The Road to Avalon

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Now after talking turkey, eating turkey and smelling like turkey.
I thought it would be a welcome change to take the blog straight to dessert.
This dessert starts at an apple orchard and finishes in my belly. Yum.
Let's go apple picking.
My only criteria for picking produce is that it be local and organic.
Ironically enough my mother presented me with an ad for picking organic apples at Avalon Orchards.
So with sychronicity making our decision for us we took a trip out
to their orchard in Innisfil. What a beautiful day.
The skies are clear blue and the temp is 36F, another record day.
Funny how things work. We were informed that today was the last day for apple picking because of the intense summer heat this year, the apples matured a month earlier than usual and people started
picking apples in August.
Crazy!
Picking apples in the same month you pick berries. We were also informed that the apples would be much smaller and more intense in flavour due to the lack of precipitation. It almost sounds like these apples, by themselves, are the perfect amouse bouche.
Small with lots of flavour.
They weren't kidding.
The apples were small, juicy, tangy and full of that bubble-gum -like flavour and aroma.
Considering that the orchard was almost empty.
We were able to quickly fill four bags of healthy looking apples with no bruises or worm hotels.
Let me tell you, there is nothing like eating an apple warmed by the sun, picked right off the tree. You bite into the apple and snap, your senses are lit up with sights, sounds, smells, of the apple and the surrounding orchard, with the birds and bees doing their thing and
also by the flavour and mouth feel.
The emotion of the moment takes you back.

Walt Whitman was right when he wrote:

what is called 'good' is perfect,
and what is called 'bad' is just as perfect.

Try to pick the ugliest looking apples. I found them to be most surprising simply because they didn't look like they were going to taste great. Imperfect perfection at its best. Small little
apples with warty bumps, not symetrical, with a worm sticking out, with divots and dry patches. A damn fine sensory delight that Ferran Adria would be proud to serve.





Anyway, Avalon Orchards is a good experience if you want to get out of the city and stretch your legs. Make sure to pick up the fresh apple cider and an apple pie. Add some fresh vanilla icecream too, so that you have a classic thanksgiving dessert ... apple pie al a mode with a tall glass of warm or cold apple cider.


You lose sight of the wonderful nuances of eating when your idea of a fresh apple is something you pull off the shelf at dominion. That's why it is absolutely mandatory that you and your loved ones go out and enjoy a day picking fresh apples blossomed by Mamma Nature!
You deserve to treat yourself.

The staff suggests that next year I come around mid September. So that is the plan.
Slow Food Picinic on Labour Day long weekend, and Avalon Orchards a week later.
C'mon you and your belly deserve it.

Until next time.
Good eating!