Kingston restaurants showcase local ingredients with culinary flare
Starting January 16, Kingstonlicious returns for its third year, with several Kingston chefs putting their individual spin on healthy start menus for the new year. Twenty Kingston restaurants and breweries are offering special prix fixe menus for January, ranging from healthy fish dishes to a five-course plant-powered dinner. There are also a variety of price points, with offerings from $25 to $65. Several menus showcase products from Ontario farms, including Patchwork Gardens, Primal Growth Farms, Forman Farms, The Fungi Connection, Lenberg Farms, Beking’s Poultry Farm, and Back Forty Artisan Cheese.
In February, Kingstonlicious participants will announce new menus, all inspired by the theme “love and family.” Look for romantic dinners for two and family-style menus from local restaurants. And in March, Kingstonlicious will celebrate Indigenous culture and cuisine.
In addition, special culinary events will take place January through March, which will showcase the talents of Kingston and guest chefs.
Kingstonlicious signature experiences
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Après Sauna
Jan 28 & 29 // $255 per person
2023 is in full swing and what better way to fuse feel-good vibes into the new year than a 75-minute guided sauna experience followed by an indulgent seafood fondue feast, paired with a selection of natural wines chosen specifically to suit your palate.
For the Love of Cheese at AquaTerra
Feb 22 // $175 per person
Multiple seatings, starting at 6 pm
Chef Brent McAllister welcomes Maïtre Fromager Afrim Pristine, from Toronto’s Cheese Boutique, to create a multicourse menu showcasing cheeses from around the globe, with wine pairings for each course. Guests may also purchase featured cheeses and products. Mio Gelato will create a special dessert for this evening.
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Dim sum meets Trinidadian delights at Northside Espresso + Kitchen
March 4 // $85 per person
Seatings at 10 am, noon, and 2 pm
Northside’s Chef Art Hill welcomes Chef Nick Liu of Toronto’s DaiLo and Sally Ramsaran of Kingston’s Sally’s Roti Shop to create a unique multicultural brunch. Enjoy a dim sum platter followed by a Trinidadian breakfast plate, Sada roti and chokra, and a special dessert that brings the two culinary worlds together.
Call to Action 83: What does reconciliation taste like?
March 18 // $65 per person, Complimentary registration for the Indigenous community
11 am – 3:30 pm with culinary and artistic activations throughout
Juniper Cafe (Tett Centre) & Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts
Inspired by Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 83 – for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to undertake collaborative projects and produce works that contribute to reconciliation – this celebration brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous chefs and beverage purveyors for a day of exploration. Rooted in education, collegiality, and respect for the seasons, these culinary collaborators will build a powerful experience that explores Indigenous foodways, linking the food and drink consumed with its history, heritage, culture, and geography.
Collaborating chefs:
- Chef Zach Keeshig, Naagan
- Chef Leah Marshall Hannon, Stella’s Eatery
- Chef Lee Arden Lewis, formerly Jackson’s Falls Country Inn and Indigenous Restaurant
- Chef Joseph Shawana, Professor & Indigenous Culinary Advisor, Centennial College, and former Owner/Operator, Kūkŭm Kitchen (now closed)
- Chef William Arnaud, Otter Creek Kitchen
- Chef Cayley Balint, Frontenac Club
- Chef Colin Johnson, Queen’s University
- Chef Cassandra Mercier, Atomica
- Alix Carr-Harris, Owner/Operator, Haymakers Coffee Co.
- Sarah Sanders, Head Bartender, Frontenac Club
Due to the nature of this event, dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated.
Michelin star-studded pasta soirée at The Everly
March 21 // $175 per person
Multiple seatings, starting at 6 pm
Chef Joel Watanabe of Vancouver’s Kissa Tanto (recently awarded one Michelin star) joins The Everly’s Jamie Hodge and Miss Bao’s Bellen Tong for an evening highlighting hand-crafted pasta. Guest sommeliers from Toronto’s Grape Witches, a female-owned organic, biodynamic, and natural wine-focused agency, will pair local, B.C., and international wines with the menu.
A Montreal-style brunch with Hey Darlin’ Diner & Rosewood Winery
March 26 // $55 per person
11 am & 2 pm seatings
Montreal joie de vivre stopovers at soon-to-open Hey Darlin’ Diner. Host chefs Amanda Finkle (Whiskey & Rosé) and Rory Seifried join Chef Hakim Rahal from Montreal’s adventurous hotspot, Provisions Bar à Vin. Expect a brunch with classics like Provisions’ hugely popular house-made brisket, a breakfast version of croque-monsieur, and of course Montreal bagels – with a few other surprises like pain perdu with apple compôte and chicken liver pâté. Niagara’s boutique Rosewood Estates Winery & Meadery’s winemaker Ryan Corrigan will pour and speak to Rosewood’s most brunch-friendly wines.
Check back as more signature events are added.
Find menus and information at visitkingston.ca/kingstonlicious.
