Stratford is now featured in a gastronomic sense on the Food Network to showcase Paul Finkelstein aka 'Fink'at the Screaming Avocado

Restaurant news...

We have eaten at Pearl Sushi and loved it. Decor is simple. They are located at the former Globe site at 127 Downie St. 519.273.7275
Fosters for good steaks or simply mingle with the actors on their patio after the evening show.
Rundles (519.271.6442) are still doing their fine gourmet dining and havel added an affordable? option too in the form of a 'sophisto bistro menu' serving dinner in the rear of the restaurant ($39.50 for 2 course or $49.50 for 3 course). We enjoyed a couple of dinners in 2008 and are looking forward to the 2009 menu! Closes mid October, but you can still have chefs school dinners or private dinner parties.
The Old Prune for fine dining (closes mid October to facilitate the chefs school for the winter).
Raja Indian cuisine are also doing a fine job at reasonable prices.
Pass da Pasta at 127 Albert Street still makes tasty paninis and has lovely cheeses and salads available for take out. Think picnic at the rivers edge.
The Sunroom Restaurant under new management this summer.
Bijou, well need we say more! Do the translation. No change there, so that's great, same can be said for Keystone Alley and Woolfy's at Wildwood.
Upstairs at Pazzo continues to grow in stature too.
York Street Kitchens is good for take out sandwiches.
L ocal pubs worth noting include The Boars Head and Molly Blooms.

One last thing, we have a few new coffee houses here, but Revel (519 301 1600) is the one to check out. It's at 50 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. Stephanie also makes all the coffee using the expresso machine before 'doctoring' it. Lots to choose from - I like to ask Stephanie for a regular Cafe Americano or in summer an expresso with a twist of lemon peel and some ice.
You can pick up Las Chicas(Don Rey)freshly roasted beans there too.
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, Rundles and the Church Restaurant

Stratford's Menu Guide is available at www.WelcomeToStratford.com

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!
Speaking of all things celtic, I have recently purchased a kilt or two at RKilts on York St.
A new store for the knitters-Close Knit 76 Wellington St.
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 pleasant five minute walk.
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.
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 and 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! Fanfares bookstore is also just down the street.
If you have some time on your hands, try making some pottery at The Clay Cafe also on York St.
The 'Shoe Box' has moved and has a wonderful selection of shoes (2 minutes walk west from the house on Ontario St).
Davis Art Gallery a few doors away is a personal favourite of ours for that hard to find gift our friends and usually for ourselves too! More information is available at Stratford's City Centre Committee website.


Diversions

Stratford receives national and international awards as Canada’s premiere garden city.
Stratford is Canada’s Best Blooming Community in 2008. In a national competition by Communities in Bloom, in which hundreds of towns and cities competed, Stratford was selected as the overall national champion for its gardens and community involvement in beautification, environmental awareness and heritage conservation.

Stratford also won the Communities in Bloom International Challenge competing against communities of its size in America, Britain, Japan and Ireland.

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!
Speaking of travelling we have posted some photos and perhaps soon the odd 'yarn' of our latest trip to Ireland at this page here.
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.

The farmers market has moved to it's new home.
www.VisitPerth.ca have a great map of all local food grown in the area & you can visit many of the farms, creameries etc. Worth a look.

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. (We 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).

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