it has a way of finding you

2009-12-18T14:17:00.018-05:00

My friend, Melanie, told me about an artisanal store I needed to check out in New Hamburg (thanks, Mel). On my Friday morning travels, I was near the town of 5,000 and decided to pop in and try to find it. Now it didn't help that I forgot my cell phone and couldn't exactly remember the name.

So I did what any intelligent woman would do: I stopped to ask for directions. Except the friendly couple I spoke with weren't familiar and suggested I go into the storefront a few feet away. "They'll know," the woman said, pointing to The Spark Centre for Joy, Creativity and Vitality. This wasn't the place my friend suggested but hot diggity dog, my search was over - I was looking for joy and it found me.

The Spark Centre is a place to go when your creative soul needs to be quenched with yoga (beginner to Qigong), meditation, sacred circles for women, writing and art classes (e.g. beginner stained glass, healing through art and journaling and multi-media art journal) and 'wise women retreats'. For those woo-woo lovers like me, there are also energy healing, osteopathy and reflexology services - even a tarot card reader!

For the kids there are 'creative spark after school' programs, a creativity combo (45 min of yoga, 30 min of expressive writing for 6-11 year-olds), an art history class and even a 'getting published' class for young writers aged 8-15.

The brightly coloured walls and comfy cottage-like furniture were almost as welcoming as owner, Stephanie Hahn, and LifeWriting instructor, Leslie Cook. I never did find that artisanal shop I was looking for but I did find a creative breath of fresh air in New Hamburg...and sparks were flying.

Did someone say a winery's 40 mins from my door?

2009-12-18T08:20:00.022-05:00

In September, my family took a quick 40-minute jaunt to Birtch Farms and Estate Winery, just north of Woodstock. Now I'm not going to lie to you, they had me jumping into the passenger's seat at the word, "winery" but there was so much more to discover.

We were there for the Apple Festival (there's also a New Food and Wine Festival in late September and a Pumpkin Festival in October), which I had read about in a community flyer, and from beginning to end, our time there was absolutely enchanting.

We pulled up the parking lot and a sweet little man greeted us like your dear ol' Grandpa Tom would, with open arms and a smile that could generate more power than a wind turbine. With four generations of operators, the Birtch family must be proud of the oasis they've created smack in the middle of rural southwestern Ontario.

A woman dressed like an Oliver Twist character, complete with a Cockney accent and a weathered black top hat, led a horse-drawn wagon of kids through the apple orchard for an animated tour. Rows of pumpkins, corn husks and brightly coloured chrysanthemums lined the farm house where just inside you'd find a tasting bar (after much deliberation, the white pear wine was my favourite - didn't even taste like a fruit wine to me) and a delightful little retail shop with gifts, baked goods and local artisanal products.

Outside, we roamed through the many rows of the apple orchard, deciding how to fill our basket. With Honey Crisps? Royal Galas? Jona Macs? We could pluck over a dozen varieties from the whimsical knobby branches. Thankfully there were hot and delicious apple fritters available outside the farm house to fill our bellies as we moved on to see the animals before heading home.

If you haven't already checked out Birtch Farms and Estate Winery, go. It's a great place for families, school tours, corporate events, or just a sunny Sunday afternoon drive to a place that's guaranteed to make you happy.

Oh...'C'est Bon' all right...

2009-12-17T13:24:00.011-05:00

There are few things in this world that can transport me to the gates of heaven like cheese. Cheeeeese. It gives me heart palpitations just thinking about it (and as if I didn't just eat some 10 minutes ago). But like everything in life, there are hobbyists and there are Olympic medalists. There are golfers, and then there's Tiger. Oh. Bad analogy. There's supermarket goat's milk cheese, and then there's C'est Bon Fresh Chevre from St. Marys, Ontario.

Upon first glance, this product is quite unassuming. It's only after you taste it that you'll wonder why they didn't get Victoria's Secret to design the packaging. When I opened the 190-gram tub, its consistency reminded me of the cold cream my mother asks for every year at Christmas. I imagined what it would be like to rub this heavenly chevre all over my face and go to sleep with it on, waking periodically to take a big lick (imagine the number of late night fridge runs Nigella Lawson would save!). But I restrained myself and decided to make a delicious torte instead.

Line a cereal bowl with plastic wrap, put some crushed hickory smoked almonds on the bottom and set it aside. Finely chop half a red onion and throw it into a frying pan over medium heat with 1/4 C of balsamic and 2 tbsp of good Canadian maple syrup. Whoosh it around a bit for 6-8 minutes or until the liquid almost disappears then take it off the heat. Gingerly fondle your tub of C'est Bon Fresh Chevre until it pops out like a marshmallow onto the palm of your hand. Put it on a plate, take a thread and carefully slice it horizontally. Put the top half head-up into the nut mixture, slather the onion mixture in between, add the bottom half of the chevre, wrap it up and refrigerate until an hour before you're ready to pop it upside down on a plate and serve with some gorgeous crackers. I'll need to discover some gorgeous local crackers...

This appetizer makes angels sing every time and what makes it outstanding is the cheese. The lovely local cheese...I'm getting a little misty just thinking about it...

Getting back to the joy

2009-12-16T11:55:00.005-05:00

Reduce your carbon footprint. Manage your energy consumption and emissions. Think globally, act locally. Respect the environment.

And your elders.

Is it just me or does it seem like we're constantly being scolded for not being socially responsible enough? I'm Canadian, which means I'm already predisposed to guilt. And I'm the eldest - I spent the majority of my childhood striving to be responsible and setting a good example. So in this pursuit of being better ecological citizens, where did all the joy go?

Loving Local Living is about recapturing that joy. It's about discovering the hidden treasures in my "local" (643.74 km or 400 mile) environment. It's about creating awareness of the local products that are so great, you just want to slather them all over your naked body and roll around in them. Why? For the joy of it! For the freshness of it. For the savoury deliciousness of it. For the "look-at-me-I'm-celebrating-the-small-but-mighty-changes-I'm-making" feeling of it. Without the rain clouds and judgements.

So join me, if you will, on this exciting journey of discovering what plentiful harvest and artisanal products exist in our own backyard.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm just back from The Gentle Rain here in Stratford and there are some crispy, just plucked, sunset-coloured carrots from a farm outside Sebringville that are whispering my name.