Six Ontario delicacies being served at the Olympics Pavilion
It’s no secret that corporate sponsorship is one of the most competitive sports at the Games, but a few independent brewers, bakers and farmers made the cut at the Ontario House in the Olympics Pavilion. Alongside the Coke, Minute Maid and Timothy’s coffee, there’s enough Ontario nosh to satisfy any locavore.
Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company: Lug Tread Ale Based in eastern Ontario, Beau’s is more familiar to residents of Ottawa and Kingston—that is, until the family brewery made it into Ontario House. Its Lug Tread Ale, a lager-ale mix, is being served on tap and in a beer–and–Balderson cheddar soup.
Great Lakes Brewery: Canuck Pale Ale This craft brewery, the pride of Etobicoke, is known for its pumpkin ale, which took Toronto’s beer scene by storm in 2008. The Canuck Pale Ale was created specially for the Games, although the name and skis on the logo are a more subtle nod to the Olympics.
Black River Cheese Company: Maple Cheddar This Prince Edward County dairy is on board with the maple craze that took hold in Toronto last year: it mixes its cheddar with local syrup and maple sugar. The cheese is served alongside Vaughan’s Bella Casara brie and the ubiquitous cranberry-covered goat cheese logs from Mississauga’s Celebrity International.
Sprucewood Handmade Cookie Company: Cheddar Shortbread Despite the small staff at Warkworth-based Sprucewood, it managed to churn out 40,000 cheddar shortbreads a day during the run-up to the Games. Baker Mark Pollard, who’s expecting a huge surge in demand for his cookie line this summer, is doubling his staff.
Sinfully Deelicious: Peanut and Cashew Brittles Sudbury’s Sinfully Deelicious is the only Northern Ontario company to make the cut. Beyond her buttery brittle, owner Cindy Babcock seems to be a master of public relations—she has an upcoming appearance planned on CBC’s Dragons’ Den.
King Cole Ducks Aurora-based duck farm King Cole is a hit in Asia but has yet to catch on at home. (On average, Canadians consume only six ounces of duck a year.) With any luck, the duck spring rolls, smoked duck breast and duck shepherd’s pie on the Ontario House menu will turn Canadians on to the delicious bird.
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