Category Georgetown

Baby, it’s cold outside! Cozy up next to the Copper Kettle’s crackling fire and toast the holidays in this charming pub, decked in festive greenery.

Photo thanks to Grace Cutmore https://www.instagram.com/thesylvanpath/

The authentically renovated Copper Kettle is situated in a historical building, nestled in the quaint, wee village of Glen Williams. In warmer months, sit on the outdoor patio. If it gets nippy, there’s a large, outdoor fireplace to warm you up.

What’s even better? The Copper Kettle’s new ownership is serious about serving well-prepared, fresh food, using locally-sourced ingredients wherever possible. They even make their own honey and maple syrup on their farm. There are plenty of healthy or indulgent, classic pub food options to choose from on their menu, as well as daily specials. I’ve heard everything on the menu is delicious.

Margo, our lovely server, and my father.

My dad and I enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Copper Kettle in the fall. His choice: Steak and Egg daily special with really flavourful, tender steak and grilled tomatoes.

The open-faced Black Bean & Chickpea Burger is sumptuous: sliced baguette, layered with grilled vegetables and marinated tomatoes, slathered with mashed avocado, adorned with a generous pillow of black beans and chickpeas, topped with soft chèvre (fresh goat cheese), garnished with baby greens, and drizzled with balsamic reduction. Oh, happy Olive!

Be sure to order a house made tart if there is one on the dessert menu: the crust is fantastic. The French Apple Tart has an almond filling and is garnished with a fan of thinly sliced apples and a light dusting of sugar that caramelizes into a very thin crust, a little like the crust on a crème brûlée. Oh…là…là!

Come for a glass of local craft beer, cider or wine and a plate to share. The Charcuterie Board looked perfect for sharing: cured meats, daily cheese, honey roasted pecans, walnuts and house made pickled garnish with warm bread. If you are vegetarian, try the Bread Board with toasted breads, house made hummus, olive tapenade, and baba ghanoush.

Sunday night specials include Roast Dinner. There is live music on Saturdays from 9:00pm to 11:30pm and Sunday evenings from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.

I gathered up some friends one Sunday night in December and returned. The duo who were performing were delightfully entertaining. The Mushrooms platter is healthy yet heavenly: a warm salad of oven roasted mixed mushrooms and tomatoes, decadent dollops of soft chèvre, wilted spinach and basil, and balsamic drizzle. I asked for some grilled baguette on the side and called it dinner.

My friends loved the Black Bean & Chickpea Burger and a daily special wrap sandwich.

It was such a cheerful night amongst the Christmas greenery, twinkling lights, and rich, spicy fragrance of the fire. When we opened the door to leave, big, white snowflakes danced down from the dark night sky – the first snowfall of the season. Fade in Charlie Brown Christmas music…♪♫♪♫.

Photo thanks to Grace Cutmore https://www.instagram.com/thesylvanpath/

Have yourself a merry little Christmas! Love, Olive xx.

Copper Kettle
517 Main Street
Glen Williams, Ontario
L7G 3S9
905-877-5551

Olive loves traveling around the GTA west, unearthing fine global flavours, and sharing her finds with you. Being the #snaphappy girl that she is, Olive loves the instantaneous power of instagram. But those of you who aren’t on instagram are missing out, so here’s a snapshot of her finds from this past week.

As much as she cherishes the time she is lucky enough to spend with family in Muskoka and Montreal, a staycation in the city is pretty nice too.  These boots are made for walking, so that’s just what Olive did this week…from one end of the GTA west to the other.

Georgetown Farmers’ Market with one of my besties on Saturday morning. Read why I love Georgetown Farmers’ Market here: http://olivetoeat.com/2014/07/georgetown-farmers-market-olive-it/

Frog & Henry at #georgetownfarmersmarket #frogandhenry Georgetown Farmers' Market is so vibrant. Read why it is one of my favourite markets here: http://olivetoeat.com/category/businesses-products-recipes/neighborhoods/olive-georgetown/

A post shared by Olive (@olive_to_eat) on Aug 6, 2016 at 7:56am PDT

@sahacuisine has a new #jerkmarinade . I will make our own #jerkfest tomorrow. Find their delicious marinades and sauces at #georgetownfarmersmarket or visit their feed to find other locations. #olivetoeat #unearthingglobalflavours #gtawest #georgetownON

A post shared by Olive (@olive_to_eat) on Aug 6, 2016 at 8:03am PDT

#ahsummer #heirloomtomatoes #georgetownfarmersmarket #olivetoeat #unearthingglobalflavours #gtawest #georgetownON

A post shared by Olive (@olive_to_eat) on Aug 6, 2016 at 8:08am PDT

Thiessen Farms #georgetownfarmersmarket #olivetoeat #unearthingglobalflavours #gtawest #iloveartichokes

A post shared by Olive (@olive_to_eat) on Aug 6, 2016 at 8:10am PDT

And then Jerkfest in Etobicoke with our families Saturday night. What a great night that was!

#jerkchicken @jerkfest #igetaround #olivetoeat #unearthingglobalflavours #gtawest #etobicoke Such a fun night with a good crew @carolfroom and a great crowd, good food and good music… #caribbeanfood #reggae and oh my gosh #homemadegingerbeer made with imported #Jamaicanginger, so spicy and refreshing

A post shared by Olive (@olive_to_eat) on Aug 6, 2016 at 4:56pm PDT

#isthislovethatimfeeling

A post shared by Olive (@olive_to_eat) on Aug 6, 2016 at 5:55pm PDT

And a celebration lunch at Jamie’s Italian at Square One with my husband and son. How do you celebrate summer?

Guess where I am? #Sauga #jamielove

A post shared by Olive (@olive_to_eat) on Aug 9, 2016 at 10:12am PDT

#superyummy #superfoodsalad with grilled chicken, grilled avocado, pulses, Harissa, pomegranate seeds, beets, grains, fennel, cottage cheese #jamiesitalian #squareone #sauga #saugalife #olivetoeat #unearthingglobalflavours #gtawest #superfood

A post shared by Olive (@olive_to_eat) on Aug 9, 2016 at 10:31am PDT

One of the best #hamburgers my husband has ever had : juicy Prince Edward Island beef with balsamic onions, aged cheddar, and housemade mostardomayo. My son would not let me take a photo of his. #jamieoliver #jamiesitalian #squareone #sauga #saugalife #olivetoeat #unearthingglobalflabours #gtawest

A post shared by Olive (@olive_to_eat) on Aug 9, 2016 at 10:43am PDT

Bring an empty picnic basket to Georgetown’s Mill Street Cheese Market and load up with a moveable feast of well-crafted, artisanal cheese and other goodies.

We chose a delicious Scottish Claret Cheddar (surprisingly creamy with fruity red wine notes), a luxurious Grand Crème Delin triple cream from France, and a decadent St. Agur (our true-blue friend that never fails to please). Store-made baguette crisps are the perfect foil. Melt-in-your-mouth, spicy Mennonite summer sausage and pickled hot-n-sweet cherry peppers balance the richness of the cheeses. And to refresh, the French version of lemonade, a sparking limonade by Rième. On your way, pick up some seasonal fruit from a local farm market (Alisons’ Farm Market or Georgetown Farmers’ Market).

Find your favourite secluded spot – perhaps in a vintage orchard or at the edge of a babbling creek. Spread out and then lose yourself in midsummer’s magic: gentle breezes, chirping crickets, happy butterflies, perhaps a glimpse of a timid deer. Summer celebrated in one afternoon, a lifetime of love in one moment.

I have a favourite little spot I like to wander off to come summertime. I didn’t even know it existed until my friends brought me there one happy afternoon. Glen Williams is a peaceful little hamlet hidden amongst the trees of the meandering Credit River Valley, in the outskirts of Georgetown. The tree-lined street is dotted with just a handful of heritage buildings and homes. It is so quiet you can hear the crickets chirping.

Walk onto the porch of the Glen Oven Café and the regulars give you a nod as if to agree “yep, there is something so serene about this place”. Feel welcome in a modest but charming interior filled with vintage fine china tea cups, little British flags, a few tables, a couple of arm chairs, and a little wood stove.

Order at the counter. Choose from quiche, salad, soup, or sandwiches – all lovingly made from scratch (even the bread) with quality, wholesome ingredients. Everything I have tried has been delicious. My favourite is the Roasted Veggie sandwich: sweet potato, parsnip, red peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and red onion all roasted until tender and slightly caramelized then piled on billowing homemade bread spread with creamy chèvre.

Buy a loaf of bread to take home. This is the home of the Hearty Seed Bread, my son’s favourite flax seed bread; I have to hide it or he will polish off the whole loaf in one day. My friend loves the Whole Wheat Muesli Bread, a breakfast bread with raisins, cranberries, walnuts, and sunflower seeds. Don’t even try to resist the baking displayed in the counter – it is definitely worth giving into. I love the Lemon Squares the most: rich, buttery shortbread crust covered with a luscious layer of tart lemon filling.

Order tea: a pot and a delightful vintage tea cup will arrive at your table with the rest of your order.

Eat inside or better yet, relax in the shade of the big trees on the outdoor porch. Leaves dancing in the gentle breeze on a warm, sunny day – it just feels so summery, so carefree.

Allow enough time to poke in the antique book shop (Reeve & Clarke Antiquarian), marvel at the glassblowing (Glen Williams Glass), and shop for one-of-a-kind art by Canadian artists (Williams Mill Visual Art Centre), or get lost in booth after booth of vintage treasures at the Beaumont Mill Antiques & Collectibles Market. A stroll beside the tranquil Credit River is always good for the soul (Glen Williams Park).

The Glen Oven Café has a second location in historic downtown Georgetown, The Glen Oven Tea Room. It offers lunch and afternoon tea. Catering available.

I adore Georgetown Farmers’ Market. It is a vibrant, bustling farmers’ market that runs right down the middle of scenic Main Street in historic downtown Georgetown, Ontario.

The market offers plenty of fresh, seasonal produce from some of my favourite local farmers, such as Allison’s Farm Market (who are literally located just down the road). I love everything from Allison’s; I am crazy about their corn, which they expect will be ready mid-July.

Andrews’ Scenic Acres, another one of my favourites, brings in their delicious produce from their farm in Halton Hills. The air around this booth was perfumed with the sweet fragrance of these juicy strawberries. Mmm, I could be happy with a baguette, a wedge of St. Andre’s cheese, a basket of cherries, and a shady spot to share at a river’s edge.

There is lots of really good baking, including butter tarts from Andrews’ Scenic Acres and fruit strudel from The Strudel Lady.

Even the Glen Oven Tea Room gets into the spirit and spills out onto the sidewalk with their scones, cookies, and artisanal bread. A friend told me their Whole Wheat Muesli – a breakfast bread with raisins, cranberries, walnuts, and sunflower seeds – is “sooo delicious”. My son loves their Hearty Seed bread so much, he polished off a loaf in one day (we do feed him regularly, I promise).

Georgetown Farmers’ Market is the only market west of Toronto where I can find Toronto-based Saha International Cuisine products (though they are available at a few stores in the region). Made following traditional recipes, Saha’s sauces and marinades are all-natural, additive-free, preservative-free, gluten-free, trans fat-free, and cholesterol free.

Mixed with a bit of yogurt their Shish Taouk marinade yields succulent, flavourful chicken (I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs). Thai Red Curry is a warm, fragrant base for a delicious chicken stir fry; simmer with some coconut milk for a little taste of heaven – Thai style.

Here’s another reason why I love Georgetown Farmers’ Market. There is a great little butcher shop, McMaster’s Meats & Deli, right beside the market on Main Street. Old fashioned butcher, friendly service, great range of fresh meats, deli meats (they cook their own preservative-free beef, turkey, pork, and ham), and gourmet products. Their Stuffed Chicken Breasts are wonderful.

And midway through the market, just a couple of steps down a side street, is the fabulous Mill Street Cheese Market. Read why I love this pretty little fromagerie here. Be sure to stroll in on market day for samples of their wonderful products. Pick up some cheese and bread to go along with those cherries and you’ve got the makings of a great picnic.

Georgetown Farmers’ Market

Every Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., June 7th to October 18th, 2014.

Located on Main Street South between Church Street and James Street, in historic downtown Georgetown (Halton Hills). Please note: the East lane is empty because the Fire Department requires a Fire Lane for access to buildings and quick response routes. DO NOT BLOCK the lane for any reason or amount of time. You can be ticketed.

www.downtowngeorgetown.com