Picture yourself dining at a giant wooden harvest table under a tent in a dahlia field – full bloom. The table is lit with a dabbling of tealights and twinkly lights, and dressed-to-the-nines with floral centrepieces and classy silverware and white napkins. Sounds like something off of Pinterest, doesn’t it? Well this is something that happens right in our Southern Ontario neighbourhood – it’s an event called ‘Petals and Plates’ with pickOntario.

PickOntario is an organization run by Flowers Canada that helps raise awareness, interest and demand for Ontario-grown cut flowers and potted plants. They do this through marketing via social media channels, traditional marketing and lots of special events.

The Petals and Plates events are some of the most extravagant events that are hosted by pickOntario. Semi-seasonally, a locally-sourced high-end coursed meal is prepared by a chef, and a dinner is hosted at one of the Ontario flower farms (such as a Holiday event in a poinsettia greenhouse). The events can include fun extras like a tour of the farm, appetizers and live music hour, and a flower crown making station.

The Petals and Plates event that I attended last week was at Creekside Growers Dahlia and Peony farm in Delhi, Ontario; a family-owned 10 acre farm. Jessica, from Hoppily Ever After craft beer blog, and I attended together. The dahlia field was in full-bloom and a giant harvest table was set for the 80-ish people in attendance. The four-course meal was created by the talented team at Grand Oak Culinary Market in Lincoln, Ontario – directed by Executive Chef Jan-Willem Stulp.

On the menu was:
First course – Covington Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Arugula, Honey and Toasted Sunflower Seeds

Second course – New Limburg Craft Stout and Aged Cheddar Bisque with a Hounds Cider/Horseradish Cream

Third course – Slow-braised Prime Beef Ribs, with Su’s Mushrooms and Aged Gunn’s Hill Cheddar in Rich Jus

Dessert – Local Berries with Blueberry Wine and floral Chantilly

Tickets for this event went for $150, and were inclusive of the four-course meal, live music, flower crown making station, tour of the farm, and the wonderful experience of dining in a flower field! Alcoholic drinks could be purchased.

Find out more about the futures Petals and Plates events on their website here.

Or follow them on social media at:

Facebook – Pick Ontario, Petals and Plates
Twitter – @PickOntario, @PetalsandPlates
Instagram – @PickOntario, @Petals_and_Plates

Thank you to Flowers Canada and pickOntario for inviting me to this Petals and Plates event free of charge. Thank you Creekside Growers for opening up their farm and welcoming the group to their beautiful location.