Rundles Sophisto-Bistro

Rundles Restaurant You are going to want to go here. Maybe you have a first date coming up with a cool boy… maybe you are married to a cool boy (or girl) and your anniversary is coming up. Maybe your best girlfriend is getting married and she needs a heart to heart before the big day over a really nice meal (and a big glass of wine!). Maybe its your dad’s birthday and you want to stroll down the river Avon, look at some swans and then have a really nice meal. Whatever the reason, you are going to want to make that next date with your most favourite person at Rundles Sophisto-Bistro in Stratford. Table and Masks – Garden Room The first thing you are going to notice is the details. This place is so cool, it’s Danish meets Tribal, meets nineteen-sixty meets nineteen-eighty, meets now. I loved all the little trinkets, the modern masks on the wall, the ethereal mobiles hanging from the ceiling and the outdoor garden. It’s such an amazing place, even the wooden bread box squeals with character – make sure you take a look at it! Freshly Baked Baguette   Homemade Butter We sat down and our host for the evening – Andrew came over to spoil us. I let him know I was interested in where all of the food came from and he was happy to guide me through the menu and all of its hidden treasures. First off, he brought us over a freshly baked baguette that is made in-house along with the homemade butter which they turn on site, in the kitchen from locally produced cream. If you look closely in this photo you can see that there are little pieces of course salt set atop of this glorious little cylinder of butter. It tastes very French, but it is very Ontario. Local Organic Baby Arugula and Spinach Salad with Oyster Mushrooms Although I would have been quite happy to sit for the entire evening with just the butter and baguette, there was much more to come. The menu at Sophisto-Bistro is a fixed menu. You pay a set price and you can choose from about four different items in each category for an appetizer, a main and a dessert. The kitchen is run by Neil Baxter who is also head of the acclaimed Stratford Chef School. I caught a glimpse of him coming out of the kitchen at one moment, but I resisted my urged to run up to him and beg him for a cooking class. For my appetizer I chose the local organic baby arugula and spinach salad with oyster mushrooms. The salad is served with finely sliced red cabbage, and grilled oyster mushrooms and garnished with chopped egg and fried sourdough breadcrumbs. The greens, cabbage and the eggs are from Anthony John’s farm at Soiled Reputation out of Sebringville Ontario. The mushrooms were unlike any I have ever tasted, they were like slivers of tender, juicy and nutty flavoured steak! The sourdough bread crumbs are of course homemade. You can see in this photo the colour and the presentation are sublime. The taste combination here is so delicious, it was perfection in a salad. PAN-FRIED PORK TENDERLOIN PICCATA   HOT-SMOKED, KOLAPORE SPRINGS TROUT SALAD grilled chiles poblanos, carrot and red onion escabeche (Mexican pickle) For our mains, Sean chose the Pan Fried Pork Tenderloin Picatta that sat atop a mixture of local vegetables including brussel sprouts, celeriac and devilled sauce – christened with capers, it was delicious (yes, he did let me taste test!). The pork is the elusive Berkshire variety – Rundles is bringing in locally from Perth Pork Products. For my main I chose the smoked trout that they smoke in-house, back in the kitchen. The trout comes from Kolapore Springs Trout Farm which is located near Collingwood. I have heard of Kolapore Springs and I remember it was a very interesting place where they do things differently than most fish farms. Sustainability is key in their business and they feed the trout a special fresh water shrimp that actually enhances the flavour, the nutrional value as well as the pink colour of the trout. It was a sweet tasting trout with a delicate smokiness to it that is quite unlike any I have ever had. Farm raised trout is one of the most sustainable fish for us to choose in Canada and it is very safe to raise trout in a farmed environment (unlike salmon). To make the dish even more adventurous it is served with grilled chiles poblanos, carrot and red onion escabeche (mexican pickle). Sounds exotic, but Chef Neil Baxter is replicating and at the same time reinventing a traditional dish here with local ingredients. The colour in this dish is terrific – various hues of pink, green and orange shine back at you as you take in all the flavours and the wonderful smokey and sweet scent. Table Charm This is one of the many little charms that reside in Sophisto-Bistro. A charming little moveable statue to keep you amused while you await your next course and next surprise. CANADIAN, UNPASTEURIZED MILK CHEESES For my dessert, I chose the cheese plate. It is a wonderful selection of (mostly) local cheese. All but one of these lovelies is from Ontario and believe me, you will not mind the one traveller in the group. The Sophisto-Bistro cheese plate is a selection of four unpasteurized milk cheeses. The blue cheese was called Tiger Blue and is from British Columbia, so even though it travelled a little further , it is still a welcome fellow Canadian. It was so creamy and delicious that I could have been finished there – but no, there were three more to sample. The next cheese was called Solaire from MonForte (Stratford), the next was Orati (near Ottawa) and the last was another MonForte Cheese called Paradiso which was a sheep’s milk cheese. The cheese plate is accompanied with a side of homemade walnut raisin bread and an in-house flax seed cracker that is a treat in itself. It was almost like a cookie and was so good it had me ohhing and awing. All of this comes with one more sidekick, a homemade apple and raisin chutney with a killer cinnamon bang with every bite – delicious! Rundles Rosehall Run Wine Wine, wine and more wine. Rundles and Sophisto-Bistro has a huge selection of wine to accompany any meal that you choose. I let Andrew our host pick my wine for the evening. He chose the house wine which is made for Rundles at Rosehall Run Winery which is a boutique winery that resides in Prince Edward County, Ontario. They make the private label for Rundles and it was a delicious choice that carried me right through from appetizer to dessert. This meal was surely one for the memory books. Sean and I felt like a King and Queen as we dined in such a unique environment with such amazing service and food that is truly exceptional. We will not forget it, in fact I am already planning my next day trip to Stratford so that I can stop in and try some of the other items on this menu. Anyone want to join me? Rundles Spohisto-Bistro 9 Cobourg Street Stratford, ON N5A 3E4 (519) 271-6442 www.rundlesrestaurant.com Twitter @Rundles Blog: rundlesrestaurant.wordpress.com  Read More

A local Latin BBQ

Meet Paul Spence. You may have met him at the Masonville Farmer’s Market sometime last season. Lo Maximo Meats is the name of Paul and his wife Sara’s farm business. Paul and Sara can be found running a creative and small-scale farm near Kent Bridge in the Chatham-Kent area. Lo Maximo Meats offers up a real specialty product to our community – Latin style cuts of meat. It does not stop there for this creative duo as they are now embarking on a new adventure – The Latin BBQ experience, which they are calling Experience Casa Latina. Paul and Sara hope to create a wonderful evening of introducing people to a new style of eating… the Latin way. What they are doing is really neat – they will let you take a peak at their charming farm, so you can see the journey from farm to plate and at the same time, they want to offer up an inside look at the Latin way of life. Music, salsa dancing, socializing and just plain having fun are all on the Spence menu. After the farm tour concluded, we headed over to The Botany Community Centre, which is an adorable and old one room school house dating back to 1883. This little school house has been converted into a cozy community centre with a working kitchen. It is steeped in history and some of that history runs deep in Paul’s own family tree – his great, great grandfather helped bring the bricks to build it and his own grandfather attended the old school. Sara had been there before us working her magic, and it was set up wonderfully with a gorgeous tableware, folded napkins and even ribbons adorning each chair. It definitively set the mood and made all of the guests feel honored to be there.   We all had a chance to talk to Sara about her hometown which is in Equador and her previous way of life before she moved to the cooler Canadian climate. Sara loves to have people ask her about South America and she wants more Canadians to know about it and experience some of the culture. One of Paul’s Chatham farm area neighbors Don Giffin was there with a whole display of the most gorgeous bottles of maple syrup I have ever seen. He was there to let people know how syrup is tapped and produced. He gave us loads of information on the syrup grades and consistency. He was an amazing guy whose maple syrup has won some pretty prestigious awards in the past. One of the large bottles had a gorgeous trillium displayed and on another favourite of mine – some maple leaves adorning it, they were truly exceptional. While we were inside talking to Sara and Don, Paul was outside grilling the meat on the BBQ – I believe that in Spanish the BBQ would be called a parrilla or open-fired grill and this is a very traditional way to cook the meat. Speaking of meat, there was alot of it. This is where the Latin experience comes in and really shines. We were introduced to the names of many different styles or cuts of meat and offal (hoove, tendons, brains, tongue – nothing is off the table at a true Latin BBQ). I am happy to announce that they did go easy on us at this particular parrilla.   There were regular farmer style sausage, pork and beef cutlets and the two most adventurous items on the menu were heart and kidney. I managed to try them both and I will say that I liked the heart but I think that would be my last time with the kidney. Some others that were present loved the kidney and passed on the heart – so, to each his/her own! Every kind of meat was accompanied with a homemade green sauce called chimichurri = delicious. There were also three gorgeous salads to accompany the meal, which Sara told me was more of a Canadian touch, as at a traditional Latin BBQ there would just be the meat. To finish, there was a delicious dessert which was Sara’s mother’s recipe – I cannot recall the exact name, but I believe it was a dulche de leche-type flan with another Canadian touch – whipped cream. As part of the Latin experience, Sara includes a salsa lesson to anyone interested, which we ran out of time on this particular evening. I have taken loads of other photos of the farm and some of the really creative projects that they have going on there currently, or are in the works. It really needs to be in another post, so if you are intrigued check back in a few days! Amar la vida! Experience Casa Latina Paul and Sara Spence 11945 Selton Line R.R.#3 Kent Bridge, ON, N0P 1V0 experiencecasalatina@gmail.com 519-365-9791    Read More

Adelaide Farms

Adelaide Street Farms | Photo: Kelly Hunt If you have not been there yet, you have got to get there! Although, now that I think about it, there is no rush – and that is because Adelaide Farms is open all year round, every day except Christmas. At least that is what Farmer Mark told me one day while visiting the farm store. Adelaide Farms is on Adelaide Street North of London at eight mile road. You surely cannot miss it. I wanted to let you know that it is still open even though Adelaide is closed at Medway Road for the summer. You just have to drive around the detour sign, it is still paved all the way to 10 mile road. Mark has tons of fresh produce year round. I have seen asparagus, strawberries, potatoes, beets, assorted squash, lettuce, carrots,beans,peas, peppers, cucumbers peaches, cherries and much more! He has been at farming for years and years out there. He also has a freezer full of meat, he has all kinds of cuts of beef, I think he told me the steaks were priced out at 10.00 a pound. I even picked up some sausages there on Sunday. So don”t delay, get there soon and don”t forget to give out a little rebel yell as you drive past the detour/road closed sign, heh heh… cheap thrills. Adelaide Farms Adelaide Street North and Eight Mile Road 519-660-0259  Read More

yO. gO pLuM LOcAl!

photo: kelly hunt Looking for that fresh May asparagus? Or perhaps some free range buffalo meat (hey whatever floats your boat)? Well, look no further – here is a starter list for you on your eating local scavenger hunt. This list is by no means the complete list of farms in our area, I will keep searching out more farms and adding to this site as I find them. If you know of any that you would like to share, just drop me a line or post them after the jump. Happy eating! Here is a list of farms around the London Ontario area: Adelaide Farms Adelaide Street North and Eight Mile Road 519-660-0259 Ann Slater Organics 157030 15th line, Zorra Twp RR#1, Lakeside ON, N0M2G0 519-349-2448 Arrow Wood Farm and Harvest Table 6460 Riverside Drive Melbourne Ontario N0L 1T0 519-2892403 A Touch of Herbs 38307A Blyth Rd. RR3 Auburn, ON N0M 1E0 519-526-1024 http://www.bisonbasics.com/ Blueberry Hill Farm22039 Hoskins LineRR#1, Rodney, ON N0L 2C0519-785-2217 Bambrook Farm2332 Berletts Road St.Agatha, ON N0B 2L0519-699-6205 Banbury Emu Farm1942 Wilby RoadBaden, ON N3A 3M9519-634-5451http://www.banburyfarm.com/ Crunican OrchardsRR#2, London, OntarioTel: 519-666-0286 Denhocan Farm17886 Evelyn DriveRR#4, Thamesford, ON N0M 2M0 Der Paschen Hof Dairy Sheep Farm72680 Bronson LineRR 3 Zurich, ON N0M 2T0519-236-4361http://www.derpaschenhof.com/ Dinsmore Farm (Organic Pork)34200 Granton LineGranton, ON N0M 1V0519-225-2163 Duenk Farms25425 New Ontario RoadR.R. #3 Denfield(519) 232-4105 Elder Creek FarmRR 2 Tavistock, ON N0B 2R0519-655-2082 Encounter Farm Enterprises35829 Second LineRR #2 Southwold, ON N0L 2G0519-764-2318 Ewe to You5145 Wimot-Easthope Rd.Wellesley, ON N0B 2T0519-656-3552 Farmer Jack”s Orchards5619 Colonel Talbot RdLambeth519-652-5697 Faul Farms1180 Wrigley Rd.RR 1 Ayr, ON N0B 1E0519-632-7678http://www.faulfarms.com/ Ferio FarmRR 1 8115 Burwell RoadFingal, ON N0L 1K0519-769-2067 Fieldstone FarmFullerton Road 145#3776 RR 2 Mitchell, ON N0K 1N0519-393-6649http://www.fieldstonefarmbanb.com/ Gainford Forest Farm46405 Barnums Gully LineSparta, ON N0L 2H0519-775-9930 Greenland Farm4382 Road 104New Hamburg, ON N3A 3W3519-625-8683 Haak Farms39374 Hydro Line Rd.RR 4 Clinton, ON N0M 1L0519-482-9960 Hungry Hollow Organics1343 Elmtree DriveRR 2 Parkhill, ON N0M 2K0519-232-9458http://www.hungryholloworganics.com/ Laepple Organic Farm2298 Bleams RoadShingletown, ON N0B 2H0519-634-1033www.localorganic.ca/linda/default.asp Locust Grove Farm45358 Sparta LineRR#4, St.Thomas, ON N5P 3S8519-775-2296 McCully”s Hill Farm4074 Perth Line 9RR 2 St. Marys, ON N4X 1C5(866) MCCULLwww.mccullys.ca/site McSmiths Organic Farm42828 Shorlea LineRR # 6 St Thomas, ON N5P 3T1519-631-0279http://www.mcsmithsorganicfarm.com/ Mystic Pines Natural Fed Dairy Farm, Meats, Eggs and Natural ProduceRR # 1 Princeton, ON N0J 1V0905-961-3677 Oakridge Acres and Well Fed Food Country Meat Store2132 Greenfield Road Ayr, ON N0B 1E0519-632-7653http://www.wellfedfood.ca/ Orchard Hill Farm 45415 Fruit Ridge Line RR# 5 St. Thomas, ON N5P 3S9 519-775-2670 http://www.orchardhillfarm.ca/ Organic Oasis Farm 2301 Perth Line 43 Stratford, ON N5A 6S2 519-625-1177 http://www.organicoasis.on.ca/ Passmore Family FarmRR 3 St. Marys, ON N4X 1C6519-284-1459 Pfenning”s Organic Farm1209 Waterloo street Baden, ON N3A 1T1Ph 519-662-3468Toll free 877-662-3468Fax 519-662-4083mailto:info@pfenningsfarms.ca Riverlane Organic FarmP.O. Box 171Lucan, ON N0M 2J0519-227-4831 Saunders Family Farm24085 Wonderland Rd.NDenfield, ON N0M 1P0519-666-0705www.saundersorganics.com/ Shady Elm FarmLine 45 #2061RR 1 Gads Hill, ON N0K 1J0519-656-2408 Spirit of the Earth5871 Bells RoadLondon, ON N6P 1P3http://www.thelivingcentre.com/ Sunnivue FarmR.R. #1 27093 New Ontario RoadAilsa Craig, ON N0M 1A0519-232-9096http://www.sunnivue-farm.on.ca/ Wisnoski Family Farm3194 Elmtree Drive RR 5Parkhill, ON N0M 2K0519-232-9150 ]] >  Read More