Kids meet a baby chick during Open Farm Days at Chatsworth Farm
open farm days is august 13-14
Alberta Open Farm days is a terrific opportunity to get outside—to visit a farm, to discover something new and to have a unique culinary experience. Over 50 farms have something going on the second weekend in August, such as farm tours and a mini market at Chatsworth Farm near Vermillion, where you will meet some adorable dogs, cats and several varieties of fowl on their livestock tours. Or, visit The Alberta Hemp Works near Barrhead, for hemp demos and a local Famers’ Market with a barbecue lunch by Droptine Custom Meats. The Alberta Hemp Works story is interesting. They are a new, women-led business working to develop markets for the industrial hemp they grow, such as hemp seed oil and construction products. Or visit the George Pegg Botanic Garden near Gunn for the Country Fair and long table dinner followed by an open-air concert. Open Farm Days acts as an incubator for agri-tourism and rural sustainability. This is the 10th annual. Find the adventure that appeals to you and your family at albertaopenfarmdays.ca.
lone pine + growlery = delicious
Ready to drink (RTD) is one of the biggest trends in beverages now, so why not support the local guys? Lone Pine Distilling (10375 59 Avenue, 587-469-8099, lonepinedistilling.ca) and the Growerly Beer Company (40 Airport Road NW, 587-497-7714, growerlybeer.com) have collaborated on a new RTD called Mango Orange Vodka Soda. Tasty, not too sweet, only five per cent ABV, with zesty orange and tropical mango flavours. Available at Lone Pine and the Growlery as well as several famers markets (South Common, Ottewell, Ritchie, Hazeldean, Windemere, SW Edmonton). A pack of six 355ml cans is $18.
a-maiiz-ing
Chef Israel Alvarez Molina was in Edmonton before he moved to Victoria and set up a business called MAiiZ Nixtamal Tortilleria. We miss his cooking. Chef is an evangelist for the nixtamal process. You can taste why—deeper flavours, better texture, a beautiful fresh aroma—the difference between tortillas made in an industrial process and those made by nixtamalization. What is it? Dried corn kernels (chef uses organic corn from Armstrong) are boiled with pickling lime (also known as slaked lime or calcium hydroxide) then ground into masa.
In addition to using this time-honoured process, Israel brought in a special grinding mill from Mexico. The result? A silky, elastic dough (masa) that makes really delicious tortillas. Healthier too, as the process creates more available protein and vitamins. Next time you are in Victoria—actually, this is a really good reason to go to Victoria—pop into MAiiZ Nixtamal. It’s easy to find, tucked into Chinatown (540 Fisgard Street, Victoria, B.C., 778-433-1544, maiiz.ca).
summer patio party must-haves at bella casa
Bella Casa (9646 142 Street, 780-437-4190, bellacasadcl.com) is stocked for summer fun, with a fun and practical assortment of tableware, accessories and Gourmet Village mixes and rubs. Pick up the durable and easy-to-use acrylic tumblers in three styles ($12-$20) plus a pitcher, $52. As well, serving pieces from Mud Pie include a marble charcuterie board, a beautiful ceramic baker with wood lid, and a burger and hot dog server ($69-$106). End the night with s’mores made on the Mud Pie mini tabletop fire pit, $62.50. Come on summer!