What’s for dinner? Well if anything, this sudden leap into fall has shown me the question really should be- “what’s the weather forecast?”!
Little over a week ago I sat in my desk silently melting as I chatted to our good friend James Chatto about a menu. Last weekend we had the pleasure of welcoming James and David Lawrason and their group of hard core food and wine lovers as they did their annual Tour of Niagara (check www.jameschatto.com for the day by day report of the trip!). As many of you know we are great lovers of pork so it was decided that we would create a lovely fall menu with a pork trio as the main event. A wee bit of madness on our part as we enjoyed yet another tropical heatwave!
As I chatted with James about the lovely gnocchi with a smoked roma tomato cream (those in posession of The Good Book should immediately turn to page 57 !) I could hear a politeness in his tone that was just a tad diconcerting. Then I delved in great detail about the pork dish and how we love going to Highland Country Markets (a mere 10 steps separates the “country market” from the “packer” part of the business) — how we would also be including Patrick’s in house smoked bacon to the potatoes etc. I could sense some muffled concern in James’ chatter. Afterall, on a 36 degree tropical day with high humidity, how can one blame him for thinking that we were mad! That kind of weather screams for light salads, grilled foods, nothing that will add to the sweat.
I ended the conversation by suggesting that he and his guests had best be prepared with jackets. The weekend weather was about to turn…and so it did! As the group descended from the bus into the raw north tempest a few days after our conversation, it was clear that the menu that only 12 hours earlier sounded insane, now couldn’t be more fitting!
Chef Michael changing up the menu!
This morning, Chef Patrick and Michael and I decided that it was time to face reality and re-jig the menu for our patio (well indoor patio now!). Michael was lamenting how no one was ordering the salads anymore. Guests had come in for lunch searching for…SOUP! Our “facebook” friends were calling out for gnocchi and salads with warm buttered pears and blue cheese! Even as we pondered our menu options, the Bosc pears and German plums that line the “dusty laneway” were whisked off the trees and into baskets. With that the 2010 fruit harvest is officially OVER — a mere 18 days earlier than normal!
It’s so easy to abandon the favourite foods of a few weeks ago as the temperatures drop. Time to bring out the butter, cream and other fats…time to “put on our winter coats” for the months ahead.
What’s for dinner this weekend? Well stay tuned to the weather forecast and come on out to The Good Earth for a bowl of comfort and cheer — a nice hot soup! There is no denying that autumn has arrived and it’s time to switch gears.