Don’t forget that “Winter Bites” starts next week. We’ll be out visiting Black Kettle Bistro for the closing of Owen Wolters (Windsor Visuals) photo exhibit on January 19th and then we’re going to head to Thai Palace to try the lunch or dinner menu.

Here’s the press release from Windsor Eats:

Windsor, ON –It’s time to give winter a kick! WindsorEats.com invites you to a week long event, the first of it’s kind in Essex County.

During Winter Bites, January 17 to January 23, 2010, diners can visit any participating restaurant and indulge in a 3-course meal for only $10 or $15 for lunch or $25 or $35 for dinner. Each restaurant will offer a unique Winter Bites menu where diners can select from a variety of appetizers, entrees and desserts.

“We want to add excitement to the hospitality industry during a traditionally slow month,” explains Adriano Ciotoli, co-owner of WindsorEats.com. “2009 was a difficult year for culinary tourism in Windsor/Essex. We lost some exceptional restaurants. This is one way to support the local restaurant industry. We encourage everyone to get out and visit participating local restaurants and businesses.”

Participating restaurants include Mezzo Ristorante and Lounge, Black Kettle Bistro, Chanoso’s, Oishii, Per Bacco Ristorante, and more to be added. A complete listing of events, participating restaurants and menus can be found at www.windsoreats.com/winterbites Reservations are recommended to ensure a seating upon your arrival. The meals are per person and does not include beverages, taxes or tip.

“Restaurant weeks and prix fixe menu events have been done with great success in cities like Chicago, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto,” says Ciotoli. “It was time to bring that same concept to Windsor but add our own little twist to it. Having local businesses participate is a wonderful way to celebrate all the great things we have in Essex County.”

In addition to great deals on dining, Winter Bites is adding something new this year. Local businesses are offering savings and hosting events.
Aleksander Estate Winery is offering discounted prices on select wines, Black Kettle Bistro is incorporating some of Windsor’s finest artistic talents to create not only a great culinary experience, but, a great taste of the Windsor arts and music scene and Slice of Style will be hosting a chocolate tasting accompanied with local wines.

“We are thrilled to be hosting this event as part of Winter Bites – the first “food festival” of the new year,” says Kelly Ouellette, owner of Slice of Style. “As a new business getting the word out is critical and Winter Bites is helping us connect with a very diverse local audience.”

For more information on this and other great WindsorEats.com events visit www.windsoreats.com or contact:

Adriano Ciotoli, Co-Owner
Telephone: 519.982.5212
Email: info@windsoreats.com

Pina Ciotoli, Co-Owner
Telephone: 519.890.5038
Email: pina@windsoreats.com

Windsor Eats, Winter Bites

As we enjoy fall and get ready for the holidays (are they really that close?!?) we have the opportunity to choose from many events:

• November 19 – Aleksander Winery’s Harvest Winemakers Dinner – Enjoy a harvest meal paired with Aleksander wines at Per Bacco; check out their website for details
  
• November 21 & 22 – Sanson Estate Winery Holiday Open House – complimentary food and wine tasting in the events hall; live cooking demos; see their newsletter
• November 28 – Southwestern Ontario Vintners Association (SWOVA) Holiday Open Houses – Celebrate with 12 local wineries; each winery celebrates in a different way so check out SWOVA’s site for details

There are more events to choose from so check out my calendar for those that are related to local food and spirits.

Other news this week:

• The Kildare House closed it’s doors – I am very sad!
• WindsorEats launches their Wine Trail Rides website (after winning the culinary tourism experience award!) …[scooped from Bike Windsor, be sure to check them out if you are interested in lots of cyling info in the area]
• Walkerville’s Holiday Walkabout is this weekend; check out their website for details and be sure to stop at Taste Bud for a local focus on prepared meals
• Richard of Thibert Farm mentions that he will try to grow oats in 2010/11 – I can’t wait!
• MIT releases a study that links local food with aiding the obesity epidemic; eating local helped me lose a lot of wait so maybe people will believe this study if they don’t believe me

Kildare House, SWOVA, Sanson Estate Winery, Thibert Farm, Windsor Eats

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Along with the great weather that we are expecting, there are a lot of events going on this Friday and Saturday that are sure to make your weekend spectacular. Pack up your family and friends and plan a fun day out!

• Glide Through Winter @ Sprucewood Shores Winery (Harrow): 12-5 on Saturday only; wine, ice skating
  
• Festival of Ice @ Colio Winery (Harrow): 11-4 on Saturday and Sunday; ice carvers, cheese, chocolate, bake sale, wine; please bring a canned good for entry (from me: think of everything you have and everything you are getting for free and please consider bringing a case of canned goods!)
• Icewine Festival @ Pelee Winery (Kingsville): 11-5 on Saturday and Sunday; chocolate, cheese, wine
• Icewine & Sweet Deals @ Sanson Estate Winery (McGregor): 11-5 on Saturday and Sunday; samples, sweet wine deals, meal ideas, recipe contest
• Fire on Ice @ Aleksander Winery (Ruthven): 1-5 on Sunday only; bonfire, fruit flambe, wine, Valentine’s baskets

Remember, all of our wineries are family-friendly and you should dress warmly for watching some of the events that will take place outside.

I only list local food-related events though, so if you want to know everything that is going on, you need to go to a full-service calendar like the one at WindsorEats.com. Not only will you see that there is something to do every day, many of these events are free or low-cost. Welcome to our great region!
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Aleksander Estate Winery, Colio Estate Wines, D'Angelo Winery, Pelee Island Winery, Sanson Estate Winery, Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery, Windsor Eats, icewine

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WindsorEats.com has put together “Winter Bites” an interesting event that I will definitely be attending.

It’s time to give winter a kick! WindsorEats.com invites you to a week long event, the first of it’s kind in Essex County.

From January 18 to January 24, 2009, diners can visit any Winter Bites participating restaurant and indulge in a 3-course meal of an appetizer, entree and dessert for only $25. Each restaurant will offer a unique Winter Bites menu where diners can select from 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and 2 desserts.

Reservations are recommended to ensure a seating upon your arrival. The $25 3-course meal is per person and does not include beverages, taxes or tip.

Buon Appetit!

We are going to go to Three this week to try (taste?) this event. Hope you can make it too!

Let me know if any of the menus include a local flair.
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Windsor Eats, Winter Bites