Every Saturday at 11am in July and August, free cooking demos take place in the courtyard. Led by local chefs, they share their knowledge, passion and tips for simple local food with the public as they demonstrate a recipe. They truly inspire you to grab ingredients from the Market, go back home and whip up a great meal from scratch. It's one stop shopping!

The chef cooking demos are free to attend with generous sized samples at $2 each while supplies last and feature a different local chef each week. This week Chef Derek of Chien Noir - a true believer of the farm to table concept, showcased how to make a wild boar terrine dish paired with a smoked beet salad.

View the 2015 Summer schedule here.

Sister restaurant to the Ivy Lea Club in Lansdowne off the 1000 Islands Parkway, the restaurant Riva on King Street is a new addition to the town of Gananoque. This establishment brings together the flavours of two places it loves dearly - Italy & the 1000 Islands.

"Inspired by the osterias of Italy, Riva is a modern day take on a traditional Italian tavern, paired with nautical elements that remind them of what they cherish most about The River. A gathering place where you can drop in on a whim, unwind with a glass or two of wine, and enjoy a bite of whatever Chef Robert Gobbo & his team is cooking."

When my partner and I headed to Gananoque on a Friday afternoon for date day to celebrate our three years of being together - we just had to head to Riva's for dinner even after consuming ribs at the 1000 Islands Family Rib Fest and beer at the new home of the Gananoque Brewing Company. Both lovers of food, we knew we had to spend the day doing what we do best - eating together of course. When we dine out, we always make it a point to share and try several items on a menu rather than getting two separate meals, where's the fun in that?

We enjoyed the following:

Appetizer of the Day: Saltimbocca Chicken Inspired Dish

Chicken skewers wrapped in prosciutto over a garlic aioli marsala sauce.

{Saltimbocca Chicken Inspired Dish}

Arancini
Pesto & parmigiano risotto, breaded & fried, pomodoro sauce.

Funghi Pizza

Wild mushrooms, mozzarella, gorgonzola, tomato pesto sauce.

{Funghi Pizza}

{Walk In Patio at Riva}

If you ever find yourself wanting to take a day or weekend trip, the 1000 Islands Gananoque region is the place to go. Stay at a quaint bed and breakfast, explore the harbour, take a cruise, watch a play and dine out! It's such a marvellous place to unwind and unplug.

All images were taken with a Nikon D3100.

From cheesemakers, artisans, wineries, breweries and cider makers, The Great Canadian Cheese Festival was a cheese lovers' paradise on the weekend of June 7-8, 2014. Held at the Picton Fairgrounds in Ontario, the festival founded by Georgs Kolesnikov - the true ultimate cheesehead, was the place to be.

With Canada's best cheesemakers from coast to coast all under one roof, this was my second year of attendance and I certainly left with a smile along with a cooler filled with delightful treats. Oh yes, I came prepared and as it was June, the sun was shining. So make sure to bring water, sun lotion, a cooler with ice to store your cheeses for the car ride back home and a strong able body preferably a husband, boyfriend or partner will do. While all these items are essential, patience and maneuvering through the crowds are two aspects that go hand in hand. At TGCCF, folks are sipping on wines, sampling cheeses  and enjoying the sights when all of a sudden they dead stop right in front of you. Anxiety may come into play for some but for others just remain calm and the words 'excuse me' cannot be heard enough times.

With sample glass and tickets in hand, I strategically maneuvered my way around the festival as I pinpointed all must-see vendors on my handy dandy map. Though with two well able bodies with me, this proved to be challenging - plan out the window I guess. Let's not forget to mention that this year, advanced ticket holders received a nifty cooler bag which proved to be quite useful of course.

So what to expect at TGCCF other than cheese? 

You’ll be able to sample and purchase a huge selection of tasty artisanal foods made by a small-batch producers, mainly Canadian. Think charcuterie, chutney, savoury shortbread, bread, pasta, jams, chocolates, confections, meats, sauces, preserves, olive oil, condiments and more.

The fine wines of Prince Edward County, the newest VQA wine region in Canada, are naturally front and centre at the festival, but this year, for the first time, you’ll also be able to taste wine from the Niagara region.

Not a wine kinda person? Some cheese lovers say that a craft beer is a better match for artisan cheese than a fine wine. This year, these craft breweries signed up - Barley Days Brewery, Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company, Creemore Springs Brewery, Highlander Brew Company, MacKinnon Brothers Brewing and The Publican House Brewery.

Want a lunch break even though you've been grouching on cheeses all day? This year, mobile food vendors were present - Urban Herb on the Curb, Picnic PEC, Seed to Sausage along with Pizza Via. From pizza to gourmet grilled sandwiches, poutine, sausages and much more, you won’t go away hungry.

But perhaps the most anticipated events at the festival were the the Tutored Tastings, Party with Makers and Mongers and Gastronomy with Jamie Kennedy. Though I did not attend, I followed closely along on Instagram and immediately regretted not buying tickets.

TGCCF is an event like no other in Canada as its main objective is to promote Canadian cheese and cheesemakers and the consumption of Canadian artisan and farmstead cheese. Meeting those faces of farmers and producers is a splendid experience and shows the true dedication that it takes to make their cheeses unique. Lastly, gathering in the beautiful Prince Edward County should have you convinced to attend the festival as it is known as the "Gastronomic Capital of Ontario" by The Globe and Mail.

A few highlights from the festival:


Mariposa Dairy from Lindsay won Best Goat’s Milk Cheese and Best Sheep’s Milk Cheese.

My favourite would have to be their Apple and Cinnamon Chèvre - "reminiscent of your grandma’s homemade apple pie." It is an apple spread that is mixed into their fresh creamy goat cheese. Yummy!  Each log is hand coated with more apples, mixed with cinnamon and nutmeg to make our memorable creation. They use whole apple pieces rather than an apple spread to give it the look of grandma’s apple pie. The flavour is light and fresh for anytime of the year. It is stunning alone sliced as disks on a cheese board, crumbled on salad or baked inside croissant dough for breakfast or snack.


A tad hot for my liking, Nossa Cucina's Chili Sauce had sweet hints and paired well with a creamy cheese such as a brie. It is made with chili peppers, roasted red peppers & sun dried tomatoes. If you want to be adventurous and stray away from pairing with cheeses, it can be used as a glaze for oven roasted chicken wings or as a dipping sauce for spring rolls. This hot and sweet sauce is very versatile and can be used as a marinade or as a condiment.


I've been hearing a lot of chatter about Three Dog Winery and after sampling their Vidal/Riesling blend, gosh was I over the moon. Though not available in LCBO yet, they do offer free shipping for a minimum of six bottles or pop by their winery.

Back Forty Artisan Cheese located in the Lanark Highlands of Ontario are all about handcrafted raw ewe's milk and had the pleasure of sampling it again at Chez Piggy as part of their summer menu cheese platter. 



An homage to Canadian comedic icon by Beau's.






Now this sounds like my kind of day:

Head to the Grange of Prince Edward Vineyard and Estate Winery for a day trip this summer for their locally focused picnics on the farm. Get a basket, blanket, a bottle of wine and lots of local and homemade treats and find the perfect spot overlooking the vineyards to enjoy the afternoon. 









Primarily known for their mozzarella di bufala, scamorza and ricotta, the Ontario Water Buffalo Company has done wonders with its products.

 The mozzarella di bufala - the most popular, is very moist and soft. This pure white cheese is best enjoyed within the first 24 hours of processing. One of the most popular ways to serve it is as part of the famous Caprese Salad.

Water buffalo meat is a delicious alternative to beef, similar tasting, and a very healthy food choice. The water buffalo are naturally raised, making the meat flavourful and tender.

Be sure to mark your calendar for the Water Buffalo Food Festival in Stirling-Rawdon on September 6th!



The Bean Counter Cafe served up espresso (picture below) and key lime cheesecakes that were both refreshing and bite size!

Until the next time on June 6-7, 2015.

To purchase tickets and view more information: www.cheesefestival.ca

For more pictures: click here

All images were taken with a Nikon D3100.

The next time you're out and about with the munchies, pair your meal with a pint of GBC brewed beer! You won't regret and will be wanting more.

Funny Story: The tanks you see here have all been named after the Board of Directors wives. How sweet and original is that?!

It's Canada Day long weekend and what better way than to get down and finger lickin' dirty, with ribs and BBQ sauce at the 9th annual 1000 Islands Family Rib Fest in Gananoque, Ontario. With free admission, the festival is back and will not disappoints your taste buds at Town Hall Park. Ribbers throughout North America - Jack The Ribber, Route 55 BBQ Team, Smokehouse Bandits, Crabby's BBQ Shack - are serving up amazingness on the grill that will fill your stomachs with the most flavoursome ribs, chicken and pulled pork.

So remember to bring cash and those wet naps, 'cause this festival is bound to get your hands plenty sticky and messy family style. Along with the Ribbers, there's live music, a beer tent, food vendors, kids zone, Beavertails and on the evening of Canada Day, a fantastic fireworks display is provided by the Town of Gananoque and the Firefighters Association.

Gananoque is a such a quaint town by the St. Lawrence river, that it is worth visiting and I did just that from Kingston, though only a short 20 minute drive this past Friday. It was a fun filled day that started right at noon to avoid the lineups at Rib Fest and continued on to the grand opening of the Gananoque Brewing Company followed by a stroll around the harbour and an anniversary dinner at Riva's.

All proceeds from this event are returned back to the community through charitable organizations. Thanks to the Rotary Club and the Lions Club of Gananoque for jointly organizing and hosting Rib Fest.

For more information: www.ganribfest.com

Don't forget - Rib Fest is coming to Kingston, Ontario from September 5-7, 2014!

For more information: www.kingstonribandbeerfest.com