Edible Ottawa

29/07/2025

The farm-to-table philosophy has been a mainstay of the real food movement for more than a decade now. Typically, however, the two remain at a certain distance; small-scale farmers grow beautiful produce and deliver it directly to their customers. Then the chef — whether that be a professional working in restaurant kitchen, an over-worked mother or father or a talented home cook — transforms it into something delicious.

The job of farming and that of cooking generally remain distinct, but at Back Forty Artisan Cheese, deep in cottage country north of Sharbot Lake, a paid residency program offers students the chance to learn it all in a bona fide farm-to-table experience. The residency, now in its second year, includes planting and maintaining the organic vegetable garden that supplies the onsite restaurant, and looking after livestock such as the Highland cattle, Berkshire-Tamworth pigs, several lambs and Rustic Ranger heritage meat chickens that grow and forage on the 156-acres of land. Tasks include helping in the garden and with field work, including making hay to feed the cows over the winter, aiding in the artisanal sheep-milk cheese-making process, prepping, and cooking and serving in the small lakeside bistro that is open Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer and fall.

Read all about Back Forty Artisan Cheese and its summer residency in "Field Notes from the Back Forty" by Hattie Klotz: https://edibleottawa.ediblecommunities.com/stories/field-notes-from-the-back-forty/

Photos by Matthew Liteplo.

27/07/2025

It seems every year the selection of food trucks gets bigger and better.

From sweet or savoury Belgian-style waffles to Filipino street food and Haitian chicken wings, check out this round-up of three food trucks you’ll want to add to your summer must-visit list.

Jimmy's waffle World, Meryenda & JJ’s Wings.

Read "Rolling into Summer" by Sonia Mendes: https://edibleottawa.ediblecommunities.com/stories/rolling-into-summer/

Photos by Melody Maloney Photo.

24/07/2025

At a time when it’s commonplace to find lifeless cilantro and browning, plastic-wrapped lettuce in big-box grocery stores, the produce from Fair Sun Farm stands apart.

“Freshness is key to the quality,” emphasizes Marnie Chown, who co-owns Fair Sun Farm with her husband, Patrick van der Burg. “It’s healthier food –– the fresher it is. It’s healthier than stuff that’s been sitting on the shelf for three days in a grocery store, maybe not at a temperature that it likes to be kept at.”

Timing is everything, as Chown explains. Customers of the farm –– located in Spencerville, about an hour south of downtown Ottawa –– typically enjoy their produce within 48 hours of it being pulled from the soil.

“Since we’re a small farm, we get to control how it’s grown, how it’s harvested, how it’s washed and processed and when you get it,” says Chown, adding that everything grown on Fair Sun Farm’s 70-acres is certified organic.

Read the full article "A Fresh Take on Food and Flowers" by Sonia Mendes: https://edibleottawa.ediblecommunities.com/stories/a-fresh-take-on-food-and-flowers/

Photo by Melody Maloney Photo.

15/07/2025

For more than 25 years, Arya Food Market has been an enduring presence in Centretown. Opened in 1999 on Bank Street, the store relocated to Gladstone Avenue five years later and has been there ever since. More than just a grocery store, Arya has been a cultural staple for the city’s Iranian population — and a gateway for other communities to discover Persian cuisine and traditions.

Read "Arya's Iranian Food Market" by Sonia Mendes: https://edibleottawa.ediblecommunities.com/stories/aryas-iranian-food-market/

Photos by Melody Maloney Photo.

09/07/2025

While ice cream is never out of season, there’s no denying that peak summertime comes with peak opportunities to enjoy a cup or a cone. The region is not short on delicious and creative options. Here are just a few:

Piccolo Grande, Moo Shu Ice Cream, La Cigale, Ice Cream Shop - Old Chelsea Quebec, The Merry Dairy, Carp Custom Creamery, Chris's Ice Cream, The Beachconers, Love and Electric Ice Cream & Sadie Beans Ice Cream

What is your favourite ice cream shop?

https://edibleottawa.ediblecommunities.com/stories/meli-melo-the-summer-scoop/

Photo of Mallard’s Milk Bar by Matthew Liteplo.

While ice cream is never out of season, there’s no denying that peak summertime comes with peak opportunities to enjoy a cup or a cone.

08/07/2025

Méli-Mélo - July by Katie Shapiro is an edible hodgepodge to help you stay on top of the hits and happenings in Ottawa and beyond. Get the latest — from the this-just-opened and give-backs, to new bites and libations and don’t-miss events.

- Perked up in Arnprior at Cafe Tilda
- a summer of garlic and food festivals
- Columbian comforts Toasty Arepas

Read the full article online:

Méli-Mélo is an edible hodgepodge to help you stay on top of the hits and happenings in Ottawa and beyond.

04/07/2025

Happy July! This is a great time of year - and also a great summer issue. Here's who you'll find in this issue:

- Perked up in Arnprior at Cafe Tilda
- a summer of garlic and food festivals
- Columbian comforts Toasty Arepas
- what is your favourite ice cream shop? Here are a few we've highlighted Piccolo Grande Artisan Gelateria, Moo Shu Ice Cream, La Cigale, Ice Cream Shop - Old Chelsea Quebec, The Merry Dairy, Carp Custom Creamery, Chris's Ice Cream, The Beachconers, Love and Electric Ice Cream & Sadie Beans Ice Cream
- Arya Food Market sells spices and saffron while sharing stories of Iranian culture.
- "A Fresh Take on Food and Flowers" Fair Sun Farm
- "Rolling into Summer": where pavement meets palate — Ottawa's food trucks bring summer to life. Jimmy's waffle World, Meryenda & JJ's Wings
- "Beyond Tomato Sauce": when tomatoes are in peak production this summer, make these tomato-based condiments.
- Back Forty Artisan Cheese blends old-world cheesemaking, organic farming and bistro cooking into a one-of-a-kind summer residency.
- "A Petite French Bistro with a Lot of Heart" at La Petite Primerose

Support local and never miss an issue with an edible Ottawa subscription: https://edibleottawa.ediblecommunities.com/subscribe/

01/07/2025

Happy Canada Day from Edible Ottawa!

As we gather to celebrate Canada, we honour the rich tapestry of cultures, landscapes, and traditions that shape this region's food story. From the farms and forests of Eastern Ontario to the kitchens and markets of our towns and cities, food connects us — to each other, to the land, and to the people who grow, cook, and create.

From backyard barbecues to farm-fresh meals around the dinner table, here's to community, connection, and the incredible stories that grow from the ground up.

29/06/2025

Honey buttermilk pudding with macerated strawberries

Yes, buttermilk is an unusual ingredient to make pudding with, but if you like a dessert that is sweet and sour, give this a try. The buttermilk pudding is reminiscent of a thick yogurt. If you like your pudding extra thick, add another egg yolk.

2 cups buttermilk, divided in two
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 egg yolk
½ teaspoon vanilla paste (or extract)
¼ teaspoon salt

Add ½ cup of buttermilk into a mixing bowl. Add the cornstarch, egg yolk and salt and mix well. Add the other 1½ cups of buttermilk and honey to a small pot over medium-low heat. Warm until the buttermilk separates (yes, it will separate). Pour a small amount of warm buttermilk into the mixture and whisk. Continue adding in the warm liquid and whisking until all of the buttermilk is added. Pour this mixture back into the pot and cook over medium-low heat.

Continue whisking until the mixture thickens and just begins to bubble. Remove the pot from the heat and strain the pudding into a clean bowl. Stir in the vanilla.

Let the pudding cool to room temperature before placing in the refrigerator. The pudding can be kept, covered, for several days.

Macerated strawberries
2 cups strawberries, cleaned and stems removed
4 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons orange liqueur (Grand Marnier, Cointreau, etc.)
Pinch of black pepper (optional)

If using raw honey, add it to a small pot and warm the honey until it is liquified.

Cut the cleaned strawberries into small chunks (in half or quarters, or more, depending on their size) and place into a mixing bowl. Add the honey, orange liqueur and black pepper. Mix well.

Leave the strawberries for at least an hour, stirring occasionally. The longer they sit, the more juice will come out of the berries and the flavouring will get into the fruit.

To serve, portion the pudding into small cups and top with the macerated strawberries.

20/06/2025

The first line on Stolen Goods Cocktail Bar’s website is “amorphous in nature.” It’s the perfect description of what you can expect with each visit. You’ll find something unique and innovative every time the season changes. Born out of the pandemic, this bar aims to take an unconventional approach to cocktails, focusing on low-waste, multi-use ingredients and premium spirits.

Located on Sparks Street in Ottawa, Stolen Goods is the brainchild of operating co-owners Mike Campbell and Adam Ghor. It’s a cosy, unassuming cocktail bar with a sleek neon sign that subtly tempts you to enter. It’s the kind of place you might walk right past if you’re not paying attention, but those in the know won’t miss it. It’s where sophistication meets understatement, creating an atmosphere that’s both intimate and unforgettable.

Campbell describes it as a laid-back and comfortable spot that provides elevated, detail-oriented food and drink, along with all the other little details that you’ll notice throughout your experience.

Read "Sipping Outside the Lines" by Molly Crane: https://edibleottawa.ediblecommunities.com/stories/sipping-outside-the-lines/

Photos by Matt Millard and Jessica Blaine Smith.

19/06/2025

It's a great time to make this salad. The asparagus and peas are fresh and the hot weather is coming.

Spring wedge salad with buttermilk dressing
My grandmother, in the heat of the summer, would serve a simple salad of fresh greens dressed in buttermilk with salt and pepper and maybe some chives. This salad uses that childhood memory as the inspiration to make a wedge salad that's a bit more “springy.”

Find the full recipe here: https://edibleottawa.ediblecommunities.com/recipes/spring-wedge-salad-with-buttermilk-dressing/

17/06/2025

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