Culinary Adventure Ontario — A Colorful Food Journey Through Ontario
Culinary Adventure - Ontario — A Colorful Food Journey Through Ontario
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, is home to the national capital, Ottawa, and the economic hub, Toronto, making it the country’s economic and cultural center. Alongside sophisticated cities where you can experience a rich mix of cultures and cuisines, Ontario’s awe-inspiring natural scenery is an essential part of its appeal: some 250,000 lakes, including Lake Ontario, and world-famous Niagara Falls.
Words Pitch by Pitch
A Glimpse of Local Life at the Market
Vip Early Access Food Tour of St. Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market VIP Tour
St. Lawrence Market is one of Toronto’s signature landmarks, with a history of more than 200 years. It was even named one of the world’s 10 best food markets by National Geographic. The biggest draw of the VIP tour is early access to the market’s stalls, which lets you sample a wide range of its most popular fare. In a small group of up to eight people, you can taste around 18 local specialties, including the peameal bacon and egg sandwich, a Toronto favorite, charcuterie produced in Ontario, and smoked Atlantic salmon. The tour includes a cheese tasting with a cheese expert, and you can meet and talk with the producers and vendors themselves.
Schedule: Thursday–Saturday, 8:30–10:30 a.m., about 2 hours
Meeting point: Southwest corner of Front St. East and Market St., in front of the LCBO liquor store
Included: Coffee or tea, cheese tasting, and more
Price: CAD 119
Recommended for: Market lovers who never skip a local market when they travel!
Website: culinaryadventureco.com/tour/st-lawrence-market-food-tour
Eating Your Way Around the World in Toronto
Kensington Market International Food Tour
Kensington Market International Food Tour
Kensington Market, with its distinctive multicultural atmosphere, took shape as a neighborhood when immigrants settled here in the late 19th century. With restaurants and shops reflecting the cultures of Europe, South America, Southeast Asia, and beyond, it is considered the best place to see Toronto’s cultural diversity. On this walking tour, which samples food from around the world, you can skip the lines at the area’s popular spots and taste signature dishes at a Middle Eastern bagel shop, Latin American eateries serving Jamaican and Chilean food, a Swedish dessert shop, and more. Vintage shops, independent bookstores, small grocers, and the colorful graffiti art that decorates the streets are sights not to be missed. We recommend it to anyone who wants to see the artistic side of Kensington Market along with its food.
Schedule: Daily, 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 2 hours 30 minutes
Meeting point: NU Bügel, 240 Augusta Ave.
Included: Visits and tastings at 6 eateries
Price: CAD 119
Recommended for: Bohemian travelers with an artistic sensibility!
Website: localfoodtours.com/toronto/
A Day in Toronto That Opens with a Special Breakfast
The Distillery District Breakfast Tour
The Distillery District Breakfast Tour
If the hotel breakfast buffet has started to feel stale during your trip to Toronto, keep an eye on this tour. It takes place in the Distillery District, on the east side of downtown, in search of the city’s best coffee and breakfast dishes. Named for the huge distillery that stood here in the mid-19th century, the district has been reborn as a charming neighborhood where food and art meet, using the original red-brick factory buildings. It is a pedestrian-only zone closed to cars, which makes it ideal for strolling, and it is full of things to enjoy, including stylish cafés, restaurants, and galleries. You can explore the district’s historic architecture and unique history, then visit popular cafés before the crowds arrive and start your day at a leisurely pace with good coffee and food.
Schedule: Saturday and Sunday, 9:30–10:45 a.m., about 1 hour 15 minutes
Meeting point: Go Tours Canada, 11 Gristmill Lane
Included: Breakfast
Price: CAD 65
Recommended for: You, if you never miss breakfast when you travel!
Website: www.gotourscanada.com/distillery-district-breakfast-tour
A Food Trip to Cities Near Toronto
Collingwood Food Tour
Collingwood Food Tour
Collingwood, at the southern tip of Georgian Bay, is a favorite of visitors who come for the beautiful shoreline scenery and water activities. Food and arts events are another reason to visit. It is only a two-hour drive from Toronto, so it is easy to visit as a day trip. The Collingwood Food Tour is a program in which you tour the historic downtown with a local guide, visiting local restaurants and sights. You can hear fascinating stories about each restaurant and dish, and the tour runs with a minimum of two people. Add the drink pairing option (CAD 11.30) and you can enjoy a drink to match each dish.
Schedule: Friday, 1:00–4:00 p.m., 3 hours
Meeting point: Announced by email before the tour
Included: Visits to 6 eateries
Price: CAD 118.65
Recommended for: Anyone staying in Toronto who wants to take a day trip to nearby places
Website: www.collingwoodfoodtours.com
Flavors of the World in Scarborough
Eat More Scarborough Food Tours
Scarborough Food Tours
Scarborough, in Toronto’s eastern suburbs, is a captivating district where many peoples and cultures live side by side. Immigrants from around the world, including Southeast Asia and the Middle East, have settled here, and the area boasts such a rich food culture that it is often called the ‘capital of multicultural cuisine.’ Led by local food experts, Eat More Scarborough is the best guide to a world of flavors you can find only here. The company introduces hidden restaurants in Scarborough and also runs special themed tours, including Asian cuisine, barbecue and grill, and Michelin Guide-selected restaurants.
Schedule: Varies by tour
Meeting point: Varies by tour
Includes: Restaurant visits, tastings
Price: Varies by tour
Recommended for: Anyone curious about multicultural food in Canada
Website: www.eatmorescarborough.com
A Private Food Tour to Farms and Workshops
The County Food Tour
The County Food Tour
About two hours east of Toronto, a pastoral landscape unfolds outside your car window as you drive along Lake Ontario. Prince Edward County is one of Canada’s major wine-producing regions, and thanks to its traditional farming culture and fertile land, it is rich in local specialties such as fresh organic produce, cheese, and fruit. Why not join a local food tour to see it for yourself? You can visit artisanal cheese workshops, blueberry farms, and doughnut shops, meet the producers, chat with them, and taste regional treats on the spot. It is a customized private tour that includes pickup service and an itinerary tailored to your tastes and needs, making the trip all the more satisfying.
Includes: Pickup service, customized tour
Price: CAD 245
Recommended for: Travelers who want to hear the stories of local food producers and artisans
Website: thecountypicnic.com/wine-%26-food-tours
Niagara Through Local Food and Wine
Niagara Falls Walking Food Tour
Niagara Falls Walking Food Tour
This food tour is offered by Niagara Food Tours, which curates culinary experiences in the Niagara region and supports its fine local restaurants. Exploring the Niagara Falls area on foot, you can taste dishes from local restaurants, hear stories about the community, and discover Niagara’s charms. The itinerary pairs a tasting course of local fare at restaurants chosen by your guide with local craft beer and VQA wines, a designation given to Ontario wines that meet strict quality standards.
Schedule: Every Saturday, 5:30–8:30 p.m. (about 3 hours)
Meeting point: Niagara Falls City Hall
Includes: Local food tasting course
Price: CAD 125
Recommended for: Travelers who want to seek out Niagara’s hidden restaurants
Website: niagarafoodtours.ca/guided-tour
A Half Day of Grand Nature and Wine
The Falls & Wine Region of Niagara
The Falls & Wine Region of Niagara Tour
A unique tour that lets you explore Ontario’s wineries and Niagara Falls in a single trip. You can enjoy professional wine tastings at three premium wineries in the Niagara region and take in the sweeping views along the scenic drive from Niagara Falls to Lake Ontario. A three-course meal at a high-end local restaurant adds to the pleasure. With pickup service and transportation provided, you can tour the Niagara area comfortably and at a leisurely pace over the course of a day.
Schedule: Monday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. (about 9 hours)
Includes: Transportation, three-course meal at a local restaurant, Niagara Falls visit, winery tours and tastings
Price: From CAD 260
Website: ontariogroupoftouringcompanies.com/
A Glimpse of the Pioneer Spirit of Ottawa’s Wine Country
East Ottawa Wine Tour
East Ottawa Wine Tour
This wine tour follows the Pioneer Wine Trail, which links small boutique wineries in eastern Ottawa. Starting in the small country town of Navan, the route heads about 30 kilometers east to Saint-Pascal-Baylon, stopping at three wineries. You will visit Domaine Perrault, known as the region’s first vineyard; Clos du Vully, nicknamed ‘Little Switzerland’ for its Swiss-style wines; and Les Vergers Villeneuve & Blueberry Farm, a farm specializing in fruit wines, and sample three to ten signature wines at each winery.
Schedule: July 26 and October 19, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. (about 6 hours)
Meeting point: St. Laurent Shopping Centre
Includes: Winery tours and tastings, transportation
Price: CAD 159
Website: lavidalocal.ca/products/east-ottawa-wine-fruit-tour
Local Food and Crafts, All in One Place!
Taste of the ByWard Market Tour
ByWard Market Tour
ByWard Market, made up of a traditional market selling fresh local produce and seafood and shops selling local crafts, souvenirs, and clothing, is the commercial heart of Ottawa. If you want a glimpse of daily local life amid lively crowds and an array of food, this tour is the answer. You can sample a wide range of foods in one go, from simple bites like pizza and burritos to Ottawa icons like BeaverTails, the sweet fried pastries. Along with exploring the market, the tour visits nearby landmarks for stories about local history and includes time to meet regional producers. Drink pairings can be added as an option, and private tours are also available.
Schedule: Daily, 1:00–4:00 p.m. (about 2.5 hours)
Meeting point: The totem pole in front of the Ottawa School of Art
Included: A tasting course of local cuisine and a walking tour of local landmarks
Price: CAD 115
Recommended for: Travelers who want to explore the lively market district like an Ottawa local
Website: cestbonottawa.ca/taste-of-byward-market-tour
In Search of the Charm of Canada’s Former Capital
Classic Kingston
Classic Kingston
About two and a half hours east of Toronto by car lies Kingston, the first capital of Canada. Set at the northeastern end of Lake Ontario, where the St. Lawrence River begins, it is a strategic crossroads with a long history. The city is compact, but with its local markets, distinctive cafés, restaurants, and microbreweries, it is also known as a food destination. As the name suggests, the Classic Kingston food tour is a chance to experience the most quintessentially Kingston side of the city. It is a small-group tour of up to 10 people, led by a local guide through downtown Kingston, combining the city’s history and culture with its food. Over two hours, you walk a total of 1.3 kilometers, with special tastings at some of Kingston’s best restaurants included.
Schedule: Wednesday–Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (about 2 hours)
Meeting point: 209 Ontario Street, Kingston
Included: Food and drink tastings
Price: CAD 99
Recommended for: Food lovers with an interest in Canadian history!
Website: www.kingstonfoodtours.ca/tours