It was a clean sweep for the Danforth on Saturday, April 24, when candidates for mayor and city council took part in the Danforth BIA’s first annual Earth Day cleanup.

The Danforth was peppered with brightly coloured campaign tee-shirts as candidates and their teams of enthusiastic volunteers poured onto the street equipped with gloves, bags and a winning attitude. At stake was the environmentally-friendly Danforth Earth Day Cleanup Trophy, designed by Fresh, a local Danforth florist.

"We were tremendously pleased with the turn out for our Community Clean-Up Day. It’s great to see people coming together to keep our community polished. What better way to kick off the spring season." Glyn Laverick, Danforth BIA Board Chair

Every team was assigned a two block area and given 15 minutes to clean it up. Friendly inter-campaign trash talk began early as candidates and their volunteers rallied at the Music Hall to be assigned their blocks, plot their strategy over a cup of coffee courtesy of Second Cup and make their presence known to interested onlookers.

Teams spread out to cover the BIA neighbourhood from Broadview Avenue to Hampton Avenue. And while all participants proudly showed their environmental credentials, Mayoralty candidate Giorgio Mammoliti and his team were the runaway winners, returning to the Music Hall with a pickup truck piled with bags of trash. The Mammoliti team graciously offered to haul everybody’s garbage to the local dump.

Supporting the Danforth BIA’s first annual Earth Day challenge were: (For Mayor) Giorgio Mammoliti, Rocco Rossi and Sarah Thompson. (For Council, Wards 29 and 30) Chris Caldwell, Andrew James, Jane Pitfield, Michael Restivo and Jennifer Wood.

The inaugural Spring Chef’s Farmers Market held in the Carrot Common Courtyard on Saturday, May 15 was a tasty success!

Danforth chefs put a fresh twist on the traditional farmers market by introducing their favourite local growers and producers to over 1,000 consumers.

The Globe Bistro team, led by Executive Chef Kevin McKenna and owner Ed Ho, partnered with Nathen Pond from Cumbrae Farms to create a mouthwatering warmed pita wrapped around Ontario pork belly dressed with fresh greens.  Globe Bistro’s dish had consumers lining up all the way out to Danforth Avenue.

The Big Carrot’s Executive Chef, John Robertson introduced fresh asparagus from Mazak Farms and served up organic asparagus soup garnished with a parsley, garlic and lemon gremolata. And he gave away the recipe! “It’s only one secret,” he said, “I’ve got millions.”

By noon, rumors that slow-roasted, pulled pork sandwiches were available had spread across the Avenue. The Auld Spot Pub’s owners Nathan Hynes and Darryl Brown, Chef Jason Becker and his supplier Gurth Pretty from Cheese of Canada were on hand to serve up the mini sandwiches as well as Borgonzola cheese on slightly- sweet pear crisps.

Dora Keogh Executive Chef, Anthony Walsh accompanied by James McIntosh, Director of Operations for Scotch Mountain Meats had a freezer filled with farm-grown, antibiotic and hormone free products like maplewood, double smoked bacon, racks of lamb and Angus Beef.

Date squares, cinnamon buns and freshly baked bread were selling almost as fast as Danforth bakers, Benita Black and Tracy O’Hara from Dough Bakeshop could bring in reinforcements. “We’re playing with the big dogs here,” said Black.  By the look of things their game has no end in sight.

Chef Lynn Crawford, star of Food Network Canada’s popular Pitchin’ In was on hand with a team from Ruby Watchco, her new restaurant; and, Brent Germin from the 100 Mile Market.  Together they were serving up coveted samples of Ontario herbed potato salad and bright beet salad from a table laden with spring produce.  Chef Crawford was the special guest of the Danforth Chef team; and, was invited to join the festivities in order to experience first hand the unique, urban lifestyle that makes the Danforth a Toronto gem.

Adding to the flavour of the day, Niagara-on-the-Lake gardener Gary Myers, featured a garden market blooming with Ontario grown baskets and planters.

Unique, Urban, Life, Style

The Danforth BIA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the launch of The Danforth Experience; an 8 month initiative designed to put the spotlight on our Danforth neighbourhood.

Ours is truly a unique, urban, life, style area just minutes from the core of downtown Toronto. Our retailers, restaurants and food purveyors bring the best of the best to consumers and The Danforth Experience has been created to highlight this unique combination.

Throughout the 8 month period of May to December, 2010 various events will be organized to entice local consumers and others to participate in a Danforth Experience.

The first Experience took place on May 15th (see the article on the Chef’s Farmers Market). Over 1,000 people attended this event; which included Danforth chefs, local farmers, Ontario gardeners and a Danforth sidewalk sale.

The second Experience is set for Saturday, July 17th. In celebration of Summer's Thrill of the Grill, this Experience will be a BBQ Challenge – who can create the best Danforth burger. Danforth & Jackman will be the site for this saucy throw-down with the competition running from noon to 3pm.

Future Experiences will include a newly revamped contribution to The Taste of The Danforth in August; harvest markets in the fall; and, festive holiday celebrations in November and December. Check out the Danforth website for all of the upcoming details.

The Danforth Experience has also attracted interest from corporate and media sponsors and the BIA Board is pleased to welcome the following companies as part of the Experience Sponsor team: ESKA Water, Goodbye Graffiti, c2e, and BOOM Radio.

Popular Chefs Pair with Local Farmers for a Unique Market Experience

Toronto (May 10, 2010) – Fresh is on the menu in the Danforth neighbourhood, Saturday May 15, when some of the street’s finest chefs pair with local farmers to deliver a unique market experience.

“The Spring Chef’s Farmers Market is a fresh twist on the traditional farmers market,” said Susan Puff, Executive Director of the Danforth Business Improvement Association (Danforth BIA). “Danforth chefs will be showcasing the produce of some of their favourite local growers.”

Chefs Jason Becker (The Auld Spot Pub), Kevin McKenna (Globe Bistro), John Robertson (The Big Carrot) and Bakers Bonita Black and Tracy O’Hara (Dough Bakeshop) will be highlighting local varieties of cheese, meats, asparagus, breads and rolls. The Danforth chef team has invited Chef Lynn Crawford, star of Food Network Canada’s popular Pitchin’ In, to join in their celebration of all things local and fresh.

Local growers and producers include Rick Mazak, Mazak Farms; Nathen Pond, Cumbrae Farms; and Gurth Pretty, Cheese of Canada.

Adding to the flavour of the day, Niagara-on-the-Lake gardener Gary Meyers, will present a garden market blooming with Ontario grown baskets and planters.

The Danforth Experience Spring Chef’s Farmers Market runs from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm; located on the Danforth between Jackman Avenue and Hampton Avenue.

The Danforth BIA works with more than 350 merchants, restaurants and services to provide a unique, urban shopping, dining and entertainment experience along Danforth Avenue.

For additional information, please contact:

Susan Puff
Executive Director, Danforth BIA
416 429 4479          This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it