Food for Thought with Alex Bielak- Sips and Bites – Arrivals, Departures and Giveaways

Sips and Bites – Arrivals, Departures and Giveaways

There’s lots going on with several developments impacting the regional culinary scene. So we’ll dive in... mouth first… Do please read through to the end for details of how to win one of three exciting, tasty giveaways.

I was surprised to hear the agreement between dynamic Dave Hanley and Dishcrawl Hamilton has ended and Hanley will no longer be running the events. I reached out to Dishcrawl for comment, but as of my deadline had not heard back. Dave told me “I am sure there will be another ambassador in place soon. In the interim, I will be focusing on my other ventures in Hamilton.”

I wish him well as he’s a man of boundless energy, ideas and vision: he and his pork pie hat will be missed in his Dishcrawl persona. In the meantime you can sponsor Dave who will be rappelling down 100 King St.
West in support of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hamilton and Burlington.

I was pleased to run into Chef Jayke Carter at a recent event, shortly after his winning performance on Chopped Canada was aired. He said his TV experience was “one of a kind,” but all that action you saw a few weeks back was filmed last year. He’s now running Jake’s (no relation) Grill and Oyster House where, bit by bit, he’s changing up the menu, including introducing a slew of new fresh-fish dishes. Exciting times and, given how good he is, worth a visit.

Finally, in terms of departures, I was very sorry to hear the much-delayed Lister Chophouse Grill has suffered another blow, the cruelest kind. The unexpected death of Executive Chef Frank Bedell hit the team hard. The recent note sharing the news related “indescribable, countless days and nights working to finish this restaurant and hour after hour sourcing the best local ingredients for his menu.” It concluded that his contributions to this restaurant will never be forgotten and the team is working to have the restaurant open as quickly as possible. I’m informed by the owner, Chris DesRoches, that it might be as early as May 20th . My sincere condolences to Chef’s family and friends.

In other news, mark your calendars. The 5th annual Waterdown Oh Canada Ribfest is set for June 27 – July 1st. There is a great line-up of bands, a movie in the park and a fireworks show on the first. As usual they are looking for volunteers to sign up and I’m sure more sponsors would be welcome too. The fest – attended by an estimated 50,000 eager eaters in 2013 – is run by the two Waterdown Rotary clubs and proceeds are earmarked for a variety of worthwhile endeavours.

I had the good fortune to buy some coveted tickets to the Landmark Group’s “Best of the Best” event at Spencer’s at the Waterfront last week. It was a lovely evening, with a silent auction benefitting the FarmStart program that “supports a new generation of farmers and Canada’s small farm culture”. (The Group’s Landmark Start-Up Farm in Flamborough is one of the Program’s teaching venues.)

The home team, led by Chef Andrew Macleod and Sous-Chef James Bourdeau, cemented their reputation for innovative cuisine. They managed to win the trophy for best dish, besting tasty offerings by the other chefs from the Ancaster and Cambridge Mills, defending champ Earth to Table Bread Bar, and Whistle Bear golf course. It is particularly laudable that they won with a dessert course, a dark chocolate cremeux with black walnut syrup, tart rhubarb and caramelized milk crumb. Not the easiest thing in taking on such fierce competitors!

I’ve also eaten a couple of times now at Memphis Fire BBQ in Winona, though I have yet to catch their buttermilk-marinated fried chicken which is only available after 5 pm on Monday to Wednesday. I have had their ribs and also sampled the brisket. Both were really good, the near-melting brisket verging on outstanding. The place has been hopping each time I’ve been in, which speaks volumes about the food, portions and service. Git on down and try some southern Q y’all.

I was also reminded of some of my favourite wines at a recent tasting hosted by the fine wine merchants at Vinexx. They have a bunch of good value-priced wines available now at the LCBO. I’ve re-ordered the following: Alliance Loire "de Chanceny" Brut Rose (a delicate, fruity sparkler – LCBO #211466, $19.35), 2011 Lorgeril "Les Coteaux" Chardonnay (a brisk and elegant French offering – #320424, $15.10) and a dry, floral 2012 Willy Gisselbrecht Riesling (#315309, 14.45). All should please your palate.

They also showcased South African wines from Anthonij Rupert including a couple of truly splendid wines. Available on consignment, but out of my price range at $89, the 2008 Syrah and Cabernet Franc were already sumptuous, but would benefit from more time in the cellar.

Finally I promised a giveaway. Sandy, the fine gentleman who ran the EatWith dining event described in my last column, has offered three lucky Food for Thought readers a free three-month subscription to his new project WorldJikoni: “Jikoni” is the Swahili word for “kitchen,” and winners will receive a beautiful box including the recipes, spices and theme for them to hold their own culinary journey to an exotic location.

To enter, leave a comment on this column and I will conduct a random draw among those who make a remark before the next column is published (around May 17th). I will post the names of the winners on the comments page. (Fair warning: being anonymous in this case will probably work against you, so at least use a unique name! One other caveat, the prize can only be shipped to Canada.)

In closing, I’d like to once again acknowledge a writer is only as strong as their editors. I have a particularly fine first line of defence. Thanks Roberta!

For more pictures, click here.  

Alex (Alex can be reached at fft@thehamiltonian.info ) or on twitter @AlexBielak

Food for Thought logo, designed and kindly donated by Ninka Bielak. Ninka can be reached at ninka.bielak@gmail.com.