Ottawa food producers deliver a taste of Easter

Taste of Ottawa’s Easter edition will be held this weekend at 430 Churchill Avenue.

Nicola Maule is a local writer who is always looking for new events that bring excitement to Ottawa.

A couple of years ago I decided I was going to start trying to live my life a little more green. This included riding my bike to work more than once a month (in the summer), improving my compost recycling habits and eating locally-produced food more often.

Well, guess which one I excelled at? Hands down: Eating local!

Eating locally produced food is getting so much easier in Ottawa with all the new local artisan food producers making delicious everyday items like honey, chocolate, baked goods, coffee, salsas, and chutneys — to name a few.

Farmers’ markets have popped up all over the city, however, in the cooler weather it is sometimes harder to find the local products we love. Well this weekend is an exception! To help you shop for all the Easter essentials, stop by the first annual Taste of Ottawa- Westboro Easter Food Market on Saturday March 23^rd at 430 Churchill Ave. at Byron between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. 

 This Easter market will feature 18 of Ottawa’s local artisan food vendors selling hot cross buns, gluten free treats, gourmet teas, organic pork from Pork of Yore, ganache-filled chocolate eggs from Koko Chocolates and dark and milk chocolate bunnies from the Hearty Bakery.

Koko Chocolates: ganache filled eggs with flavours of spring mint, lemon lavender, plum star anise and caramel.

 A special appearance will also be made by Major Craig’s Black Garlic.  

Major Craig’s Canadian Black Garlic

Be among the first to try it in Ottawa! Black garlic is made from fermenting and aging regular garlic for around 45 days. The process started in Korea, and has now become a popular method of achieving a unique flavour. Black garlic is said to have a sweet and rich molasses- like flavour with balsamic, caramel, fennel, and licorice undertones.

The Snell House Creamy Garlic salad dressing is the product that turned my kids into salad eaters and they can’t get enough of it. Also, be sure to come hungry and stop by the Relish The Flavour food truck which will be serving a delicious fresh lunch on-site. Come and see why food trucks are no longer just for poutine and hot dog lovers! Also, you can try out some of the newest gadgets from Kitchenalia.

Entrance to the Westboro Easter Food Market is free and there is plenty of free parking. Donations will be collected for the Westboro Region Food Bank.

 For more information you can visit www.osfa.ca or follow on twitter @Taste_of_Ottawa.

 The sponsors for the event are Diane and Jen – brokers from Royal LePage, Givopoly- online concierge gift service, Kitchenalia- Westboro kitchen store and Sheri Creese – broker from Mortgage Brokers Ottawa.

 Bon appétit!

Thumbs up to the Taste of Ottawa – first-ever Westboro Holiday Food Market a big success

The Westboro Holiday Food Market took place on Dec. 9

Nicola Maule is an event planner who is always trying to bring a bit more excitement to Ottawa.

The first Taste of Ottawa- Westboro Holiday Food Market on December 9^th, 2012 was a gastronomic success!

More than 700 people visited the market, held at the Westboro Masonic Hall, and no one walked away empty handed including Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson. Many stockings will be filled with delicious treats this Christmas and taste buds will be spoiled.

The doors of the market opened at 10 a.m. and there was a non-stop stream of people for several hours which kept the hall humming. Customers loved the variety of products available and took full advantage of sampling items such as gourmet jams, shortbread, chocolate and honey.

The Relish gourmet food truck served delicious tacos outside the hall and hand thrown calzones baked in Flatbread Pizza’s wood burning pizza oven. The smells from the fire caught the attention of many people strolling by and they were not disappointed.

The market ran smoothly thanks to the help of dedicated volunteers. Three teenagers were on hand early in the morning to help the vendors set up their stalls quickly and efficiently.

The also event collected $1,077 and several boxes of food for the Westboro Region Food Bank.

And Westboro resident Brenda Couch won the gift basket filled with products from each vendor .

Diane Allingham and Jen Stewart, brokers with Royal LePage, sponsored the event and their support helped us advertise the market and provide it with signage so customers could easily find the hall.

 Taste of Ottawa vendors and organizers all went home with a big smile on their faces knowing that Ottawa’s gourmet food scene is healthy and growing!  After this event the Taste of Ottawa has 93 Facebook likes and 263 Twitter followers- social media is definitely a great way to reach the foodie community in Ottawa!

Congratulations to the organizers and volunteers who helped make this event possible! What is your favourite place in Ottawa to get unique holiday gifts? 

Introducing… Ottawa’s Locavore Artisan Food Fair!

Nicola Maule is an event planner who is always trying to bring a bit more excitement to Ottawa.

In recent years I have been struggling with the overwhelming commercialization of Christmas. Everywhere I turn, I feel as though I am bombarded with ads for new technology gadgets and latest toys.  This year, my eight year old’s letter to Santa this year  consisted only of items that started with an “i”! 

http://www.ottawalaff.ca

So instead of hunting for the latest electronics, I have been cruising the local craft shows for items that have been made with love and care for my loved ones.

So, I can recommend to you one fair that is not to be missed this December – the Ottawa Locavore Artisan Food Fair. On Saturday December 10^th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 26 of Ottawa’s finest artisan food producers will be gathered at Memorial Hall at 39 Dufferin Rd. in New Edinburgh (part of the new Crichton Cultural Community Centre).

The locally made gourmet products will include cookies, pies, breads, macaroons, tortieres, teas, coffees, jams, chutneys, marinades, salsa, olive oils, granola, cheeses, soups, chocolates, ice creams, mustards, take home meals and gluten free baking – all wonderful gifts that will also reduce the stress of your holiday cooking and shopping.

Wood-fired pizza from The Flatbread Pizza Company (Photo Credit: Gen Brisson)

There will be lots of sampling of the products and the on-site café will be serving delicious soups all day long and The Flatbread Pizza Company will have their wood burning oven outside the hall making irresistible pizza that will make you dream of Italy!

Some of Ottawa’s well known food artisans that will be there such as Life of Pie, Pascale’s Ice Cream, Art-is-in Bakery and Rochef Chocolatier. Just think you can get all your holiday shopping done in one day, in one place and know that you are supporting the local Ottawa food scene.

Also, you can be sure that your taste buds will thank you too!

Admission to the fair is free and there will be a silent auction at the fair with products donated by the vendors. The proceeds will go to the School Breakfast Program which feeds 11,000 children in Ottawa every day.

Thanks Nicola! For more information visit: www.ottawaLAFF.ca.