Stoney Paradise Farm Produce

Big ( Night) Announcement?
Would you trust a night to these jokers? I know, you’re thinking Harold and Kumar go to White Castle. You might not be too far off. We’ve got an adventure planned. Shot from the canon of Foodie cinema…. Milan’s Big Night.

Two brothers, one dream… a restaurant in America. One brother has talent, about the other brother, we’re not so sure.

We know, there will be wonderful food, we hope there will be laughter and play, animated conversation, and maybe some dancing and kissing and crying. Because some of us think that food isn’t just about what’s on the plate.

If this hasn’t scared you and you’re willing to become part of Milan‘s Instagram journey (appear at some point on screens) set an alarm. I know, the bots will be all over this, but I want it to feel like a gathering of friends.

In all of this, I forgot to mention that my brother Vish will be producing five courses featuring my tomatoes! Never been good with the details!!!

not sure about this process. I’ll post the link to where you’ll find ticket info and actual information about the event. I will do that at two so that everyone who comes to the market has a crack at it.

Not sure if this will be a Taylor Swift moment or I’ll be be buying tickets to paper the room!

I thought I’d celebrate a couple of chef owners that make my rounds special. they always have smiles for me, but when I dig the struggles are not far below the surface. and the challenges are never ending, staffing, mechanical issues, water from above, dirty water from below. oh, and how can I forget … suppliers that short them.

How can you not like this? Tomato x tomato.

Not sure he would choose this but with the challenges they’ve faced his theme song could be Tubthumper.

It wasn’t pretty and neither is this. The Leafs are playing hockey in May, and I will try to make my abdominal horror less. Now you know one more piece of my twisted psyche. has taken pleasure, tormenting me over it in the past. Even when his beloved Habs suffered I feared piling on, for what it might bring down on Leaf nation. Such is our fragile nature. (Sorry for this,but try to understand. )

If there were to be a nickname for me in the restaurant industry it might be Short. Not because my stature makes me Napoleonic but because chefs rarely get what they want quantitatively.

These places put up with me (in order of my route. .on.main

Might have missed one. It’s been a long day. Too many restaurants they would all agree, but none have been willing to give up their share.

Now that Bishops is gone Julio of is now my longest surviving relationship. And that is what it’s about for me. Julio is around my age thus likes my tomatoes more than my posts. (I think he’s envious. I think he has his own urge to perform.


>supply

Calm. After an intense, less than soft , lamb to the slaughter opening to the 2022 season.

I can’t express adequately my appreciation for the good nature with which my probably irritating ways are met every Saturday.

I hope that some of you make connections with some of the wonderful people with whom the lineup only allows me a brief moment (too much of which is consumed by this little old phone)







Pipeline has denied me the Coquihalla River so Aspen Grove was it this evening.

GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT, MILAN.

OBEY THE ALGORITHM WHEN YOU HAVE STUFF TO SELL

I wish more people liked NEW GIRLS GONE WILD, but today, no Blur, just seduce you red. At the market tomorrow. Along with Sungolds and the Tomatoman’s zucchini!

More arthouse stuff coming including a miniseries! (once I stop worrying about selling stuff!)

Feeling like the end is near. First patchy ground frost a warning shot. Cold start but a glorious day for picking. Beautiful Einset this year. Coronation,Seneca, Einset , New York Muscat, Interlaken grapes headed to the market for Thanksgiving celebrations. And a few tomatoes. See you at and this weekend.

WISH YOU WERE HERE

FARMER/PROPRIETOR STONEY PARADISE/SKY IS ALWAYS FALLING ACRES IN A STATE. FILM GOOD TO GO, NEE PANIC ABOUT , WAIT FOR IT…OVERSUPPLY!

FARMER/DIRECTOR. Exasperated that instead of doing post production on his new release, he finds himself picking like a madman to satisfy the real desires of people. Fortunately there will be lots of tomatoes to console those disappointed by the delay. Hopefully tomorrow evening there will be IG dinners with all your senses engaged.

See you tomorrow

Screwed up format. Sort of becoming my brand! Sorry.

OBLIVIOUS FxCKS

GANG COLOURS

YOU’LL KNOW US BY OUR KNUCKLES (proof we don’t f**k around all of the time. )

Give the people what they want counselled my Instagram strategists. There, a Striped German. All the angst of the zeitgeist in a cultural reference. The restaurants are feeling it.

Anyway, I left the farm at 5:30 am. Had to capture a beautiful dance of mist fairies on a lake east of Merritt. Second stop was . I know the WTF’s are flying around kitchens that got less than desired. BUT, was able to recite whole complex sentences from my last post and do a slightly banghra interpretation of my “dancing”.

A pleasant catch up with the old guy whose restaurant was my first. The first is always special. I was surprised , today to find him working on the plumbing. He should just be talking about his plumbing.

Last stop, . I wait until the dining room is full (5:30) to really test the unconditionality of the love of and crew. As long as I have tomatoes I am okay. So not a real test.

It was determined that the tomatoes would be taking the scenic route to Vancouver due to the closure of the Coquihalla. Having embraced Instagram with the unrestrained enthusiasm of a fourteen year old girl the nature of this photo essay is obvious. My age and lack of upper body flexibility is evident in the poor composition and the facial strain. I apologize for what is a puerile study of the New Girl. They are tired of heirloom- centrism and were keen to flout their hybrid perkiness. While some might find such exhibitionism lacking taste, those who know them, love them for their inner sweetness. Forgive me. ( and spare yourselves my defence )

COQUIHELLA. FRIDAY THE. 13tth. 3 1/2 hours wait. Vancouver 1:30 am

Be gentle!

Tuesday evening, van loaded for the Wednesday restaurant run. Too many restaurants, but I can’t help myself. I should drop some but they are friends. And it is sort of fun being seen as an animal! Friday afternoon, van packed for Trout Lake . Lots of sungolds , New Girls, San Marzano and heirlooms. Or maybe too little. After ending last Saturday with tomatoes I don’t know any more. Actually I never did. Hopefully I’ll get to make some people happy.

CELEBRATION OF WIFE (Sort of)

Now and then.

Nine years ago Marlo .Marlo had an open call, casting for a lover. I rushed back from a Saturday market, well aware of the doubts she had expressed over the two years she had known me. My anxiety was heightened by the reputation of her casting couch. Somehow, there is a belief that two years as my tenant might have generated a Stockholm syndrome. Our narratives differ, but I had been presented a muse who got what she inspired in me, so I decided I had to summon courage.

For nine years Marlo has been important to me being me. She is always willing to give me rope. To laugh at my silliness, to mock my stupidity, to celebrate all the joys we share, to bring my anxious brain back to reality. Everyone I deal with puts up with a few minutes a week for a couple of months. Marlo carries the load all year. I have been so lucky to have such a partner. She enjoys my time on the stage and holds back her wit and brilliance as a sacrifice to my fragile ego.

Marlo, let’s laugh and love as long as we can and be grateful for all we have. XXME

PROVE YOUR LOVE

Smart chefs do it! When I offer something Etienne has learned from the dark presence (look closely) James that you just say “We’ll take it!” They take care of me, I take care of them and they have more happy guests .

Of course there is another way… feeding me. is always experimenting and as he can’t risk taking down a staff member in this labour market, he decided to use me as a guinea pig. Having decided to eat at my happy place I better have service when the seizures start! ( I am joking … I hope.

HELP!!!

I, your (sometimes) humble servant kneel before you, hoping your benevolence and wisdom can help me find shelter for my daughter and a roommate.

To ask even more it needs to be near the Canada line.

I am offering a bag of gold and all access pass to the Stoney Paradise experience and tomato swag for information leading to my being a good dad.

For some of you it can’t come soon enough. Somehow I am never prepared, as if taken by surprise. Maybe it is focusing on Instagram! Anyway the heat has turned my expected meet and greet soft opening into a day of giving people what they really want! See you tomorrow Trout Lake. But first there was the escape from Hellowna.

THE DESCENT INTO THE INFERNO

10:30 pm near the farm 22C

Unsatisfied with a pound of flesh or ten pounds of tomatoes as payment for the mortal sin of not feeding a meter in a loading zone, it seems He/She/They/City of Vancouver will be consigning me to whichever ring is ruled to fit the crime. I will just inhale acrid smoke and await the judgment. (Let it go Milan, let it go.)

7:50 Coquihalla River. Restorative cool down head soak. For .marlo and me this is an obligatory stop on the way home from Vancouver. It is a quicker stop when she isn’t here to collect stones! Women and stones!

5:00 pm. Twelve hours into my day. Outside , the van emptied, my spirits raised by a day of seeing old and new friends, hoping there are enough fumes in the tank to get me home. As frustrating as it can be to get around Vancouver these days ( parking ticket in loading zone to wreck my day), I feel lucky to have people like of as my first , ( and he was gentle!) and of to sort of balance things out! Over twenty restaurants welcomed/forgave me. Love to name them but need to get back to Kelowna and not end up sleeping on the thermarest!

PEASANT, TRACTOR COMPOST, GIRL

Representation/ Misrepresentation ?

will be appalled to see I still use work time for photo shoots (posed!!!) and pay employees to humour me.

Portrait of the artist as a squatting Serb ( a Reddit meme). Unposed, in situ, not a cameo ( unfortunately… it was a long hot day)