One of the hazards of working in the restaurant industry is that my boss is always sending me hither and thither to check out the latest farm-to-table fad or organic wine sensation. But one long weekend during a rather hot and sticky autumn, I caught an assignment in a pastoral town in Canada.

I had three vineyard tours and several restaurants on my itinerary, so I decided to drive in a day early to give myself some time to relax and take in the scenery. However, I ended up taking in even more scenery than I’d expected when my car died at the end of a long dirt road that passed between two farms.

With a spotty GPS signal, I really had no idea where I was to even call for a tow, so I decided to head toward the greenhouse on the horizon. I said a silent prayer as I walked, hoping I’d find a good... Read More