Tribute planned for famed chef
Channel your inner Auguste Escoffier
It’s a ways down the line, but we’re rather intrigued by an upcoming class at Zehrs at Lauzon Parkway and Tecumseh Road East. Local chefs Sam Drakich and Pierre Dubrulle will host a tribute to Auguste Escoffier, the famed French chef who popularized French cuisine in the early 20th century.
Along with bringing classical French cooking into modern times, notably during his time as head of the kitchens at London’s Savoy Hotel, Escoffier helped turn chef work into a respected profession. In this cooking class, students will learn to make garlic soup, beet salad, Normandystyle chicken braised in Calvados brandy with leeks on the side and, for dessert, poached pears with chocolate sauce — a dish very elegantly called poires belle Helene in French.
Class is on Tuesday, June 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cost is $30 per person. For details visit pccookingschool.ca or call 519-974-1000.
And we’re super curious about the Mennonite-style cooking classes being offered at the Real Canadian Superstore on Walker Road in May. Have a browse on the PC Cooking School website for dates and times and see what other classes strike your fancy.
Have fresh local produce delivered
Take advantage of the “bounty of the county” this year via a few local fruit and veggie box programs. It’s a great way to eat a broad selection of local, seasonal fruits and vegetables while supporting local agriculture.
If you’re not much of a herbivore, joining a fruit and veggie box program is a good tactic to force yourself to eat more plants, since it’s not you who’s choosing the contents of the bin, but rather the farmers.
If you’re particular about eating pesticide-free produce, Brandner Farms is the place to go.
Their weekly box program, which will start in May, uses fruits and vegetables grown on their organic farm in Ruthven. Boxes are $30 and enough for two to four people, depending on your appetite.
To place an order, simply call or send a Facebook message a week in advance and then pick up your box at the farm or in the city. (The pickup location is being finalized right now, so get in touch to find out.)
Depending on the month, you might get strawberries, rhubarb or lettuce in your box. Be sure to ask about adding fresh eggs, honey or jam, too.
For more details, visit facebook.com/BrandnerFarms or call 519-919-1327.
If you like delivery, Lee and Maria’s Market offers weekly box drop-offs starting in May. Choose from four different bin sizes, ranging from $28 to $48, depending on the number of people in your household, and they will fill it with freshly picked local produce from their farm and other local farms.
All you have to do is place the order ahead of time and wait for your bin to arrive. If you only want to use the service occasionally, choose the payas-you-go option. Or choose the monthly or seasonal payment plans if you want to commit for longer. Delivery is free, but a $10 membership fee helps cover maintenance for the delivery van and provide reusable bins.
For more details, visit leeandmarias.com or call 519733-9328.