Impulse Buy of the Week: Evelyn's Crackers Spicy Dal Spelt Sticks

(posted by Shelf Life, a monthly addition to the Canadian National Post Newspaper)

Lately Shelf Life has been on a hummus kick. This is a very good thing, not least because our newfound love of the chickpea has helped us bond with our vegan friends. Now we can bring something else to the vegan party – these Certified Organic crackers made from whole spelt flour and lentils. We like the fact that these are local products, and that Evelyn’s Crackers supports Ontario farmers. We’re charmed by their freshness, and by their healthy-yet-snazzy taste, not too spicy nor too timid. They’re sturdy enough to handle cheese, subtle enough to enhance the basics – say, peanut butter and green onions – and ready to crumble in soups or salads. Then too, as the package suggests, there’s a whole realm of hummus and dips to explore. Shelf Life would match these crackers with a creamy dill dip, or maybe a tzatziki – and then we’d race over to the hummus. Lately we’ve become enamored of Jerusalem/masala-type chickpea spreads; these turn out to be absolutely delectable with Evelyn’s crunchy snaps. Vegans, your planet is full of strange and wonderful taste sensations.

THREE AND A HALF STARS ***1/2

(Evelyn's Crackers can be found in three dozen fine food stores and cheese shops in and around Toronto. You can meet us in person and try all of our crackers at the Wychwood and Brickworks Farmers markets every Saturday morning from 8am to 1pm. Contact us (evelynscrackers@gmail.com) and view ourwebsite for more information about new locations and our creative holiday catering and cooking classes.)

I Think I Can

(http://www.lafromagerie.ca/ photo credit)

For over a year we have been dropping off samples and trying to get our crackers in one of the finest cheese shops on College. As a constant reminder, we walk by the store several times a week, often stopping for a wedge of cheese, baguette or croissant.

One day out for a walk with Evelyn, it started to rain. The sudden storm came from nowhere and started to flood the street in a matter of minutes. We were caught in it, big time! Running from one store front to another, trying to find shelter anywhere from the unexpected shower. There we were several blocks from home, each with a NOW magazine over our heads (a very important skill taught to me by my father) when...eureka! There is was, La Fromagerie and their beautiful wooden park bench and dark blue awning. There we sat, wringing out our make-shift umbrellas and watching the other pedestrians and bikers go by who were much less fortunate.

After that day I felt a little more secure knowing that close by there is a great little cheese shop offering some of the finest cheeses from Europe, Quebec and Ontario. Just close enough to for a guy and his little girl to share a moment in a rain storm, or for anyone to share a moment with a piece of cheese, and now with Evelyn's Crackers.

In A Little Town Called Aurora..

"Hi there,
I came down to Toronto this Saturday to the market with my sister-in-law. I bought your Spicy Dal crackers, and your lavender shortbread crackers (and your red fife flour) this weekend, and just wanted to tell you how much I LOVE the crackers, and cookies. I went right home and made fresh humus to have with your crackers, and they're awesome!!! I'm just in love with your cookies too. I would have never thought to pair the lavender with the shortbread, but WOW, I'm hooked! Can you tell me if you have any retail outlets near me, I'm from Aurora.

Oh by the way, my little guy is still talking about how sweet your daughter was to him, sharing her treats with him!!

Thank you so much for your delicious treats,

Er**"

Small Chive

Well, if we can't get out of town for the summer Evelyn's Crackers sure are. Their heading to Midland, Ontario. Ciboulette Cie (Small Chive and Company) is a great little food shop is now carrying our full line of crackers.

Apparently, they are flying off the shelves!

So much for have cracker; will travel.

Here is where they are located. And check out their blog for pictures and stories about this budding new food location.

Evelyn’s Crackers Partners with Monforte Dairy

Under the guidance of Ruth Klahsen, Evelyn’s Crackers has developed a custom line of (3)crackers specifically for Monforte’s cheese. Ingredients for the crackers are supplied from the same farmland that Monforte’s Dairy milk comes from, in and around Stratford, Ontario. You can find the crackers wherever you find Ruth’s cheeses at several farmers markets, and soon to be retail, within the Greater Toronto Area.

How Far Will You Go for a Fresh Egg?

Photo credit: Edmund Rek

If I had a buck for everytime Dawn is mentioned in an article..

"Dawn Woodward, owner of Evelyn's Crackers, an artisan baked-goods company in Toronto, will show up at the market at seven in the morning for farm-fresh eggs or drive an hour out of town to find them. When she's leaving the city, she phones ahead to place an order with one of the hundreds of small farms in the country that sell pastured eggs.

“The flavour is better,” she says. “They are fresher and richer. They're sweeter, a fuller flavour.” She prefers eggs laid by hens allowed to scratch and wander – when she can get them."

...I could buy a dozen eggs.

Link to full article by Sarah Elton for the Globe and Mail, Food and Wine Section: Here

What does Spicy Dal and Jian Ghomeshi have in Common?

They met at the CBC Artisan Market, of course. Jian purchased a package of spicy dal crackers in between his segments on CBC Radio Q, which he hosts. (It is great when two celebrities can get together.) We are big fans of the CBC and it is quite a treat to meet people behind the voices.

Here is a little more about the market from Sheryl Kirbey of Taste TO:

"Okay, so customers are not going to manage to get all of their grocery shopping done in one fell swoop, but people really did seem to appreciate the market and the artisanal food on offer. When I arrived at the official start time at last month's market, St. John's Bakery had already sold out about 50% of their stock (many vendors actually set up at around 8 or 8:30am to catch the on-the-way-to-work crowd). And Dawn Woodward of Evelyn's crackers remarked that most of her sales were for snack items such as her lavender shortbread cookies."

Here is a link to the full article: Here