This Holiday Weekend

As mentioned before our affiliation with Konzelmann Winery has brought us the use of their patio that we have chosen to use as our "restaurant". This is a beautiful location on Lakeshore rd in Niagara on the Lake and if you are visiting or from the area you need to check it out.

We have a lot of fun working with local farmers and producers and as the company grows so do our relationships. This weekend we have made another fantastic menu that will take a lot of time and love to prep and make the day of.

Great food, great wine and great hosts what more can you ask for during the long weekend!

3 Courses for only $27.00

Grilled Vegetable Quiche with Baby Arugula and Balsamic Reduction
$10

Smoked Salmon on Fresh Focaccia and Potato Salad with Chardonnay Vinaigrette

$12

Feta and Roasted Red Pepper 8oz Burger served with Sauteed Mushrooms and Fresh Potato Chips

$14

Grilled Pork Loin with Fingerling Potatoes, Grilled Zucchini and White Wine Cream Sauce

$15

Late Harvest Cheese Cake with Local Cherry Reduction
$6.50

Just because food is on a patio does not mean it does not have to be the best.

Come out and have a great time with us as we explore what this area has to offer

Great things ahead

So we are far behind in posting as well as everything else! Artisanal Palate has been working very hard to progress business and we have been succeeding.

We have just started a partnership with Konzelmann Winery here in Niagara and are working on all the smaller details at this time. We have our temporary restaurant situated on their patio every weekend starting this Friday until October. We will be open 11-5 everyday and a schedule will be put on the website (www.artisanalpalate.com)

We will be serving food that will blow your mind with great wines and entertainment from your hosts.

I look forward to continue writing for all the food lovers out there and will be posting shortly.

Thank you for you patience,

Slainte

Make your own Bread!!: Introduction

I have spent years working in every kind of place I could get myself into to learn the tricks and then to do my best to learn more on my own perfecting my skill. One of my favourite things is making bread. A skill so many people told me was really hard but honestly once you know the basics and have a good reference its easy, it just takes work and time.

For starters the "Bread Bible" is just that, my bible. Chef Anthony Bourdain of Les Halles mentioned about getting his cook book dirty, get the grease stains on it. Well both books have banged up covers and both have gotten a lot of face time in the kitchen with me. A great reference book will teach you some tricks and logic will carry you the rest of the way as you make your own twist on the recipes.

When I first was taught bread the moral was "treat it like a woman". Be firm, be soft, love it and do not rush and in the end you will be rewarded. Now I take that phrase to heart in my kitchen with everything but it is honestly the best piece of advice when making bread. An there is nothing better then fresh bread out of the oven and some good butter and maybe even a lavender honey.

The next few days I will discuss my favourite breads to eat and of course to make. Remember fresh bread tastes great, is cheap to make and if your wife/husband is on your back its a great way to get some stress out if you are not yet at the "make up" stage.

slainte

The Garden

For people that know me they know that I do not like the idea of growing flowers in a garden. I just find it a waste of money and space when I can grow great produce and herbs to feed myself. Maintained, a garden of various vegetables like peppers, tomatoes and an assortment of herbs can look just as good as flowers and it will smell better to.

I love flowers for their looks and like to have them around the house but I love digging into the black soil, clay and sand planting my vegetables and sowing the seeds. The entire time I think of pickling the extra green beans with the chillies I am growing for antipasto platters, pepper jellies, roasted cherry tomatoes with garlic and fresh basil. The possibilities are endless when you can just walk out your back door.

So what is in the garden?

42 Green Bean Plants

4 Roma Tomato Plants

2 cucumber plants

1 egg plant

2 Health Kick Tomato Plants

4 Golden Cherry Tomato Plants

3 Red Cherry Tomato Plants

1 Chili

1 Cayenne Pepper

2 Banana Pepper Plants

3 Red Pepper Plants

4 small hot red pepper plants

Basil

Oregano

Chicory

Swiss Chard

Red Leaf Lettuce

Parsley

Thyme

Mesclun

Building a Community

Artisanal Palate is in its first phase of our referral program and bringing it to the businesses we want to work with. Today I visited two of the businesses that I want to form a tight community relationship with. In an age where big box stores and multi-purpose conglomerates run the globe it takes small business working together to be successful and to make sure the community has a network of great businesses to go to and get great product. We are going are looking to become your link to artisans from all over the region and province!

If you are a business that has a great product then get into contact with us (http://www.artisanalpalate.com/). Not only will Artisanal Palate be a link to great businesses but we will be a one stop connection to everything you need for your wedding or function. The website will be updated with this program and so much more that we are working on for you.

My gift to you is a referral program of your very own. When you sign on a function with Artisanal Palate in the month of May don't pay the taxes as a gift to combat the upcoming HST crunch. When you have had a function with Artisanal Palate you instantly become a member with your own code. When you refer a friend have them give the code and receive money from us for your referral. Word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertisement but I want to take it one step farther by giving back to the people that put food on my table and help me put back into the business to further contribute to Niagara.

There is a lot under the surface and we can not wait to bring everything to you.

Mr. Vinegar

As mentioned in the previous post there were some great little places to check out from the hamilton food and wine show. I have always had a great pride in bringing in small artisanal producers in to the restaurants and using their products.

I met the owners, Roger "Mr.Vinegar" Lambert and his wife Joyce at the show. They were amazing people with an even better product. It is no secret that a chef does not make the food it is the food that makes the chef. If you have good product to start with you will have great food and these vinegars are actually fermented with the real ingredients and not infused giving more depth of flavour. Some of the vinegars are a little delicate for the normal palate but all of them are characteristic to the label. There is nothing fake about these vinegars and I seriously recommend the "Chardonnay Peach" that has won some awards and has amazing notes of peaches.

Take a look at the website and I hope you enjoy their vinegars as much as I did.

http://www.mrvinegar.ca/

If you pick up the product let me know and I will keep you posted on what recipes I am coming up with.

slainte!

New Experiences

This weekend was the wine and food show in Hamilton. This show has been going on for a number of years however this is the first time that I have even heard of it. Accompanying The Grange's winemaker and friend Jeff Innes and joined by 5th Town Cheese company I have found some new Gems you must try.

For about 2 years now I have wanted to check out Prince Edward County. After this weekend I have tasted some of the best whites and cheeses I have ever had. I will be planning a trip in a month or two and report on my findings.

Another gem at the show was Black Creek beer. Now I am a pretty nostalgic person whether it is food or what I am drinking. These craft beers had an amazing amount of flavour and great finish and they were not even in cask!! They are located in Toronto in the Pioneer Village. It is a tourist area but the product is well worth it and the whole area is the same way it was hundreds of years ago.

Check these places out and I recommend you go see them!

www.blackcreek.ca
www.fifthtown.ca
www.grangeofprinceedward.com

Happy Eating!