Let's go to the EX

Ever craved a taste of chicken at the CNE?

Ever wondered what a Thai chicken wraps tastes like?

Ever wanted to win a May Family Farms T-shirt?

Well wait no longer because now, you CAN! The May Family Farms Promo Team is at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto!

After a week of booth-cleaning, product-loading and perfection-decaling, the team is working day 4 of an 18-day chicken extravanganza in the food building.

From 10 to 10 on the daily, up until September 5th, the young n' hip team members in green shirts and stylin' hats will be serving up Lime and Herb wraps, Shawarma wraps, Thai wraps, Mediterannean deli on a foccacia, Bombay deli on naan bread, Chicken Bacon clubs, and for all the hot dog lovers out there, the Big Original Chicken dog.

Think that's a mouthful?? Wait until you taste it!

It ain't no Krispy Kreme burger, but when you've got yourself a variety of authentic flavours, made with all-natural and gluten-free ingredients, there's no way you won't be exclaiming,

"That was deli-cious!!!"

"Nous avons wraps poulet gratuit!"

THERE'S SMOKE IN ME EYES LASSY!!!

I'm currently typing to you from inside of the Showtruck, although at the moment, it looks like a thick layer of fog has set in. The May Family Farms Promo Team is at the Sunchef head office in Montreal and Kory and Charles are grillin' up some mean hot dogs and burgers...no seriously. These products are showing no mercy. It's hot outside, and even hotter in here, but the delicious end result will make everything worth it.

It's the second event of our Montreal weekend trip, and we've already discovered that the French also love their chicken...or should I say, "adore le poulet." Ahem.

Yesterday we were at an IGA storefront, and just like on our storefront adventures across Canada, customers ran to the shelves for a taste of deli wonder after sampling it inside and outside the store.

But now, it's 5:18 p.m. and Kate, Charles, Cassandra, Melissa, Kory, Victor and I are expecting a crowd of about 450 people to come through the Showtruck's stage within the hour. HA! It's an odd concept, isn't is? 7 people preparing hot dogs, burgers and wraps for a mass of hungry employees at dinner hour.

Sounds like a party to me!

It was so nice to meat you

It's 8:55 p.m. Toronto time, and can you believe it? I am writing WITHIN that time zone!!!

Oh yes, the May Family Farms Promo Team arrived back at the lodge today at about 3:30 in the afternoon. And let me tell you, we woke up at 6 in order to do so! We left Sault Ste. Marie just as the sun was rising and after 9 hours - 2 of them spent in annoying traffic jams - we made it HOME!

Last I spoke to you, we were finishing up our grocery store event in Saksatoon, just before our departure to Winnipeg.

Our time in Manitoba first took us to the quaint little town of Dauphin. Folks, if you ever want to go to the middle of no where, this would be it. Our hotel was quite literally on the edge of a prairie, and you should have seen the looks we got as we drove through it's tiny streets with the 80 foot trailer!

We had one event at this location at the local Co-op grocery store. We all thought we would see maybe 22 customers and a bushel of tumbleweed during the day, but we actually happened to be there the same day as the street festival! Partay is Dauphin WHAT WHAT!


As soon as the event was done, we started the drive to Winnipeg, our last destination on the cross-Canada tour. There, we put on an appreciation BBQ for the lovely people at Winpak, (the company that does our packaging),

followed by the grand finale event at a Giant Tiger.

It certainly was a great way to wrap up the trip...if you know what I mean ;)

But hang on! The Perfection Tour, also known as the Great Canadian Chicken Expedition 2.0, is technically finished. HOWEVER - next week, the team will be getting back into the Big Rig en route to NEW BRUNSWICK! We'll be doing a couple of events in Montreal, then putting on a BBQ at Nadeau, the other Maple Lodge Farms plant next Saturday.

The chicken adventures ain't over yet! So neither is this bloggity-blog. Stay tuned for more tasty stories, only this time, from the east side.

Goodnight for now!

New Delhi

No no, we’re not somewhere in India. We’re in Saskatoon! And people are running to the deli counter to purchase the latest tastes from May Family Farms.

It’s true. I’m currently writing to you from the parking lot of the Greystone Coop, the location of our 12th event of our cross-Canada tour, and people are LOVING our new deli line!

Mike is tire-shining, Victor is wrap-making, Melissa is chicken-sampling and Josh serving Bombay, Smoked and Lime and Herb wraps, just 3 examples of the flavours that we’ve been sampling across the nation.

If you’re looking to spice up your life, go for the Bombay. If you’re feeling sweet, Lime and Herb is for you. And if you’re boring - I mean, less adventurous ;) - smoked will suit your taste buds perfectly!

Oh yes. We’ve made it to the prairies – out of the mountains and into the flatlands. We got here on Friday and although it wasn’t the most interesting drive, it beautiful nonetheless!


It’s Sunday, which means we’re heading into our FOURTH week on the road. CAN YE BELIEVE IT LASS? It was last night that the 5 of us were contemplating this fact inside a hotel room at the Heritage Inn. Thinking back to our first week in Langley, British Columbia, it seems like a decade ago, but a day ago that we had our first event. Summer is flying, but at the same time, moving at turtle pace. Weird concept, I do say! I’m happy to report that we haven’t killed each other yet, but regardless of how delicious they are, we’re all rather excited to get home for some home-cooked, wrap-less dinners. (You here that, Mom?)

We’ve still got a week to go, which will bring us through Dauphin and Winnipeg, Manitoba for 3 more events. There’s another Coop grocery store lined up, as well as a Giant Tiger storefront and a special event at a place called “Winpac,” the plant that does our packaging. Prepare yourself – rumour has it that the Salsalitta will be making an appearance.

But as for tonight, we’re off to the movies because tomorrow is our day OOF! The plan is to venture downtown and explore these here parts. Truthfully, I’m not sure how much exploration can be done in this quaint city of Saskatoon, but the sun is shining and it ain’t 50 degrees Celsius! Perfect conditions for walking in the Land of Living Skies!

Peace out from the parking lot!

Conquered Calgary

Aloha!

It's currently 9:33 p.m. and I'm writing to you from a place I've written to you before. The floors in this room are made of multi-coloured concrete and I'm sitting under a horrible fluorescent ceiling light as the sound of churning water is echoing in a machine from the 1970s...Debi Kee, I think YOU will be able to guess ;)

Oh yes, we're back in the laundry room of the Ramada hotel in Edmonton, Alberta! Hard to believe, but we're halfway done cross-canada adventure 2.0, which means that our shirts and shorts are in need of a good ol' sudsy attack of detergent.

As my underwear spins, let me tell you about the past week's adventures in Calgary!

It was a rather blustery week of cowboys and stetsons in the Wild Rose Country, and Mike, Josh, Melissa, Victor and myself spent a good 6 days in the Country Inn and Suites. We were spoiled with a pool fit for water polo, and a hot tub as hot as our BBQ hot and spicy deli chicken. We has access to free cookies and waffles all the live long days, and we even a day off to enjoy the sight, sounds, tastes and smells of the Calgary Stampede! But in between the drives to downtown and tanning on the roof of our Showtruck, we had 3 events that left definitely left Calgary wanting more.

We started at a Co-op grocery store, where both regular customers and the head office employees had the chance to try a wrap, a dog, or 5 of each, if they so desired.

The grills didn't stop there.

The 5 of us ventured to the Safeway head office to bust some wraps again, but also cook up somee of the NEW Halal beef burgers! Taste buds, meat your maker. These babies had the crowd hooked!


The 3-day chicken extravanganza ended with a Halal event at the Calgary Islamic Centre. The morning started off slower than we expected, but the smooth rhythm of Saturday morning turned into a rapid-fire wrap fest as we served a line longer than Frank Palermo's hair in the 80s!



We were done early afternoon. We took a nap. We went downtown.

But the next day, Victor and I drove 2 hours back into the mountains and saw something even more breathtaking than city lights at night.

OHHHH the beautiful majesty of Lake Louise on a Sunday afternoon!

And now, here I sit, not on a rocky ledge, but a velvet couch in Edmonton. Tomorrow is a day off, and although I'm currently in the business of SAVING mula, I think the West Edmonton Mall is deserving of a few spare dollars ;)

The adventure continues! And this round, we've got clean socks!

Thrifty Chicken

Howdy!!!

After a 9 hour drive through the glorious mountainous region of Western Canada - a.k.a the ROCKIES - we have arrived at the Country Inn and Suites in Calgary, Alberta. Honestly, just like the ferry ride to Victoria, I've experienced the awe-some magnitude of the rockies from ground level before, but I don't think it can ever get old!!! There is nothing more breathtaking than standing on the edge of a cliff, overlooking a colossal mass of land, covered in pipecleaner-like trees under the BLUEST sky dotted with floating clouds as the wind whips through the canyon below you...

OH YES! It's magnificent I tell you!!! I'm constantly amazed by how the promotion of chicken wraps has lead me and the team to such sights.

Here in Calgary, the land is flat again, but it's still a mountain of FUN because we're right in the middle of the Stampede! We stayed at this hotel last year during this epic time of the summer, and we were delighted again to be greeted with complimentary cookies at the front desk, and a receptionist decked out in cowboy gear and a stetson. I am most excited however, for the make-your-own waffle bar tomorrow morning. It's gon' be off the heezee...just like the BBQ shindigs we've got lined up for this leg of our trip!

This week, we have a grocery store, a head office lunch, and a Halal breakfast partay on Saturday. But before we get into those adventures, allow me to take you on a tour through the events we did in British Columbia!

It was a thrifty 3 days - literally. We served up some wraps, as well as salsalittas and hot dogs for the awesome crowd at Thrifty's Head Office in Saanich, followed by 2events at various Thrifty grocery stores, both on and off the island.

...tell me you don't want a taste of this good stuff! ;)

It's weird - last year, the Maple Lodge cross-Canada trip was about 2 weeks shorter. We actually had the time this year to spend a solid 10 days in British Columbia! It was so great being able to see downtown on more than one occasion, and staying in a hotel for more than 2 nights in a row was really a luxury! Being here in Calgary, I somehow feel homesick for Vancouver, instead of Georgetown!

We are seriously flyin' through time zones people! Next stop is Edmonton, but not until next Monday. So for about a week, the 5 of us will be having some hoots in cowboy boots...maybe. But for SURE, we'll be serving some delicious chicken. Stay tuned for more pics and stories from the west side!

To the pool!

Wandering the west coast

I know what're thinking.

"Kimberly, you embark on a cross-country chicken adventure and you leave us at 'Happy Canada Day'?"

I KNOW, I know, and I do apologize for keeping you in the dark this past week about what's happening in BEE CEE! But despite my bloggin' bein' a little inactive, the May Family Farms Promo Team is NOT.

Since we last spoke to ye on Canada Day, we've done two events - one at the Save on Foods grocery store in Surrey,

and another at the Overwaitea Head Office in Langley.

Whether you were an 8-year-old kid looking for some Big Original lovin',

or an employee at Overwaitea not too chicken to try the latest fashion trend,

every customer had the choice between a lime and herb, a mediterranean, or a shwarma-flavoured wrap, OR...AND even, a chicken dog or salsalitta chicken thigh on a bun. Can I get a YUM YUM?

We did the Overwaitea Head Office event last year and I was surprised to actually come across some familiar faces! Plus, I ALMOST forgot the ultimate joy that the idea of free prizes brings people.

The price is right, people - you don't have to be a kid to get excited about PLINKO!

Tomorrow will bring us to another head office where Plinko will definitely be making another appearance, but we'll be wrappin' up some delicious tunes for Thrifty Foods - and this time, we're in VICTORIA!!!

We took the big rig back on the ol' ferry this morning and sailed our way even MORE westward. Man. I took SO many pictures. I did it last year, I did it this year, and I'm sure I will do it for many more years to come, from every possible angle from that boat. But I'm telling you, they will NEVER be able to do the view justice. Such a BEAUTIFUL scene of blue and green and sparkling Pacific water below us. AHOY!

Our truck (left) parked on the ferry

Enjoying the west coast sun

Good lookin' crew

But now, it's 7:30 BC time and Victor is chillin' in his room down the hall. The boys are picking up some cases of sliced deli at the Thrifty's yonder, and Melissa is doing the responsible thang and doing laundry. I WILL get to that...eventually...yes.

Currently, I'm typing to you from a room inside the Quality Inn Waddling Dog hotel in on the island. We actually stayed here last year and it's CRAZAY because I never imagined I would ever be back here again! It's actually the quirkiest place one could ever spend a night and I'm glad my travels have lead me back to this gem of a hotel.

It looks like an old Victorian cottage on the inside and out, and I swear to you that Sherlock Holmes will walk into my room any minute on the hunt for some fingerprints. The best part though, is the resident mascot basset hound who wanders the halls like he owns the place. HA!

Tomorrow we'll be eating breakfast in the "library" and I'm rather excited to jam out on the out-of-tune piano. But for now, I shall retire for some time in front of the Family Channel like I'm the 8-year-old...as the mountains stand in silent majesty outside this old-fahioned bay window.

AH. Yes. Gotta love west coast livin'.

We're back

GREETINGS FROM LANGLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA!

It is I, Kimberly Ivany, el capitano of THEE Maple Lodge Farms Special Events Team.

It's been a while since I've blogged about our chicken trails, but I'm happy to report that the Tour de Canada has kicked off once again. Yes, it's summer 2011 and the team is back on the road. Only this time, it's bigger. It's better. And dare I say, tastier.

This summer, we're doing it cold turkey...or should I say, cold chicken. We've still got plenty of chicken hot dogs in our reefer, but our product focus this summer is the NEW and finest deli line from May Family Farms, a sub-brand of Maple Lodge.

Even though the Salsalitta's may be on the back burner, but we've got 11 new flavours of ultra-savoury chicken deli that will make your taste buds say YES!

That's not the only thing that's changed. We've got some more people in the mix! Mike, Josh and I are still here kickin' it, but we've got 2 new addition to the cross-Canada team. We've got Melissa from Mississauga and Victor, all the way from Bulgaria! (Pictures AND interviews to follow ;) )

No, it ain't no Europe, but we're ready to get CANADA hooked on chicken.

And what better way to kick of this great Canadian chicken expedition then serving up some YUM on CANADA DAY?!

Oh yes, the May Family Farms debut was the Cloverdale Millenium Park Canada Day celebration.

Mike, Josh and Victor actually left home with the truck last week, while Melissa and I flew out from Toronto on Wednesday. After meeting up at the Ramada Hotel in Surrey, we had a day to shine up the truck and pick up some buns - (more like 68 million buns) - to get ready our nation's birthday.

There was no birthday cake, but lots and lots of wRappin' - and not just from Elise Estrada on stage. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., we were serving up Mediterranean, Lime and Herb and Original chicken deli wraps for a healthy happy birthday hoe-down of about 10,000 people!










Missed out?? Don't be sad! This was only event number ONE! Until August 2, we'll be heading back out east, hitting all the major cities across Canada, hosting free BBQs at grocery stores and head offices that Maple Lodge is in partnerships with. We're still in the same 70 foot trailer, hopping from hotel to hotel in our quest to serve the best of May Family Farms.

So stop by this blog daily to see where we are, what we're up to, and maybe YOU will start craving an Original chicken wrap too.