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Volume 2 Issue 10

FRESH ONTARIO

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BUTTER TART FESTIVAL WINDOW COVERING TRENDS

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You don't have to be a Chef to enjoy cooking.

We invite you to learn from the best. Sign up for our recreational cooking classes today. $75 for the first person and $65 for any additional friends.

Cooking Classes

�We are all Friends in the Kitchen�

Vegan & Vegetarian Night�

THURSDAY NIGHTS FROM 6-9PM.

JUNE 20TH We'll make the same meals for both Vegans & Vegetarians!

We'll show you how by swapping and replacing ingredients!

Knife Skills Techniques� JUNE 13TH Chef Carmelo, The Ambassador of Frederick Knives, will talk about knives, and then we'll make meals that require many uses of the knife!

Date Night JUNE 27TH School is done, and now it's time for YOU! This is $150 per couple.

We'll have a beautiful table setting all done up for you as well.

Don't forget the Wine!

Grilling Night Indian Cuisine

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JULY 11TH

Try new ideas on the BBQ! Show off to your friends at your backyard gathering!

Because it Sold Out in the Past so Fast, We're doing it again!

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Look Local Volume 2 | Issue 10

Girls Night Out w/wine wine JULY 18TH All you Ladies deserve this! Enjoy a night with old friends and making new ones!

Don't forget the Wine!

Cajun Creole Cuisine� JULY 25TH Bringing in the flavours of New Orleans! or is it pronounced New Orleans!

The classes are popular, and most sell out, so sign up quick.

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look BAR R IE, IN NI SF I L & O R I L L I A

VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 10

MAY 2019

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HOME & GARDEN Window Treatment Trends

FAMILY Local Retirement Options

SHOP LOCAL Father's Day Gift Ideas

COMMUNITY Community Events Spring, Boat, Cottage & Outdoor Show

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JUST FOR FUN Best Butter Tart Festival

FOOD & DRINK Asparagus Recipe: Asparagus Grilled Cheese Sandwich looklocalmagazine.com

The weather is warming, and the scents and sounds of Spring are filling the air. This year, it seems to have been a long time coming, so let’s get out and enjoy! Our downtown merchants have been anxiously awaiting some foot traffic. Explore what they have to offer, you just might be pleasantly surprised!

Downtown Barrie has teamed up with the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County to help promote/ support the annual May Days event and encourage the community to venture downtown and support our local businesses. Make a purchase at a participating location, then fill out a ballot for a chance to win an incredible prize package. Last year over 80 businesses contributed to the May Days prize package that totalled over $3,750 in products and gift certificates. Their goal is to surpass this in 2019! Don’t forget to dig deep and give generously when you see the Alzheimer Society’s donation boxes at participating local shops and restaurants.

Breathe in the Spring.

EAT, SHOP, PL AY LOCAL.

Brian & Laura Mayo publishers

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LOOKLOCALBARRIE

barrie@looklocalmagazine.com

Look Local Volume 2 | Issue 10

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FROM THE

PUBLISHERS

BARRIE, INNISFIL & ORILLIA

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 10 PUBLISHERS

Brian & Laura Mayo CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jonathon Root EDITOR

Theresa Felgner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lynn Ogryzlo

ART DIRECTORS

Sarah Lush Jennifer Brewster ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Samantha Burtt

For Advertising or General Inquiries 705.796.6343 barrie@looklocalmagazine.com ​Look Local Magazine is published 10 times per year and is distributed for free at over 540 locations in Simcoe County and surrounding areas.

Copies are also distributed to select neighbourhoods using direct mail.

Look Local is a registered trademark of Novavita Publishing Limited. Look Local Barrie, Innisfil, Orillia is published by BRAC Marketing Group Inc., under the license of Novavita Publishing Limited.

Copyright: All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission from the Publisher is strictly prohibited.

Editorial contributions: Look Local encourages contributions of articles, recipes, photographs and other creative materials from the community. Please email barrie@looklocalmagazine.com or mail to 1464 Cornwall Road # 8, Oakville, Ontario L6J 7W5. We reserve the right to edit materials received and can assume no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Select photos courtesy of Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation Disclaimer: Advertisements published in Look Local Magazine are supplied solely by the advertiser and the Publisher accepts no responsibility for opinions expressed in advertisements or for copyright issues with respect to them.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

T

here’s going to be so much to do over the next couple months, so get out your calendar and be sure to add some fun to your schedule. It’s festival season! Events will be taking place nearly every weekend throughout Simcoe County.

It’s going to be a balancing act to fit everything in now that we can enjoy more time along our waterfronts, and in our beautiful parks. Finish some of those lingering indoor projects, and start planning outings with family and friends.

The sun is shining brighter, and our windows are finally open to let in that warm spring breeze. Maybe your windows need a little special treatment too. Find out what the latest trends are for window coverings, and make your indoor project list feel complete.

Gulls are skimming the surface of the water, and boats are floating in the bay. You won’t want to miss this year’s water festivals and boat shows. See what’s happening at Orillia’s 2019 Spring, Boat, Cottage & Outdoor Show.

If the sun’s rays and sparkling lakes aren’t enough to tantalize you, adding a little sweetness certainly will. Don’t miss the 7th annual Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival in Midland. I suggest going early in the morning!

Family time is always important regardless of what season it is, or how busy we are. Ensuring aging parents are well cared for and have a quality life here in Simcoe County is invaluable. Check out the options for your parents’ next stage of life.

And after attending all the festivals, finishing last minute indoor projects, and ensuring aging parents are happy, treat family and friends to a barbecue, and discover how delicious local asparagus can taste no matter how it's prepared.

Experience Simcoe County living. Share quality time with friends and family. Create memories.

Cheers.

Theresa Felgner EDITOR

Look Local Volume 2 | Issue 10 theresa@looklocalmagazine.com

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Home & Garden

• T R E AT Y O U R •

WINDOWS • W I T H A N E W LO O K •

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Look Local Volume 2 | Issue 10

Add Charm with Window Treatments

by THERESA FELGNER

I

t’s certainly glorious to have our longer daylight hours back, and more natural light filling our dwelling spaces.

Now’s the time to consider updating or adding window coverings to your home.

“What we find is that we coordinate with the clients’ colours, furniture, and decorating style to present them with a timeless look that will stand the test of time,” says Judy Salnek, Design Consultant for Salnek Custom Window Treatments in Barrie.

Drapery is still a popular choice for darkening a room, but roller shades are the latest trend, says William Smith, Owner of W.H. Smith Draperies & Upholstery in Orillia.

“A lot of houses have vaulted ceilings, and acoustically drapes are nice to take away the echo.

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People sometimes still use curtains in bedrooms to make them dark. The roller shade is the number one seller. They give you privacy when you want, but are discreet,” informs Smith.

There are numerous styles of window coverings to choose from depending on your decor, size and shape of your windows.

“We have so many blinds, shadings, and drapery styles. We fit the right product with what the client needs functionally, and make it work with the look they’re trying to achieve within their budget,” says Salnek.

Practicality and functionality seem to be a common consideration when deciding what window treatments will work best for your home, office, or place of business.

“People are going for a minimalist look. A clean, crisp look on the inside of the window frame – black out, or room

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Local Links 1 Salnek Custom Window Treatments salnek.ca 2 W.H. Smith Draperies & Upholstery smithdrapes.com 3 Ayerst Blinds, Shades & Shutters ayerstinteriors.com 4 Decor Window Fashions & Upholstery decorwindowfashions.ca 5 A Welcoming Home awelcominghome.ca

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darkening window coverings for bedrooms, or media rooms.

Most are roller style. The biggest trend is cordless blinds that either have a spring mechanism, or are remote controlled,” says John Ayerst, Owner of Ayerst Blinds, Shades & Shutters in Orillia.

Motorized window coverings can conveniently be controlled by an app on your cell phone. “Most of the blinds and shadings we present to clients are motorized. They work with apps from anywhere in the world,” enlightens Salnek.

The Government of Canada is enforcing manufacturers to produce cordless window coverings for the safety of children and pets, informs Ken Townsend, Owner of Decor Window Fashions & Upholstery in Barrie.

“The government wants to do away with them completely. It’s about $600 to motorize a standard roller blind, or sunscreen.

There are different motors you can use. We educate people to see what they specifically want,” says Townsend.

Jennifer Trussler, Interior Design Coordinator and Decorator for A Welcoming Home in Orillia says, “People are looking for safety, flexibility, and control with blinds.”

Maybe you don’t want window coverings. That’s fine too. “Blinds are put into windows to stop the sun from fading floors and furniture. Tilt the slats up towards the glass. You don’t want the slat to let sun onto the floor,” says Townsend.

To clean blinds, just use a white unsoiled damp cloth. The acid in vinegar and chemicals in Windex will take the UV coatings off the covering and discolour it, explains Ayerst.

Get those windows covered!

LL

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17

Family

Home Away from Home Retirement and long-term care options that suit your lifestyle

by THERESA FELGNER

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Look Local Volume 2 | Issue 10

F

inding the best living options in Simcoe County for aging parents, or for yourself as you move onto the next stage of life can be daunting. Fortunately, there’s a vast number of resources to help, and a variety of lifestyle choices you can pick from.

“Most cities offer organizations that help support seniors in finding care options.

In Barrie, there’s the BSSN (Barrie Senior Services Network). This organization provides a large amount of information to the senior population regarding services available within the region of Simcoe County. The Red Cross is another non-profit organization that’s used as well to provide information regarding services and non-profit care services.

Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) is also a great resource,” says Philip Aubin, Community Relations Coordinator for The Barrieview Retirement Community in Barrie.

Some of the care options that exist in the seniors’ housing industry comprise of longterm care homes (nursing homes), memory care services, independent-living retirement homes, assisted-living retirement homes, and senior apartments.

“Many seniors make an initial move from a house that’s too much work into a condo that’s smaller and lower maintenance. We find this can be a short-lived solution, and moving to a retirement residence setting is the best fit long term,” says Michelle Julien, Sales and Marketing Manager for Allandale Retirement Residence in Barrie. looklocalmagazine.com

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Local Links 1 The Barrieview

Retirement Community espritlifestyle.com 2 Allandale Station

Retirement Residence allandalestation.ca 3 Birchmere Retirement

Residence and Champlain Manor retire-orillia.com 4 Tollendale Village, Barrie tollendalevillage.ca

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The whole process of finding the right living arrangements requires a lot of decision making and planning. Take time to tour various residences, check suite designs, try the food, and ask what activities are available, says Aubin.

“Choosing a retirement community that has a vibrant life within the community is very important. The challenge our baby boomers have with searching for care services for their parents range from financial, to the degree of care services needed, and cognitive needs that require immediate supervision,” explains Aubin.

It’s important to consider what level of care is required long-term to avoid having to move more than once, advises Jackie Payne, Administrator for Birchmere Retirement Residence and Champlain Manor in Orillia.

“Drop in and have a walk through unannounced. Check how clean the home is, how happy the residents look, and how the staff are interacting with residents. If you know someone else who lives there, that’s good too,” says Payne.

Introducing Assisted Living at Allandale Station!

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Sometimes independent living is the best option financially and preferred after downsizing. Senior apartments are available and allow opportunities for seniors to connect with each other for social support, and daily assistance.

“Independent living is for people who want to have space and are self-reliant, but want maintenance taken care of. We have a community of people, and it’s secure. We have common areas and activities led by residents themselves,” says Drew Currie, Executive Director of Tollendale Village in Barrie.

You’ll have to contend with wait lists from community to community depending on occupancy availability, warns Aubin. Home care is another option to contemplate.

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“We encourage families to be proactive when considering retirement living options. The more proactive you can be, the more choices you have,” recommends Julien. LL

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Look Local Volume 2 | Issue 10

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25

Community Events

MAY 15th Annual Barrie 24-26 Waterfront Festival

Live outdoor music, street buskers, a midway with rides, face painting, street vendors, fresh food, treats, contests and food trucks. Rain or Shine! Festivities kick off at 5pm Friday until 10 pm.

Continue Saturday noon to 10 pm and Sunday noon until 6 pm.

Centennial Barrie barriewaterfront.ca

MAY

25

MAY 2nd Annual Holistic 25-26 Healing Fair

Nourish your chakras, mind, body and soul. Featuring over 80 unique vendors that focus on health and wellness. Mediums, psychics, all-natural products, card readings, different healing modalities, stones, jewelry, energy work and so much more!

9am to 5pm Barrie Molson Centre holistichealingfair.com

Into the Green & Blues Street Festival

Kick-off to spring street festival in Downtown Orillia. Watch the main street come to life with live music, DJ, The Party Magician and many more. Enjoy outdoor exhibits, entertainment for the kids, bouncy castles, an obstacle course, face painting and amazing sidewalk sales. 9am to 5pm.

Downtown Orillia downtownorillia.ca

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MAY

31

Georgian College Auto Show

North America’s largest outdoor auto show.

Organized by Automotive Business students. #IgnitedByPassion – This year’s event is focused on the passion that built and still builds the automotive industry. May 31, June 1 & 2 Georgian College, Barrie Campus georgiancollege.ca/news-events

JUNE Barrie Jazz & 6 Blues Festival

Featuring some of the best Canadian and International Jazz and Blues artists performing in over 25 venues throughout the Barrie area.

Running June 6 to 17 barriejazzbluesfest.com

JUNE Celebrate Barrie

1

The kick-off to the summer festival season. Experience live music, heritage village, family fun zone, local vendor marketplace, community displays, outdoor film and much more.

Centennial Park, Barrie 10am to 6pm barrie.ca

JUNE 37th Annual Spring 6-9 Automotive Flea Market

Canada’s finest automotive flea market offers everything from collectibles and classic cars to those hard to find car parts. It’s a car lover’s dream – Car Sales Corral, Sunday Auto Auction, Show & Shine and thousands of vendors.

Thursday to Saturday 7am to 7pm, Sunday 7am to 5pm Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, 180 8th Line South, Oro-Medonte thebafm.com

JUNE Relay for Life Barrie/Orillia

7

On and off the track, you can always find something to do at Relay for Life. You’ll get the chance to meet survivors and fellow members of your community and celebrate the impact you’ve made together. Register or donate online. 6pm to 12am.

Chappell Farms, 617 Penetanguishene Rd., Barrie convio.cancer.ca

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Community

TIME TO S TA R T THINKING

by THERESA FELGNER

30

Look Local Volume 2 | Issue 10

T

here’s nothing like a long winter to motivate us even more to get outdoors and begin enjoying the many pristine lakes in Simcoe County. It’s time to sweep the cobwebs out of the cottage, and get that cover off the boat.

For nearly 30 years, the annual Spring, Boat, Cottage & Outdoor Show has been held at the Port of Orillia on Couchiching Lake. “We always have good diversity for cottagers and boaters,” says Doug Bunker, Event Coordinator for the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce.

It’s free to attend and has grown to include a variety of vendors including boating and outdoor clothing, marine technology such as navigation and sound systems, boating equipment, inflatables for on the boat or at the cottage, accessories for the boat and cottage, and indoor and outdoor décor.

“We try to put everything in one place. It’s a kickstart to the summer, and a great way to get people up here and thinking about what they want,” says Bunker.

Orillia’s beautiful waterfront is the perfect place to view new and preowned boats. The docks are used to display boats from both the boating industry and private sellers.

“I encourage people to look at the boats because we have great dealers, and used boats are a good price,” informs Bunker.

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31

The Orillia Spring Boat, Cottage & Outdoor Show is a unique tradeshow because it offers private sellers a chance to show their boats to potential buyers. Bunker says some people are selling their boats because they’re getting out of boating, or they want to upgrade to a bigger boat.

“Pretty much the whole boardwalk along the waterfront is a ribbon of information. We have vendors who offer accessories, docks, services such as cottage builders, how to drain plumbing, how to wax the boat to bring the shine back, insurance, and boat tops,” says Bunker.

In the first year of the Orillia boat show, the whole port was filled with used boats, says Bunker. “The June show started as a used boat show

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Look Local Volume 2 | Issue 10

in 1989 in an effort to sell the huge number of preowned boats in dealer inventories in a public selling venue. Even privately-owned boats were offered space in an effort to keep the product selection high and sales diversified. The time of year was geared to move this inventory at the start of the boating season. As the years progressed, so did the show’s focus.

Accessories to the industry plus other recreational, sporting and lifestyle products evolved the show into a jump start event for the summer season.”

You can bring the kids and pack a picnic lunch, or enjoy something from one of the food vendors. There’s usually someone selling ice cream, and there’s lots of shade, grassy areas, benches, and picnic tables to sit and relax for awhile.

Get an early start on summer, and check out what’s new for the boating season and cottage. This year’s Spring Boat, Cottage & Outdoor Show is Friday, June 7 to Sunday, June 9.

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Just for Fun Fashion

B U T T E R

tart L O V E R ’ S

by THERESA FELGNER photos by RODRIGO MORENO & DAVID HILL

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PA R A D I S E

D

electable and sweet with a flaky crust that melts on your tongue is one way to describe the sensation of eating a homemade butter tart.

Perhaps you like the centre rich and creamy, so it oozes down your fingers when you take the first bite. Maybe you like the centre somewhat dense, so the filling slowly begins to descend over the edge of the pastry after your teeth pierce the crust giving you enough time to take another bite.

Midland will be hosting the 7th Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival June 8, and expects to see thousands of butter tart enthusiasts who’ll fill their bellies and help decide who the reigning butter tart champ will be.

“We expect to have at least 200,000 butter tarts available for sale. Whether you like your butter tarts plain, with raisins, runny or firm, vegan, glutenfree, or nut-free, everyone will be able to find a favourite at our festival,” says Karen Mealing, Cultural Development Coordinator for the Town of Midland and organizer of Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival.

The festival was named one of the Top 100 Festival and Events by Festival and Events Ontario, and received the 2018 People’s Choice Award for Favourite Regional Festival looklocalmagazine.com

35

Local Links 1 midland.ca 2 buttertartfestival.ca 3 culturemidlandawards.com

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by the Simcoe County Region Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association, informs Mealing.

There’s no better place to have the festival than along the entire downtown core of Midland, and along the waterfront parks. Mealing says 65,000 people attended last year’s festival, and the population of Midland is 17,000.

Admission to the largest and original Butter Tart Festival in Canada is free. Downtown merchants expand their businesses onto the streets and join more than 200 vendors and food trucks selling butter tarts, other baked goods, clothing, jewellery, original works of art, maple syrup, and more, says Mealing.

This year Elizabeth Street will be turned into a temporary green street where 5,000 square feet of sod will be laid out to create a park for families to enjoy. There will be a kids’ area with handson activities as well as buskers, street performers, and live music sponsored by the Midland Rotary Club, enlightens Mealing.

Barb Rowlandson founded the Midland Butter Tart Festival in June 2013, explains Mealing. She baked butter tarts and sold them from her business. It was then that Rowlandson discovered her customers had a love for butter tarts just like she did.

Rowlandson proposed the idea of a Butter Tart Festival to the Downtown Midland BIA. In the first year of the festival, 10,000 butter tarts were sold within hours, says Mealing. There wasn’t a single butter tart left by noon.

Professional and amateur bakers can compete for the title of Best Butter Tart in Ontario. The contest takes place at Rotary Hall in the Midland Cultural Centre. Visitors can watch and taste samples for free.

Visit www.buttertartfestival.ca for more information about the festival, and how to enter the baking contest. The deadline for the contest is May 17, or until all spaces are filled. LL

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37

a r g a u p s

Why it’s one of spring’s greatest bundles of joy

by LYNN OGRYZLO & THERESA FELGNER

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s

a

Food & Drink

I

bend down, snap a spear off at the base, and pop the tip into my mouth.

I know what to expect.

I’ve done this before. A freshly picked juicy asparagus spear explodes in my mouth with the clean flavour of sweet sugar peas and cold, pure, spring water. Its exciting crunch is full of life. It’s the season’s first rousing flavour after a long, sleepy winter.

Most of Ontario asparagus is grown in Norfolk County, but our very own Barrie Hill Farms in Springwater has been growing asparagus since 1982 and is one of the largest farms in Ontario. You can buy locally grown asparagus at Nicholyn Farms in Phelpston and Country Produce in Orillia.

When I’m not eating asparagus raw and straight from the field, I like it lightly steamed and served with a tart vinaigrette or mild aioli set on the side for dipping. To make the presentation a bit more interesting, I wrap half a dozen spears in a white linen napkin and garnish the bundle with a sprig of fresh herbs. On other occasions, I’ll choose to band the spears with chives. I do this by soaking the chives in water, wrapping

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a bundle of asparagus with the wet chives, and serving the dipping sauce next to the bundle on the plate. It’s beautiful, delicious and nutritious.

Asparagus is packed full of nutrients including vitamins B6, C, A, E, and K as well as thiamin, potassium, and fiber. There are also detoxifying compounds in asparagus such as glutathione that may help protect against various types of cancer. It’s a unique flowering perennial plant that’s good for the brain, your blood sugar, and acts like a diuretic to rid the body of excess salt.

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Look Local Volume 2 | Issue 10

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Look Local Volume 2 | Issue 10

If you don’t need the entire bundle of asparagus, cook it all anyway. Leftovers mean more delicious asparagus dishes that can be made the next day such as frittata. Frittatas are a simple mixture of ingredients like cooked asparagus blended together with whipped eggs. The mixture is cooked on the stove and finished off in the oven where it puffs up nicely.

Asparagus tarts make for another quintessential spring delicacy. They’re usually thin with an egg and cheese base and whole asparagus spears displayed beautifully. If you’re sharing a patio supper with friends on a cool spring evening, there’s nothing better than a warm bowl of asparagus soup.

The more asparagus you use, the less cream you’ll S T Ineed, CA R O N Sand LODGE the lighter the soup will be. Swirl ˚ a dollop of crème fraiche ˚ on top with a drizzle of icewine vinegar. It’s amazing!

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My list of bright, light, and yummy asparagus dishes is endless, but one of spring’s greatest joys is to snap and eat asparagus right from the patch. If you’re interested, make your way to a local farm, snap off as many as you want, have them weighed, and eat them like you would red licorice in the car on your way home.

It’s asparagus season! Cook it well, and enjoy it often! LL Lynn Ogryzlo is a food writer, culinary nutritionist and founder of FOOD 101, offering food education classes in Niagara and Toronto. (www.FOOD101.ca)

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Local Links 1 Nicholyn Farms, Phelpston

nicholyn.com 2 Country Produce, Orillia

countryproduce.ca 3 Barrie Hill Farms, Springwater

barriehillfarms.com

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Recipe

A

ARAGU P S

S

cheese S

46

A

C N D W H I

Look Local Volume 4 2 | Issue 10

H

INGREDIENTS

üü 1 bunch asparagus spears, washed and trimmed

üü 1 tablespoon (15 mL) Ontario soy oil

üü 2 teaspoons (10 mL) grainy mustard

üü 8 slices Ontario Gouda cheese üü 1 loaf of sourdough bread üü 8 slices, Ontario ham, thinly sliced

üü fresh farm butter, room temperature

üü Ontario salt METHOD

1 Toss the asparagus in the oil and season well with salt. Arrange the asparagus in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast in a preheated 400F (200C) oven until al dente, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

2 Meanwhile, cut 8 slices of bread

and lay them on a clean work

surface. Spread mustard on 4

slices and top with a slice of

cheese. Lay spears of asparagus

on each cheese slice, then ham

and cover with a slice of sourdough.

3 Heat a skillet to medium heat.

Butter both the top and bottom of

the sandwiches and lay in the

skillet. Cook until the sandwiches

begin to turn golden, about 3

minutes. Turn the sandwich over

and cook for another 3 to 4

minutes. Enjoy warm. Makes 4

sandwiches. Refrigerate until needed.

Prepared by

LYNN OGRYZLO THE ONTARIO TABLE looklocalmagazine.com

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