Eating With A Local: Stratford, Ontario

In an effort to find the best eats around the globe, I’m connecting with food-loving locals and putting my stomach in their hands. Follow along as I challenge them to take me to five of their fave spots for my Eating With A Local series. The only criteria? Good food. The kind you want to share with friends. 

Local Glutton (LG): Mark Lass. Farmer, father, yogi (you can find him practicing at The Yoga Chapple) and local food enthusiast. Can’t live without beer. Hates cilantro. Most obscure food memory? Eating goat’s head soup in Turkey. His love of food stems from growing up on a farm where he gained an understanding and appreciation for real ingredients. Favourite midnight snack? Pizza from his wood fired oven. His last meal on earth would be strawberry pie (his grandma’s recipe specifically). Mark’s culinary hero is Paul Finkelstein, a local teacher who is passionate about food education.

Where To Eat In Stratford According To Mark

1. Foster’s Inn

What do you love about this place?

Mark (LG): I’ve been coming here for over 15 years. There’s a sense of community at Foster’s because there are so many regulars — it’s like walking into Cheers. Foster’s isn’t intimidating, it’s for everyone from actors to regular people. The food is consistent and they always make guests feel welcome.

My Two Cents: Warm vibes all around. I spotted a few tables talking to each other so I immediately understood what Mark meant when he referred to Cheers. Good price points on the menu, especially given the portion sizes. I also really like the facade of the Victorian building.

Who would you bring here?

Mark (LG): I would bring my son for food or a beer.
My Two Cents: I think my in-laws would love it here. It’s comfortable and has a good selection of dishes.

If you could only order one dish/item what would it be?

Mark (LG): The steak. They’re known for their steak. For breakfast: the Huevos if you’re really hungry.
My Two Cents: The eggs benny — the eggs were perfectly cooked.

2. Mercer Kitchen & Beer Hall

What do you love about this place?

Mark (LG): Ryan is a hell of a good chef. His dishes here are always interesting, innovative and well-priced. They also have a great craft beer selection.
My Two Cents: I love how serious these guys are about beer. They support local (my fave pint was the Strawberry Rhubarb Wildchild brewed by Black Swan Brewing Co), but also serve up award-winning international beers. They have one of the best beer lists around — over 100 bottles, Stratford’s only cask engine and 15 draft lines.

Who would you bring here?

Mark (LG): My wife. She’s as big of a beer drinker as I am!
My Two Cents: All of my beer-loving friends.

If you could only order one dish/item what would it be?

Mark (LG): The Crispy Tuna Sushi Roll.
My Two Cents: I’d go for the Karaage (fried chicken, lemon, togarashi aioli).

3. Grounded

What do you love about this place?

Mark (LG): I’ve had Heather’s food at events and markets many times before and think it’s fabulous.
My Two Cents: Vegan food that tastes good — YEAY!! It’s great to see a passionate female chef who has built a following from the ground up. Heather whips up recipes from the heart which is great news for anyone who dines at her new brick and mortar. The entire place is a labour of love so I really do hope the community supports her vision. I know I would be a regular if I lived in Stratford!

Who would you bring here?

Mark (LG): Farmers. To teach them that they don’t need to eat meat at every meal.
My Two Cents: My vegetarian photog. She’d love everything at Grounded!

If you could only order one dish/item what would it be?

Mark (LG): The cheesecake!
My Two Cents: If you visit Stratford and don’t try Heather’s vegan (non-cheese) “cheesecake” you’re missing out. It is beautifully-balanced, has a smooth mouthfeel, is refreshing and has such an amazing flavour profile (think: fresh lime juice, mint, cashews, local maple syrup). She also makes a tasty Cold Pad Thai Noodle Bowl with a killer peanut sauce that I wanted to run away with.

4. Chocolate Barr’s Candies

What do you love about this place?

Mark (LG): Derek makes interesting treats using quality ingredients.
My Two Cents: I’ve been a big fan of these guys for a few years now. They’re passionate about chocolate and you can taste it.

Who would you bring here?

Mark (LG): I’d take my out-of-town guests.
My Two Cents: My BFF. She’s addicted to chocolate and would be in heaven at Chocolate Barr’s.

If you could only order one dish/item what would it be?

Mark (LG): Cherry Liqueur Truffle made with dark chocolate, Sea Salt Vanilla Caramels and Chocolate Covered Long Stemmed Cherries.
My Two Cents: Balsamic Vinegar Truffle. Oh, and the handmade gelato is pretty amaze (especially when strawberries are in season).

5. Revel

What do you love about this place?

Mark (LG): They serve excellent coffee. I’ve had a chance to meet the Las Chicas sisters who supply Revel with beans from Nicaragua and like that they’re all about real, sustainable trade.
My Two Cents: There’s a sense of community at this coffee shop — everybody seems to know each other! This is the place to head for direct trade coffee in Stratford.

Who would you bring here?

Mark (LG): Sometimes I bring my wife, but if I come alone I always know at least two or three people in the coffee shop.
My Two Cents: I’d come here alone with a good book and perch on the back patio.

If you could only order one dish/item what would it be?

Mark (LG): An Americano. But if you got a pastry I’d be drooling until you gave me half!
My Two Cents: The Nitro Cold Brew. The coffee grinds steep in water for 24 hrs which kind of gives it a nutty/ chocolatey flavour. And it’s surprisingly creamy due to the nitrogen infusion.

BONUS ROUNDS:

*Mark took the time to introduce me to two more of his faves on our food hop. I’ve never been to these gems so I thought I’d share:

The Common

What do you love about this place?

Mark (LG): The ambiance is great for dinner.
My Two Cents: I love love LOVE the decor inside! Every detail from the rugs to the light fixtures. As for the cuisine, Chef Tim Otsuki is really passionate and excited to bring an eclectic mix of comfort food from around the world to his restaurant (he’s spent years cooking abroad — from Hong Kong to the Caribbean). After chatting with him for only a few minutes I could tell that he’s at a place in his career where he’ll take culinary risks so I’m certain many interesting dishes will come from his kitchen in the years to come.

Who would you bring here?

Mark (LG): A date, but I do visit by myself too. It’s nice to sit at the bar and have a few martinis.
My Two Cents: Any of my girlfriends for a night of cocktails and bonding.

If you could only order one dish/item what would it be?

Mark (LG): I always go for the pâté and then see what else I want to eat from the menu. I like the beef salad too.
My Two Cents: The pâté is really interesting (looks like crème brûlée with the caramelized top) and I was eyeing the Ricotta & Pumpkin Gnocchi so I’ll have to order that next time!

Madelyn’s Diner

What do you love about this place?

Mark (LG): Butter tarts. They’re the best in Stratford.
My Two Cents: This is the cutest little retro diner! The staff are really friendly and OMG the trays upon trays of butter tarts had me drooling the moment we stepped foot inside. Fun fact: they’ve sold 229,532 butter tarts since 2009. So ya, they know what they’re doing.

Who would you bring here?

Mark (LG): Everybody and anybody.
My Two Cents: My hubby. He loves butter tarts.

If you could only order one dish/item what would it be?

Mark (LG): Pecan Butter Tarts.
My Two Cents: Agreed! The Pecan Butter Tarts are out of this world. The pastry is flaky and the filling is thick and creamy. I inhaled two and wish I grabbed a dozen. There’s always next time…

Our accommodations at The Welly Lofts, meals and activities in Stratford were complimentary as part of a press trip to the city. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own. A huge thanks to Visit Stratford for partnering with us and Mark Lass for taking the time to share his love of food with a stranger .