The farm-to-table movement is showing no signs of slowing down in Toronto, but there’s one Ontario region where this local approach to eating is more than a trend, it’s a way of life. Located less than a two-hour drive from Toronto, Kawarthas Northumberland encompasses the Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough & the Kawarthas and Northumberland County. The picturesque Trent-Severn Waterway ties much of this region together, linking pretty villages and towns with scenic provincial parks and hundreds of lakes and rivers.

The fertile farmlands and fresh waters of Kawarthas Northumberland are the source of the region’s rustic beauty as well as the natural bounty that defines its impressive food scene. The area’s passionate farmers take pride in cultivating this rich land, while talented producers transform their harvest into memorable meals. Get a taste of this farm-to-table culture at one of the many farmers’ markets found in the area, including the Peterborough Farmers’ Market, which has been offering fresh goods to the community for almost 200 years.

In Kawarthas Northumberland, you’ll find a food culture that’s innovative and modern, but also rooted in a deep culinary heritage. Take drink-makers like Black’s Distillery and Olde Stone Brewing, for example, who are incorporating local Red Fife, Canada’s oldest strain of wheat, into distinctive new spirits and brews. Olde Stone Brewing Co. uses Red Fife to produce a golden wheat ale, while Black’s Distillery uses it make grain to glass spirits like vodka and gin.

Meanwhile, other makers are sharing their unique takes on the butter tart, a classic Canadian treat dating back to 1900. Some bakers are creating gluten-free variations, while others are experimenting with fruit and crème fillings. Taste them all by following the Butter Tart Tour.

All these culinary adventures (and many more) await you a short drive from Toronto in Kawarthas Northumberland. Whether you’re dining in a wonderful restaurant, touring a brewery or tucking into an award-winning butter tart, the vivid landscapes of Kawarthas Northumberland will provide the picture-perfect backdrop for your delicious discoveries.

Culinary Check List

South Pond Farms

Claire Dam

Expand your culinary skills with a workshop at South Pond Farms, a serene country venue located in the Kawartha Lakes. Learn about traditional bread-making with pastry chef Dylan Smith and find out how to bake bread from scratch using heritage grains and natural leavening – you’ll never go back to the store-bought stuff again. Or let the farm staff do the work and join them for a lunch, full moon supper or other seasonal meal event. Save time to explore the delightful trails on the farm property, or extend your walk at the neighbouring Ballyduff Trails.
southpondfarms.ca

The Publican House

Justen Soule

Sample some of the best brews in the region at the Publican House in Peterborough. Set in a 170-year-old building, the Publican House’s beers are made right on-site, using natural ingredients and no preservatives. Quality, local ingredients are the focus of the restaurant’s approachable, brewpub menu, which includes wood-fired pizzas cooked in a 6,500-lb wood-fired oven from Naples, Italy. Suggested beer pairings throughout the food menu make it easy to match one of their small-batch brews with your meal.
publicanhouse.com

Centre & Main Chocolate

Angela Roest

Indulge in artisan chocolates at Centre & Main Chocolate in Warkworth. Here, ethically-sourced chocolate is blended with fruits, herbs, spices and flowers to make confections that look as good as they taste. Local collaborations up the ante at this chocolatier: The Tea and Toast bar, for example, sees bread from My World Kitchen mixed with white chocolate and black tea for a crunchy snack; while the Kimchi Bar incorporates kimchi from Pyramid Ferments to create a Korean-inspired treat that’s equal parts sweet and spicy.
centreandmainchocolate.com

For more information about craft brews and to plan your culinary trip to Kawarthas Northumberland visit tastekn.ca

Sponsored by Kawarthas Northumberland