Posted by Sheryl Kirby in blog-a-log, news and media, on the web on July 20, 2007 at 7:37 pm

Folks are still talking about last week's Street Treats Fair at Nathan Phillips Square, and k-chan of I Can't Believe I'm Back in Toronto gives her synopsis. She mentions all of the big name chefs who were present and has this to say about the Rubino brothers of rain:

I find it interesting that this whole campaign was spearheaded by the Rubino brothers who are perhaps the most pretentious restaurateurs in the city. They mobilized their peers who are also known for their expensive establishments to lobby for new and interesting cheap, street food? I imagine that when this plan actually is put into motion, Guy Rubino or his staff will not be camped out in Clubland with chilled melon soup waiting for the late night munchie crowd. Rubino's involvement in this campaign is like how he approaches everything on his Food Network show, Made to Order: he wants to show people how he can do it better.

Now I don't know the Rubinos, although I do know a few disgruntled former employees. However I think they are to be commended on their efforts, whatever their motivation. There are lots of egos in this business, but that doesn't negate either the effort or the end result. The point is not that the Rubinos (or Didier Leroy or Jamie Kennedy) plan to set up pushcarts, but to open people's eyes to the myriad possibilities. In talking to both brothers at the event, I got a real feeling of excitement and a love of food. And sometimes that's really what it's all about.

Aprons abound at Blog From Our Kitchen where ejm takes part in one of the few food blogging memes that amuse me - "Show Us Your Apron". I always mean to use an apron, but even when I do, I still fall into the old chef's habit of wiping my dirty hands on my butt - because you've got to keep the apron clean.

Gina Mallet is downright gleeful about the fact that eating lots of fruits and vegetables do not prevent cancer. Says Mallet, "It's like the endless promotion of olive oil: no nutritionist ever says that olive oil is just as fattening as butter." She's got a point. Why do North Americans seem to latch onto "saviour" foods? Is it slick marketing - or are we just too gullible in our quest for a quick fix?

If the photos of the Steam Whistle Brewing/Team Cedar Grilling BBQ from both Greg's Beer, Beats and Bites and my blog at Save Your Fork look similar, it's because we went together and ate more than our fair share of meat prepared by the Canadian Grand BBQ Champions.

And finally, Al at Torontovore discusses "smart certification" of farmer's markets. Now, Al admits elsewhere in his blog that he doesn't actually frequent farmer's markets, so perhaps he's biased, but this statement really confuses me - "Farmers markets in Toronto are a resource drain for the participants who must individually drive their produce to multiple markets in different locations on different days and then hope to sell to whoever shows up."

Growing - or creating - anything with the intention of selling it involves two parts to the business - the creating, and the selling. This goes for any product, whether it's jewellery or tomatoes or pies or sweaters. And while I have no issue with farmers pooling resources to cut down on everyone having to take the time and energy to travel to market, the efforts involved in selling are a known factor to the business. Farmers do have alternatives to coming to market, and they do generally have seasonal labour on the farm itself. I find it more than a little presumptuous and condescending for we city slickers to talk like we know what's best for the farmers. How about we let them decide if they want to participate in the various markets and then respect their decision?