OCTA

Battle of the Bubbies at Caplansky’s this weekend

By Noelle Munaretto on September 8th, 2010

A great new menu, a party to celebrate its first year on College Street, and the “Battle of the Bubbies” will keep Caplansky’s Deli hopping in September.

“You don’t need to be a Bubbie or even have a Bubbie to enter the competition.  All you need is balls – matzoh balls, that is,” says chief mensch and bottle washer, Zane Caplansky.

(Bubbie: “a grandmother”, from the Yiddish, bubeleh.  No relation to Buffy, the vampire-slayer.  Matzoh balls:  a dumpling made from ground meal which are shaped by hand and dropped into a pot of boiling water or chicken soup.  End of Yiddish lesson).

A panel of expert judges will pick winners in two matzoh ball categories: “cannon balls” and “fluffy balls”.

“If your mother, Bubbie, or designated matzoh ball maker made them hard like a cannon ball then that’s what you’re genetically attuned to enjoy.  It would be unfair to compare or judge the two kinds of matzoh balls side by side,” explains Zane, who has a personal affinity for fluffy balls.

The “Battle of the Bubbies” matzoh ball smackdown happens starting at 4 p.m., Sunday, September 12, in Caplansky’s Deli.  Bubbies and would-be bubbies are urged to pre-register for the competition by contacting Zane at zane@caplanskys.com or 416-500-3852. A panel of tasteful experts, including Moses Znaimer and food mavens Bonnie Stern, David Sax, Lara Rabinovitch and Amy Wilson, will judge the bubbie battle.

“Pre-registration is vital; competitors who pre-register get a free lunch, and I need to know how many I will be on the hook for,” a worried-looking Caplansky says.

September 5th marks the first anniversary of Caplansky’s at its historic digs at 356 College St.   To celebrate, Zane unveils a new menu following the “Battle of the Bubbies”.  Caplansky’s regulars and invited guests can indulge in a new menu tasting after 7 p.m. on September 12th.  Please RSVP if you’d like to attend.

Taste Real From the Ground Up: The Story of a Brand

By Laura Buckley on September 8th, 2010

This is the story of how a small city and a rural county are working to put themselves on the culinary tourism map. Just over a year ago a group of stakeholders from the City of Guelph and Wellington County met to put their heads together and create Taste Real From the Ground Up, an umbrella brand for memorable food and drink experiences in their region. They’ve learned a lot along the way.

The Beginnings

Christine Chapman, Program Partnership Coordinator, Economic Development and Tourism Services for the City of Guelph, was part of that first meeting. Chapman explains that they

Calling All Fred’s Bread Lovers!

By Noelle Munaretto on September 2nd, 2010

Andrea Damon Gibson and Steve Gibson Write: “Fred’s Bread is 15 Years Young! It’s a little unbelievable because the years have gone by so fast. On reflection, 15 years sounds like we are a success, and all of us behind Fred’s Bread feel lucky. After 15 years we’re creating loaves that are better than ever; if we had to do it all over again, you bet your baguette crumb we would!”

To Celebrate our 15th Year Anniversary- we’re asking you- Fred’s Bread fans, home cooks, gourmands and food lovers to join in the party!

A message from Norfolk’s Cindy Vanderstar

By Noelle Munaretto on September 2nd, 2010

As the promotions coordinator of Norfolk County tourism and local foods, I often get asked by city folks about our farmers’ markets.  This year, with the warmer weather and early summer, our crops seemed to just pop out of the ground and it “hit me” – our whole county is one big farmers’ market.

What can be better than stopping by a road-side stand to buy a dozen cobs of freshly –picked corn to eat only an hour later?  Or to take your kids to the local cherry farm, climb a ladder and pick your own cherries right off the tree?

Norfolk County is Canada’s most diverse agriculture area and is home to Canada’s and Ontario’s largest growers of some of your favorite foods.   Sweet potatoes, popping corn, peanuts, asparagus, apples, pumpkins and strawberries are only a selection.  But our local foods also include Lake Erie perch, cheese, honey, Texas Longhorn cattle, a variety of meat products, maple syrup – even wine.  People talk a lot about the “100-mile Diet” in other regions and large cities but can they truly get the variety and year-round selection that is found right here?

Norfolk County promotes its local foods with a campaign “Direct From Norfolk – Know Where your Food Comes From” and it is important for all of us to look for these labels and support the local growers and producers.   You can find over 50 farm gates, pick-your-own, markets, retail stores and restaurants , all growing and supporting the “local movement” , in the official map and local food guide published each year by the tourism and economic development department.

Local foods can be a lot of fun and a great learning experience.  With the popularity of television food channels and celebrity chefs, cooking and local foods have become “cool”.   New terms like “agri-tourism” and “culinary tourism” have emerged as reasons to travel.   If you think about a trip to Italy, what would be your one thing to try?  Pizza? Wine?    Travellers seek out these unique agri-tourism experiences and local food establishments.  If they can “walk the crop” at a nearby strawberry field and learn about the many varieties and differences of strawberries, then purchase their own basket to snack on – they’ve had a great Norfolk County food experience.  If they can horseback ride through a shitake mushroom  farm, then enjoy a western-style barbecue on a picnic table in the woods, served with their own hand-picked mushrooms – they’ve had a great Norfolk County food experience.  The popular coined phrase “field to fork” becomes reality.

It’s an exciting time with local foods as we think more about health benefits, great-taste and helping the environment.  Norfolk County continues to attract new types of crops, such as the Goji Berry and ginseng and to appeal to more businesses joining the “culinary” trend.  You can visit www.norfolkfarms.com to find local foods, recipes and stay current with events and food festivals.  Whether you’re a resident of Norfolk County or just visiting, enjoy our county-wide farmer’s market.  Great flavours, great fun and experiences you’ll never forget.

Cindy Vanderstar
Promotions Coordinator – Norfolk County Tourism

Get Your Ontario Culinary Tourism Summit 2010 Tickets Now! Earlybird Discount!

By Noelle Munaretto on September 1st, 2010

Tickets are now on sale for the 2010 Ontario Culinary Tourism Summit!

This year’s summit will be held on Monday Nov. 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the MaRS Discovery District in downtown Toronto. A special after-party, pickle “Smackdown” will be held at the Drake Hotel at 7 p.m.

This year’s summit also features:

• Keynote delivered by celebrity Chef Michael Smith
• Discussions lead by NYC food writer Adam Sachs, Chicago culinary journalist Steve Dolinksy, and Vancouver food writer Randall Shirley
• Breakout sessions featuring Local Food Plus, the Wine Council of Ontario, communications design firm Hypenotic, and other industry leaders
• An all-Ontario luncheon organized by locavore chef Jamie Kennedy, featuring the foods and wines from our province’s amazing regions
• Select and exclusive pre-post summit Destination Familiarization Tours (FAMS) to Prince Edward County, Niagara and Toronto, available for an extra cost
• Presentation of Local Food Distribution System research by Lauren Baker
• The chance to network and interact with the best and brightest in the culinary tourism supply chain

Get your tickets at the special earlybird price of $100 (+HST) now by clicking on this link:

http://2010ontarioculinarytourismsummit.eventbrite.com/

We’ll see you there!!

Savour Elgin a Success!

By Noelle Munaretto on August 30th, 2010

Residents and visitors of St. Thomas, Ont. experienced a fabulous sun-soaked evening of local food and wine at the Savour Elgin event last Thursday.

Held in the city’s historic train station, the event had restaurants, wineries and local food-supporting organizations set up tables to showcase their tasty treats.

Guests were given the chance to explore the culinary offerings available in their own region while listening to great live music and watching outdoor cooking demonstrations.

Crowd-pleasers included the deliciously thick and molasses-y baked Ferguson’s Fancy Beans served alongside fried local perch, tastings from Florence Estate Winery and Pelee Island Winery, Garlics of London’s balsamic glazed hot smoked Ontario pork sausage, and rich pound cake smothered in ripe peaches from local growers.

Even Local Food Plus was on hand to do its famous tomato tasting, where guests had to choose which tomato salad was made with locally-grown tomatoes and which salad was made with the non-seasonal kind.

Another fabulous addition to the evening was the folks from The Arts & Cookery Bank in St. Thomas. Click on their link to learn all about the cooking classes and other inspirational educational programming they host in this historic heritage barn.

Above all, definitely take the time to check out Elgin County and St. Thomas for yourself this fall.

Your tastebuds will thank you!

GTAAC and Friends help create a Food and Farming Strategy

By Noelle Munaretto on August 25th, 2010

The Greater Toronto Area Agriculture Action Committee (GTAAAC), together with the City of Hamilton, Niagara Region and the Holland Marsh Growers’ Association are pleased to announce funding to create a ‘Food and Farming Strategy and Action Plan for Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe and the Holland Marsh’. Support for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In Ontario, this program is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council.

“The need for an actionable food and farming strategy for the highly urbanized areas within the Golden Horseshoe and Ontario’s Greenbelt was envisioned at a July, 2009 meeting of all of the groups supporting this initiative,” notes Peter Lambrick, Halton Region farmer and Chair of the GTAAAC Food & Farming Strategy and Action Plan Committee. “We farm in spaces within the greatest urban concentration anywhere in Canada, and the GTA is home to the second-largest food processing economy in North America. We need a practical action plan that ensures co-existence of agriculture, food processing and urbanization for mutual benefit, as well as sustainability of the environment, human health and the economy.”

The anticipated outcome of this project is not just another consulting report, but a ten-year plan that will serve as a blueprint for progress. The strategy and action plan will strengthen Ontario’s second largest economic driver (agriculture, agri-business and food processing) within the Golden Horseshoe and Holland Marsh. It will also maximize mutual benefits for farmers and consumers within this densely populated region.

A profitable agriculture industry in the Golden Horseshoe and Holland Marsh area that is environmentally and socially responsible as well as responsive to market demands will be the main outcome of the 10-year Action Plan. It will identify opportunities for market growth and the resulting economic activity driven by changing population ethnicity and increasing consumer needs for healthy, nutritious foods. The project will include the development of a discussion document that includes all previous research on this topic, the drafting of an Action Plan, and a stakeholder consultation process that will ensure diverse and thoughtful input into the final plan.

Ontario Culinary Tourism Awards

By Noelle Munaretto on August 20th, 2010

Nomination forms are now available for the 2010 Culinary Tourism Awards. Entries must be received by September 17.

CULINARY TOURISM EXPERIENCE AWARD

This award recognizes an Ontario individual or business who has within the past year developed and/or enhanced a new or existing culinary tourism experience.

CULINARY TOURISM LEADERSHIP AWARD

This award recognizes an individual, business or committee who has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of local culinary tourism in Ontario.

The muscle behind The New Farm

By Laura Buckley on August 19th, 2010