This book is easily the best "encyclopedia" out there for all things related to local foods. Recipes, wine pairings, and even how to choose the right ingredients. I also loved the individualized touches and personal stories of all the famers and growers included in the book. It is definitely going on my shopping list as a great gift to give to my family and friends!

When I received the Ontario Table, I was drawn in by the amazing photography, each recipe had a stunning picture of the food that makes my mouth water! But then I realized this is much more than a cookbook because of the inspirational $10 Challenge and tribute to Ontario farmers. Each recipe has a story of a farmer and farm family and now I am committed to really watch how I spend my money making sure I buy local food when I can. I really love the Yellow Plum Souffle recipe on page 275 where Lynn has a terrific idea of using Ontario plums instead of lemons in recipes. We made the Pesto Pan Chicken on page 137, it was great use of fresh basil but we also found the Charles Baker Reisling recommended with the recipe...what a great meal. I found that I leave the cookbook out for others to read as it includes stories of different areas in Ontario from a culinary point of view. I have had the chance to visit Norfolk County following the story and the links to the web directory. If you love fresh food from the market and look to support Ontario farmers and local food this book is an delicious cookbook and guide, I also searched other books by Lynn and am anxiously awaiting their delivery.

I was keen to add this book to my shelf. I have 2 other books by the author and enjoy her food writing, blogs and the like. Increasingly folks are looking to eat locally sourced ingredients and shop at their farmer’s market so this book held great potential. What I liked: • The variety of Ontario ingredients featured in the book. Not just limited to produce, this book highlights oils, fish, poultry, wines and other items available in the province • The Ontario Pantry section at the back of the book is a great resource to aid in sourcing Ontario ingredients mentioned in the book • Many unique recipes not covered in other cookbooks eg. Cherry Mousse, Oyster Mushrooms with Black Peanut Chili Sauce, Chardonnay Buttered Yellow Perch • Stunning photography of the dishes and the province What could be better: • The index is the absolute worst of any other cookbook I’ve seen. (excluding Niagara Cooks by the same author as this adopts the same horrible format). This index was not designed with the cook in mind. A very loose attempt was made to organize dishes by ingredients but the actual ingredient name is printed in a faded font whereas the dish name is in regular font. Not only is it incredibly difficult to search the index by ingredients since ingredient names are faded out, but the ingredients themselves are not listed in a sensible fashion. Looking for a dish with peas for example? Well, skip the “P” section of the index (if you can find it) because peas are indexed under the “S” section – “Sweet Peas” • If recipes call for a unique ingredient (eg. Ontario soy oil, Niagara verjus) that’s covered in the “Ontario Pantry” section, there should be some notation to alert the reader. • Recipes could be better focused on using seasonal ingredients. For example, though Asparagus and Leeks will never be harvesting at the same time in Ontario, a recipe for Asparagus Leek Soup is included. • Editing is weak. A recipe for Garden Pasta contains no vegetables but calls for “garden vegetable pasta”. If there’s a recipe in the book for garden vegetable pasta I couldn’t find it. There’s a lovely photo of a dish of cooked sliced potatoes, onions and garlic beside a recipe for “Skillet Potatoes, Onions and Garlic” but nowhere in the recipe does it tell you to slice the potatoes. In my opinion this book is better suited to someone looking to plan a trip to visit Ontario farms and vendors and less suited to folks who actually want to cook from it.

This book is absolutely stunning. I was not quite sure what to expect when I ordered it since the genre is so specific but I was absolutely thrilled with my purchase when I received it. Lynn Ogryzlo has done a fantastic job of capturing the feel of local food in Ontario and has put together an impressive array of recipes that are simple, yet elegant. There isn't a single dish in this book that doesn't look delicious and I can't wait to get started with making them ALL! If you have any interest in local food, seasonal food, Ontario agriculture or if you just enjoy simple, beautiful food, then you must buy this book! I always knew Ontario had a lot to offer in terms of food, culture and tourism and this book is a great way to capture some of it's best in your very own kitchen. Just can't say enough about this wonderful book, makes me even more proud to be an Ontarian.