Wednesday July 21, 2021
Food + Drink Update – 21 July 2021
A quick glance at the wares laid on by Rocket Scone at the Carp Farmers Market and Ottawa Farmers Market at Lansdowne tells you that these are the work of a creative and passionate chef. You’ll find inventive sweet flavours such as Piña Colada (pineapple, rum, lime, and coconut), Vegan Raspberry Chocolate, Caramel Apple, and savoury options like Zaatar and Feta, Keto Pumpkin Cheddar, Bacon and Chive, and Dill Goat Cheese. The Ottawan had trouble choosing a favourite of the three flavours we bought last winter at Ottawa Farmers Market, but we finally settled on the Maple Cream Pear, which was melt-in-the-mouth delicious.
Rocket Scone founder Maggie Chuang Delroy had a career in the medical industry before she married and decided to stay home with her kids. Time passed, the kids grew, and Maggie started baking for friends and family, all of whom were big fans of her flavourful scones. After a while, she realized that she could bring her products to the people by renting a stall at a farmers’ market. Since she lived in Carp, taking part in the Saturday morning Carp Farmer’s Market was a no brainer.
She made her scones in her home’s kitchen, into the very wee hours of the morning, starting with 12 flavours. She met farmers who told her about the best locally grown berries, pears, plums, and apricots. She experimented with flavour combinations and developed a reputation for baking crowd pleasing treats. She quickly learned what she loved about running her small business. “Growing the business is rewarding,” she says. “Most of the time it’s enjoyable. It’s fun! I really enjoy meeting a lot of people.”
So, what about the downside? “Well, there are issues, there are changes, and of course there’s a lot of stress.” Adding to that stress was the knowledge that she was outgrowing her kitchen oven. She knew she needed to up her game so she bought a commercial oven, which was installed in the garage by an electrician.
Soon, however, her growing success at the farmers’ market meant that even the commercial oven wasn’t enough. Although she had two freezers at home, baked all night, and had a willing helper in her husband, her volume quickly outgrew the home operation. In addition to increased oven requirements, she needed more space for ingredient storage and packaging.
So, Maggie went looking for a commercial kitchen to move her business into. She ultimately rented space in the kitchen of the former Venta Prep School in Carp, and was able to increase her output. She added the Sunday Ottawa Farmers Market at Lansdowne to her schedule, and continued to produce new and creative scone flavours that utilized the best of local produce.
What will the next 12 months bring to Rocket Scone? Maggie’s still enjoying finding the new flavours and bringing her goods to the Farmers Markets, and she hopes she’ll still be doing both in the next year. This is a hobby business, as she feels that life is too short, and she wants to be able to spend as much time as possible with her family. She has advice for anyone considering starting a baking business: “You need to love baking. Be sure that you’re passionate about it.”
Find Rocket Scones at the Carp Farmers Market on Saturday mornings from 8:30am to 1:00pm, and at Lansdowne Ottawa Farmers Market on Sundays from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Check their social media feeds for flavours.
Also
▪️ Brew Donkey tours return on Labour day Weekend. Tickets are now on sale for Ottawa’s first and only - and extremely popular - weekly brewery tour service, which starts September 3, 2021. Owner/operator Brad Campeau’s business is an excellent way to see how beer is made and sample some of Ottawa’s superb craft beer, without having to worry about finding someone to drive you around. There’s a tour for every beer lover. If IPAs are your thing, try the Y-East End Express Tour, which stops at Broadhead Beer, Orléans Brewing Company, and Stray Dog Brewing, all in the East end. Or go west on the Western Libations Tour, which includes stops at Braumeister, Weatherhead Brew Co., and even Top Shelf Distillers. It’s an afternoon of good, beer-y fun, from $80 per person plus tax.
▪️ The deal of the day is at the Broadway Bar and Grill at 1896 Prince of Wales Drive, where you’ll find Ceaesars, Margs, and Coronas for $5 all day. Grab one of their classic Club Sandwiches for $12 and two Fajitas for $30.
▪️ We talked about Ottawa’s newest brewery eariler in the year. Now, they have opened their taproom to the public. Welcome, Shillow Brewery.
