Stratford
is now featured in a gastronomic sense on the Food
Network to showcase Paul Finkelstein aka
'Fink'at
the Screaming
Avocado
(in
Northwestern Secondary School).
The Stratford
Chefs School is continuing to tape its' second year
of their own reality show, hopefully to be shown in the
fall of 2008. You can watch the 2007 class on the food network
here.
Incidentally it was good to see James
Chatto become the first writer in residence
for the Stratford Chefs School program. Watch
out for Stratford Chef School updates here.
Check out the note below on Rundles too!
May
Kiwanis
Festival of the Performing Arts
May 9th to May 11th (519-273-3011)
I've gone to this and I'm always floored by the raw talent
this town and area has to offer. Worth checking out if you
are in town. The 'official' line.....
This three week festival offers competitions in music, speech
drama and dance for performers of all ages. Special sessions,
such as an evening of ensembles, community band night, vocal
finals and the popular two-pianos/eight-hands competition,
are audience favourites.
Restaurant
news...
We
have eaten at the new Pearl Sushi and loved
it. They are located at the former Globe site at 127 Downie
St. 519.273.7275
Carters has closed.
Sapori
Ristorante have now moved from their Wellington
St. address and occupy Carters space at 116 Downie St.(When
you make a reservation here be sure to remember to check
that they haven't re-booked your table again until you are
satisfied that you can finish your meal in an unhurried
& timely manner!)
In
revolving door fashion we will have a new restaurant at
20Wellington St called Five Senses, serving
I believe French and Italian inspired dishes. I think it
is the chef from the Annex who is the main man here. No
word on what's happening at the Annex yet.
Fosters continue their world taste series
for the winter.
Rundles are still doing their fine dining
but will add an affordable option too in the form of a bistro
serving lunch and dinner in the rear of the restaurant.
No more details on that yet.
Raja
Indian cuisine are also doing a fine job on the take out
front at reasonable prices.
Gilt is closed - again! Rumour is that
a chef from Garlics Restaurant in London, Ontario will relocate
here.
Pass da Pasta at 127 Albert St. still makes
great paninis and has lovely cheeses and salads available
for take out. Think picnic at the rivers edge.
The
Sunroom Restaurant continues to give great
food and value, they even will create a special for the
kids-Conor thinks their homemade and real chicken 'fingers'
are the best ever!
Bijou,
well need we say more! Do the translation. No change there,
so that's great, same can be said for Keystone Alley,
York
Street Kitchens and Woolfy's
at Wildwood.
Upstairs
at Pazzo continues to grow in stature too.
One last thing, we have a few new coffee houses here, but
Revel is the one to check out. It's on
Wellington St. All the coffee is fair trade and organic
from Las
Chicas Del Café, the coffee chicks who's
family stretches from London to Nicaragua, cutting out all
the middlemen too "from plantation to cup" as
they themselves say! Check out the CBC's
special report on these coffee growers. Andrew
also makes all the coffee using the expresso machine before
'doctoring' it. Lots to choose from - I like to ask Andrew
for a regular Cafe Americano or in summer an expresso with
a twist of lemon peel and some ice.
Even the McDonald's on the East side of town have revamped
their decor, now you can 'lounge' in leather armchairs in
front of a gas fireplace, if you can be bothered to get
out of your car that is. They will even sell apple slices
and skim milk to wash down the 1000's of calories in the
Big Mac and Sundies.
Escoffier
would wonder about our eating habits, we don't even have
to get out of a seat to get a coronary! I'm still amazed
that folks don't realise that you can get real a homecooked
meal downtown, with service too, for the same price as a
combo meal! Enough said.
You can also access a new restaurant publication from nearby
London featuring a lot of Stratford restaurant reviews called
eatdrink at eatdrinkmag.net
They recently had great features on Woolfys, Bijou
and the Church
Restaurant with Chef Amédé Lamarche's
take on Post Modern Cuisine (for the adventurous foodies
amongst us-P.S We loved it!)
One
last note is that the Alexander Inn and Spa
is closing. Kim has tried e-spa recently
and enjoyed it
(20 Cooper Street, 519-272-1293).
Shopping
news,
soon to be considered an extreme sport in both the Winter
and Summer Olympics....
We like to shop local right here in Stratford. Especially
as all these stores are not more than 10 minutes from our
door.
Note my recently purchased fine Harris Tweed jacket from
Macleods
Scottish Shop. The last one finally wore out after 22
years!
There are pretenders to the throne in Stratford, but the
real and authentic toy store
is Family
and Company , 6 Ontario Street (last store on Ontario
St, at bottom of hill). You only have to ask Conor for directions,
he may even offer a tour of the store itself-for a nominal
fee of 1 'Curly Wurly'!
Anything
Grows: a store for gardeners, who used to be next door
are now happily moved and settled at 235 St.Patrick St,
and worth a five minute walk.
This next store is probably only the only 'franchise' store
I will recommend, but since you may need have a mid afternoon
aperitif back by our pond here it is, the LCBO(Liquor Store),
located at the corners of Wellington and St. Patrick St.
You can even get a local pilsiner made right in town by
the Stratford
Brewing Company, in bottles at the LCBO or on tap in
many restaurants and bars.
Or you can wander back to Revel for coffee as prescribed
earlier by Dr.Kev.
Since you are in the town centre you may be interested to
know that Elizagoth has downsized and now
focuses on an interesting collection of Cd's, Videos etc
and is called All Ears. You can find him
(Glen Diaz) across from The Avon Theatre on Downie St.
Close by to The Church Restaurant is 'An Artists
Cottage', many of you will know it as the home
of Gerard Brender a Brandis, who still
makes his own handmade books, wood engravings
of flowers and too many other interesting and unique artifacts
to mention.(77 Brunswick St. 519.273.7523). He is a class
act and a gentleman. We are lucky to have him live in our
fair city.
Speaking of books, we have many bookstores, all are good
will take the time to help you find that special read. My
presonal favourite is Callan Books at 15 York St, John hasn't
let me down yet.
Diversions
You can go to the forums on Tripadvisor,
I like to use it a lot myself when we travel, but always
cross reference the information shown, just to be sure.
To post on their forum you will need to log in or register,
it's very easy!
We will post some photos and perhaps the odd 'yarn' of our
latest upcoming trip to Ireland
here when we return. I'll post a link then too for those
who might be interested!
Tea
Leaves Tea Tasting Bar 433 Erie St. is a lovely way
to spend a few hours in the afternoon. Karen is very informative
and as an avid traveller and tea sommelier has lots of interesting
stories to recant. Must be prebooked.
McCully's
Hill Farm dedicated to environmental and agricultural
education continues the progress they have made over the
last 3 years. Worth dropping by, even for some of their
products.
10 minutes from Stratford.
One last note;
Please don't get disapointed, book your favourite event
or dinner early. Kim and myself are always happy to make
reservations for you. (I especially recommend this option
for those arriving on friday evenings).
In any event, you can always call us for up to the minute
advice, directions or even a chat!
Remember
we are a B&B; callers and arrivals after midnight until
after breakfast will be ignored and served old soggy waffles
for the duration of their stay!!! (Emergencies excepted).
