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    Food & Drink

    Showcasing the “County” One Video at a Time

    Friday, August 27th, 2010

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    Trevor Crowe wants to showcase Prince Edward County. His company Crowe Video Productions is a local, full-time producer of the latest web videos and specializes in capturing local businesses in a creative way. Crowe’s company also provides training and online tutorial videos, live event streaming through social media, multi-cam event recording to Blu-ray, wedding videography and film or VHS transfers to DVD. This extensive list of activities keeps his team busy!

    Since setting up shop in Picton in the spring of 2010, business has quadrupled. Today’s County retailers, whether they are art galleries or cheese factories, “rely on traffic from websites and social media sites for their business,” Crowe shares. Crowe Video Productions’ work entices web viewers to stop and look at dazzling videos posted on his clients’ websites. In one project, County Showcase, he collaborates with the local Prince Edward County associations to produce short business web videos that will be prominently featured on tourism and visitor homepages. He sites that statistically, 90% of tourists go online to plan their trips. Crowe feels that his compelling videos increase the chances of a tourist choosing his clients’ businesses.

    Crowe and his wife are out house hunting to move their family back to Prince Edward County. Crowe Video Productions’ is committed to becoming a fixture in a growing community. Supporting an event like TASTE! a celebration of regional cuisine came from a desire to be a part of this region’s growth. Crowe Video Productions will be on location shooting a promotional piece for the event and rubbing shoulders with clients who know the success of his work. Then he’ll get back to house shopping.

    Tags: , , ,
    Posted in Food & Drink, Prince Edward County, Professional Services, Tourism, Uncategorized | No Comments »

    COUNTY WINERY JOINS THE ARMY

    Thursday, August 26th, 2010

    caroline-granger1Caroline Granger is a Get Involved type of woman. She’s the hands-on boss at the Grange of Prince Edward, the County’s largest grape grower and winery but she lends her energies and enthusiasm to causes far beyond her own family, property and business. She’s already a director and chairman of the Governance Committee of of Farm Credit Canada, chair of Taste the County and chair of Alternatives for Women in the County. Now she’s gone and joined the Army.

    Okay, not really. But Caroline Granger has created her own mission to raise $50,000 to support Ontario’s military family resource centres; not for profit organizations located on every base across Canada that support local military families.

    Why this? Why now? Not long ago she and her 14-year old son Quinton were on the 401 just ahead of a procession carrying a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan. People stood on bridges along the route from CFB Trenton to Toronto holding Canadian flags to honour the soldier making the final journey down the “Highway of Heroes,” and she and Quinton got talking about what it would be like to be a military family.

    “I got a whole different viewpoint that day,” she says, perhaps more sensitive suddenly to what military families must be experiencing.’ Rather than just feeling sad, Caroline decided to do something positive. “There is always something you can do to help,” she says. Her one-year battle plan is to donate 50 cents from every bottle of Trumpour’s Mill wine sold in LCBOs and $1 from each bottle sold in restaurants to local Military Family Resource Centres.

    If you were to praise her for this admirable sacrifice, she’s likely to respond “Sacrifice? What sacrifice.” She and we know that most of us will never make the kind of sacrifices our military families make.

    The $50,000 she hopes to raise will flow like good wine into special programs for children, spouses and social support systems. To paraphrase the Blood Donor motto ‘it’s in her to give.’ To Caroline, who spends as much time in the vineyard as she does in board rooms at this time of year, it’s a natural thing to do.
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    “The least we can do is help make sure their families are okay,” she says. “I think soldiers appreciate that.”

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    Posted in Food & Drink, Prince Edward County, Tourism | No Comments »

    “Unique Cooking School Opens in Prince Edward County”

    Friday, May 21st, 2010

    Cynthia Peters hosted dignitaries and new Taste the County partners to the launch of From the Farm Cooking School opening in June.

    Cynthia Peters hosted dignitaries and new Taste the County partners to the launch of From the Farm Cooking School opening in June.

    Owner, personal chef and food writer Cynthia Peters will bring the joy of cooking local foods to her guests by providing the ultimate field to table food experience, starting in June 2010.

    From the Farm culinary experiences include harvesting produce at local farms and hands-on cooking classes in a state-of-the-art kitchen at Willow Hill farmhouse. This beautifully restored 1850’s home is located in the heart of the popular wine-growing region, Hillier Township. The teaching area, dining room and the rural setting provide clients with a relaxed and authentic experience. Students will learn about the region, its food and wine, and the stories behind the menu they create together.

    “Today, people are interested in knowing where their food comes from. They also want to prepare more meals from scratch for better taste and health, especially for their families. From the Farm provides an enjoyable opportunity to learn first hand and have a fun afternoon in the country” commented Peters. “Our menus are customized for each group and are built on traditional recipes from around the world, so people can choose a menu that works best for their tastes and preferences.”

    Peters and her team entertain classes up to eight individuals. Programs are designed for groups interested in a shared farm experience, couples looking for a fresh approach to cooking and entertaining, and themed classes for those who want to learn new menus with like-minded people.

    From the Farm believes in giving back to the community by supporting programs that enable others, through education and accessibility, to enjoy healthy food everyday. A portion of every cooking class will be donated toward a community food security initiative in Ontario. People participating in cooking classes have the opportunity to give back too with a portion of their time by harvesting food for the local food banks through the “Farm Experience” package.

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    Passionate about food and well-being, Peters has been actively involved in a number of community food endeavors, including the Ontario Association of Food Banks, Slow Food, and Foodshare. She is a food writer, personal chef and honors graduate of Liaison College of Culinary Arts, and holds certificates from the Cordon Bleu in Ottawa. Peters co-founded The Spice Sisters, a personal chef services business in Toronto. Today she owns and operates From the Farm Cooking School and From the Farm Enterprises Inc. in Prince Edward County.

    For more information contact
    From the Farm Cooking School
    http://www.fromthefarm.ca
    613.922.9194 or 416.712.7763

    Recent Article - Cooking School adds to county’s recipe for success - Picton Gazette - May 20 - Link

    Taste the County is Prince Edward County’s Destination Marketing Organization. For a copy of the 2010 Insiders Guide to Prince Edward County please email tastethecounty@bellnet.ca.

    Tags: , , ,
    Posted in Adventures, Food & Drink, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

    It Started With the Syrup on the Table

    Monday, March 1st, 2010

    Photo by Paul Dalby

    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

    Tags: , , ,
    Posted in Barley Days Brewery, Food & Drink, Maple in the County, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

    A Sunday Walk Down West Lake Road

    Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

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    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.

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    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. fosterholm-corndryers-copy

    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!
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    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!

    cows 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.

    Posted in Barley Days Brewery, Black River Cheese Company, Copper Kettle Chocolate Company, Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company, Food & Drink, Fosterholm Farms, Isaiah Tubbs Resort, Maple in the County, Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

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