【大紀元2015年01月13日訊】
圖/文：寧姨 （Judith Lane）
成長期間，不管對孩子或大人來說，新年除夕總是最讓人興奮的時刻之一。那個晚上，我的軍人父親會穿上一身帥氣的軍裝：肩甲上有閃爍徽章的猩紅色外套和兩側各有一條黃色線帶的藍色海軍褲子，擦亮的黑色長靴子上是一對銀色的馬刺。美麗的母親則精心打理秀髮和妝容，穿上最漂亮的晚禮服，和父親一起去軍人會所，享用晚餐然後跳舞。不管我們搬到哪兒，我家新年除夕的習慣始終如一。
有一年爸媽為我和姐妹們增加了一個有趣的除夕傳統。睡覺前，我們把鞋子放在台階上，有一隻叫「黑麥」的神秘熊，會趁我們入睡的時候，在我們的鞋子裡裝滿派對帽、會發出各種聲音的小玩具、包在金色錫箔紙裡的巧克力，還有父母新年聚會時得到的紀念品。我們很喜歡這個小小的傳統，並引以為傲，因為「黑麥」從沒有拜訪過其他小孩們的家。
如今慶祝新年總包括摯友、佳餚和午夜時分杯中的香檳美酒。我們也會找個優雅的餐廳，在辭舊迎新的時刻，毫不吝惜地選擇最好的食物，因為這將成為新年美好的開始。
大多數人的新年計畫表是不可或缺的。我們列出一系列的目標、立下決心，對自己承諾在新的一年活得更好。飲食總是榜上有名，有些人想節食、吃更健康的食物，也有人立志採購烹吃本地的出品以輔助社區。
想要了解本地食物並非難事，可以一家人到附近的農場市集，與農民、酒商們聊聊天（這些酒商很樂意讓你淺嚐本地販售的葡萄酒）。對於孩兒們來說，跟農場主人的交流、認識新鮮出產的蔬果，全是開心的事。
夏天和秋天，可以直接探訪農場，例如Westham島上的Emma Lea農場，在那兒採摘莓子；或去菲沙河谷親自選購各種各樣的水果、玉米或南瓜等新鮮農產品。
再不然，到Agassiz全年開放的天然芝士農場(Farm House Natural Cheeses (http://www.farmhousecheeses.com) )，看看他們怎麼做芝士，有機會可還見到可愛的小山羊和奶牛，它們的奶可是製作芝士的原料呢。查看有關BC農場的網頁（http://www.bcfarmfresh.com），可以找到所有歡迎人們參觀的農場的名稱，和有關農作物，養了些什麼動物等資料，還有你極可能需要的地圖等。
菲沙河谷有幾家供參觀的葡萄園，不時舉辦合家歡活動、音樂會和跺葡萄比賽。我的心水推薦包括Township 7，可愛的Vista D’oro Farms & Winery，還有Domaine de Chaberton葡萄園，你還可以考慮在這園裡的Bacchus Bistro吃午餐。請瀏覽http://www.winebc.com/discover-bc/fraser-valley/wineries?wRegion=langley.
參觀季節性農場是不一樣的社區飲食活動，可別漏掉在溫哥華市區Nat Bailey Stadium舉辦的冬季農產市場喔，每週六開放，直到4月25日為止。或者到Granville Island的公眾市場去閒逛。就是在社區當地的超市或路邊攤檔逗留一下，都有機會發現和品嚐到那兒出產的美味食物。 ◇
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Canadian Food Lane：A New Year Resolution of Eating
Growing up, New Year’s Eve was always a time of excitement for both kids and adults. My army officer Dad would don his smart dress uniform ¬– scarlet jacket with chain mail epaulets, navy trousers with a yellow stripe on each leg, and shiny black boots with silver spurs while our glamorous mother, hair and makeup perfect, would put on her finest ball gown and off they would go to the dinner dance at the Officers’ Mess. It didn’t matter where in the country we were living in; each New Year’s Eve followed the same pattern.
One year they started a fun New Year’s Eve tradition for my sisters and me. Before going to bed, we would leave our shoes on the stairs and in the night when we were sleeping, a mysterious bear called Pumpernickel would fill our shoes with party hats, noisemakers, and gold-wrapped chocolate, mementoes from our parents’ New Year’s party celebrations. It was a simple thing and we loved it. We felt special because Pumpernickel never visited any of our friends’ homes.
Today, New Year’s is celebrated with good friends, a fine meal and good wines, with Champagne at midnight. We dine at home with friends or out at a fine restaurant. Being a time of celebration, all stops are pulled out when it comes to the quality of food and wine, appropriate because it is thought that how you see the old year out and welcome the new influences the year ahead.
One thing that many of us do is prepare a list of resolutions – things we promise ourselves to do that will improve our lives. Food is usually involved. We may try to eat less but better for health reasons, or perhaps consider choosing “eat local foods for the betterment of our communities”.
Learning about local food is easy to do. Take the family to one of our many Farmers’ Markets to meet the people who grow our food and make BC wines (happily wineries are beginning to offer samples of wines they can now sell at markets). It’s fun for kids to interact with the farmers, ask them questions and learn about new vegetables and fruit. In the summer and fall, trips to farms like Emma Lea Farms on Westham Island where you can pick your own berries, or to the Fraser Valley to pick fruit of all sorts, corn, pumpkins and more. Visit Farm House Natural Cheeses (http://www.farmhousecheeses.com) in Agassiz at any time of the year and see how cheese is made. You’ll also see the cute little goats and beautiful cows who supply the milk for the cheeses. Visit http://www.bcfarmfresh.com/ to find out all about the farms that you can visit, learn what they grow, find out the animals that they raise, and there are helpful maps.
There are several wineries in the Fraser Valley that offer vineyard tours and some have family events including music theatre in the vineyard and grape stomping competitions. Favourites include Township 7 for family-friendly events, lovely Vista D’oro Farms & Winery, and Domaine de Chaberton where you can have lunch at Bacchus Bistro. See more at http://www.winebc.com/discover-bc/fraser-valley/wineries?wRegion=langley.
If you’re travelling around the country, visiting both seasonal farmers’ markets (don’t miss the Winter Farmers Market at Nat Bailey Stadium, Saturdays until April 25, 2015) and year round markets like Vancouver’s Granville Island Public Market or Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market, are delicious ways to discover a region’s food. Stopping at a local market or a roadside stand will give you a taste of the area.
責任編輯：鄧林
