TODAYS OFFERING

Today I get to talk about my favorite thing. Food! The very thing that nourishes my soul in more ways than one. It en-passions me, excites me and inspires me to taste, experience and experiment with new things. Especially this time of year when every thing is in abundance. I was a little concerned when I first discovered that I was gluten intolerant but then I had a change of attitude and turned it in to a mission to seek out new ways and new products that would nourish me instead of making me sick. Yeah I know! I am promoting good health in a shameless way but really there is no excuse to feel sorry for yourself. These are the cards that I have been dealt and so I have to play my best hand.

So back to Prince Edward County we go to the restaurants, bistros, bakeries and cafes. Imagine my excitement after riding 60 k that day to stop at a little cafe called 'The Club Cafe' in Bloomfield to see that she had gluten free sandwiches on the menu. I could hardly contain myself. We started with cream of leek and potato soup. I then had my sandwich with freshly roasted beef, avocado, tomato, lettuce and mayo. It was a huge portion of food when it came. I thought I had died and gone to heaven it had been 3 months since my last sandwich. I think I heard my saddle groan when I got back on it.

*Gluten free will be now written at GF.

My next huge excitement was on our way to the Huff wineries where we came across Schroedters bakery who sell a wide range of gluten free products. As we arrived the smell of freshly baked GF sourdough bread was wafting across the parking lot. Needless to say we had to sample them with a local cheese and lashings of chutney. The lady who runs the bakery is a Celiac herself and has been baking and supplying local restaurants with her GF products for some time and is doing very well at it I might add. She also told me if I go back that way at some point that she would gladly make me as many GF buns as I would like if I give her a little notice that we wouldl be coming.

I think I am becoming obsessed!

We had heard very good reviews about a bistro in Milford which is called 'Milford Bistro'.... fancy that! So on our ride through this tiny little town we decided to give it a whirl. We were not disappointed. After ordering our pints of Waupoos cider we got ready to tackle the Chicken Ceaser salad. It was not just any old Ceaser salad. Oh no sir, it was the cream of the crop of Ceasers made with the very best romaine lettuce and prosciutto instead of bacon bits and croutons that where filled with goats cheese and gently fried to golden, crisp perfection. The melt in your mouth variety, and the chicken oh yes let's not forget the maple glazed chicken. It was all bought together with a wonderfully light homemade dressing that really did it justice. Then.............. if that was not enough we choose the creme brulee that used the Waupoos cider as it's base. OH MY GOD!!!!!! It was the best darn brulee I had ever tasted and believe me I have eaten a lot of brulee. None ever compared to this. The flavours were subtle and striking at the same time, it was the perfect consistency with no egg taste that you get with some substandard brulees. The burnt sugar crust was like darkened thin ice as my spoon dipped down into the depths of the bowl for the first taste............... ah yes! Almost better than sex. Now you know I am defiantly obsessed. You know what else? The Spanish coffee we had afterwards wasn't bad either.

This isn't the Spanish coffee from Milford it's a fine latte from Lily's cafe in Picton. Before we lunched at the Funky Carp. There is something grand about sitting on the patio in the summer time sipping an ice cold beverage and anticipating your lunch. Which that day was Roasted Ontario red peppers blended into a frenzy of a cream soup and freshly broiled pickerel, Ontario corn and new potatoes. Lunch was good and so is life. I won't carry on like I did in the last paragraph because I need to calm down a little. But take my word for it I really enjoyed it.

And like our holiday all good things must come to an end. The Club Cafe closed it's doors this weekend and The Funky Carp is relocating to a destination in Picton that hasn't been revealed yet.

Eat, drink and be happy my friends.