What We're Eating

(Good old Owen Sound...)

With a move, H1N1 and little time on our hands this month, November fell to the wayside. We didn't pick a food. We didn't do much of anything, really. Well...I now have two bathrooms instead of one and a sweet fireplace at the new house. But other than that...November was a colossal bust.

Not that we didn't eat...oh no. From my waistline I'm guessing that's all I did this month. Eat. I've been loving this new place in town, Dhaba. Small Town Laura and I gorged ourselves there last week on AMAZING curry fries and samosas. One thing I love about Owen Sound...we've got some good eats. There's Norma Jean's, a great little bistro with comfy banquettes, flattering lighting, good wine and one of the best burgers I've ever eaten (though I haven't checked too far...perhaps that's a chore for January?). Their Blues Burger...well, it makes me want to cry, it's so good.

Jazzmyn's downtown has spicy yam chips that maybe I sometimes daydream about. Their cut just thick enough and are sweet with a nice bite to them. They go great with a whole lot of wine...or so I hear.

Then there is the Bean Cellar. MY Bean Cellar. THE spot to go in Owen Sound to people watch because we all go there. Everything there is pretty good but I'm partial to the grilled artichoke heart, pesto and roasted red pepper sandwich. Really partial. It's at least 50% responsible for my potentially double chin.

So December will be a month of trial foods. We'll decide what to test and let you know. But for now...I'm just loving all of it.

Apple Pie

I swore I wouldn't do it. I thought I might use October to look around for some nice salads, maybe a good smoothie or cleansing cabbage soup. But nope - it's apple pie. Fragrant, perfect apple pie. We're starting off on the official Apple Pie trail through the Blue Mountains of the Georgian Triangle. But we still need help...I've decided to let you know where we ate and what we thought along the way this time. So you will know that we truly are experts in our field and trying all we can along the way.

Do you know who makes the best apple pie (and please, please PLEASE don't say your mom, your Aunt Sally or your Grandpa. Unless they want to seel to the general public...then we'll talk)

Let us know!

Who Wins The Title For Best Cinnamon Buns?

Well, the end of the month has come and gone folks. And here I stand, hat in hand...defeated. I've given it a go, I swear. I've searched high and low for cinnamon buns all over the province. I've asked everyone I know where they make the best cinnamon buns. I've tried...well, maybe not hundreds but close to it.

Just this morning, in fact, I was driving around on an anonymous tip that there might be a better cinnamon bun about forty-five minutes from my home. I was hoping for a Hail Mary...but no luck. Sigh. Good sticky cinnamon goo, but alas, too much almond paste.

So here's what we came up with. We couldn't all agree on one (again) but here are the results as they stand...

Reigning Supreme Champion of Cinnamon Buns -

Chesterfield's Cafe in Picton Ontario. http://www.chesterfieldscafe.ca/

No one quite managed to beat them. Now, I should point out that most of my taste-testers told me they would really like it if Chesterfield's iced their cinnamon buns (I'm a purist - I want to really taste the butter and brown sugar) but they win hands-down. Hats off Chesterfield's...and if you want to send me some free cinnamon buns since I can't make it back over to Picton - well, I wouldn't be offended. I promise.

Laura's Top Choice (since she tasted the most cinnamon buns beside me) -

Mariposa Market in Orillia Ontario http://www.mariposamarket.ca/

These were pretty good - not my favourite, but good. Laura swears by them. And she hasn't even been to their awesome store yet...Mariposa Market is one of my all-time favourite places in the universe. I went to high school for a few years in Orillia, and Mariposa Market was my favourite hangout. If you can get up there before Thanksgiving, try their turkey, stuffing and cranberry bagel. I don't know if that's what they call it...but I would make sweet, sweet love to it if I could.

So there you have it. Cinnamon buns - hard to come by, Ontario. Bakers - take up the challenge! I'll still give you a shot if you can impress me with your superiour bun making skills.

And now we're on to October. I'm not 100% sold on what we should be trying this month. A few of the gals are thinking pumpkin pie, some others are thinking stuffing. I'd be happy to hear from you if you'd like to give me some input - email me at jen@smalltownmoms.com.

Happy Eating! (that's my new sign-off. Cute, eh?)

P.S. - Jason, Laura's foodie husband who has tasted everything along with us, chose a different winner and since he's planning on helping me move his favourite deserves a mention. Our very own local food market, Around The Sound, serves up amazing maple pecan cinnamon buns WARM ever Saturday baked by Rising Sun Bakery. You can only get them Saturdays and, though I was suspicious of their spelt flour sinbce it's supposed to be healthy, they were gorgeous. Check them out! http://aroundthesoundfood.com/

HELP!!!!!

No one seems to know where any good cinnamon buns are. Everyone keeps saying 'Just go to Cinnabon' but I won't.

We are small town. We know a thing or two about butter and sugar and cinnamon. C'mon, people...I'm panicking. The month is halfway through and I haven't found a single bun to rival Chesterfield's in Picton. You bakers out there...have some confidence! Brag a little. Tell me where you are and we'll come to you.

But for the love of God - hurry!!!

Cinnamon Buns

Well, I'm trying to come down from my butter tart high in time to start checking out the small town cinnamon bun scene. This one shouldn't be too hard...I dream about cinnamon buns. If I could marry a food, it would be cinnamon buns. Although they'd be a mess to pick up after, I bet. All that butter and sticky icing....

I might need a little help here. Like, some ideas about where to start. Remember, Cinnabon doesn't count (besides, Cinnabon is getting to be like KFC for me - it always seems like a good idea beforehand but after, when I'm lying on the couch clutching my sides and groaning...).

We're happy to go just about anywhere...let me know!

...And The Winner For Best Butter Tarts...

So let me start by saying - if I ever have to taste another butter tart again for the rest of my life, I will quite literally die. Expire. Throw up. Something. I have personally tasted at least 100 butter tarts across Ontario in the last month. Which feels like at least 50 too many.

Now I know what you're thinking - don't all buttertarts taste the same? Good God, no. There are grainy butter tarts, sugary ones, gooey and liquidy and yes, buttery. Raisins and walnuts and maple and combinations of all three. We Canadians are quite passionate about our butter tarts, I have to tell you. Heck we've even got a butter tart trail through Wellington County. Ask anyone where they sell the best butter tarts and they'll have an answer.

Luckily for you, you don't have to ask anymore. Because I think I've tasted just about all the small town butter tarts across this province. So much so that when my sons and I were travelling across Prince Edward County my son Cal said, "Mom, can I just eat this butter tart or do I have to actually taste it?" Which makes us the experts, I think. We've suffered for our art.

And the winners are (we couldn't pick just one...)

OVERALL WINNER - Buddha Dog in Picton, Prince Edward County (http://www.buddhafoodha.com/) - Maple tarts by Nora Westervelt. Quite simply perfect. Even my son Jack, who actually hates butter tarts loved these ones. The texture was perfect. Crust was light. And the hint of maple...gorgeous. Nora does one seasonal tart (that week was blueberry) and one classic every week. She is a butter tart genius - well done, Nora.

BEST CRUST - Williamsford Pie Company (http://www.williamsfordpiecompany.ca/)
This adorable little store/Post Office in teeny tiny Williamsford, Grey County is a gem. Run by a woman who looks to be about 17 but isn't, everything is good. Her lemon buttermilk pie especially. But her crust...my oh my. Light and flaky and perpetually warm, my friend Laura gave it the highest compliment of all - 'This is better than my mom's".
Sorry Laura's mom.

MOST UNIQUE FILLING - Shepherd's Watch 100 Mile Market in Arthur Ontario. Try the raspberry maple walnut tarts. Divine. Cute little market too....owned by Lynda Sauve and Carol Sampson. The prices are even reasonable.

So there you have it. September is cinnamon bun month....I challenge all you small town bakers to let me know where you are so we can try you out. The buns to beat right now (so to speak)?

Chesterfield's Homegrown Cafe in Picton. (http://www.chesterfieldscafe.ca/). Perfect, perfect, perfect. And I do love me a good cinnamon bun. These were almost as edible as the owner's baby, Milene. When you go - and please, please go - check out the washroom. It's the nicest washroom in the entire cafe world.