HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-09-07, Page 12PAGE 12.THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017.
Part II Bistro's Peter Gusso featured at IPM events
Far and wide
Blyth's Part II Bistro's head chef and owner Peter Gusso
has plied his trade around the world including preparing a
meal for then -visiting politician and now Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau in Seaforth several years ago. He will be
participating in two cooking demonstrations at the
upcoming International Plowing Match. (File photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Blyth's Part II Bistro Chef Peter
Gusso will be part of two
presentations at the International
Plowing Match next week featuring
locally -produced food.
Gusso will be joined by James
Eddington from Eddington's of
Exeter for the Road to the Royal
cooking demonstration from noon to
1:30 p.m. at the Lifestyles Tent on
Tuesday, Sept. 19. The duo will
return for their own cooking
presentation on Wednesday, Sept.
10 for a second presentation from
10-11:30 a.m.
Both opportunities are exciting
according to Gusso, for the wider
audience he can reach and for
working with a fellow chef he hasn't
had any professional interactions
with in the past.
"This will be my first time
working with James," he said. "I'm
looking forward to it. He's a good
guy. I'm excited to work with him."
The Road to the Royal is an event
in which Gusso is very excited to be
taking part.
"One of the IPM Lifestyle
committee representatives called me
and said I might be getting a call
from someone at the Royal
[Agricultural Winter Fair]," he said.
"I did some research and realized
that this is a big event that features
international talent so I'm very
excited to be a part of it."
It didn't take long before Shaniece
Mitchell, Agriculture and Food Co-
ordinator for the Royal Agricultural
Winter Fair, was in touch with
Gusso.
"She said that she had asked
James and wanted us to do another
demonstration," he said.
Gusso explained that there is a
more structured procedure for the
Road to the Royal demonstration as
opposed to the Wednesday morning
demonstration, saying he had to use
a recipe from the Egg Farmers of
Ontario Cookbook, but was allowed
to put a twist on it to make his own.
Mitchell explained, in an
interview with The Citizen, that the
event is designed to pair producers
with chefs to make a truly locally -
sourced meal.
"Peter and James will be paired
with Veronica Grobbink of August's
Harvest [garlic grower north of
Stratford] who will provide garlic
and an egg producer that is a
member of the Egg Farmers of
Ontario," she said.
She said the event isn't a
competition or challenge, but this
year, it's become more about
informing people about food.
"This is telling the farm -to -table
story," she said. "It's going to be a
demonstration between the two
chefs. It doesn't take away from the
`bromance' or camaraderie of the
two of them doing their best, but it
does allow for more of a
demonstration."
Mitchell said she hopes to invite
Gusso and Eddington to do a similar
performance at the Royal
Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto
between Nov. 6-9 on the Food and
Lifestyles Stage at the event.
Gusso said that the stipulations on
the demonstration weren't really
confining, saying the cookbook
contains a lot of opportunities.
"The cookbook covers everything
from breakfast, lunch, dinner,
canapes to soup," he said. "It has a
very wide variety and I think I have
an idea."
Gusso said he would be excited to
take part in the event at the Royal
after the IPM and said he was
pulling out all the stops to make sure
he puts his best foot forward.
When it came to the Wednesday
demonstration, Gusso said he was
quick to sign on.
"Representatives of the IPM
approached me and asked if I would
do a demonstration/cook off for the
event," he said. "They told me they
were considering James for the
second participant and I said he
would be a great choice."
Gusso said he agreed "then and
there" to be a part of the
demonstration.
"I've never been to an IPM, so it
will be good to see it," he said.
Gusso explained that the
Wednesday morning event was
originally supposed to be a cook -off,
but both he and Eddington felt that a
demonstration would be appreciated
more by the audience.
"It's more informative that way,"
he said. "We can take the time to
show how and why we do things and
explain other ways things can be
done."
Gusso said he plans on making the
spring rolls that are featured on Part
II Bistro's menu at the event and, if
he can, showcase something that he
doesn't normally serve.
"If time allows, I may be able to
make a secret menu item that people
will enjoy," he said.
As for those looking to take part in
the event, Gusso encourages them to
attend with pen and paper in hand as
he doesn't hand out printed recipes.
He said attendees will learn
chopping techniques, food
preparation techniques and some
knife -sharpening skills if they're
observant.
Gusso said the only wish he had
for the two events was that they were
presented in the reverse order.
"I kind of wanted to do a dry run
with James and the equipment and,
on Wednesday, since we're being
given a lot of opportunity to direct
the demonstration, we could have
done that," he said. "The first show
is always harder and it will be the
one that's for the Royal. It's nice to
have an exhibition game first."
For more information about the
IPM and schedule, visit
plowingmatch.org. For more
information on the Royal
Agricultural Winter Fair, visit
www.royalfair.org
Laundromat
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191 Westmoreland St., Blyth
519-523-9687
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Doing their part
Four young women from the community got our early late last month and, with the help of
some tasty -looking baked goods, raised some money for the upcoming Brussels Terry Fox
Run. The event is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration and the
starting point for the run is the Brussels Optimist Clubhouse in the north end of town. Helping
out was, from left: 11 -year-old Rita Weber, four-year-old Kyla Bosman, 10 -year-old Ciara
Bosman and 11 -year-old Ayla McNichol. McNichol, the granddaughter of Gary and Beth Earl,
organized the bake sale, held in front of Murray's Barber Shop. (Photo submitted)
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Blyth, ON NOM 1H0