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Don’t forget that Sunday (June 28th) is the last day for Viewpointe Estate Winery’s Grand Opening.

Celebrate in style with:

• culinary demos
• sensory classes
• vineyard & winery tours
• barrel samples

You can download a PDF of all the details here.

If you head out that way, do not forget to stop of one of the many other wineries that are also located along County Road 50 in Harrow.

Need some veggies or fruit while you are out that way? The same road is also home to “The Fruit Wagon” (a.k.a. Balsillie Fruit Farm). Check out their website.
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Balsillie Fruit Farm, The Fruit Wagon, Viewpointe Estate Winery

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Apparently there was a launch party for the Buy Local map and I missed it. It would have been nice if this was advertised (as it was open to the public) and if traditional and non-traditional media would have been invited. Since I come up at the top of many food-related searches to do with Windsor and Essex County, I would hope that anyone out there doing local food-related events will let me know. I post all of the information I get (it must be local food though, not just a food event that is here) and it’s free, so why not take advantage of the free advertising?

If anyone out there associated with the map is reading, also consider inviting the local producers that did not buy into your map to your next event. Show them what they are missing out on and make it desirable for them to want to be part of the next map.

On a sad note, I have heard that despite the Buy Local map and exposure that Lakeside Jersey Dairy has received, it will still close in the very near future. If there is an angel out there looking for an investment, I would hope that you consider this business. Once we lose our dairy the chances of ever having one here again are very slim.

And finally, not to get into too much politics, but a CUPE rep was on the news last night and mentioned the food bank and how it is needed by the CUPE workers who are suffering financially due to the strike. Since the strike was the choice by the majority, I will not give to the food bank just because it will help the strikers; instead, we should all consider giving to our local food banks throughout Windsor & Essex County to help ALL of our citizens who are in need. And, a good friend made an excellent point… she said, “I just hope that anyone who has to make use of the food bank right now remembers to give back once the income begins again.”

If you buy local and give that to the food bank you are giving back to the community in an even bigger way! Here are some non-perishable local items that you can give:

• Thomas’ Organic Canned Tomatoes
• Thompson’s Beans
• Dainty Rice
• Lakeside Pickles
• Sunshine Farms (pickled veggies)
• Tecumseh Atta Flour
• Do any Erie Street stores do dried pasta?

Buy Local map, Lakeside Dairy

Too early for strawberries? Not in Essex County! It is almost time for Pick-Your-Own across the county and Raymont’s Berries in Cottam has had early berries for about the last month (they grow the first crop under plastic).

The early berries cost more than the summer berries because it takes more work to grow them. It is worth it though to have that special treat just a bit earlier in the year. Raymont’s will have an extended growing season that will allow us to enjoy these berry treats right through the end of the summer!

If you get Martha Stewart Living, check out the Strawberry Basil Iced Tea recipe. I am going to pick up some extra herbs so I can make a batch of my own. I will let you know how it turns out!
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Raymont's, strawberries

I hope that some of you got to enjoy “Sip Into Summer” at participating wineries or stopped in to the wine tent at Art in the Park. The summer events are not over though…

• Sanson Estate Winery – June 20th, 12-4pm – Celebrate Summer Solstice with nature walks, wine and food sampling, falconry exhibit (around 2pm), and a complimentary BBQ of all-natural meat products; FREE and child-friendly! Get more info here.
  
• Viewpointe Estate Winery – June 27 & 28th, 1-5pm – Even though the retail portion of Viewpointe has been open for a couple of years, their official grand opening will be this summer. Stop in for tours, barrel tastings, culinary demos and more. Get the PDF here.
• Aleksander Estate Winery – Sundays, 12-4pm – Visit the winery to view works from a different artist each Sunday throughout the summer. Check out their website.

I want to cover more wines and wineries but right now I am unable to do the sampling that I used to enjoy so much. Local food is even more important to me now that I will be having a baby in the fall. So keep sending me your “finds” for local foods, especially if they are natual or organic!
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Aleksander Estate Winery, Sanson Estate Winery, Viewpointe Estate Winery

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Exciting news! Taste Bud Food is now open in Walkerville.

From the website:

Taste Bud Food offers personal and professional catering services to the Windsor and surrounding area by Red Seal certified chef Janine Bratt.

All menus change seasonally and reflect what’s available from our local Essex County farms.

So what does this mean to you if you do not need a catering service? Janine offers ready-to-heat meals Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, including soups, salads, meals, and sweets!

I cannot wait to stop in and try some of these great dishes! Hope to see you there:

Taste Bud Food
624 Chilver Rd. Unit 106
Windsor, ON N8Y 2K2

Phone: 519-253-3665
Web: www.tastebudfood.com
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Taste Bud Food, Walkerville

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Due to some great volunteers, Art in the Park will not be Art in the Meadow as organizers had joked. We walked the park last night and it has been tidied up just in time for the annual event.

This year will be the first year that a wine tent will be open during the festivities and will feature three local wineries: Sanson Estate Winery, Wagner Orchards & Estate Winery, and Pelee Island Winery.

For those of you who do not know what Art in the Park is:

Art in the Park is held the first full weekend in June of each year, and is the signature event that launches Windsors festival season. This event is one of Ontario’s largest outdoor arts and crafts shows with exhibitors from all over Ontario, Quebec and the state of Michigan. The exhibitors display and retail their wares in booths set up around the 15.5 acres of gated grounds surrounding the beautiful and historic Willistead Mansion in Walkerville (Windsor), Ontario.

Hours for Art in the Park are Saturday, June 6th from 10am to 9pm (art vendors close at 6pm) and Sunday, June 7th from 10am to 5pm.

Hours for the wine service are Saturday from 12 noon to 9pm and Sunday from 12 noon to 5pm.

You can check out the event website here: http://www.artintheparkwindsor.com/

This weekend you can also opt to visit the wineries on Saturday, June 6th for “Sip Into Summer”. This year’s theme is herbs so each winery will be pairing their vintages with different herbs. Stop into Sanson Estate Winery for lots of treats or check out what other wineries are offering by visiting the SWOVA events page.

I will be at the winery on Saturday and Sunday so drop in between 12 and 4 to taste some great wine and herbalicious snacks!
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Art in the Park, Pelee Island Winery, Sanson Estate Winery, Sip Into Summer, Wagner Orchards