Food and Wine
Food has always had the power to balance senses and create lasting memories.
Enjoy the smell, taste and visual presentation of a beautifully plated main course while listening to a pianist playing in the background.
You are spoiled for choice when looking at the multiple Food and Wine date ideas in Canada.
“People who love to eat are always the best people.” ― Julia Child
Enjoy the smell, taste and visual presentation of a beautifully plated main course while listening to a pianist playing in the background.
You are spoiled for choice when looking at the multiple Food and Wine date ideas in Canada.
“People who love to eat are always the best people.” ― Julia Child
Warning – Good Eats and Good Drinks may lead to Great Dates
If you want to plan a great date, you can’t go wrong with one that revolves around mouth-watering food, accompanied by a favourite beverage. Food and drink, such as a lovely glass of wine, bring alive all five senses.
Savouring a tasty dish is one of the most exquisite activities anyone can enjoy, especially when it’s with that special someone.
A lovely glass of wine is often the perfect accompaniment, enhancing the flavours of the meal and adding that special touch. From the most romantic restaurants to the best grab-and-go fare, check out this smorgasbord of food and wine choices.
Table of Contents
Food Experiences
Food Halls
Though fairly common in Europe and Asia, food halls are a fairly new phenomenon in Canada. They are like bumped up indoor food trucks and are definitely a few notches above the traditional food court. No two food halls are alike and they are very much curated to individual markets. Some offer a combination of fresh foods plus a variety of restaurants. All in all, they are about hanging out as a community in a cool, upbeat atmosphere.
Your date will love the veritable culinary fair that is the food hall. The wide variety of cuisines on offer from sushi to Italian, from ramen to burgers is sure to satisfy any craving. More chef-driven, products are often locally sourced and sometimes organic. The fresh, flavourful dish you choose may well be prepared in an open kitchen right before your eyes. You can each have a cocktail with your meal at a lower price than you’d find at a proper sit-down restaurant.
Food Festivals
Food festivals usually take place once a year over the span of a weekend or several weeks. As there are so many different festivals, you can definitely find a few of interest to take your sweetheart to.
As the name implies, food is the star here. Festivals can be themed by different cultural cuisines, by food particular to a region or by a specific season. They can also be events in which several sit-down restaurants take part.
Does she like ribs? Check out your city’s RibFest where several teams are serving up racks of the finger-licking good grub. Or stroll around the stalls at Toronto’s Taste of the Danforth and sample the mouth-watering souvlaki from area restauranteurs.
You won’t be able to resist the wafting aromas of the Latino-inspired fare at Carnaval del Sol in Vancouver. In addition, there are poutine fests, lobster fests, Asian-themed fests, pumpkin fests and even butter tart fests!
City streets are often blocked off to traffic so that festival-goers can comfortably meander through all the participating vendors’ stalls. Alternatively, they may be set up in a local park or suitable indoor venue, especially during the cooler months.
Make sure to have comfortable footwear as you’ll probably be walking a fair bit and you can also expect lineups at some of the booths.
Don’t miss out on the ‘licious in Toronto, that is Summerlicious and Winterlicious. Like MTLaTABLE in Montreal and the Dine Out Vancouver Festival, these events highlight the host city’s finest restaurants and bring food culture to new heights. Prix Fixe menus are usually offered at reduced prices, therefore you will both have a chance to savour a delicious meal and enjoy that extra glass of wine.
Food Tours
Whether you’re going out for a meal or preparing a feast together for the big game, food is always an intimate and pleasurable sharing affair. So why not build your next date around a food event?
Choose your favorite cuisine or try something new! There are many great city and regional food tours that will introduce you and your love to something new and exciting!
From East to West, there are a few tours I would recommend. Halifax Food Tours is a sure bet when you’re in that fabulous city. For an authentic taste of Montreal try Secret Food Tours.
If you’re in Toronto try the St. Lawrence Market tour. Due to its size, this one can be quite overwhelming. Therefore, having a guide lead you to some of its tastiest spots is a great way to experience this amazing food hall.
Lastly, I recommend Vancouver Foodie Tours’ Gastown tour. You’ll sample some delicious nosh in an area known for its great restaurants and shops.
DIY Food Experiences
Bump Up Your Picnic Game
Check the Weather Network for the next warm, sunny day and plan to head out to one of the many lush city parks near you. First, stop by your local specialty food shop. Pick up some staple items such as artisan bread and cheeses, crudités and dips and a snazzy side salad. Add olives and grapes, a bag of gourmet snack food and anything else you know you’ll both love to leisurely graze on.
For a special touch, it’s always nice to include a homemade item or two. Whip up a cottage pie or a batch of delicious chocolate chip cookies.
Don’t forget your favourite adult beverage and a cozy blanket to sit on. Pack your lunch in a wicker picnic basket, complete with tableware and utensils. Head over to the park and choose an intimate spot overlooking a pond or under a shady willow tree and tuck in.
If You’re Board….
Your mission, should you choose to accept, is creating the ultimate charcuterie board. Head out together to your local gourmet market or grocer and take turns picking the perfect cured meats, artisanal cheeses, paté, exotic crackers and olives.
Grab a bottle of wine to pair with your fare then head back to your kitchen to prep! Doing this together adds a touch of sweetness to your savoury nibbles. And if you love this idea, you can take it a step further by taking a charcuterie board workshop. You’ll choose your own live edge board and learn how to style and choose the food you want to feature.
Wineries
When you think of great wine producers, Canada is usually not the first country that comes to mind. However, we’ve made great strides in the last 30 years with our famous icewine putting Canada on the map.
The vast majority of wineries are concentrated in Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula and Prince Edward County, as well as in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. Many are located close to each other making it feasible to visit four or five of them in a day.
The first thing to do is to take a guided tour of the vineyard. You and your love can stroll through the rows of vines and learn about the many different grape varieties. Some of the tours include walk-throughs of the facility and Peller Estates in Niagara even has an igloo-like Icewine Lounge.
The tasting room is where you can sample a variety of delicious wines produced in-house. Some wineries have complimentary tastings while others charge a nominal fee.
If you’re lucky, you may happen to visit when a winery is holding a grape-stomping event. This is always a fun and squishy experience!
If you’d like to take in a great concert under the stars, the Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estates Amphitheatre hosts an impressive roster of Canadian talent each summer. Make sure to check the website frequently as the tickets sell out quickly.
Food at the Winery
Some wineries have eateries or snacks available on the premises. Others have areas where you and your date can set up a picnic lunch. Several wineries also have world-class gourmet restaurants where award-winning chefs and sommeliers work together to present a menu of mostly locally sourced fare paired perfectly with wines from the vineyard. The delicious offerings, atmospheric setting and attentive service in these dining rooms make for an outstanding and romantic evening.
Since you’ll likely want to partake in the tastings during your visit at a vineyard, consider taking an organized tour. You can then relax, have a few sips and not have to worry about getting behind the wheel. Several companies operate out of the GTA to the Niagara Region and from the Okanagan area to the Valley’s vineyards.
If you’re in Waterloo Region, get a few friends together and book a private wine tour with BuzzTour Company which visits vineyards in the Lake Erie North Shore region.
If you and your love enjoy getting around on two wheels, there are plenty of operator-run bicycle tours and self-guided bike tours are also available.
One of the greatest benefits of visiting a winery is that you can purchase bottles of your favourite wines on the spot, knowing how much you’ll enjoy a glass when you are relaxing at home with your special someone over a romantic dinner. Join the many wine of the month clubs to make sure your wine pipeline is always flowing.
Where to go: Niagara Falls | Okanagan Valley | Prince Edward County
Distillery District
The Distillery District in Toronto is a fantastic date destination located just east of the city centre. In 2003, the former Gooderham & Worts Distillery was transformed into a unique neighbourhood, blending elements of the original structures with modern materials and green technologies.
Walk hand in hand past the stylish Victorian buildings in this cobblestoned, pedestrian-friendly block. You’ll find a unique blend of artists and entrepreneurs, supporting and complementing each other.
Nestled in and amongst the large variety of galleries and boutiques is an assortment of distinct restaurants, all offering mouth-watering fare. El Catrin Destileria is a favourite for fantastic Mexican food complimented by a large selection of tequila, while Cluny Bistro serves up an exquisite adventure in French cuisine.
The Distillery District evokes a vibrant European sensitivity, making it one of the most romantic areas of Toronto. Be sure to take a selfie under the arches of the red heart and proclaim your true love at the Love Locks installation.
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