The Stella Supper Club is the Stella Artois x HYR Live Collaboration We've All Been Waiting For!

There are many different clubs out there in the world. The night club where you dance the night away. The book club where you can get lost in an imaginary universe. Or just a school club where you join not always because you’re interested in it, but because all your friends are there (been there, done that!). Now where is the club for foodies? The club for learning by interacting with seasoned professionals? Well folks, I’m here to invite you to the best foodie club there is. It’s called the Stella Supper Club and it just might be the club you’ve all been waiting and searching for to join!

Stella Artois and HYR Live have partnered together to create The Stella Supper Club, where it brings a variety of all-inclusive live and on-demand cooking classes with Canada’s top Chefs right into your kitchen. All of the ingredients are then delivered straight to your door within the Stella Supper Club meal kit to make this interactive cooking class as stress-free and easy as possible. All you need is an internet connection, some basic cooking utensils, maybe one or two kitchen helpers, and just an appetite to not only feed your stomach but also your mind as you learn from some of the very best chefs in our country.

With great skill in eating a diverse range of food, but not so much in the actual creation of it, I was very excited in getting a chance to take part in one of these live cooking classes. I mean I need all the help I can get when it comes to the kitchen, and who better to teach me then acclaimed Chef Nuit Regular from the highly acclaimed Thai restaurant Pai Northern Kitchen in Toronto!

In preparation for my live cooking tutorial, Stella Artois also sent me a beautiful Home Chef essentials kit to give me a taste of what was to come. Within this package was a beautiful leather Stella Artois apron, a marble charcuterie board, and a couple of their iconic chalices to go along with a 6-pack of beer. As you can see, it was a perfect way to spend a day out on the balcony with some delicious charcuterie and a cold glass of Stella Artois.

As the much anticipated day of the cooking class finally arrived, I had a knock on my door and a fresh delivery of produce and ingredients was dropped off at my doorstep thanks to Chefdrop. For anyone that signs up for a Stella Supper Club experience, you’ll not only get all the required ingredients to make your dishes that night, everyone will also receive a 6 pack of Stella Artois and two Stella Artois chalices. It’s safe to say you can never have enough of those beautiful chalices in your home. Such a simple way to elevate your kitchen!

Once your box of ingredients arrives that morning/afternoon, open it up and refrigerate any items in your box right before the event starts that evening. On the menu for me that evening with Chef Nuit Regular was getting to turn up the heat inside by learning how to make her signature Thai Red Curry Chicken (Gaeng Phed Gai), complemented by her bold Thai Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum Thai). Two dishes that I loved ordering whenever I visited her restaurant, so being able to make it at home was absolutely incredible!

Once it was 7PM it was time to go! I laid out all the necessary ingredients in front of me, hooked up my laptop and laid it out on the kitchen counter, opened up the email link that contained the direct link to the cooking class, and voila - class was in session! It was a seamless process with Hyr’s interactive chat and video capabilities making it super easy to ask any questions live to Chef Nuit Regular whenever I needed any clarification to a step. I also loved the fact that they really seemed to care about the participants who signed up for the class as they called out and thanked individuals by name who was part of the class which I think was a very nice touch.

The first part of the class was learning how to make the Red Curry and man oh man if you guys could smell the aromas in the kitchen when this was being cooked on the stove top. The scent of the red curry paste, thai basil mixed in with the Chinese eggplant, coconut milk, and fresh red spur chili was phenomenal! It really was a restaurant quality dish being made at home. And then to top it off with the homemade Papaya Salad was just a great way to end the night as the sweetness and sourness of the signature Pai salad dressing perfectly cut the heat of the spicy red curry. At the end of the night I just kept repeating to myself…. “I can’t believe I made this!”

One of my favourite parts of The Stella Supper Club is after the class is over, you can then watch the entire class all over again. On-Demand. Stream anytime, anywhere. It’s so convenient to have that capability because if you decide to re-create the dish at a later time on your own, you can easily pull up the video again of the cooking class you attended and follow along once more.

The Stella Supper Club is something I would highly recommend anyone to join, because not only do you get to learn from some of the very best chefs in the country, it’s also a great excuse to start downing some Stella Artois beers because hey… it’s all part of the cooking experience!

To see all the upcoming cooking classes and to register for one of their live tutorials, please visit the website here. Cheers!

Italpasta Introduces a New Artisan Pasta Line with Big Impact!

If you’re anything like me, craving a comforting bowl of pasta is always on my radar. Pasta is one of my favourite things to eat, and also one of my go-to dishes to make at home just because for the most part you can whip up a bowl of pasta quite quickly that would also leave you with leftovers for days! So as you can imagine I’m always walking up and down the grocery aisle grabbing more boxes of my pasta to restock my pantry.

Italpasta has always been a brand of pasta that I bought frequently. If this brand doesn’t sound familiar to you yet, just think of the blue pasta packaging with the cellophane window, and more than likely the image of this brand will come rushing back to you. Italpasta has been a staple in homes of Canadian families since 1989. I love that they are inspired by the age-old Italian way of making high-quality pasta, yet I’m still supporting a Canadian company that uses 100% Canadian wheat. This results into what I think to being a rougher texture that helps the pasta sauce cling to the pasta for a fuller and more delicious bite.

Italpasta has also recently launched a new Artisan pasta range, and surprisingly that’s actually not the most impactful change for their company. In an effort to be more conscious of food waste, they have made a commitment to encourage a zero food waste approach to cooking as part of the company’s sustainability commitment to fully transition their signature cellophane window boxes and bulk plastic bags to 100% recyclable packaging by 2030! So not only is this new Artisan pasta line made with 100% Canadian wheat, it also uses 100% recyclable packaging with the removal of the cellophane window. And honestly to me, the packaging looks even better now with a more modern and sleek look wrapped in this beautiful darker blue hue. This might be a small change, but it makes a huge impact as we all strive to become more environmentally conscious in protecting our mother Earth.

This Italpasta Artisan pasta range comes in six different varieties. There is the Artisan Fusilli, Artisan Maccheroni, Artisan Gemelli, Artisan Penne Rigate, Artisan Spaghetti, and the Artisan Spaghettini. There’s literally something to like for everyone! Every one of these pasta varieties are made in Canada, certified kosher, non-GMO, and vegan. Of course when it comes to new and shiny things, I obviously had to give one of these new artisan pastas a whirl and test a recipe out. You know…. for science.

I was immediately drawn to the Artisan Gemelli just by it’s beautiful shape and decided to make a cold pasta dish with it from one of the Italpasta recipes on their website. I love a good pesto as well, so making their “Gemelli & Asparagus With Watercress Pesto” recipe was a no-brainer for me. I did add my own twist to it as I couldn’t find watercress at my local grocery store, so I substituted that with Arugula which is very similar to the taste and texture of watercress. It came out absolutely delicious and a beautiful dish to look at with the pop of green that comes out from the pesto and asparagus. As it’s a cold pasta, it can be eaten as a quick appetizer or even a hearty lunch. It’s fresh, light, and healthy and if you squint your eyes just a bit you’ll be thinking you’re even eating a salad! I highly, highly recommend making this recipe as it’s so easy to make and only 20 minutes total to whip it up! A perfect dish to impress your family and friends with at your next gathering.

Gemelli & Asparagus with Arugula Pesto

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 pkg (450 g) Italpasta Artisan Gemelli

• 1/2 lb (250 g) asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) toasted walnuts, divided

• 2 cloves garlic, whole

• 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) arugula, packed

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) packed fresh parsley, chopped and divided

• 1/3 cup (75 mL) extra virgin olive oil

• 2 tbsp (30 mL) lemon zest

• 3/4 tsp (4 mL) salt

• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) pepper

• 1/4 cup (60 mL) Pecorino cheese, grated

• 2 tbsp (75 mL) Parmesan cheese, grated

• 1/3 cup (75 mL) Parmesan cheese, shaved

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, adding asparagus in the last 2 minutes of cooking time. Drain and refresh under cold running water; drain well and set aside.

2. In food processor, pulse 1/4 cup (60 mL) walnuts and garlic until finely ground. Add arugula, half of the parsley, olive oil, lemon zest, salt and pepper; pulse until smooth. Stir in Pecorino and Parmesan until blended.

3. In bowl, toss together pasta, asparagus and watercress pesto. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours to serve chilled.

4. Just before serving, garnish with shaved Parmesan, and remaining walnuts and parsley.

Shaken and Stirred - The Cocktail Kit We All Need In Our Life!

If there is one thing most of us can agree on, it’s that it was a rough 2020. With what seems to be the never-ending covid-19 pandemic, a lot of us had to face the harsh reality of losing their jobs while doing our best to keep sane in the various waves of social isolation. And with restaurants closed for indoor dining, we all had to pivot with how we interacted with food. Many of us (including me) started a baking frenzy at home and raided the grocery aisles by buying out all the flour. Others dived into the world of online grocery shopping and/or subscribed to meal-kit delivery services so we could do our part to socially distance at home.

One Toronto woman who had a roller-coaster type of year in 2020 because of the pandemic was Iksheeta Shah. She was one of the unlucky ones who lost their job due to covid, and for months wasn’t exactly sure what was going to happen next in her foreseeable future. With restaurants closed and spare time now on her hands, Iksheeta along with her partner found themselves creating gourmet restaurant-quality meals and experiences at home just to bring some form of normalcy back into their lives.

Making the meals wasn’t the hard part for Iksheeta and her partner, but like every memorable meal at your favourite restaurant having a cocktail to accompany your dinner is just as crucial to the food itself. And that was the restaurant magic Iksheeta was trying to re-create at home, but quickly realized that sourcing all the necessary cocktail ingredients was much harder than anticipated. Many hours were spent on Google to find the right suppliers as a lot of the ingredients were not found at grocery stores like bitters and syrups. However, even when you are able to find them, she quickly realized that you only need a few table spoons of it, and you just end up having a huge bottle tucked away in your kitchen cabinet that is never fully used.

Successful meal kit companies like Hello Fresh and GoodFood have flourished during the pandemic with their pre-portioned ingredients and recipes delivered to their subscriber’s doors on a weekly basis. Consumers just absolutely love the convenience these companies bring to us when it comes to meal time, and has changed the landscape of the food industry in a huge way. Iksheeta soon realized that there was an untapped market and a huge opportunity here for cocktail enthusiasts, because these large meal-kit delivery companies currently do not offer cocktails in their kits. And with that realization, Shaken and Stirred was born!

In October 2020, Iksheeta launched Shaken and Stirred which is a cocktail kit company that sources and delivers all the required ingredients to make 4 to 6 drinks per kit right to your door! Each kit comes with a carefully curated recipe card to make the process of creating your cocktails at home as easy and seamless as possible with ingredients like bitters, syrups, shrubs, mixes, garnishes, and fresh produce neatly packed inside the box.

One thing to keep in mind is that alcohol is not included in these kits due to legal reasons. A recommended spirit will always be included in their recipe card, but you can always feel free to crack open a bottle you already have at home. Since everyone also has their own preferred brand of booze, not including alcohol and keeping the cost of the kit lower because of it is actually a good thing in my opinion.

Though most of us probably have a few bottles of alcohol lying around at home already, barware may be a different story. One of my favourite aspects of Shaken and Stirred is how you’re able to purchase any barware you may be missing at home directly off of their website, and they’ll ship it together with your cocktail ingredients. Barware you’re able to purchase includes items like a stainless steel jigger, cocktail pins, cocktail muddler, bar spoon, and a premium 3-piece cocktail shaker. Other optional items you can purchase in addition to your cocktail kit are bar snacks like chips, nuts, and popcorn, along with VISA and LCBO gift cards.

The customized cocktail kit I received was for the Screaming Bloody Orange, a perfect Winter cocktail bursting with rich citrus flavours from the blood orange juice, and then perfectly balanced with the earthy and floral notes of thyme. The recommended spirit for this cocktail was bourbon, and the recommended glassware is a lowball glass. Lucky for me I had both at home already so I had that covered, but I did have a few pieces of barware missing. As mentioned before, these barware items can easily be added inside any cocktail kit so my box also came with the premium 3-piece cocktail shaker, barspoon, and jigger to make my cocktail making experience at home complete.

After following the extremely simple instructions on the recipe card, the Screaming Bloody Orange cocktail turned out absolutely amazing. My experience with making restaurant quality cocktails is extremely limited, yet I felt like a seasoned professional after following its very simple instructions. Having all the ingredients at your finger tips is a game-changer, and literally within a few minutes I had a delicious cocktail in my hands. It’s safe to say I’m definitely going to keep the recipe card handy for when the time comes when I have guests come over to visit.

Another great thing about Shaken and Stirred is that they also offer white glove service meaning you can also ask them to fully customize their cocktail kits for a specific event or occasion such as Holiday related cocktails, 70s themed, or even having a specific cocktail named after someone for a goodbye party for instance. The possibilities are endless and you’ll be able to work directly with Iksheeta to craft your very own personalized cocktail experience.

If there’s one thing we can probably all agree on is that drinking by yourself is not as fun as compared to drinking with others. That’s why Shaken and Stirred also specializes in hosting fun and engaging parties and corporate events, where they partner with some of Canada’s most beloved bartenders to host classes and interactive group sessions. With the pandemic still in full swing, these interactive events are all done virtually where the cocktail kits are delivered to the participant’s home directly 2 to 3 days prior to the start of the event. The virtual event can be held virtually on platforms like Zoom or Google Meet where the bartender can demonstrate how to make that perfect cocktail, answer questions, and may even perform a trick or two. It’s quite the show!

With new cocktail recipes out each season, Shaken and Stirred is carving out its own path in the cocktail industry and pioneering a brand new way on how we can re-create our favourite alcoholic drinks at home. Some of the best and most creative ideas are born out of the most unexpected moments. Shaken and Stirred is truly a beautiful success story of turning a bad situation into something positive. When life gives you lemons, make a cocktail! And that is something I can drink to. Cheers everyone!

Fall For Stratford - Everything You Need To Know Before You Visit

The temperature is dipping, the leaves are changing colours, and you can already feel the Christmas energy seeping through the neighbourhoods. That’s right, the Fall season is now in full effect, and there’s no better place to be during this season than the beautiful and charming city of Stratford, Ontario.

If you’ve never been to Stratford, Ontario like me before you probably already know two things about this city. You may have heard about The Stratford Shakespeare Festival that has been attracting hundreds of thousands of theatre goers and tourists each year, and you might have heard that Stratford was once home to international superstar Justin Bieber. There’s no denying that these two things have certainly help put Stratford on the map, but with my recent visit to Stratford I realized there was so much more to love and discover.

Coming from Toronto where I’m from, Stratford is just a short 90 minute drive away, just a little west of Kitchener, Ontario. Upon arriving you’ll notice that Stratford is not a very large city, and everything you would want to explore in a new city is in walking distance. From their local restaurants, shops, museums, hiking trails, and parks, you can basically walk to all these places on foot. Full disclosure though when I arrived at Stratford, it was a little chilly so I did end up driving around from place to place to keep warm. However I can only imagine just how nice it would be in the warmer months as well. That travel guide for the Spring/Summer will have to wait for another time, but even during the Autumn/Winter seasons you are going to have a blast.

During my time here in Stratford, there is currently a global pandemic going on that I’m sure all of you are more than aware of called Covid-19. With that said I never felt more safe walking down the streets and going inside the many restaurants and shops, because the city has taken Covid-19 very seriously which I really appreciated. I can’t count just how many times I saw a free supply of masks and easy access to hand sanitizers as you entered inside. I always say that wearing a mask is not only for everyone’s protection, but also a sign of respect to others to keep everyone safe. And I can confidently say that the people of Stratford are the most friendly and respectful people around. Everyone wore a mask around the city which really put me at ease as I ventured throughout the city.

One thing you may not know is Stratford also has its own currency! Yes, you read that right. Tons of restaurants and shops around the city accept what is called Stratford Dollars, which basically acts like gift certificates not just for a specific store or a restaurant, but for the entire city. Isn’t that rad? The Downtown Dollars can be purchased at the Tourism Office at 47 Downie Street in denominations of $5, $10, or $20. Spend them anywhere downtown with the exception of LCBO and gas stations.

So now lets get to the fun part. FOOD! As a big foodie I often find places to travel based on the food scene, and to my pleasant surprise Stratford has tons of great restaurants and local breweries to indulge in catering to all budgets and taste buds.

FOOD SCENE

Mercer Kitchen & Beer Hall

This was one of the most recommended places I’ve received to eat at. Mercer Kitchen & Beer Hall is located at the heart of downtown Stratford on Ontario Street. They serve an approachable and affordable izakaya style menu where you are able to order many small plates to share with your table. You’ll also find here Stratford’s largest craft beer menu, and if you’re having so much fun and feeling a bit tipsy after a few drinks, book a room upstairs because they also have a hotel right above the restaurant for guests to stay at. A personal must order for me would be their Smoked Sweet Potato Croquette and their Buttermilk Fried Chicken.

Bijou

A local favourite, Bijou offers a highly acclaimed and locally inspired farm-to-table menu honouring their 21 year old tradition of farm-to-table cuisine. On the higher end of the price spectrum, Bijou also masterfully infuses modern influences and techniques in their dishes. You’ll also be able to try their tasting menu if you choose with expert wine pairings for groups of 6 to 8 people. Just note that a reservation is required for the tasting menu with at least a week’s notice. An upscale restaurant that will for sure reward your taste buds after a long day exploring the city. If you do end up dining here, do order their Savoury Crepes and Striploin Steak that comes with an extremely delicious potato pave.

The Bruce Hotel

Similarly to Mercer Kitchen & Beer Hall, not only will you find a great restaurant here but as the name suggests guests are welcome to stay over night here at The Bruce Hotel that’s set on 6 and a half acres of land. This place is absolutely stunning, and although I did not stay here overnight, I did have the most amazing breakfast here inside their restaurant. With floor to ceiling windows, you’ll be greeted by the warmth of the natural light inside a sophisticated dining area. The service here is unparalleled. The friendly waitstaff caters to your every need here showing the utmost professionalism I have ever seen in a restaurant. And lets not forget about their breakfast here. Wow! Probably one of my most favourite meals I’ve had in a very long time cooked by executive Chef Brandon Clemens. Order yourselves here some mimosas, their Perth County Eggs Benedict, and their Bruce Honey Quebec Toast, and you’ll be golden! Breakfast here is an absolute must.

Pazzo Taverna & Pizza

If you’re craving some good old pasta and pizza, look no further than Pazzo Taverna that serves up Stratford’s signature thin crust pizzas, conveniently located on the downtown strip of Ontario Street. Opened 23 years ago, this restaurant is a staple in the city by locals and tourists alike and another highly recommended restaurant to go to when you’re here. This is a great restaurant for lunch or dinner with a laid-back atmosphere and central to many of Stratford’s local activities. I mean who doesn’t like the classic pizza and pasta combination? When you’re here, you gotta try their Zaza Gabor Pizza and their Tortelli. You won’t regret it.

Black Swan Brewing Co

If you’re looking to visit a local craft brewery, a must visit is here at Black Swan Brewing Co which is just a few steps away from Stratford’s famous Avon Theatre. Locally brewed in Stratford, Black Swan Brewing Co offers year-round and seasonal beers in two sizes: Elixir (32 oz) or their Growler (64 oz). Continuously working on flavour-forward beers, you’ll find here their 3 styles of English Pale Ale, Porter, and India Pale Ale. If you can’t make it out to their taproom itself, you may also find their beers at local restaurants and bars they distribute to in Stratford as well. Bottoms up!

Balzac’s Coffee

Now I know Balzac’s Coffee isn’t really a Stratford specialty as we can now find this coffee chain in 14 other locations all over Ontario, however I wanted to highlight this location specifically because this was the very first Balzac’s Coffee location that ever opened up back in 1996. Inside you’ll find a beautifully tiled floor with a spacious sitting area at the back of the cafe to enjoy their signature coffee blends and nitro brews. Right before I drove back home to Toronto, I made a pit stop here at Balzac’s Coffee again located conveniently on Ontario Street. The perfect cafe to grab that quick caffeine fix to start your day.

After your belly is full from filling it up with some delectable food and thirst-quenching craft beers around the city, here are some things you can do to really take in the sights and sounds of Stratford, Ontario.

THINGS TO DO

The Chocolate Trail

In a pure coincidence, my first day in Stratford was on Halloween day. I have not gone trick-or-treating for chocolates and candies since I was a small child like 20 years ago, but because of this Chocolate Trail in Stratford I was able to re-live this child-like experience as a grown adult which was so much fun! The Chocolate Trail is a self-guided tour that introduces you to Stratford’s world-famous confectioners and bakers. For just $30, you’ll be able to go around the city and choose from any 6 of the 20 shops on the Chocolate Trail and receive a chocolate related item that is unique to their store. Items range from candles, to truffles, balsamic vinegar, coffee beans, and even a glass of chocolate flavoured beer. This was the perfect way to start exploring the city because it allows you to visit so many places that you may never have thought of exploring before. One of the most popular stops on this Chocolate Trail is Rheo Thompson Candies famously known for their caramels, barks, and specialty chocolates. This Chocolate Trail is offered year-round and can be purchased online here.

Avon Theatre

If you already know about this theatre than you most likely would call yourself a Belieber. Yes THE Justin Bieber famously performed on the steps of the Avon Theatre as a young boy before he was discovered and became the singer we all know today. You’ll also find a star of him on the steps of the theatre dedicated to Justin. Today, the Avon Theatre is one of 4 Stratford area theatres that presents Shakespeare and other live plays.

Shakespearean Gardens

Right along the Avon River you’ll find a picturesque eden called the Shakespearean Gardens. It’s one of 5 Stratford gardens that fill the city with colour over the course of the year, but this one is certainly the most famous one with Shakespeare in its name. You’ll find the oldest double-arch stone bridge in Ontario, 60 varieties of herbs, flowers, and shrubs mentioned in various Shakespearean plays, fragrant rose gardens, and of course a statue of Shakespeare himself. This is truly a small sanctuary in the heart of downtown Stratford to enjoy. Unfortunately I went to Stratford during a time where the temperature was almost below zero, so I didn’t see the garden’s full potential with the flowers in full bloom. I certainly will make an effort to come back here during the Spring/Summer to take in the full beauty of this garden.

Gallery Stratford

One of Ontario’s largest operating public art galleries, Gallery Stratford has been a significant contributor to the cultural heart of South-Western Ontario since 1967. Gallery Stratford focuses on ever-changing exhibitions of contemporary visual art with a focus of regional and Canadian artists. When I visited Gallery Stratford they had Covid-19 art exhibitions where they showcased local artist’s interpretation of the global pandemic by literally turning a sad and difficult time for many into a creative and artistic endeavor. It was eye-opening to see beautiful pieces of art inspired by the artists life and story from the many months of isolation. Also, a great perk about visiting Gallery Stratford is that the entrance fee is completely free.

Stratford Perth Museum

A little further away from the downtown core is the Stratford Perth Museum. You’ll get to learn about the economic history of Stratford where in the early 1900s the steam locomotive repair industry was booming and gave the city the foundation it has today in the “Railway Century” exhibit. Other ongoing exhibits here include “Stratford Festival: Such Stuff As Dreams…” that talks about the origins of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and “You Are Here” that explores the men and women who built Perth County as the agricultural heartland of Ontario. And of course, hometown boy Justin Bieber has his very own exhibit here called “Steps To Stardom” that showcases some of his most iconic pieces of memorabilia, and his history from starting out busking at the steps of the Avon Theatre to sold out stadiums worldwide. The Stratford Perth Museum has a $7 admission fee for adults, $6 for students/seniors/children, or $20 for families.

T.J. Dolan Trail

If you’re looking to get some outdoor exercise, Stratford has no shortage of outdoor parks, gardens, and trails. The most notable one for me is the T.J. Dolan Trail stretching 3.4km that features a flowing river and is suitable for all skill levels. This is the perfect place to marvel at the Fall foliage around October, and was in full effect just a week prior to me visiting. Even when most of the leaves had already fallen by the time I arrived, it was still a beautiful trail to walk through and a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

WHERE TO STAY

The Arden Park Hotel

Affordable and centrally located is what comes to mind for probably most of us when we’re traveling and looking for a place to stay. The Arden Park Hotel covers both of those check boxes by providing you with comfortable accommodations that will make you feel right at home. It offers amenities like a pool, hot tub, fitness centre, on-site dining, complimentary parking/wifi, and is also pet friendly in case you want to bring your furry friend along for the trip.

Although traveling to Stratford this time was my very first, it left such a positive impression on me that I know it won’t be my last. This travel guide just scratches the surface of what you’ll find here in this charming, small city of Stratford, but I do hope it can provide you with a head start in your planning. If you do end up coming to Stratford and find even more gems (as I know there are), feel free to share and let me know as well! I would love to hear about it. Have fun and stay safe!

Farm To Table with Papa Earth - A Meat & Seafood Delivery Service You Must Try

If there’s two things I love the most in life, they are convenience and meat. I’m a carnivore at heart and no matter how hard I try to increase my intake of vegetables, I will undoubtedly always come back to a fine piece of steak. Nothing beats a steak dinner in my eyes (cooked medium rare of course). And when you also add in a convenience factor into it where you can get premium meats and seafood delivered straight to your door you are literally then just winning at life.

I was first introduced to Papa Earth a few months ago and it has made a world of a difference with the quality of food I’m eating at home, and also just the amount of time I save from having to go grocery shopping. At the time of writing this blog post, I’m sure we are all aware of that “C” word. Yes, there is indeed a global pandemic going on right now called Covid-19 which has made going out like grocery shopping a possible dangerous and life-threatening activity. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate businesses like Papa Earth who are still working tirelessly during these difficult times to get food to our tables, and literally placing food directly at our doorsteps without us needing to step outside.

So how does this all work? It’s simple. You just need to start off by picking the size of the box and frequency of delivery. Unlike some other meal-delivery services, Papa Earth lets you customize your box completely with the types of meats and seafood you want delivered to you. You literally click on their heading “Build Your Box” on their website and choose from their Small Box ($125 and feeds about 1 person), their Medium Box ($249 and feeds about 2 - 3 people), or their Large Box ($498 and feeds a larger family). After that select the delivery frequency that ranges from 2 - 6 weeks and then the fun part begins! Time to spend some coin!

No, literally. You really do get to spend some coin. Each type of meat has an allocated Papa Earth coin value to it which allows you to fully customize your order. You’ll be able to put food in your box such as grass fed and grass finished beef, AAA marbled beef, grass fed bison, free run & pasture raised chicken, drug free vegetarian fed Ontario pork, Ontario lamb, and wild caught fish & seafood. All their products are sourced from the highest quality local farmers in Ontario with livestock that are free roaming, no use of added hormones, and are fed a proper natural diet. Once you are satisfied with your choices and maxed out your coins, your box is complete and you’re ready to check-out!

I’ll show you below what I ordered and how I spent my coins for the Small Box I received. You’re given 45 coins to spend. Spend wisely.

T-Bone Steak - 16 ounce - AAA (15 coins)

Prime Rib Steak - Grass Fed & Grass Finished (10 coins)

Pork Sausage - Hot - 1 lbs (5 coins)

Wild Caught Scallops - 1 lbs (15 coins)

As you can see from above, the four choices I made all added up to the 45 coin limit which means my selections are done. The meats and seafood are then vacuum sealed, portion controlled, and then frozen at the best temperature ready to be delivered to your home. Dry ice is put inside the recyclable paper box to ensure your food is kept ice cold and fresh even if you are not at home immediately to bring your order in. And if you live in Ontario or Quebec you also get free delivery!

Once you get your customized box delivered to you, feel the weight of trying to figure out what’s for dinner lifted right off your shoulders and dig right into your selection of premium meats and seafood you selected. Put them on the grill to cook immediately, or in the freezer to save for a rainy day. It’s all up to you at this point and you can now start looking forward to a really, really good meal ahead of you.