PHOTOSPREAD: A FISTFUL OF FLAVOURS: SHINING A LIGHT ON FIVE OF

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A FISTFUL OF FLAVOUR:

SHINING A LIGHT ON FIVE OF DOWNTOWN GUELPH’S FOODIE FAVOURITES

PREAMBLE & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN

I’VE CALLED DOWNTOWN GUELPH HOME FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES NOW. MOVED HERE FROM KITCHENER FOR A PHD AND – LIKE SO MANY OTHER ROYAL CITY TRANSPLANTS – STAYED TO BUILD A LIFE. MY HOUSE IS IN THE CORE, AS IS MY OFFICE. I’M A FIVE-MINUTE WALK TO THE TRAIN STATION, A SEVEN-MINUTE WALK TO THE SLEEMAN CENTRE, A NINE-MINUTE WALK TO THE NEAREST CRAFT BREWERY, AND TEN MINUTES BY FOOT TO A MULTITUDE OF MAGNIFICENT FOODIE DESTINATIONS.

INDIE CAFÉS. A REVITALIZED FARMERS’ MARKET. WORLD-CLASS BUTCHERS AND BAKERS. REGION-LEADING GASTROPUBS. (I’M LOOKING AT YOU, BAKER STREET STATION AND THE WOOLY.) HECK, EVEN GUELPH’S DOWNTOWN HOTDOG CART - AROUND SINCE 1998 - IS A MUST-VISIT BANGER.

MY TOQUE PARTNER, CAI, LIVES JUST AS CLOSE TO ALL THESE AMENITIES - ALBEIT ON THE EXACT OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CORE. THIS MAKES DOWNTOWN FOOD SPOTS THE PERFECT PLACES FOR US TO MEET UP. GRAB A BITE. DRINK A PINT. DINE IN. TAKE OUT. TALK SHOP. NO MATTER HOW OFTEN WE EAT IN THE CORE TOGETHER, CAI AND I ARE ALWAYS AMAZED BY THE KILLER SELECTION: THE UP-AND-COMING SPOTS AND MORE ESTABLISHED JOINTS; THE GRAB-AND-GO GEMS AND SIT-DOWN, STAY-ALL-AFTERNOON-ON-THE-FRONT-PORCH LOCALS. (I’M STILL LOOKING AT YOU, BAKER STREET STATION AND THE WOOLY.)

FOR THIS ‘FOOD ISSUE’, CAI AND I DECIDED TO SHINE A LIGHT ON FIVE DOWNTOWN GUELPH FOOD SPOTS THAT HELP DEFINE THE ECLECTIC NATURE OF THE ROYAL CITY’S CULINARY SCENE. A BRAND-NEW BRITISH BAKERY THAT SERVES UP EXTRAVAGANT MEAT PIES. AN ESTABLISHED – AND EXTREMELY POPULAR – CAFÉ THAT DOUBLES AS A GALLERY. A CUPCAKERY WITH A KILLER VIBE. EVERYONE’S FAVOURITE VEGETARIAN (AND OPEN MIC) DESTINATION. AND THE AFOREMENTIONED HOT DOG CART.

THESE MAY NOT BE BAKER STREET STATION OR THE WOOLY, BUT THEY’RE CERTAINLY WORTH A VISIT. SO SEEK THEM OUT. GRAB A BITE OR A DRINK. OR BOTH.

AND ENJOY YOUR STAY.

SYMON & NICOLE, OWNERS

KILLER CUPCAKES 32A WILSON ST, DOWNTOWN GUELPH @_KILLERCUPCAKES The highlights: • small batch cupcakes, cookies & cakes • 100% buttercream icing • old Las Vegas meets B-movie vibes 93

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BELLA, OWNER

RED BRICK CAFÉ 8 DOUGLAS ST, DOWNTOWN GUELPH REDBRICKCAFE.CA The highlights: • espresso drinks & craft beer • housemade café menu • a downtown staple since 2006

KEAGHAN, CHAILEY & ALYSSA, OWNERS

FLEETSTREETS: A BRITISH SHOP 45 CORK ST E, DOWNTOWN GUELPH @FLEETSTREETS_GUELPH The highlights: • meat pies, scotch eggs, sausage rolls & Cornish pastries • take-out sammies & soups • deli meats & pantry products

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THUY & SYD, OWNERS

THE CORNERSTONE 1 WYNDHAM ST N, DOWNTOWN GUELPH THECORNERSTONEGUELPH.CA The highlights: • killer vegetarian & vegan menu • open stage Sundays w/ Nate Coles • perfect date night destination

MOE, OWNER

MOE’S HOT DOG CART ST GEORGE’S SQUARE, DOWNTOWN GUELPH The highlights: • dogs & sausages with all the fixin’s • a recognizable, friendly face • serving up dogs since 1998