On July 18th, the annual Locavore Lunch takes place at John R. Park Homestead.  I have been wanting to go this event for the last couple years, but it just never worked out for me.  But not this year!  Tickets have been bought and the anticipation is beginning to build!

Here’s a bit of information about this fantastic event from the Essex Region Conservation Authority’s site:

This event highlights Locavore opportunities in Essex County. You can learn more about this movement as you savour an afternoon by the Lake enjoying live music, tasting locally grown foods, a fine array of local fruit wines and more. Also local farmers, food producers and vendors will be on hand to share their specific knowledge about their products, the delicious bounty that our region offers, and the benefits of buying local.

The 2010 menu for the Homestead’s event features some tasty new items:  Hylander Farms beef, Klassen Farms blueberries, Meleg’s Lakeview Orchard apple cider and more!

We are happy to announce that the feature winery this year will be Black Bear Farms Ontario Estate Winery. This Kingsville winery has recently won eleven medals for their wines in New York at the 2010 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

Other local food producers in attendance with their delicious local products will be: Family Tradition Foods, Lakeside Packing, The Fruit Wagon, Ewe Dell Farms, Meleg’s Lakeview Orchard, Galati Cheese, Highline Mushrooms, The Thibert Farm, and more.

2010 Menu Details featuring the following fresh local products:

Award Winning Local Fruit Wines – Black Bear Farms of Ontario Estate Winery
Apple Cider – Meleg’s Lakeview Orchard & Cider Mill
Assorted Pickles – Lakeside Packing Co. Ltd.
Mixed Vegetable Salad – Koehn’s Farm Market
Organic Veggies – Natural Earth Organic
Seasonal Fruit Salsas – The Fruit Wagon
Sweet Honey Samples – Dresser’s Apiaries
Lake Erie Yellow Perch – John O’s Foods Inc.
Lamb Kabobs – Ewe Dell Farms
Mild Italian Veal Sausage – Hylander Farms Inc.
Honey Garlic Veal Sausage – Hylander Farms Inc.
Bocconcini Cheese with Tomato and Basil – Galati Cheese Windsor
Mushroom Saute – Highline Mushrooms
Blueberries – Klassen Blueberry Farm
Silver Dollar Pancakes – The Thibert Farm
Oatmeal Raisin and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies – The Thibert Farm
Gluten-Free Brownies and Cookies –  No More Belly Aching Bakery

Be sure to attend this unique event to ‘green your eats’. Advance ticket sales only. Last year’s event was sold out!

Tickets are only $20 and you can choose a 12:30 or 1:30pm lunch.  Visit www.onlineregistrations.ca/jrph/ to purchase tickets or for more information: (519) 738-2029 email: jrph@erca.org

The Homestead is located at 915 County Road 50, east of Colchester on the Lake.