The Village of Stirling in Hastings County is offering a true taste of Italy once again this summer as the community hosts its third annual Water Buffalo Food Festival.Talented food vendors representing local farms and restaurants will create and serve one-of-a kind recipes using cheeses made from local water buffalo milk. Visitors will have the opportunityto taste all dishes featuring Mozzarella di Bufala, ricotta and scamorza cheeses, as well as water buffalo meat raised locally.
Located in the Artisan Cheese Region and home to the first milking water buffalo herd in Eastern Canada, Stirling-Rawdon is in a position to share this unique agricultural product. Water buffalo milk from the Ontario Water Buffalo Co. is shipped to Quality Cheese located in Vaughn, ON. Ticket sales have reflected the tasty recipes being highlighted at this years event – Pasta Tavola is serving their signature fresh pasta, Smokehouse Blues will be creating a smoked brisket slider served with a beverage from Amazing Coffee, Loyalist College is leading culinary students to put their skills to the test, chocolate ricotta truffles will be hand crafted by both the Village Chocolatier of Stirling and Queen of the Kitchen, and a variety of delicious recipes will be served by Harvest Hastings, as well as Farmers Market vendors.
These recipes feature local ingredients and vendors anticipate the chance to test their passion and put their creative skills to use for a celebration of local food, innovation and culture. “I think this is a really great event,” says a local vendor. “It’s the whole ‘from the farm to the fork’ concept. You have to support the community- eat local, think local, be local!” Chef Lynn Crawford, star of The Food Network’s “Pitchin’ In”, and her team were in Stirling this past spring recording a show to be broadcast this fall featuring the water buffalo mozzarella! Cheese and meat will be for sale at the event and can be purchased ongoing at Stirling Foodland, now the local supplier of Mozzarella di Bufala cheese and fresh ricotta! Visitors to the festival will be able to sample each of the recipes with limited tickets available for $20. The third annual Water Buffalo Food Festival will run from 11:00 am-4:00 pm on Saturday, August 27.
Tags: artisan cheese, Eastern Ontario, Hastings County, Hastings County Water Buffalo Cheese Artisan Butter Balls Mozzarella, Invest In Cheese
Posted in Cheese Events |
No Comments »
One of the greatest marriages in the culinary world is that of cheese and wine. Their union presents a variety of complimentary sensations and though there are no rules when it comes to personal taste, one can learn a few ideas to ensure enjoyment when preparing for friends and family, or for a more formal function.
- Sparkling wine, especially brut (dry) champagne – with its bread/yeasty characteristics – match virtually every cheese; especially prior to dining.
- White wine varietals and blends with mineral and/or fruit characteristics (Riesling; Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc; Chardonnay; Vidal, etc.); can pair with diverse cheeses, including strong blues.
- Fortified wines, like port or ice and local fruit wines – are especially great when serving cheese after a meal.
- For non-alcoholic options, white grape juice and even apple cider is an excellent choice to match with cheese.
Finally, the best suggestion requires just getting to know local cheeses; then, searching out local wines and beverage products to match. This will introduce you to unique flavour combinations and showcases the agricultural talents and dedication of your neighbours that you may not have been aware of otherwise.
Recommendations for further reading:
- Wine and Cheese: The Essential Reference Box, by Juliet Harbutt & Stuart Walton (2010)
- The Definitive Canadian Wine & Cheese Cookbook, by Gurth Pretty & Tony Aspler (2007)
- Cheese: A Connoisseur’s Guide to the World’s Best, by Max McCalman & David Gibbons (2005)
Contributed by Kaylea McCarron – www.winenotontario.com
Tags: artisan cheese, Eastern Ontario, pairing, wine
Posted in Cheese |
No Comments »
Dear Cheese Enthusiasts,
As 2010 draws to a close, we will not rest on our laurels but press on into 2011. The past few months have been really successful since we took the time to do extensive research and strategically plan for the road ahead. In other words, you don’t build a house without a plan in place.
In that sense, the past few months are actually the first in this new award winning venture and we are just now beginning to get momentum and attract attention. Investment is now starting to happen.
In this short time we have, however, had several accomplishments, namely:
- Developed the first comprehensive hand-book for starting an artisan cheese making facility (soon launched as an iPad app)
- Attracted the first Great Canadian Cheese Festival to our region which will draw in thousands of people and dollars
- Won a Marketing Award in Quebec City for www.investincheese.ca
- Two entrepreneurs are now choosing to host one of their successful Craft Beer festivals in our region (beer pairs well with cheese)
- More than 100 enquiries about cheese making have been handled – but they wouldn’t be knocking on our door without this initiative
- Right now one of our County partners is coaching a local entrepreneur wanting to start an artisan cheese making operation after visiting a booth we had at a local show
This initiative is a catalyst putting our region on the map as Ontario’s Artisan Cheese Region! Cheers to another successful year in 2011!
Tags: artisan cheese, Cheese making, Cheese Start-Up, Eastern Ontario, Hastings County, Prince Edward County
Posted in Cheese |
No Comments »
The Results are In
How to Start a Cheesemaking Business – Free Presentation
