Celebrating Culinary Connections: A Food Blogger BBQ, Homemade Delights, and Local Farm Adventures

There’s something uniquely special about connecting with fellow enthusiasts, especially when your shared passion revolves around the delightful world of food. This past evening unfolded beautifully at Cheryl’s, where we fired up the barbecue and welcomed a very special guest. For the first time, I had the pleasure of meeting Aimée from Under the High Chair in person, a moment long anticipated after countless virtual interactions. Aimée was passing through town on her journey from British Columbia back to Montréal, making our gathering a memorable pit stop on her cross-country adventure.

The Lively Gathering: More Than Just Food Blogs

You might imagine a gathering of food bloggers would instantly devolve into a flurry of kitchen huddles, intense discussions about camera lenses, or a non-stop Twitter feed. Surprisingly, our evening took a different, wonderfully chaotic turn. Instead of alienating our patient husbands with technical food blog chatter, we found ourselves fully immersed in the delightful mayhem of supervising our collective toddlers. The primary mission: preventing a full-scale steamrolling of one another – though, to be fair, one particular spirited individual might have been doing most of the steamrolling! An unsuspecting passerby might have simply seen us as a regular group of friends enjoying a casual Friday night barbecue, completely unaware of the culinary blogging expertise among us.

That illusion of normalcy, however, shattered the moment dinner was served. It was as if a silent, pre-arranged signal went off. Suddenly, we all pounced for our cameras, transforming into a squad of “girly Jedis,” expertly maneuvering around the picnic table. Each dish was carefully examined, poked, and turned this way and that to catch the perfect light, ensuring every angle was captured. The boys, remarkably, stood back in silent awe, seemingly well-accustomed to this pre-meal ritual of their food-obsessed parents. Even Mike, one of our understanding husbands, dutifully dressed his burger and, to my immense pride, asked if I needed a photo before taking his first bite. Snif. They truly get us!

The Culinary Journey: A Feast of Homemade Delights

The meal itself was a testament to fresh, quality ingredients and thoughtful preparation. Before diving into the main course, we nibbled on refreshing sticks of crisp watermelon and crunchy jicama, served alongside small dishes of chile-spiked salt for dipping. This vibrant and slightly spicy appetizer was the perfect palate cleanser and a great start to the evening.

Gourmet Burgers and Exquisite Sides

Cheryl’s husband took charge of the grill, preparing truly exceptional burgers. His secret? Simplicity. He used only ground Hoven Farms beef – no egg, no breadcrumbs, no ketchup, not even salt and pepper mixed in. The result was a pure, unadulterated beef patty, allowing the quality of the meat to shine through. These perfectly grilled burgers were then elevated with an array of incredible toppings. We slathered them with Elna Edgar’s asparagus relish – a vibrant, tangy, and utterly addictive condiment. (Confession: I may have eaten a generous serving of it straight up with a fork, discreetly, hoping no one noticed!) Complementing this was Cheryl’s homemade ketchup, a far cry from store-bought versions, offering a rich, nuanced sweetness that perfectly balanced the savory burger.

Alongside the burgers, we enjoyed a sophisticated romaine, grilled avocado, and corn salad with a chipotle Caesar dressing. The smoky notes of the grilled avocado and corn added depth to the crisp romaine, while the chipotle Caesar dressing delivered a delightful kick. For the younger guests, bison hot dogs were on the menu, a healthier and equally delicious option. Aimée, ever practical, opted for a kid-sized burger, which was more akin to a slider. As for me, I, of course, embraced the full barbecue experience and un-daintily opted for the generously fist-sized burger, savoring every succulent bite.

Sweet Endings: Sour Cherry Hand Pies and Unexpected Ice Cream

For dessert, Cheryl truly outdid herself. She had scouted out some actual sour cherries – a seasonal treasure – to bake exquisite hand pies. This is definitely a recipe I need to add to my own “to-bake” list! Her pastry, which I sampled with great appreciation, was absolutely wonderful. Knowing her skill at making perogies, I shouldn’t have been surprised that she handled pie pastry with such finesse; it was flaky, tender, and achieved a zero-sog factor, which is every baker’s dream. The filling was just right – tart and fruity, with a natural sweetness that wasn’t cloying. We’ll all be eagerly awaiting the recipe for these delightful hand pies, which Cheryl has promised to share on her blog next week, once she retrieves it from her brilliant culinary mind!

And with those pies, came a revelation: Sour Cream Ice Cream. Yes, you read that correctly – Sour Cream Ice Cream! It was truly delicious and completely unexpected. Our initial guesses leaned towards buttermilk due to its distinctive tang, which made the pure white color of the ice cream even more surprising. It was a stroke of genius, offering a unique creamy texture and a delightful, refreshing tartness that perfectly complemented the sweet and sour hand pies. This is another recipe that has undoubtedly earned a spot on my must-try list!

Embracing Local Flavors: Exciting Weekend Adventures

Before I sign off, I have a few exciting suggestions for how you can spend your upcoming long weekend, celebrating the best of local food and community. My apologies for the last-minute notice, but tomorrow is Food Day Canada! I know! It’s baffling how I could have gone my entire lifetime without knowing about such a wonderful celebration. Food Day Canada is a nationwide initiative dedicated to celebrating and supporting Canadian food producers, chefs, and all aspects of our unique culinary landscape. Events are happening all across Canada, though primarily concentrated out east – a clear call to action for us out west to rally our troops and participate!

Anita Stewart, the visionary behind Food Day Canada, extends an open invitation to everyone for the World’s Longest Barbecue. The idea is simple yet powerful: gather your friends, family members, or even delightful strangers, and sit down to a feast prepared with the finest local food you can find. Then, capture the moment and share it on their website, contributing to a vibrant tapestry of Canadian culinary pride. My personal musings for a Food Day feast involve succulent lamb chops paired with fresh, earthy chard – a truly delicious way to honor local produce.

Discovering the Countryside: The Summer Country Drive

Second, this weekend also marks the annual Summer Country Drive – an incredible self-guided tour that invites you to explore a couple dozen local farms, U-Pick operations, and other charming rural locales. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect directly with where your food comes from, enjoy the fresh air, and perhaps even fill your baskets with freshly picked produce. I’ll certainly be making the rounds, eager to see what treasures await!

Highlights of the Country Drive:

• The Blooming Fields: While strawberries might be limited (a common theme everywhere this season), they boast an abundance of saskatoons, peas, onions, Swiss chard, crisp lettuce, carrots, and potatoes. You might also find delightful mini tomatoes and beans. Beyond the produce, they offer a Sunday brunch at 12:30, served English high-society style, complete with a costume contest for those eager to dress up circa the 1920s – a truly unique experience!
• Edgar Farms: This farm is right in the midst of super-sweet fresh pea season, making it a must-visit for pea lovers. They also feature a fun petting zoo and an exciting bale fort for the kids. Their farm store is well-stocked with fresh Swiss chard, vibrant beets, tender spinach, leafy lettuce, and of course, those glorious peas, along with other seasonal produce – including the famous asparagus relish that I confessed to eating straight from the jar!
• The Jungle Farm: A recent message from The Jungle Farm indicated a fantastic selection for the weekend: “We will have lots of pickling cukes, lettuce, spinach, zucchini and summer squashes available this weekend as well as a great crop of lilies and u-cut flowers. We are also serving beef on a bun at our farm store, as well as home baked apple pies, Jungle Farm chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and a large selection of jams, jellies, salad dressings, pickles and our home-made naturally fermented sauerkraut. We will also have Innisfail Growers vegetables including new potatoes and a selection of BC fruit at our farm store. Unfortunately, it is too late for U-pick strawberries at our farm. We will be offering a hay ride tour of the farm and have a large playground for the children.” This sounds like a full day of fun and delicious finds!

So there you have it – as good a reason as any to hop in the car on a beautiful day, enjoy the scenic drive, and spend a few hours poking around some truly wonderful local farms. You’ll come home with fresh ingredients for dinner, delightful memories, and the satisfaction of supporting local agriculture. And don’t forget to let us know about your adventures and discoveries! Happy Food Day, and happy exploring!