As seen at the farmers' markets this week

Local produce has returned to Toronto's farmers markets. Strawberries, rhubarb, radishes, asparagus, spring garlic -- bring it on!
Here's sample from Dufferin Grove and Brick Works markets this week.


Illyan offers a heavenly plate of ChocoSol chocolate with Ted Thorpe's Cabot strawberries.

The Cabot variety of strawberry is an exceptionally large strawberry with good taste but a strange appearance.  The very first berries tend to have these weird little blips growing off them. It was developed in Kent, Nova Scotia.

 Joel of WellPreserved.ca showing off his prize of spring garlic and rhubarb. Inquiring minds want to know: what are you going to make with these Joel?

 

The always brilliant chef, Joshna Maharaj has been creating the next generation of local food chefs right under our eyes. here her Gowing Taste Buds kids made the best strawberry muffins and cream I've ever had. 

Chocolate, chocolate everywhere!

It sounded like a dream come true when Lianne Hubbard of the international chocolate company Cacao Barry Callebaut asked me to photograph the two day Canadian Intercollegiate Chocolate Competition. I've never been around so much chocolate--I think I was absorbing it through my skin. Photographing it was a exercise in willpower. Look but don't touch! ( At least not until after I shot it and the judges had their way with it.)

There were 13 incredibly talented and dedicated student chef competitors from 9 college culinary programs across Canada creating 4 different items within the theme "Under the Sea". The first day the competitors created large showpieces--intricate sculptures made entirely of chocolate and at least 1 metre in height. The second day was hand-dipped bonbons, molded bonbons and plated desserts ( my fav).

Day 1: Chocolate show pieces:

Day 2: Bon bons

Day 2: Plated desserts

The Judges

The Chefs