Seeing Stars at The New Farm
Creemore, as it turns out, is not so secluded as one might think. For lovers of both music and fine, locally sourced, organic foods, it is quickly becoming what chef and slow food movement advocate Miriam Streiman calls a “destination location.”
“The area has so much to offer,” said Streiman, who was largely responsible for gathering together some of Ontario’s top chefs for the event, “both culturally and in terms of the fantastic local foods that are available.”
On Saturday, July 7, that which our area has to offer will be on full display at The New Farm, where Montreal-based band Stars will perform their unique blend of indie pop – featuring lush instrumentation, danceable – yet deceptively complex – drum beats and narrative lyrics – alongside tasting tables featuring the chefs assembled by Streiman, who hail from such notable restaurants as Keriwa, Hooked, Torito, Hey Meatball and Vertical (all from Toronto) and recent local addition Creemore Kitchen (among others).
All of the food vendors will be using local ingredients (including fresh produce and meat from The New Farm) for their offerings wherever possible.
“It is important to support producers like Gillian and Brent of The New Farm,” said Streiman. “They help ensure the future of thriving local food networks and a sustainable healthy environment.”
Included amongst the fare will be pulled pork made with pork from The New Farm, courtesy of Matt Flett of Georgian College; fresh tortillas prepared by Torito using corn from the mill in Tottenham; fried green tomatoes from The New Farm courtesy of Keriwa; fire roasted (at the event) coffee from Green Merchants Organic, Fair-trade Coffee; sustainable fish tacos from Hooked; Mapleton’s Organic Ice Cream; Organic French fries from Hey Meatball; and, of course, Creemore Springs beer.
“There is an amazing emphasis on food this year,” said Gillian Flies of The New Farm, adding that, of the five previous events they have hosted, they expect this to be the best, due to the caliber of both the band being featured and the chefs who are responsible for the food.
Ticket are still available for the event and cost $45 in addition to a small processing fee, with tasting and drink tickets being made available at the door for $4 per tasting station. Gates open at 5:30 pm, with the opening band beginning at 7:30 pm and Stars going on at 8:30 pm.
Whereas The New Farm typically hosts two such events each year, this year there will be only this one.
“That’s the reason we went so big,” said Flies, noting that she hopes the event will help to make The New Farm more accessible to the community.
All proceeds will go toward Grow For The Stop, a partnership between The New Farm and The Stop Community Food Centre in Toronto, which, using fresh organic produce from The New Farm, helps some 16,000 people in need each year, “challenging inequality” while at the same time “supporting sustainable local farming.”
Some donations will also be contributed to the Collingwood and Stayner food banks.
“Everyone has the right to fresh, local food,” said Streiman, “and the programs at our local food banks and The Stop Community Food Centre ensure that those in need have access to that same fresh, organic food we will all be enjoying on the 7th.”
