We recently had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Feast at the Orchard event hosted by the wonderful Michel at Vergers Villeneuve. Set in his picturesque farmstead, this culinary experience showcased Eastern Ontario’s amazing local produce. The experience was brought to our stomachs via Les Fins Becs, amazing local caterers.
For starters, we had a choice between silky butternut squash soup with local bacon (L’Orignal Packing) and St-Albert Cheese or a savory lamb puff pastry(Ferme Kaisin). Being slightly carnivorous, we opted for the lamb.
The main course featured a beef bourguignon with mushrooms from the Guardian Farm and beef from the Gilette Farm, along with a Coq au vin (Desautels). Sides included Yukon gold potatoes (Leon Delorme), celeriac puree, and root vegetables from Jardins Drouin.
Dessert was a pear tartar with ice cream, with pears from the trees a few meters from where we were dining.
Guests could explore the orchard, relax by a campfire, take a winery tour, or shop for local products.
The Feast at the Orchard celebrated local flavors and the region’s agricultural bounty, making it an unforgettable experience and exactly what Savour East Ontario is all about.
A huge shout out to Michel, and we look forward to next year’s feasts!
