-
Stratford in sound, movement and flavours
We are sitting at the small counter at El Cactus Taco Shop in Stratford. The decor is bright and fun like the neon set of wings on the wall. The service is cheerful. It’s a contrast to the grey outside. Pouring rain. I resist the Mezcal Negroni artfully scrawled on the chalkboard menu and order the Agua Fresca instead, a blend of watermelon and blueberry juice. I need to stay sharp for the theatre. This is the reason we are in Stratford of course. Yet the intriguing flavour combinations in this little taco shop hint at another reason to enjoy a visit to Stratford. We are off to a great…
-
An imaginary train ride across Europe
It’s fun to put on a travel mindset and explore at home. It’s been far too long since my tour of Europe in Bronte. Time to unpack my imaginary Eurail pass and map out a route. Why not visit a few countries? It’s so tempting. Distances are short. No border crossings. Like the model train set at the Royal Botanical Gardens (cover photo), I am talking about destinations within the Oakville and Burlington area. We may need to pack our imagination, but the food along this route is real. And tasty. Our first stop is Ola’s Bakery. This traditional Portuguese bakery is located on Speers Road in a nondescript red…
-
Road trip to Prince Edward County
There is something different about a road trip with an electric car. There’s the obvious: no fuel. Plus you have to stop at charging stations en route if your destination is further than your range. What I didn’t expect was these charging stops end up as little social stops too. I have noticed, especially at stations with multiple chargers and along the 401 corridor, I inevitability end up talking to other drivers. Most are EV drivers as you swap stories about respective cars and mileages (or to help each other figure out which chargers are working). There are still relatively few EVs on the road in Ontario (about 7.2% of…
-
Bellissima
Gosh the peaches and nectarines have been excellent this summer. We have eaten baskets and baskets of these delectable stone fruits. Freestone. Clingstone. Baby gold peaches. White nectarines. Give me a moment please to wipe the nectar off my chin. To make the most of the short season I have taken several trips to Niagara’s Twenty Valley. I like to get close to the source. The fruit out there is beautiful. Rows and rows. Acres and acres. Bunches and bunches. Oh hang on. Let me have a closer look. I suppose peaches aren’t the only reason to drive out to Niagara. The vineyards are at their peak! The vines are…
-
A tour of Europe in Bronte
To feed my travel appetite I have been listening to Travel with Rick Steves from time to time as I walk. In his entertaining weekly podcast he talks to tour guides, travel writers and other travel enthusiasts. It’s fun to hear their stories, get inspired and discover interesting travel themed books (this is how I heard about Eric Weiner’s Socrates Express). There are hundreds of episodes and I have merely scratched the surface. Anytime I listen though, I am ready to book a plane ticket to Europe. Maybe not right now. My appetite for travel inspired foods however, can be satisfied. I love trying the local cuisine when I travel.…
-
Fireside Raclette at Hidden Bench Estate Winery
“Who was sick in my house?” my mom asked rather sternly walking through the front door. This was many years ago. I had hosted a high school graduation party at our house. Just a small group of girlfriends. Not a big party. But I suppose it was a fair question. We were 18. We had the house to ourselves. It smelled terribly. Reminiscent of smelly gym socks. We were not a rowdy drunken teenage crowd that evening. Food, rather than drink, was our focus. We even got all dressed up for the event. We had a raclette party. And that cheese stinks. In a really good way. So when I…
-
The Wind Goddesses at Alvento winery
It’s pizza night at our house. I stretch out the dough. My daughter layers on the toppings. My husband preheats the oven. We each have our designated roles. I open a bottle of wine to accompany our pizza: The Alvento East Wind. My husband asks, “Did you get this at one of the wineries you visited?” I proceed to tell him about how I found the winery. I was having brunch at Rev-a-lee Brunch Café in Vineland. My Bavarian plate with apple and sage sausage, zesty mustard potato salad and warm molasses rye bread was delicious. When the waitress stopped by my table to top up the hot water in…
-
Food and wine at Pearl Morissette
“Let’s colour outside the lines for the food and wine pairing”, says Jenna, our server at Pearl Morissette. “It’s all about good food and wine.” Jenna is wine-savvy, but not afraid to experiment, to have a bit of fun. I was keen to try Pearl Morissette wines with my lunch. My husband and I were finishing our last savoury course and transitioning to sweet. So far, I had enjoyed the aromatic Irrévérence (my first taste of a skin-fermented or orange wine) and Lila, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Lemberger and Pinot Noir with lovely cherry and blackberry notes. At this juncture, Jenna suggested the Sputnik, a dry Riesling. Without hesitation…
