July ZenKitchen Newsletter

ZenKitchen Newsletter - July 27, 2008

ZenKitchen Dinners at the Chelsea Club:
September 27 - featuring the best of the late summer-early fall harvest
October 18 - special food and optional beer pairing dinner
November 29 - northern comfort
December 20 - special holiday celebration

To reserve, visit www.zenkitchen.ca or email dinners@zenkitchen.ca

ZenKitchen Classes:

LCBO Cooking Demonstrations (includes dinner) www.lcbo.com/learn:
September 16 - Modern Vegetarian Cuisine (Rideau Street & King Edward location - 613-789-5226)
November 5 - ZenKitchen in Japan (Nepean Crossroads location - 613-224-4333)

To reserve: visit the Customer Service Desk in the stores or call the stores

Urban Element Cooking Classes (includes dinner):
October 21 - Fall Harvest Celebration
November 26 - Asian Tapas

For more info and to reserve: visit www.theurbanelement.ca or call 613-722-088.

Buying Local:

Ottawa Farmer's Market at Lansdowne - www.ottawafarmersmarket.ca_
Sundays, 8-3 pm, until October 26
Thursdays, 2-7 pm, until October 30

Other Farmer's Markets and Farms: For a list of other farmer's markets in the region (http://www.spcottawa.on.ca/ofsc/en/buylocal/farmers_markets.html) and local farms, and programs events and activities related to buying local, visit the Just Food web site www.justfood.ca.

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Dear friends of ZenKitchen,

Dave and I just returned from a wonderful culinary journey to Prince Edward County. We weren't sure what to expect from such a new burgeoning wine area, but we were pleasantly surprised by the wines and the wine makers, several who welcomed us so warmly and enthusiastically, and gave us private tours, especially when they heard about the approach of ZenKitchen to promote and support local suppliers. Toronto considers Niagara "their" wine region and I think it's high time for Ottawa to call the Picton area our region as we are very close in many ways, not only in vicinity but we seem to be cut from the same hearty, positive-spirited and very hardworking cloth, despite the odds that we may face, with nature being a large part of their and our challenge.

Some of you may know that Dave is enrolled in the Sommelier Program at Algonquin College, so he was able to analyze the wines offered and has even started a fun blog on wine learning, wine tasting and wine appreciation called BigNose http://bignosed.blogspot.com, which includes our recent trip to Prince Edward County. I accompanied him in the tastings (hard work!) so that we could select together some great wines that we can offer to ZenKitchen guests in the future. In fact, we'll be featuring some interesting Prince Edward County wines at the upcoming monthly dinners, and we'd love to hear what you think about them. We are truly fortunate to have The County and such dedicated wine makers and lovers so close to us. We also ate at some great restaurants, including Harvest and the Merrill Inn, where some top chefs such as Michael Potter and Michael Sullivan are embracing the local harvest and promoting local farmers, which was wonderful to see and taste.

Our Farmers Markets: Speaking of the local harvest, coming back from Picton, we stopped in at our own Lansdowne Farmers Market on Thursday to pick up some groceries for some ZenKitchen events, and each time I see the wonderful produce that is available and speak to the farmers, I am proud and delighted that we are on the right track. The Thursday market started out exclusively for the chefs in the city but was extended to a longer period, 2-7 pm, for the public since they were set up anyway, and while there are limited vendors, it is growing like the weekly produce they bring to market. Now, the Sunday market is simply incredible, and its popularity can be seen not only by the increasing number of people visiting but also by the growing number of vendors. If you haven't gone, you'll really be missing out on a great thing in the city if you don't go by the end of the summer, and it's a great way to show our support for a project that continues to be a trial and will continue to be supported by the City if there is adequate public support. Le Coprin and Christophe, where I get those fabulous exotic local mushrooms I put in my dishes on a regular basis, is there. Acorn Creek and Andy, the founder and promoter of the market itself is there with his great produce. Waratah Downs and their superb organic vegetables. Art-is-In artisanal bread that everyone is raving about. Just Food has also just released their new Ottawa Buy Local Guide. It's available on their web site and locations around town such as libraries and MEC. Visit www.justfood.ca for more info.

Cooking Classes at the LCBO: The LCBO has just released their fall educational guides so you can look for it at LCBO stores and it should be on-line shortly (www.lcbo.com/learn). This means that registration is now open for the classes that ZenKitchen has been invited to hold at two LCBO locations with beautiful demonstration kitchens and cozy dining spaces. We'll be demonstrating the dishes in front of you so you'll have the opportunity to see us live in action and ask questions. As we serve the courses, the LCBO product consultants will be serving product pairings. Isn't this fun?! We're delighted that we have been invited (I wonder if these are the first whole foods, vegan courses to be offered?) and look forward to existing and new clients to join us on this new adventure. I understand the class sizes are limited to around 15-20 to keep the classes and dinners intimate and allow for the chef-guest exchange. To register, visit the Customer Service Desk at the LCBOs listed or call them to pay by credit card.

September 16 - Modern Vegetarian Cuisine - Rideau Street, 613-613-789-5226
This course features the exciting world of gourmet vegan, whole foods cuisine - beautiful, delicious and healthful. ZenKitchen's Caroline Ishii proves that a gourmet vegan meal is in hand with New Caesar salad with spiced croutons; Hand-cut ravioli filled with wild mushrooms and leeks with tomato-basil fresca; and Dark Chocolate ginger truffles.

November 5 - ZenKitchen in Japan - Nepean Crossroads ( 543 West Hunt Club Rd at Merivale), 613-224-4333
Take a trip with Chef Caroline Ishii to Japan where purity and elegance combine with ZenKitchen's vegan fare to create sumptuous dishes. Enjoy Land and Sea vegetable salad as well as a tasting plate of Gyoza dumplings, Mixed mushroom brown rice nigiri and Kinpira with gobo (burdock), carrots and arame. End with Sweet red bean paste wrapped in whole wheat phyllo.

Cooking Classes at the Urban Element: I'll also be continuing the popular hands-on cooking classes with the Urban Element in their lovely culinary studio, formerly a firehall, on Parkdale. All classes are with whole foods and vegan, using as much seasonal, local and organic produce as possible. For more information and to register, visit www.theurbanelement.ca or call 613-722-0885.

October 22, Fall Harvest Celebration, 6-9 pm, hands-on cooking class
Join Chef Caroline Ishii of ZenKitchen in a celebration of the best of the fall harvest from local farmers with a menu that is vibrant, delicious and healthful. Mohammara red pepper spread with baked Za'atar pita chips, Creamy squash-apple cider soup with spiced pepitas, Tuscan wholewheat phyllo roulade with exotic local mushrooms, baked root vegetables and white beans, and Spiced apple-cranberry compote with vanilla bean cream.

November 26, Asian Tapas, 6-9 pm, hands-on cooking class
Join Chef Caroline Ishii of ZenKitchen for a menu of Asian-inspired tapas for your next party that are interesting, beautiful, and flavourful, while being healthful and easy to make. Start the party with a refreshing ume (plum) cocktail and then serve raw wraps with spicy Thai sauce, Dengaku (sweet miso) glazed age tofu and roasted vegetable skewers, Gyoza dumplings with soy-chili dipping sauce, Curry tempeh wholewheat phyllo triangles, and Chocolate-ginger truffles.

Caroline in the Summer: Last but not least, I am heading to San Francisco tomorrow for the summer to train again in one of the best vegan gourmet restaurants in the world, called Millennium www.millenniumrestaurant.com, with the incredibly creative and talented Chef Eric Tucker. It's always such a thrilling and exhausting experience to spend long days and nights in the kitchen there and I'll try to visit my blog when I can http://caroline-cooks.blogspot.com to give you reports on my latest adventure, and stop in to facebook and the ZenKitchen group that's been set up there. I'll also be taking some gourmet vegan raw courses as well in northern California, and tasting some great food and wines along the way. Dave will join me at the end of the summer so we can tour the foods and wines of Mendocino and Sonoma together (hard work again!). With my mind overfilling with ideas and inspirations, I'll be looking forward to selecting and cooking with the best of the late summer (yes, September is still summer in my books!) and fall harvest for you at the September 27 dinner. I hope you can make it.

Enjoy the remaining summer days, whether cooking with the best of the local harvest in your kitchen or on your BBQ, or enjoying a leisurely summer meal and drinks on a patio. Email me with your culinary experiences or questions. I always love hearing from you! Cheers, Caroline

Caroline Ishii
Chef and Owner
ZenKitchen
www.zenkitchen.ca