I’ve just returned from the Stop’s Night Market and I’m oh so happy and oh so full. I kept hearing the same remarks over and over again from food vendors and participants – “this is my favourite event of the year”. They are so right!!

The Stop really does put on a well organized and very-tasty event!! Line ups are minimal, food portions are generous, the venue is central, and the atmosphere rocks. There is a reason why this event sells out in minutes.

When you arrive, they give you the coolest plate. Thumbs up to whoever thought of this idea. Here’s a photo of @Abbeyskitchen (on the right) and I …with our cool plates.

Then the fun started as I ate my way thu the Stop’s Night Market. 

There’s no shortage of tasty food at this event….

Special mention to a few vendors:

a) Neal Brothers – who served chicken that was coated in their new line of potato chips. I can’t wait to try this with fish or tofu! (stay tuned).

B) This Saigon Sub by Hey Meatball – there was so much flavour in here that it wasn’t funny

C) The Mustard Spatzle by WhippoorWill Restaurant and Tavern was freakin’ unbelievable. I love the creativity of this dish – I mean, it’s not every day that you see small bits of pretzels in your food! #texture #complex

Congratulations once again to The Stop for organizing such a fantastic fundraiser.

For more information about The Stop please visit their website so you can read more about the important work that they do.

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As always, my trip to Vegas would not have been complete without a trip to Target. Naturally I bought some clothes and naturally I ended up in the grocery section as well.

Here’s a few products that caught my eye:

a) Kellogg’s Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Cereal: Yup – I bought a box. I couldn’t resist as I’m a sucker for packaging and chocolate!!

b) Betty Crocker Watermelon Cupcake Mix:  This DID not appeal to me. Not even close.  c) PB2 – Powdered Peanut Butter: Ok I liked the packaging but couldn’t get my head around the fact that I had to mix water with this product in order to make peanut butter. I rather have the calories. What do you think?d) Beer Chips: I should have bought a bag but I didn’t.  Hoping that the Neal Brothers will develop something like this product. Pretty Please?

e) M&M Birthday Cake: My birthday is on April 2nd so I figured it was an appropriate purchase!!

As always, my trip to Target was a success!!

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I went to three Food Trade Shows in one week!!. As I walked thru the aisles of the CHFA show, I realized that I’ve mastered the skill of “sampling”. I can now add that to my list of skills on my Linkedin profile. (ha). This is the annual trade show for the Canadian Health Food Association and a great opportunity for me to find more new products to share with my readers (that’s you).

Here’s a few items that I’d like to share with you:

MONKEY TOAST:  These are flavour packed fruit crisps that are dairy free, and nut free. Ideal for kids and big kids too (like me).  I also adore their packaging and the fact that they are a Canadian company. (B.C. to be exact)

MACKIE’S CRISPS: All their potato crisps are suitable for vegetarians and their line up includes flavours like Haggis & Cracked Black Pepper, Scotch Bonnet Chilli Pepper and Aberdeen Angus steak. On a side note: My mom is from Scotland and I have family there so I have a soft spot for any product that is Scottish.

OHMBARS; This date and seed bar is Dairy free, Gluten free and is made in Ottawa (where I grew up). Naturally this caught my attention too.

CAPLANSKY’S MUSTARD:  I read on facebook about this new line of mustard and was delighted to see this new product at the Neal Brothers  booth. I sampled all of them (of course). Today I read that there’s a new menu being launched at Caplansky’s which means I really need to visit so I can try the mustard on meat instead on a pretzel!!

(note: stole this photo from Facebook. Hope you don’t mind Peter).

As always, had a great time wandering the aisles of this show. No shortage of new products to try!!

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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!

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The Canadian Health Food Association held their annual trade expo last week, and naturally I took the opportunity to visit the show. I walked thru the show for several hours, gazing at new products, sampling, and talking to exhibitors !! (not in that order).

At the end of the show, I made an observation that I kept seeing “COCONUT’ in a lot of new products. Here’s a few products that were introduced at the show that involved the application of coconut.

a) Blue Diamond Almond Milk that is blended with Coconut Milk. Not only is it lactose free and soy free but its ONLY 45 calories. Love it.

Can't wait for this to reach the grocery shelf in Canada!!

Ive been a fan of their plain and chocolate version Almond Milk for years and I’m sure I will be buying this flavor as well.

b) Madhava Organic Coconut Sugar. This is an unrefined sweetener produced from the flower buds of the coconut tree (kinda kewl if you ask me) and is an alternative to processed sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Hopefully you will see this product on the shelves in December!

c) Earth Balance introduced an organic coconut spread. At first I was a bit apprehensive, but after tasting a sample of the coconut spread on a piece of bread, I decided that it was a neat idea. I can really see how this product would introduce some flavor when cooking with it. i.e rice, stir fry vegetables etc.

d) This product at the Neal Brothers Booth also caught my eye… Organic Coconut and Cherry Quinoa Granola from Lotus Fine Foods. It’s 100 % Gluten free and low in sodium too. The ingredient list was impressive: quinoa flakes, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, agave nectar, sunflower oil, apple juice sweetened, cherries and coconut. Not to mention this product is local. Yay Local!!

Local. Local. Local.

The CHFA was a great way to kick off all sorts food adventures. I went to the Delicious Food today but will be  also be attending a Food Show featuring foods from Quebec on Monday  and on Tuesday I’m attending Grocery Showcase.  Have I mentioned before – that I love food shows!!

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