Memories of Maple

What can be more iconic to Canada than maple?

Whenever my family went abroad and visited distant relatives and friends, we would often bring along with us two things that "screamed" Canada: Niagara icewine and, of course, maple syrup.

I LOVE maple syrup. Growing up, we only had maple syrup in the household, so it was the only way I knew how to eat my pancakes. Disappointment would be written on my face if we ended up at a restaurant for breakfast with none of the real stuff in sight.

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Wordless Wednesday #39: A Crabby Mussel

Perth County Week: Chocolate Barr's Candies

What better way to end a fabulous day in Stratford than a little sweet treat at Stratford’s own “chocolate factory”, Chocolate Barr’s Candies, located in the heart of downtown Stratford. Owned and operated by Derek Barr and his wife Jacqueline, Chocolate Barr’s has been open since 2003 and offer such delectable treats as chocolates, jellies, nutty pop, brittle, confections and more.


No matter what age you are, you are sure to become a giddy little child as you enter the Chocolate Barr’s store and find yourself surrounded by beautifully wrapped chocolates and candies, and the smell of melting chocolate wafting from the back where the magic happens.

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Perth County Week: A Cup of Tea…or Two…or Five

After an eventful morning of walking and touring some fabulous food producers in and around Stratford, and a filling lunch courtesy of Chef Neil Baxter, we settled in with a slightly quieter but stimulating activity of tea tasting with Stratford’s own tea sommelier, Karen Hartwick. We already had a preview of Karen’s teas earlier in the day, having sampled the Earl of Monforte she specially blended for Monforte Dairy during breakfast, and the herbal tea that was served during lunch.

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Perth County Week: Lunch in the Barn

After an eventful morning touring some of Stratford’s finest food producers—Monforte Dairy, Soiled Reputation and Perth Pork Products—we made our way back to Soiled Reputation for lunch. We were certainly in for a treat, as Chef Neil Baxter of Stratford’s celebrated Rundles, along with two assistants, was preparing us a three-course lunch using ingredients from all three producers we visited in the morning.

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Perth County Week: Perth Pork Products

Oink, oink!

Before we were treated to a beautiful lunch, we headed to Perth Pork Products to learn about the main ingredient of our lunch: wild boar, along with a variety of other pigs that are raised on the 100 acres farm. Owned and operated by Fred de Martines and his family, Perth Pork Products specializes in rare and heritage breed pigs, and is home to five breeds of pigs: commercial pigs, wild boar, Tamworth, Berkshire, and the prized Iron Age.

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Perth County Week: Soiled Reputation

After a short drive from the Monforte Dairy, we were greeted with a lovely house, garden, barn, and fertile soil spanning 80 acres. This was Soiled Reputation Farm, owned and operated by Antony John, formerly of Food Network’s “The Manic Organic”, along with his wife Tina. The farm (along with its greenhouses) are certified organic, although only half of the 40 acres are actually certified at the moment (they are working towards making the rest of the 40 acres certified organic). Here at Soiled Reputation, you can find gourmet greens and heirloom vegetables, picked at the peak of their ripeness and shipped off to restaurants, markets and homes.

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Perth County Week: Monforte Dairy

Much like its namesake across the pond, Stratford (Ontario) is often associated with the theatre. It’s home to the popular Stratford Festival, highlighting classic Shakespeare as well as musicals and various other playwrights. And recent months, Stratford has also become known as “Justin Bieber’s hometown.”

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