CL: Okay, we’re a little bit jealous. You get to explore fabulous places in cottage country and meet wonderful new people as a part of your job. What’s been your favourite part about filming so far?

Erin: I am definitely guilty of living in a cottage bubble. I have played in Muskoka my whole life and know very little about other regions. Each episode reminds me how cottagers share the same passion and pride in their cottage, lake, and region. I have truly loved every minute of it, from getting to know the wonderful families who have graciously allowed us into their cottages to learning about the history and local attractions in various areas of cottage country.

This show has a fantastic track record and I get a real kick when people come up and tell us how much the show meant to them and are thrilled that it is back on air!

CL: Have you come across any towns you would say are hidden gems?

Erin: I am going to be careful not to single out any one place, but what I will recommend to those who have watched our episodes is to travel to the areas we have highlighted because the people, towns, and attractions are wonderful. You will definitely return inspired and likely with a car full of goodies!

CL: You’ve learned a lot about local and Canadian history on the show. Any regional facts you can pass on?

Erin: There are so many! We could do a whole feature on regional facts alone but one that really stuck with me since visiting Don and Marnie Ross in the Thousand Islands is the impending threat of the Asian carp on the Great Lakes and the devastating effect it will have on the whole ecosystem. This is a reality I don’t think is getting enough exposure. In fact, it’s more like a dirty little secret and anyone that has cottages on our beautiful Great Lakes and connecting rivers needs to be aware, become advocates, and fight for preservation.

CL: We hear that you’ve been cottaging since you were knee high to a grasshopper! What’s your earliest memory of being at the cottage?

Erin: I am too old now to remember that far back, but there are some things that stick out. I remember thinking I was the coolest kid when I got my tin boat with a 15hps Johnson motor, which I still have today. Back then I was clueless to the fact that my mother had it painted yellow to serve as a beacon, that way other cottagers on the lake could identify my whereabouts and notify my parents. Meanwhile, I am driving around thinking I have ultimate freedom

CL: What inspiration from the show do you plan to take back to your own cottage?

EM: First Let me say that nobody cottages like us Canadians. In fact, Canada is cottaging as far as I am concerned!

Jeffery Belisle and his paddle boarding skills inspired me—he made it look so easy. I am definitely going to buy one and try to tackle that this summer. The Belisle family also taught me to turn the lights out every once in a while and get back to what cottaging is all about!

I loved how Randy and Rita on Kahshe lake chose to re-use and recycle when they built their beautiful place, instead of going the easy route and building from scratch. I applaud them for maintaining the historical elements of their cottage and finding really unique ways to showcase them.

Then there was the Hogarth family. I thought I was active and they showed me what being busy at the cottage really meant! I have them to lovingly thank for not being able to move for a few days after that visit and my new found feeling of guilt every time I dare to sit back and chill at my cottage.

CL: What’s your cottaging style—are we more likely to find you boating, floating, hiking or lounging on the dock all day?

EM: All of what you listed and more depending on the weather, my mood, and what surprises occur in a day in cottage country. I do have a routine where I can usually be seen on my road bike cycling on Hwy 169. I regularly kayak with my two dogs, Angel a.k.a. “Pete” and Daisy a.k.a. “Willis.” (They’re both girl dogs but my daughter changed their names, so now that’s what they respond to.) I also go swimming in the lake with my daughter as much as possible.

CL: When you’re not spending time lakeside, where are we likely to find you?

EM: Motherly duties come first of course but then there is work and travelling. In addition to Cottage Life Television I am the co-host of The Real Estate Talk Show on 1010 CFRB with Simon Giannini, who I am partners with at The Real Estate Centre Team. I work with incredible people across the board, and I am very fortunate to love what I do.

CL: And finally, it’s a hot summers day on the dock. Is it going to be ice cream or watermelon? (The viewing public is dying to know!)

EM: I would love to say watermelon to sound health conscious, which I am, but anyone that knows me will roll their eyes if they read this, because I love my ice cream, so I’ll say both. In fact, lets mix them together. I’ll have to talk to Chefy, I know he will come up with something creative and tasty!

Watch Cottage Life Television Sunday nights at 9pm on Travel + Escape. Or check it out online!

While the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal recommends attending public displays, we know that some of you are more partial to informal neighbourhood gatherings, and if you’re out in the sticks, it might be your only option. If that’s the case, there are a few things to be mindful of. Check out our top 10 dos and don’ts, taken from the experts, for setting up your own display.

DON’T set fireworks off during an open-air burning ban. (It says FIRE right in the name, after all.)

DO appoint a designated shooter to set them off; alcohol and fireworks aren’t a great mix.

DON’T skim over the details. Always read and follow the direction on the labels.

DO keep water—whether it’s a pail or a hose—nearby.

DON’T light fireworks upwind from your audience, who should be at least 25ft away from the firing line.

DO wear safety glasses and gloves if you’re the shooter.

DON’T try to relight a dud. Instead, wait 30 minutes before soaking the fireworks in a bucket of water and disposing of them in a metal container.

DO apply some common sense. Never light a firework in your hand; always place them firmly in a bucket of sand or soil.

DON’T ever use homemade fireworks or try to modify them…no matter how high you scored on that chemistry exam.

DO check local bylaws. Setting off fireworks isn’t an anytime, anywhere activity. However, many areas don’t require a permit on holidays such as Victoria Day and Canada Day.

And finally, DO have a great long weekend!

Hop bombs

The beer trend of the moment is unquestionably the “hop bomb,” a collection of brews that dial up the bitterness to tongue-numbing levels. They’re created by adding more hops to the recipe, and by introducing the hops at more and different stages in the brewing process. There even exists a rating system for bitterness—International Bittering Units, or IBUs. Most domestic macrobrews hover around the low end of the scale at 10 IBUs; pale ales stretch between 22 and 50. Some American craft beers have IBUs north of 100, while one Danish entry from Mikkeller calls itself simply 1000 IBU. (For the record, that number is theoretical, since anything over 200 IBUs wouldn’t be soluble, let alone drinkable.)

Hop bombs are the almost exclusively the province of the craft-brewing industry, and particularly, until recently, the craft brewers of the American West Coast. These brewers were prepared to cast off Old World beliefs that insisted hops were mere preservatives, nowhere near as important as malt and yeast. And they did so with gusto.

Perhaps the most well-known Canadian hop bomb is from Barrie’s Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery, and not just because of the beer itself. The brewery’s Smashbomb Atomic IPA debuted in 2010 with a blast of free publicity from the LCBO, which deemed the beer’s name and packaging too violent and refused to give it shelf space. The situation was resolved by a quick redesign, and Ontario beer drinkers can now enjoy this 6.0% alc./vol. IPA that weighs in at 70 IBU.

At 62 IBU, Muskoka Brewery’s Mad Tom IPA is another Ontario label that’s been getting a lot of attention in the hop bomb arena. “Dry-hopped with Chinook and Centennial hops,” says Muskoka, “this IPA has a vibrant aroma, depth of flavour, and crisp, citrusy undertow…” Amsterdam Brewery’s Boneshaker IPA, a “naturally carbonated, unfiltered IPA loaded with citrus and pine aromas,” heretofore only available occasionally on draught or in 500-ml bottles from the brewery’s store, has now been accepted to the LCBO’s general list. Expect to see it on shelves soon.

The thing about hop bombs, of course, is that while they pair up perfectly with whatever spicy creation is sizzling on your grill, they don’t lend themselves to quick refreshment; you’re not going to pound ’em back while sunning yourself on the dock. That function is better served by a nice cold light lager.

Light beers

New entries in the light beer segment have been rare since the low-carb craze of the early aughts saw many short-lived labels come and go (Moosehead’s Cracked Canoe is a notable exception). One instant hit south of the border, Michelob Ultra, held its own and remains a top seller there. This summer Labatt introduces it to Canada, giving calorie-counting beer lovers another option. With its 2.6 g of carbohydrates and 95 calories per bottle, Ultra is clearly positioned to go up against Molson’s successful Canadian 67 and Sleeman Clear.

Not to be left out is the 2012 edition of The Beer Trend That Just Won’t Die: the addition of lime juice to any given brand. This year’s entry comes with a twist (ar-ar): Bud Light Lime Mojito. So that’s lime and mint. Plus beer.

Seasonal beers

Finally, summer’s return brings with it the summer seasonals—beers that are available only while there are leaves on the trees. Two prominent examples are from Toronto breweries, and both feature orange as the key flavour. Black Oak Brewing has announced the return of its Summer Saison wheat beer (“Brewed with wheat, orange zest, coriander and special yeast… Unfiltered with an orange hue, pleasant citrus aroma [and] slightly higher carbonation”) and Amsterdam is bringing back its Oranje Weisse, a premium unfiltered white beer (“brewed with un-malted wheat, which gives it a hazy appearance, Amsterdam has also added two types of orange peel and some coriander resulting in a unique flavour combination of citrus and light spice”).

Cheers!

Cooking with beer has also come a long way. While the old beer-battered fish and beer-can chicken are classics, beer adds flavour and class to many types of dishes. Rather than a wine pairing with your next meal, try a beer pairing.

Deviate from the white wine sauce and try a beer recipe or pairing today! Start with some of our favourite recipes below.

May 27: Thunder Bay Kite Festival
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Go fly a kite! Or, at least, watch expert displays of kitemanship during this award-winning event.

June 1-3: The Great Canadian Cheese Festival
Picton, Ont.
Prince Edward County is home to the cheesiest festival in Canada. There are more than 100 artisan cheeses to taste!

June 22-24: Les Cartonfolies
Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, Que.
Celebrate all things cardboard. There are cardboard boating events, cardboard art displays, and cardboard stock car races.

July 12-14: Canada’s Fruit & Veg Tech X-Change
St. Williams, Ont.
There’s no better place to eat your vegetables than at this massive three-day farmer’s market, Canada’s largest horticultural trade show.

July 26-29: Collingwood Elvis Festival
Collingwood, Ont.
Elvis has left the building…for cottage country! Join impersonators and tribute artists from around the globe at this year’s event, the largest Elvis festival in the world.

Aug. 3-6: Icelandic Festival of Manitoba
Gimli, Man.
This festival may have old roots—the first “Islendingadagurinn” was held in Manitoba in 1890—but it’s still going strong, with sporting events, entertainment, and, of course, Icelandic culture. Last year’s festivities included “Viking Warfare Tactics and Demonstration.”

Aug. 6-12: Chocolate Fest
St. Stephen, NB
A whole week of chocolate? Yes please! St. Stephen, home of the Ganong factory, is “Canada’s Chocolate Town.”

Aug. 11: Scene of the Crime Festival
Wolfe Island, Ont.
Join mystery lovers—both readers and writers—in the birthplace of Grant Allen, Canada’s first crime writer, for a day of murder, mayhem and more.

Aug. 11-12: Perth Garlic Festival
Perth, Ont.
This is apparently “one of the world’s top 10 garlic festivals,” which suggests that a) people really like to celebrate garlic, and b) It’s a party not to be missed. Bring a breath mint.

Labour Day Weekend: Great Klondike International Outhouse Race
Dawson City, Yukon
It’s no Yukon Quest (and, okay, Dawson City isn’t cottage country), but anything that involves decorated outhouses on wheels is too fantastic to pass up.

For more wacky festivals, see the June 2012 issue of Cottage Life.

Chef Jason Fitzsimmons, or as we like to call him, Chefy, cooked up some tasty treats for the cottage that are perfect for entertaining guests, or just a night in with the family. Try out some of Chefy’s party favourites this summer at your cottage. Here are the recipes you’ll need.