Grilled Nectarines with Cheese

Grilled Nectarines with Cheese, Kiku Corner

I made these when I was kitchen staff at a summer camp in Algonquin Park. At the end of two months of camp, the kids and most of the staff left for home. I stayed to help the chef prepare food for ‘post-camp,’ where head staff would finish up work, maintenance would be done, and […]

Simple Peach Syrup

Simple Peach Syrup, Kiku Corner

Ontario peaches are at their prime in August and September. The Niagara region of Ontario has plenty of fruit, and the peaches are so luscious, perfumed, and dripping with juice that I can easily eat six in a day. Sometimes, however, the basket of peaches turn out flavourful but mealy in texture: no juicy flesh. […]

Deconstructed Banana Split

Early this summer, Donatello told me he was in the mood for a banana split. We went for a classic one at Dutch Dreams and devoured it on the spot. Then one day he picked me up from class and suggested another round. Except he didn’t want the chocolate ice cream, and I didn’t really want the […]

Berry and Ricotta Tartine

Berries and Ricotta Tartine, Kiku Corner

On weekdays, my breakfast is oatmeal. It’s fast, healthy, and doesn’t require much brain power in the early hours of the morning. On weekends however, I like to break from routine and indulge a little bit. I had some beautiful strawberries that Meinhilde and Raphael picked at Whittamore’s Farm and a tub of vanilla ricotta.  Why […]

Summertime is…Visiting a Pick-Your-Own Farm!

Summer Is...Pick Your Own at Whittamore's Farm, Kiku Corner

When we were kids and still living in Canada, our mom would take us to pick-your-own farms. I loved gorging on fresh berries still warm from the sun. Then during summers in Germany, we would pick cherries from our uncle’s tree, wild boysenberries in the hedgerows, and wild yellow plums in the fields. On a […]