A variation of this post was first published on the Westboro Connection blog.

Summer calls for delicious meals and refreshing drinks on a patio. While we've all enjoyed the fabulous options for takeout and delivery over the past few months, nothing beats dressing up and having food cooked for you and served on a restaurant patio in summer.

We are thrilled to finally welcome back patio season in the city, and we invite our community to explore some amazing outdoor dining options that will surely invigorate your heart!

Bar Lupulus

Meeting up with friends at Bar Lupulus, your friendly neighbourhood quality beer joint, should be definitely on your summer to-do list. Bar Lupulus has everything you need to sit back, relax, and enjoy the summer sun! This gastropub serves delectable meals, the best craft beers, and the finest wines. The bar's chef approaches food art in the same way he approaches drinks: always innovative, esoteric, and as locally sourced as possible. We recommend trying Bar Lupulus’s special charcuterie boards with a glass of wine or beer which will be perfect to fight the summer heat.

Address: 1242 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3A4
 

Joe’s Italian Kitchen

Imagine sitting on a patio in Italy, eating exceptional, mouth-watering comfort foods while enjoying a glass of classic sangria or white wine! We have great news for our Hintonburg Connection residents: Joe's Italian Kitchen will be serving our community with authentic Italian fare all summer. Also, Joe's Italian Kitchen is Canada's first certified pinsaria. If you are not familiar with the term, pinsa is the next generation of pizza made with a blend of sourdough, rice, soy, and wheat flour. You should give it a try!

Address: 1323 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3B6
 

Drip House

Even though we cannot yet see the aesthetically pleasing interiors or feel the vintage vibes of Drip House, we can still invite you to spend some time on the Drip House's patio for breakfast or lunch. If you want to bring the daily coffee routine to the next level, you must try the incredible Drip House’s summer drink menu that includes golden iced tea latte, matcha iced tea latte, beetroot iced tea latte, and honey lavender iced tea latte, and much more!
Address: 340B Parkdale Ave, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2W5

The Hintonburg Public House

The Hintonburg Public House, located just a 10-minute walk from home, serves traditional pub fare and comfort food made in-house. Our favorites include the HPH Burger, fish and chips, a grilled cheese you have to try, and baked-to-order cookies. Come down for some cold beer and cocktails on the patio, and stay for dinner.

Address: 1020 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2X9

One of the greatest advantages of living in Hintonburg is having all these amazing outdoor dining options just minutes away. We hope your outdoor dining experience is full of laughs and memories, as well as delicious meals from local restaurants.

The post Four Hintonburg patios open right now appeared first on Hintonburg Connection Blog.

A variation of this post was first published on the Westboro Connection blog.

Busy lifestyles are the reality for most of the residents of Hintonburg and Westboro. Juggling a variety of responsibilities makes it hard to focus as much attention on healthy eating as we’d all like. Our new Discover Local partner, Two Beets Farm, makes healthy eating the new norm with their online vegetable farm-stand initiative. Customers can simply go online, pick and choose what they would like to add to their fresh vegetable baskets and collect them at their convenience.

The novel initiative by Diana Beirnes and Nic Gosselin emphasizes the positive and special relationship people have with food. The origin of their farm makes for a fascinating story. Talking after an ordinary day at work, they mentioned abandoning their stable life and corporate jobs in Toronto to explore nature. As avid outdoorists, they wanted to use this time to bike, hike and travel, camping in their trailer along the way. They had no idea that the trip was going to transform their lives.

To make their journey fun and affordable, they’d decided to visit farms along the way. Ultimately, they chose to stay back at a farm in Quebec for one full season and understand the basics of the work. That experience made them reaffirm their passion for food, healthy eating and impacting people’s lives in a positive manner. They were influenced by the lifestyle, food and the collective experience of sharing the opportunity with other farmers. As Diana said, “Quebec promotes local farmers by providing opportunity and resources to new businesses. That’s how we rented our first half-an acre of land.”

Diana and Nic were undoubtedly apprehensive about the various uncertainties they would have to face. Their strong partnership enabled them to overcome every hindrance and made them more confident in their pursuit. In fact, their name Two Beets Farm derives from the idea that they both are two beats to a tune – music being another reason for their happy union.

Two Beets Farm encourages healthy lifestyle

Nic and Diana believe in making the community feel supported in their healthy lifestyle choices. They want to do so by simplifying and spreading knowledge about the nutritional value of food. Diana and Nic hope to build special relationships with people and contribute to their lives in a meaningful fashion. This is also why they are proud to be associated with the Discover Local program. In their opinion, empowering and joining hands with other local ventures will surely uplift the whole community.

About Discover Local

Discover Local is an exclusive program for our residents, created to better acquaint them with their neighbourhood and the many local businesses and services therein. It’s all about discovering what makes their local community so vibrant, inspiring, and livable. From cafes and restaurants to retailers, gyms and beyond, we invite you to discover local – there’s a whole neighbourhood waiting to be discovered!

The post Freshness from Two Beets Farm customized for Hintonburg Connection Residents appeared first on Hintonburg Connection Blog.

A variation of this post was first published on the Westboro Connection blog.

Bridgehead Coffee, a renowned fair-trade coffeehouse chain, is a well-known hub for the residents of Westboro and Hintonburg. The first company to offer consumers fairly-traded coffee in Canada, it has a special relationship with the Westboro and Hintonburg neighbourhoods. Back on June 17, 2000, the first Bridgehead Coffeehouse opened at 362 Richmond Road in Westboro. Currently, it has twenty outlets and includes a line of organic teas and food products.

Bridgehead is known for the quality of its coffees – and the warm and generous service of its team. The staff consciously make an extra effort to bring joy to every customer, and being limited to takeout hasn’t dampened their enthusiasm for creating special moments for everyone they serve. The Bridgehead team are inspired by the long-lasting memories that can be created over cups of coffee.

Bridgehead also deeply values its interactions with the farmers who grow the beans and pluck the tea leaves. They aid them by providing support and also learn how to inculcate environment-friendly practices into their daily work. There is a desire to extend the relationship to customers in the future. “We want our customers to know the farmers responsible for their coffees,” says Blair Amyotte, Director of Marketing and Brand at Bridgehead Coffee.

There have been challenges in creating these relationships during the pandemic, particularly with travel restrictions in place. “The values of community-building and collaboration have still continued to guide our way,” adds Blair. The community of farmers seemed to be hit hard financially. One particular farmer was unable to produce enough harvest to take to market. However, Bridgehead turned the challenge into a chance to support the farmers as well as celebrate its employees. They bought the few bags the farmer had produced, which they gave to their staff as thank you coffees with a note introducing the farmer and sharing his story.

Bridgehead is also committed to supporting the community close to home. Around the beginning of the spread of COVID-19 in Ottawa, when testing centers were just opening up, the Bridgehead team decided to surprise the nurses and staff at the Brewer Park Arena Walk-in COVID Assessment Centre with free coffees. The Bridgehead team was met with an overwhelming response – full of gratitude and joy. The emotional reaction inspired them to continue delivering coffees to these heroic frontline workers every day since then. They have expanded this initiative to deliver to other different local health care worker groups as well, such as The Ottawa Hospital, CHEO, EORLA and community health clinics like Centretown Community Health Clinic.

While Bridgehead is undoubtedly a perfect go-to for a hot beverage or a delicious bite to eat, it’s the kindness and generosity of the team that make it truly special – whether it is delighting customers, aiding farmers, rewarding employees, or celebrating the healthcare workers who are guarding our community.

About Discover Local

Discover Local is an exclusive program for our residents, created to better acquaint them with their neighbourhood and the many local businesses and services therein. It’s all about discovering what makes their local community so vibrant, inspiring, and livable. From cafes and restaurants to retailers, gyms and beyond, we invite you to discover local – there’s a whole neighbourhood waiting to be discovered!

The post With coffee and caring, Bridgehead Coffee is nourishing our community appeared first on Hintonburg Connection Blog.

A variation of this post was first published on the Westboro Connection blog.

It’s hard to believe how much our relationships with local restaurants have changed over the last year. Not so very long ago, we took for granted the idea of going out for a meal – now, however, it’s anything but commonplace.

In recognition and celebration of our beloved neighbourhood restaurants, we’ve put together a list of recommended places to try. We hope you’ll discover a new favourite dish, a must-try cocktail kit, or a bit of comfort you didn’t know you’d been missing. Bon appétit!
 

The Hintonburg Public House

It could be the cozy, feels-right-at-home atmosphere that locals love about the Hintonburg Public House, or it could be the inspiring collection of local contemporary art adorning the walls. Either way, the Wellington Street West vibe certainly translates into the takeaway menu (and if we can’t relax and enjoy a drink and a bite with friends inside, isn’t well-prepared takeaway the next best thing?). 

Imagine elevated comfort food done exceptionally well! You can expect favourites here like the HPH Burger, fish and chips, a grilled cheese you need to taste to believe, and desserts like the must-try baked-to-order cookies. Don’t forget to check out the impressive selection of craft brews and artisanal cocktails too!

Takeout and delivery options available.
 

Bar Lupulus

As a dine-in experience, Wellington Street West’s Bar Lupulus has carved out its own culinary niche – somewhere between mouth-wateringly innovative and esoterically-minded. Sophisticated charcuterie and cheese boards stand alongside Mediterranean-inspired dishes, but the truly awesome craft beer (the restaurant’s name comes from Humulus lupulus, which is Latin for ‘the common hop’), natural wine and cider menu often threatens to take centre stage. Hefty varieties of the iconic pizzas are available in classic pepperoni, vegetarian, sausage, and rotating specials, but it would be wise to save room for their duck wings (perfectly coated in Gochujang and honey sauce) and wild boar jalapeño poppers (as decadent as you can imagine). This is comfort food on a whole new level.

Takeout and limited patio seating currently available.
 

Carben 

At first glance, you might mistake the dishes from Hintonburg’s Carben as edible works of art, so beautiful and vibrant is the culinary imagination of wife-and-husband team Caroline Ngo and Kevin Benes. And with an interior design as modern and sophisticated as the food, Carben’s dine-in experience was something to talk about. 

For the time being, however, Ngo and Benes have adapted their menu to accommodate the necessity of takeaway meals – all without sacrificing any of the nuance, flavour, and imagination that has made Carben a go-to destination for locals and out-of-towners alike. 

Keep an eye out for a weekly revolving takeout menu with a heavy emphasis on comfort food: soft-as-a-cloud Hokkaido milk buns (seriously – try the milk buns ASAP) with miso butter, hearty rabbit with braised lentils, and uplifting salads tempt just as much as wood ear mushrooms with a miso glaze and fried hen with celeriac remoulade. And then there’s the selection of Ngo’s dessert tarts – made to order – including the decadent chocolate tart with milk chocolate and white chocolate ganache, pretzel sweet crust and a chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream.

Equal parts comforting and sophisticated, Carben’s menu is one to try at home along with a nice bottle of wine and some good company (even if the company’s over Zoom!).

Takeout options available.
 

The Soca Kitchen

Perhaps one of the more unexpected results of the pandemic is how restaurants have upped their takeaway game in exciting and innovative ways. No doubt that Holland Avenue’s The Soca is at the top of the list when it comes to offering lavish and elaborate takeout meal options – whether it’s to celebrate the end of another week, or simply for the joy of a meal bursting with flavour.

The restaurant offers several globetrotting ‘dinner for two’ options such as a Caribbean-themed meal with shrimp ceviche, plantain bandera, a whole fried fish and more. The Mexican-themed option is also drool-worthy its house-made guac, shrimp tostadas, cochinita, carne asada, and chicken tacos. But these meals are only a small part of what’s on offer – The Soca’s specialty market boasts a wide selection of house-made products including reductions, sauces, preserves, and more. Depending on your meal choices, you’ll want to find some time before tucking in to enjoy their house-made cocktail mixer kits.

Takeout options available.

The post Your Hintonburg Takeout Food Guide appeared first on Hintonburg Connection Blog.

Joel’s longtime industry experience comes from having five generations of butchers in his Austrian descendant family, beginning with Joel’s great, great grandfather master butcher in Bohemia during the 1830’s. Since then the family tradition has been passed on through generations and perfected along the way. The art of butchery is in Joel's blood to say the least.

As a new owner of the Wellington Butchery, Joel has some big plans in place. He is revamping the storefront to enhance the shopping experience, he is empowering his team to create gourmet meals to go and, most surprisingly, he's incorporating vegan options! Joel says with a smile, “Since I know we all can’t eat meat 24/7 (and neither do I), we wanted to offer some healthy vegan options to balance.”

If you’re more of DIY-er in the kitchen like Joel, rest assure his expertise and knowledge in the butcher industry experience extends 15 years. He is meticulous about his craft, and when available, sourcing as much local agro-products as possible. Once you’ve tasted the difference between what supermarkets offer vs. “Joe Big” (as colleagues and a few devout patrons nick-named him), there is no comparison! Joel never cuts corners on quality. Bonus? He knows the tricks of the trade when it comes to at-home cuisine and preparing all sorts of succulent poultries, porks, and juicy red meats for cooking with precision to get the maximum flavour and tenderness. Ask him just about anything when it comes to cooking meat; he’s tried it.

How convenient is that to have a local butcher that you trust for good-quality product and who will educate and bring forth your confidence in the kitchen only minutes from your front door at Hintonburg Connection?

The post The Wellington Butchery appeared first on Hintonburg Connection Blog.

The Bagelshop is not only a local fave to its customers, but also to its many longstanding employees—a testament to its work culture. Bagel master Toi Do has baked over 1 million bagels in his 35 year career with The Bagelshop & Deli, a title well earned for his loyalty to the bagel baking business! Mix that talent with house made, fresh-ingredients-only cream cheese, and you’ve got a reason to go often. Try flavours such as Garlic & Herb, Dill Pickle, Smoked Salmon, Sundried Tomato, Raspberry, and Caramelized Onion. Mix and match as you wish with popular bagel flavours such as the everything, sesame, poppy seed, whole wheat, rosemary lemon cranberry, and cinnamon raisin. Or, simply enjoy a good, old-fashioned bagel with plain cream cheese options if you’re not feeling a classic.

Need a quick breakfast on the go? Eat in, or take out a breakfast bagel with farm fresh eggs anyway you like it: with or without lots of crispy and delicious bacon! Didn’t pack a lunch? Chew your way through an impressive line up of top-quality deli meats such as Montreal smoked meat (of course!), traditional Menonnite ham, sweet and smoky summer sausage. As a healthier alternative, try their oven roasted turkey and premium smoked salmon. Need some office or at-home catering as well? Check out their party platter menus, known in the office as “the easy button”! Just be sure to call 48 hours ahead of time to place your order.

The Bagelshop & Deli pumps out more than just bagels and deli fare by the way! Stock up on dairy products, eggs, artisan cheeses, olives, condiments, teas, coffees, smoked fish, specialty breads from popular bakery’s such as Art-Is-In Bakery. Don’t forget the fine chocolate choices galore like local Almonte favourite, Hummingbird Chocolates. Find sweet treats from Dufflet Fine Pastries such as luscious lemon and raspberry tarts or chocolate truffle with a dark chocolate ganache shaped like a rose, decorated with gold dust. Is that getting your divinely decadent desires going or what?! The Bagelshop prides itself on being more than just bagels; it’s your one-stop artisan foodie shop!

The post Montreal Style Bagels in the Heart of Ottawa appeared first on Hintonburg Connection Blog.

The sophisticated, fashion-forward boutique opened its doors in March 2019, thanks to its successful pop-up appearance in its sister shop, Trove Fashion—a trendy women’s consignment boutique located just around the corner. Both locations conveniently promote sustainable fashion by educating their savvy clientele on “how to” consign, a relatively new concept to men’s shopping habits.

Imagine making money off of your premium second hand pieces that never really jived with your style, or items you never got around to wearing in the first place! One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Pieces that don’t sell after a ten week floor period get donated to Parkdale United Church (should the consigner choose to not take them back.) Cycle through your own sense of style and re-invest in yourself with sustainable fashion! This is not a vintage shop! Clothing is in pristine and mint condition and often with original tags still attached.

Find timeless, quality modern classics with character that suits your style and your urban lifestyle budget: from shirts, pants and sweaters to jackets, shoes and accessories.  Mix and match as you like to create your own swanky street or business casual style. You can afford to be choosy while maintaining a minimalist collection of well-made clothing. Fall in love with several pieces at a time and change them up as you wish.  Fill your boots, literally!

Offering more than simply men’s clothing, Trove carries local artisan toiletries designed for skin-conscious men, such as natural aftershaves and vegan skincare products by Nacre Organics, perfect for acne solutions.  Pick up locally made Blackett & Co. candles to complete your minimalist bachelor décor to add a hint of earthy, musky, woody notes to your living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

The professionally interior-designed space offers an elevated AND affordable shopping experience to its male and female patrons: think less choice with more carefully-considered items for your minimalist wardrobe. Book your appointment online today to bring in your well-cared for men’s clothing. Follow Trove Men’s on Instagram @trovemens and Facebook.

The post Sustainable Fashion for Modern Minimalist Men appeared first on Hintonburg Connection Blog.

Tooth and Nail has been a staple in the Ottawa brewery scene, and we are so lucky to have it right here in Hintonburg. The interior of the brewery feels warm and homey. Its clean, wooden aesthetic with soft lighting instantly makes you feel comfortable. In the summer, the front wall opens into a patio making it the perfect spot to get a little sun and a lot of beer. Our favourite part has nothing to do with the building itself, it’s that Tooth and Nail cans their beer so we can take it with us and make our friends jealous that they don’t live as close to this Hintonburg gem.

The post Tooth and Nail’s Award Winning Brew appeared first on Hintonburg Connection Blog.

Established nearly a century ago in 1924, the Parkdale Market has been providing fresh locally grown produce, plants, shrubs and greenery to its Wellington West residents for generations. Open seven days a week, from 6am to 6pm, you can stop and admire the colourful display of seasonal summer veggies and fruits the endless buckets of flowers available from the end of April until mid-October. Roughly 20 vendors will keep you well stocked and supplied at farmer’s market pricing, so you can go ahead and load up on another fresh pint of in-season succulent strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, juicy free-stone peaches and whatever else you desire to fill your basket with. During the holiday season, you can even pick up fresh wreathes and trees without having to do any of the chopping yourself!!

Hintonburg Marché conveniently carries a healthy selection of gourmet ready-made takeout meals, fresh local butcher meats such as flank steak marinated in red wine and shallot jus, so you don’t have to do the work. They stock their cozy shelves with local farmer produce too – just in case you don’t feel like making two market stops that day. You can get your juicy heirloom tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil for your Caprese salads all in one shot. Family owned and operated, Marché’s helpful and knowledgeable staff will gladly assist you if you have questions about certain products they carry – encouraging a community connection and relationship between consumer and vendor, promoting farm-to-table cuisine without the inconvenience of living in a rural area. These are just some of the perks of living an urban lifestyle in the Hintonburg ‘hood!

Whether you’re a passionate foodie who cooks often, or a lazy-gourmet who just enjoys the simplest of summer fresh produce, you’ll be in local-fare-heaven year round with such close proximity to market-fresh goods. You’ll save more money by buying only what you need – a better lifestyle awaits you at Hintonburg Connection!
 

The post Minutes from the Market appeared first on Hintonburg Connection Blog.

SuzyQ.

Anyone who has been inside of the bright yellow store front on Wellington West knows exactly what the hype is about. Started by a husband and wife duo, SuzyQ has become a staple in the Ottawa food scene. Their doughnuts are always fresh, unique and a crowd pleaser. 

From humble beginnings, the husband and wife duo would bring their, now iconic, Sugar Munkki to local farmers markets. Almost instantly demand skyrocketed and people wanted more. (If you’ve ever tried the Sugar Munkii you’ll understand why.) Needing to keep up, they expanded their offerings and opened a small wooden shack in Hintonburg in 2012. Four years later, they found their permanent home that we now know and love.

This happy looking store sits proudly at 969 Wellington West. At any point in the day the store is filled with people looking for a treat – ranging from moms with kids, to foodies, to the construction workers from down the street (thanks!).

SuzyQ knows how to keep its regulars happy while still appealing to a wide variety of tastes. They always have their best-sellers in rotation – the maple bacon, d’oh nut, cinnamon toast crunch and more. Their creativity shines through when they are experimenting with more seasonal flavours. They mix and match different combinations that some of us would never dream of yet they always taste delicious – spicy pineapple, mangoconut and lime margarita to name a few. To round out their offerings, they partner with other local businesses – making various fillings, coffee, etc.

With SuzyQ being under a 10-minute walk from Hintonburg Connection and the prices being very reasonable, we’re sure they will be seeing more of us and our tenants… and we can’t wait!

The post Suzy Q Doughnuts: a Hintonburg staple appeared first on Hintonburg Connection Blog.