Taste Real from the Ground Up
Culinary Tourism Summit
The Nation's Table
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Connect with growers and producers, get involved in events in your region, find staff, learn how culinary tourism can grow your business

Growers/Producers go →

The main ingredient in culinary tourism: connect with chefs, find new customers, and get involved in events in your region

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Plan your Ontario Culinary adventure. Find places to stay, eat, shop and play that showcase the best in local, regional cuisine

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Culinary tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and booming in Ontario. OCTA is your best resource for ideas, photos, videos and invitations to upcoming FAMs

The New Farm Harvest Festival, Sept 18

by Noelle Munaretto

Hot on the heels of their very successful Fred Eaglesmith concert and BBQ, the New Farm is gearing up for another Stop fundraiser! For one night only, the farm will be transformed into a restaurant, theatre and concert hall with an organic BBQ (complete, of course, with fresh organic veggies straight from the farm); foot-stomping folk music from the Sun Parlour Players; and a performance of Reesor by Erin Brandenburg and Lauren Taylor. This acclaimed play – NOW called it “grassroots theatre at its best” – chronicles the history of the northern Ontario town of Reesor, settled by immigrants in the 1920s and 30s. The event is generously sponsored by Bernardin (who will give you a jar to fill up with some of Creemore’s best brew from the cash bar!) and by Blundstone Footwear, who will be raffling off some of their fine boots. For more info, please call Sara at 705-466-9906 or email sara@creemore.com. All proceeds benefit The Stop and New Farm’s Grow for the Stop program.

Where: The New Farm, 9783 Nottawasaga 6/7 Sideroad, Creemore, ON

When: Saturday, September 18. 5:30 til late. (Play 6 pm, dinner 7:30 pm, music 9 pm).

How much: Tickets for the full event are $45 and concert-only tickets available for $20. Kids tickets are also available. Tickets can be purchased online, at The Creemore Echo, or from The New Farm stall at The Creemore Farmers’ Market.

Good Food for All Fest @ The Stop

by Noelle Munaretto

The Good Food for All Festival is back and bigger than ever! Join us on September 18 for a fun-filled—and entirely free!— day of entertainment, kids’ activities, music and, of course, lots and lots of delicious food. Hosted by broadcaster and author Jane Farrow, the day features the Food Network’s Food Jammers and their crazy culinary contraptions; music by Nine Mile and Samba Squad; a community cook-off (you be the judge); a farmers’ market; samples from The Stop kitchen; a bike-repair clinic; a swap shop and much more. Kids will enjoy live animals, food competitions (with cookie rewards!) and, of course, the ever-popular bouncy castle. Join us for what is always a wonderful day celebrating our neighbourhood and healthy and delicious food.

When: Saturday, Sept 18, noon til 3 pm

Where: 1884 Davenport (at Symington)

How much: Entirely free!

Exploring Livestock Farming Bus Tour

by Noelle Munaretto

This tour is intended to be introductory, but all are welcome. Participants will have the opportunity to see a variety of livestock farm operations. Leaving from Guelph, a bus will take us to see a goat dairy, a bison farm, a diversified livestock CSA operation, a meat processing facility and one of the first sheep dairy’s in North America. As we drive the country roads, you will see many cattle as well, as the area is the biggest beef producing (and lamb producing) area in the province. The day will end no later than 6pm. Please register early so that we can book a bus with enough seats! For more information, email gayl@farmstart.ca.

We will be visiting:

River’s Edge Goat Dairy
West Grey Premium Beef
Dragonfly Farm
Mountain Lake Bison Range
Wooldrift Dairy Sheep Farm

When: Saturday October 2, 9am – 6pm

Where: Starting in Guelph

Cost: $50 for an individual $90 for a family/ farm team

Registration: Please click here to register

We will be contacting participants before the event to specify on farm safety details and sending a map of the location where the bus will meet everyone.

Guest Chefs Coming to the County this Fall

by Noelle Munaretto

Join Cynt Bread on wood oven hia and Karin Desveaux-Potters in the kitchen and learn the art of baking new & traditional favourites.

Want to learn some new pastry & bread recipes to impress your guests? We will be creating some great flatbreads from around the world with accompanying spreads. Also baking savoury pies and phyllo pastry appetizers for the holiday season & breakfast breads for weekend guests. This special Baking Series will be offered on Saturdays in October. Book your space today.

Heritage Farmhouse Cooking Class with Heinz Haas

As part of the TASTE Celebration week of events, we will host a special “pioneer-inspired” cooking class on Tuesday, September 28th at the farmhouse. Cooking on both the Mennonite wood oven & on our range, you will create a menu bound by history but with a modern flair. Join Chef Heinz Haas and Cynthia as they work their magic with fire, food, and stories… making it an entertaining class for all.

Harvestin’ the County Supper Tonight

by Noelle Munaretto

HARVESTIN’ THE COUNTY SUPPER

What was previously known as the Harvestin’ Supper will be held in a new fomat for 2010. Currah’s Catering, Picton will host a 100% County Supper at Sandbanks Provincial Park on the beach

DATE: Thursday, September 9th, 2010

SEATINGS: 4 pm, 5:30 pm, 7 pm

PRICE: $20.00 per person (includes entry to park for supper)

PURCHASE TICKETS: online www.countytix.ca , By phone 613.471.1991, In person at the Festival Players Box Office located at Books & Company, 289 Main Street, Picton

LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE

MENU

Dinner Rolls from The Pastry House, butter from Reid’s Dairy

Vicki’s Veggies Heirloom tomato salad with sweet onions from Honey Wagon Farms
Mixed greens from Cherryvale Farms and Blake and Sandi Vader with a herb vinaigrette
Corn on the cob from Terry Laundry and L.B. Hagermans Farms
Roast Beef from Sunset Farms and Carson Bay Farms
Pig on a spit from Blaine Way
Apple Crumble made from Maw’s Lakeview Side Orchard
Bottle water from Pure County Water Company

QUESTIONS? Please call 1.866.845.6644 or e-mail
tastethecounty@bellnet.ca

Canada’s Locavore News

by Noelle Munaretto

There is a great Plumbline article we just received today from Canada’s Locavore News by Elbert van Donkersgoed entitled “Perspectives on Good Food and Farming”.

van Donkersgoed summarizes some excellent national media clippings that touch upon various aspects of local food production, sustainable agriculture, supporting farming, and the benefits/challenges of the locavore food movement.

Check out his stellar piece after the jump…

by Noelle Munaretto

SOME OF THE BEST FALL ADVENTURES CAN BE HAD DURING THE WEEK, WHEN TRAFFIC IS LIGHT AND THE CROWDS ARE SPARSE.

FROM SEPTEMBER 7TH TO OCTOBER 31ST, FALL-COLOUR FANATICS ARE INVITED TO TREK THE APPLE-PIE TRAIL AND TRY OUT THE ACTIVITIES HELD IN AND AROUND THE VILLAGE AT BLUE MOUNTAIN, WHERE UNIQUE AUTUMN EXPERIENCES ABOUND EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.

Find out all about these great experiences and events after the jump:

by Noelle Munaretto

Winery Events

“good times” at the winery

Kick off your weekends with some delicious food, great wine and most of all a few good laughs with friends!

The price of entry is a mere $20 and this gets you a glass of the “good wine” and your first plateful of our featured dish. Refills are available for a moderate cost. Space is limited - RSVP’s are required.

Download a PDF of the events here

September 17: Cheese to Meet You
It may be a little cheesy but we thought it would be fun to throw a really “top of the wedge” wine and cheese party. There will all kinds of great Canadian cheeses and cheesy snacks to enjoy. There is no better “whey” than this to kick off wine festival weekend!
5:30-8pm

October 8: Pork Stars & Pinot
We’re stealing this idea from famed US chef Charlie Palmer. Pinot Noir and pork is a match made in heaven. Come see for yourself!
5:30-8pm

November 19: Bowled Over
Pop by the winery for a glass or two of The Good Wine along with a bowl of stew or hearty soup. We’ll have the fire roaring as we kick back for a cosy late autumn weekend.
5:30-8pm

Space is limited. RSVP’s are required.
RSVP by e-mail to Lisa or call 905-563-6333.

“special holiday events” at the winery

November 21 & 22 and 27 & 28: Wrapped Up in the Valley
The Good Earth is a participating winery in this year’s Wrapped Up in the Valley event. The Wineries of Twenty Valley offer this festive and tasty passport experience where guests sample perfectly paired food and wine samples throughout the Twenty Valley.
Passports are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Call 905-562-3636 for more details.

10:30am-5:30pm
www.twentyvalley.ca

November 27 & 28: The HandMade Market
The Good Earth is the host venue for the 2nd Annual Christmas Handmade Market! This two day craft market will feature unique, hand made products by local artisans. Think pottery, jewellery, Christmas greens and arrangements, hand-sewn bags and accessories, preserves and more! Of course, The Good Earth will be serving up good food and wine – all that shopping should work up an appetite!

Admission is free – all welcome!
11am-5pm
www.handmademarket.ca

Savour Stratford Perth County Culinary Festival is approaching

by Noelle Munaretto

The Savour Stratford Perth County Culinary Festival is less than a month away!

This highlight of every Ontario food-lover’s calendar – which is taking place this year on the weekend of September 25^th and 26^th – offers plenty of free events and programming, including outdoor concerts, a Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market, and a fun and educational Kids Tent.

But as the popularity of this delicious festival (now in its third year) continues to build, it’s more important than ever for its loyal foodie attendees to plan ahead and purchase tickets in advance for several of its most in-demand events.

by Noelle Munaretto

Offered at Georgian College in Owen Sound for first time!

Over 12 hours (four three-hour sessions) and one day of farm tours, the Explorer course takes a learner-centered approach to exploring agriculture as a career. As a participant in the course, you will be guided through an in depth self-assessment process, designed to help you identify the specific aptitudes, interests, skills and resources that you can bring to a new farm business. You will receive support through the process of researching opportunities in agriculture. And you will meet other serious gardeners, livestock enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs who are also asking themselves, “Is starting an agricultural business right for me?”

Where: Georgian College, Owen Sound View Map.

When: Tuesdays, Sept. 14 – Oct. 12th, 2010
4 Tuesday evenings & 1 Saturday farm tour

Cost: $290 per person

To register: call 1-519-376-0840 x2022 or visithttp://www.georgianc.on.ca/campuses/owensound/

For more information about the course and accompanying workbook, please visit the Explorer Course website, or contact our New Farmer Coordinator, Monika Korzun, at monika@farmstart.ca, or (519) 836-7046 x 110.

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