A local's guide to Canada Canada, travel, food, guide, holiday, local

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From the shores of Vancouver Island to the rolling countryside of Prince Edward County, Canada’s diversity in landscape and food experiences is impressive. But the real beauty of any Canadian experience is truly found in the words and hearts of the locals who embrace their special place with passion. Discover what makes these 10 unique regions so special with our gourmet guide to Canada.

discover

exploring the regions

EDMONTON, ALBERTA

CALGARY, ALBERTA

Bündok, located downtown in the emerging Ice District, translates all that’s good about the boondocks (countryside) into tasty small plates such as roasted chicken with birch syrup-miso glaze, grilled striploin with black garlic butter and sour cream ice-cream.

COWICHAN & GULF ISLANDS, BC

VANCOUVER, BC

Recognised as one of Canada’s best new restaurants in 2018, the understated St. Lawrence reimagines classic French cuisine in an intimate setting, with Chef J-C Poirier’s rustic menu and interiors drawing inspiration from the romance of French and Québécois food and wine culture.

For lunch on the run, visit Fergie's Fish 'n Chips at The Forks, where delicate pickerel, caught fresh from Lake Winnipeg, comes battered and fried golden. Other menu highlights include Manitoba-grown Russet Burbank potato chips and seafood chowder, prepared fresh every morning.

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

CHURCHILL, MANITOBA

RAW:churchill takes the destination dining concept up a notch with dinner in a 250-year-old fort under the northern lights in Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world.

Stop by sustainably minded Flame + Smith, where they embrace the art of woodfire cooking. Don’t miss Berkshire pork chop with endive mash, ember roasted apple and red wine jus on the dinner menu.

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, Ontario

Ottawa, Ontario

Practical info and planning

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Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital, famous for the colourful Jellybean Row townhouses, isn’t afraid to put the same razzle-dazzle on a plate. Renowned chef Jeremy Charles presents terroir-driven fare such as roasted moose loin at Raymonds – a fine-dining room overlooking the harbour.

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St John’s, NEWFOUNDLAND

Fogo Island, NEWFOUNDLAND

Fogo Island Inn’s dining room overlooks the chilly Labrador Current that sweeps the odd iceberg from the Arctic into warmer waters. With a philosophy of finding ‘new ways with old things’, the inn dishes up a contemporary take on sub-arctic ingredients such as moose, lobster, scallops, seaweed and berries of every hue.

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For vegetable-forward fare to win over even the most passionate carnivores, head to The Acorn, where imaginative seasonal dishes made from locally sourced ingredients are the stars of the table.

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Vancouver’s food truck scene is growing by the minute. Download the Street Food Vancouver app to locate any one of the 100+ trucks any day of the week. The app includes map, pictures and lists the most popular street eats.

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Like the name suggests, Forage promises a meal experience based on the produce of local fishers, foragers and farmers along with talented British Columbian distillers, winemakers and brewers. Shared plates take centre stage.

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Boasting one of Canada’s most celebrated female chefs, who started the concept of the 100-mile tasting menu, Andrea Carlson’s Burdock & Co is as down-to-earth as its owner. Expect a changing seasonal menu with natural and biodynamic wines.

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At Mak N Ming, where Asian meets French fare, the surrounds are simple but the food is not. Seasonal innovation is key in this intimate 28-seat restaurant tucked away in the Kitsilano district.

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Enjoy British Columbia’s freshest catch at one of Vancouver’s top Japanese restaurants. Chef Hidekazu Tojo delivers a menu prepared using traditional Japanese methods that reflect a Canadian passion for local, organic and fresh seasonal ingredients. Look out for their spirit-free cocktails, too. tojos.com

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Book into the OPUS Hotel for one of Vancouver’s best hotel experiences. Centrally located in Yaletown, it’s an easy walk to the hip neighbourhood’s restaurants, cafés, galleries and shops.

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For a traditional, boutique stay in Vancouver, reserve a room at the Wedgewood Hotel. Antique furnishings, personalised service and views from private balconies make it a class act.

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With a simple white aesthetic that stretches from bar to bottle, 33 Acres Brewing Co is a key player in East Vancouver’s craft beer scene in ‘Yeast Van’. Look for the 33 Acres of Sunshine – unfiltered wheat ale rested on orange peel, star anise and coriander seed.

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Producing both goats’ and cows’ milk cheese, the Haltwhistle Cheese Company boasts an astonishing number of varieties. Look out for their cheese at the Duncan Farmers Markets or Great Greens Market in Duncan.

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Enjoy an orchard-to-glass experience at Merridale Cidery & Distillery. Taste cider, spirits and fortified ciders made from 100% Cowichan Valley apple juice grown and produced at their Cobble Hill farm. Visit on a Sunday in summer for pizza night at the Eatery. Look out for their Merridale Apple Blossom Sparkling Rosé.

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Meet the locals and some of Cowichan Valley’s favourite producers at the Duncan Farmers Markets every Saturday in Duncan, in the heart of Cowichan.

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Soak up the seaside vibe of Cowichan Bay and feast on freshly baked goodness from True Grain bread, which uses organic British Columbian grain in every loaf, as well as savoury and sweet treats.

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Visit the Stillhead Distillery Inc. for locally distilled spirits, tours and tastings at this family-owned distillery in Duncan. Made only with British Columbia-grown fruits and grains, their range includes favourites like the award-winning Wild Blackberry Infused Vodka, as well as seasonal specials.

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Sip locally grown tea at Canada’s first tea farm, Westholme Tea Company in the warm microclimate of the beautiful Westholme Valley. Drop into the tea-tasting room Wednesday to Sunday and sample some of more than 100 loose leaf teas and tisanes on the menu – with matching sweet treats.

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Further your food discovery by taking an easy ferry ride to the Gulf Islands, east of Vancouver Island. Taste the Salt Spring Island Cheese Company’s hand-packed range of artisan goats’ cheeses using traditional methods. Stay for lunch or pop into the store for a sample, or to pick up local chutneys, jams, crackers, vinegars, honeys and smoked salmon.

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The craft of cider is alive and well at Salt Spring Wild Cider, where their organic ciders are made from the wild apples and pears that are grown on the island, slow-fermented and then carefully blended.

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Stay overnight on Salt Spring Island at the charming boutique Hastings House Country House Hotel. The 11th-century Sussex-style manor house is set within established gardens overlooking Ganges Harbour.

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If time is on your side, it’s well worth the trip to Pilgrimme on Galiano Island for an amazing coast-, forest- and farm-to-table experience. Tables are coveted at this remote 25-seat restaurant, so book ahead if you’re planning the pilgrimage.

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Taste the terroir of the valley at Blue Grouse Estate Winery, with a range of vines including Bacchus, black muscat, gamay noir, pinot gris, pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier planted across 15 acres of vineyard.

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The ‘quintessentially Cowichan Valley’ Alderlea Farm offers a rustic farm-to-fork menu with ingredients grown and prepared by local legends and farmers John and Katy. All dishes are based on Alderlea Farm’s seasonal organic/biodynamic vegies and meat.

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One of Canada's top chefs, Darren MacLean, has turned chicken yakitori into an art form at Shokunin. In 2020, he opens two new restaurants at Calgary's Alt Hotel. Nupo for fish and plant forward Japanese food and 8, an exclusive counter-style Canadiana experience.

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Sample Alberta’s signature foods – beef, bison, canola, honey, red fife wheat, root vegetables and saskatoon berries – while exploring Calgary’s oldest neighbourhood. Alberta Food Tours’ Inglewood Edibles: Made by Mavericks outing includes a two-course sit-down lunch.

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With over 30 brewery-taprooms, Calgary’s craft beer scene is hopping. Australia’s 4 Pines brewer Garrett Sherman helped his brother grow a backyard set-up into Tool Shed Brewing, which boasts a sun-filled patio (beer garden). Meanwhile, Ol’ Beautiful, in a former Smithbilt Hats factory, has collaborated with Shokunin to create a rice ale that's a must-try.

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For a very simple take on craft beer, visit the taproom at Annex Ale Project, where barley, hops and Rocky Mountain glacier-fed water create an idiosyncratic local brew. Limited to two core ales and four seasonal small batch beers, they do small well.

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Calgary takes its coffee seriously. Rosso Coffee Roasters’ Cole Torode was named Canada’s best barista for 2018 and 2019, and highly rated Phil & Sebastian also has multiple locations.

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Get along to Cochrane Farmers’ Market, one of Calgary’s seasonal markets held between June and September at the picturesque Historic Cochrane Ranche. Mix with the locals and a range of eclectic vendors.

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Eat local at Market, where the family-owned team creates award-winning menus based on the French-Canadian term “Cuisine du Marché”, or “cooking with fresh ingredients”. With as much done as possible on site, including baking their own bread, making their own cheese and curing their own meats, the results speak for themselves.

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Stay at the centrally located Le Germain Hotel Calgary for a mix of elegance and warm, cosy comfort. Just an hour’s drive from the Rockies, it’s also close to the city’s Arts Commons centre, the TELUS Convention Centre and Stephen Avenue Walk.

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While you can’t pop into their distillery, look out for Porter’s Tonic in Calgary, featuring a distinct black and white label. Produced locally, the range of 21 unique tonic flavours goes perfectly with any of Calgary’s gins. From cardamom orange to grapefruit, it’s hard to choose. Find them at local specialty liquor stores.

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‘Locally sourced x crafted with love’ is the motto of Kanto 98 St Eatery, which turns out Filipino comfort foods such as chicken adobo on rice, pork belly baos and the rainbow-coloured sundae, halo-halo, that’s a national obsession in the Philippines.

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Farm-to-table neighbourhood bistro Café Linnea adds French flair to local fare. Seared cod is dressed with stinging nettle and garlic butter, while gingerbread cake is elevated with goat's milk ice-cream, buckwheat honey and figs.

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Adventurous carnivores will embrace Rge Rd’s (Range Road) whole-animal approach to cooking. There’s a daily menu surprise – order the Questionable Bits – or try the chef-driven Road Trip with classic and experimental takes on uncommon ingredients. rgerd.ca

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Edmonton’s unofficial dish is the green onion cake. Siu To brought the savoury pancake to Edmonton from northern China decades ago and now it’s a staple at every Edmonton festival. Taste the original version at To’s unpretentious eatery, Green Onion Cake Man.

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Stop into Bar Clementine for a pre-dinner drink – be warned, you won’t want to leave. Featuring a diverse and thoughtful wine list and a menu of cocktails with a story behind each and every one, the elegant bar in the Oliver neighbourhood is popular with locals and should be on every Edmonton visit list.

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Frontiers North Adventures has also designed a remote culinary experience around the Aurora Borealis at Dan's Diner, a custom-built dining hall at 58° North latitude in Churchill. Travel in a Tundra Buggy across the frozen river to the unique pop-up restaurant with panoramic windows and skylights overhead to catch the northern lights above while dining (limited to autumn visits).

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In between spotting polar bears and belugas in the pristine wilderness of Manitoba, enjoy lunch at an ecolodge overlooking the Arctic tundra with Churchill Wild.

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Fuel your adventures in the northern frontier town of Churchill at the Tundra Inn on the west shore of Hudson Bay, where where elk meatloaf and bison stew are menu staples.

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Winnipeg has Canada's largest population of Indigenous peoples. Sample Indigenous flavours by trying a bison burger at Feast Café Bistro.

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Enjoy a contemplative pint of craft beer or two in The Exchange District, where microbreweries Nonsuch Brewing Co. and Little Brown Jug have creative beers on tap.

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Winnipeg's historic downtown district has also seen an influx of creative talent at restaurants such as Clementine, Deer + Almond, Mitchell Block and Miss Browns.

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Gain an insight into Manitoba's local gastronomic scene at events such as Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s Food Truck Wars, St. Norbert Farmers’ Market and Table for 1200 More in Winnipeg.

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Patatas bravas is one of the go-to dishes at Segovia Tapas Bar, run by pre-eminent restaurateur Adam Donnelly. The tapas restaurant is widely regarded as one of Winnipeg's best.

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Enjoy chef Steffen Zinn's artisan spin on pizza at The Red Ember and Wall Street Slice, where he takes great care in sourcing meat and heritage grains from Manitoba for his menu.

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Bundle up in winter with local Winnipeggers for a coffee at Parlour, where ethically sourced specialty coffee from several of North America's leading micro coffee roasters is on the menu.

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Summer is peak season in Winnipeg, and that's when the city's food trucks hit the streets. Order poutine (Canada's favourite comfort food) before heading to Ballet in the Park – a seasonal three-day summer event.

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Visit Winnipeg in winter for the hottest ticket in town. RAW:almond takes fine dining to a new level with an amazing pop-up restaurant serving dinner on the frozen river for just 21 days of the year.

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Ottawa's dining scene has taken on a polished sheen thanks to restaurants such as Riviera, housed in the ex-Imperial Bank of Canada building. The restaurant is renowned for its seafood tower.

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Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute is the only Canadian outpost of this world-renowned culinary school. Taste cuisine prepared by innovative young chefs in the classroom kitchens at Signatures Restaurant.

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Ontario is home to nine dedicated brewery, cider and distillery trails. Create your own dedicated trail or follow the curated list. Taste a truly local brew at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery where they take Ontario apples and add Muskoka cranberries to produce a mouth-watering off-dry cider.

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Enjoy seasonal menus made with Ontario produce at hotspots around the cool Canadian capital such as Beckta, Jackson in the New Ottawa Art Gallery, The Soca Kitchen and The Hintonburg Public House.

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The Ontario experience is complete when you can squeeze in some festival time: The Great Canadian Cheese Festival takes place in September, while the annual Maple Weekend in April celebrates artisans that make Canadians proud.

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Discover expertly curated Canadian cheeses at the quaint but inimitable The House of Cheese in Byward Market Square, Ottawa.

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The summer patio vibes at Parsons Brewing Company is worth bottling. Order the Sunkissed Grape Ale from the Tap Room, housed in a heritage-listed lumber building, and enjoy with empanadas.

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Stay at the modern Andaz Ottawa with city views from the sixth floor up. If you’re holding off exploring the area, eat at the hotel’s Feast + Revel restaurant with huge windows looking streetside. The artisanal menu is Canadian-focused with lamb, beef, chicken and elk coming from Ontario farms. Head to the rooftop bar for views over the city at sunset.

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Supercharge your exploring days with a fresh, cold-pressed juice from Ottawa’s Urban Juice Press. Get your daily dose of greens with their pure and simple Greens 101 juice.

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With their own take on Canadian contemporary dining, the well-awarded Stofa brings together a range of cuisines and disciplines to create surprising and innovative food that brings people together.

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Prince Edward County has Ontario's fastest growing wine region with 35 wineries dotted around the region. Take it slow and stop into the Grange of Prince Edward for a tasting, vineyard and cellar tour, or book one of their gourmet picnic lunches to enjoy while overlooking the rolling hills and scenic vista.

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Glamping is on the cards at Fronterra. This historic farm and brewery located on the waterfront offers Prince Edward County's first luxury camping experience. The farm grows hops, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. Each of the 10 log-framed tents (with ensuites) is designed to reflect an aspect of Canadian history.

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Sand and Pearl is a seafood lover's dream. Enjoy fresh oysters, Fogo Island crab, lobster rolls and Manitoulin Island trout at this roadside restaurant near Sandbanks.

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You can both eat and stay at some of the region’s most contemporary accommodation, with places like Drake Devonshire offering rooms overlooking Lake Ontario, Angéline's Inn in Bloomfield and the very retro The June Motel in pretty Picton.

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Experience the grandeur of Ontario in days gone past at Langdon Hall with luxury, country hospitality front and centre of this elegant retreat.

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Stop by Agrarian in Bloomfield for fresh, seasonal dishes where local produce is the hero. The menu changes regularly but expect a focus on Ontario ingredients like braised beef brisket with whipped potatoes, pan-roasted Brussels sprouts and Keint-He gravy.

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Raymonds’ sister property The Merchant Tavern, a few blocks along the same street, offers casual fare such as cod tacos, seafood soup and sweet-tangy vinegar pie with Tetley tea ice-cream.

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Two former Fogo Island residents are behind Chinched (local slang for feeling full). Grab a charcuterie-stuffed sandwich from the deli or a restaurant table to fill up on oysters, crisp pig ears and wild rabbit pappardelle.

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The Adelaide Oyster House offers fresh-shucked oysters from Canadian waters near and far as well as interesting small plates: crispy sambal squid, pork belly rice bowl with apple-radish kimchi, Kobe beef lettuce wrap and brown butter peas with pistachio.

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Vintage enthusiasts will adore the retro vibe at Rocket Bakery, where baked goodies might include pink lemonade macarons, milk chocolate scones with candied pecans and the signature chocolate cake with raspberry buttercream.

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Lively Boca Tapas Bar also specialises in small bites including Basque-style pintxos. Flavours occasionally travel beyond Spain’s borders – a Pedro Ximenez sherry relish, for example, tops fried Greek saganaki cheese. Enjoy with a side of live music.

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Five minutes’ drive from the heart of St. John’s is the quaint fishing hamlet of Quidi Vidi Village – home to Mallard Cottage, a National Historic Site of Canada. Inside the restored 18th-century Irish-Newfoundland home, the daily rhythm rolls straight from brunch to happy hour and early dinner.

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Petty Harbour is a 15-minute drive south of St. John’s. Head to the oldest house, which fisherman-carpenter Edward Chafe built in 1878, for the best cod and chips on The Rock (the nickname for Newfoundland Island). Chafe’s Landing also serves lobster rolls, moose sausages and mussels steamed in beer.

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For a unique local foraging experience, join local Lori McCarthy of Cod Sounds for a treasure hunt along the nearby Avondale coastline. Expect wild edibles and maybe some seasonal arctic char, periwinkles or locally-loved cod.

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There are 11 settlements along the island’s coast, with only a handful of places to eat or stay beyond the prestigious Fogo Island Inn. Dine at Scoff for an exploration of Newfoundland cuisine. Don’t miss their hearty local chowder made with potatoes, turnip, carrot, celery, local seafood, dill and shellfish oil.

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Local and former sous chef at Fogo Island Inn, Ian Sheridan has set out with his partner to create Bangbelly, a dining space that’s affordable and celebrates the unique community that makes the island so special. It’s a true reflection of Canada’s heart.

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Photography: St. Lawrence restaurant

Photography: Image 1, Tyson Fast; Images 2 & 3, Shira Blustein; Images 3 – Sean David

Photography: St. Lawrence restaurant

Photography: Barberstock

Photography: Allison Kuhl

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Photography: St. Lawrence restaurant

Photography: iStock

Photography: Image 1, Doug Clement; Images 2 & 3, Brave Art Media

Photography: facebook.com/stillheaddistillery

Photography: Image 1 – Doug Clement; Image 2 & 3 – Brave Art Media

Photography: facebook.com/saltspringwildcider

Photography: pilgrimme.ca

Photography: Leanna Rathkelly

“The extremely broad availability of ethnic foods, combined with this local movement, means Edmonton’s a really fertile ground for great food. We use grain grown 23km from the distillery [for our vodka] and we forage for seabuckthorn berries within the city limits as well as juniper from the Alberta Badlands [for our gin]. As our line-up grows, there’ll be other unique boreal ingredients –

Photography: shokuninyyc.ca

Photography: St. Lawrence restaurant

One of Canada’s best-kept secrets, Edmonton does things differently. Base yourself here and within an hour’s drive you can see the northern lights. Eclectic and surprising, Edmonton dishes up a huge variety of dining options with a distinct entrepreneurial spirit. exploreedmonton.com

EDMONTON, ALBERTA

Photography: annexales.com

Photography: Image 1, facebook.com/RossoCoffeeRoasters; Image 2, philsebastian.com

Photography: cochranefarmersmarket.ca

Photography: St. Lawrence restaurant

Photography: facebook.com/bundokyeg

Photography: St. Lawrence restaurant

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Photography: Leila Kwok

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Photography: instagram.com/rawchurchill

Photography: Image 1, Simon Gee; Image 2, Mike Gere; Images 3 & 4, Abby Matheson; Image 5, Ron Cantiveros

Photography: St. Lawrence restaurant

some of which have never even been explored before.” Adam Smith, distiller, Strathcona Spirits

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Photography: Little Brown Jug, Black and Gold Photography; Nonsuch image 1, Mike Peters; image 2, Aaron Ives

Calgary, 300km south of Edmonton and 125km east of Banff, makes headlines for its crazy Calgary Stampede concoctions (cube fries, anyone?) but it’s a serious culinary powerhouse. As a gateway to the Rockies, Lake Louise, Banff and Jasper, Calgary has plenty of restaurants, bars and breweries to satisfy any appetite.

CALGARY, ALBERTA

“My whim to produce a Calgary-made tonic has truly found a market both nationally and internationally due to the support from our local food scene which really encourages innovation and entrepreneurs. Our limited-edition tonics using prairie ingredients like rhubarb, saskatoon and sour cherry have been particularly special. Our newest flavour - sumac pink peppercorn - was

inspired while on a trip to British Columbia.” Nicole Fewell, founder, Porters Tonic Syrup

Photography: Little Brown Jug, Black and Gold Photography; Nonsuch. image 1 – Mike Peters, image 2 – Aaron Ives

Photography: Image 1, Mike Peters; Image 4, Table for 1200 More, facebook.com/tablefor1201

Photography: Little Brown Jug, Black and Gold Photography; Nonsuch. image 1 – Mike Peters, image 2 – Aaron Ives

Photography: The Red Ember, Alex Streltaov

Photography: instagram.com/parlourcoffee

Photography: Images 1, Tyler Walsh; Images 2, instagram.com/rwballet/

Photography: raw-almond.com

Photography: facebook.com/rivieraottawa

Photography: facebook.com/lcbottawa

Photography: Image 1 – Handcraft Creative; Image 2 – Mike Gere; Images 3, 4 & 5 –Abby Matheson

Vancouver’s culinary landscape has well and truly earned it a reputation as a chef’s city. Seasonal, local ingredients are in abundance with a growing focus on provenance. The burgeoning craft beer industry is full of youthful enthusiasm and innovation. Discover food stories, local events and producer profiles at West Coast Food for neighbourhoods in Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

“Vancouver has so much to offer: Outdoor activities with the sea and mountains all around, a strong coffee culture, excellent restaurants, good weather, and in the summer an abundance of locally sourced, fresh ingredients like fruit from the nearby Okanagan region.” J-C Poirier, executive chef, St.Lawrence

Photography: Image 1, Dwayne Brown Studios; Image 3, facebook.com/Becktadiningwinebar; Image 4, facebook.com/jacksonottawa

Photography: Image 1 – Handcraft Creative; Image 2 – Mike Gere; Images 3, 4 & 5 –Abby Matheson

Photography: business.facebook.com/urbanjuicepress

Manitoba’s capital is a gorgeous reflection of the resource-rich prairie region that stretches from Alberta to Manitoba (encompassing Saskatchewan in the middle). While the romance of the region is often associated with the wide-open fields, urbanisation has fostered an innovative food scene with momentum most visible in Winnipeg.

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

“The long winters in Manitoba with minus 50°C temperatures brew creativity. People have an opportunity to shine in Manitoba. If you have an idea and it's fuelled by determination, love and goodwill, you can make it happen in Manitoba. We have an amazing freshwater fish here, pickerel, which is coveted worldwide, and white fish caviar, chaga mushrooms and wild berries. We also have access to

beautiful wild game such as the Manitoba bison, elk, caribou and venison." Mandel Hitzer, chef at deer + almond, co-founder of RAW: almond

Photography: Rajeshta Julatum

Photography: Mat Coker

Photography: Image 1, Josh Labelle/Rebeka Roberts of Blog BOQ; Images 2 & 3, Nicole Hynes

Photography: The June Motel, Lauren Miller; Drake Devonshire, Britney Townsend; Angeline's Inn, facebook.com/AngelinesInnBloomfield

Photography: agrarianpec.ca

Photography: scoffrestaurant.com

Photography: facebook.com/bangbellycafe

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Photography: facebook.com/themerchanttavern

Photography: Images 1 & 2, Tim Corbett; Image 3, Crockwell Photography; Image 4, Sebastien Dubois-Didcock

Photography: facebook.com/theadelaideoysterhouse

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Photography: Anja Sajovic

Photography: facebook.com/ChafesLanding

Discover the undiscovered in the tiny town of Churchill, the ultimate gateway to Canada’s wilderness. From July to November, see polar bears in the wild as they migrate to the ‘polar bear capital of the world’. Bonus? Churchill is one of the best places in Canada to experience the northern lights.

CHURCHILL, MANITOBA

“As a Manitoban, and especially a Winnipegger, I enjoy the simpler and slower way of life in Churchill. The locals are incredibly welcoming and their passion for the town is projected onto everyone that comes here. It’s the people, both locals and guests that keep me coming back. When it comes to the food at Dan’s Diner, we use Manitoba-specific ingredients wherever possible to

help show the heart of our province’s outstanding cuisine. As a chef, it’s a unique challenge to come up with dishes that are foreign to guests but are used with ingredients familiar to the local community.” Jared Fossen, chef, Dan’s Diner

Fly direct to Vancouver from Sydney (approximately 15 hours) with Air Canada, who have daily non-stop services from Sydney and Brisbane as well as flights four times a week from Melbourne. You can also fly with Qantas via Los Angeles. Vancouver International Airport is Canada’s second-largest international airport and is the best access point for the west coast. For the east coast, you can fly to Toronto via LA with Qantas or direct to Vancouver with a domestic transfer to Toronto.

GETTING THERE

With a distinct Celtic vibe, St. John’s Harbour catches Atlantic Ocean views from the highest vantage points. Naturally, the local catch sits well on the city’s diverse menus, with wild game (moose and elk) getting more than their share of attention. The region’s old food culture influence holds strong, but there’s plenty of new food innovation.

S.T JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

“If we don't keep these foods alive – the cultural foods passed down to us and the wild foods that draw us out into the forests, beaches and bogs to hunt and forage, then the next generation will never fully experience our heritage,” Lori McCarthy, woodswoman, chef and educator, Cod Sounds

All visitors to Canada require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) which can be applied for online. Most applications are granted within minutes, however, if supporting documents are required it may take several days.

ENTRY

Canada is made up of 10 provinces and three territories. It is officially a bi-lingual country with English and French official languages.

Pan-Canada

Lying offshore in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Fogo Island will stay with you long after you’ve crossed the waters to get back to Farewell. The island is known as one of the ‘four corners of the earth’, with seven distinct seasons (including spring, trap berth, berry and pack ice) and a keen foraging culture.

FOGO ISLAND, NEWFOUNDLAND

“What’s funny about this place and what I didn’t expect, although as a Newfoundlander I should have known, is I can forage stinging nettle right on my lawn. I can go to [the point near my house] and forage everything I need – you’ve got wild peas, sea plantain, oyster leaf and sandwort. There was even a seal there the other day, but he would have foraged me. Out front of the inn is all juniper, behind us is

partridgeberries, beyond that are bakeapples (cloudberries) and between the inn and where I live is all blueberries. People forage for fun here – it’s like a thing to do. Here, they’re still very connected to the land.” Jonathan Gushue, executive chef, Fogo Island Inn

The city’s North Shore and East Vancouver is home to several breweries. Download the British Columbia British Columbia Ale Trail app to help plan a visit to some of the microbreweries in the Vancouver area.

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Photography: BC Ale Trail

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With over 80 km of shorelines on the edge of Lake Ontario, Prince Edward County is as pretty as it comes. The county is fast drawing a following amongst top Canadian chefs for its organic farms, breweries, wineries and local producers as well as its opportunities for outdoor adventure and beautifully unspoilt island approach to life. ontariotravel.net

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, ONTARIO

"I am proud to call Ontario my home. I love the four seasons, the diversity in landscape and people. There is amazing food and wine here and generations of farmers and small agri-businesses, too. Prince Edward County offers a slice of Ontario, a province the size of Western Europe. It has world-class wines and a nascent farm-to-table scene that is very exciting. It also has small farms bringing us

exquisite vegetables – from tiny fingerling potatoes to black zucchini. The freshwater fish and local pastured lamb, pork and poultry are of exceptional quality, too." Hidde Zomer, head chef Flame + Smith

Ottawa’s food scene is set amongst the city’s beautiful and historic buildings with old and new restaurants and bars populating the city’s food landscape which has seen exponential growth in recent years. There’s plenty of French fare and locations with a distinctly Canadian vibe alongside microbreweries and third-wave cafes.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO

“Ottawa is an amazing city which is brought together by its diverse population, unique geography, vibrant cultural events and a growing food scene. We border the province of Quebec, so we are extremely lucky to have two local markets to pull great produce, meats, dairy and seafood from. The different cultures from the provinces definitely play a huge part in designing our menus

and the products that we use.” Jason Sawision, Chef and owner, Stofa

Photography depicts Maple Weekend, Ontario; Image 4, facebook.com/CanadianCheeseNightMarket

Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island is home to a growing number of craft breweries and wineries thanks to the warm, dry summers and mild, moist winters. Winding roads, beautiful scenery and salty air make it perfect for any gourmet explorer. To the east are the Gulf Islands, a haven for local artisans, winemakers, producers and cheese makers. tourismcowichan.com

COWICHAN AND GULF ISLANDS, BRITISH COLUMBIA

“Our small restaurant celebrates the food grown on Galiano Island and the West Coast of Canada. Living and working in a region with a vast range of microclimates gives us the opportunity to work with a huge range of farms, vegetables and fruits along with the incredible yet fragile ecosystem of wild foods. On Galiano Island, where old fruit trees and gardens are commonplace, we have neighbours and locals bringing by everything from

edible flowers to figs and apples. The food community is strong – we are regularly invited to their gardens to harvest fresh currants or fennel pollen. When we pause to take it all in in the often chaotic and fast-paced workaholic atmosphere, we can see just how lucky we truly are to be where we are and doing what we do. Calling this home is pretty incredible.” Jesse McCleery, executive chef, Pilgrimme, Galiano Island

Distiller Adam Smith of Strathcona Spirits embodies Edmonton’s DIY spirit. The venue’s small but plentiful 70 square metres has a hyper-local focus with a range of delicious gins and vodkas using local botanicals such as rosehips, saskatoon berries, strawberries and raspberries.

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Photography: facebook.com/strathconaspirits

Click on the cities to explore Canada like a local

Slide into Burwood Distillery’s restaurant and cocktail lounge, fitted with furniture from the locally filmed Netflix series, Fargo. Nibble on gin-cured gravlax and pickled vegetables while sipping a cocktail showcasing house-made spirits such as Honey Eau de Vie, made from Albertan honey.

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Photography: annexales.com

Drink

Photography: annexales.com

Local Insight

"There is amazing food and wine here and generations of farmers and small agri-businesses, too. Prince Edward County offers a slice of Ontario. It has world-class wines and a nascent farm-to-table scene that is very exciting. It also has small farms bringing us exquisite vegetables – from tiny fingerling potatoes to black Zucchini. The freshwater fish and local pastured lamb, pork and poultry are of exceptional quality too.” Hidde Zomer, head chef Flame + Smith

Local Insight