Ten years ago, amidst the mad cow disease (BSE) crisis that was ravaging Canada’s agriculture industry, food crusader Anita Stewart stepped up to the plate to shine a positive light on the situation.
She encouraged Canadians to support beef farmers on the first weekend of August dubbing it The World’s Largest Barbecue.
This first foray into a massive country-wide party was a national success. From cottagers, backyard barbecuers and hikers to boaters, campers and restaurants, they all joined the party.
Today it has evolved into one huge bash celebrated annually on the first weekend in August. It’s now named Food Day Canada (FDC) and all of Canada is welcome.
Participants serve exclusively local foods and beverages in an all out show of support for Canadian producers; they share their menus with the rest of Canada by posting them online.
This year’s FDC 2013 celebration is set for Aug. 3.
“In those 10 years I have seen a huge difference in how Canadians are embracing local foods,” says founder Stewart.
To add depth to Food Day Canada, Stewart has invited chefs and restaurateurs who “walk the talk” to join the celebration and serve forth special menus reflecting Canada’s best.
“We have well over 275 restaurants involved,” she says. “It’s a fabulous mélange of chefs who are totally committed to regional cuisine. These are the culinary opinion leaders from all across the nation … Quebec, the Maritimes, Ontario, the Prairies, the Northwest Territories, Yukon and British Columbia.”
Locally, several restaurants are taking part with special Canadian-themed menus.
In Guelph, Ox, Borealis Grille and Bar, Delhi Street Bistro and The Woolwich Arrow Pub are participating.
Enver’s of Morriston, in south Wellington County will also take part.
In Drayton, the Drayton Chop House will offer a special menu.
In Centre Wellington, the Breadalbane Inn Bistro and Fergusson Room Pub will take part, as will The Desert Rose in Elora, featuring the culinary flavours of Chef Chris Jess of Centre Wellington District High School’s Food School.
The Elora Farmers' Market is celebrating Food Day Canada during normal market hours (9am to 1pm) They will be having food tastings and food demos, draws for market bucks and a basket of market goodies, musicians and will be collecting for the food bank.
Furthermore KIPP Elora is doing a special bake using goods from the market and deserve credit separately for their initiative.
Stewart also acknowledges the importance of Canada’s farmers’ markets.
“Local ingredients are becoming sexy and we are beginning to recognize that seasonally-harvested food actually tastes better,” says Stewart. “Together we are learning how to eat Canadian.”
To participate, she and her team have launched a searchable map pinpointing not only the FDC 2013 restaurants but also the farmers markets in Canada and a great array of on-farm enterprises.
“We are creating a fabulous edible shopping list for now and even more importantly, for future generations,” Stewart said.
Stewart is a food journalist/activist/author who was recently the recipient of a Doctor of Laws from the University of Guelph. She has been appointed Food Laureate at that same university and in 2012 Stewart was appointed to the Order of Canada for her tireless contributions as an author and culinary activist in promoting Canadian food.
Food Day Canada gratefully acknowledges its partners including Canadian Lentils, the University of Guelph, Taste and Travel Magazine and the Canola Council of Canada.
For menu selections of various restaurants in Wellington County or across the country, or to join in the festivities visit www.fooddaycanada.ca.
Follow the events on Twitter at @FoodDayCanada. To get involved, contact Anna Fischer at anna@fooddaycanada.ca.
