City Gardening

 I should know by now that gardening life rarely leads us down a straight and narrow path. But a cooking show, and a healthy one at that? But that’s exactly where  my gardening friends, Carol Cowan, Carol Gardner and Lorraine Hunter and I wound up. Last week, W Network’s Healthy Gourmet, televised on the VIVA  channel, taped its finale segment on the grounds of the Toronto Botanical Garden. The four of us were featured guests of hosts Julie Daniluk, a nutritionist, and chef Ezra Title. The premise of the show is to demonstrate how we can eat healthier food without compromising on flavour.

Carol Cowan was the designated cook for the Gardening Gals because we all love her food — not to mention that in all of our households except Carol’s, our husbands do most of the cooking (bless their hearts).  Carol’s task was to cook a meal that we would all enjoy and then the hosts would show us how to make the meal healthier but just as tasty.

Of course, this being television, it was a set-up job. Carol was encouraged to make an artery-clogging, high-calorie meal that featured pork schnitzel, pan fried potatoes and her mum’s spinach casserole, which was loaded with high-fat, salty cheeses instead of the healthier ones she usually incorporates into the recipe. (Did I mention this is television?) When we sat down to eat, Julie and Ezra joined us, but I can’t say they enjoyed it as much as we did (well, Ezra did have two helpings of the spinach casserole). But I think Julie would have eaten dirt before trying the schnitzel (on screen or off). Ironically, when the scene ended, the crew were quick to gobble up the leftover schnitzel! (Where was my camera?!)

The episode took two days to shoot and the interminable behind-the-scenes waiting was thankfully relieved by sessions with Ann, the makeup artist, lessons on floral arrangements with  second assistant director Jason and walking and sitting in the beautiful grounds of the Toronto Botanical Garden where we watched the friendly crew set up lighting, sound and cameras.

Was it worth it? You be the judge. The show airs on VIVA on September 26. Watch it and tell me what you think. (Be kind, okay? It’s our first shot at celebrity.)