Skyline view of Wellington Rd. in downtown London, Ontario Canada
  • A person about to eat a pastry called a 'cruffin' from Black Walnut Bakery Café located in London, Ontario

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    Made in London, Ontario: Small-Batch & Made-from-Scratch Foods

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    • Author Tourism London
    • Date June 5, 2024
    • Category Food & Drink
    • Categories
      #ExploreLdnOnt, Family Fun, Food & Drink, Shopping & Retail, Things To Do
  • In a city celebrated for its farmers’ markets, food hubs, culinary artisans and craft brewery culture, it’s no surprise that food innovators and visionaries abound. Indie businesses and producers of hand-crafted, small-batch, made-in-London foods are easily found while exploring the city’s food scene.

    Discover the emerging food district in Old East Village. While you’re there, drop by Willie's Café for no preservative, all-natural ingredient bread, butter tarts and dessert squares and a freshly roasted chicken or beef sandwich! Discover African cuisine at Yaya’s Kitchen featuring the foods from Northern Nigeria and the Sahel region.



    To Market, To Market

    A crowd of people walking through The Market at Western Fair District with various vendors selling fresh produce, located in London, Ontario
    The Market at Western Fair District • London, Ontario

     

    The Market at Western Fair District

    On Saturdays and Sundays, be sure to visit the The Market at Western Fair District. This food-focused hub features two floors, 85+ permanent vendors and a seasonal outdoor market with a rotating roster of growers and producers.

    Find your new favourite hot sauce at A Spice Odyssey, where all sauces and preserves are handcrafted from locally sourced all natural product. If it's gluten-free foods that you seek, try Loving Spoonful's soups, breads and treats.  

    There are many friendly vendors and food stalls where you can savour everything from a gourmet grilled cheese at Goodah Gastrotruck, to a classic Portuguese-inspired sandwich with a modern twist from Bifana Boys. If you like heat, pick up Bifana Boys homemade piri piri hot sauces, pickles and preserves. Both businesses are extensions of the evolving local food truck culture.

     

    Jars of The Harvest Pantry Sauerkraut
    The Harvest Pantry • @theharvestpantry on Instagram


    Hot Oven

    Attracting a loyal clientele who appreciate the generous ratio of savoury filling to phyllo, Zoran Sehovac and his culinary team at the Covent Garden Market are passionate about their Balkan-inspired bureks. Hand-rolled into a flaky spiral of phyllo, offerings include spinach and cheese or meat served hot from the oven with sour cream. Available for take-out and delivery!

     



    Growing Local Plant-based Food Trends: London abounds With plant-based food innovators

    Nuts for Cheese product photo
    Nuts for Cheese • @nutsforcheese on Instagram


    Nuts for Cheese

    Margaret Coons, founder of Nuts for Cheese is a prime example of a London-grown pioneer, producing a line of dairy and gluten-free vegan cheeses hand-crafted from cultured organic cashews. Vegetable-centred offerings can be found available for purchase online and at a variety of quality retailers.

     

    A plant based burger on a tray surrounded by french fries and other sandwiches from Odd Burger
    Odd Burger • London, Ontario

     

    Odd Burger

    Odd Burger is taking the plant-based food trend to a whole new level with a cutting-edge vegan menu – featuring tacos, faux pulled pork, BLT's made with soy-based “tempeh bacon” and a vegan burger made with chick pea patties – the difference is that they contain no animal products.

     

    Plant-based burger from Plant Matter Kitchen
    Plant Matter Kitchen • @plantmatterkitchen on Instagram


    Plant Matter Kitchen

    A plant-based restaurant and juice bar, Plant Matter Kitchen serves organic, delicious, vegan meals. From revamped familiar favourites to global flavours—and everything in between—Plant Matter Kitchen creates whole food meals with no artificial ingredients, additives, chemicals and nothing processed. Can’t make it to Wortley Village? Not to worry! PMK now does pick up and delivery through Uber Eats so you can enjoy locally sourced, organic and 100% plant-based food from the comfort of your home.
     



    Baked Expectations

    Various pastries on display at the front counter of the Black Walnut Bakery Café located in London, Ontario
    Black Walnut Bakery Café • London, Ontario


    Hot Spots for Sweets and Treats

    Are you craving the best French-style macarons? We've got you covered: Petit-Paris Creperie & Pâtisserie. Their unique macaron flavours include lemon, raspberry, almond vanilla, chocolate and salted caramel. For craveable cruffins filled with flavoured creams and custards check out Black Walnut Bakery Café in downtown. London has plenty of small-batch, made-from-scratch specialty bakeries. Here is a shortlist of some of the city’s most diverse and uniquely London bakeries: The Artisan BakeryHappiness Cafe and Hey Cupcake .

     

    Meat pies being served at Spicer's Bakery
    Spicer's Bakery • @spicersbakery on Instagram


    Spicer’s Bakery

    Nothing beats the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked pies. Spicer’s Bakery in Lambeth, Aylmer and St. Thomas is dedicated to from-scratch baking excellence — high quality, hand-crafted pies, using hand-rolled pastry for flaky goodness and delectable fillings. There is a daily rotating selection of seasonal pies, cream pies, pot pies, tarts, tourtière and quiches available fresh baked or frozen. You can also pick up pie-inspired gourmet donuts such as Maple Bacon and Salted Caramel Apple with easy online ordering.  

     


     

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