Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/651528
TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA of desserts at places such as The Berry Barn, near the shores of the South Saskatchewan River (www.berrybarn.ca ). In Alberta, as Canada's ranch heart- land, elk, bison, wild boar, caribou and of course beef, are plentiful, which many refer to as Canadian Rocky Mountain Cuisine. Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts has their own 500 acre game ranch to provide for their four restaurants in the city of Calgary and dining at the lodges in Banff, Lake Louise and Emerald Lake ( www. crmr.com/mountain-city-restaurants- rockies ). Voted the top new restaurant in Canada by EnRoute for 2015 is Pigeonhole in Calgary (www.pigeonholeyyc.ca ). ONTARIO † BACON, BUTTERTARTS & FOOD FESTIVALS On Prince Edward County's Taste Trail, visitors can experience the epicurean renaissance happening in this picturesque area on the north shore of Lake Ontario (www.tastetrail.ca). Cycle or drive bucolic back roads through the self-guided route linking restaurants, artisanal food producers and wineries, or check out the cool cocktail and food scene at the new Drake Devonshire (www.drakedevonshire.ca). Home to the Ontario Pork Council, Stratford, famous for the Stratford Festival, boasts a Bacon & Ale Trail (www.visit stratford.ca/bacontrail) along with a Chocolate Trail (www.visitstratford.ca/ stratford-chocolate-trail) and a selection of other culinary adventures (www. visitstratford.ca/culinary-adventures). Butter tarts—pastry fi lled with sugar, butter, eggs and raisins or nuts—were a staple of pioneer cooking in both Upper and Lower Canada (now Ontario and Québec). Wellington North's self-guided Butter Tart Trail leads to a dozen sweetly delicious versions (www.simplyexplore. ca ). Ottawa is home to the only Canadian campus of the renowned Le Cordon Bleu French cooking school (www.lcbottawa. com ). Wineries, orchards and farmland are found throughout Niagara. Niagara Culinary Tours, launched in 2013, partners with local chefs and restaurants around Niagara to offer weekly food tours and unique culinary events (www.niagara culinarytours.com). Ontario has some 450 annual culinary- themed festivals and events listed in their culinary calendar on-line (www.ontario culinary.com ). QUÉBEC † POUTINE, ARTISANAL CHEESES & SUGAR SHACKS Québec is a goldmine of specialty dishes, cheeses and maple syrup (more than 10,000 producers in the province). In spring, Québécois gather at some 400 cabanes à sucre (sugar shacks) to enjoy baked beans, oreilles des crisse (crispy pork rinds), and pancakes all drenched in maple syrup ( www.quebecoriginal.com/en). A dish that has gained North American recogni- tion is poutine—french fries topped with cheese curds, then slathered in gravy. On the Route to Gourmet Delights in central Québec (www.tourismecentreduquebec. com ), Fromagerie Lemaire offers poutine in its country-style restaurant and warm curd cheese is available to go. La Route des Saveurs de Charlevoix features artisanal goods produced by over 40 locals: ciders, beers, pâtés, cheeses, spices, chocolates and the renowned Charlevoix veal and lamb ( www.tourisme-charlevoix. com/en/circuits/fl avor-trail). The booming Québec cheese industry produces three-quarters of the country's cheeses and 60 percent of all fi ne cheeses. When "New France" was founded in the 17 th century, artisans started making cheese using the recipes and traditions of their country of origin. The Québec Cheese Route with maps can be found online (www.route desfromages.com ). Fine food is always a star at the Montréal Highlights Festival, now in its 17 th edition (www.montrealenlumiere.com ). As the fl agship of the festival, the gastronomy pro- gram is renowned for its must-taste events. Early summer (late June) sees Îles de la LaKe LoUiSe, Banff nationaL ParK, aB • Banff LaKe LoUiSe toUriSM MontrÉaL GaStronoMY • MttQ/Benoit CÉCiLe FOOD