All the Best Fine Foods 25th Birthday Party and Cookbook Launch

What a cake! What a night! Earlier this evening, Jane Rodmell (pictured, above, with a birthday cake nearly as tall as she is) celebrated 25 year of selling local and artisanal food at her shop, All the Best Fine Foods (1009 Yonge, 416-928-3330). The party was held at ATBFF's temporary digs just south of the Summerhill LCBO; the shop is expected to move back into its refurbished, lovely heritage building within the next few months.

A delighted throng of wellwishers sampled hors d'oeuvres created from recipes in Rodmell's celebratory cookbook, All the Best Recipes (it's the cake-topper, see?) Among the treats were Carrot Ginger Soup, a cool and pretty Spring Green Soup with peas and mint, bites of Beet Salad with Chèvre and Tarragon, Southern Fried Chicken, Duck Confit served on Mini Latkes, Crab Cakes, Grilled Vegetable Bundles wrapped in zucchini, and – one of the clear crowd favourites – Spicy Coconut Shrimp with Mango Salsa.

It was a discerning guest list, too. Among the well known faces were several other redoubtable food authors, including Judith Finlayson (author of nine cookbooks, of which the most recent is Slow Cooker Comfort Food) and current Canadian Culinary Book Award nominee Jennifer McLagan (Bones, Cooking on the Bone and Fat).

By the way, this fabulous gateau was, I believe, a Chocolate Buttermilk Cake. The recipe, as Rodmell pointed out, is on page 430.

Update: Andrea the Gastronaut has also published an All the Best Fine Foods party roundup.