For the Love of Kale

Photo by Amy Zambonin
Julia Graham, owner of The Quirky Carrot in Alexandria, shares the kitchen and a laugh with her father, Fred DeBennetti. Since retiring from his own food and ice cream businesses, most notably Fred's Bread, which he operated in Kingston for more than 20 years, he's been supplying his daughter's café with natural sourdough bagels and breads.
By day, the Quirky Carrot is the mainstreet hotspot and gathering place for coffee and conversation...
as well as lunch, cookies the size of your face, and take-home meals.
At night, the cookery school offers monthly cooking classes led by chef Bruce Wood by the season. Classes range from asparagus in spring and strawberries in June, to apples in October and a French Canadian feast in time for the holidays.
Private classes are customized based on a type of cuisine or the group's taste and interests — ranging from Indian and Italian, to vegetarian and easy entertaining.
At The Quirky Carrot, the whole family gets in on the action. Graham's eldest daughter, who has worked there as a barista, regularly joins her in the café. Her youngest daughter brings not only baking skills, but musical talent to the table. She's performing at the this year's farm-to-table dinner series at neighbouring Avonmore Berry Farm.