Moving Day

Thanks for stopping by. Just to let you know, if you’re a regular reader of this blog, I’ve moved over to a new domain: DailyBreadEats.com. I’ll keep this site up for comment posterity’s sake, but moving forward, all new posts will be at DailyBreadEats.com. If you’re a subscriber, be sure to update to the new site. See you on the other side.

Rising Chef Challenge

I really am a lucky girl. Thanks to Calphalon’s Executive Chef, Susie Reading, and my friend Brian, on Monday night, I had the good fortune to attend their Rising Chef Challenge. This culinary competition between 3 teams of the city’s hottest young chefs celebrated it’s 6th year with this edition and featured teams from Bymark, Parts & Labour, and the Fairmont Royal York. Each team prepared courses featuring sustainable Arctic Char, Spring Creek grass-fed beef tenderloin from Alberta and seasonal Ontario pears and apples, each paired with one of three Jackson Triggs wines. The event was hosted by cookbook author and home economist Mairlyn Smith, and judged by not only the diners, but 3 professionals: Nels Kendelson, Kevin Pendleton and Chef John Higgins (I hope I got their names right!).

Tawse Terroir Trip

Last week, I got to attend a blogger trip to Tawse Winery in Niagara to learn about how the winery employs terroir and Biodynamic techniques and philosophies to make some great wines. We were guided by Tawse winemaker Paul Pender and Marketing Manager Daniel Lafleur, as we roamed their two properties at Cherry Avenue and Quarry Road. To cap off the day, we were treated to a blind terroir comparison wine tasting and an amazing lunch prepared by chefs from London, Ontario’s The Only On King.

Beerology 101

When I was in Stratford a couple of weeks ago for the 2010 Culinary Festival, I had the chance to attend a beer tasting and lecture, led by Mirella Amato. Mirella is a Certified Cicerone^TM and the woman behind Beerology. And she runs a hell of a fun workshop.

La Dulce Vida

I met Chef Rossy Earle a few months back at the Salsa Smackdown, which she won. Since then, we’ve seen each other at subsequent 86′d events and chatted on twitter. The other day, she said she was bringing me a treat. And what a treat it is! Her home-made toasted almond dulce de leche. I believe the word I’m looking for is “drool”.