The Date and Time: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM
The Event: Media food and wine preview for the 2015 Green Living Show (March 27 – 29, Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
The Venue: Hawthorne Food and Drink Restaurant, Richmond Street
The Target Audience: food writers and bloggers, some wine writers
The Availability/Catalogue: these dishes will be at the show, as will the wines, and together they just represent a few of the food and wine treats at the Green Living Show.
The Quote/Background: The foods and wines at the show represent sustainable green living. In fact, the Green Living Show is North America's largest show dedicated to healthy and sustainable living. This year's show kicks off Earth Month, with experts, celebrities and 400 exhibitors. This is the sixth annual show (I still use a paper wallet from the first show!). Free admission IF you bring some e-waste OR show a TTC monthly pass.
The Beers and Wines: The preview offered 7 wines and 4 beers...retail prices were not listed.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-GreenLane Estate Chardonnay 2013 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, 13.5% ABV (2010 was $21.95)
-Black Oak Pale Ale, $5.95
-Black Oak Nut Brown Ale, $5.95
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-GreenLane Estate Old Vines Riesling 2011 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, 9.7% ABV
-GreenLane Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, ($24.95 for 2011)
-Southbrook Connect Red 2013 VQA Ontario, 11.8%, $16.95
-Southbrook Connect White 2013 VQA Ontario, 9.9%, $16.95
-Stone City Ale Belgium Wheat
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-GreenLane Estate Cabernet 2013 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, 12.3% ABV [CF/CS] twist top
-Stanners Cabernet Franc 2012 VQA Vinemount Ridge, 13% ABV.
-Steanwhistle Lager Pilsner
The Food: According to a Guelph Food Waste Research Project in 2014, households produce 4.5 Kg of food waste a week, 60% of which was fresh fruits and veggies. One of the aims of the food area at the Green Living Show is to serve food that has been "underused" or "overlooked" in the kitchen. To this end, five food services provided engaging samples of their foods that are rarely found in supermarkets or end up in the bin -
-Hawthorne's Ricky Casipe did a complicated chicken chichurron crisp with carrot kimchi. It was delicious and so totally unexpected. My fave of the evening.
-Pegasus Hospitality Steffan Howard did an Ontario mushroom and kale stem hand pie that was delightful and made me want more (he also furnished the recipe, which uses mushroom and kale stems).
-Scout Canning's Charlotte Langley provided a Provencal soupe de poisson with rouille and croutons, another excellent entry that used leftover fish. It has been awhile since I've had freshly made soupe de poisson (I used to make it but gave it up because of the fish eyes).
-Urban Acorn's Marie Fitrion did a cured beef tongue slider with Haitian pikliz, using six-day pickled tongue that had been braised for six hours, and with brioche inspired buns. They also did a vegan bread pudding (not gluten-free) with ugly fruit compote.
-VegHed Fresh Bar did a root veggie pakora on millet cake, a wild organic berry oat smoothie, and a red beet coco brownie.
The Downside: I had just seen a play about a homeless guy, so it took some time to unwind amidst all the food and wines here.
The Upside: what a great way to celebrate Hump Day, after shopping at St. Lawrence Market.
The Contact Person: michelle@punchcanada.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
AND https://twitter.com/gothicepicures
Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com
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