Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Taste of Port Credit, BBQ Book Launch at Lighthouse

Community, businesses, media barbecue on the patio at Port Credit Lighthouse launches summertime events  


Several Port Credit area chefs at lighthouse book launch and bbq.
Taste of Port Credit Chefs Barbecue
A number of chefs and staff from Port Credit restaurants served up grilled meats, seafoods, veggies and fruits today on the Lighthouse patio to kick off the Taste of Port Credit 'passports' campaign that runs from June 15 to August 15.

About 39 "Places to eat in Port Credit' are listed on the passport, from ice cream parlours to fine dining restaurants, pubs and pizza parlours, and slow cooked and fast food. Taste of Port Credit passports are being mailed to residents, and are also available for pick-up at participating restaurants and at the Lighthouse on Lakeshore Road at the Credit River, in Mississauga.

Over the next two months, dine out at participating businesses and get your passport stamped for a chance to win a $1,000 gift certificate.  See Taste of Port Credit on the Paint the Town Red web site for details.

Canada Day Display at Port Credit Lighthouse Barbecue
Canada Day Paint the Town Red display continued the day's red and white color theme. The Port Credit lighthouse is the office of the local BIA, and the site of many community events, indoors or out on the patio that overlooks the Credit River and Lakeshore Road bridge. One can only wonder the thoughts of passing motorists during outdoor events. The lighthouse was a transfer point for the Olympic Torch relay in December 2009.

Dave Barrow,  Singer  Songwriter, Mississauga Ontario
And to add to the ambiance, Mississauga's Dave Barrow strummed and sang for the lunchtime barbecue crowd. Yes, he takes requests, and is most gracious when audience members sing along. Barrow is set to perform at the Paint the Town Red celebrations on Canada Day. See his website for more information.

John Bozzo and Rob Rainford at Port Credit Lighthouse Barbecue
John Bozzo, left, owner of La Villa Fine Foods and Bakery, a major sponsor of many community events in Port Credit, talks 'grilling' with author/chef Rob Rainford, who was on hand to sign Born to Grill , his new barbecue cookbook.  See Rainford's web site for more information on this Jamaica-born Canadian chef who knows his way around a grill.

Breadsticks and Barbecue Port Credit Lighthouse Patio
Bozzo and Rainford and friend with loaves of fresh-baked bread in the foreground, and the Port Credit arena in the background. In between lies Memorial Park, the venue for this weekend's free Mississauga Waterfront Festival and Port Credit's Canada Day fireworks, concerts, market stalls and entertainers on July 1.

Strawberries dipped in chocolate, brownies and protiferoles dessert at bbq.
Desserts and Cook Books at Taste of Port Credit
And just when guests thought they could eat no more, this fabulous dessert platter appeared, with chocolate-dipped strawberries, cream puffs and iced brownies. Oh, well, room for a bit more!  Today's sampling of Taste of Port Credit included jerk chicken skewers with spicy mango cubes, chunky sirloin bits, chicken skewers, lamb burgers, mini-sausage sliders, gazpacho and grilled zucchini.

Lighthouse and Over-Sized Grocery Cart Port Credit
An oversized shopping cart serves to remind us that not everyone has enough to eat. The shopping cart is a collaboration between Xtreme Tire Garage and La Villa Fine Foods and Bakery.

The cart will be part of the Port Credit Canada Day parade; the goal is to fill it with non-perishable food items to be donated to the Mississauga Food Bank.

Out-sized Grocery Cart at Port Credit Lighthouse
John Bozzo (right) located the out-sized cart near Ottawa, ON, and although it was in poor condition,  arranged to have it picked up and brought to Port Credit. He contacted Jason Segato (left) at Xtreme Tire to refurbish it. New wheels and more, hours of sanding and painting, et voila! A great shopping cart. To give scale to the size of the cart, Bozzo and Segato climbed aboard for the photo.

Always something happening in Port Credit!

More Port Credit events this weekend:

  • MWF (Mississauga Waterfront Festival) Friday, Saturday and Sunday. See my MWF parking blog post for parking info.
  • Farmers Market Saturday (see post for location) See my blog post about the MWF and Farm Market here.
  • Art in the Yard Saturday, June 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at 47 Mississauga Road South at Saddington Park parking lot. (Google Map).  Look for the Art in Yard poster around Port Credit and drop by and to support our local artisans

Poster for art community event in Port Credit Ontario June 16 2012