Oh, summer, our absolute favourite time of the year! The sun’s shining, and we’re all about savouring those lazy August afternoons together, soaking in the remainder of that summer heat.
As we look forward to our own snatches of holiday and rest, we thought we’d share some of our excitement and inspiration with you. Whether you’re enjoying a relaxing staycation, or looking forward to heading somewhere further afield, we want to be part of your holiday, and help you make the most out of it! |
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Cooking and entertaining in the summer always holds a special place in our hearts, and is truly one of our favourite ways to gather and connect throughout the season. The abundance of peak seasonal produce often yields almost effortless meals everyone will enjoy that perfectly captures the taste and essence of the season. Main course salads like the classic Nicoise, Cobb, and delicious combinations of shrimp and grilled steak on greens become regular fixtures on our table and offer an irresistible medley of flavours and textures. Our gardens are also brimming with fresh herbs, adding a burst of color, brightness, and an aromatic touch to our dishes - making them look and taste that much better. Every summer, we look forward to creating these meals which provide the opportunity for gathering, celebration and an expression of love.
One of our top summer rules is to trade the stove and oven for outdoor grilling and dining al fresco wherever possible. A very memorable outdoor meal was from our recent visit to PEI. After making the impulsive purchase of freshly caught fish along the beach, we fashioned an entire meal on the beach over an open fire and grill and pot of oil with waves crashing along the shore in the background. The whole family pitched in, kids, cousins and all, everyone had a role and it truly became such a collaborative and bonding moment. While we adults were prepping the food and lounging on the beach, Alex’s daughter Freya ran through the shallows and was truly living her best life. Delicious and fresh it reminded us of how amazing and simple food can be, and its ability create memories we hold dear. |
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Road Trip Essential Long drive up to the cottage? Here’s what you should be listening to.
Tracey’s latest favourite podcast, which we never fail to recommend to anyone interested, and effortlessly fills any long drive is ‘Wiser Than Me’, hosted by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The Emmy Award-winning actress shares her conversations with older women and their advice on how to live meaningfully. The conversations are always deeply insightful and immensely funny. Truly the best place to start listening is the very first episode, ‘Julia Gets Wise with Jane Fonda’. As one of the most recognizable women in pop culture, Jane Fonda is hilarious and honest in this truly riveting conversation - it’s not to be missed! The icing on the cake? ‘Wiser Than Me’ truly celebrates and emphasizes the importance of intergenerational relationships between women, a spirit which is echoed throughout our teamwork throughout The Flour Mill. So pack the car, grab some snacks, and get ready to get wise! |
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Inspiration In Hand As we head to the lake, we make sure to grab some delightful dockside reads to unwind by the water. Our amazing neighbour Jan at Betty’s Bookshelf now has the best selection of magazines to choose from. The latest issue of Delicious magazine is an absolute must! The combination of inspiring summer recipes and captivating food stories makes it the perfect companion for any getaway! |
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Galette - our favorite kind of pie A flaking, crispy crust enveloping prime seasonal fruits - behold the rustic and stunning galette, a dessert that’s as gorgeous as it is easy to make! It is one of our absolute summer staples, and they are one of our most popular items in the shop - we simply can never make enough! A galette is essentially an open-face pie, generously packed with delicious, tender fruits in an all-butter pastry without the fuss of crimping, latticework or the aluminum plate. All you need to bake is a baking sheet or cast iron pan. It truly is one of the easiest things to try at home!
You can play with a huge array of sweet options - mixed berry, blueberry, apple, rhubarb and strawberry, peach or apricot the list goes on and the possibilities are endless. Indulge in this treat on its own, or pile on ice cream, whipped cream, thick yogurt, or creme fraiche. But wait, galettes don’t just work for sweet cravings! They also shine a savoury summer dinner, appetizer or side dish. Imagine fillings from juicy heirloom tomatoes and basil, roasted zucchini and feta, or wild mushrooms and herbs - let your creativity run wild, you really can’t go wrong. The ultimate summer dish for both sweet and savoury lovers alike! Want to try it for yourself, just follow Tracey’s recipe below! Alternatively, call the shop and we are always more than happy to make a galette (sweet or savoury) for you. It’s what we do! |
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Recipe makes one large or four small galettes 1 package FM shortcrust pastry 1 lb fresh fruit, trimmed and washed, ¾ cup sugar, ¼ cup flour, zest of one lemon, 1 tbsp unsalted butter Preheat oven to 375 F, roll pastry on a lightly floured surface into to an approximate 14-inch round Lift pastry round onto a parchment lined baking sheet Arrange fruit mixture in the center of the pastry round leaving a two inch border all the way around Fold the border over the fruit, overlapping where necessary, brush edges with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake for 45-50 minutes for large and 30 minutes for individuals until the pastry is golden and the fruit is bubbling |
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CURRENT OBSESSIONS Step into August, the month that embraces the essence of summer holidays, local produce and evenings under the open sky filled with family and friends! We love the endless possibilities and perfect pairings that await. This season, we’ve got everything you need in the shop - come in to find fresh produce, beautiful wine pairings, mouthwatering desserts and so much more! Meinklang, Gruner Veltliner: Dry and zippy ideal for summer picnics and toasting with friends Crisp unsweet herbal Lake and Oak iced tea: cool, refreshing and not-too-sweet, the perfect drink for those hot summer afternoons Prosciutto and Melon: musk melons from Thames River Farms are outstanding, delicately covered with Vitale, Nitrate Free Prosciutto Crudo Loco Fields heirloom tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil - classic
We are always selling and cooking with the freshest local produce we can find. Check out our Instagram or see us in the shop for inspiration and to see how we choose to highlight the beauty of all of these products! |
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PRIVATE EVENTS Exciting news! The Flour Mill is now open for private events, and we couldn’t be happier to share our space and transform it for various different gatherings. Last month we had the honour of hosting a beautiful, and heartwarming intimate wedding reception that left us feeling more inspired than ever, and confirming our desire to open up and share our space.
We tailor menus crafted exclusively for each event, and we’re prepared to host up to 25 guests, ensuring a truly memorable and personal experience. If you’re looking to host or are curious about how you can collaborate with us to create a beautiful event, simply send us an inquiry email to find out more details, and let us make your vision come to life! |
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Answering a frequently asked question... One question we get asked quite frequently is “Why don’t you have a menu online?”. Quite honestly, this is a tricky question for us to answer and something we have been grappling with since opening the shop two years ago.
Our goal has always been to provide the highest quality seasonal food we possibly can. We also have a strong desire to complement our client’s vision and prepare food that correctly fits their events and budget. This balance has proven to be a difficult one for us to condense in a simple document or page on our website. We find the one exception to be the holiday season. At Thanksgiving, Winter Holidays and Easter/Passover you can always expect to find a menu posted on our website of a curated menu to compliment your gatherings and events. When you visit The Flour Mill our staple items are always available: quiche, loaves, frozen meals (such as pot pies and fresh pasta), gourmet groceries, a wide selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic premium beverages and ready-to-eat prepared foods. But of course, we offer more. Celebration cakes in a variety of flavours and Hors d’oeuvres are made regularly along with full meals that offer a delicious tablescape for intimate and medium-sized events. To request a catering menu please send us the date, time, number of guests, budget and style of meal you are looking for and we will send you some sample menus to get started. We really find it is the best way. |
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Our summer operational hours are from Wednesday to Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM, Sunday 10 AM- 3 PM with brunch service 10 AM to 2:30 PM (Sunday only) We look forward to seeing you at the shop, Tracey, Alex & Team |
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