Roots and Shoots Farm - 7th week of CSA Food

The bounty rolled in again last Thursday from Roots and Shoots Farm, our CSA. The menu was already set for our big weekend party but we were able to use the tomatoes, onions, potatoes, cucumber, lettuce, cilantro and carrots in our recipes. It is always a surprise when we go for our pickup. We look forward to using the green peppers, bok choy, kale, zucchini and turnips once we work through our leftovers.

Enjoy the pictures!

BIN #1: Tomatoes




BIN #2: Cucumbers and potatoes.








BIN #3: Carrots.






BIN #4: A yellow and green zucchini. Plus cilantro.

BIN #5: Kale.






BIN #6: Lettuce.






BIN #7: Scarlett Queen Turnips.






BIN #8: Onions and green peppers.






BIN #9: Bok choy.

If you want to learn more about the farm, the contact information for Roots and Shoots Farm is:
ROBIN TURNER
robin@rootsandshootsfarm.com
www.rootsandshootsfarm.com
613.897.8975

The "So You Are All Off to University" Party

Yesterday was the "So You Are All Off to University" party. 21 spirited 18-year-olds pushing out as our next wave of recruits. For us, we were privileged to see a sliver of their worlds. The slivers from last night were nice ones. They all looked great. Healthy, fresh, enthusiastic, well-dressed. They sounded great. Articulate, competent, so sure of themselves, so ready. The WERE great. Helping prep. Managing the refreshments. Topping the water. Teaming on plating. Torching. Serving. Clearing. Sorting. Stacking. Washing.

I remember that summer between high school and university. I was so pumped about moving out and trying that new challenge. But I knew a price to pay was leaving good friends behind and watching them head elsewhere.

So came our motivation for hosting a "So You Are All Off to University" party for a group of his friends. I was thinking a full table of 8. I didn't realize that we would need to turn our place into a banquet hall. The number 21 did not deter us from our menu. Nor did it deter us from still doing it ourselves. Other than borrowing a few folding tables, I marveled that I could plate and glass that many people for 4 courses. How did we end up with so much stuff?

We just stayed out of the way and let the teenager host - doing the welcome, sharing the details of each course, keeping the timing, leading the serving.

HORS D'OEUVRES


Mini Bite Jamaican Meat Patties


White Bean & Artichoke Spread on Rice Crackers with Red Pepper Jelly and Roasted Red Pepper Garnish

SOUP


Carrot with Coriander Soup with Leek Crisps and Black Pepper Garlic Croutons

MAIN


Avocado Whip (under the chicken) with Southwestern Chicken Scallopini and Pico de Gallo with Peach. Accompanied by a Champagne Risotto Cake with Spicy Aioli and Greens with Southwestern Dressing

DESSERT

A choice of:


Classic Crème Brulée


(The teenager requested this shot for T.B.!)


Meringue Nest and Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries with Whipped Cream and Chocolate Shavings

Dinner was followed with talking, piano, guitar, singing, crying, more talking, cards, late night walk, more talking, hugs, man slaps.

Departing is such sweet sorrow.

[Post Script:  I should mention that we had sketched out the menu about a week before the party and when I saw She Eats Bears' Wednesday post, Corn, Jalapeno and Green Tomato Fritters, a few days later, I knew it was a sign that our main course was a go.  Lots of similar mixes of flavours.  And Marysol had given it a test run.  We did risotto cakes instead of the fritters.  I was tempted to put her fritter content in the cakes but the teenager said he wanted to do them as planned. (Next time!)  We did like the guacamole idea and came up with the avocado whip to go with the chicken.  Her multi-coloured tomato salad had us searching out heirlooms for our pico de gallo and triggered us to consider adding peaches.  All that to say Marysol continues to be inspiration.  Thanks for that!]

Double Decker Diner & Dairy Bar in Downtown Manotick

The Double Decker Diner & Dairy Bar is located on Manotick Main Street by Clapp Lane. The location is easy to spot, if not for its uniqueness alone but certainly for its sense of presence. Happening upon a double decker bus anywhere in the Ottawa area is unusual so it is a real standout in its bright British red and a blue.



The recent interest by CTV Ottawa in finding the best chip truck in the region has rekindled our teenager's poutine interest. Although not regular fare, when he gets the opportunity to have chip truck fries, it must be poutine. So far, 853 CTV Ottawa readers have weighed in with their expertise and campaigning ability. As well, some 34 tweets have come in to @CTVOttawa registering their vote.

The highly unscientific leader board looks something like this:

Double Decker bus in Manotick	103
S&G's at Maitland and Carling	65
Wes's Fries in Arnprior	60
Magic Fryer, Canadian Tire, Coventry Rd	51
Poutine Queen in Almonte	48
Fritimania on St Joseph Blvd	42
Sweet Potato in Carp	33
Claude's Chip Stands - Cummings/Ogilvie	32
Mike's Chips, Carleton Place	28
GJ's on Trim Road btwn 174 & St-Joseph	28

We have been watching as the comments have been posted on the CTV website and it is clear there has been some very serious campaigning going on by a number of vendors. All in good fun as this is the chip truck season. And those on the leaderboard are likely fairly reliable locations, so no harm done I suppose.

On our way home from Gananoque yesterday, the teenager took a shot at validating first place, the Double Decker Diner & Dairy Bar in downtown Manotick, by ordering a regular poutine. He had been there once before and although he liked it, he is skeptical of its top seed.


The experience was as he expected. He says the crisp in their fries works well for poutine. Also, he appreciates that they understand the importance of layering in the cheese and gravy, not just putting it all on top. But like his prior experience, the curds just aren't a first rate product for him (no squeak) and the gravy is just too salty. At that proclamation, I went in for a taste and wholeheartedly agreed that this gravy is heart-stoppingly, too salty. What a distraction.



I took their smallest fry, called regular and enjoyed it well enough.

A soft drink is $1.25

Regular Fries $3.50 (What I would compare size-wise to a medium at other stands)
Large Fries $4.25
Family $8.00

Regular Poutine $4.75
Large Poutine $6.00

Parking is ample as is the seating. There are a number of umbrella'd picnic tables outside. Cozy tables and chairs on the second floor of the bus, makes for a retreat if you are looking for shelter from the elements.

They are trying to get the word out there and now have their own Facebook fan page.

Manotick is lucky to have the Double Decker right in town to service those with the chip truck craving as they really aren't too bad. However, the teenager still says the best fries are Wes' Chips in Arnprior and the best poutine is S & G Fries at Carling and Maitland. Though, he chooses to continue his search for the best, in case it is yet to be discovered!

In the language of the Poutine Chronicles, this place is 4 curds out of 5.

Double Decker Diner & Dairy Bar
Manotick Main Street by Clapp Lane
Manotick, Ontario

Mon to Fri: 11 am - 7 pm
Sat to Sun: 11:30 am - 7 pm

Wes' Chips in Arnprior

Wes' Chips is an institution on Madawaska Boulevard in Arnprior for as long as I can remember. Whenever we would head towards Algonquin Park and beyond for camping, canoeing or cottaging, it seemed to be a must to pull off the highway for a little breather in Arnprior.

All they sell is chips. No poutine, no hamburgers, no corn dogs. Just chips. Sized and priced at:
Small $3
Medium $4
Large $5
X-Large $7

On a recent cottage trip, I stopped in for a small. The small was a bit light on content compared to many competitors. But maybe just right for those looking for a bit of a taste but not needing the bounty.

Also the soft drinks go for a steep $1.50.

The line-up is constant and deep. Once you have your little gems, you can rest up at one of the 6 picnic tables in the park like setting to the side or you can hurry back on the road.



But there is no disputing that best of breed taste. There is a hint of sweetness to their potatoes. They have a nice crispness outside but, on the inside, the taste of their chosen potato is silky. I am not sure how they do it. A secret worth millions. The other trick is that they stay that way right through to the bottom of the box. I would have expected soggy. Another reason Wes' rates so high.



Wes' Chips
198 Madawaska Boulevard
Arnprior, Ontario
613.623-5492

Hours: 10 am - 8 pm

Henrietta's Pine Bakery - Muskoka Treats

Henrietta's Pine Bakery is located on Highway 60 at the junction of Highway 35 by the town of Dwight. It is in the northeast corner of the Muskokas, near the now very popular and sought after Lake of Bays.



Henrietta's has been a bit of a cottage country institution for some 50 plus years. I remember it fondly right from my first days of visiting this area. And like the cottage season they close up once the last leaves of Thanksgiving Weekend have blown south. I try to make a point of getting there at opening time (9:00 am) to guarantee the best selections. They close at 5:00 pm or when the last piece of deliciousness walks out the door. It is not unusual to arrive later in the day to be greeted by their "Sorry Closed All Sold Out" sign.

They are well known for their many choices of breads and pies, as well as baked goods. Their signature treats are their sticky buns and Muskoka Cloud.

When we stopped in for a visit recently, our plan was to pick up a collection of treats to be divided among four discerning treat tasters.



We picked (going clock-wise above), a Strawberry Danish, a Honey Almond, a Chinese Chew, a Carrot Cake and then a Caramel Fudge Brownie.



A very exacting survey was conducted and the Strawberry Danish and the Chinese Chew tied. The Honey Almond came last, all be it still a yummy morsel. It sure is a lot of sweetness and cutting down to sample sizes allowed us to pace ourselves.

Henrietta's does do a nice job with their baked goods. Although their are many palatial cottages now on Lake of Bays, likely with kitchens rivaling our own in the big cities, there are still many 3-season cottages as rustic as ever and challenged when it comes to doing the exacting science of baking. Not to mention the time that baking takes, thus keeping you away from the fun of the lake. This makes Henrietta's the perfect solution to include a lovely dessert with the cottage food spread.

Another food blogger I know also had a chance to pop into Henrietta's a few years back and has some great pictures from inside the store. You may enjoy reading her blog entry at Ronna's Blog.

Henrietta's Pine Bakery
2868 Highway 60
Dwight, Ontario
705.635.2214

Raspberry Peach Pie - The Perfect Thank You Gift

Saturday afternoon our neighbour teenager came over looking for eggs. I so love that we do that cliché thing on our street. Borrowing sugar, eggs, powdered ginger, maple syrup... The requests to my kitchen have been many. Out the door went two eggs. For pies, she said. No details.

Later that evening, our neighbour teenager returned. We were a bit surprised to hear the doorbell ring so late. Who could it be? There she was with a steaming raspberry peach pie in hand. A gift. A thank you pie!



She wanted to say thanks for taking her on the latest 3-day Algonquin canoe trip with the mister and our teenager. This trip had been on their summer bucket list before they headed off to university.

Thanks for letting her sleep on the hard ground, with an axe, in the rain, on a hill, with much wildlife, where the open outdoor toilet is a long weavy, dark walk in the woods, likely inhabited by serial killers. Her words. The serial killer part. (She says she watches too much Criminal Minds.)

Thanks for the filet mignon grilled over the coals with baked potatoes. Thanks for the thrill of shooting rapids. Thanks for short portages. Thanks for protecting her reign as champion of the game Spit. Thanks for peaceful sunrises and glowing sunsets. Thanks for the most picturesque of Canadiana geography. Thanks for helping make that bucket list item happen in the summer that will likely be their last at home together.

The neighbour teenager is classy, smart, adventurous, balanced, thoughtful, musical, gutsy and just all-round great.

And that's what makes raspberry peach pie the perfect thank you gift.

Restaurant Les Fougères

Restaurant Les Fougères is tucked away in the idyllic rural setting of the Gatineau Hills, outside of Chelsea, Quebec at 783 on autoroute 105, just a short drive from downtown Ottawa. Attached to the restaurant is also their food focused store, where they offer take-home cuisine, specialty food items and home decor treasures.



Chef and proprietor, Charles Part, placed first in the prestigious Gold Medal Plates regional competition in Ottawa-Gatineau in 2008. This is just one of the many awards they have earned over the years for food, wine and service.



They too have an award winning cookbook, A Year at Les Fougères. A project Charles Part undertook in collaboration with his wife and co-owner of the restaurant, Jennifer Warren-Part.



Last night ended up being our private celebration of our upcoming anniversary. As we came to look at the calendar yesterday, it was clear that a night to ourselves may not happen for some time to come. Better a bit early than a bit late and so we seized the day.

The menu is not for the indecisive. All their descriptions are mouth-watering. We both couldn't resist their August table d'hôte. The occasion called out to us to go with their wine pairings as well. It has been a long time since I tackled a table d'hôte and maybe even longer doing wine pairings with a meal. I have to say I was close to giddy, suspecting that we were about to be really, really spoiled.

We started with the soup of the day, which was a Thai curry soup with crème fraîche, cilantro and decorated with flower petals. The wine paired with the soup was a Gewurztraminer Cuvée Bacchus 2008 Alsace Pfaffenheim.



The second course was Quebec foie gras mousse served in a gougère with a gooseberry, red onion and fresh lemon thyme compote. The wine paired with this dish was a La Cuvée des Laurentides, Vignoble Rivière du Chêne.



Our main course was lamb shoulder slow-cooked in confit, accompanied with homemade lamb and lavender sausage served on a height of summer ratatouille, new potatoes crushed with mint, sorrel and Papineauville Camembert style goat cheese. The wine paired with the lamb dish was a Cabernet Merlot 2007 Okanagan Valley, Mission Hill.



Our dessert was a fruit pavlova with homemade peach ice cream. The wine paired with the dessert was a Moscato d'Asti Nivole 2008, Michele Chiarlo.



And as we were enjoying our great cups of coffee, out came a beautiful celebration plate of mignardises.





Well, it is pretty clear that everything looked fantastic. But how did it taste? Where do I start? We were eating seasonal, regional produce. That was a great place to start! The table d'hôte was well balanced. It stood out more on flavours than richness. That is a big help when doing so many courses.

The soup was just too salty though. I don't know if it was the actual body of the soup or a heavy hand at garnishing it before it left the kitchen, but it was noticeable. It didn't stop me though. The great taste of the soup was still there to enjoy. Not too spicy either. Although our waiter told us that it had coconut milk in it, it wasn't pronounced. A bit of a surprise since I was anticipating it.

The foie gras mousse served in a gougère was under portioned. I could barely taste the mousse. We both thought there should have been a bit more of the foie gras taste. The compote was perfect.

There is nothing to say about the lamb dish except that it was perfect. The shoulder was so tender and flavourful. It was probably the highlight of the night.

The fruit in the pavlova dessert was fresh and the strawberries were a stand out. So, so sweet. We loved every morsel of the plate of mignardises.

The wine pairing was bang on. What a treat for us to just sit back and relax and enjoy the expertise of others. Sometimes a wine list can be intimidating. Particularly when heading for a multi-course meal. My most favourite match was the Moscato with the dessert. The slight effervescence tickled the fruit.

We were served small, salted dinner rolls to start. It came with olive oil and butter balls. They were fresh and chewy. (The buns, not the balls of butter.) We acted responsibility and stopped at two of the small nuggets. Although enjoyable and effective at taking the high hunger off, this meal was not going to be about the buns.

The decor is comfortable and well kept. There is no glitz and glamour. The warmth of the pine is what you would expect in a country setting. The cloth napkins are held tight with quaint, bent, silver spoon napkin rings. This is the kind of place that can look after an event of any style, from casual to formal.

I would be re-missed if I didn't comment on the service. Our waiter was so attentive and knowledgeable. He knew his food and his wine. He watched us well from afar and made sure the timing for the dishes was well spaced. His team looked after the water, bun supply and delivering the food.

One observation I would make and it seems to happen a lot when eating out, is that we were offered freshly ground black pepper on our lamb as soon as it was brought to us. For me, I have to taste a dish before I consider additional seasoning so I took a pass.

I thought we had great value for the money. The table d'hôte was $45 per person. If you did the wine pairing, the price went to $75.

Last night's dinner was a last minute idea to solve our need to celebrate. We were lucky to get in on short notice. Once we entered their front door though, the luck ended and the critically acclaimed talent began. Restaurant Les Fougères knows how to deliver a great food and wine experience and it is worth every bit of the drive to go there. I found an Ottawa Citizen review from October 27, 1999 that said, "This Chelsea restaurant isn’t one you drop into. It’s one you save for a treat." I couldn't disagree more. Good food is something we deserve every day.

Have you been considering Restaurant Les Fougères? Do not hesitate about going. Any time at all. Get it on your Bucket List. It is one of our finest restaurants in the region.





Restaurant Les Fougères
783 Route 105
Chelsea, Quebec
819.827.8942
www.fougeres.com

Restaurant
Mon - Fri: 11 am - 9:30 pm
Sat & Sun: 10 am - 9:30 pm

Store
Mon - Sun: 10 am - 10 pm