Open Jaw :: On The Town ::

With Martha Chapman
12MAY08

CAA team Pina Malfara, Nadia Granata and Cindy Scala with Peter Boyle of Ultimate Golf Vacations

Canada AM's travel go-to guy Loren Christie with Liz Bittner of Travel South

Cook my grits: Chef Clayton Sherrod from Birmingham, Alabama

Southerners Warm Up An Evening North Of The Border

Take a springlike night, an elegant home, a marquee on the lawn. Add some diplomats, a smattering of travel industry types, three talented chefs and some secret service guys (just like in the movies). Season with hospitality, and what do you have?

Such was the vibe at the Go South evening, hosted at the home of U.S. Consul General John Nay in Toronto's tony Forest Hill. The occasion? A celebration of southern style cuisine…and a message that Canadians should travel to the southern states for more than the beaches and shopping chez Target.

"Five million Canadians a year visit the United States," Liz Bittner, executive director of Travel South, pointed out, "And we're getting the message out that it's worthwhile to spend a little more time in our states, enjoying the local cuisine." And enjoyable it was, with the menu including sautéed peaches in chardonnay wine sauce, wild shrimp with southern grit cakes and even peach cocktails.

One of the nicest touches was the speech by Ambassador Wilkins (sporting a warm North Carolina drawl) in which he pointed out that the evening was also an opportunity for his fellow Americans to learn about us – especially as tourism from Canada increases in importance: Canadian visits are up 11 per cent over last year.

And to show that southerners are not just hospitable but also humorous, he got a great laugh from the crowd when he reminded us of the parity between the U.S. and Canadian dollars: "So please limit your cocktail consumption to one."