Relishing in Georgian Bay cottage country
Author Trish Magwood’s favourite places to eat, drink and shop in town
Having a house in the country is all about getting away from the city grind, if only for a few days at a time. If you’re Trish Magwood, it’s also fertile ground for cookbook inspiration. Her forthcoming title, “My New Table” (out Oct. 26), finds the former Food Network Canada host at her weekend retreat in Creemore, 90 minutes north of Toronto, where she’s otherwise based.
In addition to more than 100 recipes full of farm-fresh ingredients, “My New Table” offers a glimpse into Magwood’s life in the quaint village, set amid rolling hills near Georgian Bay. With luxurious photos of her home, her smiling family and her perfectly plated rustic-chic dishes, the book exudes the sophistication and approachability that earned her a James Beard Award for her previous title, “Dish Entertains.”
Early fall, as it happens, is the perfect time to visit Magwood’s small town, with detours through Collingwood and the many other charming communities nearby.
The next time you’re roadtripping through Georgian Bay cottage country, stop by Magwood’s favourite places to eat, drink and shop.
For caffeine and a sweet treat: Bank Café (179 Mill St., Creemore)
Start your day in Creemore as Magwood often does when she’s in town: with coffee and a treat from her favourite local bakery. “Nancy, the owner, just completed a renovation, and she has an amazing baker who makes killer cinnamon buns and butter tarts,” Magwood says. For a quick bite on the road, she also praises the Bank Café’s selection of sandwiches and salads to go.
For one-of-a-kind vintage: Kettlewells (4537 Simcoe County Rd. 124, Collingwood)
If you’re interested in recreating some of the cozy-chic table settings in “My New Table,” Kettlewells is a good place to start. Part antique shop, part floral boutique, it’s a reliable source for perfectly weathered furniture, vintage serving ware and other finds gathered by owner Elaine Kettlewell on trips to the U.S. and Europe. “She has an incredible eye,” says Magwood. “The way she styles and puts her stuff together, it makes you just want to live in her place.” For the freshest local ingredients: 100 Mile Store (176 Mill St., Creemore)
The area around Creemore is home to countless farms and small producers of everything from handmade shortbread (Motherbutter Creemore) to small-batch roasted coffee (Creemore Coffee Company). The best of these are in store at this locavore market on the village’s main drag. “You can get all the stuff I love,” says Magwood, who stops by for greens from the New Farm and other ingredients for her recipes. “It’s small but mighty.”
For a cider flight: Spy Cider House & Distillery (808108 Side Rd. 24, Clarksburg)
“I love what’s happening with the craft beverage scene in Creemore and Collingwood,” says Magwood. A longtime friend of Spy’s CEO, Burgundy winemaker David Butterfield, she favours their Never Say Never, a cider made from organic spy and McIntosh apples grown on Butterfield’s nearby farm. While Spy cider is sold at the LCBO, a well-timed visit to their tasting room comes with extra benefits, like a sampling of their hand-pressed raspberry wine.
For Mediterranean-inspired sharing plates: Tremont Café (100 Pine St., Collingwood)
Make reservations for dinner at Magwood’s favourite local restaurant, which combines Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes with a diverse pantry of global influences on their five-course menu. “Their menu changes regularly, but we’ve eaten literally everything here,” says Magwood. “They’re very passionate about what they do, and everything is delicious.”