The festival season is upon us! No, I don’t mean music, comedy, theatre or the ever present marathons! This week I’m alerting you to some upcoming culinary events.
If you don’t yet have plans this weekend (June 9-10), you could go "Graze the Bench" between 12-5 pm each day. $25 gets you in to all activities at seven wineries in the Beamsville area. The pass also gets you tasty treat from one of the participating restaurants and a glass of wine poured in a premium Schott-Zwiesel crystal wine glass that’s
yours to keep. You can get a refill and additional food pairings for another $7 each.
Among the wineries is Angels Gate, celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. It’s a lovely location from which you can see all the way across to Toronto on a clear day. Also participating is the wonderfully named Organized Crime Winery. There’s a great story about the name told on the bottle labels and also in animated text on the website.
Still on this weekend (June 9th and 10th) but a bit further down the QEW in Niagara on the Lake, my “home winery” Strewn is releasing their 2011 white wines. From 11am to 5pm each day, you’ll be able to taste seven different wines from their ultra-premium (and delicious) Terroir series.
Along with the five whites from 2011 and one from 2010, they’re serving a 2011 Cabernet Rosé, their first rosé in a couple of years. I’m looking forward to tasting that one! Best of all there is no charge for the event, but they do ask you to call at 905-468-1229 or email info@strewnwinery.com to confirm your attendance. For more information on this and their other June – August happenings see their events page.
A lot is also going on June 23rd, including my dear friends’ 25th anniversary. As he’s one of my cooking buddies and a gourmand, the food promises to be very fine. Sadly, I won’t make that or the other two events below as I’m going fishing. (All the best Tom and Liz, I’ll raise a glass to you from the river.)
For those of you without such obligations you could start your day at Puddicombe Farms, which is hosting the Ontario Festival of Cider I mentioned in my last column. Then you could go on to a fun-sounding event beginning at 6:30 p.m. at 13th Street Winery near St. Catharine’s. They are organizing something called Street Fight 2012: the Smackdown in Grapetown.
Beer goes head to head (so to speak) with Wine. The Mill Street Brewmaster is pitted against the winery’s Sommelier, and Indian food will go three rounds against Thai. Music and Door Prizes round out the mix. If you go to this one, please let me know how it goes! It sounds fabulous.
On the Canada Day weekend (June 29 – July 2) check out the Oh Canada Ribfest at Memorial Park in Waterdown. Organized by friends from the Rotary Club of Waterdown and Rotary Club of Flamborough AM, this four-day community-driven event is getting better every year.
This third edition features 7 ribbers, Nickel Brook Beer, and has some great entertainment for adults and kids alike. Brian Melo as well as the 905 Band are among the musical headliners, while a movie night and all sorts of fun activities await the young ‘uns. All capped with an excellent fireworks display.
Incidentally, the organizers are always ready to welcome additional sponsors, and very importantly, volunteers to take on shifts. My wife and I spent a few hours slinging beer during the inaugural event and it was a lot of fun. To sign up visit the website.
Finally, for anyone interested in charcoal grilling, mark your calendars now for the Niagara Eggfest on August 19th. I attended last year, and will be talking more about it (and my Big Green Egg) in a future column.
If I’ve missed your event or something else you think might tickle the palate, please email me with information and/or invitations, or add a comment below. I’m always glad to hear from other foodies! My address is below. Have a great weekend!
Alex (Alex can be reached at fft@thehamiltonian.info )
Food for Thought logo, designed and kindly donated by Ninka Bielak. Ninka can be reached at ninka.bielak@gmail.com.
Food for Thought logo, designed and kindly donated by Ninka Bielak. Ninka can be reached at ninka.bielak@gmail.com.
