Billed as THE show for the home cook, Good Food Festival and Market Toronto's own was in fine form this past weekend. With over 150 free cooking lessons ranging from Daphna Rabinovitch's (Canadian Food Network cook) shortbread cookies to Bob Blumer's (another Canadian Food Network cook) surreal creations, the show offered something for just about everyone. Mississauga's International Centre Food Hall 5 was chock-full of tasty samples ranging from artisanal breads to just about every condiment under the sun. Here are some festival highlights to tease your taste buds in case you're in the area next May and want to catch the latest flavour sensations yourself.
The buzz word in the food industry lately seems to be antioxidant. Drinks, powders, shakes and potions all offering the health-booster were on offer. One of the most intriguing was the Xango beverage, made with the xanthone-rich mangosteen fruit (if you've never tried this tropical treasure, I highly encourage you to do so!). Mangosteens contain the famous xanthones- an anti-inflammatory found naturally in the fruit's peel, pulp and seeds. A bottle of the juice contains the whole crushed fruit, along with a combination of fruit juices (no added sugar) and claims to help everything from eczema and fatigue to migraines and allergies. I sampled a sip of the burgundy elixir and found it very pleasant- like a natural fruit punch of sorts. The company offers a pick up centre in Mississauga, Ontario or you can order on-line at www.mypurplefruit.com. The retail price is a bit steep at $50 CAD a bottle, but if it can help cure what ails you, it may well be worth a shot.
A less costly and non-therapeutic anti-oxidant beverage at the show was the TrueBlue blueberry juice. All natural flavours and colours coupled with a hint of cane sugar to boost the blueberry flavour resulted in a refreshing, healthier drink option. I like the fact that no high fructose corn syrup was added (an inexpensive sweetener often used in drinks and processed foods) and that it has less sugar than most fruit blends on the market. And let's not forget the power berry from Brazil- Açai. Meaning "the tree of life," this little purple berry found in the Amazon Rainforest has more anti-oxidants than pomegranates and blueberries. A healthy does of Omega 3-6-9 fatty acids, along with vitamins and minerals has given it the "super food" moniker. Açai do Para is largest pulp producer of the berry in Brazil and the maker of the juice I sampled at the show. A cross between a grape and a prune (my husband tasted grape and chocolate), the juice is dark, rich and naturally sweet. If it does even a quarter of what it claims to, I'll soon be more alert, a few pounds thinner and have a boosted immune system. Go to www.acaicanada.com for more information.
Having spent a little bit of time recently with my husband in South Africa, I can tell you I'm not usually too wild about the flavour of some wild game. I was pleasantly surprised however, to find the Eramosa Elk Country Store's elk meat products on offer to be delicious, lean and flavourful. We started off with spicy pepperettes (I figured how scary could they be?) and then gladly tried the maple sausages. The naturally grown, free-range farm elk are not given any hormones, steroids or antibiotics, making this naturally lean meat an even healthier option for anyone watching their waist line or cholesterol levels. And here's another bonus: because elk meat isn't marbled like other red meats, there's significantly less shrinkage during cooking. This means that a higher level of protein and nutrients stays in the meat during preparation and that's good news for your appetite as you'll feel fuller faster. Lower in fat and cholesterol than other traditional meats, it's even less fatty than skinless chicken!
Another popular meat product on offer at this year's show was Chris & Tal's Bet-ter Burger. Touted as Canada's first beef and soy blended burger, the intrepid duo (Chris and Tal are long time pals) came up with the idea of giving you that beefy flavour you're after with 65% less fat and 45% fewer calories due to the soy component. Skeptical? So was my other half until he took a bite of the juicy burger and smacked his lips. Full flavour with less fat than the leading veggie burger- it's a patty you can throw on the barbie while checking your guilt at the patio door. Check them out at: www.betterfoods.ca.
Wandering on, we came across Arvinda's Taste Works whose motto is: Exotic Cooking Made Easy. In honour of her mother Arvinda, Preena Chauhan has taken the matriarch's traditional recipes and created a medley of intriguing products including spices and teas so that we can share in the rich heritage of Indian cooking. I was smitten by the fragrant Chai Latte- subtly sweet, rich, milky and wonderfully soothing. I bought Arvinda's Organic Black Loose Tea as well as her Chai Masala blend and plan to indulge after many a dinner party with friends and family. Next I'll have to sample Arvinda's Curry Masala so that I can make one of my all-time favourites, Channa Masala. Check out their website at: www.arvindas.com for some delightful recipes and ideas.
Last but most certainly not least is the formidable duo behind Toronto's first micro-roastery, Dark City Coffee Company. Offering fair-trade coffees that are "roasted by the pound, not the acre," the selection is as impressive as co-owner Raymond Eme's love for the bean. From the light roast "cherry bomb" to the dark roasted "extra butter" blends, the boys of Dark City Coffee will roast your coffee to specification and ship it to your door within the GTA. A one pound minimum is required with prices starting at $14 CAD for a heady, bitter-free brew. Let me just say, we are Extra Butter converts. Amen. To get yours, go to: www.darkcitycoffee.com.
