Melanie Coates of The Fairmont Royal York was in New York City this evening, giving a honey tasting for bloggers and journalists, part of SeeTorontoNow’s Invasion Social Scape NYC.
Melanie was joined by a very regal “Lady Di” for the tasting, which was live streamed with the audience asking questions via Twitter.
The Fairmont Royal York’s Executive Chef, David Garcelon, is proud to announce that the hotel’s late summer rooftop harvest was awarded third place in the Dark Honey category at the 86th annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. The honey was judged in the Honey and Beeswax Competition and placed for the second consecutive year.
The dark honey was extracted from the hotel’s late summer harvest of September 25, 2009 and judged on November 8, 2009. The roof top bees have slowed their honey production for the season. Their hives will soon receive their seasonal jackets, in preparation for winter, this coming Sunday, November 22, 2009.
Weather has great influence on bees and their honey production.
“Honey production was down this summer due to the rainy weather,” notes Chef David Garcelon, Executive Chef at the hotel, “…despite the rain we were able to harvest nearly 500 pounds of honey.”
The 14th floor roof top apiary was established on June 4, 2008. Three new hives were added this season and have grown strongly in population and strength.
There are now a total of six hives on the roof: The Honey Moon Suite, The Royal Sweet, The V.I.Bee Suite, The Bee & Bee Suite, Stayin’ A Hive Suite and Home Sweet Comb. On November 22, all six hives will be winterized so that the bees may continue their rooftop residency throughout the coming winter.
A 500 gram sample of honey, contained in a regulation sized honey jar, was submitted for judging in the dark honey category. The color of the award-winning honey was determined using a honey classifier approved by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
“The honey produced at the hotel tends to be a light, early summer honey and a thick, dark late summer variety,” said Mylee Nordin, Toronto Bee Cooperative member. “The colour reflects the plants and green life that surround the hotel.”
Judges awarded points for flavour and aroma, uniform level of fill, density, colour, freedom from crystals, freedom from foreign material, freedom from air bubbles, uniformity of honey, brightness and appearance and uniformity of containers.
You can follow the excitement of this year’s honey harvest, including interviews with Chef Garcelon and Mylee Nordin, by tuning into Episode #9 of Radio Royal York.
In this episode, host Melanie Coates talks to Executive Chef David Garcelon about the first honey harvest of the season and his culinary plans for the Royal York’s award-winning honey. We then head to the roof where we learn about hives, height and everything else that goes into maintaining a rooftop apiary from Cathy Kozma and Mylee Nordin of the Toronto Beekeeper’s Co-operative. We get a visit from a friendly bee then end the episode with the sounds of the first honey extraction of the season.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (23.9MB)
This September, while the celebrity buzz flows through Toronto’s many Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) film premieres, so too will a Festival Buzz pour forth from the lounges of Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
Beginning September 1, 2009 the hotel heralds the arrival of the 34th annual TIFF opening week with a champagne cocktail featuring rooftop honey under the name: Festival Buzz.
Festival fans will have the opportunity to taste rare spoonfuls of the The Fairmont Royal York’s liquid gold, harvested from the hotel’s 14th floor apiary on August 14, 2009.
The $22 “Festival Buzz” is served in a champagne flute, features MOET champagne, peach puree, honey and freshly picked mint from the rooftop garden.
The unique cocktail will be served at both EPIC and the Library Bar, both of which are located on the lobby level and will be open until 1 a.m. during the festival.
“FESTIVAL BUZZ” RECIPE
1 oz White Peach Puree
¼ oz Royal York hotel honey
4 oz Moet Champagne
Stir juice and honey in a shaker glass. Pour into a flute glass. Top with champagne.
Stay tuned for Episode #9 of Radio Royal York when you bring you sweet times from the rooftop honey harvest. We’ll be posting it September 1st when we return from holidays. In the meantime, got to the Radio Royal York photo album for a selection of photos from the harvest.
The hotel is offering “TIFF in the City” packages now through Saturday, September 19th. Enjoy one night’s accomodation, film passes and more. Don’t forget to sample the “Festival Buzz,” our TIFF tribute cocktail made with our own rooftop honey.
In this episode, we beat the February “blues” with tips on how to add color and excitement to your hotel stay while staying warm and eco-friendly, too.
Host Melanie Coates is joined by guest Rob Sedor, Director of Housekeeping Services at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, to talk about what guests can do to “green” their hotel stay.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (10.8MB)
Elizabeth Milan, owner of The Elizabeth Milan Day Spa, then tells us how to put a healthy “pink” glow into tired winter skin the natural way. The spa has also teamed with the hotel to offer a Valentine’s Day treat for couples. The Bear Affair treatment offers two 30-minute body massages in a double room for $110. The Bear Hugs offers two friends or two lovers a rooftop honey and milk manicure with exfoliation and parabath over 45 minutes for $99. Treatments may be booked by calling 416-350-7500 or visiting the Website. Proceeds from the treatments benefit the World Wildlife Fund.
