A Taste of Northeastern Ontario
Northeastern Ontario is well known for its beautiful landscapes and vast wilderness. However, we would be remiss to forget the unique flavours and foods that have also been established in the area. Hop in your car, and bring your appetite along to experience a taste of Northeastern Ontario.
Start with the tried and true—nothing says Canadian cuisine like poutine, and one of the key components of poutine is a good cheese curd. Thornloe Cheese Company knows their cheese, and this is proven by the fact that their cheese curds are used in restaurants all across Ontario. But their range doesn’t stop there—they have a wide variety of cheese, from the traditional to the specialty. So if you’re travelling through Thornloe, be sure to stop in to try them all! And if you can’t make it up there, be sure to check out their line of cheeses that can be found in many major grocery stores all across Ontario, or even shop their online store, to get your fill.
Cochrane is home to the Canadian Polar Bear Habitat. And in keeping with that theme, it is also home to a food destination, aptly named the Polar Bear Market and Steakhouse. Whether you’re eating in, or visiting the market to pick up food and pastries to take home with you, you will not be disappointed with what is being served up! From soups and sandwiches to pizza, to unique burgers, and even Nanaimo bars and cannolis, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
If you find yourself in Timmins looking for a unique place to eat, make sure you stop in at Radical Gardens. This restaurant offers locally-sourced, organic foods, from a menu that is constantly changing to match the produce that is locally available each season. The owners of this restaurant also run Radical Gardens Farm, an organic mushroom farm from which they get produce for the restaurant, and provide produce to other local restaurants and grocery stores. Radical Gardens knows their local flavours and how to serve them up well.
You can’t have a meal without dessert, and Northeastern Ontario has no shortage of sweet treats. If you’re still in Timmins, you can take a trip back to the 1950s by visiting the Pine Dairy Bar. Decorated like a classic 50s diner, and serving an incredible array of ice cream masterpieces, this establishment is highly recommended. In Cochrane, stop in at Fresh & Fancy Bakery to grab an apple fritter, or even bring home a freshly baked loaf of bread. On Manitoulin Island, get your chocolate fix at the Manitoulin Chocolate Works in Kagawong or Ultimately Chocolate in Gore Bay. And you can wash it all down with a coffee from one of the three Loco Beanz Coffee House locations on the Island.
If you are a craft beer connoisseur, you need to “hop” your way through Northeastern Ontario’s local breweries. On Manitoulin Island, you can try a pint at Split Rail Brewing Company, while Timmins is home to both Compass Brewing and Full Beard Brewing.
The list of food establishments in Northeastern Ontario is extensive, and the variety of foods served by the establishments is as vast as the land itself. So if for nothing else, take a trip through Northeastern Ontario to discover the culinary delights it has to offer- your tastebuds will thank you.