Food for Thought with Alex Bielak - Roseto Catering - Just like Mama makes…

Roseto Catering - Just like Mama makes…

I had noticed the small sign for Roseto Catering and Culinary Services on the heritage building at 22 Mill St. South in Waterdown and kept meaning to stop to investigate; but each time I passed it before I knew it, heading down the curve into Smokey Hollow. When I did finally manage to drop in to pick up some items for supper (they are next door to the American House and have plenty of parking), I was warmly greeted by owners Anna Hansen and her mother Elizabeth Vespa.

While waiting for my order, I was particularly taken by an orange toffee biscuit on offer. “As with many things that are so fabulously delicious they’re really simple to make.” Anna said. Ingredients are butter, brown sugar, toffee pieces and a bit of sea salt to balance out the sweetness of the caramel. “Adding orange gives such a nice essence to the cookie” she added. She and Mama also sell cannoli made from scratch stuffed with a subtle white chocolate filling or, alternatively, chocolate, lemon, strawberry and peach.

I went home that day with some lovely Eggplant Parmigiana and Arancini di Riso for our family supper as

Food for Thought with Alex Bielak - The Pasta Man Can

Vinnie and his pastas

The Pasta Man, can

To take a liberty with the words of the famous song that became Sammy Davis Jr.’s signature tune:

“Who can take a sunrise and sprinkle it with cheese

cover it in sauces and a herb or two

The Pasta Man

Oh the Pasta Man can

The Pasta Man can

'Cause he mixes it with love

And makes the world taste good”

Last week I ended up my piece on Odessy Olive Oils and Vinegars asking what a perfect complement might

Food for Thought with Alex Bielak

Rob Lalla holding
 a stainless steel "Fusti"

Odessy: a voyage into oils and vinegars.

There is nothing more frustrating than finding a wonderful source for a go-to staple of my pantry has disappeared. So I was delighted to find Odessy Olive Oils and Vinegars still in place when I visited the Hamilton market to shop for a friend’s birthday dinner. (Many happy returns again Kim!)

In truth, I had wondered, since it seemed such a specialised niche when it opened just after the Market renovation, and really, just how much balsamic can one cook go through? A fair bit as it turns out.

When I asked owner Rob Lalla how it had been going, he said “Since the renovation, numbers at the Market have been down a bit, but week by week it’s picking up… As time goes on, and as more vendors come with different product offerings, it makes the market a more exciting place to shop.”

For his own business he adds, “People are spreading the word that we’ve got all kinds of different olive oils and balsamics, and they can incorporate that into their everyday cooking.” Born in Hamilton of Italian parents, Rob worked many years in retail before deciding to start his own business. He looked at what would complement the selection of products already at the Market and decided on olive oils and vinegars.

Food for Thought with Alex Bielak- Sips and Bites June 2012

Sips and Bites - June 2012

The festival season is upon us! No, I don’t mean music, comedy, theatre or the ever present marathons! This week I’m alerting you to some upcoming culinary events.

If you don’t yet have plans this weekend (June 9-10), you could go "Graze the Bench" between 12-5 pm each day. $25 gets you in to all activities at seven wineries in the Beamsville area. The pass also gets you tasty treat from one of the participating restaurants and a glass of wine poured in a premium Schott-Zwiesel crystal wine glass that’s
yours to keep. You can get a refill and additional food pairings for another $7 each.

Among the wineries is Angels Gate, celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. It’s a lovely location from which you can see all the way across to Toronto on a clear day. Also participating is the wonderfully named Organized Crime Winery. There’s a great story about the name told on the bottle labels and also in animated text on the website.

Still on this weekend (June 9th and 10th) but a bit further down the QEW in Niagara on the Lake, my “home winery” Strewn is releasing their 2011 white wines. From 11am to 5pm each day, you’ll be able to taste seven different wines from their ultra-premium (and delicious) Terroir series.

Along with the five whites from 2011 and one from 2010, they’re serving a 2011 Cabernet Rosé, their first rosé in a couple of years. I’m looking forward to tasting that one! Best of all there is no charge for the event, but they do ask you to call at 905-468-1229 or email info@strewnwinery.com to confirm your attendance. For more information on this and their other June – August happenings see their events page.

A lot is also going on June 23rd, including my dear friends’ 25th anniversary. As he’s one of my cooking buddies and a gourmand, the food promises to be very fine. Sadly, I won’t make that or the other two events below as I’m going fishing. (All the best Tom and Liz, I’ll raise a glass to you from the river.)

For those of you without such obligations you could start your day at Puddicombe Farms, which is hosting the Ontario Festival of Cider I mentioned in my last column. Then you could go on to a fun-sounding event beginning at 6:30 p.m. at 13th Street Winery near St. Catharine’s. They are organizing something called Street Fight 2012: the Smackdown in Grapetown.

Beer goes head to head (so to speak) with Wine. The Mill Street Brewmaster is pitted against the winery’s Sommelier, and Indian food will go three rounds against Thai. Music and Door Prizes round out the mix. If you go to this one, please let me know how it goes! It sounds fabulous.

On the Canada Day weekend (June 29 – July 2) check out the Oh Canada Ribfest at Memorial Park in Waterdown. Organized by friends from the Rotary Club of Waterdown and Rotary Club of Flamborough AM, this four-day community-driven event is getting better every year.

This third edition features 7 ribbers, Nickel Brook Beer, and has some great entertainment for adults and kids alike. Brian Melo as well as the 905 Band are among the musical headliners, while a movie night and all sorts of fun activities await the young ‘uns. All capped with an excellent fireworks display.

Incidentally, the organizers are always ready to welcome additional sponsors, and very importantly, volunteers to take on shifts. My wife and I spent a few hours slinging beer during the inaugural event and it was a lot of fun. To sign up visit the website.

Finally, for anyone interested in charcoal grilling, mark your calendars now for the Niagara Eggfest on August 19th. I attended last year, and will be talking more about it (and my Big Green Egg) in a future column.

If I’ve missed your event or something else you think might tickle the palate, please email me with information and/or invitations, or add a comment below. I’m always glad to hear from other foodies! My address is below. Have a great weekend!

Alex (Alex can be reached at fft@thehamiltonian.info )

Food for Thought logo, designed and kindly donated by Ninka Bielak. Ninka can be reached at ninka.bielak@gmail.com.

Food For Thought with Alex Bielak- Hamilton's Wineries

Lindsay Puddicombe

Hamilton’s Wineries

Who knew? All this time I’ve been under the impression I had to get to Beamsville, or beyond, to be in wine country.

In a conversation with Mayor Bob Bratina a few weeks ago, he stated categorically that Hamilton had at least one winery within its city limits, if not two. To make the point he ducked back into his office, emerging with a bottle of 2004 Merlot Reserve from Puddicombe Estate Farms and Winery.

I called Murray Puddicombe, President of the Winery (clearly a family run enterprise) who confirmed their #8 highway location in Winona is indeed part of the City of Hamilton. He also volunteered that Ridge Road Estate Winery, just up the hill from Puddicombe,