PREAMBLE & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN
I’VE HEARD THAT IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO HUNDRED DAYS FOR A VISITOR TO APPRECIATE EACH WORK OF ART ON DISPLAY AT THE LOUVRE IN PARIS. AMAZING. I’M BETTING THAT IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST AS MANY DAYS TO ENJOY MEALS AT EVERY ONE OF OUR REGION’S FANTASTIC CULINARY DESTINATIONS. HOW WOULD ONE EVEN BEGIN SUCH A MONUMENTAL (AND FLAVOURFUL) EXPLORATION?
ONE BITE AT A TIME, OF COURSE. AND PERHAPS ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME.
WITH THIS IN MIND, SOME TIME THIS WINTER THE TOQUE TEAM HUNKERED DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IN THE FOODIE-RICH ENCLAVE OF STRATFORD TO EMBARK UPON THIS DELECTABLE TASK. OUR MISSION: TO CRUSH FIVE DISHES FROM FIVE DIFFERENT SPOTS IN FESTIVAL CITY. BREAKFAST AT THE BRUCE HOTEL. LUNCH AT THE PLANET DINER. AN AFTERNOON RE-FUEL AT MERCER HALL. DINNER AT BRAAI HOUSE. AND POST-DINNER NIBBLES AT CAFÉ BOUFFON.
HEY – STRATFORD AND PARIS ARE SURELY DIFFERENT REALITIES, BUT WHAT WE DEVOURED OVER THE COURSE OF OUR STAY CAN CERTAINLY STILL BE CLASSIFIED WORKS OF ART.
ENJOY THE VIEW.
34 Brunswick St
braaihouse.restaurant
Bison (sunchoke, tasty paste, grains of paradise, macadamia). Paired with a Negroni.
South African-inspired live fire cooking in an elegant, swanky atmosphere.
118 Downie St
theplanetdiner.com
Buffalo Caesar Wrap (cashew Caesar salad dressing, romaine, bac’un bits & cashew parmesan wrapped in a flour tortilla w/ crispy buffalo chick’un). Paired with Queso Fries & a Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshake.
A playful retro diner vibe where herbivores can bring their carnivores.
70 Ontario St
cafebouffon.ca
Fondue For Two (a blend of alpine cheeses, spices and Kirsch, with bread & cornichons). Paired with, what else, a Negroni.
A taste of Paris in a stunning dining room that seems straight out of the nineteenth century.
89 Parkview Dr
thebruce.ca
Eggs Benedict (smoked coppa, bruce potatoes, airy hollandaise). Served with Perth Pork Sausage, black coffee, & a glass of orange juice.
An exquisite overnight oasis & dining experience just a short jaunt from the theatre.
104-108 Ontario St
mercerhall.ca
The Mercer Classic Burger (fresh ground patty, lettuce, tomato, pickled red onion, house-made bacon, smoked Mountain Oak gouda). Served with fries & a Fairweather ‘High Grade’ IPA.
A lively and casual dining room featuring Stratford’s largest craft beer menu.
For more great destinations, check out: visitstratford.ca
