Today was one of those “glad to be retired” days. Since Rudy golfs on Tuesdays and the weather forecast was stellar, I thought I would try something completely different. So I signed up for a free walking food tour of Collingwood.

This company started a few years ago with historical city tours and this year has added a series of food tours to the roster.

We met in front of the pillared commanding Service Canada building on the mai street, Hurontario.

Located adjacent to Loblaws, it’s almost at the foot of Hurontario St a few blocks from the water.

Our tour hostess, Tamara, explained the agenda for the tour and advised everyone to make sure they had parking for at least 3 hours. There were 16 of us on the tour; a mixture of locals and visitors.

The first eatery featured was Fig and Feta. This family run Mediterranean style resto is in the process of moving from its current space to new and bigger digs right across from Service Canada. But they weren’t quite open. So the proprietor sent over a tray of samples which we munched on picnic style on the sidewalk. There was a delicious assortment of treats including spanakopita and feta and olives. Very tasty.

Our next stop was The Huron Club. I had been here before under previous ownership so it was nice to meet the new owner and chef. It’s in a circa 1902 building that was once a residence. The chef served a tasty nicoisse salad with house-smoked trout.

The walk took us across the street to the Tesoro Mercado. What a gem! For all the years we’ve been coming to Collingwood we have missed out! This gourmet Mecca is attached to the Tesoro Restaurant and serves many of the dishes frozen to go along with fresh deli and pasta and goodies galore. Love it!! We sampled thin crust pizza here. Delish.

Next we wandered through the back alley and crossed the Main Street again to enter another alley where we found Gibson and Co. This eclectic jewel is a hidden treasure that we’ve enjoyed before. Bright and spacious they serve up local adult bevies, great coffees and light good fare. This was our rest stop and pee break place. I took a moment to answer messages and emails while I sipped on a local brew.

Thereafter we proceeded to a quaint coffee shop, Creemore Coffee Studio, where we enjoyed a frozen lime beverage and a ginger molasses cookie. Perfect for a beautiful summer day.

Next stop: Collingwood Olive Oil Company. This must do enterprise is housed in a Victorian row house. As you walk up the front steps you enter the front room which is filled with kegs of oil. The cheerful owner gave us a Coles notes rundown on olive oils and then we moved to the back room for a similar info session on balsamic vinegars. A real treat and definite re-do.

Our final stop of the tour was a very surprising resto on the Main Street. I would have never bothered to enter the establishment as the name and signage didn’t jive for me. Not sure how to describe my initial disinterest. In any event we go in and as soon as I opened the door I knew I was woefully wrong in my initial assessment. This place was cool. What and airy boho vibe. Neat art and a thoroughly modern menu including gluten free and Keto options. The owner greeted us and described her scratch kitchen. Then served a tapas of dips and crackers followed by a taste of housemade carrot cake. Very tasty and a grand finale to a really great day.

Bon appetit!!