The pits: Ontario cherries will last only three weeks (Photo by bensonkua)
A rainy June delayed the season, but Ontario cherries are finally making their annual appearance in desserts across the city. Farmers say the fruit will be around for three weeks, max, so we suggest all 100-mile dieters stock up now. Here, we look at what Toronto chefs are doing with Ontario cherries and list where to find fresh ones in the city.
• Summerlicious pastry chefs are fully embracing the short season, including Colen Quinn of Pangaea, whose Niagara shortcake comes with local cherries, apricots and strawberries smothered in crème anglaise.
• Zucca Trattoria’s Andrew Milne-Allan is topping his prix fixe with a Neapolitan brioche that includes cherries and fresh ricotta cream. Summerlicious, and this dish, ends July 19.
• We hear that fruit stands are fighting over the smaller-than-usual supply of cherries. Winners so far include Ko Fruit Market (143 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-588-9587), Highland Farms (4750 Dufferin St., 416-736-6606, plus four other GTA locations) and Fiesta Farms (200 Christie St., 416-537-1235), who all have them in stock now. Look for them at the bigger chains, like Sobey’s and Longo’s, early next week.
• Organic cherries are available at Laura’s Feast of Fields stand at the farmers’ markets in Riverdale, Trinity-Bellwoods, Dufferin Grove, The Brickworks and Withrow Park.
• For those more concerned about freshness than pesticides, a drive to Niagara is in order. Picking is now in full force at Cherry Avenue Farms (4303 Cherry Ave., Lincoln, 905-562-5481), the E.D. Smith Cherry Farm (980 Hwy. 8, Winona, 1-888-263-8189) and Puddicombe Estate Farms (1468 Hwy. 8, Winona, 905-643-1015).
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Kyla Eaglesham, Owner, Madeleines, Cherry Pie and Ice Cream has told me they have used Niagara cherries for years, and just recently she has started going right to Cherry Lane Farm in Vineland to pick them up herself, to guarantee that customers always get Niagara cherries.
Her cherry pies (small, med., large) are the best..
The cherry pies at “Madeleines, Cherry Pie and Ice Cream” (1087 Bathurst Street) are great!! They use cherries from a farm in Vineland that they pick up themselves. Can’t get much fresher or local than that!
Madeleines, Cherry Pie & Ice Cream (1087 Bathurst street)has been making the most delicious cherry pies using cherries from Cherry Lane Farm for the past five years. She currently sells them in three sizes. Drop by and try a piece, you won’t be disppointed!!! or pick one up for the cottage.
Sweet cherries have been available at the St. Andrew’s market (http://my-market.ca/standrews.html) for two weeks, and sour cherries arrived last week. Weekly on Saturdays, 9am-1pm, on Adelaide at Maud (between Spadina and Bathurst). This is a certified farmers’ market, that is, all of the vendors are certified to be growing what they’re selling, and the fresh produce is fabulous.