Build it and they will come...
October 24, 2008
Dave arrived this morning! We head to one of my favourite places in the city, the Green Market at Union Square, to do some shopping of groceries for the week and check it out. It's wonderful and vibrant, and crowded, with so much produce still available. Our farmers markets are dwindling down in terms of the produce they carry and the number of farmers that are still coming, but there is still lots of harvest available and the public demand and interest for local produce is rapidly increasing and it's been hard to keep up, according to Andy of Acorn Creek, who is the key person behind starting and continuing the farmers market in Ottawa. That's great news!
NYC was once like us and there were no local farmers markets but through a group of committed and active people the Green Market in Union Square and others popped up, and chefs and residents were encouraged to buy there, and then there was no turning back. I think the same thing happened in Ottawa. Build it and they will come, and no I hope there is no turning back for us.
The Green Market also has lots of artists tables with art and stuff, and I think about 80% of them had Obama and related t-shirts, drawings and pins for sale. It was nice to see artists making political statements through their art. Two things people seem to be focused in the city on... the election and Obama, and the economy, though I think the economy is the bigger one.
Everywhere you go you hear people talking about losing their jobs, potentially losing their jobs, building and other projects stopping as one of the first signs, people spending less at restaurants - more on the average bill and what people are spending than on reducing going out, etc. It seems to be weighing heavily on the city's psyche and pocketbooks.
Top Chef...
As we were leaving Union Square this afternoon we noticed a big tractor trailer with the "Top Chef" advertising on it and wondered what was happening. They were promoting the new series of Top Chef on Bravo TV coming up and were going to have some of the participants from the last contest to sign autographs and do a demo in the demo cooking area in the trailer for about 35 people. We signed up as we're big fans of the show. If you love cooking shows like Iron Chef and want to see some of the best chefs in the US competing in a variety of crazy challenges then you have to watch Top Chef. The last series just ended and the new one starts up in the US the beginning of November, which means a few months later or more for us. Going into the trailer for the cooking demo was lots of fun with two contestants from the last show hamming it up and having a lot of fun with the audience. One of them is on the line every day at Le Cirque, a famous multi-star established French restaurant in the city, and the other person is opening up his new restaurant. The audience was fascinated by the show and the lives of the chefs and kept on firing questions at them, which they were pleased to answer. Then there were even food samples. So, a fun time and unexpected, which is when we find we have the most fun, when it's unplanned and unexpected, especially in a city like NYC where there is so much happening all the time.
Back to my school...
In the evening, we went to the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts, for the Friday Night Dinner prepared by students for about 100 people from the public. It's a labour of love as the students plan this dinner for months and carefully prepare each item as it's one of the final tests that they will have to graduate. So, you are guaranteed a great gourmet meal made with whole foods, organic and local produce, vegan and lots of love. There are communal tables, you bring your own wine or beer, and for once I was able to sit down with others and experience what it was like to be served. And, surprise, surprise, like our dinners, conversations focused on the menu and the different items that came up and food, food, and more food... best restaurants, favourite foods, and much more. A very interesting group of people to share food with. It's nice to be on the other side for a change. The fall harvest menu was absolutely delicious and lovely and the students come out at the end of the meal to answer questions about the menu. I highly recommend a reservation at this dinner if you're coming to NYC. It is certainly one of the inspirations behind holding the monthly gourmet dinners in Ottawa with the same approach and spirit. I loved the concept then and still love it, and I'm glad I brought it home.
Dave arrived this morning! We head to one of my favourite places in the city, the Green Market at Union Square, to do some shopping of groceries for the week and check it out. It's wonderful and vibrant, and crowded, with so much produce still available. Our farmers markets are dwindling down in terms of the produce they carry and the number of farmers that are still coming, but there is still lots of harvest available and the public demand and interest for local produce is rapidly increasing and it's been hard to keep up, according to Andy of Acorn Creek, who is the key person behind starting and continuing the farmers market in Ottawa. That's great news!
NYC was once like us and there were no local farmers markets but through a group of committed and active people the Green Market in Union Square and others popped up, and chefs and residents were encouraged to buy there, and then there was no turning back. I think the same thing happened in Ottawa. Build it and they will come, and no I hope there is no turning back for us.
The Green Market also has lots of artists tables with art and stuff, and I think about 80% of them had Obama and related t-shirts, drawings and pins for sale. It was nice to see artists making political statements through their art. Two things people seem to be focused in the city on... the election and Obama, and the economy, though I think the economy is the bigger one.
Everywhere you go you hear people talking about losing their jobs, potentially losing their jobs, building and other projects stopping as one of the first signs, people spending less at restaurants - more on the average bill and what people are spending than on reducing going out, etc. It seems to be weighing heavily on the city's psyche and pocketbooks.
Top Chef...
As we were leaving Union Square this afternoon we noticed a big tractor trailer with the "Top Chef" advertising on it and wondered what was happening. They were promoting the new series of Top Chef on Bravo TV coming up and were going to have some of the participants from the last contest to sign autographs and do a demo in the demo cooking area in the trailer for about 35 people. We signed up as we're big fans of the show. If you love cooking shows like Iron Chef and want to see some of the best chefs in the US competing in a variety of crazy challenges then you have to watch Top Chef. The last series just ended and the new one starts up in the US the beginning of November, which means a few months later or more for us. Going into the trailer for the cooking demo was lots of fun with two contestants from the last show hamming it up and having a lot of fun with the audience. One of them is on the line every day at Le Cirque, a famous multi-star established French restaurant in the city, and the other person is opening up his new restaurant. The audience was fascinated by the show and the lives of the chefs and kept on firing questions at them, which they were pleased to answer. Then there were even food samples. So, a fun time and unexpected, which is when we find we have the most fun, when it's unplanned and unexpected, especially in a city like NYC where there is so much happening all the time.
Back to my school...
In the evening, we went to the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts, for the Friday Night Dinner prepared by students for about 100 people from the public. It's a labour of love as the students plan this dinner for months and carefully prepare each item as it's one of the final tests that they will have to graduate. So, you are guaranteed a great gourmet meal made with whole foods, organic and local produce, vegan and lots of love. There are communal tables, you bring your own wine or beer, and for once I was able to sit down with others and experience what it was like to be served. And, surprise, surprise, like our dinners, conversations focused on the menu and the different items that came up and food, food, and more food... best restaurants, favourite foods, and much more. A very interesting group of people to share food with. It's nice to be on the other side for a change. The fall harvest menu was absolutely delicious and lovely and the students come out at the end of the meal to answer questions about the menu. I highly recommend a reservation at this dinner if you're coming to NYC. It is certainly one of the inspirations behind holding the monthly gourmet dinners in Ottawa with the same approach and spirit. I loved the concept then and still love it, and I'm glad I brought it home.
posted by Caroline at 8:32 PM
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