Apartment613

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Post by Apt613 food critic extraordinaire, Arran Arbiter

Ottawa is overflowing with a cornucopia of artists, musical venues, delectable places to dine and plenty of political intrigue to keep one entertained on a daily basis. Yet, all this excitement can over stimulate the senses and you may start confusing the O-train with a hot new downtown restaurant or Lansdowne Live with a new video game platform. When you reach this point a weekend getaway is sorely required.

Thankfully, Ottawa is also perfectly situated to take advantage of its neighbouring regions. A quick drive east will put you in reach of a quaint village and locally brewed beer (read: Vankleek Hill and Beau’s Brewery), while a quick drive south-west will put you in Perth and all that it has to offer. However, when you plan for a weekend getaway, you really want to get away. So, my advice, and the focus of this post, is to introduce you to Prince Edward County (PEC) and the plethora of wine, food and recreation this region has aplenty.

This happens to be a timely post, as on Saturday, September 26th, from 11am to 5pm, against the backdrop of Picton’s historic Crystal Palace, you will get a chance to dive right into the richness of the county’s bounty. TASTE! is a celebration of regional cuisine, highlighting local food and wine producers, with all proceeds being donated to the local Food Bank. TASTE! will be offering  over 50 booths, with 18 local wineries and breweries pouring over 50 wines and a selection of beers and ciders from the PEC DVA (Designated Viticultural Area), Ontario’s newest, 16 restaurants and 7 specialty food providers.

This is the 8th annual epicurean experience, and I can safely say, from experience, that it truly is a smorgasbord of extravagant, scrumptious and refined expression of what can be achieved when regional farmers, winemakers, chefs and community work together.

To assist your adventures in the County, I’ve compiled a list of must-go places to explore. For those who can’t bear to leave Ottawa I’ve included purveyors in the city that stock some of this regions fine product.

Wineries

Sandbanks Estate Winery – These folks make some fantastic wines that are easy to drink and priced affordably. Their dry rosé is my personal favourite. You can order their wines online, or stop by the LCBO to pick up a couple bottles.

The Grange of Prince Edward County – Famous for their Trumpours Mill series of red and white wines, The Grange is set to become the County’s largest exclusive grower of grapes. Their tasting room is housed in a beautifully restored barn. Find them at the Urban Pear, Zen Kitchen, Juniper Kitchen & Wine Bar, Domus Café and Von’s Bistro.

Huff Estates Winery – A stunning winery and inn, their wines are both rich and delicate. Come fall the Oeno Gallery, a fine contemporary art gallery, will be relocating adjacent to the Estate exhibiting local work. They also have an outdoor sculpture garden to explore during your excursion. Buy them online or drop by the LCBO for their latest releases.

County Cider Company – the County’s best artisanal cider producer, their estate boasts an amazing patio with a dramatic view of Lake Ontario. It’s a great place to stop for a bite to eat (try their wood-fired pizza!) and enjoy a pint of cider with your travel partners.

Norman Hardie Wines – a clean, modern and industrial winery with friendly staff and unbelievably delicious wines. I have visited several times and eagerly part with a nominal bit of cash to sample their range of wines. Several restaurants in Ottawa have Norman Hardie wines on their wine list, including Murray Street, Play Food and Wine, Whalesbone Oyster House and the NAC.

Other notable wineries to check out: Rosehall Run Vinyards, Waupoos Estates Winery, Closson Chase, By Chadsey’s Cairns and 33 Vines.

Food

Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company – a modern and sleek processing, retail and education facility focused on producing environmentally and socially responsible artisan goat and sheep milk cheeses. A variety of incredibly delicious cheeses are available in select specialty shops in Ottawa: Nicastro in the Glebe, ByWard Market, Nepean and Westborough, Grace in the Kitchen and Jacobson’s Gourmet.

Eat Locally Grown Guide – This guide highlights the purveyors of local regional foods. Use their downloadable map to inform your travels along the County.

The Waring House Restaurant, Inn, Conference Centre and Cookery School – Bring your staff for a weekend of conferencing, or master your soufflé skills! (and they also have food…best Sunday buffet in the entire County and a fine place for a pint of local brew).

There are so many nuggets of delight in Prince Edward County – you should totally take the time to discover them. If you have any suggestions or amendments please let me know.