all in a day recipe contest submission...

(eat local, be vocal...here’s how)

The question as asked by Adrian, queries:
‘What should Canada eat?’
But the answer...varies...
The riddle is fair, but not easy to solve,
In a simple reply that absolves us of its far-reaching implications.
Thus, my inclination is to answer in verse.
(rather than being terse.)
(eat local, be vocal...here’s how)
I can’t tell you what Canada should eat, nor can you.
Canada is too big and too wide to eat one food...and too diverse,
Or worse, cursed with a farmer’s worst enemy in the form of a season—
Local farmers are your family & friends; and in hard times,
They need to see our loyalty increasing—
Not outsourced, and increasingly divorced from reason.
(eat local, be vocal...here’s how)
I can’t tell you what Canada should eat, in the general, anyway,
I can only tell you what Canada should eat...today...
And right here. And right now.
(eat local, be vocal...here’s how...)
The meal is unimportant, the recipe can shift—
Look around you, down your road, maybe get a lift to the market.
In summer, mine’s across the street—
In the winter it’s in the city at Bank and Heron.
If you go this Sunday, say hi to Ross and Karl & David,
Maybe even Linda, Chris or even Sharon (if you should meet one...)
(eat local, be vocal...here’s how...)
The meal, well let’s see what we’ve got...
Meat and potatoes would be ok...Tim’s beef...or Dan’s...
Potatoes from Berhanu.
Some greens from Terre á Terre, and a carrot—
(or a pair, if you dare it...)
Apple cider vinaigrette on the greens, with vinegar from local cider,
From Hall’s or make your own from Jasper’s apples or Mountain’s...
Mustard from Janet, and honey from Terry
(come spring, we’ll make it with Aubin’s fresh strawberries)
Brilliant purple radish sprouts from Shelley
Crispy bacon from Aartje’s pork belly—
(Oh, crispy pork, oh crispy pork, we’ll see you again...
perhaps tomorrow with my toast and Linda’s jelly)
And bread. A loaf of comfort, baked by Rob.
With flour from Bob.
And butter, just a little knob, from Andy.
Richard’s cheese, of course, the Tomme...
Sliced thin and served with more of Terry’s honey,
Or an Upper Canada cranberry chutney.
An apple crisp for dessert—served warm,
Apples from Berhanu, again, or from Mary.
With oats and seeds from Bob, maple syrup from Tim and Colleen.
I’ll churn the ice cream—with Cora’s eggs and Harmony’s cream,
(at least until the milk board let’s me buy it up the street)
(eat local, be vocal...here’s how...)
I can’t tell you what Canada will eat. It’s too big a chore,
But as to what it should eat...
Start at your door.

--Bruce Enloe