Volume 1, Number 24 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | A Good Food Media website | News & features from the good food movement

Jamie Drummond Meets Winemaker Alvaro Palacios

Roving podcaster Jamie Drummond speaks with Spain's famous artisanal winemaker Alvaro Palacios (includes tasting notes). More>>

Venezuelan Christmas

Chef Carlos Fuenmayor prepares Christmas treats from his South Americaqn childhood. More>>

Culinarium's seasonal ingredient guide will return in 2010...

Toronto's New Arepera

Mary Luz Mejia reports on Queen Street's new Venezuelan cafe. More>>

Foodie Gift Guide

Kelly Jones surveys the gourmet present scene from caviar to CSAs. More>>

Recessionista's Holiday LCBO Wine Guide

It's all about value as Anne Martin suggest what LCBO wines to pour for every holiday gathering. More>>

Watch for our Best of 2009 Issue, December 24...

Auberge de Pommier's Chef Jason Bangerter

Chef Jason Bangerter has been quietly perfecting his modern, French influenced, seasonally and locally sourced cuisine in the wilds of Hogg's Hollow at Auberge de Pommier. The fourth in our series of profiles of Good Food Fighters. More>>

More Wine Notes

Zoltan Szabo shares his most recent tasting notes. More>>

Doing Good by Giving: Gifts by The Stop

It's not too late to do good by picking up a last minute gift like Good Food For All, the cookbook published in support of The Stop Community Food Centre. Or treat yourself and a love one to a cooking class or multi-course dinner. All in aid of one the city's most innovative food charities. More>>

Jamie Drummond Meets Penfolds' Peter Gago: Tasting Notes and Podcast
Photo: Ginger Hucknall
GFR's Jamie Drummond sits down with Penfold's legendary winemaker Peter Gago for a podcast and posts tasting notes for the just-released 2004 Grange and other luxury brands from Australia's "biggest boutique winery". More>>

100% Niagara Grape Juice

Kathleen Mackintosh calls it "the best grape juice I’ve ever had, not too sweet, nice and grapy," and she suggests it's "a great festive bevvy for the kids at your table or the big kids who are avoiding the festive cheers." Gesundeit grape juice is made from the same vinifera varietals as Niagara wines including Vidal and Baco Noir. | Culinarium, Ontario's Locavore Store, sponsors GFR's weekly seasonal produce report.

New Canadian Holiday Tradition: The Cheese Plate

How Precisely Not to Make Plum Pudding

Jamie Drummond  vows never to make plum pudding again (at least not for a whole year). From brandy soaked fruit to organic, pasture fed beef suet, Jamie offers step-by-step un-instruction. More>>

 Splendid Chef Victor Barry

What To Get The Winos: Anne Martin's Gift Guide

Anne Martin's Wino Gift Guide suggests what to give all the wine drinkers in your life from your boss to your friends with styles and regions to match any taste. More>>

4,000 Turkeys Needed This Weekend

Second Harvest, a Toronto-based charity that delivers surplus food that would otherwise go to waste to over 200 food banks and social agencies across the GTA is calling for donations of 4,000 more turkeys this holiday season. (See GFR0114 for more on Second Harvest.) Turkeys may be bought and donated at participating Toronto Loblaw's stores: click here for a list of locations, or donate a turkey online by clicking here or call 416-408-2594 to reach their turkey hotline and help feed Toronto this holiday season.

Loblaw's President Galen Weston Jr. with Second Harvest staffer Jordan Mlynek. Photo: Second Harvest.

Guess Who's Back...
Donald Ziraldo's New Ice Wine Hits The Shelves

The once and future king of Niagara winemaking is back with a premium icewine just in time for the holiday rush. Malcolm Jolley finds Donald Ziraldo engaged and ever-fighting for Niagara terroir. More>>

David Shrigley Podcast

Celebrated UK artist and resident Glaswegian David Shrigley speaks with Jamie Drummond about great British banger, the ubiquity of bland continental lagers, deep-fried pizza, smoked whale meat, foraging for mushrooms and offal. More>>

GOLD MEDAL PLATES UPDATE:

Jamie Drummond reports on the Canadian champions. More>>

Thomas Keller in TO

Greg Bolton reports on the American master chef Thomas Keller's evening at the Toronto Reference Library. More>>

Flighting Blind

Jamie Drummond explains how blind tasting can lead to a step off of the oenophillic cliff. More>>

Wine Under $20: Elegant Rioja Value

From one of Spain's royal families of winemaking, the 2008 La Vendimia Rioja ($15.95 - LCBO# 674564) is a sunshine-filled, rich and fruity stunner at just over $15. Bold raspberry and blackcurrant notes meld with a garrigue-like spiciness. Open a good hour before serving and swish in a big glass or decant for optimum sipping and chase away dull December days.

(4 and a half apples out of five)

Captain Crump: Ancaster's Slow Food Champion

Photo: Jo Dickins

Chef Jeff Crump combines international experience and innovation with deep-rooted localism at The Ancaster Old Mill. The third in our series of profiles of Good Food Fighters. More>>

Sismondo's Holiday Food and Wine Book List

Christine Sismondo rounds up her holiday book list. More>>

Click here to find out about Monforte's CSA subscriptions and
holiday gift options.

Hurry: nominations to The Ontario Hostelry Institute's 2010 Top 30 Under 30 Awards close December 15. Nominate the under 30 hospitality professional you know who's making a difference by clicking here.