Here we will pro­file peo­ple in this province who help shape the way we eat, cook and think about food.

Ashley Shortall, activist

After spend­ing 8 years in the ser­vice indus­try, Ashley is now in her sec­ond year and 3rd sem­ster of the Community Worker pro­gram at George Brown College. Her focus is on food secu­rity and social jus­tice aware­ness. After a month long stint in Cuba learn­ing about their food­ways she was inspired to become a fighter for good food.

She is doing a year long place­ment at The STOP Community Food Centre Green Barn as a Community Cooking Coordinator assis­tant work­ing with kids ages 8–12 to help develop their cook­ing skills and healthy food choices.

Where did you start out in the food world?

So many starts. During high-school I took care of my niece, I would pick her up after school and cook din­ner for us. I really enjoyed cook­ing and feed­ing my fam­ily but I do recall some really bad  meals. Namely a pasta with over-cooked bone­less skin­less chicken breasts topped with salad dress­ing. I also did a brief stint at a Tim Hortons fill­ing dough­nuts and mak­ing sand­wiches, eew. The smell of grease was ever present.

I’ve been a server for years and used to host a monthly din­ner party at a small cafe in Parkdale. That was a great oppor­tu­nity in that it allowed me to be cre­ative in plan­ning and imple­ment­ing a menu for twenty to twenty-five guests.

What changes have you seen over the years in how the peo­ple you meet feel about local farm­ers and food?

I see an ele­vated con­scious­ness. The fact that a movie like “Food Inc.” even made it into the­atres speaks vol­umes about peo­ples inter­est in food. Eating habits are evolv­ing, peo­ple are mak­ing pos­i­tive changes for them­selves and the environment.

What is your favourite vegetable?

Picking just one is so tough, although I think my all time favorite would have to be peas. Shelling peas in the sum­mer, then lightly cook­ing them and grat­ing a lit­tle parme­san cheese on top. They taste like summer.

Farm ani­mal?

I think Homer said it best.

Lisa– “I’m going to become a veg­e­tar­ian”

Homer– “Does that mean you’re not going to eat any pork?”

“Yes”

“Bacon?”

“Yes Dad”

“Ham?”

“Dad all those meats come from the same animal”

“Right Lisa, some won­der­ful, mag­i­cal animal!”

Season?

Summer hands down. I love going to Toronto Island, not hav­ing to wear lay­ers, going to farm­ers mar­kets, tan­ning and drink­ing white wine in the sun while grilling!
Now I am hav­ing sum­mer fantasies.

Where are some of your favourite places in Ontario for food/drink?

I really enjoy Stampede Burger in Parkdale, not only is it right beside the LCBO but they also make really good pou­tine and lemon­ade. One thing I love about Ontario, Toronto in par­tic­u­lar, is the vari­ety. I am so down with sushi, I really like Oishi Kada in Kensington. I am a big fan of roti from Island Foods and I love Nazareth for Ethiopian. I also love Monday nights by the fire­place at the Drake Hotel for their super cheap 86’d menu. The STOP has an amaz­ing din­ner series called Food For Change by Chef Chris Brown. I serve at these fundrais­ing din­ners that allow guests to sup­port an amaz­ing orga­ni­za­tion and in return they have a one of a kind six-course din­ing expe­ri­ence in our green house.  A mem­o­rable night of beau­ti­ful local food.

Related posts:

1. Ontario Food Heroes– Connector
2. Ontario Food Heroes — Chef
3. Ontario Food Heroes– Farmer
4. Food on Film
5. The New Farm at Fiesta Farms