Huntsville’s historic waterfront, six gourmet courses, a very long table and dancing on the dock! This is Flavours of Ontario, and it’s going to be the dining experience of the summer. On Thursday, August 8, 2019 you are invited to dine al fresco at the Town Dock with a front-row view of the beautiful Muskoka River and historic Downtown Huntsville. Pull up a chair, enjoy the warm summer air, and be part of a unique Muskoka “field-to-fork” dinner showcasing fare from every region in Ontario. To execute this tall order, local chef extraordinaire Jeff Suddaby will bring together culinary arts students from Niagara College. Not only will every course be impeccably prepared and presented, but you may just rub shoulders with Ontario’s next celebrity chef!
Pour a beverage, cheers your neighbour, and then whet your appetite with Sautéed Ontario White Shrimp provided by Planet Shrimp, served with fresh chili, grilled lemon and white wine. Located in Aylmer Ontario, Planet Shrimp grows what are hailed as the world’s most delicious shrimp indoors and free of chemicals, additives and toxins. The company is committed to responsible social, economic and environmental standards and practices and has been recognized by Ocean Wise and Sea Choice for their efforts at limiting environmental impact. Touted as the ideal shrimp for discerning culinary professionals, what better way to start off your Flavours of Ontario meal.
Next up is a delicious Ontario Grown Mixed Green Salad with sweet red onion, roasted garlic, julienne cucumber, farm fresh sliced steak tomato and fresh radish, topped with a honey poppy seed dressing. The ingredients for this one-of-a-kind salad come courtesy of Eat Local Muskoka, a collective of eight farms all located within 100 miles of Muskoka. Working together, these producers grow strictly organic fruits and vegetables using no pesticides or chemical fertilizers with a strong focus on sustainability. Known for their seasonal organic food boxes, Eat Local Muskoka’s salad promises to be the freshest salad you will eat outside of your own garden!
The next course on your culinary adventure is Seared Ontario Chicken Breast with mushroom, Niagara fresh grape, deglazed with chardonnay and served with Muskoka cranberry steamed rice. The chicken is provided by Yorkshire Valley Farms, a collective of chicken growers from the Peterborough region. Committed to organic practices, all farms in the collective adhere to a strict code of conduct that includes non-GMO grain feed, no antibiotics, pesticides or herbicides and no animal by-products. Yorkshire Valley Farms chickens roam free in modern barns with natural light and ventilation and have seasonal access to outdoor pastureland. Multi-generation organic farmers serve you the highest quality and best tasting products – the same as they feed their own families – which is the attitude they have shared from day one.
Your taste buds will be overwhelmed when you feast on Blackened Georgian Bay Whitefish with quinoa, black eyed peas and fresh herbs. The fish are harvested by Purvis Fisheries, a fifth generation family run business dedicated to sustainable practices and processes. Located on Manitoulin Island, whitefish are caught from the cool, clean waters of Lake Huron. An Ocean Wise recommended business, Purvis Fisheries is committed to sustainable fishing and the highest standards of quality. So fresh it will taste like you caught it yourself – this is a dish you are guaranteed to love.
Just when you think there can’t be more – there is! Next up is Barbecued Beef Tenderloin with horseradish demi-glace, mandolin potato and white turnip frites. The beef comes from Artisan Farms, a collection of multi-generation Ontario family farms committed to ethical animal welfare and sustainable land stewardship. Their cows are heritage breeds and are allowed to free range in natural grasslands and eat all natural vegetarian feeds with no chemicals or antibiotics. The farmers believe that a healthy herd produces a better product, and we are quite sure you will agree.
Hope you have room for dessert! Flavours of Ontario concludes with Fresh Niagara Cherry & Chocolate Torte with vanilla bean gelato. Created by Huntsville’s own Whimsical Bakery, enjoy fresh Niagara cherries baked to perfection and paired with all natural, handcrafted artisanal gelato from local producer Affogato Cafe & Gelato. This sweet treat is the perfect finish to our extraordinary array of fresh Ontario culinary creations.
After dinner, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts hosts “Dancing on the Docks”. Local musician Neil Barlow fronts a 10-piece band playing golden oldies as the sun goes down. Grab a partner and your dancing shoes and take a turn on the Town Docks – what better way to end this magical evening?
Flavours of Ontario marries fine dining with relaxed Muskoka style. Whether you’re a foodie or just want to celebrate summer in Muskoka, this is your chance to sit dock-side and enjoy the company of friends (or meet new ones!) as you taste the future of Ontario cuisine.
Tickets are available online at eventbrite.ca or at the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce (37 Main Street East, Huntsville / 705.789.4771).