Day 29 of 30 Days of Local Food: Vincenzo's

We’ve a few food landmarks in this town, and I think Vincenzo’s is one. I’ve been shopping here for a couple of decades. Here’s where I find those ingredients that my favourite food writers call for. Here’s where I find ingredients made by small Canadian makers, as well as grab and go meals from local restaurants and caterers. Local foods. Imported foods. Hot counters. Groceries. Fresh-made bespoke pizza. Butcher, cheese, fishmonger, and pastry counters. A deli that will create the sandwich of your dreams. It’s a place where I run into old friends and make new ones. Where listeners tap me on the shoulder after hearing me ask for half a wodge of cheese. It’s a favourite place.

Vincenzo’s 150 Caroline St S, Waterloo,

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Day 26 of 30 Days of Local Food: Nith Valley Apiaries

When I read about the adulteration of those convenient, cheap, (and sometimes cute) bottles of honey, I switched to locally-produced sweet stuff. When I’m not gifted with a jar from a friend’s hives, I turn to Nith Valley. Part of the local sustainable food system they’ve been around since 1918 and now have hives dotting the swath of territory including Perth and Oxford Counties and Waterloo Region. I prefer their unpasteurised liquid honey, but I cannot turn down their strawberry creamed (mixed with butter and sprinkled with salt and black pepper, on toasted seedy bread).

The pic: A 1kg jar of Nith Valley’s unpasteurised, unfiltered summer blossom honey.

Nith Valley Apiaries: 1041 Christner Rd, New Hamburg

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Day 23 of 30 Days of Local Food: ForeQuarter Butcher Shop

When the price of meat began rising, I shifted most of my meat budget to local independent butchers who focus on locally sourced products. If I'm paying more, I figure I should support those who treat and feed their animals and birds well. Happy animals produced happy meat, as I say. I bounce around – we’re lucky to have choice – but over the past six, eight months, I’ve pretty much found myself returning time and time again to ForeQuarter. The meats are sourced from local/nearby farmers, committed to ethical and sustainable practices. The quality and flavour are so much better than what’s in those plastic-wrapped trays that sit under fluorescent lights. Plus, the folks there are just lovely.

ForeQuarter Butcher Shop: 217 Louisa St, Kitchener

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Day 22 of 30 Days of Local Food: Mountainoak Cheese

Adam van Bergeijk has been a cheesemaker for more than 40 years. The Dutch farm crisis of the 80s led his family to immigrate to Wilmot Township almost 30 years ago—the land is part of a finite amount of precious, fertile space: once lost, it will not return. Within a few years, he restarted cheesemaking. It wasn’t long before Mountainoak began winning international cheesemaking competitions. Adam, his wife Hanne, and their cheeses are local, national, and international culinary gems.



Mountainoak Cheese: 3165 Huron Road, New Hamburg

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Day 21 of 30 Days of Local Food: Albert's Doughnut Bake Shop

I know there’s a chain doughnut (oops donut) shop every few metres, but there’s really nothing like a doughnut made onsite by a third-generation master baker. Albert Warzecha’s display case is filled with ethereal, fresh-made goodnesses that come powdered, glazed, sprinkled or filled. Lightly crisp on the outside, airy and pillowy on the inside. Coffee not needed.

The pic: Albert’s display case

Albert’s Doughnuts Bake Shop: 250 Dundas St S, Cambridge

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Day 20 of 30 Days of Local Food: The Dessert Artist/Jamaican Patties

Vive la patty resistance! This week's CBCKW food column celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Patty Wars and the deliciousness that is the Jamaican patty. PLUS I chatted with the AWESOME Rochelle Williams who's @thedessertartistinc, about her handmade fantastically flaky, flavourfVive la patty resistance! This week's CBCKW food column celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Patty Wars and the deliciousness that is the Jamaican patty. PLUS I chatted with the AWESOME Rochelle Williams who's The Dessert Artist, about her handmade fantastically flaky, flavourful finds.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/jamaican-patty-the-dessert-artist-rochelle-williams-waterloo-region-1.7464974

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Day 20 of 30 Days of Local Food: Humble Lotus

“In one big mouthful, this tempura tiger shrimp roll mixes sweet and salty, crunchy and tender, clean and earthy, and offers a sting. Like its eponymous snake, there’s some fight and bite.” I wrote those words about the Black Mamba when I reviewed The Humble Lotus a couple of years ago. It was my first of many, many visits. But there’s more to this dtk takeaway than creative and tasty sushi. They built conscientious eating into the business – values embracing inclusiveness, sustainability, accessibility, and (as much as possible) local sourcing (plus all tips go to a local child nutrition program). Good people, doing good things, serving good food. What more can I ask?


The Humble Lotus: B-388 King St E, Kitchener

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Day 18 of 30 Days of Local Food: Eby Manor (dairy)

We’re really lucky to have a safe supply of Canadian milk (and meats and veggies and…). Chances are, if you’re buying fresh milk here, it’s produced by Canadian dairy farmers. Most of the fresh cow milk we get here is from cows that produce milk with A1 proteins, but here in Waterloo, Eby Manor has been producing Guernsey milk (with A2 proteins) for more than a dozen years And I’ve been using it almost as long. Fantastic straight, in tea, and baking, frankly my best homemade ice creams are made with it.

Eby Manor Dairy Market: 1174 Weeby Place, Waterloo
(also available at dozens of independent shops and a few mainstream grocers in Waterloo-Wellington)

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Day 17 of 30 Days of Local Food: The Craft Gin Trail

I couldn’t decide which of local gin distiller to highlight for my 30 days, so I’m lumping them all in today. Distilling is one of this part of the world’s oldest industries, and this area is home to some historically significant ones (Seagram’s). Regulation changes brought in a new crop of craft distillers. I visited many of them this summer. Each has their own takes on my favourite spirit, and most have other spirits on the go (whisky, rum, voddy, etc) as well as premixes.


Silver Fox Distillery - 7999 Wellington Rd 109, Arthur
Elora Distilling Company - 102 Metcalfe St, Unit 4, Elora,
Dixon's Distilled Spirits - 355 Elmira Road north, Unit 106, Guelph
John Sleeman and Sons/Spring Mill Distillery - 43 Arthur Street S, Unit A, Guelph
Junction 56 - 45 Cambria Street Stratford
Willibald Farm Distillery & Brewery - 1271 Reidsville Rd., Ayr
Mann's Distillery - 581 West Street, Brantford

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Day 16 of 30 Days of Local Food: Oakridge Acres

Each time I’ve driven to Oakridge Acres, a bison farm, I’ve caught a glimpse of those magnificent beasts in their paddocks. Big woolly, and surly, their lean meat is irony and minerally—I’ve made cedar-braised shortibs, burgers and samosas from their meats. The farm shop’s chest freezers are filled with meats from other local and nearby producers, and its shelves, bins and racks feature baking, produce and products grown nearby. Plus, they’ve a kitchen turning out delicious soups, entrees, and savoury pies.

Oakridge Acres: 2132 Greenfield Rd., Ayr

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Day 15 of 30 Days of Local Food: Azores Bakery

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Joe and Anna Couto buying Cambridge’s Azores Bakery. Known for their Portuguese buns and breads, available in mainstream grocers in Southwestern Ontario. Attached to their Elgin Street bakery is their shop, which hosts a trove of Portuguese and European food and household products. They’ve also got sweet and hot counters, serving traditional Portuguese food. Their caldo verde is what’s needed during these snow storms, but for me, their bifanas and grilled chorizo are must-haves.

Azores Bakery: 244 Elgin Street, Cambridge

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(oops forgot to post this one here)

Day 12 of 30 Days of Local Food: Champa Kitchen

Uncompromised flavours say so much about the people and cultures, and I’m happy Outhoumphonh (Linda) and her family prepare the foods of their Lao homeland for us. Her dishes—bright, pungent, salty, sticky, crispy, sweet, herbaceous—are always something to look forward to. My favourites are too many to mention, but nothing has ever disappointed.

Champa Kitchen: 21 King St. N, Waterloo

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Day 14 of 30 Days of Local Food: KW Coffee Collective

What started with a thrift store popcorn popper evolved into KW Coffee Collective. Founded by Ron Donaldson, the shared coffee roasting facility and incubator is the second of its kind in Canada. Members – coffee professionals, winemakers turning their palates to a different drink, café owners improving the quality of their coffee or adding a revenue stream – are mostly within a reasonable drive of KW, but some come from as far as Ottawa and Montreal. Apart from introductory roasting sessions (for members), they also offer educational and cupping sessions, open to the public.

KW Coffee Collective: 110-50 Ottawa St S, Kitchener

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In what feels like a deluge of franchises and chains independent restaurants and cafes like Atmosphere can be a refuge from corporate food for corporate (and processed food) palates and corporate bottom lines with creative dishes using local food. I visited Atmosphere as part of my Taste Detours local food tour and this jerk chicken wrap, with salad (and that fantastic dressing) stay in my mind.

Atmosphere cafe + etc: 24 Carden Street Market Square, Guelph

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Day 10 of 30 Days of Local Food: Herrles Country Market

It’s a seasonal business, open from spring to autumn, but for 60 years, the Herrle Family has brought the best, in-season fruits and vegetables from their farm, excellent produce from nearby farmers and other foods and ingredients made locally. And, importantly, their products are priced fairly to customers and farmers. It’ll be a few months before they open for the new season, but, I’ll be looking forward to flats of summer strawberries and, later, just sweet enough corn.

Herrle’s Country Farm Market: 1243 Erb's Rd, St Agatha

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Day 9 of 30 Days of Local Food: Cambridge Food Bank

It may seem odd to some to include a food bank in a local food round up, but local food isn’t only about restaurants, shops, and makers. Given the overall rise in needed food supports, I’d be remiss to ignore them. Out in Cambridge, the Food Bank offers a range of programs to help their community, from a self-help pantry to mobile food markets to nutrition and cooking programs designed for all ages.

Cambridge: 54 Ainslie Street South, Cambridge

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