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Culinary Adventures & Cottage Family Fun at
Viamede Resort
by Jennifer Merrick
“ Good stuff is coming out of that door ,” says my 14-year-old son . He continually cranes his head towards the kitchen , eagerly anticipating the next course of the blind tasting menu at Viamede Resort , a century-old property situated a two-hour drive north of Toronto in the Kawartha Lakes district .
“ This one ’ s fun ,” says our waiter , who places an appetizer in front of us with corn prepared five different ways , including popcorn . For the parents , it ’ s paired with a Riesling from Tawse , a Niagara winery .
It ’ s the third dish of our seven-course dining experience at Mount Julian restaurant , prepared by Chef Kevin McKenna , a culinary master who prides himself on creating dishes that highlight local natural flavours . And local here often means right on the 165-acre property of Viamede itself , which has gardens , forgeable forests , and even their own farm .
During our stay , we see the animals firsthand on a tour of the farm , one of the complimentary scheduled activities for guests . Kids help herd the turkeys back in the pen , watch as the geese waddle en masse to get their food , hold a tiny quail egg and the best part , watch the piglets play . “ They love this ,” says our guide as he turns on the hose . The three littlish pigs ( who will each eventually grow up to be 600 pounds ) splash around in the running water , and seem to be having as much fun as our kids did during their water fight earlier in the day .
Guests also have opportunities to forage with Chef McKenna , an activity he compares to treasure hunting , with the riches being wild leeks , cattail hearts , garlic , dandelion greens and berries ; or join him on a visit to a local farmer ’ s market to source ingredients for the evening ’ s meal .