Contributors
Ivy Knight
When not hosting 86′d Mondays–a night for the city’s food and wine industry players–at the famed Drake Hotel, Ivy Knight writes about the food scene for various publications, among them the Globe and Mail and Toronto Life. With ten years experience cooking in professional kitchens (in Austin, Texas, Kingston, Ontario and here in Toronto – from Biff’s Bistro to Cowbell and the Drake Hotel), her approach to writing is from a cook’s perspective.
In her six years as a freelance writer she’s interviewed some of the world’s greatest chefs, including Jacques Pepin, Vikram Vij, Fergus Henderson and Anthony Bourdain as well as food personalities Ruth Reich, Kevin Brauch and Calvin Trillin.
Swallow – Editor in Chief and Co-Founder
@Swallow_Food
@IvyKnight
Laura Buckley
Laura Buckley is a cook, recipe developer, food writer and editor. She is a graduate of Queen’s University and the Stratford Chefs School and apprenticed in the kitchens of some of Toronto’s top restaurants. Laura’s work has appeared in magazines including Canadian House & Home, Canadian Living, Homemaker’s and Edible Toronto. She is co-editor of All Stirred Up: Over 150 of the Best Recipes from The Women’s Culinary Network and recipe writer for The G.I. Diet Cookbook. She and has taught cooking classes for Loblaws and the LCBO, and ran a catering company, called Eats of Eden, cooking for rock stars to royalty. Laura is a member of Slow Food, Cuisine Canada, The Editors’ Association of Canada, and a past board member of the Women’s Culinary Network.
Pamela Cuthbert
Journalist Pamela Cuthbert writes about food issues and food trends. Her work has appeared in publications such as Macleans, The Economist, Saveur, Common Dreams, Slow Food Almanac and Edible City.
Sarah Crawford
Sarah Crawford is a communications consultant with extensive experience in the broadcast, charitable and not-for-profit sectors. She is passionate about food and community development, and supports a food system that is “good, clean and fair”. Sarah is active in community and public service serving on boards for organizations including Integra, an accredited agency serving young people and their families dealing with learning disabilities and mental health issues. In 2010, she wrote about and attended the Canadian Chefs’ Congress, as well as Terra Madre, “a world meeting of food communities”. She is a long time member of Slow Food Canada.
Kristina Groeger
Kristina has been working as a professional cook and pastry chef for the past seven years. She’s spent time cooking at The Ritz Carlton Toronto, Enoteca Sociale, The Stop, Jacobs and Co. Steakhouse, staged with Marc Thuet, butchered pigs with Guy Rawlings once, and made a pastry or two for Cafe Belong last summer (2012). Her professional experience spans photography, visual art, web development and freelance writing. She is involved in event planning with The Stop’s Night Market and currently works as a Digital Content Specialist at a national supermarket chain. Kristina is responsible for the art, design (with Catherine Mangosing), and development of the 2013 Terroir website.
@gringogidget / kristinagroeger.com
Agatha Podgorski
Agatha is an aspiring food philosopher. She believes in local food, responsible purchasing practices and the health benefits of a glass of good Merlot. She once considered law school, but after a stint studying journalism and later completing a developmental politics degree at the University of Toronto, she realized she would much rather eat than be eaten.
A quick 180 later, she holds a diploma in Culinary Management from George Brown College. She spent time in Toronto kitchens, but has traded in her spoons to spread the word about Ontario’s amazing food experiences. In 2011, she was recognized by the OHI as one of Ontario’s Top 30 Under 30 in the hospitality industry.
Agatha can now be found rubbin’ elbows with members and managing the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance’s communications. In her spare time, she can usually be found helping out at her local farmers’ market, tending her tomatoes or investigating the newest local food haunt. She is an avid photographer, blogger and traveller. She has studied in Brno, baguette’d in Bordeaux, cycled the Irish coast and eaten puffin in Iceland. Despite it all, she loves Ontario most, and has been known to drive all the way to Kingston for a good black currant scone.
Norm Hardie
Norman Hardie is one of a select few winemakers in the world who has mastered the art of tasting, growing and making wine in both Hemispheres and six wine regions around the world.
In his early twenties he received his sommelier certification from the esteemed wine program at the University of Dijon in Burgundy and put his skills to work as a sommelier for Four Seasons Hotels for six years. His insatiable thirst to master the art of winemaking led him on a six year journey apprenticing for the very best producers/winemakers of cool climate varieties in Burgundy, South Africa, Oregon, New Zealand and California.
Recently his wines have received numerous accolades in both the local and international market. Matt Kramer, of the Wine Spectator, chose the 2008 County Chardonnay as one of his wines of the year. Outstanding reviews have come from international wine critics, such as Stephen Tanzer and Jancis Robinson. Critics from Ontario, including Tony Aspler, John Szabo and David Lawrason have been quick to hand out praise for each vintage of Norman Hardie Wines.
