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

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