1564 Queen Street West, Toronto

Tel: (416) 849-1095

Email: info@cowbellrestaurant.ca
 
 

The Inspiration

first course

I started thinking about the concept for Cowbell in the summer of 2006 while on a family vacation in Salt Spring Island, BC. My son Max and I went fishing with the owner of Ruckle Farms, Mike Lane. We caught five fresh salmon and traded three of them with Mike for a fresh leg of lamb and vegetables from his farm. I used these ingredients to cook, what I would consider, one of the best meals of my career. Up until that time, it was my only experience eating a meal created entirely by one farm.

 

When I returned to Ontario I started my search for local farmers who raise their animals and grow their produce without pesticides, hormones and chemical fertilizers. It was not easy to find Ontario farmers that followed this half-a-century old technique - we don't support this infrastructure anymore - but I eventually found a few farms to supply organic product.

 

We're surrounded by some of North America's richest farm land but our current food buying decisions are leaving our farmers broke and bankrupt. I would love for Cowbell to be instrumental in opening up the market place for our farmers. With this in mind we introduced Farmers Nights where we created a set menu using ingredients from one farm. Our farmers agreed to come to Toronto for the meal to talk to our customers about their farms. Our intention was and is to give you a chance to reconnect with your food and the people who produce it. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

- Chef Mark Cutrara

 
 

tableFARMERS NIGHTS 2009

Cowbell's 2009 Farmers Nights were a smashing success! Our Farmers Nights are truly a unique evening where Chef Mark Cutrara creates a five course menu using ingredients from one farm. The menu also features a wine pairing from an Ontario winery. Our farmers are present for the dinner, as is a reprentative from the winery so it is a true communal table.

 

The following is the list of our 2009 evenings:

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
Farmers Dingo Farms from Bradford
Winery Megalomaniac Wines (from John Howard Cellars of Distinction)
Menu Feature  Beef

 

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
Farmers Vader Farms & Fifth Town Cheese from Prince Edward County
Winery The Grange of Prince Edward County
Menu Feature Lamb and cheese

 

Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Farmer Purdy's Fisheries from Point Edward
Winery Fielding Estates
Menu Feature Lake Huron fish

 

Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Farmer/Winery An unsual situation where our farmer and winery are one and the same – Tawse Winery of Vineland
Menu Feature Lamb that grazes on the grape vines at the vineyard

 

Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Farmer Perth Pork Products of Sebringville
Winery Stratus Vineyards

Menu Feature Pork

 

If you would like to be on our mailing list to receive information about upcoming events - including our Farmers Nights -please email us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  

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