Last week, I biked from Bathurst/Eglinton to Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market. It was a super easy route, and 99 % of the time I was on the beltline and not on a major street. I was kicking myself that I have never done this before!!

It was my first time visiting the Farmers’ Market since the Fall and was eager to buy vegetables, but I didn’t!! I bought only one item that day and that item was a cinnamon bun for $3 that was absolutely heavenly! I nibbled on it the ENTIRE DAY – that’s how good it was. (I wish I knew the vendor but I was clearly intoxicated from the smell and forgot to ask for a business card).

This was what was left at the end of the day.

The next day, I went to Ottawa to surprise my mom for Mother’s day. The sun was shining, so off we went to the Ottawa Farmers Market in their new home at Brewer park. We loved the lay out and every vendor that I spoke to was thrilled with the new location.

Once again, I had every intention to buy vegetables but ended up buying maple cotton candy. I felt like I won the lottery as I scored the last two bags.

Does anyone make this in Toronto?

What is wrong with me? Why didn’t I buy anything healthy? I honestly don’t have a sweet tooth but for some reason…did not buy one single vegetable at either farmers market. I’m not really concerned as I know that I will be visiting plenty of farmers markets over the summer and fall!!

For further info:

a) Farmers Markets: click on this website  www.farmersmarketsontario.com

b) Biking in Toronto: click on this website  www.bikingtoronto.com

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Last week I was invited to attend the GE Cafe Chefs Series at Evergreen Brick Works. It took me less than 5 seconds to reply “please add my name to your guest list. I would be delighted to attend”.

So what is the GE Cafe Series? It’s a series of interactive workshops (from Jan 11 – May 17th on Tuesdays, bi-weekly) that brings you together with Ontario food growers, farmers, producers, chefs, writers, activists and restaurateurs. Basically….this means, that this is “totally up my alley”!!

I attended the first workshop of the series, which was called “Onwards to Prince Edward County” featuring Chef Jamie Kennedy (executive chef, Gilead Cafe & Bistro) and Rebecca LeHeup (executive director, Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance)

Naturally I am eager to talk to you about what I ate that evening: So lets begin.

Passed Hors d’Ouevres

-marinated pickel roll up

-curried sweet potato croquettes with raita

Menu

-sunchoke soup with chips

Can I have the recipe please? cc: Chef Jamie Kennedy

-yellow perch with hillier soubise and crunchy shallots

-potatoe gnocchi with root vegetables

-apple strudel with nutmeg ice cream and golden plum puree.

Every dish was superb..and every plate was returned clean. (always a good sign that your guests enjoyed their food).

Rebecca chatted with Chef as he presented each dish and we learned a lot about his suppliers and his fondness for Prince Edward County.

We were also treated to several (I lost count) glasses of wine from Rosehall Run Vineyards. Dan Sullivan explained each wine as they were being poured and again we learned more about the grapes, the region, etc.

The three hours zipped by as we were always busy – eating, listening, drinking, and raising our hands with questions like “can we have the recipe.!!”

Evergreen Brick Works has a great line up of workshops in the future: Preserving, Cooking for Food Allergies, Heirloom Varieties and more. If you click on the the Evergreen website you will learn more details about this fantastic series.

Congratulations to everyone who organized this awesome workshop!!

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