Over 100 chefs and retailers along with various media attended the annual Harvestin’ The County Chef-Farmer Meet and Greet held at the Wellington Town Hall this past Tuesday afternoon.
Liason College Students Enjoying the Pig Roast
This year’s event was bigger and better than ever, even attracting some of our future culinary professionals- students from Liason College in Kingston. New to the mix this year was a selection of local PEC wineries, Barley Days Brewery and the County Cider Company which was a brilliant addition to the array of vegetable and meat producers who were represented.
The event gives local chefs and retailers the opportunity to meet and connect with local growers and producers, find out what they will be producing in the upcoming season and form sales relationships. This market-building opportunity allows the producers to easily access and connect with foodservice professionals from Brighton to Kingston in a “one stop shop”. Some regions who host similar events to this one call it “speed dating for farmers”.
Also new this year was a delicious Pig Roast lunch, generously funded by Savour Ontario. The pig came from local producer Blaine Way, and weighed in at 145lbs, dressed weight. Currah’s Catering did the honours of cooking it, arriving at 11pm the night before to get it started and slow-roasted it over the flames throughout the night. By the time noon hour came along, the pig was done to perfection, succulent and juicy with crackling to boot! Chefs, farmers and winery folks all sat down together to have lunch, chat and plan the year to come in Ontario’s Gastronomic Capital, Prince Edward County.
