Are you ready for the holidays? There are a few people that might help you get some of those last minute gifts in order…

• Thibert Farms is doing one last delivery before Christmas. Contact Richard and get your order in so he can deliver it Saturday morning. For the holidays he has added a traditional fruit cake and gift baskets to his usual foods.
• Tredki Acres has launched their new website. Give them a call to check store hours and then pop in for jams made from their own chemical-free berries.
• Black Kettle Bistro has gift certificates for the restaurant or for their series of cooking classes that they will be holding on the third Sunday of each month.
• Made in Windsor hosts Marty Gervais for a book signing this Saturday (Dec. 19) from 1 to 3pm. If you are interested in the history of Hiram Walker and prohibition in our region, then get your copy of Rumrunners for $22.95 and Marty will sign it.

After the holidays, get ready for some great events:

• WindsorEats is holding its Winter Bites event again from January 17th to 23rd. Check out their website for the different events that are planned.
• The Downtown Windsor Farmers Market will be holding a town hall meeting for vendors on January 13th at 6pm at the Leamington Kinsmen Recreational Complex.

Happy holidays!

Black Kettle Bistro, Downtown Windsor Farmers Market, Thibert Farm, Tredki Acres, WindsorEats.com

Media Advisory:
New Initiatives to Boost Tourism

November 26, 2009

When: Monday, November 30, 2009, 10:30 AM

Where: Radisson Riverfront Hotel, 333 Riverside Drive, Skyline Room

Who: Adriano Ciotoli, co-owner, WindsorEats.com

Pina Ciotoli, co-owner, WindsorEats.com

Tanya Mitchell, Director of Operations and Wine Maker, Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery

WindsorEats.com will hold a press conference at the Radisson Riverfront Hotel located at 333 Riverside Drive, Skyline Room.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m. Adriano Ciotoli and Pina Ciotoli, founders of WindsorEats.com, will announce new initiatives for culinary tourism in our region to boost the local economy and celebrate local resources. Tanya Mitchell, Director of Operations and Wine Maker of Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery will also be speaking.

These exciting new initiatives are meant not only to celebrate Essex County’s culinary diversity and promote this region as a culinary destination but also to give a much needed boost to the economy and get people thinking about how great our local resources are.

For inquiries please contact:

Adriano Ciotoli
519-982-5212
info@windsoreats.com

Pina Ciotoli
519-890-5038
pina@windsoreats.com

WindsorEats.com, culinary tourism

WindsorEats.com presents “Eat Your City” this week. Participating restaurants have special menus at special prices.

A local element includes businesses that are participating by offering discounts or unique offerings. Check out their website for all of the details.

Here’s a specific, local inspired day:

August 6, 2009
Mastronardi Estate Winery
1193 Concession 3 East, Kingsville
This is an enchanting tasting seminar where we discover and celebrate the unique characteristics of 4 varietals. The seminar design includes horizontal flights of wine that will be systemically compared and contrasted starting with the white varietals. A brief interlude of Hors D’oeuvres will be followed by the red varietals. $20 per person, 6:00pm – 7:30pm. Reservations are required for this event. Please call 519-733-9463 to purchase your tickets.

Eat Your City, Mastronardi Estate Winery, WindsorEats.com

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The Lakeside Locavore Lunch happens this Sunday, July 12th (12-2:30pm) at John R. Park Homestead. $20 gets you a plate and utensils and tickets to trade for tastes of local foods.

This event highlights Locavore opportunities in Essex County. You can learn more about this ‘green’ movement as you savour an afternoon by the Lake enjoying live music, tasting locally grown foods, a fine array of local wines and more. Also featured will be ‘food for thought’ sessions ? wherein local farmers and food producers share their specific knowledge about their products and the delicious bounty that our region offers and the benefits of buying local.

I went last year and it was a good start for this kind of event but there were a few issues that I hope they have fixed (including boring speeches that you could barely hear but did not really have to do with local food anyway). Still, if the weather’s nice it is a good event to attend. Check our their PDF for more information.

The WindsorEats.com next Wine Trail Ride takes place on Saturday, July 18th but do not wait to get your tickets as they are almost sold out! $25 gets you tastings and tours at 2-3 wineries plus a meal at the end of the trip.

Get more info and purchase your tickets through their website.

And do not forget that the Downtown Farmers Market runs every Saturday starting at 8am! Rain or shine, head out and support your local food producers.
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WindsorEats.com, locavore lunch, wine trail ride

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April will be sauce month and I am looking forward to discovering as many local sauces as I can. Be sure to send me your suggestions…hopefully you tip me off to some new ones.

We are off to the sold out 100km Dinner at Three…A Tasting Bar this evening. This is a great event that the restaurant is putting on with WindsorEats.com. Alistair, the chef, is committed to local food and tries to use as much local product in his restaurant as possible. I am especially looking forward to the perch dish and the bread pudding dessert!

Hope to see you there!
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100km Dinner, Three, WindsorEats.com, sauce

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So this weekend is supposed to be special because it is Valentine’s Day but I do not care a whole lot about that; I just love weekends because I do not usually have to work and I get to explore our region. There are so many great events this weekend and you can always check my events calendar for events related to local food topics.

Here are the events I want to attend and they are all this Saturday (Feb. 14th):

• Food for Thought Forum (McGregor): 11am, Essex Steam & Gas Engine Museum – Alex Atamanenko, MP for British Columbia Southern Interior, and Agriculture Critic for the New Democratic Party; Federal NDP candidate Taras Natyshak; roundtable discussion, state of our food source and local economy, empowering local producers, etc.
• Winter Weekends @ Sanson Winery (McGregor): 11-5pm, Sanson Estate Winery – Sweet deals on Icewine & late harvest wine; chocolate mousse tarts from Chef Laura Giberson of Caldwell’s Grant in Amherstburg; fresh beef & pork; summer sausage is back!
• WindsorEats.com Valentine’s Skate (Windsor): 4-9pm, Lanspeary Park - free ice skating; buy some yummies like crepes from Creperie Omer, soup from Black Kettle Bistro and hot chocolate & cider from WindsorEats.com; bring the family!

The Sanson event is Sunday too and they will have events right through until the end of March. When they have specifics to give, I will add it here or to the calendar.

Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Caldwell's Grant, Sanson Estate Winery, WindsorEats.com, forum