Posted in March 2012 …

Some Like It RAW

It was a bad night for vegetarians and food phobics as a dozen top Toronto chefs handed out samples of raw meat and fish tartare chopped by hand to nearly 200 guests at the Fairmont Royal York’s sumptuous Imperial Room. Not only did the Great Toronto Tartare-Off prove delicious, but it raised funds to build … Continue reading →

All Aboard!

Traversing the Rocky mountains by train is on every Canadian’s wish list. Though we may stare up at city skyscrapers day after day, the rugged peaks, thundering waterfalls, acres of wilderness and stately rivers are etched in our brains. We’ve heard about the domed cars for sightseeing, and the white linen tablecloths in the first-class … Continue reading →

Bustling Toronto Market Thrives

02/17/2012 published in The Packer (thepacker.com) North America’s largest weekly newspaper for the produce industry By Cynthia David Special to The Packer TORONTO — At the Ontario Food Terminal, Tony Di Marco is a rock star. Everywhere he turns there are handshakes, slaps on the back and cries of Hey, Uncle Tony! Salesmen rush to … Continue reading →

History in the Breaking

On March 24, at noon, Eastern time, staff at more than 250 Loblaws banners across Canada picked up knives and prepared to attack an unsuspecting wheel of cheese. Their goal – to earn a Guinness World Record for the most wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano ever cracked open simultaneously. And they did it! According to Guinness officials, … Continue reading →

Bring Back Sunday Dinner!

“Whatever Happened to Sunday Dinner?” Lisa Caponigri asks in her new rustic Italian cookbook. Good question, but we all know the answer. Life! With mom and dad gone, and one sister in Kenya, the only time my family gets together these days is for a funeral. But we still have warm memories of Sunday and … Continue reading →

8 Things to do in Toulouse, France

I ended up in Toulouse in southwest France almost by accident, but loved every minute. This great city is small enough to walk around in, yet big enough to offer great food, shopping, music and theatre. And it’s old enough to be architecturally magnificent, from its churches to its bridges. Half-way between the Atlantic and the … Continue reading →

Better Butter

Chef Lynn Crawford and her team put on quite a spread this week at Ruby WatchCo in downtown TO in honour of Stirling Creamery butter, churned in Stirling, Ontario. The evening began with spiced rum cocktails rimmed with brown butter and coarse sugar, followed by shrimp poached in butter, hush puppies dabbed in honey butter, … Continue reading →

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

There’s something about the Okanagan Valley that stays with you long after you return home. Perhaps it’s the landscape, from scrubby hills covered with sagebrush to steep slopes carpeted with vineyards overlooking calm lakes. Perhaps it’s the good food, the cornucopia of fruit or the award-winning wines. Maybe it’s the people, a friendly bunch who … Continue reading →