In September three local events will celebrate food in Perth County. The “Savour Stratford ’08 Culinary & Culture Festival”, and a homecoming to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Stratford Chefs School, are being planned for September 20 and 21, and the Garlic Festival will take place the proceeding Saturday, September 13.
Here are some online resources to help you find out more about these events - and also about Perth County’s many and diverse local food sources. September’s definitely a time to celebrate local food in Perth County!
The Stratford Chefs School - http://www.stratfordchef.on.ca
Visit the Stratford Chefs School online for details about the September 20-21 home-coming and about Savour Stratford events. A unique institution which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the SCS is the only culinary chef school in Canada which is operated by working restaurant professionals. As the School’s web site states, “There are few lovers of good food in Canada whose palates and dining experiences remain untouched by the work of the Stratford Chefs School.”
The 2nd Annual Garlic Festival - http://www.stratfordgarlicfestival.com
Stratford first Garlic Festival, in 2007, the project of local garlic grower Warren Ham and Kiwanis member Ron Deichert, was a runaway success. This year’s Festival promises to be even bigger and better, featuring garlic growers, garlic sellers, garlic chefs, garlic hobbyists and garlic lovers of all ages. For children, PLOW (Public Library on Wheels) - with Trish MacGregor - will be making a special appearance!
Stratford and Perth County … Cuisine…100-Mile Menus…Farm-Gate Marketing - http://www.fallforstratford.com/cuisine.html
Where in Perth County can you find organic food growers, bakers, canners and “food artisans”? Where, locally, can you purchase gourmet foods? Where can you find restaurants which offer 100-mile menus? To find out, look on this web site – you’ll be amazed at the many choices offered here in Perth County.
Buy Local & Buy Fresh! -http://www.visitperth.ca/HP-map-2008_web.pdf
A very informative “Buy Local Buy Fresh! Map” for Perth and Huron Counties can be downloaded from the Perth County Visitor’s Association’s web site. Consumers can buy directly from the farm or from retail outlets listed by the farm. Perth and Huron Counties are often referred to as “Ontario’s Food Basket”, producing such foods as cheese and other dairy products, honey, maple syrup and other maple products, various types of meat … and much more. Some valuable food safety tips are included. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
The Centre for Rural Learning at McCully’s Hill Farm - http://mccullys.ca
Located near St. Marys, the Centre welcomes thousands of students each year (as well as adults through weekend events), seeking to educate people about environmentally-friendly local food production through its innovative and unique initiatives. The Farm also offers a market offering locally-produced foods and food products. Visit McCully’s web site for details about the many food-related events which take place at the Farm
Huron and Perth County Locally-Grown and Produced Foods/Food Products - www.shakespearetotheshoreline.ca/markets.html
Try some of the many local fresh foods and food products – many of them organic – from the farm markets and farm outlets of Perth and Huron counties. William Shakespeare would have been delighted at the quality and variety offered in our area … and you will be also!
Foodlink: Making the Food Connection - www.foodlink-waterlooregion.ca
Just next door to Perth County, Waterloo Region and Wellington County also offer a wealth of local food sources, from farms and farmers’ markets to food retailers and restaurants. Click on “Purchasing Local Food” for locations to buy fresh eggs, fruit, cider, meats, dairy products, grains and flour, honey and many more food products. Find out more about Foodlink and how this non-profit organization seeks to encourage a “food localism” movement.
Local Eating - www.localeating.ca
To find locally produced food in southwestern Ontario , you can search by supplier location or supplier name. Also offered: a very helpful forum for asking questions and posting tips about local food, seasonal food recipes, upcoming food events, and various blogs about local eating.
The 100 Mile Diet - http://100milediet.org/get-started/getting-started-guide
Try a “diet” that isn’t really a diet – it’s an attempt to minimize the environmental effects of transporting food grown and produced far away – by using foods and food products grown or made within a 100-mile radius of your home. With so many food sources within and close to Stratford and Perth County, a 100-mile diet might be quite feasible for the most part, and this web site offers some tips on getting started.
Slow Food - www.slowfood.com
What exactly, is “slow food”? The slow food movement, which began almost 20 years ago, is opposed to fast food, and instead urges people to take the time to be interested in the food they eat, how it’s prepared, and where it comes from. Local food and local food traditions are encouraged. Today, interest in the slow food movement has spread to many places - including Canada and Perth County. (Please see also http://www.slowfood.ca)
