The Great Taste of Ontario Gift Guide | Ontario Culinary
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IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR TO SUPPORT LOCAL IN ONTARIO

 

We've brought together the best bottles, the greatest gifts and, as always, the most delicious experiences - perfect for gifting - from across the province. Any of these ideas are sure to knock the locally-made socks off that special someone on your list. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed curating it.

 

Experience the heart of Ontario foodways

These one-of-a-kind experiences will have you making memories that will last far beyond the festive season.

1 AfroGourmets Hands-On Cooking Class

Thunder Bay, ON    afrogourmets.ca

Discover the joy of learning to cook soul food in this intimate, hands-on cooking class in Thunder Bay. When you're done, sit down to enjoy the meal together. 

2 Behind the Scoop Experience

Kitchener and Waterloo, ON     fourall.ca

You'll get the chance to tour For All Ice Cream and do a guided tasting before rolling up your sleeves to create for of your own pints! From mix-ins and flavouring to your base, you'll create goodness tailor made for your palette! 

3 Beekeeping + Honey Tasting Experience

Vankleek Hill, ON  gibbshoney.com

Join the beekeepers and certified honey sommeliers at Gibbs Honey for a unique experience that brings you to the hive! 2026 experience tickets are now available. 

4 Horse Play + a Picnic

Tavistock, ON transitionseq.ca

Enjoy a fireside drink before meeting the herd at Transitions Equine where you'll learn about interacting with horses. When you're done, enjoy a delightful charcuterie box of Oxford cheeses and meats together. 

...or a cozy winter escape

We think you'll like these ones at Feast On® certified accommodations.

5 The Royal Hotel

Picton, ON.  theroyalhotel.ca

Cozy up in The County during a quieter time of year! The Royal Hotel won this year's Culinary and Agritourism Experience of the Year at the Ontario Tourism Summit so you can count on great food and a luxurious stay. 

6 Puddicombe House

New Hamburg, ON.    puddicombehouse.com

Rural charm, cozy accommodations and a menu displaying a true taste of Waterloo Region awaits in this 1868 home. 

7 The Little Inn of Bayfield

Bayfield, ON.   littleinn.com

Stay, dine on local flavours and relax at the Little Inn of Bayfield where heritage meets lakeside charm this holiday season.

8 The Waring House

Picton, ON. waringhouse.com

Pamper your taste buds by escaping to the Waring House! This spot not only serves as a great touchdown for further exploration of Prince Edward County, they also have some excellent culinary-based packages to discover! 

 

 

Treat them to a wicked-awesome meal

Celebrate the flavours of Ontario around the table.

photo of crowsfoot meal including brisket, macaroni, coleslaw, a beer and a cocktail

 

9 Harper's

Kingston, ON     harpersburgerbar.com

Looking for a quick and casual but still delicious bite between the hustle and bustle of the season? Harper's boasts diner food with a modern twist in a cozy downtown Kingston spot! 

10 Heather Lodge

Minden, ON    heatherlodge.com

Located on beautiful Twelve Mile Lake, you don't want to miss the exquisite dining experience (and luxurious stays) at The Heather Lodge. 

11 Crowsfoot Smokehaus

Conestogo, ON    crowsfoot.ca

Combining traditional German-style eats with Southern BBQ and an old school general store, this spot is homey one to cozy up this season with a great cocktail and comforting meal. 

12 Radius

Hamilton + Burlington, ON   radius.ca

Discover culinary mastery at Radius in Burlington or Hamilton this holiday season. Expect fresh ingredients, feel good holiday vibes and plenty of VQA wines, craft cocktails and more. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAVE YOURSELF A SUSTAINABLE CELEBRATION

Looking for ways to keep the holidays sustainable while still making those you love feel loved?
Here are four gifts for food and drink lovers that do just that!

10 people gathered around a table rolling beeswax candles

BUZZWORTHY CANDLES

The Bee Shop in Toronto is Feast On® certified and boasts loads of workshops including a beeswax candle-making workshop perfect for gifting quality time and a great smelling gift. 

two side by side merry gift boxes from Birch Jewellery

A MERRY GIFT BOX

Give the gift of handmade with this thoughtfully-curated gift box from Birch Jewellery out of Ottawa. It includes a clay ornament, a festive candle, mini pine tree earrings + a bow necklace!

PACKAGED WITH PURPOSE

Think outside the box this holiday season with a traditional Japanese gift-wrapping technique Furoshiki. Reversible, reusable, and zero-waste, add elegance and sustainability to your gift wrapping with Canadian based Wrappr.

two bottles of maple syrup from Heartwood Farm and Cidery

DRIZZLE YOUR GIFT

Give their pancakes, waffles, coffee...you name it, the gift of local maple syrup this holiday season from the folks at Feast On® certified Heartwood Farm + Cidery. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIVE INDIGENOUS-MADE GIFTS THIS SEASON

 
Supporting Indigenous-owned food and drink businesses is important. Here are four awesome gifts by four awesome Indigenous food makers we want to find in our stocking this year.

 

1 BIRCH BARK COFFEE COMPANY

Ottawa, ON    birchbarkcoffeecompany.com

This sustainable coffee roaster supports seven charities dedicated to creating meaningful change in Indigenous communities through the Birch Bark Foundation Fund. They are grounded in the Seven Grandfather Teachings.

2 THRIVE TOURS

Sault Ste. Marie, ON    thrivetours.ca

Join the folks at Thrive Tours for Indigenous land-based experiences that will live in your memory long past the time you enjoy them.

3 WABANAKI MAPLE

Tobique First Nation, New Brunswick    wabanakimaple.com

Wabanaki Maple is 100% Indigenous and female-owned, specializing in a unique taste of place in each bottle. Be sure to try their cedar-infused maple syrup for something truly unique!

4 GREAT TASTE OF CANADA EXPERIENCE

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON    canadaculinary.com

Join Chef Joseph Shawana as he celebrates his Odawa roots on the plate at this exclusive event with the Culinary Tourism Alliance and Parks Canada this November.

5 TWO HEARTS BEADWORK

Toronto, ON   twoheartsbeadwork.com

Two Hearts beadwork is run by a mother-daughter duo celebrating beadwork traditions of Anishinaabe culture.

 

 

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SIPS TO SAVOUR THE SEASON

The holidays are a time for celebration and nothing says celebration like a little VQA vino, Ontario-made cider or mead.

The Drea x Ziraldo 50th Anniversary Gift Pack
A Partnership Gift Pack
Niagara-on-the-Lake
(Order before November 30th)

Spruce Tip Cider
Woodfolk Cider
Coldwater (Orillia and Lake Country)

2018 Chardonnay
Dark Horse Estate Winery
Grand Bend

Fire + Ice Cider
West Avenue Cider House
Freelton

SMALL-BATCH CHOCOLATES
THEY'RE SURE TO LOVE

 

We are chocolate lovers through and through - especially when they're made with love and local ingredients. These three chocolate makers create beautiful treats that even the most discerning chocolate lover in your life will enjoy!

1. One More Cocoa

Whitby, ON  One More Cooa

This Whitby-based chocolatier blends the flavours of Jamaica into each loving bite! Don't sleep on these little pieces of Heaven, they were even on Oprah's Favourite Things list! 

2. HABITUAL CHOCOLATE

Woodstock, ON    habitualchocolate.com

Habitual Chocolate is home to Canada's largest selection of bean to bar chocolate. If you have a chocolate-lover on your list, book them into the Handcrafted Harvest or Become a Chocolatier experience to kick things up a notch! 

3. Hummingbird Chocolate

Almonte, ON   hummingbirdchocolate.com

Discover the difference taking chocolate from bean to bar makes in each bite from Hummingbird Chocolate! Visiting the café? Don't miss out on their signature hot chocolate either! 

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT


Gone are the days of badly made Boulevardiers and sad Sazaracs at your holiday party. Show up in style with a sixer, something pre-made or something to make together this holiday season from some brilliant Ontario distillers. 

 

1 GINGERBREAD GIN 

WILLIBALD DISTILLERY
Waterloo Region, ON     drinkwillibald.com

Not overly sweet but still enough to be a treat, this gingerbread gin uses an array of gin botanicals alongside a heaping helping of cinnamon, clove and ginger. Best enjoyed by an open fire, we love mixing it into a holiday mule or drinking  it with a bit of tonic and a sprig of rosemary. You can also get it pre-wrapped or enjoy it in one of Willibald's pre-made gingerbread mules.

 

JUMPER CABLES CLARITY COCKTAIL

TWISTED LEMON RESTAURANT + BOUTIQUE INN
Perth, ON   twistedlemon.ca

Twisted Lemon boasts a great selection of clarified cocktails made in house including this one with particularly festive flavour! Shop online and pick up locally. 

 

3 CINNAMON BUN LIQUER

FORTY CREEK
Grimsby, ON      fortycreekwhisky.com

Cinnamon buns in liquid form? Yep, we're definitely willing to try that. Savour this velvety little number on it's own or in your festive coffee.

4 SPICED APPLE OLD FASHIONED

WILDLOT
Picton, ON      wildlot.ca

This seasonal twist on a year-round classic combines whisky, spiced apple liqueur, fresh-pressed apple cider and a honey simple syrup from the bees at Wildlot!

THE GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING

 

Foodie subscription boxes are truly the gift that keeps on giving - think wine club, but with all things edible. Here's five food subscription services we're giving our friends and family this year.

Hot Sauce

lucifershouseofheat.com

Spice up someone’s life this holiday season with a Lucifer’s House of Heat hot sauce subscription box, delivering fiery flavours and bold blends straight to their door.

JAM & TEA

kittenandthebear.com

Gift handcrafted luxury with Kitten and the Bear’s Seasonal Jam Subscription. Based in Toronto, this small-batch preserve company delivers quarterly selections of signature and seasonal jams, made with peak-season, locally sourced fruit. Perfect for pairing with their curated teas or as part of a cozy breakfast, it’s an ideal gift for lovers of artisanal flavours and indulgent moments.

CHEESE

eatenandtold.com

Calling Northern Ontarians! The Fancy Cheese Club is available for order online and pick up in Thunder Bay. A partnership between Eaten & Told and The Cheese Encounter, you'll have a chance to experience different cheeses from around the world monthly. 

COFFEE

theroasterspack.com

The Roasters Pack Coffee Subscription is perfect for coffee enthusiasts, offering a monthly selection of freshly roasted, small-batch coffees from top Canadian roasters. Each delivery includes tasting notes and brewing tips, making it a delightful way to explore diverse flavours and elevate your coffee experience.

ONTARIO CRAFT CIDER + MEAD

heeman.ca

Join the Heeman's Cellar Club and you'll get to experience their small-batch ciders and meads delivered straight to your door with each season! 

LEGENDAIRY GIFTS
THAT COULDN'T BE FETA

Cheese. It's a gouda gift idea and when it's crafted right here in Ontario? Even cheddar. Get them something legenDAIRY this holiday season- the gift of cheese. Keep in mind, many of these cheesemakers also ship gift packs and baskets of cheese!

 

1 CACIOTTA BLACK PEPPERCORNS

SECRET LANDS FARM
Proton Station, ON     secretlands.ca

Discover the delightful flavour of this sheep's milk cheese (made from sheep living right on the property) complete with peppercorns scattered through out for a long, sweet and spicy finish.

 

2 OXFORD'S HARVEST

GUNN'S HILL ARTISAN CHEESE
Woodstock, ON     gunnshillcheese.ca

This creamy little cheese is named for the county where the cows graze — Oxford! Aged three months, this is modelled after the Swiss Mutchli cheese.

 

3 CELTIC BLUE RESERVE

GLENGARRY FINE CHEESE
Lancaster, ON     glengarryfinecheese.com

Extra creamy, this cheese is a soft blue variety featuring subtle blue veining and a natural, limestone-colored rind created through specialized ripening cultures. Its signature blue flavor is mild and non-intrusive, complemented by a rich, buttery aroma.

 

4 LEMON SUCCOR

MONFORTE DAIRY
Stratford, ON    fifthtown.ca

This creamy, spreadable bad boy has a zesty twist, freshening up salads, baguettes, pastas and more! You can find Monforte Dairy on Saturdays at the St. Lawrence Market, Evergreen Brickworks or the Wychwood barns Farmer's Market in Toronto. You can also pickup at their dairy in Stratford on Fridays.

 

5 WILDWOOD

STONETOWN CHEESE
St Marys, ON    stonetowncheese.com

This multi-award-winning cheese is a staple around Ontario holiday tables. This one is perfect on a leftover turkey sandwich or on that holiday cheeseboard.

 

MORE GREAT GIFTS FOR FOOD LOVERS

 

This FOREST GARDEN CIDER from Heartwood Farm and Cidery offers a taste of local terroir using a blend of six apples and a light touch of maple syrup from their farm.

OFF MENU , a fictional novel by Toronto author, chef and cinnamon bun magnate, Amy Rosen, in the form of a series of diary entries. 

These unreal GINGERBREAD CARAMELS made in Merrickville.

This HOUSE BLEND SEASONING from Zule Eats in Windsor brings the flavours of Ghana to your pantry. 

A GISHIDAY TOMATO-BASED HOTE SAUCE from CharGer Foods out of Couchiching First Nation

FINBARR'S HONEY from Springfield Farm Organics gives you all the terroir-produced flavour of Apple Hill, Ontario. 

Discover the flavours and stories behind the Global Black Experience through food at YAYA'S KITCHEN.

This CROISSANT LAMINATION WORKSHOP with award-winning Chef, Daniel Angus of Terroir Artisan Bakery.

The HARVEST ALE from Mackinnon Brothers Brewing that uses ingredients exclusively grown right on their farm. 

This RED WINE SALT infuses kosher salt with red wine from Blueberry Hill in Norfolk County.

This EMERALD CUP is made right in Prince Edward County by Cylinder Studio. 

This FUN BEER GLASS is perfect for the craft beer lover on your list.

The caesar-lover on your list needs this 1858 DILL PICKLE CAESAR RIMMER. 

This delightful, non-alcoholic TRELLIS GINGER FIZZ from the folks at GoodLot Farm & Farmstead brewery will put a zip in their step. 

A handmade LEATHER KOOZIE from a Feast On® brewery? We're into it.

This chance to MAKE YOUR OWN CUSTOM GIN from the fine folks at Dillon's Small Batch Distillers in Niagara. 

A SHOE AND BREW TOUR with the folks at Free Spirit Tours in Simcoe county. 

These JAMAICAN COCONUT DROPS from Brampton will make you feel like you're on vacay.

This 2021 DRY RIESLING from West Ave. has all the essentials. 

Discover Mother Nature AND great food at Madawaska Kanu Centre.

A Niagara Falls WONDER PASS gets you into several attractions. Follow it all up with a meal from Table Rock House. 

These FEASTING PLATES are a beautiful addition to any holiday meal. 

This FERAL HEART FARMHOUSE LAGER from Michelin-recommended Barrel Heart Brewing and Blending in Dundas. 

A holiday-worthy bottle of 2023 DANFORTH RIDGE PINOT NOIR from Closson Chase Vineyards in Prince Edward County.

This Vodkow EGGNOG CREAM LIQUEUR is sure to make you feel holly jolly. 

A custom MINT SMOOTHIE COFFEE BLEND from Rheo Thompson and Baden Coffee Company to add a little zip to your festive cup. 

Grab a gift card for COMMON STOVE and you'll get dinner and a show at this open-fire restaurant. 

A relaxing morning paddle, cozy eats and more await you on Six Nations with this romance couple for CHIEFSWOOD PARK.

These CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES straight from Niagara Benchlands.

The COME BACK SNACKS Candy Cane Caramel Popcorn – A Sweet and Minty Holiday Favourite!

This COFFEE CONCENTRATE from Backroad Coffee Roasters will hype up your morning coffee game.

The creamiest handmade SHEEP MILK GELATO from the folks at Secret Lands Farm. 

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