Food Memories

Food memories are the truest comfort food; an aroma that brings us back to a particular time, and the dish we crave when we need to feel love from the inside out.  

If we don t change the way we eat as a society, the earliest food memories of this generation will include microwaveable dinners and Happy Meals.

We're collecting early food memories to help inspire eaters both young and old.  Share yours in the comments section.  We reached out to a couple of Screaming Avocado friends.  Please enjoy.

"I have a very fond memory of my mom making us "mush" when i was growing up as a little kid in london (england). don't get me wrong, my mother is a tremendous cook and i've always LOVED her persian food dishes (she makes the finest "ghormeh sabzi" ever). but when i was little she would take a bunch of leftovers - usually, potatoes, peas, carrots and maybe any leftover meat - and mash them together and then heat them. it was the kind of thing a kid loves. and i loved it. maybe the least labour-intensive of all that she made...but delicious in my mind."  Jian Gomeshi

"A fond memory for me growing up was always planting, weeding, and eating our own food. Every May and June, my brother and I would have to join my dad with the hand seeder and go make straight rows to plant the seeds. Our favourites were always the potatoes because you could use your feet to stomp the seed into the ground! As kids, who didn’t love a little stomping? As weeks went by, it was our duty to get the hoe out and hoe away the weeds. A little tough love, and some kicks in the pants to do it, the pay out was more than rewarding. Digging up your first potato that you yourself planted, boiling it, with a little butter on top, will always be the most delicious potato you eat that year."  Laura Hazen

"To this day I remember the taste of a carrot in my grandmothers garden, I can taste a true organic flavourful carrot and it immediately transports back in time to summers pulling carrots, wiping off the dirt and crunching away. I remember gorging myself on not-yet-ripe apples in the orchards surrounding our house and waiting patiently as the flavour gradually improved through til harvest season!"         Chef Michael Smith

 

"My earliest food memory is cooking an egg when my parents were sleeping in... I turned on the electric griddle and fried it sunny side up. Probably about 6 years old. I guess it's time to start teaching my 5 year old! "  Steve Stacey

 

"My Food Memories are of my Grannies house walking in the door and the smell of food was always there Mince and Tatties, Soda Bread, Soups, Stews, Jams. The Taste was to die for.  I always wanted to put my finger in the pot to taste but did not dare.
This food was simple, not expensive just fresh and cooked with care.  A respect for the product; it took time but the results awesome.

Today I still carry those memories and principles with me because that’s my measurement of good food. A simple boiled potato with butter and salt good food is not expensive.

Many years after my Grannies asked me what was the food you cooked for the Queen like? Just like yours with more expensive meats but the same principles. "Simple is better."    Chef John Higgins

"I have two early food memories. My dad left early for work, and always made sure that oatmeal was made for us. One of us would come downstairs in the morning and find the pot in the pot (double-boiler ghetto style), ready and waiting.

The other is the smell and sound of bacon cooking at my grandparents'.

Two things that resonate for me for sure."   The 40 Year Old Father

Happenings of the Screaming Gang

Too long absent updating the happenings of the Screaming Avocado gang.  This past November we had Alain Rosica Matamoros of Ristorante Belvedere dal 1933 travel from Frascati, Italy to share his culinary wisdom and skills with the students.  While in Stratford Alain took the lead of a Culinary Club Dinner and guided the students as they prepared an incredible menu for our guests.  Check out the photos of the dinner on the Rundles blogspot - Gastronomía de Italia @ The Screaming Avocado.

 
While it's been a quiet year due to the educational issues in Ontario, the Screaming Avocado is moving forward with a few exciting adventures.  Presently we're putting in an aquaponics system in the green house.  The aquaponics will join the organics we're growing in conjunction with a local organic farmer Ryan who will be working with the students.

At the same time we're setting up Adopt a School program that links restaurants/chefs with local elementary schools.  The chefs visit the schools to teach simple cooking skills to elementary students and get inspired themselves.  The Screaming Avocado has put together a mobile kitchen in boxes to make the 'foodspriation' a reality.

In May the Screaming Gang will host and later travel to join our new friends from Webequie First Nation.  As with all of our other trips North we'll be sharing cooking skills and enjoying the best of culinary treats north and south have to offer.  While in Ontario our new friends will visit farms, producers and cook with our community of chefs that join and make our experiences so wonderful.

Check out our recent links in our media section.  Great things have happened - many more to come.

In food, the Screaming Avocados  

Arctic Adventure Video

While our exchange to Cape Dorset, Nunavut is over, we have great friends and memories to carry with us for years to come.  Ryan Butler produced an incredible video for all to share.  Watch, enjoy and be part of our experience.

Culinary Club Dinner - May 23rd

Stratford Northwestern Secondary School
Culinary Club Dinner
with guest chef Joshna Maharaj

Drawing on her family roots and with her mother and grandmother's recipes in tow,
Joshna will wow your tastebuds and inspire students like few others can.

Wednesday May 23rd

Menu

Papadum

Pakora Onion Rings
with green chutney

Masala Asparagus

Chicken Saag

Basmati Pulao

Duo of Mango and Carrot Salads

Naan Bread

Pistachio Cardamom Cupcakes
with saffron buttercream

Fresh Lime Soda
and
One glass of wine / beer per person


$25 per person
a whole meal for less than two dishes of butter chicken

Seatings between 5:30 and 7:00

Dinner is held at the Screaming Avocado Cafe at Stratford Northwestern Secondary School.

For reservations and more information please email or contact the Screaming Avocado at the school: 
519.271.9740  ext.307

Cape Dorset, Nunavut 2012

On Saturday April 21^st the Screaming Gang joined by a couple of friends from Mitchell District High School and two more from Stratford Central began a six flight, 15 hour trek to Cape Dorset, Nunavut.  From London to Toronto to Winnipeg to Rankin Inlet to Chesterfield Inlet to Coral Harbour to Cape Dorset we experienced many a take-off and landing, giving those new to flying their wings in one day.

Give a follow on Twitter @paulfink for more info on the trip, links to articles on the trip and details on our upcoming adventures.

Below is a collection of photos shot by our traveling shutterbugs Ryan Butler and Jolene Steele accompanied by captions to enhance their incredible images.  Enjoy!

Our Photographers

Behind the camera capturing the special moments for everyone to share.  

They deserve acknowledgment.

Ryan Butler

Jolene Steele and a new friend from Cape Dorset

Cape Dorset, 2012

Robyn after six flights - we've arrived!

A bit of a language barrier - Inuktitut

Wintery walk through town.

Cape Dorset on a sunny day - and full of snow.

Jared at the only restaurant in Cape Dorset.





The menu with prices.

A welcoming bowl of Walrus Stew to warm our bellies and challenge a few.

The whole gang - Stratford students and their Cape Dorset twins.

Igloo building with elders.

The igloo master M. Jaw.

Ryan and the igloo builder M. Jaw.  The gun is protect us against polar bears and wolves.


 

Melissa in the igloo.

Arctic Char ice fishing on Fish Lake -  Baffin Island, Nunavut

Transport back from the igloo building and fishing in a Qamutiq.
A homemade sled dragged behind a skidoo. 

Climbing the mountain in blizzard like winds.

The brave and foolish at the highest point we reached.  Frozen and exhausted.

The beautiful ice flow.

The ice flow adventurers hiding from the -30 plus temperature.

Community Feast - frozen caribou and Arctic char.
 

The feast continues.

A video of a potion of the community feast.

Throat singing with Geena and a friend.

Tom attempting some traditional games.

Cooking with Cape Dorset kids.

Potato latkes with poached eggs.

Mission accomplished - Chef training part one complete.

The first side of the exchange is over.  Our new friends arrive on May 5th for a week of fun Stratford style.  More photos, video and words will follow on this blog.

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