Episode 7: Oxford County

1. Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese

Located in Woodstock, this cheesery is adored for its award-winning products created using Swiss-influenced techniques and recipes. Pop into the shop and pick up cheeses — including fresh curds on Fridays — that are made with ingredients from family dairy farm.

2. Upper Thames Brewing Company

A brewery plus brew pub, Upper Thames offers Canadian craft beer made only with locally sourced ingredients — highlights include double dry-hopped ale, seasonal offerings, preservative-free unfiltered IPAs and non-alcoholic root beer.

3. Mountainoak Cheese Ltd.

Some of Ontario’s best gouda is produced by Mountainoak — its milk source is the family dairy farm. Snack on the classic variety or try interesting flavours such as fenugreek (maple-tasting) or nettle (a zingy weed that grows plentifully in Ontario), or grab hard-to-find fresh quark.

4. Perry’s Corners Farm + Nith Valley Organics

Perry’s specializes in holistic farming practices and offers grass-fed beef and lamb, pastured chicken and heritage pork (including a special breed called English Large Black). Be sure to pick up some summer sausage. Next door, Nith Valley grows organic produce such as tomatoes and snacking peppers.

5. Willibald Farm Distillery & Restaurant

Not just your average distillery, Willibald is also a restaurant. Savour a farm-style menu alongside cocktails made from its Farm Distillery Gin (aged in American oak casks) or pink gin (aged in Niagara wine barrels, which lend the pink hue). Plus, you can now sample brews at the Willibald brewery, which just opened!

A Sweet-Style Cheeseboard

Create a delicious spread by arranging cheeses like Gunn’s Hill 5 Brothers and Brigid Brie alongside honeycomb, edible flowers, herbed almonds and fresh fruit. Brush flatbread with oil and sprinkle with flaky salt to eat with the cheese.

Epic Savoury Charcuterie Board

Put together an incredible grazing board with local cured meats such as lonza, coppa and summer sausage. Go the extra mile by incorporating a mix of cheeses, such as Mountainoak Wild Nettle and fresh quark, which you can spoon into a bowl and garnish with chopped fresh dill. Add sliced boiled eggs and colourful tomatoes sprinkled with salt and pepper. Bonus points for including tangy pickled beans as an accompaniment.