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The Best Specialty Shops in the Kawarthas
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Shopping local supports communities. We have THE best Specialty shops in the Kawarthas.

 

Customers appreciate the knowledge and guidance that speciality shops offer from staff who are passionate about the products they sell. They offer unique or hard-to-find items that may not be in general stores. This can include artisanal or handcrafted products, specialty foods, cheeses, meats, cooking oils, gifts or niche items. The focus on quality over quantity make the shopping experience more enjoyable for customers. The atmosphere in these shops is often curated to create a unique and enjoyable environment. Many specialty shops are small, local businesses and when customers choose to support them, they contribute to the local economy and help maintain a diverse retail landscape. The owners and staff are passionate about what they do and this enthusiasm is infectious. Customers feel more inspired by the passion of those who work in the shop. Whether it’s a unique cheese shop, a butcher shop, or handcrafted items, customers will stumble upon exciting finds that they wouldn’t encounter in a more general retail setting.

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ONE FINE FOOD (Peterborough) is at the top of my list.  There is something for everyone! Wander around and you will find a thoughtfully curated selection of local and imported fine foods, Cheese and deli, butcher shop, fresh seafood, home décor, bakery and café. They have many local items that you won’t find elsewhere. For instance, their selection of Olive oils will have you wanting all of them. Their local meats are the highest quality and will never disappoint! I feel like a kid in a candy store wandering around the many areas of this shop. The Italian Inspired restaurant features a wood fired oven and a heated four season patio that is cozy even when the snow flies.  Ask about their catering!  Your evening with friends is sure to be a hit when you bring out One Find Food charcuterie boards, appetizers, salads, pasta dishes, entrees, sides and desserts!        www.onefinefood.com  (705) 742-6200   800 Erskine Ave, Peterborough

THE CHEESY FROMAGE (Lakefield) is a shop where I could sit and enjoy the ambience. Have a glass of wine with a charcuterie board and watch the world go by. The staff here are well versed and will help you pick out the perfect cheeses to go with your wine. They are proud sellers of Canadian cheese, Ontario artisan wines, find foods and more! Dine in and take-out charcuterie boards customized with your preferred cheeses, meats, pickles, olives, fruit, bread, crackers, jams/jellies. They can also prepare side items of olive bowls, vegetables, dip and other items.
www.thecheesyfromage.com  (705)  908-3027  25 Queen St, Lakefield

NEEDFUL  THINGS  CURIOUSITIES  WINE  SHOPPE  AND  ESPRESSO  BAR (Lindsay) is an eclectic shop offering 24 wines not available at the LCBO, delicious coffee, cappuchinos, expressos, caffe lattes, flat whites specialty teas, offering curiosities and so much more!  This cozy shoppe is packed full with curiousities you won’t find anywhere else. Bring your friends and taste wines from all over the world while you enjoy the ambience of the shoppe. Jennifer, the owner, is well versed in wine pairing and is also a local photographer. She will keep you smiling with her stories of her travels around the world to find these delicious wines.  (705) 878-2001  15 Cambridge St S, Lindsay
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KAWARTHA COUNTRY WINES (Buckhorn) is not your average winery. Come in and enjoy wine and cider tasting! This is a family-owned, award-winning winery. There is a store with unique jams and hot sauces along with other items that make great gifts or are perfect for your home. In the summer, enjoy a wood fired pizza on the patio with your friends. Follow their website to see when they have events such as dinner and music, yoga, painting, and so much more! If you are hosting a gathering, rent their event space. This is a stop you won’t regret!                                           www.kawarthacountrywines.ca (705) 657-9916  2452 Peterborough County Rd 36, Buckhorn 
 
THE GRAPE AND WEDGE (Apsley) is a specialty gourmet grocery store in the middle of cottage country.  They feature locally made foods, cheese and baked goods.  Stop by and find a large selection of handcrafted art, knives, potter, charcuterie boards and giftware.  (705) 499-3011  168 Burleigh St, Apsley

ANGLE IRON KITCHEN (Lakefield) Chef Brian is not only known for his incredible cuisine and catering, but also for the items he has for sale in the shop.  Not for the faint of heart, you won’t find what he has anywhere else!  Chef Brian has curated a line of spices which will not only please your guests, but will take the guess work out of cooking. Combining all of their talents under one roof  makes for one stop shopping for light lunches and prepared meals. Catering with a sense of humour and adding an edgy panach to everything he does.                                                                         www.thespicecompany.myshopify.com  (705)  875-0428  15 Charlotte St, Lakefield
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Welcome Friends
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I love winter and I love food. This year, we’ve had an incredible amount of snow and less ice, making for perfect conditions to walk, snowshoe, and ski. The winter months are all about hibernation, preparing cozy meals, candlelight and curling up with a great show or book. It’s one of the things I love about living in Canada. But more than winter itself, I love the changing seasons. By the time March rolls around, there’s always that collective hope that spring is near and that soon, we’ll be sitting outside, possibly bundled in a jacket, soaking up the sunshine. Though, at least here in Ontario, that might still be weeks away, given how much snow we’ve had!

 

Shawn isn’t quite as keen about winter but he does love a good snow fall. He is not a traveller and not a skier. But when a big snowfall is on the horizon, he heads out to the country to retrieve his tractor, driving it down back roads from Bethany into town and plowing the neighbourhood out.

I met Shawn over 15 years ago and he for sure added a new dimension to all of our lives. Firstly, he was unlike anyone we had ever met before. His cowboy boots were not a fashion statement or for a barn dance - it’s what he wore every day. His shirt was open that extra button, his cowboy hat always on and his crazy expressions - like the time he left us on the front porch by announcing he was “leaving for higher ground.” What exactly did that mean? I learned soon enough that it meant exactly what it was supposed to. His ranch was nearby but on higher ground than our farm. And off he went.

These days, Shawn has swapped his cowboy boots for court shoes and his button-downs for sports gear, spending most of his time playing pickleball. But when a big snowfall hits, he brings his tractor out from the farm back home, finding a new kind of purpose driving around the block, pushing snow the way he once moved earth. Few things bring him more joy than a full day of plowing snow. Well, maybe a hearty stew or a slow-simmered spaghetti sauce. That, to me, is love. Lending a hand, being a friend and being a good neighbor. And honestly, I think it’s something we could all use a little reminder of.

One of Shawn’s favorite snacks is a simple yet delicious treat I used to make as a wedding appetizer back at the farm. Every now and then I’ll make it when the kids come by for Sunday night dinner. As we inch closer to spring, it’s nice to start thinking about hosting again and welcoming friends and neighbours in, shaking off the heaviness of winter and embracing the lighter, warmer days ahead. Sadly (or happily), the tractor travels back to the country until next year.

It is firstly, bacon. Salty, hot and sizzling with fat. Inside the warm goat cheese is melting and surrounds the sweetness and slightly exotic taste of a date. When I make these, I always need to make enough for the girls even if they aren’t over for a meal. We all hope for leftovers.

Bacon Date Roll ups are something to have up your sleeve when the time comes. These are easy to prepare and especially easy to keep in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them.

BACON DATE ROLL UPS
Makes 40

INGREDIENTS
1 lb bacon regular thickness
Approximately 40 pitted dates
1 lb soft goat cheese

METHOD
Cut the bacon strips in half and that should give you approximately 40 slices (more or less). Take a date and cut a slight strip into the centre and fill with the goat cheese. Wrap a strip of bacon around the date and place a toothpick through (I usually skip that step and just place strip end side down on a baking sheet layered with a piece of parchment paper). If you are not baking right away, put into the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the baking sheet into the oven  with the roll ups and watch carefully after about 8 minutes. Bacon should be crisp and fully done. Remove the bacon date roll ups from the sheet and onto a small platter for serving. These are best eaten while they are hot and oh so delicious. You will want to reserve some for yourself!

© 2024 A TASTE OF THE KAWARTHAS

atasteofthekawarthas@gmail.com

Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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