« Have you heard of the jukari (aka Cirque du Soleil) workout? | Main | Fat people increase global warming!?!? » 
Urban honey produced on hotel rooftop!
June 17, 2009
I’m delighted to see that Toronto is following in the footsteps of Fortnum & Mason’s rooftop beekeeping effort in London by producing their own honey on premise and offering patrons fresh honey.
During the summer of 2008, the Fairmont Royal York hotel, located on Front Street in downtown Toronto, installed a three-hive apiary 14 stories up above the streets of Toronto.
Affectionately named the Honey Moon Suite, The Royal Sweet and The V.I.Bee Suite, the three hives are home to as many queens and their accompanying entourage of more than 10,000 other bees, each of whom forages for nectar in the hotel’s decade-old rooftop herb garden and on nearby Toronto Island.
Executive Chef David Garcelon explains the following about the initiative:
“You can’t find a supplier much closer than your own roof. Our colonies deliver irresistible honey for our guests, while promoting our ecological commitment to bee culture.”
If you thought this was just honey, you’re wrong: the three hives had produced a total of 378 pounds of honey by fall 2008 and won 2nd place in the Liquid Honey Amber category at the 86th annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in November!
Patrons are thrilled to find out about the initiative and the Royal York Hotel plans to install three more hives this summer. For Canadians living in other parts of the country or for visitors to other parts of the country will be happy to know that there will be similar projects under way at The Fairmont Algonquin St. Andrews in New Brunswick, and The Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver.
You can read more about Fortnum & Mason’s initiative here: Fortnum’s & Mason’s rooftop honey
Deli.cious
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Digg This
