Posted by Sheryl Kirby in news and media, what's cooking on September 12, 2007 at 5:32 pm

There's a lot of people who are envious of Susan Sampson's job today, as she offers up a feature report for the Toronto Star on lobster. With info on everything from how they're caught to how to eat a lobster Acadian-style (that is, with the bare hands - no implements required. As a former Bluenoser, I am happy to offer demonstrations on this process for free to anyone willing to supply the lobster), Sampson covers everything you need to know about the tasty crustacean, including recipes. Except the fact that Shediac is one of the only places where lobster is currently in season. Shediac falls into Lobster Fishing Area #25, where the season runs to October 10th. Almost everywhere else in New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia, the season runs from April to late July and then opens again in late November. So anyone wanting to try the Acadian cooking and eating methods who might be put off by the price, take note - lobster gets cheap again here in Toronto near Christmas. In fact, it's the traditional Christmas Eve dinner here in our house. But it's currently not in season anywhere except the north-east coast of New Brunswick, and then only for a couple more weeks.

Also in the Star, Suzanne Carere reviews premade Rice Krispie Treats (not wholesome),  and Susan Sampson looks at some other snack food that gets a thumbs up. Gordon Stimmell offers up some great wines for under $10, and Amy Pataki reveals that Mashu Mashu is where she goes for comfort food when she's not covering the latest dining hotspot, while Linda Barnard digs into some southern comfort food at Sweetsmoke Barbeque and Grill.

At the Toronto Sun, Joanne Richard puts her food on her face, not in it, with recipes for skin treatments made from fruit and vegetables. Elizabeth Baird's got a selection of food news, including the Joseph Hoare Gastronomic-Writer-in Residence Programme at Stratford Chef's School. And Rita DeMontis has a piece on National Family Dinner Night, an event designed to get families to sit down to dinner together - at least once a year. What ever happened to "you be here in time for dinner with your hands and face washed and your toys (cellphones, etc) put away, or you go hungry"? Always got my family to the table every night.

Given the fuss we make over holiday foods for Christmas and Easter, I'm glad at least one paper is giving a nod to Rosh Hashanah. The Globe and Mail's Heather Sokoloff breaks bread in the form of gorgeous eggy challah. Chef Michael Smith reports on the dirt, bugs and tasty food that comes from his local CSA box. And speaking of local food, even Alberta is hopping on the bandwagon with their Dine Alberta: Savour Regional Flavour programme. And still out west, Beppi Crosaroil looks at the prospect of $100 red wines from the Okanagan valley.