I am not a morning person. I like to think it has much to do with the fact that by the time we close the restaurant, manage the paperwork and turn out the lights, the sun is set to rise in a few hours. Maybe if I were in bed earlier, getting up earlier wouldn’t be such a chore. However, around this time of year, I do like to make an exception and force myself to rise at the crack of dawn to accompany Marc and his apprentice Scott on their weekly travels to Mennonite country, centered around the village of St. Jacobs, in Southwestern Ontario.
After my first coffee and mid-way through the 1.5 hour drive, I generally start to perk up. Perhaps it’s the prospect of seeing old friends (we’ve been doing business here for so many years that we’ve developed great bonds to several of the farmers and their families) or maybe it’s just that special something about the village that encourages you to slow down and instantly puts a smile on your face. Regardless, our frequent visits here over the years remind me that this is a special spot filled with some of the most interesting and unique individuals we’ve had the pleasure to meet.
This region is home to some of the most fertile farmland in Ontario and its stewardship has remarkably been in the hands of these industrious people for several centuries. Even for someone as fast-paced as my husband, there is a tendency to ease up on the gas pedal as you drive carefully past the horse-drawn black buggies and farm wagons that regularly travel the roads. It’s almost as though time has stood still.
As a bonafide urbanite, I can’t help but be impressed at the stalls that line the sides of the road, selling everything from the day’s latest harvests such as eggs, leeks, cabbage, fresh-cut flowers and more. What’s most remarkable is that no one is idly waiting for the next car full of consumers. Rather, many operate on the honour system. Costs are clearly marked. Don’t have exact change? No worries, there’s a bowl nearby so you can make your own. Imagine that on bustling King Street West? I don’t think so…
While there’s nothing quite like visiting the farms themselves, the village of St. Jacobs has done an impressive job of maintaining its quaint character and servicing the multitude of tourists who flock to the famed Farmers’ Market, antique shops, bakeries and more. In town, the clip-clop of the horse’s hooves and the clatter of carriage wheels are reminiscent of a long gone era of unhurried simplicity. Inside the massive market, there’s much fresh-made fare to savour (most of it all-natural and preservative-free) and here you can enjoy everything apple. In Mennonite country, they really know how to work an apple. From fritters to apple butter to apple syrup, pies, cider and even sausages, this time of year, the apple really shines.
Often times we’re fortunate to be invited in by our farmer-friends to enjoy a hearty lunch, which is an incredible treat as it offers a rare glimpse into a lifestyle so vastly different from our own. Or, if there’s time to spare, we’ll stop at Benjamin’s Restaurant and Inn. This local landmark in the heart of the village was built in the 1850s and its restaurant is well-regarded for their fresh take on Canadian contemporary cuisine. A great spot to leisurely sit and unwind.
This is an ideal time of year to visit Mennonite country. After the first frost, some of our favourite produce like the naturally-grown cabbage and squash develops a real sweetness, Christmas crafts are in abundance and just about everything you can imagine has been preserved and is available for sale. For more information and directions, visit: www.stjacobs.com.
World-renowned executive chef, Marc Thuet, and his wife and business partner, Biana Zorich, blog for PostCity.com about their new show and restaurants.