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Welcome to Eat Local London

I am a converted city girl, who has always been interested in the health of her environment. I moved out to the country - just north of London, Ontario in 2007 and have been trying to source local food ever since. Because I sometimes have found it a difficult process, I have decided to make this blog to help anyone else out there that may share the same interest in eating locally. If you are reading this blog and you are a farmer and you would like to be added to my map, or want me highlight your farm, just send me an email!

The Duenk Farm



I promised to tell you about this great farm I found and here it is - The Duenk Family Farm. It is run by Peter Duenk and Karen Eatwell. The farm is really not too far from London, it is past Ilderton and on the way to Ailsa Craig, but well worth the hike!

These are Angus cows. Angus cows are originally from Scotland - I did not get close enough to hear the accents, lol... but they sure looked friendly enough. Peter went right out into the field with them and explained to me they were one of the more docile breeds of cattle. The pretty white one is the only one that is a Charolais, that means she is a Frenchie. The wonderful thing about these cattle that Peter and Karen raise are that they are almost fully "Pasture Raised". The cattle roam about the farm all summer long in pasture and then in the winter they come in and are fed some healthy grains and some fresh cut hay that is grown on site. Because they are pasture raised, they naturally stay very healthy and do not need any antibiotics or hormones. The last 60 days of their time at the farm, they are brought into the barn and fed some corn to sweeten up the meat a little bit and improve the marbling - this is what distinguishes a good cut of meat. They are then aged for 21 days for a tender product.

Here is Karen showing me the grains that they feed the chickens.

Karen took me for a tour of the farm and it is loaded with good things. First off, let me say that they really believe in doing things right at their farm. They are interested in the grains they feed their animals, the habitats they live in and the treatment of them overall.

a foraging chicken

There are meat chickens at the farm and there are egg laying hens at the farm. They are kept seperate from one another. The chickens are ecologically raised, which means that they have indoor outdoor pens. Most of their diet consists of a mixed grain that they mix on site. It includes flax and some other good things. The inclusion of flax (as well as another secret ingredient) increases the omegas in the chicken and make for a more moist and tender bird (sorry vegetarians!).


One of the things that was a great fun to see were these baby turkeys. They were so cute, just look at them! I was in there like a "city-ot" and asking to pet them. They were so cute, they actually would stick out their little turkey chests and let you have a pet! They have ordered in about fifty turkeys and will sell these fresh for Thanksgiving - yes, that is right - by October/November these little guys will be huge! I know where I am getting my turkey.

There are all cuts of beef and all types of roasts available at Duenk's. There are fresh brown eggs available, whole chickens as well as turkeys. There is also a pet goat and a small horse and a few friendly and awesome dogs. You have to get there. If you have any questions, call Karen - she will be happy to help you out.

Oh - and just a warning to my faithful readers - you are all stuck with this post for quite a while because I am going on a little summer vacation to Vancouver Island. I will have lots to post about when I get back because everything will be in season! We are going into July, which means cherries, peaches, currants, melons and even corn!!! Its all just around the corner.

The Duenk Family Farm
Karen Eatwell & Peter Duenk
25425 New Ontario Road
RR#3, Denfield ON N0M 1P0
519-232-4105

Check the google map!
Read More 3 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

Strawberry Jam Session!



I grew up in London. To me, London does not feel too large or too small. It just feels like what I have always known, I guess it feels just the right size. Actually, I feel a bit privileged to be the owner of that feeling. You see, I have made many connections with other Londoners starting from a young age - through school life and then later on in life - through work.

Unfortunately, sometimes living in London you may find yourself feeling unconnected. Perhaps this is because when it comes down to it, London is in fact quite a large city. When I meet people that have come from smaller towns and then have re-rooted themselves in London for a new start, it is common to hear a little frustration. I hear that the city is "too big" to make some of those real "small town" types of connections. It seems that people begin to miss that sense of community and unfortunately it sometimes gets even more lost as the city grows larger. That "small town feeling" is a hot commodity. For instance, as you drive North out Highway 4, you will witness large billboards and slogans that housing developments are using to entice people to live in certain areas - "Lucan, come get that small town feeling". I am guessing that this is a clear indicator that we are all on some level missing that "small town" feeling if it is being preyed upon my thirsty marketers.

I believe most of Londoners are especially unconnected with another part of our community that is sometimes taken for granted and sadly, even forgotten - the vast, fertile farmland that surrounds us as a city. That is one of the main reasons I choose to write this little blog - I want you all to know it and live it. No matter which direction you take out of London - North, South, East or West, you will be met by cow barns, fields of hay, various croplands, sweeping green pastures and really, really friendly people that are working hard on farms - big and small.

So what has me nattering on about feelings and small towns you wonder? Well, last night I enjoyed the company of about 10 woman in a large country kitchen and I felt I was transported to that very "small town" sense of community. It was a get-together at Duenk Farms to harvest and preserve the bounty of the current crop - strawberries! We knew that we shared a common goal, that we all wanted to know how to preserve jam. Strangers I thought, with a common interest - jam making. Strangers I thought, until we all started talking and getting to know one another. You see, as the evening progressed we learned that we all knew someone from somewhere or perhaps had worked at the same place at sometime or another - we were connected.

As I said, I grew up in London and it does not feel too big to me, it feels just right. That said, I feel that the past two years on this little local food adventure of mine has really connected me to new people. Funny as it turns out, they were people that were there all along in my life - they were even feeding me dinner at times and I just was not aware of it. This new feeling and these new people, I can only explain it as more enriching, more rewarding then anything before. I am a foodie for sure, so I will admit I am quite a bit more obsessed with food than most people, but you all should try this adventure, I promise you will like it! Start at the market, introduce yourself to a farmer and you will make one new friend and then another and another and your own "small town" adventure will have begun.

Details about last night:

Our canning expert was Joan Brady who runs "Smokey Hollow Farm Market" in Dashwood (near Grand Bend). Joan can be found selling strawberries, lettuce, raspberries, peas, onions, beans, frozen pork and much more out of the St. Mary's Farmers Market on Saturdays. She also frequents the Grand Bend Market and the Exeter Farmers Market. Joan's farm includes a small strawberry portion that next year will be officially Certified Organic. The berries that she brought to the jam night were the small, sweet variety. Delicious! Oh, and she even whipped us up some fresh strawberry juice on our arrival.

Our host for the evening was Karen Eatwell and it all took place in her lovely farm kitchen at Duenk Farms. Karen even treated us all to a burger when we arrived that was directly farm to plate. Thanks Karen!

Our berry was the Strawberry.

For anyone that is interested, Karen may host more of these events in the future and I will be sure to let you know about them through the blog.

The Duenk Farms has fresh eggs, chickens and all cuts of Angus Beef for sale anytime - just call to arrange an order: 519-232-4105 I will be posting about the Duenk Farm in detail at a later date, I just have to get my pictures in order!
Read More 2 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

Saturday Strawberry Pancakes



Even the rain cannot suck away my happy spirit today, for today is a good day! You see, this morning I got up and whipped some pancakes together and then topped them off with strawberries that I picked up last night at Heemans. The only thing that would have made me happier is if I rolled out of bed and someone else had made me the pancakes! Oh well, one thing at a time :)

Just in case you have not seen them out yet, Ontario strawberries are definitely in right now - you need to get out there and get some! Right about now they are kind of small, which makes them sweet and delicious! I think most of the berries out there at the moment are the Veestra variety. The veestra is a small, sweet berry with the earliest ripening time. Keep in mind strawberry season is short - way too short, so you really should have them everyday until they are gone for good!



Strawberries are low in calories (who cares!) and they are also packed full of fiber and vitamin C. My strawberries are from Heemans, but they also grow in the wild.

In 1535 several thousand miles across the Atlantic Ocean, French explorer Jacques Cartier was noting “vast patches of strawberries” along the St. Lawrence River in Canada. Cartier was on a voyage to find gold, as well as chart territories unfamiliar to the French.
- www.foodmuseum.com

Go on all you "Locavore Cartiers", get out and get your strawberries!
Read More 4 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

Bock Bock Bock..Cluck! Duenk Farms Chicken Sale

photo: unicornretreat from morgeFile.com

If you are like me, you cracked open your freezer when barbecue season opened up, you stuck your head in there and you took a good look around. Then, with great dismay you concluded it was getting far too empty, I mean, come on now, you should not be able to stick your head in there, it should be jam-packed full to the brim!

Well, I have some very good news for you if you are a chicken fan - Duenk Farms in Denfield is having their twice annual chicken sale! Yippee! I don't know if I could fit a whole chicken on my bbq at once, but I will give it a try! Just kidding, I am roasted chicken fan, it is one of the good things in life.

Here is the deal for this sale, you can call Karen directly and arrange ahead of time to pick up a chicken or two or three!

Duenk's farms is a small chicken operation that raises chickens for eggs mostly. They have about 65 chickens that lay daily. I have also been told and will report with great glee (yes I am a bonafide food nerd) that they have fresh turkeys around Thanksgiving time! Count me in Karen!

This deal gets even better, the Duenk Farm chicken is ecologically raised (meaning indoor outdoor pens) and they mix their own seed blend on site out of flax and some other grains so I am pretty sure that increases the omegas in it (but I am no expert!) and of course the processing is government inspected (in case you like to know such things).

Farm Fresh Chicken
Saturday, June 20th, 2009.
Pick up between 10 am and 5 pm
Whole chickens $3.oo/pound
Phone Karen Eatwell: 519-232-4105

Karen Eatwell Duenk Farms 25425 New Ontario Rd

Today Karen emailed me some more info on another event that is taking place this month at the farm. She is involved with putting on a Jam Session. No, no no peoples! You do not have to know how to play the guitar, its a STRAWBERRY JAM session. This mini course will teach you how to make the jam yourself with local berries and then can/jar it up for some serious jam enjoyment later on in the winter. This course is only $10 plus the cost of the berries (approx. $4). Just bring 4 1/2 pint jars and your smile - everything else is taken care of. Call her very soon - it happens on Wednesday, June 24th in the evening.

See you at the sale!
kelly
Read More 2 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

The Rosy Rhubarb Festival!



Okay, I feel a little lost in posting this, simply because I have never actually been to the The Rosy Rhubarb Festival that takes places every year in Shedden, Ontario. I want to go, I really do! Last year was the first time I heard of it and I sadly did not make it. This year I am going to be going north of the city again instead of south towards this cute little festival - Alas, I will miss it again.

I have decided to look up all the info for any of you that may like to go and see what it is all about. I figure maybe some of you will post about it in the comments if you find it worthwhile. Let's face it, rhubarb gets a bad rap most of the time. Mostly because of its tart flavour and primarily because it is just plain misunderstood. Regardless, rhubarb is a real favourite of mine this time of year and I just love that there is an actual festival to pay homage to this green and rose vegetable. I promise I will make it there eventually Rosy!


Onto the info:
  • This will be the 17th annual Rosy Rhubarb Festival

  • There will be live music
    (Morgan Tobias, The Tomato Soup Band, John Millis and Hog Wild)

  • Breakfast is available (Saturday and Sunday)

  • Talent Show (one for people and one for dogs!)

  • There will be contests including general baking as well as the "Largest Stalk" and "Longest Leaf" contest

  • There will be horse drawn rides

  • A famous beef barbecue

  • Over 100 vendors on site

  • An antique and custom car show

  • The winning entries from the baking contests are auctioned on the Friday night of the festival

  • There are yard sales to browse

  • A rhubarb pie auction

  • Enjoy local baked goods and a famous Ice Cream With Rhubarb Sauce.

It takes place at The Southwold Keystone Complex. A portion of the proceeds that are raised through the yard sales and auction go towards the Southwold Keystone Complex.

Rosy Rhubarb Days
June 12, 13, and 14th
Located in the Township of Southwold, in the village of Shedden
Camping is available

For more information please contact:
Joan Carrigan
Phone: 519-637-8612
Email: joan_rosyr@sympatico.ca

www.rosyrhubarbfestival.com
Read More 8 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

Spinach: The Green Good Stuff


Ahhhh spinach. Maybe you love it, or perhaps you hate it. One thing is for sure, wherever you sit on the "feeling scale" on this leafy vegetable, you certainly cannot deny that it's just plain good for you!

Some spinach facts:
  • Spinach is a flowering plant from the Amaranthaceae family.

  • It does not like hot weather, which is why you are seeing it at the market right now, due to the fact that it is at it's most happy point of the season right about now, with the nice cool weather. 

  • Spinach also boasts super antioxidant powers.

Actually, I wrote about spinach and all of its other super vitamin powers in a post around this time last year here that you can check out if you are interested in knowing more. Oh! One more little known fact about Popeye's favourite snack is that its Vitamin A content prevents night blindness. Yup! Go on and get your possum goggles on and eat your spinach for helping to see better in the dark.

Spinach is available at the Covent Garden Market, Trails End, North London Friday Market and the Western Fair Market. Of course, you can pick up spinach at the supermarket but its from the U. S of A. so go on and get some fresh Ontario green stuff while the growing is good.

Spinach in above photo is from On the Move Organics. Yum!



Read More 7 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

Bayfield Berry Farm Meat Pies

Above is a picture of a Beefsteak and Vegetable pie from Bayfield Berry Farm that I purchased at the North London Market on Friday. You need to know about these, they are delicious. They came in a pack of two for $5. I wish there were more, like right now.. at 5 minutes to 11 at night, I would like some more pie please. This little flaky lovely was filled with seasoned beefsteak, onions, carrots, peas and spices.

Bayfield Berry Farm is one of the vendors that I have never met before. They had all kinds of great stuff. There was a sky high stack of various baked breads, a table of pastries (including pies!), another display of preserves and some honey. I noted that there were many gluten free breads available, I like gluten personally (what the heck?), but I know some of you need a gluten free life to keep happy and as I understand, it is sometimes hard to find gluten free products... so check out Bayfield Berry Farm's baked goods - you will be happily surprised.

On their website I noticed that Bayfield Berry Farms has a cafe that you can sit in and have breakfast or lunch when you are visiting and they also do catering. I will have to go for a visit this summer and dip my feet in Lake Huron while I am there.

I set up my delicious little meat pies with some asparagus, which I think I have eaten about three times already this week and some smashed Ontario grown potatoes. It made for a delicious meal and I will be picking up some more of these for sure!

Bayfield Berry Farm
77697 Orchard Line
Bayfield, Ontario
N0M 1G0
Tel:  519.482.1666
email: berryfarm@hurontel.on.ca


Read More 6 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

New North London Market


It has been a very busy 2 weeks. I forgot how Spring jolts us out of our winter cocoon and shakes us all awake. I have been camping, fishing, canoeing, exploring and of course fitting my work weeks into somewhere there as well.

This weekend was spent almost fully in the garden, sorting things out. In fact, after I post this I plan on getting right back out there! I have been surveying my cucumber plants that I planted just before the long weekend and they look like they may have to be sacrificed :(. As you all know we got some mighty chilly weather over the May long weekend. It is doubly sad when you grow something from seed and then have to pull it all out, but we'll see. My tomato plants should be okay because I planted them this week, and it has been nothing but sunny and warm - fingers crossed!

Last Friday was the opening of the North London Market and I missed it because I headed up North for a little camping. This week I made sure to get there this Friday at lunch hour. I took Sean and two other friends from work with me to check it out. The market is open from 8 am - 1 pm.

I apologize for the less than desirable picture, but I only had my camera phone on me. My intention was to show you just how big the market is, it was much bigger (more vendors) than I imagined it would be.

First off, as you may be a dedicated local food eater - and I assume this because you are reading this blog -  I would like to say that this Market is not a Farmers Market in my opinion - and that is all a matter of my opinion. You see, there are many (many!) vendors that are selling very unlocal vegetables and fruits that they just did not produce themselves. I once again, saw the Foodland Ontario signs being used on food that was DEFINITELY not from Ontario. As long as you know this ahead of time and are aware of it, I am sure you will still enjoy it. I guess what I am saying is make sure you have your locavore thinking cap on as you head into the Market and you will do just fine.

On to the good food stuff! One of the great vendors I found at the Market was Bayfield Berry Farm. As the obvious title of the farm suggests, they are from Bayfield. They were there selling freshly baked breads, pies, tarts and squares. They also had tons of really interesting looking preserves. For instance I spied some pumpkin jam! This vendor was a hit for me, so I purchased some rye bread, a raspberry pie and two meat pies that I will post about later - delish!

The person who grows the Ontario Kettle Corn was there selling local popcorn, which was a big hit with one of my friends that joined me on this "Lunch Market Run". There was also someone there selling a Garlic spread product called the "Incredible Edible Spread 'Em", which we had to buy because Sean insisted! I asked her if she grew the garlic for it and she assured me that yes, the garlic was grown in Ontario. It is a margarine type thing, and I am a pure butter type of girl, so you know, enough said. 

There were a few different flower merchants there selling beautiful flowers for your garden and I am happy to report that City Garden Project was there selling Heirloom Tomato seedlings. The awesome Jeff Pastorius was there with his booth On the Move Organics. I bought rhubarb from Jeff as well as some spinach, tarragon and oregano. He also had some local organic asparagus that he was bringing in from the Tillsonberg area. I have blogged about Jeff before, but the cool thing about Jeff is he likes to tell you exactly where the Organic Food he sells is coming from. For instance he tells you the farmers name, where the farm is located and the conditions it is grown under if possible. Jeff - if you are reading this - the asparagus was awesome!

There are many other great vendors at the new North London Market. Whether they are selling local products or not, everyone was very friendly and the atmosphere there is oozing with goodness. I feel very lucky that someone has decided to make-a- go of this market because we did not have anything like this before in the north end. Time will tell how busy it will be, but the day that I visited it was flush with people. It was great to find some new products and well as see some old friends!

North London Market
Located at the Southeast corner of
Fanshawe and Richmond intersection
(behind Hakim Optical & Nash jewellers)
Open Fridays 8am -  1 pm


Read More 5 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

Regal, Rockin' Asparagus


Want to feel like a King for a day? How about a Queen? Well, it is as easy as picking up some local, Ontario grown asparagus.

Yes, that's right people, for a limited time (or until the crop runs dry) you too can be royalty! You see, King Louis XIV of France enjoyed asparagus very much and considered it quite the delicacy. He decided to have special greenhouses built to produce a year-round supply. That led to asparagus being called "The Food of Kings." In the 16th century, asparagus gained popularity in France and England, from there the early colonists brought it to America. Take a close look at your asparagus and you will see that it is much different from anything else that grows in the garden, it looks, well.. different.

The name asparagus is derived from Greek language - Asparagos meaning sprout or shoot, and the vegetable belongs to the lily family. I personally think that it's most amazing claim to fame is how quickly it sprouts - asparagus can grow up to 7 inches in one day!

Asparagus is chock-full of vitamins and has many nutritious claims to fame. You can read about some of them in my May, 2008 post here.

So where can you find this trail to glory, royalty and deliciousness? Here are some places myself and some other Asparagus Agents have spotted the tiny green soldiers:

London Covent Garden Farmers Market
(Eco-logic and Dolway had it)

London Covent Market (inside)
Havaris Family and Doris Family Produce were carrying local asparagus - there was even a purple variety for sale

Adelaide Street Farms
(Adelaide Street North past Medway Rd.)

Turners Farm Market on Hwy.2

Megens Berry Farm
6km north of St. Mary's on east side of Hwy 7 & 19, which is 2km north of Wildwood Conservation Area entrance

I have not been out to Trails End, or Western Fair Market there may be some out there as well.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you to check the BRAND NEW FRIDAY FARMERS MARKET for asparagus. It is slated to open this Friday at Masonville Mall. Northwest Corner of Fanshawe & Richmond.
Read More 10 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

Baked Goods Spotlight - Covent Garden Market


Today was the opening day for The Covent Garden Market.  As any of you know that made it out today, the weather was not the greatest :(. Even though very windy (so windy that the tents were threatening to jump their ropes!), the sun still managed to make a brief appearance and it was reasonably warm for a few minutes. That was time enough for me to make a decent dent in my grocery budget.

I went for asparagus and rhubarb, but I left with 2 kinds of bread, green onions, mint, tarragon, rhubarb tarts, breakfast muffins, lemon tartlettes, a jar of carrot & cardamom preserve and a few other nibblies that we ate there.

There are three vendors at the outdoor market that sell baked goods:  International Bakery, Made From Scratch and Bake*Well.  I purchased my very artisanal looking breads from International Bakery, I happened upon the rhubarb tarts and the breakfast muffins from Dee at Made From Scratch and Stefanie at Bake*Well provided me with the lemon tartlettes, carrot cake with cream cheese icing and the home made carrot & cardamom jam.

I have not had the doughy pleasure of diving into the breads just yet, but how can I go wrong with a professional baker baking such rustic breads? They look and smell delicious, every time we got back in the car as we ran our Saturday errands it smelled like a bakery in there -Vundenbar!

Moving on to the rhubarb tart and breakfast muffins - yes, I ate them both in one day! You see, Sean and I went in for a coffee at the Little Red Roaster where he ate what was left of his carrot cake - for the record, he did allow me a small nibble and it was delicious! Then there was my rhubarb tart - I need to take my time on this one... it was soooooooo good! First of all, it was flaky in all the right places. Secondly, I am guessing that there must have been two kinds of sugary goodness in there to combat that tarty playfulness of the wonderfully rouge rhubarb. Lastly, the pastry was light and crumbly, topped with oats and all the right spices, it was just devine! Dee tells me she is using Arva Flour Mill flour for most of her baking needs. She goes in and gets a 50lb bag of flour! She was giggling as she told me, I did too - I can just imagine this tiny woman hauling her 50lb bag out of the mill. Dee was lovely and I am glad to meet her.

Later on in the day, Sean and I shared the breakfast muffin, we made it a lunch muffin - it was full of seeds, nuts and many other good things. It was slightly sweet, just the right amount, and it was full of complex flavours and it did not even contain sugar! Quite satisfying and although it felt like a treat, it also seemed like it was good for us.

On to Stefanie at Bake*Well. :)...

On her table there were assorted tarts, preserves and I think there was a quiche. I am not so sure, my memory is vague as I was distracted by Sean drooling all over a very large carrot cake before I even finished paying! I purchased a super intriguing looking preserve type thingee - it's a jam, it's a preserve.. it's Carrot & Cardamom! I am very excited to try this at a later date, and I will be sure to post the results at that time. 

I chatted with Stefanie for a few minutes - people, you have to meet her - she's adorable and she believes in supporting the local food movement. Almost everything on the table was made from mostly local ingredients. For instance, she also uses the Arva Flour Mill and takes advantage of seasonal ingredients like berries and nuts in her baked goods and preserves. So now you are saying okay, okay - but why are those lemon tartlettes on there? Yes, the other thing I purchased was two lemon tartlettes, and of course the lemon filling is not from a local lemon, but the crust and other ingredients are! I bought these for a special treat for me and my mum tomorrow for her special Mother's Day lunch. Can't wait to dive in! Thank you Stefanie and I am SURE I will be back.

Once again, The Covent Garden Market surprises me with its various treats supplied by its local producers, it is such a great place to go on a Saturday morning and when I am there I feel that it has it's own little vibe and this particular visitor just loves it!


Read More 7 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

Susan Boyle Vs. Celeriac


Here it is! The pulchritudinous and lovely celeriac. I have never grown this root vegetable, have never purchased it and consequently have never cooked or eaten it. Tonight, I went out on a cooking limb and I finally (and bravely I might add!) cooked this ugly, bad a$s looking vegetable. I am happy to report my findings  - celeriac is awesome! In fact, it is so food-life changing that I even had to look up a new word for beautiful that suited it and I have settled on pulchritudinous.

Basically, celeriac has surprised me in the way that Susan Boyle surprised the judges and the audience on "Britain's Got Talent". No matter how many times we are told, collectively as a human race we ignore the old rule of "never judge a book by it's cover". As you can see from the above photo, celeriac is, well.. just plain scary looking. It is completely gnarly, bulbous and dirty! Never mind that dirt though, as you will just be cutting away all of the skin to reveal it's wonderfully pale and fairly delicate inside. I should also take this moment to commend the first person that ever decided that this was edible, just what was that person thinking, I wonder?



Tonight - being this my maiden voyage with this root, I decided to make a celeriac gratin. I was worried about what I was getting into, so as everyone knows, when in doubt - just add cheese! 

After cutting away the tough exterior, I used a mandolin and sliced the celeriac into thin slices, about the thickness of a dime and assembled the gratin. I really want you to try this root! I can only explain the taste as celery on steroids, but better. The texture is like a parsnip or a potato or somewhere in between the two. The taste is flowery, but also earthy, even peppery. It is a true delight and I am so happy I was able to move past any first impressions that I had of this undervalued and under used root beauty.

Celeriac Gratin

one big celery root
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil
freshly ground nutmeg
one clove of garlic, grated
1/2 teaspoon of chili pepper flakes
1 and 1/2 cup cream
3/4 cup of breadcrumbs
3 slices of Swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 375.
Remove all skin from celery root. Slice celery root as thinly as you can. Place one layer in a casserole dish. Season with salt and pepper and add a drizzle of oil. Add next layer of celeriac and season again.

In separate bowl, mix together cream, pepper flakes, salt & pepper and nutmeg. Toss in the garlic as well. Pour this mixture over the celeriac. Place the cheese over the top and then sprinkle with the breadcrumbs, season a little more if you like.

Pop this in the oven for about 40 minutes, then put it under broiler for 5 more minutes to crisp it up a bit more. Eat!


PS.
Most commonly, celery root is used in soups and that may be another way you would like to try it. I picked this 'Harry-Potterish-Mandrake' up at the Stratford Farmers Market - but you can find it at any of our markets, and probably any grocery store - just make sure it is local!

and..
for the record, I find Susan Boyle lovely and don't see what all the fuss is about.
Read More 3 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

Agent Asparagus

photo: istockphoto.com

Agent Asparagus Reporting:

Local asparagus was spotted for sale at the side of the road on Highway 2 going towards Woodstock on Friday evening. I was driving too fast to get the name of the farm - it may have been Turners? Forgive me for the vagueness, I was on my way to "Angling Outfitters" before they closed (side note here for any fisherman/woman out there - that place is awesome... shop for lures, waders, any gear you can think of, till' your heart's content!).

Sorry! Back to the asparagus. It was located in a farm building on left side of road, between Thamesford and Woodstock. Not very much help for a London locavore, but still - it was a verified sighting.

There is local asparagus all around us - it is only a few days away from being on our plates - do not be tempted - I repeat, do not be tempted by the South of the border green crap they are selling in the grocery store - you will be disappointed!

Please report any asparagus sightings in the comments. Much appreciated!
Kelly
Read More 9 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

Eco-Logic Farms has rhubarb


Hi there! I thought some of you may be interested in this (to get you through until the market opens back up). If you get your order into Rick by Thursday night, he has a drop off downtown at the market. He has rhubarb!!!

Kelly

ps Please contact Rick for more details.

Rick Cornelissen
Eco-Logic
519-765-3467
ecologic2001@gmail.com



Attention Locavores;
We're back again to the program! I guess I need to work on my timing and use less compost, but our greenhouse is ready to go. You can order the following items for Sat. p/u, same place and time.

free range eggs-$3.50/dozen
Rubarb-$2.50/lb.
Arugula-$2.50/bag
spinach-$2.50/bag(field-grown )
$3.00/bag(baby,greenhouse-grown)
mesclin mix- $2.50 /bag
mustard greens -$2.50/bag
tomatoes-$3.50/qt.
button mushrooms-$2.50/qt,$1.50/pt.
cremini mushrooms-$4.00/qt.,$2.50/pt
radishes-$1.50/bunch
chives-$1.00/small bag
baby bok choi-$ 1.50/bag
ground beef-$ 4.00/1b.
rib steak-$6.00/lb
sirloin steak-$6.00/1b.
t-bone steak-$6.00/lb.
shitake mushrooms-$10.00/qt.,$5/pt.,$2.50/ 1/2 pt.
sweet potato-$ 1.25 / lb.

thanx
Rick Cornelissen
Eco-Logic
519-765-3467
Read More 4 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

♫ Good things Grow.. in Ontario! ♫


♫ Good things Grow.. in Ontario! ♫ I love Foodland Ontario. If there was such a thing as a Foodland Ontario groupie, I guess (unashamedly) I am it. Especially though the winter, I search high and low for that familiar, trusty green logo. This year I found it in a few more places than I saw last year. For instance, next time you are perusing the dairy aisle of your grocer check out Gaylea Sour Cream, Western Creamery Yogurt and Gray Ridge Eggs. Also look for Pristine Gourmet Oils and Vinegars as well as Ontario Corn Fed Beef. They should all be carrying the logo that you can trust.

Don't forget those bean sprouts I blogged about here too. There is alot of stuff grown right here in Ontario. I have noticed in the past two weeks alot of Ontario Green House Grown peppers. Yay! I am starving for fresh fruits and veg right about now. Rhubarb is beginning its sprouting right about now and asparagus as well as spinach are right around the corner - hang in there locavores!
Read More 5 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post

Hi Everybody!

Hello peeps.
Please bare with me, I got bored with my template and I have unfortunately mixed things up a bit. I promise to have things in order soon!
Kelly
xo

(jamie oliver gives a little xo at the end of his posts - everybody needs a little xo.)
Read More 4 comments | Posted by kelly | edit post
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