Radio Royal York

Radio Royal York – Episode 7: The Rooftop Garden

In this episode, host Melanie Coates visits the Fairmont Royal York’s rooftop garden to talk with gardener Marjorie Mason as she supervises the planting of this year’s herb and vegetable garden.  Marjorie knows her gardening, having grown-up on a market garden farm near Peterborough, Ontario. She shares a number of excellent tips on how to create and maintain a healthy and productive urban garden. We’ll also sit down with John Cordeaux, Director of Food and Beverage at The Fairmont Royal York, for a little history behind the hotel’s famed rooftop garden, and some fond childhood vegetable memories.

Listen to Episode 7

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Show Notes:

If you’re in the Toronto area this summer don’t forget to stop by for afternoon tea at Epic Restaurant followed by a complimentary tour of the rooftop garden. Tours take place every Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM and 4 PM and run until September 6, 2009.

Music for this low-fi podcast is from “Shaking Hands” by Robinson, Freitag & The Lonely Trumpet.

One of Toronto’s most remote collections of herb and flower beds are ready to be viewed by afternoon teetotallers.

Afternoon tea at EPIC Restaurant can once again be followed by a complimentary tour (weather permitting) of the hotel’s rooftop “herban” oasis at 2 PM and 4 PM each Saturday and Sunday.  Tea & Rooftop Garden Tours are offered at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel beginning Saturday, May 23, 2009 until September 6, 2009.

The herb garden and its neighbouring bee hives, situated 200 feet above ground and 14 stories high is normally closed to the public. This growing season marks its third year of public access to the garden, since its inception in 1997.

With a magnificent view of the CN Tower and the lakefront, the garden is starkly beautiful in contrast to its neighbouring office towers. The herb garden is the only one of its kind in Toronto and serves as an extension of the hotel’s environmental program. This unique garden provides the herbs and honey needed to flavour the dishes served in the hotel’s EPIC Restaurant.

Before the 30-minute rooftop tour, guests can enjoy a pot of tea and a variety of sweet and savory treats.

The teas available at EPIC are produced by The Metropolitan Tea Company Ltd., which is North America’s first member of the Ethical Tea Sourcing Partnership.

Metropolitan visits growers regularly to ensure employee well-being and environmental standards, practices highly respected by Fairmont. Teas available include the Kenmare Ceylon, Maple and Egyptian Chamomile. The tea menu is priced at $27.00 (exclusive of tax and gratuities) and features toasted crumpets with Grand Marnier butter; traditional finger sandwiches, including scones with Devonshire cream and jam; and a selection of pastries and English tea cakes.

Four afternoon garden tours are available each weekend. The meeting point for the half-hour herb garden tour is inside EPIC Restaurant at 2 PM and 4 PM, following the 12:30 p.m. tea service. The complimentary rooftop tours are reached by elevator and by climbing four flights of stairs. Tea and complimentary garden tours may be reserved by contacting EPIC Restaurant at (416) 860-6949 or by email at festive@fairmont.com

Radio Royal York – Episode 6: Sustainable Seafood Options

Host Melanie Coates is joined by guest Mike McDermid, Program Manager of Ocean Wise and Chef Ryan Gustafson of the Fairmont Royal York’s EPIC Restaurant to discuss the Ocean Wise program now in place at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

Listen to Episode 6

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (17.8MB)

Show Notes:

Created by the Vancouver Aquarium, Ocean Wise works directly with restaurants across the country to help them and their customers make sustainable seafood choices. The Ocean Wise logo next to a menu item is an assurance that the item is a good choice for keeping ocean life healthy and abundant for generations to come.

After our interviews, we’ll follow Chef Ryan Gustafson into the kitchen for a quick lesson on how to saute scallops. Then, it’s back to the front of house where we join server, Joseph Nutter, for his take on how guests are reacting to the new Ocean Wise menu.