July and barbeque are like gin and tonic. While they’re just fine on their own, they’re kinda just perfect when they’re together. So, we thought we’d share some of our favorite Ontario barbeque joints. Some are classic, some not so much– but they all have one thing in common: they’re committed to sourcing Ontario food and when we talk about barbeque, they know where it’s at.
Lancaster Smokehouse
feaston.ontarioculinary.com/190
This is the most classic of the pits on our list. Folks flock here for the Texas Short Ribs, brisket — and once a week on Thursday: Montreal Smoked Meat. All their meats are smoked over 100% hickory hardwood and they’ve won numerous awards on the Kansas City BBQ circuit. Last year, they even got a visit from the folks at You Gotta Eat Here!
Northwinds Brewery
feaston.ontarioculinary.com/225
There’s good beer and then there’s good food. At Northwinds, they do both and then some. They’ve got your usual BBQ classics like back ribs (with your choice of sauce/style) and pastrami — but it’s the days when Chef Trais Barron goes hogwild and does a whole pig that have the whole town a-buzz.
The Smokery Kitchen & Bar
feaston.ontarioculinary.com/335
This Stouffville outpost does chicken, ribs and brisket — low and slow — but also riffs on classic like housemade and smoked chorizo with cornbread and smoked lamb shoulder with dirty rice and tomatillo salsa. The later is then stuffed into housemade flour tortillas. How perfect is that?
FARMHOUSE Tavern
feaston.ontarioculinary.com/94
Stroll down Dupont on any given afternoon and you’ll likely catch a whiff of the streetside smoker at FARMHOUSE Tavern. They do whole pig heads and bbq’d cote de boeuf dinners with Pass The Table — but it’s their creative take on smoked vegetables that we’re in love with. Check out the whole smoked butternut squash with sunchokes and roots above!
We’d be remiss if we didn’t tell you, as real barbecue lovers, about the Ribfests we’re most looking forward to this summer! Here’s the list:
- Kitchener Rib Fest : July 20-22 : kitchenerribandbeerfest.com
- Timmins Rotary Rib Fest : June 29 – July 1 : ribfest.ca
- London Rib Festival : Aug. 2- 6
- Quinte Rib Fest : Aug. 10-12 : quinteribfest.ca
- Windsor Family Shows Rib Fest : Aug. 16-19
- Northumberland Rib Fest, Cobourg : Aug. 17-19
- Waterfront District BIA Ribfest, Thunder Bay : Aug. 26 – 28
- Owen Sound Rib Fest : Sept.14-16 : owensoundribfest.com
Looking for sweet barbeque recipes to make at home? Here’s one of our favorite barbeque sauces courtesy of the team at White Owl Bistro. It’s got birch!