Nunavut Once, Nunavut Twice

Our incredible journey to Nunavut last year was captured by non other than the Screaming Avocado's good friend Steve Stacey on his The Local Come Lately blog site.  This account of the experience was followed up in Canadian Living's November 2011 Issue written by Steve.  Check out some of the images and story at Canadian Living Photos

We loved the experience in Nunavut so much, we had to make the journey one more time.  With some special luck our application to YMCA Youth Exchanges Canada for another exchange was accepted and in April we'll be heading to Cape Dorset, Nunavut with a new group of students.  Very exciting stuff!  On the flip side our new friends will head south in May to experience life in and around Stratford.  Of course the focus of the trip will be on culture, food and nutrition.

Cuba - Culture and Food

A long absence from our first post of the year.  We've been busy with the operation of the Screaming Avocado, which to our surprise is in it's eighth year.  How many incredible meals have the the students prepared and served to their peers.

The end of October the Screaming Gang headed to Cuba for a week of Cuban culture.  Of course we brought along Stratford's official blogger and our good friend Steve Stacey to chronicle the experience.

Check out Steve's blog on our trip to Cuba

We're Back!

School has begun, the gardens are being harvested and weeded, the kitchen in buzzing with the preparation of incredible meals and new adventures are already in the works.  This weekend will see the return of the incredible culinary festival Savour Stratford.  The Screaming Gang of students will be involved in many aspects including the opening ceremonies, tasting tent, BBQ and helping Food Network Host Chuck Hughes.

 

 At the end of October we make the trek to Cuba to explore the culture and cuisine.  From farm, to schools, to markets and homes we'll make the best of our seven days in the land of incredible people and geography.  The Screaming Gang has worked hard over the past few months to make this trip a reality and have become a real family in the process.  

We have many more plans for the coming year to hopefully meet if not top last year.  It'll be tough though as last year saw us visit Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, NYC and James Beard House, Toronto and having David Suzuki and the Governor General David Johnston come to our school as our guests.  Of course there was the small group that got to go to Rideau Hall in Ottawa and cook for and meet Prince William and Kate Cooking for the Royals  - a real experience of a lifetime. 

 The Screaming Avocados

Cooking for the Royals!

The Sceaming Avocados from Stratford Northwestern and the Twisted Carrots from Mitchell District High School have retruned from a once in a lifetime culinary adventure to Ottawa. Joining other youth from across the country the students were mentored by the Governor General David Johnston's chef, Louis Charest and the other incredible chefs at Rideau Hall. Using products sourced by master forgager Steve Cooper from across the great Canadian North and other ingredients from across Canada the kids were afforded a kitchen experience they'll carry for a lifetime.

The audience of course couldn't be topped. William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had just arrived in Canada and began their journey with a celebration of youth hosted by Governor General David Johnston and Her Excellency Sharon Johnston.

The students were incredible in the kitchen and represented their schools, communities and Canada with maturity and professionalism. To top off the experience they all had a chance to have an official portrait taken with the dignitaries and were able to chat with them about the ingredients, recipes and life. William wanted some tips on how to cook a steak for Kate!

Incredible students and experience! Please check out the links below.

Screaming Avocados, Rideau Hall and the Royal Tour

"Six students from two Avon Maitland Schools have been selected to be part of a very special group of young Canadians. They will be heading to Ottawa next week for the historic Royal Visit by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Canada at Rideau Hall. On Thursday, June 30, 2011 four students from Stratford Northwestern Secondary School and two from Mitchell District High School will be among just 22 young culinary professionals and students from across the country. This special group of students will be mentored by Rideau Hall chefs and will assist the Governor General's culinary team with preparations and service for an evening celebration with their Royal Highnesses. The visit by the newlywed Prince William and Kate Middleton to Canada is their first official tour abroad."

Check out the links below for more information on the experience.

The Star - Cooking for Will and Kate: Just add teens and stir

Jamieoliver.com - Screaming Avocado Has Been Making Headlines

Avon Maitland Students to be Part of Historic Royal Visit

Governor General visits the Screaming Avocado

 

Their Excellencies Governor General David Johnston and Mrs. Sharon Johnston visited the Screaming Avocado on May 30th for an afternoon of conversation, food and cooking instruction with the culinary students of Stratford Northwestern Secondary School.  The day couldn't have been anymore perfect.

Please check out the details to their visit to the Screaming Avocado on the following links:

Lunching wih the GG  and  Students Cook with Viceroy

The Screaming Avocados

North South Canadian Forage - James Beard House, NYC

 May 14th, 2011

What an amazing experience!  Everyone came together to prepare a meal on May 14th, the likes of which has never been prepared at James Beard House.  We'll leave Twyla's blog to tell the story of the event - Arctic Forage Dinner at James Beard House, NYC  Below is a comment from one of the guests at the dinner as a tantalizer to the full story. 

"My wife and I were one of the incredibly fortunate people to have dined at The Beard House for the Arctic Dinner and if I may say it was so stupendously amazing. We were very lucky to have been able to sample all of the extremely rare foods that were brought to us as a gift. And the food itself tasted and was presented in a 4 star fashion. Each plate was a mini-masterpiece of numerous different bites. It could have easily been presented like a 30 course meal but that would have been a too arrogant approach for these folks. Simply put I was blown away and quite honestly still am."

Jock Ellery Grundy 
International Culinary Center/The French Culinary Institute/The Italian Culinary Academy.

Thank-you to all who participated in, shared and supported our opportunity to showcase Arctic and Ontario products at the culinary shrine also known as James Beard House.