Out & About #908 | Milton Strawberry Fair + Andrew's Scenic Acres

"Are you confident in your plan? You currently have 80% (of what was anticipated)."
"LCBO." came the weary response.
"You got it!" I was both taken back and pleasantly surprised. "You are learning!"

An early chiropractor appointment awaited me on Saturday morning. The calendar booking had been brought to the attention of the sleepy polar bear, who had been tasked last-minute with preparing an itinerary while I pursued other home endeavours. Despite having previously been informed that strawberry picking plans would be cancelled due to pending weekend showers, a potentially forgiving forecast had me changing my mind.

I would enlist chauffeur services for the trip to Markham, during which a cup of iced HK Milk Tea with Traditional Ding Ding Candy from Cafe de Hong Kong would be procured for my later enjoyment.

Following diagnosis and treatment of a persistently crunchy right knee, we headed over to LCBO. The array of summer-friendly incentives was impressive: Dry bags with purchase of seltzer (gross) and three colourful styles of handheld cooler bags (koozies) for vodka iced tea.

​Strawberry sake, two lanky bottles of sparkling sake, plum wine, and several summer beer packs were appended to my collection. Pine and wine soju were also spotted during this visit, with the former ringing in at ten times the price of the latter.

​A point collection ordeal set us back fifteen minutes, resulting in an eventual departure around the 11 AM mark. Roughly sixty minutes later, we would arrive in Downtown Milton. Parking was found in one of the expansive lots along Mary Street; from that point, we slowly made our way towards Main Street, where the Milton Strawberry Fair was presumed to take place.

​At least twenty tents and a road closure between Main and James awaited us. The vendors gazed at us with suspicion, while us them an air of curiosity.

Locating indoor plumbing facilities was the first order of business. When a local café had blocked access to washrooms, noting them for staff only, we meandered across the street to Butcher Bar, an establishment operating as both a café (with outdoor dining area!) and a source of meats, cheeses, and frozen pastas.

In the meantime, the sleepy polar bear was left to peruse the display of baked goods residing the café portion of the mixed-use facility. Our gaze fell upon the cannoli, namely the pistachio version tucked in the corner. Given the distinctly sticky temperatures outside, I proposed looping back for the goods just before departing the neighbourhood.

And we did; about one hour later, we returned for the bathroom and each took to two items for the later lunching: Pistachio and Ricotta Cannoli for myself and a Pistachio Cannoli and S'Mores Cookie for the sleepy polar bear. While slightly short of memorable, the bite-sized snacks were quite tasty, especially the fillings.

​Just when we thought that we had missed the Strawberry Fair, a handwritten sign guided us back in the direction from which we came. It also noted event hours of 8 AM to 4 PM. Oddly enough, neither of us had noticed it on our way through Hugh Lane the first time around.

​The residential streets led us to the Milton Fall Fairgrounds, where bouncy castles and vendor booths could be spotted arranged on the field.

The plan had been to monitor climate conditions and, in the case where Mother Nature wasn't as forgiving as we'd prefer, settle for our strawberry intake by purchasing from Andrew's Scenic Acres' festival booth. Along with pies and fruit wines, two sizes of strawberries were available for purchase: $8 for 1 quart and $45 for a tray. I confirmed that prices were consistent with the farm though limited to one species of strawberry, whereas a total of four species was possible with the pick-your-own option positioned eleven kilometres away.

​We took to a Strawberry Slushie first, as muggy conditions had me hankering for an icy beverage. The beverage would set us back three dollars, while strawberries, cake, and vanilla ice cream - collectively known as "The Works" - retailed for five dollars.

Both items were surprisingly affordable and enjoyable. The Slushie earned my affection, for it was flavourful and quenched my steadily surging internal heat.
​The Works was also unexpectedly delectable. Although the vanilla ice cream had melted far sooner that I would have liked, the jammy consistency of the strawberries and fluffy, vanilla-laced sponge slices were of impressive quality for just five dollars.

​As expected, the sleepy polar bear was less enthralled by the spread and instead hurriedly shovelled the container's components to be liberated of "having to carry something". Hangriness prevailed, thus we continued to search for savoury items.

Another nearby stall sold Pancakes, Hamburgers, and Hot Dogs - again at just five dollars each!

​Unlike food festivals at Celebration Square, separate lines were not used to distinguish between order placement and pickup. Of course, the Milton Strawberry Fair was smaller in scale, and mainly seemed to cater towards locals. Physical tickets being used for order tracking was another amusing - and nostalgic! - aspect of the event.

​Wafts of smoke from the barbecue grills conjured a craving for burgers. The yearning was satisfied nearly instantaneously, for the wait for Hamburgers was nonexistent. One of the foil-wrapped mounds was handed towards me. At the centre of the shiny package was a lightly toasted burger bun and plain grilled patty. Condiments were arranged on the neighbouring table, allowing visitors to saturate to their desired sauciness. Ketchup, mustard, and a grotesquely runny relish were found on site, along with a small tube of deli sauce and sautéed onions.

An abundance of napkins and disposable plastic gloves were also provided, much to my relief. The condiment bottles were immensely greasy, after all.

​I happily munched away at my patty, while the sleepy polar bear anxiously waited for a Hot Dog. Overwhelming disappointment would be declared within seconds of retrieving the item, on the account that the bun was supposedly "gummy". The dog had looked fine to me.
I almost burst out laughing when I heard that the term "BBQ" had been associated with "brisket". After a millisecond of speechlessness, I reminded that we were attending an outdoor fair, not a restaurant, and that the items we received were absolutely reflective of my expectations.

​As we strode past the inflatable contraptions and lengthy lineup, I poked my head into the nearby booth to determine the cost: $20 for unlimited jumps.

​Sustenance devoured and climate conditions verified, we agreed on departing the fairgrounds for our own strawberry picking adventure.

​Weather appeared promising, for the greyness had receded to reveal sunshine and blue skies.

The drive to Andrew's was roughly twenty minutes from the Milton BIA district, extended about five minutes due to an unpredicted encounter with CN freight traffic. My reaction was quite the opposite of the sleepy polar bear griped beside me; I was elated at the serene music video moment and giddy at the uninterrupted opportunity to capture the moment from the comfort of the passenger seat.

Similar to Downey's, parking assumed the format of gravel and grassy patches throughout the lot. But, in contrast to the autumn season, spaces weren't tragically difficult to locate.

View the full album HERE !

Admission fees were relinquished at the entrance: $15 per person plus tax. Cardboard boxes for strawberry picking were also obtained at this time, offered in either 2L or 4L sizes. Bringing one's own containers was also permitted, and the basket or bucket of choice would simply be tared and labelled before entry onto the farm grounds. Unlike with apples, visitors would be charged by weight at the termination of their picking session rather than pre-paying to cover the volume of the chosen bag size.

​We bypassed the general store and concession booth for the time being, examining the play area and farm map instead. Admission had granted us access to the farm animal petting area, playground structure and haystacks. We also had the opportunity to pick rhubarb (at the same price as strawberries) and peonies (at two dollars each).
The air was heavy, prompting us to hop onto the tractor in the direction of the strawberry bushes. Despite being informed that tractor rides were available every thirty minutes, the bale-stocked trailers definitely appeared more frequently than this interval.

​Our driver navigated slowly through the muddy patches of trail, making for a generally tranquil view of the farm's other crops and features.

​The first rows of strawberries were nearly barren, thus we inched deeper into the field for foraging purposes. Overhead, the sun would make sporadic appearances, causing the already unpleasant conditions to be even hotter and stickier.

​I hobbled between the rows nearest to me, on the lookout for vibrancy and fragrance. It was in my favour to keep moving to a minimum, for perspiration had already caught up to me amidst the absence of shade. The decision had limited my picks to be fairly modest in size.

​The sleepy polar bear, on the other hand, embarked on a hunt for the largest, plumpest strawberries possible, even heading towards a different field altogether. We both agreed that the best berries were found at the centre of the bush, usually dewy with rainwater from the days prior.

​Just when we had re-assimilated for an inventory check, the strap of my basket yielded, causing the entirety of my picks to plummet towards the ground. Many of these strawberries were exceedingly ripe to start, and thus bruised tremendously after the fall. Although somewhat annoyed, I proceeded to brush off the satisfactory bulbs and compensate for the remainder.

A filled water bottle is recommended for such outings, as it allows for on-site sampling of the produce before picking. From a near-empty tumbler, we managed to rinse off two medium-sized fleshy fruit for immediate sampling. They were astonishingly aromatic, exuding sweet, floral odours unfathomable from boxed grocery store assortments. That said, my berries were about 1/3 to 1/2 the size of commercial retailers, but fresher and certainly free from pesticides.

Instead of waiting for the tractor to re-emerge, we simply trekked back to the entrance, avoiding the eroded sections by diverging onto the grass. In the face of my deteriorating basket, I was thankful that Andrew's was nowhere as expansive as Chudleigh's.

​We passed a haystack on our way back, though I resisted hopping on as I was sporting shorts to combat humidity. My neck fan had once again proved itself a summer staple, remediating the unwavering mugginess (though occasionally catching loose strands of hair).

Weighing of baskets would take place in the general store.

Upon stepping in, we were welcomed by shade, air conditioning, and even water dispensers!

My gradually decomposing basket came to 4.88 lbs, while the sleepy polar bear's half-full and fully intact basket at 1.65 lbs. Retailing at $4.75/lb, the berries set us back $23.18 and $7.84 respectively.

Frankly, I was a bit disappointed in their store selection. Most of the products were packaged goods instead of those prepared in-house. Moreover, they were outrageously priced: Eggs at $7 a carton and pie for $25!

The sleepy polar bear took to bottled Apple Cider, in spite of having a filled water bottle on hand. I inspected the exterior briefly, noting the shocking 32 grams of sugar on the label. Within minutes of chugging, my suspicions were proven correct: the drink was excessively sugary.

​Adjacent to the general store was Andrew's Winery. A plethora of bottles lined the shelves, while local artwork and sculptures in their proximity. Samples of the farm's fruit and dessert wines could be sourced from the counter.

The red and white wines retailed at twenty dollars, while the fruit medley variations and dessert wines at five dollars steeper. I took to sampling Andrew's White, Strawberry Fields, and Raspberry Framboise, while the sleepy polar bear True Blue and Regal Black Currant. Known not to enjoy alcohol beyond Bailey's, grimaces were expected from across me.
Surely enough, expressions depicting disgust emerged without remorse. Though, a small sip of blueberry- and currant-based wines also had me cringing slightly. They were sharp-tasting and not at all palatable. The same comments could be extended to Andrew's White, which neither exuded the airiness nor elegance of green grapes.

​Strawberry Fields was a splendid fusion of traditional wine and berry fruitiness. Raspberry Framboise and Strawberry Sensation, the two dessert wines sampled by yours truly, were tasty albeit too sugary for successive sips. Consequently, I emerged with Strawberry Fields. The girl behind the counter, surprisingly, did not recommend any pairings for the fruit wine, though noted it was best for mid-day drinking (think brunch).

​The trip could not be concluded without venturing to the playground area. Several families had perched on the picnic tables nearby, for they were shaded unlike the rest.

​Housing fewer swings and dynamic apparatus than the typical park, there weren't many installations capable of satisfying my child-like curosity. Metal slides, while nostalgic, were unfit for use on a hot day. I climbed into the rocket ship contraption instead, with the sleepy polar bear - and likely parents of young children - observing from afar.

Once the berries and wine had been placed into the trunk, we returned for bathroom usage. Located between the general store and parking lot, bathrooms took the form of one ground-level portable unit and three stalls with indoor plumbing. They were situated in a separate building, at the top of a three-flight staircase, each covered with rubber lining to improve friction.
They weren't particularly pristine, though better than Chudleigh's outdoor facilities and ice-cold water for rinsing. To ensure a kid-friendly facility, there were plastic stairs positioned before one of two sinks and paper towel dispensers installed at varying heights.

It was undeniable that, while Chudleigh's served as a tourist attraction for adults, Andrew's Scenic Acres was more family-friendly with kid-inclusive installations. In particular, garbage bins were frequently found throughout the site, sporting various colourful designs from ice cream cones to butterflies to strawberries.

​A sudden desire for froyo and fries led us back to the concession hut. Fries weren't on the menu, but frozen yogurt was. A Raspberry-turned-Blueberry Froyo in a cup rang in at $4.50.

​The portion boasted a creamy consistency akin to soft serve, with bits of frozen fruit residing at the bottom of the cup.

With unappeased cravings for fries, specifically those of the sweet potato variation, the sleepy polar bear offered a trip to A&W. They were delivered piping hot with a side of Spicy Chipotle sauce.

The bag's contents were more reminiscent of slivers of sweet potato that had been tossed in oil and baked, rather typical fries. They weren't starchy nor soggy, but leaned towards moistness rather than embodying a crisp exterior.

​Its accompanying condiment was of a questionably tacky consistency, and much too fiery for my liking. In spite of being an economic, last-minute resort, A&W's sweet potato fries were lacking in depth. Beyond average crispiness, the coating could have used a bit more coarse salt to contrast against the intrinsic mildness of sweet potato.