Savouring Stratford

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a preview held in Toronto for the upcoming Savour Stratford Culinary Festival. We were treated to delicious appetizers of pureed beets on crostini, eggplant and fresh goat cheese on a toasted baguette, prosciutto from St. Mary’s, Ont. and a variety of mouthwatering cheeses. We sampled wine from Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Chateau des Charmes and a pilsner from micro-brewery Stratford Brewing Company.

It made me excited for the festivities of the Savour Stratford festival which will be held on September 26th and 27th in Stratford, Ont. The event  showcases the talents of local chefs, food producers, artisans, muscians and artists, with outdoor food markets and tented dining and tastings. Canadian celebrity chefs including Jamie Kennedy, Jeff Crump and Best Health’s own Paul Finkelstein, will join local chefs and alumni of the Stratford Chefs School for a tasting of locally grown foods. Tastings are open to the public and will also include Ontario VQA wines and local craft beers. There will also be lots of demonstrations and talks given by Canadian cookbook authors, including Naomi Duguid (Hot Sour Salty Sweet) and Jennifer McLagan (Fat: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient), and local food producers including Antony John (The Manic Organic). The festival sounds like the recipe for a perfect day for any foodie, or just a great opportunity to get out with the family in a picturesque setting.