Maple Lifestyle is thrilled to announce that we will be exhibiting at the Food & Wine Expo taking place April 21-23 at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls. The Food and Wine Expo is a premier international tasting event featuring fresh, local cuisine prepared by top area restaurants as well wines, beers and spirits from around the globe and your local wineries.
Our company will be an exciting new addition among all the other amazing exhibitors. The show is an excellent opportunity to showcase our premium product, the Barrel-Aged Bourbon Maple Syrup. To our knowledge, we are the only distributer in Ontario of Canadian Bourbon Barrel-aged Maple Syrup. Tasting samples will be available at the show. Meet you there, booth 306 opposite from the Chef Stage at the corner. We will have a wheel of fortune with great prizes! Don’t forget to bring home some of our delicious maple products before you are leaving the show.
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I am so excited! I received a big shipment of bottled goodness: The Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup that was bottled in Saint-Ferdinand, Quebec, finally arrived at my premises.Today, my crew and I started putting on labels and shrink caps... it’s all honest hand work just as the Bourbon Syrup was hand crafted from the beginning to the end. No mass production, no food and beverage giant or retail chain that sells it: it’s all honest, hand-crafted, premium quality, local stuff and I’m loving it.
Stay tuned for more infos on the Bourbon Syrup and where you can buy it. Until then, I will be busy labeling, shrink capping, packing and re-packing. See you on the other side :-) Ok. So we are trying something crazy.
What would happen, if somebody filled our delicious 100% pure Canadian Maple Syrup into an empty Bourbon barrel and left it in there for several months? Well, heck, yeah, that would be some incredible delicious Maple Syrup with an incredible note of Bourbon. I am so gonna try this! I went to the liqueur store, came home with a few samples and made a taste test. The big winner that fits best with my syrup? Buffalo Trace from Frankfort, Kentucky, USA. This amazing Bourbon is “One of the world’s great whiskies.” (Jim Murray's Whisky Bible) and won the 2016 Gold Medal from both the Beverage Testing Institute and The Washington Cup. I don't need to add anything to this. It's just an amazing Whisky with a "long and lush finish”. (Wine Enthusiast Magazine ) I made a few phone calls and was able to convince the people from Buffalo Trace to sell me their barrel. I hired a shipping company to pick up the barrel in Kentucky and send it all the way to rural Quebec - 2000 kilometres or 1250 miles! No guess what?? Six weeks ago, my cousin Martin filled the barrel with the maple syrup. Now all we have to do is wait. And set up a CD player or docking station for an iPod. We play some music for the barrel with a lot of bass. The vibration of the bass supposedly helps the aging process. I'm excited! If this works, it's gonna be one wild, crazy thing that will fly off the shelves. It will taste amazing, I am sure! Honestly, we thought nothing is more Canadian than maple syrup. But then we went to the Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Show in Niagara Falls and realized: Holy cow, it cannot get more Canadian than that! We sure had a very special, fun night out that will be treasured for years to come.We figured that our amazing Maple Lifestyle products would surely be a great fit with the amazing Canadian Dinner Musical. At the end, we were able to convince the General Manager that this all makes sense. Now, we are very happy to announce that some of our amazing, 100% natural Maple Products can be purchased at the original rustic log cabin Dinner Theatre 10 minutes from the brink of Niagara Falls on Lundy’s Lane. They are presently selling our 500 ml jug, the 250 ml beautiful glass bottle, maple jelly and maple candy at their “trading post”. We are thrilled to expose our high-quality products to both visitors from all over the world and locals alike. Btw: in case you haven’t seen the show yet, please go watch it (and indulge on the delicious food at the same time!). No, really, you have to go. The venue alone is truly unique with its rustic look, hardwood floors and wilderness ambiance. The show features Canadian iconic figures – such as a Hockey Player, a Lumberjack, Anne of Green Gables and even a Mountie. These characters perform over 65 songs including tunes from Paul Anka, Celine Dion, Shania Twain and Bryan Adams.
When not on stage, the performers serve a five-course family-style meal. We absolutely adored the lightly breaded Atlantic Haddock. We sincerely enjoyed the show and are not surprised one bit that it gets top ratings on TripAdvisor night after night. They obviously also perform matinee lunches and other shows during the year like a special show for the Holidays, a High-Energy Dance Show and a Country Musical. So if you are anywhere close to Niagara Falls, please make the trip to the theatre. It’s on 8585 Lundy’s Lane in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. You sure won’t be disappointed, eh? If peace could be painted on a canvas, it would look like the scenery that unfolds in front of me: the dark blue water lays still. It reflects a few clouds of the beautiful summer sky. The lake stretches almost as far as the eye can look. On each side, the water is bordered by gently rolling hills covered with green trees. No noise cuts through the northern paradise except for the soft sound of tiny waves that are making their way to the rocky shore. Time seems to stand still. The water is still fresh even though it is one of the hottest days of the year. A few canoes and sailboats prove that the lake has a recreational use - mostly by locals that live right on the beach. Their houses are nestled along the shoreline, often with huge bay windows that boast spectacular views on the water. This is Lac Squatec, an idyllic lake located in the municipality of Auclair, Quebec, Canada. The municipality had a population of 444 as of the Canada 2011 Census: A paradise for everyone that is seeking peace and tranquility. Even though a campground is located nearby, not a lot of tourists seem to make it Lake Squatec. The big cities Montreal and Quebec City seem an eternity away. In fact, five and three-and-half hours. Long enough to forget the hustle and bustle of the city, the traffic lights, the noise and the stress. The municipality of Auclair is located on the south side of the mighty St. Lawrence river close to the border with New Brunswick. Auclair got its name from the French “d’eau clair” meaning “clear water”. The regional county municipality Témiscouata, which the village of Auclair is a part of, is an Indian name from the First Nations. It means “winding water”. Lake Squatec is 12,5 kilometres long. A large amount of wildlife uses this clear, winding water as its habitat. Water fowl like ducks, for example, Canada geese, and majestic swans. The official tourism page of the region lists 29 kind of fish including trout, brown bullhead and yellow perch that are home to the region. “With nearly nine hundred lakes and with forest covering eighty seven percent of its territory, Témiscouata is a hunting and fishing paradise”, states the website. So true. The hunting and fishing paradise with its crystal clear bodies of water and intact nature bears another treasure: thousands and thousands of maple trees that release their precious sap every spring. This is where our 100% pure maple syrup and all other maple products come from. There are no smoking chimneys, no smog, no pollution, and not a lot of people that create waste, wastewater and other garbage. The main buzz of the Témiscouata region is its intact flora and fauna with stunning views and breathtaking sights. It is that natural pureness that you can taste in every spoonful of our golden syrup, our maple sugar, maple butter and all the other products we offer.
And who knows, maybe one day you’ll leave the city with its blinking lights behind and treat yourself to a little time off in Témiscouata. Make sure to bring a lot of time. When you step out of your car, take a deep breath. You are in for something amazing. Canada’s red and white national flag with its beautiful maple leaf is one of the most famous and most recognizable flags in the world. But did you know that it is actually a fairly young flag, which was quite controversial at first? We’ll give you the facts on that one for sure and talk about Canada’s favourite summer holiday Canada Day. So you cannot only buy amazing, 100% pure maple syrup products on our site, but we also want to provide you with great information on our home and native land Canada, fun facts on maple syrup and everything else that has to do with the iconic national tree on this blog.
So what’s the deal with the maple leaf in Canada? The maple leaf as a symbol can be traced back to the beginning of the 18th century. Back then, the maple leaf had been taken on as an emblem by the French Canadians along the Saint Lawrence River. In 1834, the first St. Jean Baptiste Society adopted the maple leaf as its emblem. Jacques Viger, the first mayor of Montreal, described the maple as "the king of our forest; ... the symbol of the Canadian people." In 1868, the maple leaf appeared on the coat of arms of both Ontario and Quebec, and was added to the Canadian coat of arms in 1921. Historically, the golden maple leaf represented Ontario, while the green maple leaf represented Quebec. In 1867, Alexander Muir composed the patriotic "The Maple Leaf Forever" song, which became an unofficial anthem in English-speaking Canada. From 1876 until 1901, the leaf appeared on all Canadian coins, and remained on the penny after 1901. The maple leaf finally became the central national symbol with the introduction of the Canadian flag in 1965. Originally, Canada’s official flag was the Union Jack, or said quite bluntly, Canada didn’t really have an own flag since it was a British colony. It was Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, who had proposed the Maple Leaf as a new flag in 1964. The suggestion spawned one of the longest parliamentary debates in Canadian history. Older, conservative Canadians said the Red Ensign was the flag that Canadians had fought and died under during two world wars, and one that reflected Canada’s historic ties to Britain and current ties to the monarchy. But in the end, Pearson won the debate and the Maple Leaf became the Canadian flag after 10 months of controversy. When it was first officially raised over Parliament Hill in Ottawa on February 15, 1965, the Speaker of the Senate Maurice Bourget said "The flag is the symbol of the nation's unity, for it, beyond any doubt, represents all the citizens of Canada without distinction of race, language, belief, or opinion." This historic date is now celebrated annually as the National Flag of Canada Day since 1996. What kind of maple leaf am I seeing on the Canadian flag? The maple leaf chosen is a generic one representing the ten species of maple trees native to Canada - at least one of these species grows natively in every province. It has eleven points. However, the number of points has no special significance. The flag was designed by George Stanley. Aside from finding the maple leaf on the Canadian flag, it is now commonly used on logos of various Canadian based companies like Air Canada and the logos of Canadian sports teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto FC soccer club and the Toronto Blue Jays. Companies that are originally US-based also use the maple leaf in their logos like McDonald's Canada, General Motors Canada, and Wendy's Canada, who replaced the normal apostrophe found at U.S. locations by a maple leaf. Mocking birds say that US companies use the maple leaf as a “security blanket” to make Canadians feel comfortable and homey. Where does that maple tree grow, actually? Of the 125 species of maple (botanical name: Acer) which are found worldwide, over two-thirds grow in China; 10 are native to Canada. Maples grow in various soils and at varying altitudes but prefer deep, moist, fertile soils. Sugar, black, silver, red and striped maples are found in the East; mountain maple occurs eastwards from Manitoba; Manitoba maple in Saskatchewan and Manitoba; bigleaf, Douglas and vine maples in British Columbia. The maple wood is extremely durable and a treasured resource for hardwood flooring, kitchen cabinets and other furniture. However, it is overshadowed by the worldwide fame of maple syrup and maple products like maple sugar, maple butter, maple jelly and others. Hey, you forgot the most important thing: Canada Day! Why are we publishing this blog post right now? Of course, because Canada Day is coming up! Canada Day is the national day of Canada frequently referred to as "Canada's birthday". The Constitution Act of July 1, 1867 united three colonies into a single country called Canada within the British Empire. On that day, the British North American colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada joined into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada being divided, in the process, into Ontario and Quebec) on July 1, 1867. Canada became a kingdom in its own right on that date, called the Dominion of Canada, but the British parliament and Cabinet kept limited rights of political control over the new country. These limited rights were shed by stages over the years until the last vestiges were surrendered in 1982. It was in 1982 as well when Dominion Day was renamed to Canada Day. So what are the Canadians doing on Canada Day? Canadians like to have fun, and since the summers are usually gorgeous in this beautiful country, there are a lot of awesome activities going on July 1. The biggest celebrations take place in the big cities Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal and of course in Canada’s capital Ottawa, which is Canada Day party central so to speak. Most communities, big and small, across the country will host organized celebrations for Canada Day, usually outdoor public events, such as parades, carnivals, festivals, barbecues, air and maritime shows, fireworks, and free musical concerts, as well as citizenship ceremonies for new citizens. This is great fun for people of all ages and backgrounds. Many people dress up in Canada’s national colours red and white, wear gear with the Maple Leaf and wave Canada flags. In the national capital Ottawa large concerts and cultural displays are held on Parliament Hill, with the governor general and prime minister officiating. The British monarch or another member of the Royal Family may also attend or take the governor general's place. The streets are seemed with happy people, and the atmosphere is joyous, festive and easy going. Pretty awesome, eh? No matter, if you live in Canada and can join these activities or live half way around the world: we wish you a wonderful, joyful day. Send a good thought to Canada on that day and join us in celebrating! with material from wikipedia.org http://www.thecanadaguide.com/flags-of-canada http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/maple Well we made it! But why am I doing this? There are so many maple syrup shops online, why would they buy from me? Where am I different from others?
I have to come back to the story I was telling on my landing page. I was so many years away from Canada and I truly missed maple syrup. It was very present for us when I was growing up as members of my family were producing the liquid gold, in the Lower St. Lawrence region. I did not grow up in Temiscouata but in the Ottawa Valley. Every spring, we would place an order and a huge package would arrive with maple syrup in dark brown glass jugs, maple sugar in blocks that were about the size of a pound of butter, maple butter and maple toffee. We were good for about a year. We were 8 at home, 2 adults and 6 sweet craving kids, so you can imagine how big the package was. I mean, nobody forced it on me to leave Canada and settle in Germany and later Austria. I was a curious young man looking to discover the world but, most of all, I was in love. Now that is a whole other story but I could actually write a book about how all of that happened… Now back to the maple syrup… I was really longing for maple syrup and cherishing every drop when we did get some sent by members of my family. My wife, a chocolate addict and a sweet tooth, really loves it as well. My daughter would, and still does, eat it with a spoon. My son really enjoys it as well. So the whole family enjoys the best syrup there is… The one my cousin makes. (Maybe I am not being objective here but you will have to try it for yourself :)) So when I started this, it was very important for me to involve him and work with people that understand the product and how to make it. What do I want to achieve with this site? Like I mentioned before, I am very curious by nature (and not so young anymore) and want to share maple syrup with the rest of the world. If you want recipes with maple syrup, you can always find some on the internet but, I prefer to show people what they can do with maple products. Over the years, I have traveled quite a bit around the world and tried many dishes from different cultures. Can we make these dishes with maple syrup? Hell ya! I will have newsletters for short recipes (videos) every second week and every second month, I will have a guest to cook with. We will explore the different cuisines from around the world and adapt these recipes with maple syrup. But we will explore the traditional recipes as well ;). They are yummy as well :) My mission is to give you access to the best maple syrup and maple products on the market and include it in your lifestyle. Maple Lifestyle! |
AuthorJean-Pierre Romain, Maple Maniac Archives
December 2020
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