Canadian

Where to Savour Canada’s Indigenous Culinary Scene

30 September 2025

Canada’s Indigenous culinary scene is blossoming, rooted in tradition yet boldly innovating with cafés, restaurants, breweries and farms that honour both the land and culture. Here’s a look at some of the newest openings and product launches across the country. 

Featured: Nk’Mip Cellars. Imagery and list courtesy of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).

Bernadette's

Cafés & Restaurants

Ancestor Café by Tradish (Fort Langley, BC)
Tradish tells stories of culture, sustainability and respect for the land through its food. At Ancestor Café, guests can enjoy bannock tacos filled with bison or elk, sweet bannock bites, artisanal jams and herbal lemonades — a menu where tradition, wellness and storytelling meet.

Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro – New Bannock Mix (Vancouver, BC)
A Vancouver institution, Salmon n’ Bannock brings modern Indigenous flavours to the table. Now, travellers can take a piece of it home with a signature bannock mix, soon available at YVR duty-free shops.

Bernadette’s (Edmonton, AB)
Opened in 2025, Bernadette’s is raising Indigenous cuisine to fine-dining heights. Founded by Chef Scott Iserhoff and Svitlana Kravchuk, the restaurant is named after Iserhoff’s grandmother and serves dishes like raw bison, Saskatoon-berry brisket on bannock, and rabbit ragu with potato dumplings.

Kahnawake Brewing Co.
Nk’Mip Cellars

Wineries & Breweries

Locality Brewing (Langley, BC)
This Métis-owned farm brewery grows and malts every ingredient on site — from barley and hops to berries and honey — crafting truly farm-to-glass beers that taste of the land they come from.

Nk’Mip Cellars (Osoyoos, BC)
North America’s first Indigenous-owned winery, Nk’Mip Cellars offers wine flights, reserve tastings and food pairings like the Four Food Chiefs experience, set against sweeping South Okanagan vineyard views.

Kahnawake Brewing Co. (Kahnawake, QC)
Canada’s first Indigenous-owned microbrewery pays homage to Mohawk ironworker heritage while producing creative, small-batch beers that have built a loyal following both locally and beyond.

Kekuli Café
Tea Horse

Coffee & Tea

Kekuli Café (Kamloops, BC)
With the motto “Don’t panic, we have bannock!”, this café puts a fun spin on Indigenous staples, serving tipi tacos, harvest bowls and baked bannock treats. New locations are expanding its reach across Canada, including soon in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Tea Horse (Thunder Bay, ON)
Founded by Denise Atkinson, Anishinaabe ikwe, Tea Horse blends Indigenous traditions with global tea culture. Its wild-rice teas and custom blends make for a uniquely Northern Ontario sip.

Moccasin Joe Coffee Roasters (Kanehsatake, QC)
Family-owned and award-winning, Moccasin Joe focuses on ethical, small-batch roasting that puts sustainability and flavour at the forefront.

Unique Food & Farm Experiences

Pollen Nation Farm (Little Rapids, NL)
An Indigenous-owned farm and beekeeping project, Pollen Nation offers bee tours, foraging walks and fireside meals showcasing raw honey and land-based food traditions at its rustic “Beestro.”

Upper Humber Settlement (Cormack, NL)
On a historic veteran farming site, this Indigenous-owned B&B and farm-stay offers guests the chance to forage, dine farm-to-table, and hear stories around the fire, blending cultural history with regenerative farming.

To discover more Indigenous food and beverage businesses across the country, visit IndigenousCuisine.ca.

Where Celebs Will Be Dining During TIFF 2025

2 September 2025

When TIFF rolls into town (September 4–14), Toronto transforms into Hollywood North — not just on the red carpet, but at the dinner tables too. For ten glittering days, restaurants become backdrops for industry deals, stolen moments, and the occasional paparazzi flash. Here’s where the style icons and film legends are most likely to dine, toast, and perhaps be caught mid-laugh.

The buzz is loud at Nobu Toronto (pictured), the long-awaited Mercer Street outpost of the world-famous brand. Since opening, it has quickly become a celebrity staple. Drake and Pharrell Williams have already been spotted, and the lively bar is just as star-studded as the upstairs omakase. 

A few blocks away, Enigma Yorkville is a jewel box of the scene: tucked away on St. Thomas Street, it serves a refined seasonal tasting menu that blends Japanese precision with Nordic minimalism. It’s no wonder Toronto’s power set — and TIFF’s visiting stars — gravitate here when they want a little quiet luxury with their culinary artistry

Yorkville also shines at Adrak, where Michelin-level Indian cuisine and plush interiors have hosted everyone from the Jonas Brothers to Jessica Alba. It’s the kind of room where rich curries and glittering company go hand in hand.

On King West, the energy shifts into high-octane glamour. Minami (above) delivers with its A5 wagyu and cocktail craft, while just down the street, the Ace Hotel’s Evangeline rooftop lures festival crowds with ’70s-inspired share plates and that golden-hour glow perfect for selfies.

Meanwhile, Ossington keeps its cool edge with Lunch Lady, the Vietnamese comfort-food spot that turns into an industry hangout during TIFF, thanks to its vibrant cocktails and come-as-you-are charm. And for late-night escapades, Vinny Restaurant & Vinyl Bar is pure retro glitz — shrimp toast, disco lighting, DJ sets — the kind of place where you might bump into Dakota Johnson on the dance floor or Jude Law leaning against the bar.

This year, two new contenders are jostling for the after-hours crown. Bar Clams, Matty Matheson’s rollicking seafood diner, and Tha Phae Tavern, a riot of karaoke and claw machines, bring the kind of chaotic fun that even celebs can’t resist. They’re buzzy, unpolished, and all the more irresistible for it.

And finally, Abrielle (pictured) has emerged as another chic contender. With Mediterranean-inspired plates and a stylish room that straddles polished dining and easygoing warmth, it’s poised to host plenty of quiet tête-à-têtes between screenings.

TIFF is celebrating its 50th edition this year, and Toronto’s dining rooms are ready for their own close-ups. Whether you’re chasing star sightings or simply soaking in the atmosphere, these restaurants prove that the real festival often happens long after the credits roll.

The Future of Lettuce Is Here — and It’s Grown in Ontario

17 August 2025

There’s a new kind of lettuce on Ontario shelves — and it might just change the way you shop. Haven Greens, grown in Canada’s first fully automated, AI-powered greenhouse in King City, delivers crisp, flavourful leafy greens that last up to five weeks in the fridge.

By producing lettuce locally, Haven Greens reduces Canada’s reliance on U.S. imports (90% of our leafy greens currently come from California), while giving shoppers greens that are pesticide-free, touchless, and ready to eat right out of the package. Less food waste, fewer supply chain headaches, and fresher salads — it’s a win for both sustainability and taste.

To showcase just how good local greens can be, Haven Greens created this summer-ready recipe:

Haven Greens Grilled Veggie & Goat Cheese Salad

Ingredients

  • 1 zucchini, sliced

  • 1 baby eggplant, sliced

  • 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped

  • 1 ½ tsp salt

  • ¼ cup vegetable oil

  • Haven Greens Baby Red + Green Leaf mix

  • ⅓ cup goat cheese, crumbled

  • ¼ cup crushed peanuts

Dressing

  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

  • 1 tsp honey

  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard

  • Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

  1. Toss zucchini, eggplant, and bell pepper with oil and salt. Grill 3–4 minutes per side until lightly charred.

  2. Whisk together the dressing.

  3. Layer grilled veggies over a bed of Haven Greens. Top with goat cheese and peanuts, drizzle with dressing, and enjoy.

Find Haven Greens Baby Green Leaf, Baby Red + Green Leaf, and Baby Spring Mix now at Metro, Sobeys, and Foodland stores across Ontario. Fresher, longer-lasting greens — grown close to home.