Food tours and cooking classes
I have to admit I’ve been struggling with writing this post. It’s not always easy to write honestly when you have mixed feelings. I started and stopped a few times because I felt like it was forced so I decided to write it from the heart. I had no idea that playing tourist in my own city would be so strange.
Stubbe Chocolates sells 200 000 truffles a year
Last October Ayngelina, from Bacon Is Magic, and I (Nat) took a food tour of the Byward Market in Ottawa with C’est Bon Cooking.
C’est Bon Cooking offers many different food tours (including an Eddy Street tour which I wouldn’t mind checking out), cooking classes and special events. Jodi, our guide, was very personable, proud to show us around and tell us about the market food scene, throwing in bits of history here and there.
Shafali Bazaar – baking naan in 800F oven
We stopped in at places like Santé Restaurant, Shafali Bazaar, and Stubbe Chocolates, all great businesses with longevity in the city.
We walked through the Byward Market, with stops at different stalls, tasting maple products, cheeses, pizza, naan bread, we even had roasted Italian chestnuts at La Bottega Nicastro.
We covered a lot of ground and it gave a great overview of what the market has to offer. I have a feeling that if I didn’t know this city so well I would have gotten a lot out of the tour itself.
Going back in time
Having grown up in the area and returning after 10 years away, it kind of felt like going back in time. Don’t get me wrong, Ottawa is a great city, it’s clean and cozy, like a favourite pair of shoes or jeans, comforting. It’s the kind of city you visit and think “I could live here”.
The House of Cheese – 30 yrs in business
Walking through the market that day, I recognized faces that I used to see before moving away, albeit older, selling their wares. It was a bit strange for me, kind of like I had never left.
I look forward to seeing the market again, during the busy summer season, packed with foreigners and locals.
Excited to see different varieties of beets!
* Disclosure: I was a guest of Ottawa Tourism – they did not ask me to review C’est Bon Cooking or expect me to have a produce induced flashback. As always, the opinions in this post are my own.
Great post- as someone who lives in Ottawa, I can appreciate the descriptions you gave of the city and the mixed emotions. This post has motivated me to break out of my Loblaws rut and try some new things around the city.
Thanks Vanessa!
As a kid I remember being dragged at least once a week through the Byward Market by my mother – way before it got trendy. The payoff was a pepperoni stick at the meat place with floors covered with sawdust. I worked one summer (late ’70’s) at a great little restaurant – Daphne and Victors – who were way ahead of their time.
The place is more touristy than it used to be but I still love it. And it would be great fun to do a food tour now.
I’ve only been there once, so could definitely use a tour.