Wednesday, July 21, 2021

HELLO OTTAWA

We have a new addition to our curated list of Ottawa’s best podcasts.

The Green Room by EnviroCentre says they ‘shine a light on the people working to stem the tide of climate change. From activists to entrepreneurs, they all share a common goal – take action today to ensure a greener tomorrow.’

Check out The Green Room – and other awesome Ottawa podcasts – here.

We'll see you tomorrow – Martha and Darren

? Is there something that Ottawa should know about? Email us at [email protected]. We read every single comment.

FOOD + DRINK UPDATE: SCONES, BEERS, + MARGARITAS

Rocket Scone 

By Martha Gall

A quick glance at the Rocket Scone farmers market stall tells you that the scones 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, and Caramel Apple, as well as 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 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 local 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 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 early on 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. 

That's when 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 she continues to produce new and creative scone flavours using the best local produce. 

What will the next 12 months bring to Rocket Scone? Maggie’s still enjoying finding 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 current 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, starting 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 who's doing the driving. There’s a tour for every beer lover: If IPAs are your jam, try the Y-East End Express Tour, which stops at Broadhead Beer, Orléans Brewing Company, and Stray Dog Brewing, all in Ottawa's East end. Or go west on the Western Libations Tour, which includes stops at Braumeister, Weatherhead Brew Co., and Top Shelf Distillers, where you'll see how they make their whisky, gin, and vodka. It’s an afternoon of good, clean, adult 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 Caesars, Margs, and Coronas for $5 all day. Grab one of their classic Club Sandwiches for $12 and two Fajitas for $30 while you're at it. 

▪️ We talked about Ottawa’s newest brewery eariler in the year. Now, they have opened their taproom to the public. Welcome, Shillow Brewery. 

+ Related The Last Ottawa – Gatineau Craft Brewery Map that you will ever need

STATS

Weather: ☁️ Mainly cloudy. High of 25°, low of 13°

Number: 2,528. The record-breaking number of entries to this year’s Ottawa International Animation Festival. The 45th edition has selected the finalists and will run September 22 to October 3. [Apartment 613] [Ottawa International Animation Festival]

Ottawan of the Day: Devinder Sarai. The West Carleton graduate is building a prototype of his Cequest project, which will use seawater to capure carbon dioxide from the air. He is currently fundraising to compete in Elon Musk foundation’s XPrize for Carbon Renewal. [Capital Current] [Fundraising Site]

Quote: ‘I’m 50 today! Thank you mum, dad, grace & ray and all the clans of our family tree. Thank You : Ottawa Korean Community childhood friends’ – Sandra Oh, with a birthday message for herself.  [Instagram]
 

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

All data is as of this morning, changes are compared with yesterday.

ONTARIO

Ontario COVID Page    Ontario Vaccine Rates 

QUEBEC

Quebec COVID Page     Quebec Vaccine Rates

OTTAWA

Ottawa Public Health     Ottawa Vaccination Rates.    Ottawa Wastewater 
 

OUTAOUAIS

Outaouais Public Health    Quebec Vaccination Rates
 

EASTERN ONTARIO HEALTH UNIT

Eastern Ontario Health Unit

COVID-19 NEWS

⭕ Ottawa’s State of Emergency will end tonight at midnight. The new level is ‘Activated Operations’. When a State of Emergency is declared, the City could make any orders that were not contrary to law, ignoring all sorts of rules and red tape. [City of Ottawa]

⭕ The Escapade Music Festival has launched their own vaccination fest this Saturday at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park. The Escapade Music Festival runs in September and will require all patrons to be fully vaccinated. You don't need to be a ticket holder to get vaccinated this weekend. [City of Ottawa][Escapade Music Festival]

⭕ The City will close half of its vaccination sites tomorrow due to declining numbers of people who need jabs. Eva James Memorial Community Centre, Nepean Sportsplex, Ottawa City Hall,  Ruddy Family YMCA-YWCA, and Queensway Carleton Hospital remain open. [CBC]

 

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

▪️ Rideau-Goulbourn Ward councillor Scott Moffatt and Kitchissippi Ward councillor Jeff Leiper are the new joint chairs of the City's planning committee. Capital Ward councillor Shawn Menard also joins the committee. The chair position and the vacancy on the committee occured after councillor Jan Harder resigned following a report from the city's integrity commissioner. [CTV]

▪️Chelsea residents are suing developer for shutting down organic farm. Residents say that they bought homes in the area because of Hendrick Farm. The developer promised that one per cent of each home sale would go to the Hendrick Farm Foundation to support the farm. The residents are suing because the farm is being converted into mixed uses, including picnic tables, walkways, and a possible skating rink. [CBC]

▪️Judge says that Gatineau mansion was built too close to the street and orders it demolished. The owner argued that he had been given all the proper permissions and paperwork, the City claimed that an employee made an error. The legal fight has gone on for eight years. The judge pointed out that the City did not ask for the mansion to be demolished but ordered it anyway. [CBC]

▪️The Ottawa Police Service will propose three funding options to the public: no increase, 1.5% increase, and 3% increase. Police Chief Peter Sloly promised a consultation process which will include academics and researchers, plus a website survey. [Ottawa Citizen]

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