Ontario

Beer historians and writers Alan McLeod and Jordan St. John have tapped the cask of Ontario brewing to bring the complete story to light, from foam to dregs. Ontario boasts a potent mix of brewing traditions. Wherever Europeans explored, battled, and settled, beer was not far behind, which brought the simple magic of brewing to Ontario in the 1670s. Early Hudson's Bay Company traders brewed in Canada's Arctic, and Loyalist refugees brought the craft north in the 1780s. Early 1900s temperance activists drove the industry largely underground but couldn't dry up the quest to quench Ontarians' thirst. The heavy regulation that replaced prohibition centralized surviving breweries. Today, independent breweries are booming and writing their own chapters in the Ontario beer story.

A look at the history and culture of food, wine, and culinary culture in southern Ontario's Niagara region. The Niagara region has a unique culinary history and tradition. From its mild microclimate that supports the cultivation of tender fruits -- peaches, cherries, and more -- to its role as the birthplace of the Canadian wine industry and home to a new generation of trailblazing chefs and restaurateurs, the Niagara region boasts a food and wine heritage that rivals any in North America. Niagara food writer, advocate, and activist Tiffany Mayer provides a thoughtful look at the many elements of Niagara's culinary past and present, including the planting of the first orchards and vineyards, the rise and fall of the local canning industry, the artisans responsible for crafting the region's most beloved food products, and the Greenbelt Act, which protects more than a million acres of the area's most precious agricultural land.

Discover the impact food and food culture have had on the charming city of Stratford, Ontario. Acclaimed events like the Savour Stratford Perth County Culinary Festival have put Stratford on the map as a destination for foodies. How did this relatively small city develop such a significant culinary reputation? The story stretches back to the very roots of Stratford; food and agriculture have always been a critical element of the city's cultural milieu. In fact the deed for Stratford City Hall includes a condition that its operations must always accommodate a farmers market. Generations of Stratford residents have nurtured the area's food heritage, and a nationally renowned theater scene have made it possible for the small city to support dozens of world-class restaurants.