About Olive

I am a locally grown gal, passionate about really good food in the GTA west. I unearth the finest local flavours and showcase our talented artisans and farmers, proving that a refined food culture is rooted and growing in the ‘burbs. I don't receive payment from those I write about. My reward is to encourage the local food scene to reach the highest standards of quality possible, by celebrating those who do food well. I develop my recipes on my old electric range in my wee kitchen in the quaint village of Streetsville – and olive it! Love, Olive (a.k.a. Kelli Charky)

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Staycation: Summer in the City

August 10, 2016 Posted in  Etobicoke, Farm, Farm Market, Farmers' Market, Food Events & Food Trucks, Caterers, Georgetown, Italian, Mississauga, Restaurant One comment

Olive loves traveling around the GTA west, unearthing fine global flavours, and sharing her finds with you. Being the #snaphappy girl that she is, Olive loves the instantaneous power of instagram. But those of you who aren’t on instagram are missing out, so here’s a snapshot of her finds from this past week.

As much as she cherishes the time she is lucky enough to spend with family in Muskoka and Montreal, a staycation in the city is pretty nice too.  These boots are made for walking, so that’s just what Olive did this week…from one end of the GTA west to the other.

Georgetown Farmers’ Market with one of my besties on Saturday morning. Read why I love Georgetown Farmers’ Market here: http://olivetoeat.com/2014/07/georgetown-farmers-market-olive-it/

Thiessen Farms #georgetownfarmersmarket #olivetoeat #unearthingglobalflavours #gtawest #iloveartichokes

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And then Jerkfest in Etobicoke with our families Saturday night. What a great night that was!

#isthislovethatimfeeling

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And a celebration lunch at Jamie’s Italian at Square One with my husband and son. How do you celebrate summer?

Guess where I am? #Sauga #jamielove

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Heaven on Earth: Muskoka’s Pizza on Earth

August 6, 2015 Posted in  Artisanal / Small-batch, Italian, Main Dish, Postcards from Muskoka, Quick Bites, Wood Oven Pizza 2 comments

All winter long, we pine for a little bit of summer in Muskoka. Of course, the natural beauty of Muskoka is enough of a draw on its own. But Muskoka’s Dorset, Ontario boasts an extra special piece of heaven, or pizza heaven – officially called Pizza on Earth.

Pizza_on_earth

About five years ago, an enterprising university student, Sarah Jane (Johnson) Gibbs, and her parents built an outdoor wood-burning oven on their commercial property. Since then, Sara has turned out fabulous, wood-fired gourmet pizza that knocks the flip flops off local cottagers. Thin, crisp but chewy crust cooked to perfection. Flavourful sauce. Gourmet toppings. And that smoky, wood-fired taste. This is the stuff to hold out for – here is why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhD4x16nbck

Pizza on Earth is only open in the summer, which makes Sarah’s pizza all that much more appreciated. The rest of the year, Sarah is at university studying the cello. Gosh, she’s inspiring. You go girl. I bet you play the cello as beautifully as you make pizza.

Pizza on Earth is very popular in this neck of the woods. Call ahead to place your order; if you show up at the last minute, chances are you will wait a long while. Take it away or eat there on the outdoor picnic tables. Better yet, take a short trip across the Dorset bridge to the park at Little Trading Bay. Our boys like to Huck Finn it and swim out to the raft in the bay. The beauty of Muskoka, Dad’s Root Beer, and Pizza on Earth. Heaven on earth.

Pizza on Earth
1009 Clan McKay Drive
Dorset, Ontario
P0A 1E0
(just south of Dorset, Ontario on the east side of Highway 35, just south of the Dorset bridge)

Phone: 705-349-8827

Website: http://www.mypizzaonearth.com/

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Andiamo’s Stracciatella Fiorentina

July 23, 2015 Posted in  Italian, Restaurant, Soup, Streetsville No comments

Stracciatella Fiorentina, amore mia, I’ve never met another quite like you. Soft shreds of egg and parmesan twirling through a rich, tomato-infused broth. Bits of roasted chicken. Tender,  fresh spinach leaves. Mouthwatering. Find it at Andiamo Pasta Plus, in Streetsville.

andiamo_pasta_plus

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Healthy Bites: Longo’s Prepared Rapini

July 9, 2015 Posted in  Grocery Store, Italian, Lunch No comments

My favourite lunch these days features Longo’s already prepared rapini (broccoli rabe). Just warm up the rapini, add poached eggs, canned chickpeas, tomatoes, and a squirt of fresh lemon juice.

As a vegetable, rapini does a great job of helping me reach both my fibre and protein daily targets, not to mention all of the other health benefits of rapini. This entire plate packed in 28.6 grams of protein and 14.6 grams of fibre at only 406 calories. Lunch – fast, healthy, done. Olive it!

Longo's already prepared rapini makes a great base for a fast and healthy lunch.

Longo’s already prepared rapini makes a great base for a fast and healthy lunch.

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Forkful of Flavour: Molisana’s Lasagna

February 12, 2015 Posted in  Artisanal / Small-batch, Bakery, Food Events & Food Trucks, Caterers, Italian, Main Dish, Quick Bites, Streetsville No comments

Molisana Lasagna

Craving a bite of homemade lasagna but can’t even dream up the time to cook it? Molisana Bakery layers soft sheets of lasagna with cheese and a ragù of meltingly tender ground meat in tomato sauce. Packed with homemade flavour. Total comfort food. Priced right. Olive it!

Molisana_Lasagna

The Molisana ladies make about 20 lasagnas a day. Call ahead to order because these beauties sell out quickly. Dinner – fast, cheap, delicious – done!

Molisana Bakery
1474 Pickwick Drive, Unit 1
Mississauga, ON
L5V 2G2

Telephone: 905-826-8260

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