Food for Thought with Alex Bielak - Rrroll up the Rim for Giveaway winners, and dates, dates, dates

Rrroll up the Rim for Giveaway winners, and dates, dates, dates

This long weekend edition of Food for thought plays catch-up while saluting a Hamilton icon.

First off the good news. Because of the generosity of the sponsor, ALL those who commented on my last column will win a three month subscription to WorldJikoni. I ask Scrap, Just an Observer, Kevin, Cynmom16, Brad Koziej, Brenda Lee and Colleen at Forty Something Bride to email me at fft@thehamiltonian.info and I will provide them with information as to how to access their prize. Congratulations to all and enjoy!

Also in the last column I mentioned the departure of Dave Hanley from Dishcrawl Hamilton and when I invited Dishcrawl to comment, they had not got back to me. I got a very nice note from Dominique Foreman,
Operations Manager at Dishcrawl International and felt I had to share it.

She wrote: “My apologies for not seeing your email before your column deadline! Dave was an incredible Dishcrawl ambassador and created many magical and delicious moments for the Hamilton community! Dishcrawl will continue its strong presence in the area though and will continue to build on Dave's incredible relationships with the fans and food industry! We are looking forward to some fantastic events that are upcoming in the area! So we encourage everyone to keep an eye on the Hamilton, ON community page!” It looks like they may still be looking for someone to take over. Anyone interested?

A hearty Happy Golden Anniversary to our beloved Timmies, even if they did choose to re-create Store #1 in Hogtown. I don’t think I need go into what has transpired since the first Horton’s restaurant opened 50 years ago on Ottawa Street, or how deeply ingrained the franchise now is in our national psyche. Suffice it to say many stores are joining the celebration this weekend offering a free "birthday cake" doughnut to customers. I’m heading down to a “location near me” to wish them well!

Here’s a key date for your calendars, August 2, 2014, but buy tickets now! The Niagara Chapter of Les Marmitons, (full disclosure: I’m a member!) is co-sponsoring a wonderful event to build student bursaries in the Culinary, Hospitality, Wine and Beer programs at Niagara College Canada.

Around the Canadian Table is a celebration of Food Day Canada, and part of Jackson-Triggs Niagara Summer Concert Series at the Estate Amphitheatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake. There are 250 tickets including dinner ($175 plus taxes) available for a phenomenal evening of food and wine, with 350 more at $75 for the Canadian Table Conversation, dessert, icewine and music. Click here for details.

Speaking of dates, Hamilton’s View Magazine has an events calendar including food and drink events, while my friends at the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance can keep you up to date on food happenings across the province with their Culinary Calendar. Very useful indeed for when you’re travelling.

Coming Soon! The prix-fixe Taste of Waterdown (May 19-22 and 26-29); 4th Annual Gore Park Summer Promenade (food trucks and music 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 5:30-8pm every Thursday evening from May 21-Aug. 29); Hamilton Artists Beerfest (beer and food May 24, 3-9 p.m.); 9th annual Downtown Walking Restaurant Tour (a few seats remain, May 24th); and a Cask Beer event at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (May 25th, a promo for the shaping up to be massive 1st Annual Burlington Beer Festival - July 18-20 at Spencer Smith Park). Also, Halton’s Springridge Farm is hosting ten food trucks on Father’s Day Weekend (June 14 & 15 from 11am-3pm).

Missing from those lists is the Earth to Table Feast being put on in support of Hamilton Tastebuds (a great program I’ve written about before). It’s being held at the Ancaster Mill and includes a lot for a modest price. As the music plays, you’ll get to meet chefs and farmers at the various food stations, hear about how Tastebuds is progressing and even bid on unique bargains during the silent auction.

In the Go Big or Go Home department, though I’m not (yet) on their mailing list, I’d be remiss not to mention a blockbuster fundraiser for the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre being held at Carmen’s. They have brought in big stars before: in the culinary business one of the giants is Restaurateur and TV Chef Lidia Bastianich whose son is the nasty one on MasterChef US. You can get tickets for the Inspired by Lidia dinner, and even get to meet and greet with her June 9th. Tickets are $75 for a cooking demo by herself, a four course dinner and two drink tickets.

Finally a teaser. The next column features an Australian, a big knife, cool wife and tale of breaking into the Kremlin. You’ll not want to miss it, but for a preview read about his Culinary Tours and consider signing on for the foraging event June 8th. Till then mates, happy May 2-4 on the 19th.

For more pictures, click here. 

Alex (Alex can be reached at fft@thehamiltonian.info ) or on twitter @AlexBielak

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