The Great Taste of Ontario Gift Guide | Ontario Culinary
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IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR TO SUPPORT LOCAL IN ONTARIO

 

We've brought together the best bottles, the greatest gifts and, as always, the most delicious experiences - perfect for gifting - from across the province. Any of these ideas are sure to knock the locally-made socks off that special someone on your list. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed curating it.

 

Experience the heart of Ontario foodways

These one-of-a-kind experiences will have you making memories that will last far beyond the festive season.

1 Get Udderly Ridiculous

Bright, ON    udderlyridiculousfarmlife.com

Book yourself in for a hands-on experience at Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life in Bright, Ontario. From alpaca picnics to their signature Taste of Farm Life experience, you'll re-discover your sense of childlike wonder.

2 Lunch in the Woods

Kawarthas, ON     rareescape.ca

Enjoy a guided hike through the woods to a beautiful and a secluded location. Here, you'll pop up a camp and enjoy a delicious lunch crafted by Chef Tyler Scott.

3 Yaya's Kitchen Dining Experience

London, ON  yayaskitchen.ca

Run by Maryam and Malvin Wright, Yaya’s Kitchen is a dining experience that offers guests the opportunity to connect through food. Each dish tells a story of Black foodways across the globe.

4 Twisted Lemon Restaurat Boutique & Inn

Cayuga, ON twistedlemon.ca

Winner of the 2024 Culinary Experience of the Year, Twisted Lemon crafts beautiful hands-on experiences in neighbouring town before inviting you to dine and stay with them. 

...or a cozy winter escape

We think you'll like these ones.

5 Heather Lodge Packages

Haliburton, ON.  heatherlodge.com

Enjoy winter bliss at Heather Lodge where you can take in packages that include four-course dinners, dog sledding, snow shoeing, cross country skiing and fires to warm up by.

6 Maison Maitland

Maitland, ON.    maisonmaitland.com

Enjoy a winter weekend getaway for 2 and stay in their villas with fantastic amenities, a on-site spa, Bonjour Breakfast each morning, a charcuterie board for two, two spots in their Saturday Cooking Class at the Maison and much more!

7 Muskoka Holiday Magic Package at Deerhurst Resort

Huntsville, ON.   deerhurstresort.com

Deerhurst Resort is cranking up the winter magic with all kinds of holiday activities like ski deals, holiday meals, kids crafts and so much more. Browse all of their packages.

8 The "Savour" Experience at Eloral Mill Hotel & Spa

Elora, ON. eloramill.ca

Pamper your taste buds escaping to the Elora Mill Hotel & Spa this winter and indulge in the "Savour the Experience" package, featuring a one-night stay for two, sommelier-selected wine, a chef’s charcuterie and cheese board, hand-crafted chocolates, a three-course farm-to-table dinner, and a delectable breakfast— now that’s our kind of R&R!

 

 

Treat them to a wicked-awesome meal

Celebrate the flavours of Ontario around the table.

 

7 The Breakfast Pig

Sault Ste. Marie, ON      thebreakfastpig.com

Discover the creative mind of Chef Angela Caputo right on the plate with each delicious breakfast dish here. We love the Peanut Butter and daaamn— think chicken and waffles smothered in PB & local jam.

8 Richmond Station

Toronto, ON    richmondstation.ca

An ode to all things local, Richmond Station is a Toronto staple and long-time member of the Feast On® program. We particularly drool over their burgers made fresh in house daily but trust us, everything is delightful. 

9 The Common Stove

Orillia, ON    thecommonstove.com

With a large open wood grill fire right in the centre of this kitchen, Chef Ben Kersley and his team bring the plate to life with every single bite taken straight from the flame.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAVE YOURSELF A SUSTAINABLE CELEBRATION

Looking for ways to keep the holidays sustainable while still making those you love feel loved?
Here are four gifts for food and drink lovers that do just that!

SUSTAINABLE SIPS

Gift a reusable coffee or tea tumbler from a Canadian artisan. Give the gift of craftsmanship and sustainability with Valerie Daoust's ceramic Mountains Travel Mug, featuring serene mountain designs and a spill-proof silicone lid—perfect for coffee and tea lovers.

KALE YEAH! LEARN TO COOK VEGAN

Gift a plant-based cooking class from The Urban Element in Ottawa, which emphasizes sustainable, plant-based cuisine.

PACKAGED WITH PURPOSE

Think outside the box this holiday season with a traditional Japanese gift-wrapping technique Furoshiki. Reversible, reusable, and zero-waste, add elegance and sustainability to your gift wrapping with  Canadian based Wrappr.

BREWING SUSTAINABILITY

Prioritizing fair trade coffee and sustainable practices, gift a delicious bundle of coffee blends and beans from a local coffee roastery like Detour Coffee Roasters.

 

 

GIVE INDIGENOUS-MADE GIFTS THIS SEASON

 
Supporting Indigenous-owned food and drink businesses is important. Here are four awesome gifts by four awesome Indigenous food makers we want to find in our stocking this year.

 

1 TEA HORSE

Ottawa, ON    teahorse.ca

This wild rice is sourced from Indigenous harvesters who harvest the rice in a traditional way from the lakes of Northwestern, Ontario. (Small Producers) coffee.

2 WALK AMNONG THE TREES

Seault Ste. Marie, ON    facebook.com

Join Mario and Cheyene on a guided walk of Hiawatha Highlands where they'll lead you in meaningful and open conversation. Finish it all off with a delightful snack like bannock bites and wild blueberry dip along with cedar tea.

3 GIIZHIGAT MAPLE PRODUCTS

St. Joseph Island, ON    giizhigatmapleproducts.com

Giizihigat Maple Products is a First Nation Maple Syrup company that produces the best maple syrup in Ontario. Giizihigat - which means ‘day’ in Anishinaabe - offers all grades of syrup, as well as a delicious maple candies and butter.

4 MANITOULIN BREWING COMPANY

Manitoulin Island, ON    manitoulinbrewing.co

Started by three friends, this brewery on the island is known for their local ingredients and inventive flavour profiles.

5 AANIIN

Toronto, ON   aaniin.shop

Discover the first-ever 100% Indigenous-owned department store this December calling the Eaton Centre home. Shop a variety of Indigenous brands selling everything from apparel to jewellery and makeup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SIPS TO SAVOUR THE SEASON

The holidays are a time for celebration and nothing says celebration like a little VQA vino, Ontario-made cider or mead.

Quintus 2020
Karlo Estates
Wellington
(Prince Edward County)

Sugar Plum Bochet Mead
Heeman's
Middlesex County (Thorndale)

2021 Gamay Noir
London Born Wine Co.
Niagara Benchlands

SMALL-BATCH CHOCOLATES
THEY'RE SURE TO LOVE

 

We are chocolate lovers through and through - especially when they're made with love and local ingredients. These three chocolate makers create beautiful treats that even the most discerning chocolate lover in your life will enjoy!

1. Chocolate Sensations

Paris, ON  Chocolate Sensations

A family-owned and operated business, Chocolate Sensations will delight any sweet tooth with an assorted box of  handcrafted chocolates and truffles. With locations in Paris, Milton, and Ancaster treating your loved ones to a delicious holiday gift has never been easier!

2. RAVEN RISING: GLOBAL INDIGENOUS CHOCOLATES

Sudbury, ON    ravenrising.ca

Chef Tammy Maki makes beautiful chocolates with a focus on sustainable and traceable ingredients sourced wherever possible from Indigenous people. Her creative chocolate creations include flavours like Paw Paw and Ghanaian chocolate bonbons and foraged Black Trumpet truffles.

3. Madam Bonbon

Hamilton, ON   MadamBonbon.ca

A boutique chocolate studio offering small-batch, handcrafted bonbons and confections, known for their artistic presentation and deliciously natural fillings. 

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT


Gone are the days of badly made Boulevardiers and sad Sazaracs at your holiday party. Show up in style with a sixer, something pre-made or something to make together this holiday season from some brilliant Ontario distillers. 

 

1 GINGERBREAD GIN 

WILLIBALD DISTILLERY
Waterloo Region, ON     drinkwillibald.com

Not overly sweet but still enough to be a treat, this gingerbread gin uses an array of gin botanicals alongside a heaping helping of cinnamon, clove and ginger. Best enjoyed by an open fire, we love mixing it into a holiday mule or drinking  it with a bit of tonic and a sprig of rosemary. You can also get it pre-wrapped or enjoy it in one of Willibald's pre-made gingerbread mules.

 

APPLE PIE MOONSHINE

TOP SHELF DISTILLERS
Perth, ON   topshelfdistillers.com

A true taste of place, this moonshine is handcrafted with a corn-based spirit and apple cider from Hall's Apple Market in Brockville, Ontario. 

 

3 CHRISTMAS GIN

UNION TEN DISTILLERY
London, ON      unionten.ca

Deliciously festive, this gin has seasonal botanicals and brightly coloured gold flecks to add a little magic to the holiday season.

4 NOA NON-ALC SPICED RUM

CROSSCUT DISTILLERY
Sudbury, ON      crosscutdistillery.ca

Just because you're on the wagon doesn't mean your holidays can't be off the chain! This non-alc spiced rum from the folks at Crosscut Distillery combines ginger, blackstrap molasses and roasted pineapple peel with three years of experimentation.

THE GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING

 

Foodie subscription boxes are truly the gift that keeps on giving - think wine club, but with all things edible. Here's five food subscription services we're giving our friends and family this year.

Hot Sauce

lucifershouseofheat.com

Spice up someone’s life this holiday season with a Lucifer’s House of Heat hot sauce subscription box, delivering fiery flavours and bold blends straight to their door.

JAM & TEA

kittenandthebear.com

Gift handcrafted luxury with Kitten and the Bear’s Seasonal Jam Subscription. Based in Toronto, this small-batch preserve company delivers quarterly selections of signature and seasonal jams, made with peak-season, locally sourced fruit. Perfect for pairing with their curated teas or as part of a cozy breakfast, it’s an ideal gift for lovers of artisanal flavours and indulgent moments.

CHEESE

uppercanadacheese.com

Located in Jordan Station, Upper Canada Cheese offers a delicious Cheese Club seasonal subscription that features a selection of handcrafted, small-batch cheeses made from local Guernsey cow's milk, delivered quarterly for a year-round taste of artisanal excellence.

COFFEE

theroasterspack.com

The Roasters Pack Coffee Subscription is perfect for coffee enthusiasts, offering a monthly selection of freshly roasted, small-batch coffees from top Canadian roasters. Each delivery includes tasting notes and brewing tips, making it a delightful way to explore diverse flavours and elevate your coffee experience.

COCKTAILS

topshelfdistillers.com

Unlike any other subscription box available on the market, Top Shelf’s Guide to Cocktailing is the perfect mix of educational content, quality products, and a welcoming community.

LEGENDAIRY GIFTS
THAT COULDN'T BE FETA

Cheese. It's a gouda gift idea and when it's crafted right here in Ontario? Even cheddar. Get them something legenDAIRY this holiday season- the gift of cheese. Keep in mind, many of these cheesemakers also ship gift packs and baskets of cheese!

 

1 CACIOTTA BLACK PEPPERCORNS

SECRET LANDS FARM
Proton Station, ON     secretlands.ca

Discover the delightful flavour of this sheep's milk cheese (made from sheep living right on the property) complete with peppercorns scattered through out for a long, sweet and spicy finish.

 

2 OXFORD'S HARVEST

GUNN'S HILL ARTISAN CHEESE
Woodstock, ON     gunnshillcheese.ca

This creamy little cheese is named for the county where the cows graze — Oxford! Aged three months, this is modelled after the Swiss Mutchli cheese.

 

3 CELTIC BLUE RESERVE

GLENGARRY FINE CHEESE
Lancaster, ON     glengarryfinecheese.com

Extra creamy, this cheese is a soft blue variety featuring subtle blue veining and a natural, limestone-colored rind created through specialized ripening cultures. Its signature blue flavor is mild and non-intrusive, complemented by a rich, buttery aroma.

 

4 SKIPPING STONE

FIFTH TOWN CHEESE
Prince Edward, ON    fifthtown.ca

This soft, surface-ripened cheese is crafted from buffalo milk then coated with vineyard ash. It's perfect for pairing with wine: we recommend a complex, rich Pinot Noir

 

5 WILDWOOD

STONETOWN CHEESE
St Marys, ON    stonetowncheese.com

This multi-award-winning cheese is a staple around Ontario holiday tables. This one is perfect on a leftover turkey sandwich or on that holiday cheeseboard.

 

MORE GREAT GIFTS FOR FOOD LOVERS

 

These CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES straight from Niagara Benchlands.

The COME BACK SNACKS Candy Cane Caramel Popcorn – A Sweet and Minty Holiday Favourite!

This COFFEE CONCENTRATE from Backroad Coffee Roasters will hype up your morning coffee game.

The creamiest handmade SHEEP MILK GELATO from the folks at Secret Lands Farm. 

This FOREST GARDEN CIDER from Heartwood Farm and Cidery offers a taste of local terroir using a blend of six apples and a light touch of maple syrup from their farm.

The DOUBLE HAPPINESS COOKBOOK by Trevor Lui inspires readers to get into the kitchen and try some of the recipes that connect Trevor to his heritage and make him "double happy".

These unreal GINGERBREAD CARAMELS made in Merrickville.

This HOUSE BLEND SEASONING from Zule Eats in Windsor brings the flavours of Ghana to your pantry. 

The HARVEST ALE from Mackinnon Brothers Brewing that uses ingredients exclusively grown right on their farm. 

This RED WINE SALT infuses kosher salt with red wine from Blueberry Hill in Norfolk County.

This EMERALD CUP is made right in Prince Edward County by Cylinder Studio. 

This FUN BEER GLASS is perfect for the craft beer lover on your list.

This  CRANBERRY + BLOOD ORANGE GIN from Beattie's Distillers.

These JAMAICAN COCONUT DROPS from Brampton will make you feel like you're on vacay.

This CAUGHT IN A SNOWSTORM Cider Pack from West Ave. has all the essentials. 

Discover Mother Nature AND great food at Madawaska Kanu Centre.

This Vodkow EGGNOG CREAM LIQUEUR is sure to make you feel holly jolly. 

A collection of fantastic cured meats find home in this SEED TO SAUSAGE BOX out of Ottawa.

Grab a gift card for COMMON STOVE and you'll get dinner and a show at this open-fire restaurant. 

A relaxing morning paddle, cozy eats and more await you on Six Nations with this romance couple for CHIEFSWOOD PARK.

Eating your weight in MINT SMOOTHIES from Rheo Thompson is one of our fav hobbies. 

FINBARR'S HONEY from Springfield Farm Organics gives you all the terroir-produced flavour of Apple Hill, Ontario. 

WHITE ELEPHANT POPCORN from Snack City Popcorn combines white cheddar and dill into one delish combo. 

This romantic package from Old Firehouse Confectionery in Vaughan is perfect for your sweetie. 

The caesar-lover on your list needs this 1858 DILL PICKLE CAESAR RIMMER. 

For The Bear fans in your life, this Beef Barn RINGER TEE from Matty Matheson should be a home run. 

A handmade LEATHER KOOZIE from a Feast On® brewery? We're into it.

There's a subtle nod to the brewing at RED BARN in this grey hat.

A Niagara Falls WONDER PASS gets you into several attractions. Follow it all up with a meal from Table Rock House. 

These FEASTING PLATES are a beautiful addition to any holiday meal. 

Enjoy a GASTRO EXPERIENCE from the folks at Forest City Culinary. 

A cocktail class in beautiful Elora

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