Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

Not exactly food related, but anyway - if you have a passion for local food from local businesses, why not to do the same with your holiday tree?

Here is the map of Toronto, Ontario area Cut Your Own Christmas Tree Farms

There is one for Ottawa as well.

Get you kids and dog, drive to the farmer nearby, pick and cut your own Christmas Tree.

Bill's Turkey Farm. Where to get fresh turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas

Address: 2978 Holborn Rd, East Gwillimbury, ON, Canada
Phone: 905-478-4677

There are couple of farms not far from Newmarket and Aurora where you can pick up fresh, air-chilled (not frozen!) bird for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Bill's turkey farm is indeed my favorite. Located a short drive north from Newmarket this family - run farm has build a good reputation among local residents.

They open just few days a year - right before Christmas and Thanksgiving. Call to verify time and dates they are open. Turkeys are 15lb and more.

Taftan Kebab, Persian Restaurant, Richmond Hill, Ontario

Address: 9625 Yonge St, unit #11, Richmond Hill, ON
Phone: 905-508-2644
Web: http://www.taftankebab.com

Hole-in-the wall Iranian place, on Yonge and Weldrick in Richmond Hill, halfway between 16th avenue and Major MacKenzie. Taftan is packed with local persian-speaking residents every night. Good indicators for quality and authenticity of the food.

Few chairs designed more for waiting for your take-out order to be ready, rather than for sit-down dinner, but you'll be welcomed to enjoy your lunch or dinner inside.

Menu at Taftan Kebab may seem overcrowded or foreign to you at the first glance. Iranian/Persian food considered by some as jewel of all Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cuisines. The same way the French is one for Europe. So worth exploring and some explanation.

Fesenjan - Chicken with pomegranage. Khoresht-e fesenjān (Persian: خورشت فسنجان), or simply fesenjān (Persian: فسنجان), is a dish in Persian cuisine. It is a thick, tart stew made from pomegranate juice and ground walnuts.

Ghaimeh is a Persian stew of which the main ingredients are cubed lamb, yellow split peas, onion and dried lime.

Ghormeh sabzi (Persian: قرمه سبزی) is an Iranian herb stew. It is an important element of Persian cuisine, often said to be the Iranian "national dish". The main ingredients are a mixture of sauteed herbs, consisting mainly of parsley, leek, and a smaller amount of fenugreek leaves, spinach and coriander may be added. This mixture is cooked with kidney beans, green onions, chives, dried limes, and Lamb or veal meat.

The rest of the menu are Kebaps in one form or another. All kebabs are grilled right before your eyes on a charcoal grill.

Kabab koobideh (Persian: کباب کوبیده) is an Iranian minced meat kebab/kabab which is made from ground meet (lamb or beef), often mixed with parsley and chopped onions.
Besides ground meet, Kabab Koubideh contains: onion, salt, pepper, turmeric, and koobideh seasoning. Ingredients are mixed well together until the mixture becomes smooth and sticky. The mixture is then pressed around a skewer.

Chicken, Beef, Lamb, and even Quail kebabs in various combinations are there as well. All served with rice and salad. You may also ask for any of the kebabs to be served as a pita sandwich.

Big Momma'a Carrebian Restautant, Bradford, Ontario

Phone: 905-778-8118
Address: 32 Holland st. East, Bradford, West Gwillimbury, ON, L3Z1R8

Big Momma's Soul Food - typical Jamaican/Caribbean take-out place with few tables to sit, but oh! an exceptional food.

There are couple of Caribbean places in Newmarket/Aurora, but this one is worth a drive to Bradford. It's just 15 minutes from north end of Newmarket anyway.

Menu is typical Caribbean: Jerk Chicken Goat, Oxtail.. all with rice and cole slaw. Prices are good, meals are the way they are supposed to be and they even would deliver to Newmarket if the order is large enough.

Interior is decorated with Jamaican flags, portraits of Bob Marley and Muhammad Ali. Boxing is on TV screen.

Located on Holland st. (the central street of Bradford) adjusted to Mexicanada (another promising place yet to explore).

Barbarian Brewery. La Barberie. Quebec City

Address: 310 rue Saint-Roch, Québec, QC G1K 6S2
Phone: (418) 522-4373‎
Web: http://www.labarberie.com

By now - that's my absolute favorite microbrewery in Canada. Located in Quebec City, Barbarian Brewery makes over a dozen beers (see menu on the picture below), that would satisfy most picky beer lovers.

I'm not that frequent to Quebec City - there once a year or so. Every time I'm there - I'm making sure to visit the place. And almost surely some new beers are being served there. My favourite from the last visit - Jalopeno-flavored beer.



Brewery and "the tasting hall" are located about 20 minutes walk from old Quebec City - worth a hike. I would strongly advice you against walking back - take a cab - It would bee all up the hill if you'll try to walk. While in the brewery - there is a choice of samplers, so if you don't know yet what beer you like there - start with these.

Bring Your Own concept in Quebec is well developed. In many small restaurants you are welcomed to bring your own bottle of wine for dinner without any crazy "corkage fees" Ontario restaurants are famous for. In Barbarian Brewery/La Barberie - it's all the other way around. They serve no food. But you are welcomed to bring your own. If you'll ask for food menu, you'll be served with list of menus for the food places around, that do delivery.

Big Bone BBQ and Wicked Wings. Newmarket, ON

Address: 207 Eagle Street, Newmarket ON, L3Y1j8
Phone: 905-853-9888
Web: http://www.bigbonebbq.ca

Guys who run Purple Pig in Aurora, next to Go Station. They sold it to someone in 2004(?) and it went downhill since than. Now getting beck to the area - the first place to do a real slow smoked stuff North of Steeles ave.

Have no idea why they are SOOoo serious about wings. Smoked chicken breast and beef brisket would look better in a place like this, but anyway the stuff I tried is good and real.

Would pay them few more visits soon, but by now - here is the take-out menu:

The Chicken Place -Portuguese Churrasco - Aurora, Ontario

Delicious portuguese - style grilled chicken.

Phone: (905) 900-0019
Address: 1 Industrial Pky S
Aurora, ON, L4G 3V9
Website: http://thechickenplace.ca

They are on Wellington/Industrial parkway, not far from Aurora GO station. One way of describing their chicken - know that supermarket greasy grilled bird for 9 bucks or something? It's nothing like that! No fat at all, but juicy, crispy skin, Pri-Pri sauce, choice of sides. Oh So Delicious!

You see the menu on the picture here. Prices a quite reasonable - $12 for the whole chicken (compare to $9 for supermarket's bird!), $9 for 1/4 chicken lunch deal with two sides and a soft drink.

One more sign they have "We are not a fast food. Please be patient" - really! There is no chicken there as you show up. They do cook it for you. You'll have to wait for 10-15 minutes or call in advance.

Al-Anater, Lebanese Restaurant, Richmond Hill, ON

UPD: the place is closed.

Address: 49 North Lake Rd. Oak Ridge
Phone: 905-773-1881

Al-Anater, located on a quiet street, not far from Young and King intersection. Traditional Lebanese dishes like Tabouleh chopped parsley salad, Shawarma and Falafel.

For sampling of grilled meats - try Mixed Grill Combo with salad and rice. Good enough for two to share.

Copari Meats. Newmarket

Address: 1100 Davis Dr Newmarket, ON , L3Y8W8
Phone: 905-830-4377

Small local butcher shop in Newmarket. South-East corner of Leslie and Davis. My favorite - fresh meat-only or meat/veggie Souvlaki - 5 pieces for 10 dollars. They also carry exotic meats like Alligator, Emu, Buffalo, Wild Boar, Caribou , Elk, Venison, and even Kangaroo meat!!!