The Barn Chefs
5543 Highway 620, Coe Hill
thebarnchefs.kitchen
Executive chefs and husband-and-wife team Luca Molteni and Sarah Woods have travelled the world delighting guests at destinations like the Mira in Hong Kong and Tribe Hotel in Nairobi. Now they’ve put down roots in Hastings County to work their culinary magic in quieter surroundings – and to let their creativity flow! They offer charcuterie (they even make the charcuterie boards), preserves, custom cakes and breads. And they have proudly established themselves as the second smallest meat plant in Ontario, with a focus on top ingredients and Italian techniques. Open Wednesday to Sunday.
Decanter PEC
260 Main Street, Wellington
decanterpec.ca
Turning part of one of Wellington’s historic homes into a tasting bar, shop and event space was an evolution of the business Angie Jewell and MJ MacDonald launched in 2011 to deliver wine-based events. They wanted to do more of it! Decanter expands their offerings of rare Ontario wines to include local craft beer, cider and mead (the fermented honey drink popular in medieval Europe and also loved by the Vikings). Sip, sip! You’ll likely want to snack as well on gourmet edibles and squishy candy. If it’s a picnic day, stop in for supplies.
Paper Kite Farm
212 County Road 16, Milford
paperkite.farm
When Judy and Hans Ning bought a fixer-upper on two acres of land in Milford in 2021, they wanted to bring new crops to the County as a tribute to Judy’s Hmong heritage. The beautiful cucumbers, bok choy, eggplants, melons and okra are just some of the items in their weekly box delivery from June to October. You’ll also find delicious prepared Asian meals at their onsite farm store, and their order-online “Dumpling Club PEC” crescent-shaped dumplings, handmade and frozen, come ready to drop into a boiling pot. Edamame and Thai basil, yum!
Cavan on Walton
74 Walton Street, Port Hope
IG: @cavanonwalton
Sweet and savory crêpes, tasty panini sandwiches, and baked treats for dessert or a sweet snack. Port Hope’s newest addition to dining opens for breakfast as well as lunch and brunch with a focus on fresh and local creations. Entrepreneur Colleen Imrie of the Nooks on Walton opened Cavan restaurant last year on Cavan Street, but decided to rework the business for a smaller, cozier space on the town’s main street. The reboot has the same rustic charm and relaxed feel with lots of options for shared plates and good times. Photograph by Krystal Wilson
Nutes
Cobourg
nutesnutrition.ca
Need some plant power to kickstart your morning? Cobourg’s Cheryl Gould has made inroads at health food and grocery stores across the province with her nutrient powerhouses, Nutes. The frozen superfood smoothie pucks (drop into a blender with oat milk and you’re there) and frozen cold-pressed juices in her raw food line have all the convenience of a packaged item without any unwanted additives or extras. Try the Go Go Green and Purple Tonic! Cheryl says freezing is the best way to preserve the precious microbes to keep your gut healthy.
Feel Good Town Catering
255 Division Street, Cobourg
feelgoodtowncatering.com
For your wedding, corporate milestone or intimate dinner for two to impress, Chef Brad Murphy has a way with food, presentation and the personal touch. The Cobourg caterer brings more than 25 years’ experience to the kitchen with a preference for local-sourced goodness and something a little extra special – for example, feel-good openers like smoked tomato soup or seafood chowder. And dessert to swoon over: espresso panna cotta with Grand Marnier marinated strawberries. Not surprisingly, there are many fans of his build-your-own pasta bar. Photograph by Johanne Vlachos
Farm Girl Café
18 Mill Street, Stirling
IG: @farmgirlcafestirling
The talented trio of food-lovers Rachel, Megan and Owen are the wonders behind this beautiful café and gathering place in Stirling. The service is super friendly and the selection of buttery pastries and home-baked pies and brownies is irresistible, so just go for it! They take muffins to a new level with a lemon poppyseed with lemon curd and must-have-two coconut lime flavours. And while you can have dessert first, don’t forget to sample the savoury pressed paninis with chicken pesto, chicken apple brie, and crowd-pleaser jalapeño popper grilled cheese. Oh, yeah!
