I’ve just returned from a fun filled day (but educational too) on the Farm and Food Care Ontario Spring Media Tour. Our day went like this:

8:30 am bus departs

9:30 am  arrival at  Beverly Greenhouses Ltd. in Flambourough. These greenhouses are ENORMOUS  – think “six football fields. That type of enormous.

This family farm produces 22 acres of seedless English cucumbers and we had the chance to get up close and personal with these cucumbers. Everyone loves cucumbers non? This visit had me thinking about chilled cucumber soup, cucumber and tomato salads and more!!

11:00 am bus departrs

11:30 am Arrival at Halton Region Museum.

11:45 am Dr. Joe Schwarcz from Montreals’ Office of Science  & Society, gave the most entertaining presentation about demystifying science for the public. We all chuckled more than a few times!!

12:15 am We had the most fresh and flavourful meal. Seriously….we were spoiled rotten. (thanks CropLife Canada)

2:00 pm  bus departs

2:45 pm Arrival at Escarpment’s Edge Dairy Goats in Caledon. Another family run farm that specializes in Saanen and Alpine cross goats. (um,..like 300 of them). Everyone was busy snapping photos of these cuties. Not to mention, we sampled some amazing varieties of goat cheese.

4:15 pm bus departs

4:45 pm arrival back in Oakville.

To be honest, this date was marked in my calendar months and months ago. Visiting farms is not something I get to do everyday and it’s always a great reminder to continue to support Ontario Farmers and to continue to visit local farmers markets.

Many thanks to Kelly and Jennifer  from Farm and Food Care Ontario, who run a very efficient and educational tour!!

For further info:

Twitter: @farmfoodcare

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FarmFoodCare

For consumers: www.farmissues.com

Blog: www.letstalkfarmanimals.ca

 

 

If I tell a friend that “I’m having company over “…. this is code for “I’m going to try some new recipes”.

Here’s three new recipes that I will be trying.

-Oriental Edamame Salad courtesy of AllRecipes

-Green Goddess Kale Salad courtesy of Daily Bites Blog 

-The Ultimate Filet O Fish Sammie courtesy of Food Network.

The meal will also include fresh salsa, tortilla cheese, a cheese platter and a rhubarb strawberry crisp!

Can you tell that I spent some time on -line researching some recipes. I love it though!!

Todays blog will feature two salads that I’m going to be serving, K?

First Salad: Oriental Edamame Salad 

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 (16 ounce) packages shelled edamame (green soybeans)
• 1 (15 ounce) can baby corn, drained and cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and sliced into thin strips
• 1 bunch radishes, halved and thinly sliced
• 3 green onions, cut thinly on a diagonal
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Directions

1. Heat a small skillet over medium-low heat; cook almonds until lightly toasted and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Whisk sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, and ginger together in a bowl for the dressing; season with salt and black pepper.
3. Combine edamame, baby corn, water chestnuts, radishes, green onions, cilantro, and toasted almonds in a large bowl; toss with dressing until coated. Serve cold or at room temperature.

 FINISHED SALAD

 

Second Salad: Green Goddess Kale Salad 

5 cups chopped kale

2 cups finely chopped broccoli florets (I steamed them slightly)

3/4 cup thinly sliced scallions

1 medium carrot (I used multi colour baby carrots)

Handful of sprouts

Handful of pumpkin seeds

1/2 medium ripe avocado, pitted

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk or regular milk

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the kale, broccoli, scallions, and carrot. Reserve the sprouts and pumpkin seeds for garnish.

Scoop the avocado flesh into a blender or food processor. Add the milk, lemon juice, maple syrup, vinegar, and mustard. Puree until smooth. The dressing will be thick, with the consistency of mayonnaise. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat everything thoroughly. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Garnish plates of the salad with the sprouts and pumpkin seeds.

FINISHED SALAD

 Happy Cooking!

O.K…I’m just going to spit it out.

MomWhoRuns…has NOT BEEN RUNNING. Phewww….I feel better already.  Seriously, I should switch the name of my blog to MomWhoEats.

I ran the Toronto Half Marathon on May 6, 2012 and have not put on my running shoes since that date.

No Zumba..No Body Pump... No GoodLife Membership….No Triathlons.….No treadmill. No NOTHING.  Bye Bye wet suits, bikes, Lululemon, and more!!

Why did I stop exercising? I figured that it was time for a sabbatical after working out for 7 years. Not to mention that I had gained some serious weight in April/May 2012 and in June 2012. decided to make major changes to my diet (another blog post – I promise).

Here are the pros/cons regarding my decision to stop working out.

PROS:

-I have a LOT more free time

-I lost two sizes and more than 20 pounds

CONS:

-I miss all of it…the races, challenging my body and reaching fitness goals.

Therefore, in late April I had the opportunity to visit the InsideOut  Studio  (210 Laird Dr, Toronto) for a work out. I loved it. I truly did. It felt great to move again and I loved the one-on-one private training session.

Sadly, I have NOT put on my running shoes since that visit.

I thought that on May 6, 2013 I would put on my running shoes and start to run again. Sadly, this has not happen.

Any advice?

PS Many thanks to the InsideOut Studio for reaching out to me! For further information about this boutique studio, please contact them at (416) 849-4765 or visit their website.

 

I can finally scratch Bar Volo off my bucket list for 2013!! Hooray for me. I seriously don’t know what took me so long seeing as this family owned bar has been around since 1985!!

I went on Thursday night at 630 pm and the place was slammed. Was not expecting to see so many beer fans but clearly craft beer is popular these days. Since December 2012, they now have 26 beers on tap (one for each letter of the alphabet). Plus they are well known for serving cask ales!

I explained to my waiter that even though I love (love) beer – beer doesn’t love me. So he poured me 5 – 2 oz samples. Total cost $2.83. I felt bad – so I ordered another

5 samples and to my amazement, I finished all of them. I feel so grown up!!

Big spender eh?

My new twitter friend (@cfilion) ordered a charcuterie board that was MOST impressive. Sadly I couldn’t share it with her as I was too full from the beer (sniff). However I did manage to sample a few things and it was dee-lish.

I will need to return in the summer to enjoy their beautiful patio and another 10 – 2 oz samples of beer!!

For further information:

Bar Volo 587 Yonge St, Toronto (416) 928-0008 Open Monday to Sunday from 4 pm to 2 am. Kitchen Open from Monday to Saturday from 5 pm to 12 pm. Cash and Visa only.

ps sign up for their newsletter so you can find out about special events, new beers, etc.

This event sounds right up my alley. Here’s why:

a) I’m a fan of the Neal Brothers (see previous blog post)

b) I’m a fan of Dillon’s (see previous blog post)

c) the price is right ($10 online or $15 at the door)

d) it supports a great charity (My Food Way)

e) the event combines food, chefs, music, and a fun competition!

I chatted with Abbey who told me she was eager to host a food event that involved a competition as well as supporting a charity.  The Neal Brothers got involved too as they thought it would be a great fit with their 25th anniversary. The rest is history.

For tickets and further info about this exciting event,  please visit their facebook page http://goo.gl/pSBCM

Hope to see you there!

 

For 20 years, I lived at Bathurst/Sheppard. Therefore, the Milestones at Empress Walk was my “go-to” restaurant for a drink. Never ate there though….till last week when I was
invited to a six course tasting menu.

This menu featured culinary creations showcasing twists off Milestones’ upcoming Summer Chef’s Menu, paired with a selection of Constellation Brands finest wines. I have to say, I felt pretty honoured to be invited to this event. It was not only a “tasty” event but educational too as Executive Chef Jason Rosso and the Milestones Management Team were also present and spoke to us about the new initiatives at Milestones.

I have no doubt that these items will be a hit with customers this summer!

1. Crispy Quinoa Shrimp in a chimmi churri ailoi served with a vegetable slaw: This dish was my favorite. It had everything going for it and I KNOW I will be ordering this on my next visit

2. Panko Blue Crab Cakes with Fennel and Arugula Slaw and Chipotle Aiola. Again, another great dish!

3. Spicy Thai Basil Stir Fry – rice noodles, shrimp and coconut milk. Something tells me that this is going to be a popular dish.

4. Surf and Turf: A duo of grilled flat iron steak and lobster fricassee

When coffee was served at the end of the meal, I turned to the Director of Operations for Eastern Canada, Todd  Attridge, who was sitting next to me and said: “Wow – this is really good coffee” and he replied “We just partnered with Starbucks!”. I think this is great fit for both brands and delighted to have  my coffee of choice (Starbucks)  after a fantastic meal.

Milestones has it all – cocktails, wine, great food, and great coffee too!

Congratulations to the whole team at Milestones for such an amazing evening.

PS Loved the fact that the COO @FindlayMark was tweeting throughout the meal. #impressed.

Today is Follow Friday in the “Twitterverse”  so I thought it would be an ideal day to blog about the Neal Brothers.

I met the Neal Brothers (Chris and Peter) back in the early 1990’s at the Good Food Festival. At that time, I was not a food sales rep or a food blogger – just a hungry consumer that was interested in new products! Over the last two decades, I have continued to bump into them and have continued to watch their business grow and grow and grow.

In fact they are celebrating their 25th anniversary and to help them celebrate…I interviewed them!!

Question: What did you do before you launched your own business?

Answer: We were in school, and worked in the summer doing odd jobs and at worked at Wonderland too

Question: What product did you start off with?

Answer: Croutons

Question: What’s your best selling product at the moment?

Answer:  Organic Blue Flax Tortilla Chips and our Corn Salsa

Question: What changes have you seen in the food industry in the last two decades?

Answer: An increase in allergens (gluten free, wheat free etc) and that consumers want healthier options

Question: Do you cook at home?

Answer: Yes!!

Question: Name your favorite restaurant?

Answer: Chris: Scaramouche. Peter: “this could smoke me…can’t just name one”.

Question: Any suggestions for future entrprenuers?

Answer: Chris: Nothing comes easy. Adapt and Persevere.

Answer: Peter: Persevere. Never lose your dream.

I wish the Neal Brothers nothing but the very best as they celebrate this huge milestone. I know I will be a fan for may more years, as they have shown nothing but

genuine kindess to me every single time I bumped into them (no I wasn’t a stalker). Not to mention, they sure do represent an amazing line of food products!

CHEERS!

For Further Info:

Twitter: @NealBrothers

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nealbrothersfoods

True Story:

In 1977,  I was 12 years old and was going to a new camp that summer called “Wabikon“.  Seeing as my dad owned a sports store in Ottawa called “Ritchies Sports Store“, I was decked out in a lot of clothes from Nike, Adidas, and Puma. In fact, one could say ALL my summer clothes came from my dad’s store.

But then I went to Wabikon and my entire cabin was wearing polo shirts with a little alligator on it. I soon learned the word: Lacoste!!

When I returned home, I started to slowly collect Lacoste tshirts and this trend continued till I was 16. I was a HUGE prep and was proud of it. Througout high school, I wore Lacoste tshirts, Levis jeans and Converse running shoes. Period.

Fast Forward to 2013!

A few weeks ago I received an invitation to attend a media night at the Lacoste store at Yorkdale and I quickly sent a reply back that I would love to attend.  At the event, there was a preview of “the Annivesary Capsule Collection – “Edition and Unexpected”. Did you know that Lacoste is celebrating their 80th Anniversary? I loved walking around the store saying to myself “want” “want” “need” “want”!!

I was all too happy to celebrate with them. It was like going down memory lane but so much better. I can’t remember owning Lacoste shoes – but now I own a a pair and I can’t stop wearing them!!

Happy Anniversary Lacoste! Thanks for including me.

P.S. A huge thank you to the store manager who really demonstrated amazing customer service skills.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to play tourist in my hometown, Ottawa. I visit this amazing city almost every 6 weeks for the last few years but this particular weekend I got to know Ottawa in a different way!!

I started off the weekend, by attending Nepean High School 90th Anniversary Celebration. I haven’t been thru their doors since 1984 so it was kind of neat just to be inside the building again. Oh the memories!

Sadly not a lot of people were there from my year (sniff…)

On Saturday, my mom and I REALLY played tourist. We boarded a double decker bus  (at the corner of Elgin and Sparks St) that is operated by a company called Lady Dive.  This 75 minute tour (which leaves every hour on the hour) is truly the best way to see the city as you can Hop On and Off at a variety of stops, such as: Museums, Parks, Galleries, the Byward Market, the Parliament Buildings, Rideau Hall and more.

Our tour guide was entertaining and certainly knew his stuff. My mom and I were amazed at what we learned in such a short period of time about important landmarks in our own city! We loved every minute of this double deck bus tour and would certainly recommend it to visitors.

Playing tourist meant that I got the chance to visit the Tulip Festival TWICE over the weekend. I simply could not stop taking pictures. See what I mean?

And more…LOL

For more info:

Lady Dive Tours:  Reservations-  613 524 2221  PS. many tour options are available so please visit their website to learn more.

Tulip Festival – May 3 to 20th,2013  Ottawa/Gatineau

Ottawa Tourism

 

This pop-up restaurant has been “on my list” for a while. (um, since early 2012 to be exact) I’ve read many positive reviews and have passed it by a gazillion times but for some reason it took me a LONG time to actually go there for a meal.

Finally last week – I had the opportunity! (applause)

Come and Get It  would certainly make it on my cheap and cheerful restaurant list for 2013, for several reasons.

a) I loved the space and their marketing  – funky and casual. Very appropriate for a restaurant at Spadina and Queen.

b) Two Step Menu – Gotta Love It. You can order everything as either a Salad or a Sandwich.

b) It’s Carb Free Friendly (which is perfect for someone like me). Therefore, I ordered the Hawaiian Pork Belly Salad. Everything about this salad “worked” and I was pretty happy with the generous portion too!

c) The service was amazing. When we walked into the restaurant we were warmly greeted and everything was explained to us.

d) Come and Get It is an environmentally friendly restaurant. The owner pointed out that the plastic bowls are made of corn and completely bio-degradable. #Impressed.

Here’s the catch – the owner is working on a monthly agreement since Dec. 2012 with his landlord. Therefore you need to COME AND GET IT – NOW!!

For further info: