The Sweet Retreat
375 Front Street, Belleville
thesweetretreatshop.com
Bakery owner and chief cake decorator Miranda shares her love of small batch, handcrafted and not-your-ordinary-store bought marshmallows with her devoted patrons. These decadent melt-in-your-mouth morsels are created with their own tempting flavours to ensure a personalized sweet retreat. Miranda continues to push her creative boundaries with whimsical baked goods and in-season offerings at this pleasantly pastel downtown bakery.
The Brake Room
34 Dundas Street East, Belleville
thebrakeroom.com
Looking for a wintry morning pick me up? Try a Brake Room specialty of chili, turmeric, lemon, maple latte or a subtly savoury lavender tea paired with warmed oat milk, or any other blissful blend that you and your barista can imagine. Bike repair and a café seem like odd bedfellows, but the Brake Room is more about community and togetherness shared over a sustainably sourced coffee with a side of healthy snacks to go. Discover this Belleville hot spot, with or without two wheels.
Friesen’s Smokehaus
49 Front Street North, Campbellford
thesmokehaus.ca
Winter indulgence is all about hearty fare piled up high with expertly smoked brisket, the creamy goodness of mac & cheese and a side of smoked beans ’n’ bacon. This Trent Hills staple brings a Southern style BBQ joint coupled with German inspiration to Northumberland County and does not disappoint. Discover what pit master Jake Friesen learned from his late grandfather with a nod to Mennonite meat-smoking techniques. Be sure to grab some take-home items for a late-night hearty nosh – we hear Friesen’s BBQ pairs well with a Church Key Northumberland Ale.
Things Between Bread
Downtown Port Hope
Instagram: @thingsbetweenbreadph
Sandwiches are having a renaissance moment and Port Hope’s own Things Between Bread elevates the humble sandwich even further. Try their avocado with Boursin, cucumber, red cabbage and arugula on Happenstance’s Peace and Love sourdough or a chicken with curry mayo, bartlett pear, arugula and sweet pear ginger jam. Good news for those die-hard sammie fans, this red foodtruck fixture in the Olympus Burger parking lot will soon have a downtown location.
La Cultura Salumi
842 Hamilton Road, Belleville
laculturasalumi.com
Tapping into his rural, Italian roots, Frank Aballe is perfecting his tools of the trade and sharing the most delicate and decadent air-dried meats with a whole new legion of fans. Bring the time-honoured Italian traditions of a thinly sliced carpaccio or a bresaola, a dry-aged Iberico pork pancetta, or a flavour-rich slinzega to your next charcuterie board or pile it high on a locally baked sourdough for your very own signature sandwich creation.
Fawn Over Market
22186 Loyalist Parkway, Carrying Place
fawnovermarket.ca
This light-filled, independent market is stocked with the best local goodies as well as in-store prepped meals and baked goods – created by Chef Alexandra Feswick and her team with a nod at easy-to-impress gourmet. Drop by for a freshly made pastry, pleasantly presented on the pristine countertop and grab a tourtière, quiche or a marinated chicken with roasted, in-season, root vegetables to go and wow the family at tonight’s dinner.
Trenton Deli & Bakery
469A Dundas Street West, Trenton
trentondeli.com
A Quinte West hot spot for all things European, from a festive-looking tri-colour Gouda to Hausmacher liver sausage and beef bitterballen to sticky sweet keukenstroop, Trenton Deli & Bakery brings olde world favourites to a whole new legion of fans. Owners Erin and Adam Keats brought their fresh ideas to a new, brighter space to expand their substantial deli creations. Drop in for some custom sandwich creations to share with friends and family.
