Winter invites cravings. You want meals that warm your soul and treats that spark joy. You want small town charm with serious flavour. You want food that feels good and does good. This is where Feast On® comes in.
What is Feast On®?
Feast On® is Ontario’s stamp of approval for places that champion local food. It highlights businesses that use Ontario ingredients in thoughtful ways. It also celebrates chefs and makers who support nearby farms and producers. When you choose Feast On® you support your neighbours and get fresher plates with more flavour. Your winter gets tastier and Ontario’s food system gets stronger. Everyone wins.
Winter also asks for comfort. Travel slows. Appetite grows. Simple pleasures matter more. A beautiful meal with local ingredients feels extra special in the colder months. These Feast On businesses shine through the snow and offer something distinct. From cozy getaways to lively restaurants and charming shops you will find many ways to stay warm.
Below are seven great stops to enjoy this winter. They are fun. They are delicious. They celebrate Ontario. They also prove that winter joy comes from good food and good stories. Let’s dig in.
Don’t feel like reading the whole thing right now? Skip ahead by section:
- Unique Winter Food Experiences
- Big Flavours for Cold Days (Delicious Dining)
- Snacks and Sips to Boost Your Winter Stash
Unique Winter Food Experiences
Winter calls for deeper connections with food. It feels good to learn taste and explore in new ways. These Feast On businesses offer experiences that go beyond a plate. You get hands-on moments that bring you closer to the ingredients and the makers who use them. These spots serve flavour and fun with a hint of winter magic.
Down Home Restaurant
Where: 135299 9 Line, Markdale, ON (View Map)
Down Home Restaurant gives you something rare. You enjoy dinner inside the home of owners Joel Grey and Hannah Harradine. Their space feels warm and personal. It sets the tone for a relaxed winter feast. Meals are cooked over open fire which adds smokiness you feel in every bite. Seasonal ingredients guide each dish. Winter vegetables shine with bold flavour. Local meats become cozy comfort.
The setting feels friendly rather than formal. Enjoy a cocktail as you watch your meal come together in part outside before cozying in. This Michelin-recommended stop is a testament to the fact that you actually can enjoy locally-grown and harvested ingredients, even in the winter. You taste the season’s best in simple honest plates. Think everything from roasted duck with quail scotch eggs to beef tartare with juniper mustard aioli.
Down Home also hosts unique winter experiences that bring you closer to the land. Past years have included maple sap boils to celebrate maple season in March, East Coast Kitchen Parties and as the ground begins to thaw, foraging experiences that teach guests about the wild foods available in Ontario.
Ready to go? Make your reservation Thursday through Saturday!
Maison Maitland Cooking School & Villas
Where: 1258 County Rd 2, Maitland, ON (View Map)
Maison Maitland feels like a winter retreat pulled from a French countryside fantasy. The house is an 1820s stone estate with soft lines and timeless charm. Thick walls hold warmth. Tall windows frame snowy views. Every room feels calm inviting and very easy to love. It gives winter a romantic glow you feel the moment you step inside.
Guests can choose packages that mix food experiences with cozy comfort. The Winter Tour de Taste Package sets you up with a two-room villa for a two-day, 3-night culinary journey! Indulge in a Bonjour Meal Basket and Breakfast Basket before heading out on day 2 for a five-hour culinary journey co-created with the folks from 1000 Ways. From authentic Spanish Tapas to local sips and savours you’ll have to discover for yourself, this is the best way to indulge and relish in winter along the St. Lawrence River!
Alternatively, the Luxe Spa and Culinary Weekend Getaway for Two turns indulgence into an art form. The package mixes soothing spa time with thoughtful culinary touches. You enjoy rich winter flavours plus time to decompress in a beautiful suite. This getaway sees you set up in the a two-bedroom villa for two nights and three days.
Cozy into this snowy retreat as you savour a delectable charcuterie spread, a delicious breakfast each morning and take part in a Saturday morning cooking class! When you’re done, go pamper yourself with a credit to Maison Maitland’s nearby spa partner. Feel that? That’s relaxation.
But there’s more! These are just a couple of the delicious packages available so be sure to check the out online!
Hot Tip: Owner Cynthia Peters will appear on Bell’s new show The French Country Kitchen. Guests can stay at Maison Maitland and cook in the very kitchen featured on screen. It feels like stepping into your own cozy food show. You get seasonal ingredients ,expert tips and a space built for creativity.
Big Flavours for Cold Days
Some winter days do not require a full getaway. You only need a meal that fires up your taste buds. These Feast On® restaurants deliver bold flavours and meals that cheer you through the season. They create energy without losing comfort which is exactly what winter needs.
Tabule
Where: 4 locations across the GTA (Midtown, Riverside, Bayview and Oakville)
With four locations spread across the GTA, Tabule brings Middle Eastern flavours to life with bright spices fresh herbs and generous hospitality. Winter loves flavour that wakes you up and this menu does exactly that. Everything feels vibrant. You can choose many plates to share or enjoy a hearty main. Each dish celebrates fresh Ontario ingredients shaped by timeless culinary traditions.
So what can you expect? A menu steeped with colour and boldness. We recommend starting with the Basterma with Labni for the table (made with a beef known as Middle Eastern prosciutto) and following it up with their Akkawi Cheese and Ontario dry-aged lamb skewers. When it comes to drinks, you won’t be short on winter warmers either! Try the Lebanese hot chocolate with cardamom and a slight heat for a warming finish.
Ready to go? Book your table.
Tomasso’s Italian Grille
Where: 35 Front St, Trenton, ON (View Map)
Tomasso’s delivers Italian comfort with Ontario pride and they’ve been Feast On® certified since 2015! It is a beloved spot in Trenton with a long history of feeding locals and visitors alike. So, if you’re looking for pasta that hugs your soul, Tomasso’s excels at that. You get generous portions packed with flavour. Sauces taste rich and balanced. Ingredients feel fresh because local suppliers make that possible. Try the Penne Diavlo with Italian sausage or the house special spaghetti for a classic that won’t steer you wrong!
More into pizza? This time of year, we love the Mediterranean for a taste bud trip south complete with tomato sauce, mozzarella, feta, Kalamata olives, red onions, spinach, tomatoes, artichoke hearts and roasted garlic— yum! The atmosphere feels friendly and relaxed. Families gather. Friends catch up. New faces feel welcome. It has the spirit of a neighbourhood classic with a modern touch.
Ready to go? Book your table.
Puddicombe House
Where: 145 Peel St, New Hamburg, ON (View Map)
Puddicombe House is winter comfort dressed in Victorian drama. The mansion looks like it was built to stun in snow. You walk in and feel ten percent fancier without even trying and yet, there’s no pretentiousness to be found on the menu or with the staff. The air is warm the smells are rich and your appetite perks up on cue.
The menu leans hard into cold-weather comfort with serious Ontario pride, giving winter vegetables VIP status. Think parsnip and chevre dips, Thai crispy chicken with Cippolini onions and butternut squash agnolotti to name just a few. We can’t think of a better menu to warm you up from the inside out.
Looking for something a little unique? Book an outdoor winter table! Perfect for snowy evenings, this private outdoor dining experience puts you and 1-7 of your friends in a miniature glass house out front complete with a wee fireplace and heater. Dive into steaming bowls of soup or duck confit on lemon kale risotto as you watch the snow fall and the twinkle lights glisten.
If you want to skip shivering back to your car you can stay the night in one of the heritage rooms. It keeps the evening smooth and spares you the winter driving shuffle. You can even book a spa treatment the following day!
Snacks and Sips to Boost Your Winter Stash
Winter shopping feels better when you bring home treats made with care. These Feast On businesses offer products that celebrate Ontario flavours to be enjoyed on site or at home. They help you stock your pantry, support local makers and keep your snacking game strong this winter.
The Cheese Gallery
Where: 11 Bruce St S, Thornbury, ON (View Map)
The Cheese Gallery in Thornbury is a small shop with huge character. If you love cheese, you’ll walk in and feel immediate joy. Large coolers offer Ontario-made cheeses and well as a few international options, shelves boast gourmet snacks and tasty surprises abound. Staff share helpful advice without fuss. Need a recommendation? Just ask! You can grab a wedge of something creamy or crumbly or bold. Winter welcomes a cheese board and this shop sets you up well.
When it comes to Ontario cheeses, this spot is well stocked. Enjoy creamy crowdie from Golspie Dairy in Oxford County, Niagara Gold from the folks at Upper Canada Cheese Company or Horseradish Gouda from the folks at Mountainoak Cheese in New Hamburg!
Ready to hop a few provincial borders? We recommend stocking up on the award-winning Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar out of PEI or Blue Moo, one of the most approachable bleus on the market for those who are bleu cheese hesitant. You can even pick up some Québec-made raclette cheese.
For something truly special, why not schedule your shop around a tasty lunch? With the ability to dine in now, you can crunch and pull your way through an ooey-gooey grilled cheese sandwich paired up with a selection of local ciders, wines and beers as well as a few other tasty snacks.
Finally, if you’re hosting this winter or just looking for a dinner option, The Cheese Gallery offers catering services and order-ahead charcuterie and cheese platters to suit your needs! Bon appétit!
Slabtown Cider
Where: 4559 Concession 6, Uxbridge, ON (View Map)
Slabtown Cider pairs orchard charm with creative craft cider that refuses to hide in winter. The season might feel like cider’s quiet cousin yet Slabtown proves winter belongs in the spotlight too. Their ciders stay bright and crisp which cuts through heavy winter meals with ease. They also taste fantastic by a fire because who doesn’t like a little ambience?
Cozy up in the on-site restaurant for a flight and watch snow fall past the windows. The space feels warm and rustic which makes each sip even better. You can also grab bottles to go because winter emergencies happen and cider solves many of them. Alternatively, head out onto the patio, bundle up and enjoy your cider fireside with some homemade marshmallows.
This time of year we love Cider House Rules. It is a playful nod to author John Irving and a full winter mood in a bottle. Expect cinnamon clove and orange zest that hit all the right nostalgic notes. You can drink it cold or warm it gently for peak cozy energy.
If you like a little drama try the Honey Habanero Cider. It brings gentle heat with honey from nearby 3 Boyz Bees. It warms you without setting your eyebrows on fire. The Ginger Spritz works great for sinus clearing or general winter wakeups. It feels like a spa day disguised as a cider.
Of course classic cider fans get equal love. The Founders Dry Cider is their flagship and deserves respect. It is made with 100% Ontario apples grown right on their own orchard. It finishes clean bright and dangerously easy to enjoy. Winter feels lighter with every sip.
Cheers to you and cheers to Slabtown for keeping cider exciting all winter long.
Eat Well, Stay Warm, Repeat
Whether you want a cozy getaway a lively dinner or a pantry upgrade, you can find something memorable. Feast On® champions local ingredients and celebrates the people who grow and craft them. Your choices help strengthen that network and keep delicious stories alive.
So bundle up then treat yourself. Winter feels warmer when you enjoy Ontario one fantastic bite at a time.
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