> In the donut capital of Canada, it’s amazing how little Niagarians know about pastries. Zeppola are tiny (about 2-inches), fluffy and rolled in granulated sugar. Commonly deep-fried, these dough balls may be filled with custard, cannoli-style cream or a butter-and-honey mixture. Their consistency ranges from light and puffy to bread-like. They’re delicious, addictive and warming. Zeppola are the pastry of La Festa di San Giuseppe (Saint Joseph’s Day, March 19). So from now, through to the patron saint’s day and the Easter weekend, this is the season to find these delicious little pastries. In Niagara Falls, the famous […]
>A Local Merry Christmas
> If anyone ever thought shopping local wasn’t fun and exciting you just have to get out there and know each experience is a personal reflection of the owners – and they’re all different! Jon and I dropped into a bakery in Niagara Falls the day before Christmas thinking we were going to buy a loaf of bread. Surprisingly, inside there was a whole host of Italian food items so I began to browse. I wasn’t impressed with the style and quality of bread but I did get a few other things including some cheese. I stood in front […]
>Wildflower Market and Restaurant
>Want a great place to buy local food and to enjoy it made for you? You have to go to the Wildflower in Fonthill. The retail section of the restaurant is full of organic, local and natural products. The restaurant has two identities; first a gourmet deli counter with sexy sandwiches and super salads and then the restaurant with it’s relaxing spa-like atmosphere. Restaurant Chef Joel LaBute’s cuisine is heavy on the local. I had White Meadows Farm Pork with The Apple Bin Apples and Just Veggin’ Parsnip Chips. It was served with Dave Irish’s Greens – yum. I […]
>The Talk of Local Food
>Hey, what a great day in Guelph at Ignatius College. Ontario Farm Fresh ED Cathy Bartolic put together an amazing group of Ontario’s local foodies to talk about the challenges and opportunities in local food. When lunch was served it was full of vegetables from Ignatius’ on-campus gardens – delicious! Ontario Farm Fresh is an organization that assists farm marketers so I can tell you there’s plenty of good things to look forward to in the 2010 season! Check them out www.ontariofarmfresh.com.
>Culinary Inspiration from My Ethnic Heritage
> I’m reviving my Italian grandmother’s recipes at a special cooking class on Dec. 13. My grandmother would make the old Italian traditional wine cookies, the hard ‘moscotte’ style cookies. I know no one knows what moscotte are but I’ve revived the concept into modern versions that you’re sure to recognize. Black Chocolate Cabernet Cookies Toblerone Icewine Shortbread Niagara Baco Noir Crescents Chardonnay Curd Meringues For the class, I’ll be splashing a bit of Cabernet into some black chocolate fudge cookies, a few drops of Niagara icewine in Toblerone shortbread and a smear of Chardonnay curd on light meringues. […]
>Christmas Cooking the 100-Mile Way
>On Saturday December 5, 2009 at 1 o’clock Niagara Cooks, from farm to table author Lynn Ogryzlo will be at Chapters in St. Catharines signing copies of Niagara Cooks, perfect for the locavore on your Christmas list. In addition to showing off the latest edition of Niagara Cooks, Lynn will be talking and telling the stories of local farmers, how to shop for local ingredients, how to make a 100-Mile menu for the holidays and she’ll be serving up delicious Niagara Christmas cookies complete with complimentary recipes. Come out, do some shopping, enjoy some holiday cheer and be inspired […]