County restaurants on national Food Day menu

Celebrating their appointment as Food Day Canada establishments, front: Alex Reddick and Andrew MacKenzie from Buddha Dog, Lili Sullivan from East & Main back: Steven Forrest from Harvest Resteraunt, Micheal Sullivan from Merrill Inn, Sebastien Schwab from Angeline's and Graham Sayers from Chesterfields Homegrown Cafe. Bill Samuel photo

By Bill Samuel
Chefs from across the nation who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to local food, and restaurants chosen as Food Day Canada establishments will feature special menus to celebrate the day which is the brainchild of Canadian Food icon Anita Stewart.
Public participation on Food Day Canada Saturday, July 31 couldn’t be easier: simply eat 100 per cent Canadian! And Prince Edward County restaurants are ready to help.
Chesterfields Homegrown Cafe hosted the media announcement that they are among seven area restaurants to chosen as Food Day Canada establishments. Chesterfields joins East & Main Bistro, in Wellington,  Angéline’s, in Bloomfield,  the Bloomfield Carriage House, Buddha Dog, The Merrill Inn and Harvest Restaurant, all in Picton.
Anita Stewart has authored or co-authored 14 books on Canadian Cooking, written numerous magazine articles, does commentary about Canadian food on the CBC and is a highly sought after speaker. Food Day Canada originally was started out in response to the BSE (mad-cow disease) crisis in 2003, calling Canadians to action by putting beef on their barbecues. Since then, the day has turned into a celebration of Canadian produced foods. This year, Steward added a strong restaurant component to the promotion. She has combed the nation, searching for the culinary heros who exhibit a daily, ongoing commitment to buying, cooking and serving local food.
“What is exciting about Food Day being here in the County, in Picton and here at Chesterfields is the wonderful rebirth of a food culture,” said Dan Taylor, Economic Development Officer, Prince Edward County. “We have a 200 year-old food culture here being reborn through culinary art and gastronomy.”
Each of the participators prepared samples of their distinctive culinary offerings for Food Day Canada. From Lili Sullivan’s (East & Main) blueberry tarts, to Buddha Dog’s Andrew MacKenzie offering Lamb Gourmet Hot Dogs, all of the emphasis was one Canadian produced quality food.
“We think this is a great honour to be recognized for using local food and acknowledging local farmers efforts,”said Steven Forrest, of Harvest Restaurant.
Be sure to book your table soon to enjoy the Food Day Canada menus at these local restaurants on July 31st. For those who won’t be dining at any of these fine establishments on the special day, be sure to cook Canadian…with pride!