A Scrumptious Weekend Escape to The Bay of Quinte

Tucked alongside Lake Ontario, lovely Bay of Quinte punches effectively above its weight by way of culinary gems and hidden experiences good for exploring this spring, summer season or fall. Whether or not you search hands-on cooking lessons, pleasant farm to desk eating or one thing totally different, you’ll probably discover it right here. So what does our good weekend to BOQ appear like? Spoiler: it entails stretchy pants and 0 regrets. Preserve studying!

The place is the Bay of Quinte?

The Bay of Quinte is about half an hour Northwest of Prince Edward County, encompassing the communities of Brighton, Quinte West, Belleville, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and Higher Napanee. The proper highway journey vacation spot, it’s broadly accessible off Freeway 401! Now that we’ve coated that, it’s time to dive in!

Friday

We recommend beginning your journey in Belleville— the biggest neighborhood within the Bay of Quinte with loads of lodging choices the place you’ll be able to arrange a house base for the weekend. Unpack these baggage, get settled after which let’s seize dinner!

Dinner at The Kafana

The place: 199 Entrance St #101, Belleville, ON (View Map)

The Kafana is all about sharing meals with these you’re keen on— household fashion. Assume small plates, most flavour and an environment that focuses on making everybody really feel welcome and relaxed. 

From dishes like banichki — hand-folded little pockets of deliciousness filled with Bulgarian cheese— to pickled herring on black bread and even Ukrainian sweet bowls, dive head first into the wealthy tales and vibrant flavours with these at your desk. Warning: You will take into account licking your plates and we gained’t choose.

Saturday

Saturday is full of enjoyable and flavour! Let’s get fueled up and hit the highway to Quinte West however first? Breakfast. 

Breakfast at Tropical Blends Cafe and Exploring Downtown

The place: 322 Pinnacle St, Belleville, ON (View Map)

Time for an island getaway, no passport required! Tropical Blends in downtown Belleville is a sunny, scrumptious café centered on contemporary eats utilizing locally-sourced goodness. Assume smoothies bursting with fruity flavours, fastidiously poured espresso and a few severely scrumptious eats. 

Count on smoothies full of tropical fruits like dragonfruit and pineapple, golden lattes made with turmeric and milk, and deluxe bagels baked proper on the town and topped with microgreens and herby dill cream cheese. It’s the form of spot the place you’ll be able to settle in, sip slowly, and absorb the laid-back environment. Whether or not you’re fuelling up for a day of exploring or simply easing into your weekend, this cozy café is an ideal cease.

When you’re accomplished, it’s time to discover downtown Belleville! Whether or not you’re selecting up some scrumptious baked items (severely strive the croissants) or sourdough bread from Small Scale Bread, looking for connoisseur items at L’Auberge de France and even simply sitting by the water or exploring the native farmers’ market, Belleville is filled with hidden surprises. 

Alright, when you’ve accomplished a little bit of exploring, it’s time to go to Quinte West!

Drive time: 24 minutes

Lunch at The Grind and Vine

The place: 45 Entrance St, Quinte West, ON (View Map)

Espresso meets wine (an influence couple we absolutely help) at this charming native gem in Quinte West, perched proper alongside the scenic Trent River. On sunny days, snag your drink of selection and head for the patio—bonus factors for those who pair it with a curated charcuterie board that’s nearly too fairly to eat. Virtually. 

Nonetheless feeling full from breakfast? No worries. Seize a baked good like their sticky, not-so-humble butter tarts and name it analysis. It’s the form of place that works for a snack, a full-on meal, or only a chill grasp together with your journey crew—wine glass in a single hand, good convo within the different.

Drive time to subsequent cease: 7 minutes

Fawn Over Market Culinary Expertise

The place: 22186 Loyalist Pkwy, Carrying Place, ON (View Map)

Discover your foodie heaven at Fawn Over Market, a pleasant connoisseur store tucked proper within the coronary heart of Quinte West. Chef Alexandra Feswick—sure, the previous Govt Chef on the Drake Devonshire—runs the present right here, and she or he’s turned this spot right into a full-blown celebration of native flavours.

Browse cabinets lined with Ontario chef cookbooks, Prince Edward County kombucha, locally-roasted espresso, small-batch preserves, and plant-based ice cream that by some means tastes like a deal with and a very good choice. Seize a heat latte, nibble on a fresh-baked good made in home, or deal with your self to one among their stellar to-go meals—assume crave-worthy pizzas, breakfast sandwiches, and extra.

Wish to flip your go to into an expertise? Plan to go on a Saturday for one among their cooking lessons (should enroll prematurely). Learn to whip up an epic tiramisu, craft pizza like a professional or pair Portuguese wine with the right small plates. Some lessons are led by Chef Alexandra herself, others by proficient visitor cooks—however both method, you’ll depart smarter, fuller, and doubtless carrying leftovers. We tried the tiramisu. We took it residence. It was rattling good.

Drive Time to Subsequent Cease: 7 minutes

Dinner at Tomasso’s Italian Grille

The place: 35 Entrance St, Trenton, ON (View Map)

Head again to the banks of the Trent River for dinner and settle in at Tomasso’s, the place riverside views pair completely with a glass of Ontario wine. If the climate performs good, ebook a patio desk—you’ll need front-row seats to that golden-hour glow because the solar dips low and your urge for food kicks in.

Tomasso’s has served up made-from-scratch Italian fare for many years and proudly holds a Feast On® certification since 2015. Meaning a menu full of native love—from Ontario farmers straight to your fork. Fairly epic, for those who ask us.

Begin sturdy with their legendary tacky doughballs—we’re speaking house-made dough filled with mozzarella, slathered in garlic unfold, and served with herbed olive oil and marinara sauce. From there, transfer right into a seasonal soup or the hummus and goat cheese salad (a surprisingly daring combo), then dive into the pasta and mains such as you imply it.

Actually, you’ll be able to’t go unsuitable—however we’ll nudge you towards the penne portobello or the hen parmigiana drenched of their signature spaghetti sauce. Each are complete crowd-pleasers and nice methods to wind down the day in bliss. 

Drive time again to Belleville: 20 minutes

Sunday

Sadly, all good issues should come to an finish however earlier than you head residence, why not gasoline up to your drive? You’ve acquired choices and we’ve acquired solutions. 

If You’re Going East: Wavy

The place: 5379 Outdated Freeway 2 Unit 9, Shannonville, ON (View Map)

Step into Wavy and put together to really feel at the least 20% cooler. Half café, half wellness boutique, half skateboard store (yep, you learn that proper), this one-of-a-kind cease makes for a severely enjoyable detour for those who’re heading towards Kingston—or anyplace east, actually.

Owned and operated by Megan Barnhart and Ryan Bush, Wavy proudly stands on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory as an Indigenous-owned house that blends fashion, tradition, and neighborhood. Browse their wall of decks and vehicles, take a look at their curated assortment of wellness goodies, and take within the Indigenous-made artwork that brings the entire place to life.

Want a caffeine repair? They’ve acquired you coated. Wavy serves up cold and hot drinks that don’t simply hit the spot—they convey the aptitude. 

Iced chai lattes, sizzling mochas, London fogs and among the finest trying sizzling chocolate you’ve ever seen are ready for you. After all, there are seasonal choices as effectively. Previous favourites have included every little thing from chocolate ice espresso floats with micro mini eggs to glittery pink lemonades and iced matchas with strawberry chilly foam.

If You’re Heading West: Josh’s Diner

The place: 2544 County Rd 64, Carrying Place, ON (View Map)

If a diner breakfast is what you’re craving than a diner breakfast is what you’ll get! Josh’s Diner boasts all of the nostalgic vibes of an old-school diner you might ever need. Assume milkshakes made with Kawartha Dairy ice cream, the fluffiest of pancakes and blintzes filled with delicate, creamy cheese and bitter cream, topped off with a seasonal compote. 

Yum. How about hen and waffles or your basic Carrying Place Brekky full with two eggs nonetheless you need ‘em, thick lower bacon, homefries and toast. We’re drooling. The vibes are nostalgic however the flavours are something however boring. You’re gonna like it. 

From Might by way of October, maintain a watch out for JERKebago—Josh’s Diner’s vibrant meals trailer serving up daring, genuine Jamaican eats. Parked proper beside Fawn Over Market, this seasonal hotspot dishes out wood-smoked jerk hen that packs a punch, plus mouthwatering Jamaican beef patties you’ll be dreaming about lengthy after the final chew.

Soak all of it in!

When you’re making your method from Bay of Quinte to Kingston, don’t miss all these drool-worthy eating choices alongside Freeway 401!

A Culinary Street Journey Alongside South Japanese Ontario’s Freeway 401