Uncover the Tastes of Durham: A Mix of Downtown Gems and Scrumptious Experiences
Only a brief drive east of Toronto, Durham Area blends full of life metropolis vibes with the nice and cozy and easy-going spirit of countryside communities. It’s the type of place the place you’ll be able to sip your morning espresso at a classy downtown café, spend the afternoon at a lakeside seashore, and end the day wandering by means of flower fields or historic small cities.
With limitless adventures to take pleasure in year-round, we’re absorbing each drop of summer season and sharing our information for easy methods to spend two scrumptious days exploring the flavours of Durham Area.
Let’s dive in!
Day 1: Scrumptious Finds in Ajax, Lavender Fields and Lakeside Eating in Pickering
Day one is all about discovering the flavours and hidden gems of Ajax and Pickering. From morning espresso and international bites in Ajax to lavender fields, candy treats and lakeside eating in Pickering.
Day one is about discovering the steadiness of Durham’s vibrant cities and its peaceable farms and inexperienced areas.
La Casita Del Cafe
The place: 588 Lake Ridge Rd S, Ajax, ON (View Map)
Your adventures in Durham begin with a go to to La Casita del Café, a female-owned cellular espresso trailer, serving up high-quality, sustainable and culturally impressed drinks that commemorate Latin and Boho influences whereas supporting area people initiatives.
Discover them at Vandermeer Nursery to gas your day with a singular handcrafted espresso or tea like their “Sundown Island” lemon tea, made with a guava and passionfruit puree with hibiscus tea.
When you’re there seize a chunk to eat and sit below the lined out of doors patio earlier than channeling your interior inexperienced thumb as you wander by means of rows of lush tropical vegetation, aromatic herbs and vibrant flowers, selecting out vibrant additions to brighten up your backyard.
Sea Salt Seafood Cafe
The place: 100 Westney Rd S, Ajax, ON (View Map)
Beryl’s Pepper Pot
The place: 467 Westney Rd S #17, Ajax, ON (View Map)
Tranquility Trails Farm
The place: 5240 Lake Ridge Rd, Ashburn, ON (View Map)
Subsequent we started the afternoon with a go to to Tranquility Trails Farm situated in North Pickering. This former golf course is now residence to an attractive regenerative, family-owned lavender and elderberry farm, providing a serene escape within the coronary heart of Durham Area.
After strolling by means of the peaceable fields and having fun with a pleasant spherical of corn gap, we cooled off on the café with a refreshing lavender-infused lemonade and indulged in baked treats infused with lavender grown on the farm for an ideal mix of nature, rest and group.
Sizzling tip: Preserve an eye fixed out for occasions like vendor markets and yoga courses hosted outdoors within the fields for a enjoyable addition to your subsequent day journey!
Heaffles
The place: 1550 Kingston Rd, Pickering, ON (View Map)
PORT Restaurant
The place: 1289 Wharf St Bay Ridges, Pickering, ON (View Map)
DAY 2: Exploring Hidden Gems in Downtown Oshawa, and Native Regional Flavours in Whitby
Day two is all about dialling into the epic downtown scenes throughout Durham Area. From espresso and meals markets in Downtown Oshawa to handcrafted chocolate and wood-fired eating in Whitby, day two invitations you to savour native flavours, uncover artistic areas and expertise the distinctive character of every group.
Kareza Cafe
The place: 37 Debwewin Miikan, Oshawa, ON (View Map)
Kicking off day two of exploring all of Durham Area’s scrumptious flavours, our morning begins at Karéza Café, a reasonably new addition to downtown Oshawa. This cozy spot is surrounded by cabinets of books and alluring seats, making it the right spot for a comfy begin to the morning.
We opted to attempt the mocha latte topped with chocolate shavings, and we couldn’t resist ordering their showstopper, a crème brûlée latte with a wonderfully torched crackable prime. For a fast chunk, we savoured honeycomb brie toast alongside contemporary pastries, making for a very scrumptious begin to the day.
After our cozy espresso cease, we took a while to wander downtown Oshawa, simply considered one of Durham Area’s 14 vibrant downtowns.
Shopping native outlets led us to the superbly restored BOND|ST Occasion Centre, a historic constructing as soon as residence to the GM United Auto Employees Union. As we speak, it’s a hub for arts, tradition, and leisure, with reside music venues, lounges, and it’s personal café.
We popped into the BOND|ST Café and sipped our approach by means of their refreshing summer season menu and loved the tangy bitter peach tea sparkler and espresso tonic with lime.
Market at 70 King
The place: 70 King St E, Oshawa, ON (View Map)
Not prepared to go away downtown Oshawa simply but, we made our technique to Market 70 King for lunch, a vibrant meals corridor the place distinctive eats meet international flavour. With eight various distributors led by proficient cooks, plus an elegant cocktail bar and full of life occasion area, it’s a must-visit spot in downtown Oshawa.
The ethereal, fashionable area is crammed with pure mild and loads of communal seating, making it the right spot for sharing a meal with buddies.
We couldn’t resist sampling somewhat little bit of every little thing. At Sushi Once more, we tried fresh-made inari pockets full of salmon, crab and teriyaki rooster.
Over at Bao Mama, we dug into their common bao trio that includes braised beef, pork, and fried rooster, together with their must-try spiced sinigang fries.
We wrapped issues up at Zaps with a zapiekanka, a Polish flatbread pizza making an attempt their signature “What A Pickle” Zapiekanka which got here extremely really helpful. It was loaded with garlic sauce, bacon, pickles, and cheese, then topped with dill sauce and a sprinkle of contemporary dill.
A satisfying and filling lunch, Market 70 King was the right cease to gas up for an thrilling afternoon forward!
One Extra Cocoa
The place: 116 Athol St, Whitby, ON (View Map)
Subsequent, we made our technique to Whitby for the afternoon. We handled ourselves to a cease at One Extra Cocoa, a boutique chocolatier impressed by Jamaican heritage, the place we indulged in a blended field of bon bons indulging in flavours like cookies ’n cream, salted caramel, s’mores and the sweet-heat combo of scotch bonnet honey.
Lloyd’s Lunchbox
The place: 111 Dundas St W, Whitby, ON (View Map)
Lowlands Fireplace Meals
The place: 269 Water St, Whitby, ON (View Map)
Station Gallery
The place: 1450 Henry St, Whitby, ON (View Map)
The place: 118 Athol St, Whitby, ON (View Map)
Our closing cease of the day introduced us again to downtown Whitby for dinner at Portobello Street, a husband-and-wife-run restaurant devoted to showcasing the easiest of Ontario.
They work intently with native farmers and producers to create a menu that adjustments weekly with the seasons and their dedication to native is backed by their Feast On® certification.
Past their downtown location, additionally they carry their from-scratch creations to the Whitby and Pickering farmers’ markets.
Our tasting expertise featured a standout plate of six dishes together with contemporary, handmade ravioli crammed with lion’s mane mushroom purée and native morel mushrooms. The plate was completed with delicate pea tendrils from Lunar Rhythm Gardens, an ideal reflection of their love for native flavour.
To finish the meal, we indulged in a plant-forward dessert: sponge cake made with olive oil as an alternative of butter, served with strawberry ice cream constituted of soy milk, and topped with aquafaba meringue and lavender buds.
The considerate tasting expertise at Portobello Street goes far past providing friends a direct line to the tastes and flavours of Durham Area, it’s additionally about their dedication to a zero-waste strategy.
Reservations are deliberately restricted, as Chef Alex prepares and serves every dish through the use of solely the precise elements wanted for every seating, minimizing meals waste whereas delivering an unforgettably scrumptious eating expertise.
Contemporary, Native, and Filled with Flavour, Savour the Better of Durham Area!
From uncovering hidden downtown gems to wandering lavender fields, tasting farm-fresh elements and savouring international flavours, Durham Area is a spot the place each chunk and each journey tells a narrative. Whether or not you’re sipping espresso in a comfy café, having fun with a lakeside pizza, or indulging in a refined tasting menu, the locations to eat and discover are really limitless.
Begin planning your subsequent getaway in the present day and go to Tourism Durham Area to assist information your subsequent flavour-filled journey.
