Rotting fish a delicacy? STINKFEST!

Hello Tastefuls!

SO, our next event is teamed-up with and the brainchild of Jamie Drummond of Good Food Revolution who told me last year of Surstromming - basically rotting fish in a can he'd brought back for me from Sweden...it still rests within my cupboard, swelling from the off-gassing of the fish during decay.  Apparently transport of the product is not allowed on almost all aircraft as the contents are under pressure and if the can ruptures you can imagine the chaos of an enclosed and recirculated atmosphere the plane becomes!

We decided to unleash it on some industry foodies here in Toronto, so, IF you are industry and IF you dare, join us Thursday August 15th as Good Food Revolution and cafeTaste: EVENTS host Toronto's inaugural StinkFest from 4 PM until 8 PM on the patio of Midfield Wine Bar (the patio because seriously, the stench is downright clingy) at Dundas and Gladstone.

Due to the limited amount of Surstromming this is strictly an invite only industry event.  There will be a small donation at the door with all monies going to The Stop Community Food Centre.

If you're interested in attending please email us at torontostinkfest@gmail.com.

BTW, check the video Jamie posted here on  Good Food Revolution to see the cultured way of eating the rotten things, BUT, go here for the grisly side of being initiated to Surstromming (go straight to the 11 minutes mark to see Surstromming can being opened - WARNING: NOT FOR THE FEINT OF HEART)


Regards;

Jeremy Day
Wine Geek
cafeTaste: EVENTS!

6th Annual Ontario Wine Fair was a HUGE success!

WOW, the 6th Annual Ontario Wine Fair was a HUGE success!

You all suffered through some horrific humidity to come by and taste, and you all did yeomens service to endure tasting through all that wine and cheese ;)

SO, after much tallying and breakdown (I wanted to ensure accuracy) the results are in - first some specs:
There were a total of 81 wines poured to 146 people, who ate 16 kilos of cheese and 30 baguettes of bread...
...All of this lead to the cafeTaste Peoples' Choice Awards - below are our winners!

Favourite Riesling went to Charles Baker Wines for his 2012 'Ivan Vineyard', Twenty Mile Bench
Favourite Chardonnay (Oaked) went to Southbrook Estate Winery for the 2011 Organic Chardonnay
Favourite Chadonnay (Unoaked) went to Sprucewood Shores for their 2011 Chardonnay
Favourite Pinot Noir went to Norman Hardie Wines for his 2011 'County Pinot'
Favourite Merlot went to Karlo Estates for his 2010 Merlot
Favourite Cabernet Franc went to Pondview Estate Winery for their 2010 'Bella Terra' 
Favourite Cabernet Sauvignon went to Calamus Estates for their 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
Favourite Sparkling went to Flat Rock Cellars for their 2008 'Riddled', Traditional Method
Favourite Rose went to Keint-He Winery for their 2011 'Voyager' Rose
Favourite Single Varietal Red (Dry) went to Vineland Estates for their 2011 Pinot Meunier
Favourite Single Varietal Red (Non-dry) went to Keint-He Winery for their 2008 'Pineaux Sauvage' 
Favourite Single Varietal White (Dry) went to Calamus Estates for their 2012 Pinot Gris 
Favourite Single Varietal White (Non-dry) went to Lacey Estates for their 2011 Gewurtraminer
Favourite White Blend went to Karlo Estates for their 2010 'Van Alstine' White 
Favourite Red Blend went to Stratus Wines for their 2011 'Wildass Red'

...AND...it is my great pleasure to announce...

Best of Show Red is awarded to Norman Hardie Wines for his 2011 'County Pinot'
Best of Show White is awarded to Southbrook Estate Winery for the 2011 Organic Chardonnay

Congratulations of course goes out to our medal winners, but we also congratulate Bridget Light for being the winner of our VQA Gift Basket draw - thanks to everyone for enjoying the quality of VQA that the Toronto public can now be exposed to!

Regards;
Jeremy Day
Wine Geek
VQA Promoter of the Year 2011
cafeTaste: EVENTS!
416.536.7748

6th Annual Ontario Wine Fair this Saturday!!!

I'm certainly excited, folks, as we've confirmed 18 wineries, including: Calamus Estates, Casa Dea Winery, Norman Hardie, Charles Baker Wines, Sandbanks, The Grange of PEC, Stanners Vineyard, Rosewood Estates, Pondview Winery, Flat Rock Cellars, Stratus Winery, Karlo Estates, Sprucewood Shores, Lacey Estates, Palatine Hills, Vineland Estates, Keint-He Winery, and Southbrook Estates!

We have a selection of almost 30 cheeses from a dozen local artisan cheesemakers (list below) for you to enjoy alongside your bounty of premium VQA.

Remember top vote on your favs so that the winemakers may receive the recognition they deserve!

Get your last minute tickets by hitting the "Ontario Wine Fair" TAB above - you know you want to ;)

Regards;

Jeremy Day
aka Wine Geek

Our Cheese Makers

Monforte Dairy
Based in Stratford, Ruth Klahsen is a veteran chef, passionate about creativity in the use of astonishingly good milk supplied by local sheppards of sheep and goat.

Thornloe Dairy
Thornloe Cheese is a 100% Canadian, 100% farmer-owned company producing cutting edge unpasteurized goat, blue, bloomy rind and Morbier line cheeses. 

Fifth Town Artisan Cheese
Champions of the environment and socially responsible, using fresh, locally produced goat and sheep milk. Fifth Town integrates traditional methods and ethics with contemporary tastes and local terroir.

Ewenity Dairy
A co-operative of Ontario farmers who craft yogurt, cheeses and ice cream from their sheepsmilk, focusing on allowing natural flavours and textures to unfold and develop.

Upper Canada Cheese Co.
Premium artisanal cheeses from the milk of Guernsey cows, expressing the unique terroir of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere region with rich milk and the talents of our cheesemakers.

Glengarry Fine Cheese
Located in Eastern Ontario just north of the village of Lancaster, Glengarry specializes in gourmet cheeses made from local cow's milk to exacting standards of care, resulting in cheeses of exceptional quality.

Ivanhoe Cheese
Award-winning artisan Cheddars, Goudas and Swiss using ageing and smoking for a flavoured cheese experience.

Jensen Cheese
A third generation family tradition established by Master Cheesemaker Arne Jensen. Each cheese has been made with the utmost care and attention to guarantee the texture and flavour are at their best. Sunshine Pantry

Offering artisan meat, cheese, and antipasto, sunshine pantry is a chef with a passion for creating old-world delights using exceptional local ingredients.