The Babbling Gourmet
667 Northcote Rink Road K7V 3Z6 Renfrew, ON, Canada

Good morning everyone! We will not be having a drive-thru this Wednesday. We have a most elaborate 10-12 course "fancy schmantzy" wedding dinner on Friday and require the entire week to prep. I am so sorry about that but I have a feeling that the photos of this bucket list event for me will be worth it all! On another note...... Today I turn 48! Not too old...not too young...just pleasantly in between you could say... This year, the greatest gift of all has been all of YOU! You have made me a better cook, a better planner, a better hostess and better person. The support, feedback, faith and kindness that you have shown me (especially during VERY difficult periods this year) has been too amazing to believe at times. My greatest gift is living here in peace, surrounded by the most loving and genuine people I could have only dreamed of. THANK YOU for making me feel like it's my birthday every day of the year. Words cannot truly describe how humbled and grateful I am every single day. Thank you all so much! Andi xo

Happy Sunday everyone! We're taking a break from 'international travel' this week to honour one of my favourite NYC restaurants. Although closed, CHANTERELLE was an iconic restaurant in Tribeca run for over 30 years by married couple Karen and David Waltuck. Their menu was referred to as "American with a French Accent" and offered up decadent dishes that drew fans in droves.... This week, I am taking a leap of faith with you guys and am making a rich and flavourful lamb ragu alongside homemade butternut squash raviolis with a brown butter sage drizzle. A salad of spinach and arugula with a lemony vinaigrette will add both an acidic and peppery note to the dish. As something new, I am going to make my brioche buns a bit smaller than a Tim Bit and shake them in a bag with homemade butter, black truffle salt and Parmesan. My mouth is already watering...especially those BUNS! ORDERING DETAILS: 1. Payment of $20 upon ordering to andi@thebabblinggourmet; 2. Orders taken only through Facebook messages. PLEASE do not place your orders through the comment thread(s) or to me personally. I miss them that way; 3. Pick-up any time between 4:30-6pm at 667 Northcote Rink Road. DO NOT follow your GPS. DO NOT go up Springer Mountain or the cottage road. Can't wait to see you guys on Wednesday Andi xo

MENU DROP TONIGHT! 18 hours earlier than expected :-). Stay tuned...this one is "fancy schmancy"!... Andi xo

Chicken Shawarma is soooooo yummy today. I even impressed myself lol! I marinated the chicken for two days in a multi-spice mix of cumin, garlic, coriander, garam masala, lemon juice, lime juice, salt and olive oil. I also sprinkled just a hint of cinnamon after the first meat massage just for fun. The chicken was seared on very high heat to produce an almost-black crust and then pan steamed. After it was cooked through, it got one more sear. I then let it rest for severa...l hours before slicing it thinly. This was my first time making Lebanese rice and I’m definitely going to do it again. The type of rice I was used to eating in Ottawa at any Shawarma restaurant had little noodles in it...which I loved. It turns out the process is very simple. I pan fried a bag and a half of super thin Italian soup noodles in olive oil until they toasted to a lovely golden brown and then cooked them with the rice. That’s it! Adding salt and more olive oil was all it needed. The hummus and tabbouleh involved a lot of soaking, slicing and dicing. I was so happy to use parsley from all my window boxes and planters in my salad that Amy at Fleurish put together for me. The extra lemon in the tabbouleh was a nice contrast to the rich garlic hummus and sauce. The sides really came together nicely. I have been trying to get my pita to a perfect place since 1994 and the bottom line is that they NEVER turn out like the bagged ones that restaurants use. They were however made with love by hand using Farmer's Daughter Honey in my starter and taste really lovely. Thanks again for your orders! We will see you next Wednesday! Andi xo

BABBLING BLOG (I can't help myself!) I don't often go into great detail about the dinners we make, the people we meet or the special events we plan. Sometimes, I kick myself after a really incredible party for not having taken more photos of the food, decor or people. Maybe it's because I am too "in the moment", busy or just not entirely in the social media zone at that moment in time. That may change very soon... Despite this, people seem to either feel or know how our food ...Continue reading

Happy Sunday everyone! It's TAKE-OUT time! We are heading to beautiful Beirut, Lebanon this week for my take on the classic Shawarma Chicken platter. This is going to be a filling and flavourful meal featuring tender marinated chicken that's been grilled and sliced, served on top of a Lebanese toasted vermicelli rice and topped with a drizzle of homemade garlic sauce. To go with this, I am making homemade Lebanese flat bread, garlic hummus and a spin on Tabbouleh. Tomato, par...sley and cucumbers are in abundance at this time so you can expect lots of freshness in this lemony salad! *I will have a GF version of this with couscous instead of bulger as well*. Now for the details: 1. Orders through Facebook DM only please; 2. E-transfer payment $18 ALL-IN to [email protected]; 3. Pick up between 4:30-6pm at 667 Northcote Rink Road, Renfrew. Thanks so much and we'll see you all Wednesday! Andi xo

Good morning everyone! WARNING: BABBLING BELOW! :-) Firstly, I am so sorry for not having posted a menu yesterday. We had a 50th birthday celebration at the farm that began at 11:30 am and ended at 11:30 pm. We won't be having a Wednesday meal this week. Many of you have sent messages asking about this so I wanted to take the time to respond today.... Last week's weather was so wet and damp that I had three major arthritis flare-ups that caused great physical pain. It was so bad one night, I wasn't even able to walk up the stairs to bed. With the exception of one day, we had events every single day and I had to push through. Those of you with arthritis know the pain associated with a flare-up. I couldn't move my fingers or wrists...and even broke blood vessels in my eye from crying so hard. Anyway, this might be TMI...but you guys know that I am pretty open about everything in my life. I need to take the next few days off to catch up on administration and give my body a break. Thankfully the sun is out and my friends and family are taking care of me (tequila and hot tubs thank you lol!). We'll have a great meal next week and get back on schedule. I appreciate your understanding and am sorry again... Andi xo

Sneak peek time ! Today is prep day and I just had to take some photos for you. As usual...my meaty husband was in charge of the roasts and to say that they came out perfectly would be an understatement. He used a German-made Graef slicer to get perfectly thin pieces of prime rib and gave me all the delicious fat and drippings for the jus AND the potatoes (just wait ). Soooo tasty! Now for these cookies...omg!... The Levain Bakery in Manhattan is famous for their huge 6 oz cookies. The owners have been featured in countless magazines and touted by Zagats and the New York Times as having the world’s best cookie. If you can believe it, each cookie costs about $7.00. So...given that I was in a New York State of Mind this week, I decided to attempt a copycat version. The trick here is a hot oven. These cookies are meant to be well done on the outside and a bit underdone on the inside. They bake at 410 on the middle rack for about 11 minutes. The ones you’re getting are just under 3oz in weight. Guys...these are going to be a thing around here from now on. As if the prime rib and homemade bread could be outshined by a damn cookie...but it happened. I literally can’t wait for you guys to eat this meal! Andi xo

Hi everyone! We are SOLD OUT of our Wednesday's take-away. No surprise there...you guys are SO meat and potatoes lol! Thanks so much again for your orders and we look forward to seeing you all again this week. ... Andi xo

Happy Sunday everyone! Please find this week's drive-thru menu below. Inspired by my "former CEO life" travels to NYC, this week's meal is a take on some of the most delicious Prime Rib sandwiches I have ever had in some of the best steakhouses in the city. I am adding a bit of my own flair of course but every sandwich will be put together with great care and passion.... Your meal also includes a traditional small steakhouse "wedge salad" but I am replacing the customary Roquefort cheese dressing with homemade ranch. You'll get crispy oven-roasted potato wedges with rosemary, a side of Bordelaise gravy and a chocolate chip "crush cookie" like those from NYC's famous Levain bakery (https://levainbakery.com/). So much goodness! Now for the details: 1. Order only through Facebook messages. Payment of $20 must be made after order confirmation has been sent to you. Etransfer to [email protected] 2. I am sorry but there are no substitutions or special requests for this meal; 3. We have a limited number of orders available; 4. Pick up between 4:30 and 6pm on Wednesday, August 26th at 667 Northcote Rink Road. See you Wednesday! Andi xo

Good Friday morning everyone! Two things... Last night, we ate what was absolutely the BEST corn we have ever ever had...in our entire lives. You have to taste it to believe it >>> Betsy and Moses's Mennonite Market on Rice Line beside Cull Farms. While you are there, the cherry tomatoes are also to die for but please...get the corn. You have to taste this corn lol!... Secondly, I am dropping a menu on SUNDAY for next Wednesday and I can't believe how excited I am for this. It's not what you would expect...but it's right up the "Valley Alley"! Don't forget to check in at NOON on Sunday! Enjoy the weekend guys! We will be busy here with three wonderful parties in a row. Tonight's includes music on the deck and I have a feeling I am going to be on the "learn to step dance" list! Andi xo

Good morning everyone! Sunshine and a break from the heat and humidity today...yippee! Just a reminder that we have a few spots left for our 'Under the Tuscan Sun' menu. You have until 5pm today to either add to your existing order or place a new one. *Note that the pasta freezes well for another time.... Gracie! Andi xo

Hi everyone! Prepare for a babbling NON FOOD post today! So, as some of you know, I am a very big and active supporter of The Northcote Community Center along Northcote Rink Road. Many of you drive right by it on your way to the farm for drive-thru. It's a historical building having been a one-room school house in Admaston from 1927 to the mid-60s. It was the epicenter of Northcote social activities back in the day...where everyone congregated to skate on the outdoor rink, go...ssip and play cards. I have used this location for parties that were too big to host in the farmhouse. With it's original wood floors and chalk board paneling, it oozes charm and stokes memories for many in my community. I love the place and have made it part of my life here. The building needs work and we often host events to help bring money in. We have a golf tournament planned for August 29th; both 9 and 18 holes, great for all skill levels and will be our first fund raiser since last fall. The date is coming up fast and we need to book more teams.Please consider coming out to support a cause close to my heart. We also have $100 hole sponsorships available and are always looking for small prize items for our participants. I have attached our flyer and a brief acquisition letter for your perusal. Thanks in advance for your support and please consider following the Northcote Community Center on FB where you can keep up with other popular events we host! Andi xo

It's a rainy day here at the farm but the sun is shining all over next week's drive-thru menu! We are heading to Tuscany on Wednesday for a much-loved "stick to your ribs" Italian meal highlighting locally-grown both fresh and home-dried tomatoes. This meal is filling (you'll likely have enough for lunch the next day - bonus!), creamy, garlicky and pretty damn delicious.... Included with your meal is my absolute favourite, a Panzanella salad made with super-fresh local farm-grown ingredients, homemade bread cubes and a tangy dressing. This meal comes with your choice of a homemade Tuscan roll or my famous #Andisbuns brioche dipped in garlic butter. As always... 1. Orders must be placed through Facebook messages. Please do not place orders in the comment section - I may not see them; 2. Payment of $15.00 may be e-transferred to [email protected] at time of ordering; 3. Pick up between 4:30-6:30pm at 667 Northcote Rink Road. Thank you everyone for your orders and comments last week! It was great to be back in the kitchen and mostly to see all of your smiling faces! Andi xo

Our very first official review...and it’s not even poutine! I can’t tell you how this makes me feel. I love cooking so much and to read how meals are truly enjoyed and appreciated by our customers makes my heart swell. Thank you Katie!

Omg guys...this was a complex and time consuming meal to make but let me tell you...it was worth every moment! The winner in all this (much to my delight and surprise) was the sticky coconut rice with mango. We used a Thai glutinous rice which we soaked in water overnight. Then, the cooking process involved steaming it in batches in a cloth - not boiling it like conventional rice. It was then covered in a sweet coconut milk sauce that was absorbed for several hours. At the sa...me time, I made a coconut cream syrup using cream that I scooped off the top of the can along with sugar and a bit of salt. That boiled down until it thickened and was then drizzled over the rice and topped with toasted sesame seeds. The chicken and pork definitely have a bite but it’s more of a gentle tingle lol. I cut back on the fresh Thai chilies by more than half for you guys. The unique flavour in the Panang comes from the lime leaves which are a taste sensation to bite into but usually cast aside afterwards like a bay leaf. I left out the tofu because it just didn’t have the right flavour profile for me. See you guys later! Thanks again for your orders. Andi xo

We were thrilled to host a tasty summer birthday lunch on our new deck this past Saturday! Can we just take a moment to marvel at these beautiful flower arrangements made by our friend Christina from The Flower Factory in Renfrew?! Those toffee roses are stunning! It was a wonderful day for al fresco dining and we look forward to hosting more special events in the coming weeks.

Guess what?! IT'S TAKE AWAY TIME AGAIN! Oh it's so great to be posting menus again! While we still have a bit more to finish up here at the farm...our new kitchen is in, the porch is done and I am itching to get back to work feeding all my fabulous customers & friends!... We will ONLY be offering our drive-thru on Wednesdays at this time. Saturdays are now being booked for both off-site and on-site events. Our next take away is scheduled for WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12th from 4:30pm-6:30pm and the same rules apply. 1. E-transfer payment in advance to [email protected] or cash in a baggy at pick up. If your banking name is different than your FB name, please let me know; 2. Orders taken through Facebook Messenger please. *Orders requested in the comment thread of the post may not be seen*; 3. Pick up at 667 Northcote Rink Road between Renfrew and Douglas. DO NOT follow your GPS once on Northcote or you'll end up at a cabin in the woods...literally lol; 4. Your order is only confirmed if you get a response from me. 5. If you would like to eat your meal on the porch or property, please note that we will have a microwave and dishes set up on the porch. Social distancing rules apply and masks MUST be worn to use the bathroom facilities. *If orders for this incredibly delicious menu are too high for one day, we will carry over to Thursday the 13th so nobody misses out. You can start ordering ANY TIME beginning now*. We can't wait to see you all again! Andi xo

I couldn’t resist !

We have some winners today! Firstly, a HUGE thanks to all of you that posted your dream "Customer’s Choice" meals last week. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading through all of them. What REALLY impressed me however were the number of multi-cultural suggestions that were listed! Everything from complex Indian dishes to Chinese...you guys really came up with some amazing meals. Thank you so much! It was really really hard to pick a winner as there were so many mouth-wat...ering options to choose from. After a lot of thought, I narrowed it down to something summery, fresh and full of flavour. I also wanted to cook something different and unavailable close by so I chose Thai . CONGRATULATIONS to @Amanda Webster! Amanda's entire menu suggestion will be featured in our next drive-thru night (date TBA shortly). Amanda also wins a dinner for 4 as thanks for this submission. Another CONGRATULATIONS to our lucky $10 gift certificate winners: @Shelley Marie @Sue Mayotte @Debbie Wegner @Elaine Fremont McCallum Thank you for participating! I can't wait to get back to tickling your taste buds! Andi xo