Photo by Paul Dalby

Talking with Norah Rogers the other day, I learned that she and Chris were celebrating County syrup long before Maple in the County was born. When their Waring House Inn, Restaurant, Conference Centre and Cookery School (pause to draw breath!) was little more than a B&B, Norah put jugs of lovely County syrup on the tables and produced a rudimentary little map to help guests find the local maple syrup makers – the Vaders, Stones, Hubbs and Fosters who are still the beating heart of Maple in the County.

“When they were planning Maple in the County, Dan Taylor asked if I minded them taking over the map,” Norah laughed. “I said, ‘Are you kidding? That would be fantastic!” She and Chris sponsored the first Maple weekend in 2001 and they’ve been cheering it on (and contributing as a major sponsor) ever since. “It’s very exciting, and good for County businesses to have about 6,000 people touring around in the spring,” she said. “This year it coincides with Countylicious so there’s even more going on.”

Norah is famous for steering the talk to good things that other people are doing, and our conversation was no exception. I heard how the new brewer at Barley Days, Alex Nichols, has made a knock-out 2010 Sugar Shack Ale using Vaders’ syrup. And how Tiffany over at the Claramount Spa has devised a delicious new treatment using syrup and brown sugar. Apparently maple syrup is rich in anti-oxidants, and I’m up for anything involving brown sugar, so I called Tiffany. She described how she could scrub my skin with sugar and syrup, wrap me gently in plastic, then massage me with warm water jets. I think she could pop me in the oven and bake me into a big County cookie after that, I’d be so relaxed.

Norah did mention the Sugar Shack Soirée at the Waring Hall which sounds pretty rock ‘n roll this year with The Reasons playing and dancing encouraged. She’ll be there with Chris. Man, I don’t know where they get their energy. She’s a GP you know, and Chris is a vet, and they run all their businesses and get involved in just about every event and initiative in the County and they still find time to party. Maybe it’s the maple syrup?

For full details on the 9th Annual Maple in the County taking place on March 27 & 28, 2010 please visit www.mapleinthecounty.ca

Written by Jan Davies

BEGINS MARCH 1, 2010 ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK

This is your chance to enter to win Round-trip VIA Rail tickets for two to anywhere in the Windsor-Quebec corridor PLUS a maple gift basket full of Maple goodies. Draw to be made April 16, 2010. Prize valued over $1000.00

26 days, 26 questions, 26 chances to WIN!

Where is Mabel today?
Mabel our Maple Leaf Mascot is making her way around the County visiting her Maple in the County Friends. She only gets to see them once a year, so she’s really excited! Taste the County is hosting a contest so that all of our on-line friends can share Mabel’s excitement. Here’s how it works: every day from March 1st to 26th, Taste the County will post a different photo of Mabel at a friend’s place on Twitter and Facebook.

Twitter followers of @TastetheCounty can follow posts and identify Mabel’s location. Retweet the post and then Direct Message us with your answer. www.twitter.com/tastethecounty

Facebook friends will see Mabel’s photo posted daily to our Taste the County Fan Page. Each day you can check it out and send us a Facebook message with your guess. www.facebook.ca/tastethecounty

Remember not to give the answer away in a Tweet or wall post!

Visit us during Maple in the County and you can also enter to win!
Fill out a Maple ballot at any of the 33 participating Maple in the County locations. Contest ballots are only available on March 27 & March 28, 2010.

That crazy Maple Leaf can turn up any where! Go Mabel Go!

9th Annual Maple in the County
Presented by The Waring House and Prince Edward County Maple Syrup Producers

March 27 & 28, 2010
www.mapleinthecounty.ca

Thought I would take advantage of the beautiful sunny day, bundle up and go for a walk down West Lake Road. I was surprised at just how many people had the same idea as I did. There was a flurry of activity with people enjoying a scenic drive or out for a stroll. The sound of snowmobiles and four wheelers on the lake was evident.

However, what caught my eyes were the kite boarders. (It appeared to be family and friends enjoying the subtle breeze on frozen West Lake.) A pretty site to see the beautiful bright kites. A much different scene from the summer kite boarders, but just as spectacular.

It never ceases to amaze me…the many faces of the lake. I’m going to make it a point to take shots of West Lake at different times of the year and in different weather. Last week we couldn’t see the Lake or the dunes due to the blowing snow.

Walked passed the Brick Works to discover it is open again. Owned by the Isaiah Tubbs Resort, the Brick Works features a great selection of County Wines. I’m going to have to stop in sometime. I understand they will be open this summer too which will be great as they have a screened in patio. Casual atmosphere…perfect for the beach goers.

Just steps from the Brickworks, Fosterholm Farms’ new corn dryers are in full operation and corn is being dried for shipment to an ethanol plant. I’ve been watching the construction of these dryers with interest all summer long.

On the same property I took a photo of the Fosterholm Farms sign and Black River Cheese sign. It really reminded me of how fast Maple in the County is approaching. Maple in the County is Prince Edward County’s annual celebration of the arrival of Spring and the first harvest - maple syrup.

Fosterholm Farms’ sugarbush (just behind the corn dryers) has the blue sap lines strung up between the trees and the taps will go up just before the sap starts running. They supply the maple syrup for Black River Cheese Company’s famous Maple Cheddar. If you haven’t tried it, you must. So delicious!

It’s wonderful to see the many partnerships that are formed in the County and I’m sure you will find that out for yourself if you attend Maple in the County. Products such as Barley Days Brewery’s Sugar Shack Ale, Copper Kettle Chocolate Company’s maple truffles or Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company’s Maple Chevre Goat Cheese Tarts are a very small sampling of the numerous products that incorporate the local maple syrup.

Well…this is where I’m turning around, the corner of West Lake Road (Cty Rd. 12) and Cty Rd. 18. If you’ve been to the County, I’m sure you have met or seen the curious girls in the photo below. They can’t help but put a smile on your face.

Hope to see you in The County soon!

P.S. If you would like me to send you a 2010 Maple in the County brochure send an e-mail with your address to tastethecounty@bellnet.ca and I’ll be happy to pop one in the mail.

Jeff and Andrea Marshall, Canadian Tire with BBQ winner Nila Markland

Jeff and Andrea Marshall, owners of Canadian Tire, Picton and sponsors of TASTE! were happy to present Nila Markland of Picton with her brand new BBQ.

Congratulations also goes out to Megan Edgelow of Kingston, Ontario won two round-trip tickets to anywhere within the Windsor/Quebec Corridor courtesy of TASTE! sponsor VIA Rail Canada plus $300.00 in gift certificates from the 6 wineries of TASTE! sponsor Wine Route Prince Edward County.

Developed and launched by the Municipal Economic Development Department in cooperation with Taste the County™ and the culinary community, TASTE! a celebration of regional cuisine was created to strengthen the link between agriculture and tourism and brand Prince Edward County as regional culinary destination.

Pat Romkey, Picton Food Bank accepts cheque from Erin Wall, Economic Development Office

Prince Edward County’s 8th annual edition of TASTE! a celebration of regional cuisine is proud to announce the success of the Harvestin’ the County Farmers Market, which raised funds and food for the Picton Food Bank.

Designed to strengthen the event’s partnership with local food producers, the Harvestin’ the County Farmers Market at TASTE! enabled visitors to purchase everything from apples to arugula, edible flowers, peppers and beats—all locally grown.

Grace Nyman of Taste the County™, the County’s not-for-profit destination marketing organization that produces TASTE!, directly attributes the market’s success to the generosity of the food producers who donated all the produce and products that were sold. “As an organization, we wanted TASTE! to give back to the community in some fashion. Last year we decided that the Picton Food Bank was a good fit for us and were sincerely gratified by how local farmers embraced the idea of the market and contributed products. This year the market operated under the Harvestin’ the County brand and was spearheaded by Erin Wall from the Economic Development Department.”

Participants were: Bethel Organics, Black River Cheese Company, Black Walnut Teaching Gardens, The Campbell’s Orchards, Cherryvale Organic Farm, Everdean Farms, Fosterholm Farms, Hagerman’s Farms, Laundry Farms, Sunset Farms, Vicki’s Veggies and Walkers Greenhouses whose efforts raised over $750.00 in funds and $500 worth of food for the Picton Food Bank.

Developed and launched by the Municipal Economic Development Department in cooperation with Taste the County™ and the culinary community, TASTE! a celebration of regional cuisine was created to strengthen the link between agriculture and tourism and brand Prince Edward County as regional culinary destination.

Photo courtesy of County Weekly News: Left to right: Scott Brindley- Restaurant on the Knoll; Andy Feller – Blumen Garden Bistro; Luis de Sousa – Waring House; Michael Sullivan – Merrill Inn; David Lewis – Currah’s Café; Mel Wilder – Bloomfield Studios; Collin Williams – Devonshire, Inn on the Lake; Lyndon Johnson – Currah’s Café; Lili Sullivan – East & Main Bistro; Sebastien Schwab – Angelines Restaurant; Michael Potters – Harvest

12 Restaurants, 4 weeks, great accommodation packages and artful shopping.

Prince Edward County, ON—Who said there’s nothing to do in November? If you love fine dining, plan on being spoilt for choice during Countylicious (November 4th to 29th), when twelve of Prince Edward County’s top restaurants take part in the County’s favourite culinary promotion featuring $30 and $35 prix fixe menus.

Dinner menus, created by participating chefs exclusively for Countylicious, include a starter, entrée and dessert. New this November, Countylicious patrons will receive an exclusive promotion entitling them to 15% off participating galleries and studios on the Arts Trail, between November 4th and December 24th.

Participating restaurants are: Amelia’s Garden at The Waring House, Angeline’s Restaurant, Inn & Spa, The Bloomfield Carriage House Restaurant, Blumen Garden Bistro, Clara’s at the Claramount, Inn & Spa, Currah’s Café & Restaurant, Devonshire Inn, East and Main Bistro, Harvest, Merrill Inn, Portabella and The Restaurant on the Knoll Overlooking the Sandbanks at West Lake.

Make your Countylicious experience more than just a culinary delight by taking advantage of some of Ontario’s finest hospitality with a Countylicious accommodation package, starting at just $79 per person per night. See website for details.

Don’t miss your chance to dine on divine food with a down to earth price tag. (Please note beverages, taxes and gratuity are additional.) Call restaurants direct to book…and bon appétit!

For more information regarding Countylicious, visit www.countylicious.ca or call 613.393.2796 or 866.845.6644.

Left to Right: Robin Garrett, Pres. & CEO, OTMPC; Kathy Kennedy, Ex. Director, Taste the County; Grace Nyman, Dir. Partnership & Sales, Taste the County; Hon. Monique Smith, Minister of Tourism; William Duron, Chair, OTMPC

Picton, ON – Taste the County has done it again. The regional tourism Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) has taken home two awards at the prestigious 2009 Ontario Tourism Summit held in Windsor, Ontario at the end of September.

Taste the County received the marketing award for Best Printed Collateral Material. This award was in recognition of the organization’s latest media kit, romantically titled “Escape to the County”. The media kit, designed in partnership with Scout Design,
featured a travel journal stuffed full of trinkets and postcards, wine labels and recipe cards – the kinds of things one would pick up as keepsakes of an enjoyable journey. The goal was to entice travel writers and journalists all over the world to explore and promote
Prince Edward County.

Taste the County was also recognized for its work since 1999 promoting culinary tourism, and took home the Culinary Tourism Leadership Award sponsored by the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance. Taste has provided leadership in crafting unique, self-sustaining experiences and events that showcase and preserve what is unique in Prince Edward County - a rich agricultural heritage and a strong connection to the land - as well as demonstrating that partnerships between businesses add value to the consumer and
enrich the visitor experience.

Countylicious, this year a month-long fixed price menu promotion hosted at a number of local restaurants and developed by Taste the County with its members, was a finalist for Best Marketing Campaign under $25,000.

Taste the County is Prince Edward County’s award-winning non-profit destination marketing organization. Its mission: to successfully promote the region as a unique destination to stimulate growth.

For more information regarding Taste the County visit www.tastethecounty.ca.

Kathy Kennedy
Taste the County
289 Main Street, Bloomfield, ON K0K 1G0
T 613.393.2796
E ed.taste@bellnet.ca

Photo courtesy County Weekly News

Close to 1900 people sampled and sipped their way around the grounds of the historic Crystal Palace in Picton on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at what is being hailed as the best TASTE! event thus far. Favourites were chosen in a variety of categories by TASTE! attendees.

Favourite Savoury Dish:
Merrill Inn’s corn and pickerel fritters with a sweet and salty dill and mustard sauce
Favourite Sweet Dish:
Blumen Garden Bistro’s Spiced pumpkin pot de crème with caramel foam.
Favourite White Wine:
2007 Jamie Kennedy Chardonnay VQA PEC
Favourite Red Wine:
Sandbanks Estate Winery’s 2008 Baco Noir Reserve VQA
Favourite Beer or Cider:
County Cider Company’s Waupoos Premium Cider
Best Dressed Booth:
Harvest
People’s Choice Overall Favourite:
Merrill Inn’s corn and pickerel fritters with a sweet and salty dill and mustard sauce

Congratulations also goes out to Megan Edgelow of Kingston, Ontario who won two round-trip tickets to anywhere within the Windsor/Quebec Corridor sponsored by VIA Rail Canada plus a $300.00 gift certificate from the wineries of presenting sponsor Wine Route of Prince Edward County.

Developed and launched by the Municipal Economic Development Department in cooperation with Taste the County™ and the culinary community, TASTE! a celebration of regional cuisine was created to strengthen the link between agriculture and tourism and showcase Prince Edward County as regional culinary destination.

For more information, please contact:
Grace Nyman, Director of Partnership and Sales
Taste the County™
T 613.393.2796
E grace.taste@bellnet.ca

The County reminds me a lot of Long Island, where I visited my grandparents as a child. I grew up as a country boy in Westford, Massachusetts, and would visit my grandparents each summer. With the mixture of newer vineyards and older farms, Prince Edward County is going through a similar evolution to the one I experienced by the North Fork of Long Island all those years ago.

In our opinion, one of the reasons our Sandbanks Summer Village will be such a hit is because of the memories that will be created in such a unique and picturesque part of the country. Visitors and guests alike will be eager for their families to share the same sorts of memories that we have, those of us who have known Long Island, Cape Cod or the County.

I absolutely plan to bring my family here. My wife, our three boys and our yellow Lab are going to love the charm of the area. We will enjoy it from the comforts of the resort nestled on East Lake’s shoreline near the beautiful world-renowned Sandbanks beach.

As I’ve said before, our Summer Village is not the destination. Prince Edward County is the destination. We’re providing a resort with amenities for those who want them. The true destination is the County’s natural setting and its people, wineries and heritage.

Prince Edward County’s oceanic water and sand dunes system are going to win over the hearts of everyone who sees them, just as they’ve won over mine.

Howard “Chip” Hall

The bounty of the County is beef and lamb and artisan cheese; the sweetest corn and beets as big as bocce balls. Chefs fry local pickerel and serve it with Picton potatoes and South Bay salad, and they bake County apple pies. But when chefs want asparagus in December, or shrimps and scallops any time of year, they talk to the guys at Sysco.

I talked to Tony Bennett this week, Sysco’s Quinte district sales manager, and I discovered just how many kitchens in the County are visited by that big Sysco truck.

“We’ve got three reps who look after the County, Ted and Greg and Al,” Tony said. They’re the go-to guys for chefs at the Waring House, Currah’s Café, Harvest and many others including good old Gus’s and the Wellington Grill.

“You don’t see our name upfront like Pepsi or Coke,” Tony said. “We’re behind the scenes, sort of backstage, and that’s the way we like it. We’re very respectful of County produce, like Vaders’ lamb, you can’t beat it. But we’re here for whatever else the restaurants need. Part of what we do is fill in the gaps, and we do it all year round.”

Tony is an ex-butcher who used to own The Great Canadian Beef Company. “I’ve been in this business a long time. I’ve been working with Chris Currah since he opened the café, then his catering business and now his seasonal restaurant at the Sandbanks. Sysco helps restaurants any way they can.”

Tony was in the County this week seeing customers and friends, and he ate lunch at the Blumen Garden. “I had a lamb burger,” he said. “It was delicious.”

He’s the guy responsible for Sysco’s sponsorship of the annual TASTE! a celebration of regional cuisine event. “We all love this place,” he says. “Sysco had its senior managers meeting in the County last year, my niece had her wedding at County Cider and the Crystal Palace. And me, I spent a lot of time at the Outlet beach when I was a kid. It’s kind of like I’ve grown up along with the restaurant scene in the County.” Tony agrees it’s a scene that’s getting better all the time.