Guelph, about an hour’s drive (or roughly 70-minute train trip) west of Toronto, may be considered the city that beer built (specifically: Sleeman, founded and still headquartered here). But there’s more brewing in the city than just frothy pints, as I discovered on a recent culinary-themed weekend visit. In May, Lynn Broughton, owner of , led me on an abridged version of her three-hour culinary tours, where we sampled the food and drink scene around the Renaissance Revival-style Old City Hall.
“I wonder why more people don’t take the train from Toronto, hop off downtown, eat, wander, shop, hear music, attend one of our Fab Five festivals, and get back on (the train) at the end of the day,” says Broughton, delivering a solid itinerary. ’s deep agricultural roots have been cultivating an impressive food scene for years, translating into a rich farm-to-table culture focused on local ingredients, sustainability and food justice. But perhaps lesser known is the thriving ecosystem of independent and community-driven restaurants and food businesses.
The drink scene here is also expanding, with a destination-worthy winery, , and craft distilleries like the world-class on the banks of the Speed River. The latter is the new, family-owned venture by the Sleemans, creating spirits, from gin to single-malt whisky, under the John Sleeman & Sons label. Read on for just a few of the worthwhile Guelph spots I discovered on my food tour.
Find made-from-scratch French pastries at E.
