Between Toronto and St. Catharines?

The Kitchen House at Peninsula Ridge
13 Mountain St
August (the old Walsh's)
About Thyme just west of there
There is a gluten free bakery/wholesaler just west of the lights in Vineland and I can't remember the name.

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Niagara-licious-anyone trying them

Has anyone gone to the weekend events in Niagara going on...?
Winterlicious in Niagara on the Lake looked interesting-all kinds of venues with the value type 3 course menu. I went last year and it was good-Zee's and Riverbend- wanted to try
somewhere else- Riverbend has been sold I hear, the chef has moved on and no one seems to know if Wyndym Farm will be on-site anymore growing the produce for the kitchen(although I hope they start selling to other restaurants again).
How about Treadwell's Farmalicious..? that looks interesting as well.
Any experiences to relate..?

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Niagara Falls Fine Dining

Niagara Falls hasn't got the market for fine dining- tourists and gamblers and honeymooners -not a lot of "chef" driven restaurants although there are many good ethnic and different ones ranging from big hotel styles to asian noodle shops. You will find romantic settings but food wise- not up there with the TO kitchens that have been visited. Treadwells is the closest thing although not close to the Falls- Niagara on the Lake is more fine dining with several to choose from-

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Lunch in the Niagara Region (in vicinity of Vineland and Jordan)

Sorry,trying to save words..I guess I meant that he uses creativity in a focused,efficient,purposeful way without resorting to the trends and confusing the presentation with techniques and ingredients that detract from the flavour.
Speaking of "smart" chefs- Food and Drink at the LCBO is featuring some Niagara chefs-not sure who will be on the list-have to wait until Tuesday

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Lunch in the Niagara Region (in vicinity of Vineland and Jordan)

Rob Berry is very good-a "smart" cook-he came up via Peninsula Ridge which would be an idea-it is now the Kitchen House Restaurant under Chef Ross Midgely-another smart cook-the view is great and the patio is shaded- another good patio is Riverbend and the view is classic (remember the one you see in every food brochure of the 2 Muskoka chairs overlooking the rows of grapes with Peller in the background-it's that view)

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Produce at Farmer's Markets really from farmers?

You have to ask- if you are familiar with the seasonality of crops in the area you can really make some sellers squirm-if something seems a bit "early" then it probably is from outside the area (Ohio is a month earlier than here for example)-just ask the farmer and the answers come easy if they are the ones growing it- I've seen it all over and outside of the GTA as well- bought some things in Niagara a few weekends ago and the crops were right behind the guy selling them- didn't need to ask questions that time.

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Dinner in Niagara Region on way back to GTA?

Riverbend is practically next door to Reif- patio has best views- that photo in Food and Drink with the Muskoka chairs overlooking the vineyards this month-that is there.
Treadwells might be more $$$ than $$.
About Thyme a good choice and I would check out 13 Mountain in Grimsby
- www.13mountainst.com

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Vegetarian Meals in Niagara-on-the-Lake

I had a friend in Niagara make a few calls (mostly to help me set up a trip there in June) and he found that a lot of places will "whip up something" for vegetarians but he did find an actual menu in place.I got it faxed and all the dishes run between 10-14$.

Artisan Quebec Cheeses and Riverbend Crackers

Tossed Tender Leaves,Tossed Black Walnuts and Buffalo Cheese with wood fired breads (apparantly made exclusively for them by Anna Olson)

Baked and Grilled Vegetable Salad with Green Tomatillo Vinaigrette

Mains

Peau Rouge Omellette,buttered asparagus and oven dried tomatoes

Roasted Pepper, Fingerling and Walnut Pesto Pizza

Grilled Vegetable Crepe with fresh sprouts and bay leaf burnt butter

Tomato, Goat's Feta and Roasted Shallot Bruschetta

Red Onion and Potato Biscuit with warm pickled mushrooms and Upper Canada Ricotta

Maybe some of that sounds good to you-it is currently the veggie menu at Riverbend and they told my friend it is changed every 2 months and in late May they add a "Secret Garden Menu" for the patio which is 90% meatless and based on what is being picked there at their farm.

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Vegetarian Meals in Niagara-on-the-Lake

It isn't easy to find vegetarian in NOTL- the one pasta dish is pretty much it in most of the restos. You will get some chefs that have some experience in meatless menus that will work something out for you-Stone Rd Grille and the Epicurean are possibilities. (forget Peller and Treadwell's- those chefs are meat obsessed). Riverbend Inn on the Parkway has a new menu starting in May based on their on-site "farmette" that will be meatless-and the setting there is probably one of the most romantic in NOTL. Good luck.

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Where to go in NOTL?

uh- maybe by stretching the hard facts on the provenance of the beef.
You see it everywhere- ask a server where an ingredient comes from and the answer is always "it's local"- ask for a bit more detail and see the sweat start to bead up-

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Where to go in NOTL?

I have to get down to NOTL soon as well-I am hearing of some changes. The chef at Zee's has left and is opening up at Peninsula Ridge. There is a new chef at Riverbend.
Prices have either dropped or portions are getting bigger at some restos.
Anna Olson has pulled out of Port Dalhousie and is now just at Ravine in St David's.
Lots to see it seems-I might wait a month or so -craving a salad picked in front of me at Riverbend Inn.

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Gluten-free in NotL?

Spice of Life...? in Port Dalhousie

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Niagara on the Lake's Best

I'll put a vote in for Riverbend- I think the kitchen has the potential to be the secret find in Niagara one day. I saw the kitchen garden just as it was getting started-hopefully I will get back to see it in full swing next month.

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Eigensinn Farm - Details for Planning a Trip

I have heard so many rumours in the last month on changes at Eigensinn. Anyone have any facts on what they are planning. Most are hinting that the farm operation is closing with the restaurant scaling down to actually closing-plus opening of a new location- and that has it's own rumours- from a mall location being transformed to middle earth to a Singhampton building- anyone heard similar..?

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Where to get frisee lettuce?

Frisee is a frilly endive basically. A Lyonnaise salad usually uses the blonde frisee if available and that is near impossible to find outside of specialty growers (it is blanched in the field involving labour and that means $)-so it is not going to be in a grocery store-maybe the gourmet produce route (eg Harvest Wagon).

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Ladies Weekend in NOTL - dinner suggestions?

Looks like I lucked out on good nights-sorry to hear that-was that recent?-I know there were some changes made in the spring-I hope to go back to Niagara in June and poke around. SRG is a bit tight for space on a weekend and the food and decor inside make you forget the location in about 5 minutes-La Cachette is an option although it has been years since I have been- Zees is a bit inconsistent and really busy. Oban is on my list as well but it might be a bit $$$-report back on what you find-always looking.

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Ladies Weekend in NOTL - dinner suggestions?

Women love the Riverbend Inn- it is about a mile south of Shaw Theatre(main strip)on the Parkway. Price range is right-food is very honest, upscale country (pretty much a given since they operate a small vineyard and farm on-site ).Ladies love the setting-an old Georgian mansion set on beautiful grounds and there is a Coach House for groups (I think in the 25-35 person range)although it is usually booked- I had a few tries last summer for reservations in the dining room and it was booked solid but the patio is an option as well.

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

A weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake

I think Sweetbooboo brings up some good points. NOTL seems to have been stuck for a few years re-hashing dishes. There seems to be less choices as well. I enjoy going down there and have had very good experiences at Stone Road Grille, Riverbend Inn and Treadwells. I was surprised at the review of Treadwell's- none of those fundamental mistakes were evident on my last meal there-however- I feel the focus there is a bit "meat-centric" -concentrating on the proteins and sauces- it is well done but the richness, saltiness and sweetness can be a bit much- personal preferences aside but I would like to see lighter dishes there and try more of the local produce and products that they boast of. (that goes for any of the Niagara restaurants). A few contacts down there tell me that a farm-restaurant will be opening this summer near NOTL which sounds very exciting.

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

A weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Treadwell Cuisine is closed until Feb 7th.
You could try Riverbend Inn on the Parkway - a mile outside of NOTL. A secret gem for sure.

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Ontario Wild Leeks (aka Ramps)

Your guesses are pretty much right on. They are at their peak now, they are unlikely to be seen in a GTA retail outlet, and they are generally found on private property(like abandoned strawberry farms) and on the Bruce Peninsula (where it is illegal to pick them).
There is a wild "bear" garlic that is more common around this time of year as well that a lot of people call "ramps" but the taste is , well , more like green garlic. Only way to get ramps probably is to "know a guy".

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Thai Basils - where to find all three?

Holy Basil is known as "Tulsi".
It has 2 main cultivars- one being green and one being red with a greenish tendancy on the surface. Taste is very sharp and somewhat harsh compared to the licorice of a Thai Basil.If that is what you are after-
Tulsi basil is available on Gerrard St E.
Best seed source is Johnny's.

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Organic Food in Oakville/Mississauga

Organic Garage is going strong.
Expanding it's product lines to some prepped foods now as well.

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)

Good and reasonable Japanese in Niagara

Yukiguni- it was on Buchanan off Lundy's Lane but may have moved to Fallsview .

Taki has the decor- more geared to Japanese bus tours (it is on Victoria)

woodenhorse in Ontario (including Toronto)