Regional Cuisine

Crossing one of the three bridges to the County is like entering an older, gentler world. Settled by United Empire Loyalists more than 200 years ago, Ontario’s only island county is now experiencing an exciting rural renaissance that includes culinary tourism. That’s delicious rural experiences on friendly farms and at wineries and vineyards, visits with cheese-makers and cider makers and a feast of regional cuisine.

Culinary interest in the County is nothing new. In the past, Prince Edward County fuelled American breweries with its barley, became notorious for Prohibition rum running, produced almost half of Canada’s canned tomatoes and was known as “Canada’s Garden” for its booming canning industry.

Agricultural fortunes built fine mansions and beautiful limestone farmhouses before frozen food killed the canning factories. Fortunes dwindled until the 1980s when the outside world rediscovered the County’s unspoiled beauty and gentle rhythm of life.

Prince Edward County is capitalizing on this interest by putting a new twist on its deep agricultural roots. Traditional farming is now joined by niche crops, exotic herds and value-added produce. Dairy farms, cash crops and maple syrup producers are now joined by organic crops, vineyards, herds of elk, boar and emu - even lavender growers. The County’s vigorous new culinary scene includes artisan cheese-makers, winemakers, chocolatiers and famous chefs alongside 9th generation farming families.

Dan Taylor, economic development officer, is spearheading the marketing of this “rural renaissance” together with the Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Taste the County, an organization that promotes tourism, particularly culinary tourism. Thousands of people attend TASTE! A celebration of regional cuisine held at the historic Crystal Palace each Thanksgiving weekend. They come to meet farmers, winemakers, brewers and chefs and sample regional food and drinks - and the event is growing every year.

An award-winning “Taste Trail” helps visitors find the island’s many producers, markets and restaurants with a guidebook and website. Blue Taste Trail signs point the way to culinary destinations along the County’s winding roads.

Prince Edward County’s focused culinary strategy brings new blood, new ideas and new hope to an already strong rural community. “We’re building on what we’ve always done best,” says Taylor. “Agriculture is our strength.” In many ways Prince Edward County has not changed - it’s the wider world that has come to appreciate what is here. Artists were among the County’s first new settlers. Then came niche farmers and chefs eager to find fresh ingredients just around the corner, vineyard visionaries who put their faith in the County’s terroir and were proved right, and people who simply want to live where good food, good wine and good weather is plentiful.

“It’s not just about producing good food and wine,” says Taylor. “It’s serving up our agriculture on a fine platter and offering memorable culinary experiences.” After years of bemoaning the lack of heavy industry locally, Prince Edward County has recognized the wisdom of playing to its strengths and building on its past. There is a hungry market for rural and culinary experiences, for our fresh ideas and imaginative presentation of the County’s agricultural and culinary wealth and pride. Culinary tourism is growing strong as people realize they don’t have to travel far for enriching rural experiences and world-class cuisine.