Winter in Ontario hits hard and cozy comfort food becomes essential. You want charm. You want flavour. You want a place that feels deeply local. That is where Feast On® spots shine. These certified restaurants and resorts hero Ontario grown food and drink. Below you will find four warm and welcoming places perfect for a winter road trip. Each one is Feast On® certified and proudly local focused.
What Is Feast On®?
Feast On® is a certification program run by the Culinary Tourism Alliance. It celebrates businesses that source and serve Ontario grown food and drink. To be certified, restaurants must spend at least 25 percent of their annual food budget on Ontario grown or raised ingredients. Many spend far more, especially on local beverages.
Feast On® certified spots show visitors exactly where their food dollars go. They support nearby farmers, producers and distributors. When you choose a Feast On experience, you taste Ontario on the plate and in the glass. This winter, that taste comes with crackling fires, snowy views and very cozy vibes.
Stop 1: Lowlands Fire Food
Where: 390 Ashburnham Dr, Peterborough, ON (View Map)
Lowlands Fire Food proves pizza can tell a taste of place story. They operate wood fired catering trailers and pop ups across Ontario with a permanent location at 100 Acre Brewing in Peterborough and some exciting things to come this winter in Whitby! They’re opening a new location in early February at 67 Baldwin Street and you don’t want to miss it. Their specialty is Ontario style sourdough pizza.
The crust uses organic Red Fife flour fermented for serious flavour. Cheese is always Ontario made and the oven burns hardwood maple at about 800 degrees. Pizzas bake in under three minutes which gives toasty edges and soft centres. It is ooey gooey winter comfort in pie form.
Lowlands builds every menu around Ontario sourced ingredients. They partner with farms across Ontario including the folks at Graze and Gather as well as City of Greens out of Bowmanville and beyond. Expect mushrooms from nearby growers, seasonal greens and creative toppings. On cold nights, grab a pie topped with local sausage or winter squash.
Pair it with an Ontario craft beer from 100 Acre Brewing (of course). The atmosphere feels relaxed and friendly. Expect classics like Margherita next to Yukon Gem, a white sauce pie with mozzarella, thinly sliced potto, bacon, onions, spinach and jalepeno aioli drizzle. Paired up with fired kale dip or apple crumble for dessert, you really can’t go wrong.
Stop 2: Elmhirst’s Resort
Where: 1045 Settlers Line, Keene, ON (View Map)
Head to Rice Lake near Keene in the Kawarthas for Elmhirst’s Resort. This fifth generation family run resort sits on 240 acres of waterfront land with 30 cottages, a full service spa and conference spaces. In winter, the shoreline turns into a snowy playground with skating, cross country skiing and horse drawn sleigh rides. Back at your cottage, you can curl up by a wood burning fireplace. Many cottages include full kitchens, whirlpool baths and private docks. Ready to go? Check out their packages.
Dining here is a true farm to table experience. Elmhirst’s Own is the resort’s on site farm program. They raise Black Angus beef, grow vegetables and produce other ingredients on the property. You can taste that work in the Hearthside Dining Room which overlooks Rice Lake. The lake looks magical after fresh snowfall.
Winter menus often feature Elmhirst’s Own beef, seasonal vegetables and Ontario wines. On Sundays, a well known brunch buffet showcases farm fresh breakfast classics and creative dishes. During the holidays, the resort serves special prix fixe feasts with turkey, prime rib, salmon and comforting vegetarian mains.
Elmhirst’s is open year round which makes it ideal for a mid winter escape from Toronto or Peterborough. You can snowshoe by day then enjoy a Kawarthas inspired dinner at night.
Stop 3: Langdon Hall Country House Hotel and Spa
Where: 1 Langdon Dr, Cambridge, ON (View Map)
Langdon Hall is the definition of a cozy winter splurge. You will find it on a wooded estate in Cambridge about ninety minutes from Toronto. The main house dates to 1898 and still feels grand with sweeping lawns, tall white columns and glowing fireplaces. The property spans about 75 acres with gardens, forest trails and an outdoor skating rink in winter. Inside, rooms feel plush and timeless with deep tubs, rich fabrics and views of the snow covered grounds.
The main draw for many guests is the restaurant. Langdon Hall is Michelin recommended and ranks among Canada’s top restaurants. Chef Jason Bangerter and his team start with what they see outside the kitchen window. Menus change with the seasons and reflect wild produce and kitchen garden bounty.
They work closely with farmers, foragers and artisans to showcase wholesome ingredients prepared with care. Past highlights have included everything from roasted and braised lamb with rutabaga, Swiss chard and aged cheddar to rainbow trout with sourdough crisps and a marigold crème fraiche— yum!
Winter menus highlight root vegetables, preserved fruit, game and rich sauces. Expect multi course tasting experiences that tell stories about Ontario’s terroir. You can dine in the main room, enjoy cocktails in Wilks Bar or choose more casual spaces. Before dinner, wander the snowy trails. After dessert, settle into a lounge chair by the fire with a nightcap. Langdon Hall turns winter into an invitation for slow travel, deep rest and serious dining.
Stop 4: The Bruce Hotel
Where: 89 Parkview Dr, Stratford, ON (View Map)
Stratford in winter feels like a storybook set with snow along the Avon River and quieter streets. Just an eight-minute walk from the Festival Theatre, you will find The Bruce Hotel on a landscaped property at the edge of town. The hotel blends polished modern design with warm hospitality. There are twenty one rooms, four suites and one stand alone cottage. Each space feels spacious and thoughtful with comfortable beds, elegant finishes and natural light.
Experiences at The Bruce are the culinary heart of the property. Guests can join Chef Nick Benninger on guided farm tours (yes even when the fields are dusted in snow!) as they tastes special delights along the way from the culinary team at The Bruce Hotel. This March? Things are getting even sweeter.
Over March Break, guests can dive into all things maple all week long with hands-on fun that brings the sugar bush right to the hotel.Think guided wanderings through working maple forests and candy making workshops where kids and grown-ups get sticky in the best possible way. Every activity is designed to bottle that classic maple magic Canadians know by heart.
In the kitchen, the culinary team is cooking up a Sugar Shack inspired menu that leans into smoky, wood fired flavours and maple in all its glorious forms. Then comes the grand finale: a lively outdoor pig roast and long table dinner that feels like the very definition of rustic charm. It is cozy, communal and steeped in early spring flavour. Stay tuned for details!
Planning Your Winter Feast On Route
These four spots create a lovely winter loop through Southern Ontario. You can visit them on separate weekends or craft a longer getaway. Lowlands Fire Food pairs well with brewery stops in Peterborough. Elmhirst’s Resort suits families, couples and friend groups who want a full resort stay. Langdon Hall is ideal for a luxury weekend with serious food lovers. The Bruce Hotel fits a small town escape with memorable dining.
Wherever you go, you will taste Ontario’s farms, fields and waters. You will also support businesses that choose local even when winter makes sourcing harder. Pack warm layers and stretchy waistbands. Your cozy winter Feast On® adventure awaits.
