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Greens, Eggs and Ham Picnic 2008

August 30, 2008 by Valerie Lugonja 1 Comment

Greens Eggs and Ham Slow Food Picnic August 24 2008 081Greens Eggs and Ham Slow Food Picnic August 24 2008 149

This was the highlight of my summer! Vanja and I escaped the summer city heat and drove through the prairie grasses, south of Edmonton, breathing in the country air, enjoying the landscape. As we turned into this 10 acre specialty farm, I started to vibrate. This was a “real” farm, and I hadn’t set foot on one for too many years. The gravel path wound past the tiny tree shaded stucco home, the run-down sheds, and the beautiful big red barn to the more modern quansit structure at the end of the road. We parked and stepped out to Mr. Billygoat Gruff’s haughty look of insult and invasion, and his counterpart’s inquisitiveness.Greens Eggs and Ham Slow Food Picnic August 24 2008 198Hello, sweetie!
Then wound back down the trail to meet Michael, the master chef of the day, roasting the most delectable Cornish game hens over the open fire. I AM IN! This is TOO exciting! Look at the caramelization on those birds… and then I see steam rising from a massive pot on a burner nearby.
Greens Eggs and Ham Slow Food Picnic August 24 2008 071 Greens Eggs and Ham Slow Food Picnic August 24 2008 073
VOILA! BABY CORN CHOWDER in fresh and lovingly rendered duck’s broth! (Michael, I am your new best friend. You are too much, Really.)
Oh my GOD! Camera! Action! Nose! Smell that! Oh my GOD!
The smells, the feeling, the rustic reality of this moment was quite overwhelming. I felt grounded, yet off the ground. Memories of my childhood at family farms flooded through me. How have I become so out of touch with this farm life that frames the foundation of my youth and drives almost everything I do? I am home.
I am standing on a farm in the Canadian Prairies literally feeling my roots dive deep, deep, deep into the soil. …and Michael is roasting chicken on the open fire, making soup in the open air “from scratch”. I am truly in heaven!
Greens Eggs and Ham Slow Food Picnic August 24 2008 103 Greens Eggs and Ham Slow Food Picnic August 24 2008 100
The food was prepared by Michael and a couple of chefs from Jack’s Grill. It was past spectacular. The produce was harvested, and prepared on the spot. it doesn’t get any better than that. Mary Ellen and Andreas were the warmest of hosts. They show cased their farm goods in the best possible light. Under the prairie sun, on the grass, in their yard. Plastic table cloths. Massive enamel metal bowls. A gigantic shaggy dog sniffing your plate with giant amorous doe-eyes. This is casual Canadian at its very best. The Alberta Prairie experience. Sacred to those of us that don`t set foot on the land that sustains us often enough. Sharing food prepared by those with a fervour for the small farmer; with a commitment to sustain small farms; and within the spirit of the underlying whisper of this desperate necessity.
Greens Eggs and Ham Slow Food Picnic August 24 2008 125
We visited, ate, and then toured the farm.
Visit Mary Ellen, Andreas, and their two daughters at the Downtown Farmer’s market: City Market, every Saturday morning from 9 am to 3 pm. It is a trip well worth making. Their lettuce and spinach greens are phenomenal and the best in the city. They carry specialty carrots and beets as well as duck eggs and the best duck breast “prosciutto” that I have ever eaten. (But I have to have it fried. It is like candy!) They also have guinea fowl in the early summer, goose, Cornish game hen, and several other specialty items that are well worth making the trip downtown for.
Greens Eggs and Ham Slow Food Picnic August 24 2008 177The experience breathed new life into me. Just like a trip to the farm should.

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Filed Under: Local Produce/Producers Tagged With: Farm Visits, Picnics, Slow Food

About Valerie Lugonja

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Educator, Writer, Gardener and Traveler who believes in buying and eating locally, and most importantly cooking at home! As a brand new Gramsy, so be prepared to hear a lot about this new role in her life!
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Comments

  1. laura Chiaramida says

    August 30, 2008 at 8:38 am

    Val, Val, Val….. I Love Your Blog! This is so awesome! You have done a wonderful job!
    Please accept my friend request as I would love to come back and read some more.
    I just might try to make that cheesecake for my own birthday which is coming up in a couple of weeks….. my tongue is hanging out in anticipation…LOL
    Laura
    Reply

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