This month, Eva Fisher uses artificial intelligence to find local food, explores the connection between food, theatre, and history with the Globus Theatre, enjoys lunch with a tea sommelier at Bumbleberry Bistro, learns more about Mexican spreads and sauces from La Mesita Catering, and celebrates the flower moon with South Pond Farms.

New locally developed app uses artificial intelligence to recommend food based on your mood

Sultan Moni has developed a new app that will recommend local restaurants to you based on your mood and preferences.

Sultan first got the inspiration for Zatiq from another app that you might have on your phone.

“I was lying down in bed one day listening to Spotify, and I was hungry but I didn’t know what I wanted to eat. So I thought — what if there was Spotify for food? That was the first lightbulb.”

You can choose from mood options, like moody, bored, or happy. Maybe you know you want curry, but you’re not sure where to go. Click the curry button.

The app also makes suggestions for specific situations, like date night or for when you are particularly hungry. Zatiq will recommend the top five restaurants based on what you choose.

The app begins by making generic suggestions but, as you use it, it becomes more attuned to your culinary preferences. That means when you click that moody button, Zatiq will take you to a restaurant, cafe, or nightclub that is specifically selected to boost your mood. The app will use information from people who have similar culinary preferences to you to make a customized suggestion.

Zatiq will also include social features. You can connect with people who have similar dietary preferences. You can also post reviews of the restaurants that you visit, and browse reviews from other users.

Sultan grew up in Abu Dhabi. He moved to Canada in 2013 for grade 12 and then began studies at Trent University. He began in Business, but ultimately decided to pursue Computer Science because he realized that he would need computer skills to develop Zatiq.

Zatiq will debut in Peterborough towards the beginning of June. Sultan has plans to eventually expand it globally.

For more information about Zatiq and the launch date, visit the Zatiq website at zatiq.com or follow Zatiq on Facebook and Twitter.

Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon celebrates agricultural history with Canada’s 150th events

What better place to enjoy local farm fresh food than a barn? Globus Theatre (2300 Pigeon Lake Rd., Bobcaygeon, 705-738-2037) is celebrating Canada’s 150th with a culinary and musical celebration this week.

Until Saturday (May 13), they are hosting their Culinary Celebration, which features local food, art by Lorraine Thayer, and live music.

Globus co-founder and artistic producer James Barrett says that the barn is a perfect place to pay homage to local producers.

“We are in a barn. It was an actual working cattle barn, so it’s an ideal space to celebrate working farms in the area.”

The Culinary Celebration features an eight-course tasting menu. Sponsor Grant’s Butchershop, a Bobcaygeon butcher that uses all Ontario meat, will provide their housemade sausage. There will be smoked trout from Linwood Acres Farm in Campbellcroft, cheeses from Mariposa Dairy, ice cream from Kawartha Dairy and honey from Kawartha Lakes Honey.

Apart from the Culinary Celebration, many of these producers are regularly featured on Globus Theatre’s menu. Theatre-goers can opt for a three-course meal before they take in a play, with three options to choose from per course. The menu changes every two weeks with each new play, and is sometimes even themed to the play.

For example, for the Irish play Stones in his Pocket, they featured a Stilton and Guinness pâté. The menu has also included red wine braised lamb shank, roast beef with yorkshire pudding, and tempting dessert options such as their limoncello lemon sorbet. The bar features selections from local breweries.

This year the barn will celebrate its 50th anniversary as a dance hall. James says that the barn was built in the 1930s to replace one that had burned down on the property. It was a working cattle barn with property extending right to the lake until the 1960s. It was then that the owner at the time, Fabian O’Neill, got the inspiration to create a dance hall. He severed the lots near the lake and used the money to build the dance hall.

In June, to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday and the barn’s 50th anniversary, the Lakeview Arts Barn will hold a dance in the style of the old barn dances. There will be 150 tickets available and the only way to get a pair will be to tell a story about the barn. With 50 years of dances, proms, weddings, award ceremonies, and of course live theatre, James is hoping for a variety of responses.

“We’re trying to create an archive of the past fifty years of the building.”

Winners of the Barn Dance contest will be announced on Saturday, May 20th.

For more information about the Culinary Celebration, the Barn Dance (and how to win tickets), and Globus Theatre’s summer theatre season, visit lakeviewartsbarn.com.

Tea sommelier buys Dancing Blueberries, creating new Bumbleberry Bistro

Heather Morse bought Dancing Blueberries in November of 2016. She began to rebrand in late February to Bumbleberry Bistro (360 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-536-2697), creating a fresh take on the downtown cafe.

A graduate of Fleming College’s Culinary Management program, Heather worked for Dancing Blueberries following graduation. She enjoyed the creative opportunity offered by the cafe.

“I was able to exercise my creativity designing drink and dessert specials.”

Fans of Dancing Blueberries will be happy to learn that Heather is planning to keep many of their menu items.

“The plan for the restaurant right now is to make small changes to the menu to ensure that everything is of the best quality.”

That being said, Heather is planning to put her own spin on the downtown cafe.

“We are hoping to shift away from ‘homestyle’ to offer slightly more specialty items.”

As a tea sommelier trained in Vancouver by the Tea Association of Canada, the tea menu was one of the first things on Heather’s list.

“One of the changes I am most excited about is the introduction of a variety of specialty loose leaf teas.”

To those new to the cafe Heather recommends the “Brie’s a Crowd” sandwich, which features brie, sundried tomatoes and candied walnuts.

For more information on Bumbleberry Bistro, visit their Facebook page.

Take authentic Mexican flavour home with La Mesita Catering

Martin Carbajal Mendoza of La Mesita Catering moved from Mexico in 2006 and brought with him a culinary tradition that he wants to share.

“I want people to know what real Mexican food tastes like.”

La Mesita Catering offers salsas and spreads, burritos and Mexican food at the Peterborough and Lakefield Farmers’ Markets. Their salsas are also available at Chasing the Cheese and The Bridgenorth Deli.

Here’s how Martin recommends serving his sauces:

Pico de gallo

This standard mild salsa is very versatile. Martin suggests trying it on steak, eggs, hotdogs, and tacos — “It’s pretty much like a Mexican ketchup. It goes on everything.”

Tomatillo and avocado salsa

This salsa is a blend of tomatillos (which are tart and fruity and taste somewhat like a green tomato) and avocados. Martin recommends trying it on nachos, quesadillas, sausages or steak. He also recommends layering corn bread dough with a layer of this salsa and some chicken, then another layer of dough.

“It’s delicious. It tastes so close to a tamale.”

Chipotle hummus

Hummus isn’t traditionally a Mexican dish, but when Martin first tried a hummus he liked it but felt that there was something missing.

“Because I’m a crazy Mexican, I had to put chipotles in it.” He says that it’s been popular with his customers.

Black bean and corn salad

Black beans, tomatoes, onions, cumin, corn, avocado and lime juice come together in this salad which is a great side dish on its own.

Martin also suggests blending it with lettuce to make an instant green salad, no dressing required.

Pickled onions with habanero peppers

Martin says that these are particularly versatile.

He suggests that you try it “to top off salsas, to top off burgers, on hotdogs, and almost any kind of meat.”

Chipotle maple cream cheese

Spicy and sweet, Martin jokes that “this is the perfect marriage between Canada and Mexico.” The cream cheese can be made into a delicious frosting for cakes and cupcakes.

In addition to sauces, Martin also creates weekly specials which he sells at local farmers’ markets. These have recently included tamales, ceviche, and Mayan pulled pork.

Martin encourages people to try his sauces, even if they’re not spice fans.

“Many people are afraid of Mexican food because of the spices. We have many customers that at the beginning I had to beg to try the salsas, and now they love them, and they’re loyal, and they have learned to eat a bit more spicy. People will be surprised by how much they can actually handle.”

You can learn more about La Mesita Catering at lamesitacatering.weebly.com and on their Facebook page.

South Pond Farms launches Full Moon Supper series with Flower Moon

South Pond Farms (1020 Gray Rd., Pontypool, 705-277-1649) has launched a new “Full Moon Supper” series that invites guests to dine under the full moon.

The first of the series, the Flower Moon Supper, was held on May 10th. Guests were invited to wander the farm, enjoying canapes in the herb garden, a cheese course by the goat shed, and a springy asparagus and quail egg soup by the fire.

There was also wild leek and maple smoked pork and spatzle cooked on the fire by Chef Kevin McKenna, and a rhubarb cake with cardamom chantilly cream served in the barn. The dishes were adorned with edible flowers.

Future Full Moon Supper events will include the Strawberry Moon in June, the Buck Moon in July, and the Green Corn Moon in August.

For more information about South Pond Farms Full Moon Supper Series, visit their www.southpondfarms.ca/full-moon-suppers/.

Are you ready for summer in the Kawarthas? Spend summer nights dancing on the boardwalk, peaceful mornings tending to and admiring garden blooms, retiring to your custom built dream home on the lake (for the same price as a house in the city). These three businesses provide inspiration to live the summer of your dreams.

All three of the businesses profiled below — Elmhirst’s Resort, The Greenhouse on the River, and Apsley Home Hardware Building Centre — are proud members of the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism.

The chamber represents members in Curve Lake First Nation and the municipalities of Douro-Dummer, North Kawartha, Selwyn, and Trent Lakes. Visit kawarthachamber.ca for more information.

You don’t have to be staying at Elmhirst’s Resort to enjoy farm-to-table meals and live music on the boardwalk

Greg Elmhirst (right) tries out the fish fry shore lunch available with new guided fishing experiences. (Photo: Justen Soule)

The Al Black Trio playing to the crowd on the boardwalk for Tuned Up Tuesdays, a free weekly concert series. (Photo: Justen Soule)

Collecting fresh greens from Elmhirst's own garden. Elmhirst's Resort is known for fresh farm to table cuisine. (Photo: Justen Soule)

A couple enjoys Elmhirst's Resort's dining room overlooking Rice Lake. The menu emphasizes local and farm to table. (Photo: Justen Soule)

Elmhirst’s Resort, a fourth generation family-owned and operated resort on the north shore of Rice Lake (1045 Settlers Line, Keene, 705-295-4591 or 1-800-461-1940), offers plenty of options for a quick, stress busting getaway close to home. With 30 cottages, 85 bedrooms, a full-service spa, a working farm, and a boardwalk music venue, Elmhirst’s Resort is a great Kawarthas destination easily accessible from the GTA.

Brunches, farm to table cuisine, and a legendary wine cellar

From farm to table cuisine to a wine cellar stocked with exclusively Canadian vintages, Elmhirst’s Resort is a culinary destination known for local food. General Manager Greg Elmhirst explains that “it tends to be better and fresher food, it has a lower carbon footprint, and it sustains people and businesses in our own community.”

Since the summer of 1981, they have served their popular Sunday brunch, which has become a local institution. Greg notes that “it has evolved a lot over time.”

The brunch menu reads like a local foodie’s fantasy. They offer a comprehensive buffet, with fresh salads, farm raised beef, a carving station that rotates weekly, and a variety of hot foods and specials. There’s homemade soup, made to order omelettes and crepes, a fish and seafood table, freshly baked bread, homemade desserts and fresh donuts.

Greg says that the donuts have created a stir on social media.

“The donuts tend to be one of the food items that end up on Instagram the most often from guests that visit our brunch.”

Elmhirst’s also offers a Monday lunch, originally envisioned for seniors, known as Lakeside Lunches.

“We wanted to provide affordable lunches and pleasant restaurant experiences for seniors,” says Greg, but he quickly found that it had a broader audience than he had anticipated. “It was a hit right away, and people who weren’t seniors began to call and say I know it’s a seniors’ lunch, but can I come too?”

The lunches are offered every Monday from the first weekend after Easter and continuing until Thanksgiving Monday. They start at 12 p.m.

Tuesday evening music on the boardwalk overlooking Rice Lake

Elmhirst’s Resort is also a great place to catch live music. Every Tuesday night musicians perform on their scenic boardwalk for Tuned Up Tuesdays. The free musical evenings begin on June 6th this year and last throughout the summer.

Elmhirst’s has become known as a place to see a high calibre of musicians. The first act ever to perform was Peterborough’s own Mayhemingways, who recently performed at Massey Hall as part of their cross-Canada tour with Joel and Bill Plaskett.

Greg notes that Tuesday nights have become popular with the local community.

“The boardwalk is a place where resort guests and community members can mingle.”

You can order food and beverages to enjoy while watching the entertainment.

Relaxing and exciting weekend retreats

For those looking to get away for a little longer, Elmhirst’s Resort offers kiteboarding weekends, yoga retreats, and weekends planned specifically for women’s getaways.

Recently they offered a Wine Women and Canvas weekend. Guests were treated to wine sampling with a local wine consultant and a painting lesson with artist Paul Teleki and the Land Canadian Adventures.

For more weekend adventures, you can visit Elmhirst’s packages page on their website.

You can find out more about Elmhirst’s Resort on their website at www.elmhirst.ca. They are also active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

The Greenhouse on the River grows plants the green way

The Greenhouse on the River offers a vibrant selection of annuals, perennials and planters. (Photo: The Greenhouse on the River)

The greenhouse offers a variety of beautiful and unusual succulents alone and in pleasing planters. (Photo: The Greenhouse on the River)

Hanging baskets are a specialty with options in a variety of colours for sun and shade. (Photo: The Greenhouse on the River)

Elyn and Peter Green have owned and operated The Greenhouse on the River since 1989. (Photo: The Greenhouse on the River

Tucked in steps away from the Otonabee River, The Greenhouse on the River sells a variety of annuals, perennials, succulents, tropicals, shrubs and trees nurtured on site. Owners Peter Green and Elyn Saar-Green have created a greenhouse space that fosters healthy and beautiful plants, baskets and containers with an emphasis on sustainability.

The variety of plants offered at The Greenhouse on the River is inspiring. Bright Gerber Daisies thrive atop a backdrop of lush tropicals. Hardy perennials brave the spring weather while inside the greenhouse unusual succulents like lithops, which look like living stones, thrive.

A Lakehead graduate with a BscH in Forestry, Peter’s background in biological science helps him to optimally manage the greenhouse. Elyn says that Peter keeps a close eye on the health of the plants, leading to a variety of different fertilizer applications throughout the season.

A planter for every space

The Greenhouse on the River has a vibrant and well thought out selection of planters. Peter says that the diverse selection of planters allows him to find something to suit almost every porch or patio.

“If you have a unique situation, we’re going to have an answer for you in terms of appearance, colour, and your sun or shade requirements. The variety allows people to find something that appeals to them.”

Eco friendly practices and safe pest management

Peter and Elyn have adopted many eco-friendly practices to keep their greenhouse running efficiently and sustainably. They collect rainwater for irrigation, which Peter says is also a better quality of water for the plants. They have energy curtains, a retractable layer of insulation that keeps the heat in the greenhouse, allowing them to use less energy to heat. They use cardboard trays instead of plastic, and they take back and reuse pots and containers from previous years.

They also use beneficial insects to control pests instead of insecticides. Peter says that the benefits of integrated pest management (IPM) outweigh its higher cost.

“It costs us a lot more than running around spraying insecticides, but it’s better for us, it’s better for the environment, it’s better for me who applies it, and it’s better for our staff and our customers.”

The Greenhouse on the River is proudly neonicotinoid free.

The art of the plant

The Greenhouse on the River also supports the local arts community. They were an exhibit location for the SPARK Photo Festival, and they currently display sculpture by Chaka Chikodzi.

The Greenhouse on the River is a grower garden centre created out of a passion for plant quality, refreshing choice, and innovative design. Elyn says that when it comes right down to it, Peter and she have created their business based on one basic principle.

“Our love of plants drives who we are and what we do. Always.”

You can learn more about The Greenhouse on the River (4115 County Road 32, Douro-Dummer, 705-652-8154) on their website at www.greenhouseontheriver.com. They are also on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

They are open this year until December 6th. Business hours change throughout the season, so check here for hours.

Anyone can design their own home with Apsley Home Hardware Building Centre

Beaver Homes and Cottages offers design options like The Cariboo, with plenty of outdoor deck space for those who would rather be on the patio. (Image: Beaver Homes and Cottages)

Beaver Homes and Cottages floor plans are fully customizable. Anything can be altered to suit the client's preferences, including materials used. (Image: Beaver Homes and Cottages)

Now is a great time to build. With plenty of beautiful and affordable lots on the market, you can build your dream home on budget. (Photo: Apsley Home Hardware Building Centre)

Building Consultant Adam Dragisic will support your build from beginning to end, ensuring it stays on budget and according to plan. (Photo: Apsley Home Hardware Building Centre)

Have you ever dreamed of designing your own home or cottage?

Apsley Home Hardware Building Centre (18 Tucker St., Apsley, 705-656-4295 or 1-877-455-0707) offers everything you need to create the home that you’ve been imagining, even if you’ve never even built a shed before. With their Beaver Homes and Cottages Program, you can build the home of your dreams.

Beaver Homes and Cottages offers limitless design options

The Beaver Homes and Cottages program allows you to choose from hundreds of home and cottage designs. Communications Manager Amber Dunford explains.

“You can essentially pick a model based on what you want to do, whether you want to build a home or cottage or maybe a garage with an apartment over top. Your local store will put together an entire package of materials for you.”

The store won’t just sell you the materials, they will be there to make sure the build proceeds as planned. Amber says that they are involved in the process from start to finish.

“You’re in control of your build, but you have a consultant working with you the whole time making sure that everything goes smoothly, making sure that you stay on budget, and making sure that everything is done exactly how you want it.”

Building your home from scratch

When designing your home or cottage you don’t have to stick with what’s available on the Beaver Homes and Cottages website. Amber says that all designs are fully customizable.

“Literally any change that you can dream of can be made.”

That includes building a home from scratch.

“Let’s say you have a vision of a home and you haven’t been able to find anything like it, but you know what you want. Our design consultant will sit down with you and draw up a sketch. If you like what you see, you can go forward to the blueprint stage.”

All materials are also fully customizable. That means you can upgrade to premium insulation, add a steel roof or even install solar panels. It’s your home to design as you see fit.

A space that is all yours

Amber says that designing your own home allows you to create a space that’s entirely yours.

“I think nowadays a lot of people want to have their own personality in their home.”

It’s also an economical option, especially in cottage country.

“There’s so much vacant land available, people are building because they have the freedom to build. In a rural area such as ours, for the price of a home in the city you can buy a piece of land and build your own brand new custom home.”

You can visit the Beaver Homes and Cottages website to see the many houses available. Amber says that once you start looking, it can be addictive.

“I’ve now designed so many of my own houses at home just for fun.”

Apsley Home Hardware Building Centre is a family-owned and operated business and is proud to be among one of over a thousand independent Home locations across Canada.

“Home Hardware is not a franchise as a lot of people believe,” says Amber. “Our independent ownership allows us to have some freedom and create a special niche to better serve the needs of our customers.”

In addition to the Beaver Homes and Cottages Program, Apsley Home Hardware Building Centre features hardware, home expressions, housewares, a seasonal garden centre, and an outdoor power equipment shop with rentals. They are are Certified STIHL, Husqvarna, and Honda dealers, and they offer a wide selection of lumber including premium western red cedar, pine, spruce, and Micro Pro Sienna pressure-treated lumber.

You can visit Apsley Home Hardware Building Centre on their website at apsleyhhbc.ca or on Facebook. You can also visit their Beaver Homes and Cottages Facebook page to get inspired to build your dream home.

You can also contact Beaver Homes and Cottages Building Consultant Adam Dragisic directly at 289-925-2226 or by email at adam@apsleyhhbc.ca.

I arrived home from work last Friday to the unwelcome surprise that my sump pump was engaging every 1-3 minutes. As the rain kept falling last week and the ground became more saturated, I started clocking the length between pumps to try and gauge whether the water was flowing faster into my basement.

I have received a small amount of water in my unfinished basement each spring and I am prepared for some dampness, but this kind of water flow was something that I was not ready for.

Earlier in the week I was worried when it was engaging every 20-30 minutes, so to be pumping that often was quite unsettling.

So, Friday night I experienced a very restless sleep; the sump ran all night. I worried that the water would rise and flood out my camping gear along with bins of photo albums, winter clothes, and some unused furniture that I store in the basement.

I formulated a plan between bouts of intermittent sleep. At 7 a.m. on Saturday morning, I was out in the yard in my rubber boots and rain jacket, hard at work checking the eaves troughs and installing my rain barrel.

Rain barrels are great for collecting water from the eaves of the house to use on the garden later. They are also great for slowing water down during rain showers. During high volume rain events like we have been experiencing you can attach a hose and open the spigot slightly, to direct the flow of water further away from your home. This also prevents the barrel from overflowing, which could also cause flooding around your foundation.

My next task was to move as many of my storage bins in the basement up onto shelves and the remainder of them up the stairs to the main floor. This cleared the concrete floor from inhibiting water flow to the sump. I turned on the fans and a dehumidifier and connected them to timers to utilize off-peak energy times.

While the water kept flowing all weekend, and the sump kept pumping, I did get some piece of mind knowing that I did everything I could to prevent damage to my belongings in the short term, but what about the long term?

As the climate changes, are we likely to experience more extreme weather events like flooding?

“It is important we all feel ready for rain, and ready for a lack of rain, as we proactively adapt to changing weather patterns associated with Climate Change,” explains GreenUP Water Programs Manager Heather Ray.

“The Peterborough Climate Change Action Plan, along with the Ontario Climate Change Action Plan, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (along with many more international, regional, and local institutions) recognize that the weather is changing due to climate change, and we can expect more extreme weather events resulting in more flooding and drought conditions for our community.”

I feel fortunate that only a few of my belongings fell victim to the current flooding, but many people living closer to Jackson Creek and the Otonabee River are dealing with fully flooded basements, rising water levels, boil water advisories, and the stress of more rain in the forecast.

How can we all prepare for the long term changes in climate that we will likely see, and protect our homes from flood damage before it happens? Rain Community Solutions offers some practical ideas to help prevent water damage in your basement with pro-active solutions that manage rainwater on your property by slowing it down, soaking it up, and keeping it clean.

Installing rain barrels, sloping the ground away from your foundation, cleaning eaves troughs regularly, and directing downspouts to at least 2.4 metres away from your home and onto permeable surfaces are all helpful ways to slow down water around your home.

To soak up more water before it flows to your basement, consider installing a rain garden in your yard. Rain gardens are uniquely designed to use soil and carefully selected plant species to capture and absorb rainwater while filtering pollutants that are often picked up in urban areas from roofs, driveways, and roads.

Keeping water clean helps to keep your home healthy, and our waterways, too. For example, disposing of old paint cans, and toxic cleaners at the household waste depot will ensure that they aren’t left in the basement where flooding could cause spillage and seepage into your home.

During flooding events, it is also important to conserve water. Over 100mm of rain has fallen in Peterborough since May 1st, which is more that we usually receive in the entire month of May!

While it might seem unnecessary to save water during such an influx of it, right now it is crucial to use less water in your home to protect the infrastructure that we use to treat our wastewater. Last week, an influx of rain and storm water to the system caused the wastewater treatment facility to be at capacity and was therefore forced to release water into the Otonabee River before it received secondary treatment.

Conserving water in the home will help reduce the strain on the wastewater treatment plant. You have likely heard all these water-saving tips before, but saving the laundry for another time, having very short showers, flushing less, and turning off the tap while you brush, shave, and wash dishes will certainly help.

Many of us will continue to manage the water in our yards and homes over the next few weeks. To try and minimize the stress associated with the ongoing flooding, I will be reminding myself that the sound of the sump pump going off means it is working! In the longer term, I will be considering some water-wise landscaping options to mitigate larger-scale flooding that is likely to happen again.

For more information about Rain Community Solutions, installing rain gardens and rain barrels, or any of GreenUP’s diverse water programs including Ready for Rain Peterborough and Water Wise, please contact Heather Ray, GreenUP Water Programs Manager at heather.ray@greenup.on.ca or 705-745-3238 ext. 204.