Gate to Gage Park Community Garden

Community gardens provide food security

Premier Doug Ford’s March 30th extension of the Declaration of Emergency included shutting down all “recreational amenities” including community gardens. The immediate response from some community activists, food security advocates, and gardeners was to lobby to keep community gardens open. These efforts are now meeting with backlash. It’s about land, class, and privilege. As an …

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Caged fish farm

Is That Fish Farmed?

Photo by Thomas Bjørkan – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 A very common question and it’s one people ask because they want to stay clear of it. There’s a good chance nobody forages their vegetables or hunts their meat. People are, however, concerned about aqua farming and for good reason: Sixty-five per cent of fish …

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Inside the 1101 Cafe Bar

Shades of cool in Crown Point

Last week a neat little cafe opened up on Cannon at Kensington and then the very next day a beer hall opened next door.  Neighbours alarmed by the idea of beer hall in the neighbourhood will be pleasantly surprised. It’s not that kind of beer hall. They do serve beer, and cocktails in the cafe, …

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When good eats meets good deeds

The best cod in the world is coming to Hamilton. Fogo Island Fish is a small Newfoundland family fishery that catches fish in the traditional way. They use a line and catch them one at a time from the cold waters of the Labrador current. The market for the cod is high end Toronto eateries. …

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Breakfast in The Point: Curbside Grill

There are a few reasons to visit Curbside Grill. One is that while many breakfast spots serve a bottomless coffee, Curbside has good coffee. A second is that they’re on Ottawa Street close to the market. The third is the The Breakfast Club.  I like a breakfast sandwich. I’m that guy constructing a sandwich at …

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Sean Hurley

Biting into food literacy

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][sam_pro id=1_11 codes=”true”][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]October is the second annual food literacy month here in Hamilton.  But what does that really mean?  When I think about food literacy, I ask where the food in my kitchen came from? Did I grow it myself, or did I meet the person or farmer that did? If not, do I know …

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Sean Hurley

Breakfast in The Point: Calipan

The Spectator ran a piece on where to get breakfast in Hamilton. Of the six restaurants profiled, Rankin’s, is in Crown Point which is pretty good considering how large and wide is Hamilton. In Crown Point, though, we have lots of places to get breakfast. Calipan Bakery is a cozy little place serving up prepared …

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Answers to fishy questions

I’m going to answer a couple of the most often asked questions at the restaurant. Why is halibut so expensive? Halibut is perhaps the most valuable of the groundfish fisheries in North America. The U.S. and Canada do not want another Grand Banks incident. I’m referring to when the cod stocks were all but collapsed …

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File photo of Farmers' Market

Farmers’ Market, Crown Point’s green grocery

Many have said that Ottawa Street needs a green grocer. In fact, we have one. It may require some planning, but every Saturday morning a green grocery opportunity sets up shop in the municipal parking lot east of Ottawa. Market vendors provide a number of different products to visitors. There are a few hardy vendors …

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Simply Italian Bakery is simply delicious

Simply Italian Bakery (SIB) opened on Ottawa Street North on June 1st. Despite opening day hiccups like Interac machines not fully functioning, they had a busy day with customers coming and going all day long.  The space is modern, clean and bright with large windows facing onto Ottawa Street.  There are plenty of tables and …

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