Tourism London Canada

KIDSTRONG SUMMIT

Mon, 07 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

We are excited about sharing with you an amazing day for all families – KIDSTRONG YOUTH SUMMIT in London June 2 at the Western Fair District: Over 40 top-notch speakers to choose from with key note Pinball Clemons addressing both mental and physical fitness. More Info is below and attached!

To see the full roster on speakers and session descriptions page click here or at www.kidstrong.ca

NEWS:

Deadline for registration – MAY 18 (and it’s now starting to fill up!!)
Lunch Sandwiches will be provided by Subway and other snacks for sale.
Door Prizes - All Registrants will be eligible!
Sessions Listed below.
Off Line Reg now available! (see attached)

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO YOUR OWN GROUP OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY – WHAT A GREAT WAY TO INVEST IN OUR KIDS.

Hockey Tournament to Fill the Streets of Nearby London

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The weather is heating up, and the hockey action is heading from the frozen pond to the warm pavement. And from May 19-20, you can check out or participate in Canada’s most amazing street hockey tournament when it makes a stop in nearby London, Ontario.

Hockey Night in Canada's Play On! four-on-four street hockey tournament will take place in London’s beautiful Victoria Park. For children and adults alike, the event involves the closing of streets and involves the operation of 20 to 50 separate street rinks with games running on each rink at all times throughout an entire weekend!

Hockey Night in Canada's Play On! tournaments feature hundreds of teams and thousands of participants and include separate divisions for both genders, all skill levels and all ages. Each player in the event receives a commemorative Hockey Night in Canada's Play On! T-shirt and an assortment of items from national and local sponsors.

So call your friends, put your team together and prepare yourself — because Hockey Night in Canada's Play On! tournament will be one of the most memorable events of your summer!

For information or to register, visit

www.playon.ca/events/london

Labatt Memorial Park: A Treasure to the Game of Baseball

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:41:32 GMT

Major League Baseball is well under way, and the Buffalo Bisons have begun another season of play at Coca-Cola Field in downtown Buffalo. And for diehard fans of local baseball, that surely brings back memories of old ballparks such as War Memorial Stadium (The Rockpile) and Offermann Stadium.

While The Rockpile and Offermann Stadium no longer exist, there’s a baseball stadium in nearby London, Ontario, that dates back to 1877! Labatt Memorial Park — known as Tecumseh Park when it was first built — is believed to be the “world's oldest baseball park in continuous use in its original location.” Nestled at the forks of the Thames River, London’s landmark field has been a center for sports, recreational and cultural activities for more than 130 years.

One of Canada’s favorite ballparks, Labatt Memorial Park has played host to some of the game’s greatest players, including Satchel Paige and Ferguson Jenkins. The field is maintained in pristine condition by the City of London, as a tribute to players past and present, according to media reports.

Labatt Memorial Park is located at 25 Wilson Ave. in London. To watch a brief video of the park, please click here:

http://www.londontourism.ca/Discover-Our-Spirit/Family-Fun/Labatt-Park

Discover the Spirit of London, Ontario, Through Multiple Videos

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The summer travel season will be here before you know it, and people all across Western New York will be planning their annual getaways. With gas prices continuing to rise, many of us will be looking for a fun getaway destination perhaps a little closer to home. If that’s the case, you may want to check out nearby London, Ontario.

The best way to do that is to watch the “Discover Our Spirit” videos produced by Tourism London. From cultural and recreational destinations to great restaurants and hotels, there are dozens of brief videos for you to check out. And while the videos are very informative, they’re not very long, each ranging from approximately one to three minutes!

If you’ve never been there, London is one of those cities that appeals to all ages. Among the attractions are a wide variety of festivals, museums, recreational facilities, shops and markets, adventure parks, theater, tours and much more.

To watch the London videos, visit

http://www.londontourism.ca/Discover-Our-Spirit/Most-Popular-Videos

'Dreams on Ice' and Silent Auction

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The London Skating Club is pleased to announce their winter skating show, “Dreams on Ice” & Silent Auction will be taking place on Sunday, April 1, 2011, at Western Fair District Sports Centre – 3:00 pm show.

This skating show is in Memory of Evelyn Bastow, who contributed over 60 years of volunteer time to the London Skating Club as a volunteer, judge, coordinator & skater. Evelyn Bastow passed away in December 2011, and the show is in memory of her with the adult program skaters from the club dedicating a special number in Memory of Evelyn. The Bastow family will be in attendance for this event.

Proceeds from the event will support our charity partners, Jesse's Journey and the London & Region Chapter of Muscular Dystrophy Canada, as well as the London Skating Club.

This event will showcase nearly 200 of the clubs talented skaters from as young as three to our adult program skaters. Don’t miss this great event to see National Adult Competitor and medalist, Beverly Dodge perform, along with club’s many nationally recognized synchronized skating teams, in addition to the many young skaters, StarSkate athletes and competitive skaters from the London Skating Club.

The London Skating Club, celebrating 105 years of skating in London, is one of the largest and oldest skating clubs in Canada.

Yanni, Neil Diamond plan London concerts

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT

If you love music and you’re also looking for a nearby summer getaway, why not plan an excursion to nearby London, Ontario, in June, where you can catch two big musical acts on stage at the John Labatt Centre with a five-day period! Yanni kicks things off with a show at 8 p.m. June 23, while Neil Diamond is set to perform at 8 p.m. June 28.

Yanni’s contemporary symphonic music has inspired millions of fans around the world. In concert, his passionate, soaring melodies and lush orchestration create a spirited and uplifting musical experience like no other. While on tour, Yanni and his orchestra will play favorites from throughout his career, as well as selections from his latest album, “Truth of Touch” (2011).

Rock and pop icon Neil Diamond, a 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and 2011 Kennedy Center honoree, will take his greatest hits on the road on a much-anticipated North American tour kicking off in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on June 1 and closing in Las Vegas on Sept. 1. The 2012 tour will feature all of Diamond’s classic favorites!

For more information on these concerts, please visit www.johnlabattcentre.com. The JLC is located at 99 Dundas St. in beautiful downtown London. And, for helpful information on planning a quick getaway to London, please visit www.londontourism.ca.

A Taste of France - Auberge du Petit Prince Restaurant and Petit Paris Crêperie & Pâtisserie

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Petit Paris Crêperie & Pâtisserie offers a delicious representation of the French pastry tradition, located at the King Street entrance of the Covent Garden Market. A year ago, Chef Nicole Arroyas brought her expertise, business acumen and artistry to the downtown, talents she had already parlayed into success at the iconic Auberge du Petit Prince restaurant.

Pâtisserie seems to be Arroyas’s true passion and calling, her route was initially a circuitous one. After high school school, Arroyas left London to study in France at the Culinary Institute in Lyons, led by the venerated Chef Paul Bocuse. An internship led her to the renowned L’Astrance under the tutelage of chef Pascal Barbot (considered one of the world’s foremost chefs), who possesses a Michelin 3-star rating in Paris. A second internship conveyed her to Alain Ducasse, under Jean Francois Piège. Arroyas graduated with an international university-level diploma in Culinary Restaurant Management.

Upon her return to Canada, Arroyas worked in her parents’ restaurants until her calling for pâtisserie resurfaced. A couple of years passed, and Arroyas reasoned the timing was right for an additional challenge. She and her parents, Alain and Donna Arroyas, purchased the London culinary landmark, Auberge du Petit Prince, refurbished it, and it was reborn to much fanfare five years ago.

The Auberge is a renowned French-inspired bistro serving updated, iconic classics innovatively presented. The menus have focused on good, simple, country French cuisine, such as coquilles St. Jacques, confit of duck, frog’s legs, vichyssoise, and French onion soup. The menus evolve seasonally.

Each dining room is decorated and styled to reflect an iconic location in France. One main-floor dining room is titled the Versailles; the other more casual, bistro-style dining room is named the Provence. Both feature inviting fireplaces. The enclosed sunroom (formerly the outdoor verandah) is called Cannes. The upstairs features three intimate rooms for private functions and corporate meetings. The rooms are decorated with tapestries and stained-glass windows by the formidable London artist Ted Goodden. There is a well-appointed outdoor terrace for al fresco seating.

Service professional and uber-Chef Robbin Azzopardi has recently come on board as General Manager of the Auberge du Petit Prince. Only 29, Azzopardi has been in the hospitality business for fourteen years, starting in his family’s coffee shop.

Azzopardi is a graduate of the culinary arts program at Fanshawe College and worked as an instructor in the program for several years. Azzopardi, a well-respected chef, caterer (White Pomegranate), culinary consultant and events planner, has been employed at various dining rooms in London, including the London Hunt Club, Waldo’s on King, and most recently at the Tasting Room.

On Sundays, the restaurant serves the best brunch in the city. The Croque Monsieur remains a classic. The wine list is commendable. Azzopardi has recently introduced proper wine glasses to enhance the enjoyment of the wine.

Arroyas and Azzopardi know that there is a great opportunity for innovative culinary experiences to become part of the story depicting the uniqueness and diversity of London.

Petit Paris

130 King Street, Covent Garden Market, London

519-433-0647

www.petit-paris.ca

Auberge du Petit Prince

458-460 King Street, London
519-434-7124

www.aubergerestaurant.ca

The Springs - A Gourmet Refuge on Springbank Drive

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The Springs is London’s gourmet refuge on Springbank Drive, under the creative genius and culinary guidance of Chef Andrew Wolwowicz. Wolwowicz’s working partners and collaborators are local entrepreneurs, Tim and Laura Owen.

The smartly appointed restaurant, housed in a beautifully refurbished church, has been operating since October 2012. Wolwowicz’s menus are interesting, listing dishes crafted from local, regional and seasonal ingredients.

The windows in the dining room are proportionally large, letting in light that floods the restaurant exquisitely. The dining room seats 70, the beautifully appointed patio 32 and the downstairs banquet room 40. The wall colours are muted, fresh, organic and natural. A commissioned painting of a tree by artist Jade Brown adds a thought-provoking focal point and ambience to the entrance.

A proponent of the open kitchen, Wolwowicz wanted to put a public face on the people behind the cuisine. In collaboration with the Owens, Wolwowicz was instrumental in helping to design every detail of the restaurant and kitchen to create a welcoming and accessible environment. There is an additional prep/pastry kitchen in the basement.

A “local” culinary ambassador with over 20 years of expertise in professional kitchens, Wolwowicz has established himself as a vanguard in London’s culinary community. The Springs are proud to source from suppliers and farms specializing in sustainable agriculture, organic growing practices and ethically raised livestock.

The talk around town is about Wolwowicz’s culinary gymnastics: delectable panko-crusted Crab Cakes made with flaky back fin and delicate lump crab meat, and accompanied with a spicy sweet chili sauce. The Wild Mushroom Tart with chorizo and caramelized shallots is otherworldly. Menu winners include: Pan-Spanked Chicken served in a cast-iron skillet then baked with a fruity extra virgin olive oil, lemon zest, pancetta and fresh aromatics and served with a saffron scented cauliflower puree; Cider-glazed Willowgrove Hills Farm’s Pork Tenderloin with an apple-mustard-maple velouté, green apple marmalade and parmesan potato dumplings; and Dijon Braised Rabbit with roasted pear arancini (panko crusted risotto balls).

Wolwowicz regards Monforte Dairy’s artisanal sheep’s milk cheeses as “exceptional.” One of Chef’s preferences is Nica. Comparable to chèvre, it is amplified with lavender and fermented organic garlic flower tops. This delicious cheese shows up on both his Bruschetta Fajioli (white bean puree with seasoned tomatoes), and his Wildwood Greens Duck Salad (medium-rare, pan-roasted, melt- in- your- mouth magret of duck with a medley of crisp seasonal greens, roasted beets, hemp seeds and a citrus-wolfberry vinaigrette). The Espresso and Black Pepper Crusted Venison Loin served with beet, parsnip and celery root frites, chilli arugula salad and a chocolate pomegranate gastrique (classically inspired sweet and sour sauce) is to die for. The Springs is well on its way to being a regional culinary landmark.

310 Springbank Drive; 519-657-1100

thespringrestaurant.com

Victoria Park transforms for Kids Cancer Research

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT

When was the last time you went for a swim in Victoria Park? For longtime residents of the City of London, the question is a precarious one without the existence of a beach, a pool, or any body of water for that matter. That is, until March 3^rd, 2012.

The Sears Great Canadian Chill brings its polar bear dip in support of paediatric oncology initiatives to London with a twist on their traditional swims of 2012. The Chill has already raised $100,00 this year through their events hosted at beaches in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver. In London, the Chill plans to builds a temporary pool in Victoria Park for participants to take a swim as the event raises funds to ‘Stop Kids Cancer Cold’.

Anyone above the age of 14 may register for the Chill that will host hundreds of families, children, and university and college students. There will be something for everyone as the Man-made chill zone is accompanied by hot tubs, heated tents, live entertainment, food, and a LINK costume contests (so, feel free to bring your tightest & brightest!)

If you’re weary of participating, the Chill welcomes your support as a volunteer, and in the form of donations that can be made offline and online. In any case, the event will definitely be a sight to see. Benefitting the Children’s Health Foundation through the London Health Sciences Centre, you’ll hear from brave child ambassadors that will share how much of a difference you make in spreading awareness, even just by your attendance.

So, on March 3^rd, bring your friends and family and stop by Victoria Park to participate, volunteer, and enjoy a day of family activities. It’s scary to jump into freezing water, and it’s scary to give your money away. But what’s really scary is that a child can have cancer. That’s scary.

Kantina Restaurant - Stellar Contemporary Serbian-Inspired Cuisine

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Kantina Restaurant - Stellar Contemporary Serbian-Inspired Cuisine

Owner Miljan karac and Chef Danijel Markovic reinterpret classic Serbian –inspired cuisine with plenty of skill, expertise and locally-sourced ingredients in their chic downtown London restaurant. This is a scratch kitchen and all items are made in-house and by hand. The menus are thoughtful and exciting riffs on an iconic indigenous cuisine imbue with modern farm to table ideals.

Kantina’s cuisine is characterized by such idiosyncratic ingredients as: kajmak - clotted cream; ajavar a traditional red bell peppers, eggplant, garlic and chilli pepper relish; sir, a generic term for a variety of semi-hard porcelain- white cheeses made from sheep's milk and kept in brine (feta-style) and two very distinct types of yoghurt. One from cow's milk and a more luxurious one made from sheep's milk.

Chef's wicked rabbit pottage is thick with vegetables and anchored with bacon and truffle oil. Veal soup with finely diced root vegetables, sour cream and white turnip is truly a revelation and a testament to Markovic’s ability to layer many flavours with great effect. An upscale/rustic cream of potato and leek soup with toasted almonds, crunch bacon, tiny shrimp and truffle oil is out of this world.

Field Gate Organics beef carpaccio tartare served with Soiled Reputation arugula, aged goat cheese, and toasted pine nuts is superb. One of the chef's signature specialities is Karadjordjeva, (Black George Schnitzel) a delicious rolled fried pork schnitzel with kajmak stuffing. Chef also perfects chevaps, rolled chicken and a delicious lamb burger.

On one memorable occasion there is a perfectly cooked stuffed calamari accompanied by black (squid ink) risotto. Another time there is a chilled, luxurious strawberry puree with balsamico that has both sweet and sour elements arrives after dinner for dessert. On yet another occasion, smooth ‘Habitual Chocolate fudgy’ pot au crème, topped with mousse is flavoured with cloves and star anise and accompanied by a whimsical jam pot of strawberry puree and a chocolate tuille.

The menu changes frequently, prices are accessible and the wine list is modest. Kantina also serves a delicious breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Try the morning poutine with bacon and a fried egg or the brioche with house smoked salmon, yoghurt, red pepper spread, tomatoes and greens.

This small independent business thrives on their creativity, dedication and commitment to the bounty of Ontario enhanced by a well-honed and sophisticated international culinary point of view.

Dinner Monday to Sunday 5:30 to 10pm

Lunch Thursday to Saturday 11:30 to 5:30

Brunch Sunday 11:30 to 5:30

349 Talbot Street, London

519 672 5862

eat@kantina.ca