The Great Taste of Ontario Gift Guide | Ontario Culinary
loader image

 

 

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 is 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.

GIVE THE GIFT OF LOCAL

Our number one fav gift this season? A $25 Feast On® Voucher! A Feast On® gift voucher opens the door to amazing experiences at over 150 local-focused restaurants across Ontario. Feast On® gift vouchers are easy to purchase and even easier to redeem! It's a great way to support restaurants who support the local food system and their community! Get yours.

 

 

 

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR LOCAL FOOD LOVERS

 

Sharpen those kitchen skills with a class

Have a food lover on your list who is always eager to learn? Treat them to a hands on cooking or baking workshop in beautiful rural Ontario.

 

1 Cook on the Banks of St. Lawrence River

Maitland, ON     maisonmaitland.com

Join Chef Cynthia Peters in the kitchen of her beautiful Palladian home as she walks you and your group through a delightful cooking class with lots of tastes along the way.

2 Master the Art of Sourdough

Priceville, ON     redhenartisinale.com

Grab your buds for a workshop at Red Hen Artisinale. Whether you're creating your first loaf of sourdough or making your own sausage rolls with Lauren and a local butcher, there's always a delicious reason to go back.

3 Travel the World through Food

Picton, ON   waringhouse.com

Join Chef David Correa to explore the culinary traditions of the world when you take one of his cookery classes. Be sure to book yourself in to stay at the beautiful on-site accommodations too!

...or a cookbook

We think you'll like these ones.

 

4 Peak Season

By Deirdre Buryk  buy the book

Make the most of Ontario's bounty with this cookbook that features 101 recipes using the freshest Ontario ingredients when they're in season. Psst! If you think you can't eat local in the winter, think again!

5 Fead

By Autumn Ongaro    buy the book

Discover Norfolk County (aka Ontario's Garden) through the eyes of Autumn Ongaro. Autumn shares stories and histories of farming in Norfolk alongside food traditions and simple recipes inspired by the ingredients found in and around her home.

6 Canada's Best New Cookbook

Written by Amy Rosen and presented by Air Canada enRoute & Destination Canada    buy the book

This book is a round up of the most memorable dishes uncovered by Air Canada enRoute over two decades of searching the country and even features some of our Feast On® partners!

 

 

Treat them to a wicked-awesome meal

Celebrate the flavours of Ontario around the table.

couple walking towards tables at Thames River Melons

 

7 A Down Home Meal on the Farm

Markdale, ON      sumacandsalt.com

Sumac and Salt have now opened a restaurant called Down Home on their beautiful farm property to truly celebrate the flavours of Grey County. Using ingredients grown on-site and also celebrating other nearby farmers, potters and wineries with a 100% VQA wine list, a dinner at Down Home is truly something special.

8 Harvest Brunch

Innerkip, ON     thamesrivermelons.com

Grab a gift card for Thames River Melon's Harvest Brunch experience and come the warmer months, you'll join farmer and registered dietician Alex Chesney as you harvest the ingredients to make your own long table brunch to be enjoyed outside not their farm.

9 Celebrate the Flavours of Northern Ontario

Thunder Bay, ON    tomlinrestaurant.com

We don't have enough good things to say about Tomlin Restaurant in Thunder Bay. Book your table and enjoy a chef's menu of creative menu items that will make you feel oh-so at home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!
 

GROW YOUR GREENS

We could all grow a bit more of our own food! This micro green growing kit from Ortaliza Farms in Kingsville is just the trick.

HELP TOPSY REWILD

For the nature lover on your list, help Topsy Farms rewild with a meter of hedgerow that will help the birds, the bees and other wildlife.

MAKE IT B CORP OR BUST

Giving a gift card to a B Corp business - like Miijidaa in Guelph - does double duty. It supports restaurants, while also supporting change.

BEE A GOOD GIFTER

Ontario Honey Creations crafts beautiful honey inspired by the terroir of where their hives are. You'll taste the difference and this pack invites you to try a variety a wee bit at a time. It's the bees knees.

 

 

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 BIRCHBARK COFFEE COMPANY

Ottawa, ON    birchbarkcoffeecompany.com

Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow is Ojibwe and a Band Member of Whitefish River First Nation located on Birch Island, Ontario in the District of Manitoulin island and is the founder of the Innovative First Nations social enterprise, Birch Bark Coffee Company. Birch Bark offers delicious Organic, Fair Trade and SPP Certified (Small Producers) coffee.

2 TREETEAS BREWING CO.

Serpent River First Nation, ON    facebook.com

Discover unique Indigenous food and drink fusions through Treeteas Brewing.- a unique collection of infused carbonated teas. We love the cedar and wild mint.

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 NAAGAN: A FORAGED FEAST

Owen Sound, ON    facebook.com

Chef Zach Keesig offers upscale creative 9 course tasting menus of progressive aboriginal cuisine, using foraged/locally sourced foods to create a unique dining experience. You can pre-book seatings on his Facebook page, as well as foraging tours and private cooking experiences.

 

 

5 TJ STABLES: SPIRIT HORSE ENCOUTER

Chatham, ON    tjstables.ca

Walk amongst these rare and endangered little horses, experience their incredible spiritual power and make your own connection. Listen to the oral stories that were passed down by generations of First Nations People and gather around the fire at the authentic Metis fur trade Tipi encampment, tap your toe to the lively Metis fiddle music, and laugh at the adventures of the fur trader. He might just slice you a piece of what's cooking in the pot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LET YOUR GLASS SPARKLE

 

The holidays are a time for celebration and nothing says celebration like a little sparkle!
Here are a few sparkling VQA wines we'd love to give (and get!) this season.

2020 Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Extra Dry
North 42 Degrees
Colchester (EPIC Wine Region)

Aria Sparkling Rosé
Good Earth Food & Wine
Niagara Benchlands

Signature Series Ice Cuvée
Peller Estates
Niagara-On-the-Lake, ON

Viva Spumante
Colio Wines
Harrow, ON

 

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 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.

 

2 SOMA CHOCOLATES

Toronto, ON   somachocolate.com

Made with a whole whack of creativity, an artistic eye and of course, a love for chocolate, Soma Chocolates was born back in 2003 and has since grown to two chocolate stores and a chocolate factory- yum!

 

3 HABITUAL CHOCOLATES

Oxford County, ON    habitualchocolate.com

This bean-to-bar chocolate maker specializes in single origin chocolates from around the world. We recommend picking up a 'Sampler Box' for the true chocoholic in your life. It includes 16 "two bite" chocolate samples including milk and dark varietals.

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 MULE

WILLIBALD DISTILLERY
Waterloo Region, ON     drinkwillibald.com

This take on a classic mule contains the familiar flavours of Willibald's gingerbread gin with lemon juice, turbinado sugar, and a bright and spicy ginger tea. The result is a bright and gingery mule with just a hint of extra spice to remind you of grandma's festive baking.

 

VODKOW EGG NOG CREAM LIQUEUR

DAIRY DISTILLERY
Almonte, ON   dairydistillery.com   

Dairy Distillery's classic lactose-free cream liqueur base has been spiked with holiday cheer. Clove, allspice and cinnamon, this eggnog is packed with flavour and perfect for punches or sipping on the rocks. .

 

3 YOU GO, HOT COCOA COCKTAIL KIT

DILLON'S SMALL BATCH DISTILLERS
Lincoln, ON      dillons.ca

Warm up with this boozy holiday version of your fav winter drink. Dillon's will send you all the fixings including vodka, chocolate, hot peppermint bitters and even those itty bitty marshmallows.

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 four food subscription services we're giving our friends and family this year.

RAMEN

craftyramen.com

Love ramen but sick of just dumping out the stuff from a plastic pack? The oh-so-popular Crafty Ramen now offers ramen subscriptions delivered right to your door with fresh ingredients. Happy slurping!

COFFEE

detourcoffee.com

Have a coffee addict on your list? Make their new year extra bright with a subscription to Detour Coffee. Order three month's worth of coffee in single origin, blend or the coffee club membership with flexibility available when you need it.

MEAT

northernraised.ca

Get Ontario-raised and produced product delivered right to your door sourced from farmers you can read and learn about right on the site from one of our newest Feast On purveyors, Northern Raised.

TEA

pluckteas.com

Pluck is a great way to get freshly packed signature loose teas delivered right to your buds door. Not sure what they'll like? Select 'Pluck's Choice' and they'll surprise them with their top picks.

CIDER + MEAD

heemans.com

Join Heeman's Cellar Club: a year-long membership that includes a quarterly shipment of handcrafted, small batch, exclusive Cellar Club ciders and meads that have been developed specifically for Cellar Club Members.

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 FENUGREEK GOUDA CHEESE

THUNDER OAK CHEESE FARM
Thunder Bay, ON     thunderoakcheese.com

Experience a taste of the north through Thunder Oak's extensive selection of Dutch-inspired Goudas. Their Fenugreek Gouda uses the fenugreek herb which is similar to clove but slightly sweeter on the palette.

 

2 HANDECK

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

This is a hand crafted washed rind cow's milk cheese that is produced using the same methods as a typical Swiss mountain style cheese. Delicately aged on pine wood planks, this cheese has robust flavours with very rich and complex flavours and nutty overtones. Around the holiday season, you can pick up a reserve version in store for those who live close by!

 

3 TEMISKAMING

THORNLOE CHEESE
Thornloe, ON     thornloecheese.ca

The inspiration for Thornloe Temiskaming comes from a cheese originating in the Azores off the coast of Portugal over five centuries ago called St. Jorge or St. George. Thornloe Temiskaming is a hard cheese with a golden yellow interior with small air pockets or “eyes”. It’s a deeply flavourful cheese that is ever so slightly sharp, yet mellow and creamy.
 

 

4 BABIES TRIO PACK

UPPER CANADA CHEESE COMPANY
Jordan Station, ON     uppercanadacheese.com

This three pack of soft cheeses in baby form is perfect for adding to your cheese boards this holiday season and making a splash.
 

 

6 LABNEH

SECRET LANDS FARM
Flesherton, ON     secretlands.ca

These little balls of yogurt-cheese hybrid goodness are pretty darn delicious. You could add them to a salad, a board or like us, just eat them straight out of the jar.
 

 

7 CRANBERRY + PISTACHIO DOUBLE CREAM

FAUXMAGERIE ZENGARRY
Flesherton, ON     zengarry.com

Just because you do not eat dairy doesn't meant you shouldn't be able to enjoy a little cheese like everyone else! This pistachio and cranberry double cream bad boy screams holiday season.

 

MORE GREAT GIFTS FOR FOOD LOVERS

 

These CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES straight from Niagara Benchlands.

This SUGAR SHACK CANDLE that will make you feel like you've been boiling maple syrup.

Gather around the fire together at West Avenue Cider or Georgian Hills Vineyards.

Show your love for a classic Ontario burger spot with this GRAPHIC TEE from Muskoka Brewery

Cozy up with this SPECIAL EDITION CIDER that can be enjoyed warm or cold.

This Ontario-made butter that goes perfectly on everything from toast to steak. Click the link to see where you can get yours!

These unreal GINGERBREAD CARAMELS made in Merrickville.

A stunning HEXAGON CUP handblown in Grey County.

Muskoka cranberries, fresh rosemary and Niagara clover honey make this  SIMPLE SYRUP the perfect addition to holiday cocktails.

This  CAST IRON PAN designed by Matty Matheson is perfect for those culinary whizzes who loved Bear.

This CHARDONNAY MUSTARD from The County

These GOLF DISCS from Good Lot Brewing to use at Gunpowder Golf & CC.

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

This FESTIVE COCKTAIL CLASS by S&V Uptown on November 27.

This 1L BEER MUG for your friend who breaks everything from Mackinnon Brothers.

This BARREL-AGED WILD ALE from Trestle Brewing Co.

This retro STEAMWHISTLE COOLER that will make you the talk of the party.

This hot PEACH HABANERO JAM that goes perfect on a grilled cheese sammy.

This spicy dill CAESAR ELIXIR from 1858 Caesar Bar.

This STEMMED BEER GLASS from OG Bottle Shop. Pair it up with some craft brews too!

This WILD RICE TEA by Tea Horse in Thunder Bay.

Napa or daikon KIMCHI crafted by third-generation fermenters.

This rich and creamy NIGORI SAKE brewed in Toronto's Distillery District

This edible cookie dough in a festive flavour

This stunning print by ADINA FARINANGO

This CANDY CANE MINI WHISKEY PACK from Wolfhead Distillery

A VARIETY PACK of tasty juices

This pet-personalized wine from Pelee Island that supports the Humane Society.

This cool and useful beach bag cooler from Bench Brewing

A gastro-experience at the Covent Garden Market with Forest City Culinary

A cocktail class in beautiful Elora

Need even more inspiration?