Ontario Prawn served with corn purée, charred tomatillo, and jalapeno salsa. – Montecito Restaurant  

100% Bespoke Butcher’s ground chuck patty with cheese, house pickles, tomato, red onion, lettuce and dijonaise on a sesame seed bun. – The Green Wood

A glass of Chateau des Charmes Aligoté. – Chez Nous Wine Bar 

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Supporting local farmers, producers, and establishments isn’t just about purchasing fresh foods from nearby. It helps develop our local food identity, puts money back into our communities, and limits our environmental impact.

And while many Toronto restaurants utilize local ingredients, it’s hard to discern exactly how much. Imagine if there was a system in place that tallied and tracked a restaurant’s commitment to using a certain percentage of ingredients made and grown right here in Ontario?

Culinary Tourism Alliance, a not-for-profit organization devoted to supporting the growth and development of food tourism, created certification program Feast On, to do just that.

Their manifesto for restaurants is straightforward:

1. Procure Ontario food and drink whenever possible
2. Identify the provenance of Ontario food and drink on the menu
3. Track and trace Ontario food and drink purchases
4. Develop Ontario’s culinary identity by championing local, seasonal products
5. Educate the public about Ontario food and drink.

There are currently 130 restaurants, bars, caterers, breweries, butchers and shops across the province that have official Certified Taste of Ontario Feast On designation.  That means they have committed to buying Ontario food and beverages, and have provided the following proof of procurement of Ontario products:  

- 25 per cent of total annual food receipts reflect Ontario food purchases
- 25 per cent of total annual beverage receipts reflect Ontario beverage purchases.

Check out the +30 certified restaurants here in Toronto:

Avling Kitchen + Brewery        
1042 Queen St. E.

Belfast Love
548 King St. W.

Bindia Indian Bistro           
16 Market St.

Cafe Belong           
550 Bayview Ave.

Canis Restaurant        
746 Queen St. W.

The Chefs' House        
215 King St. E.

Chez Nous Wine Bar          
798 Queen St. E.

Chorizos La Abuela Mexican Street Food*            
550 Bayview Ave. 

Earth + City*
550 Bayview Ave.

Fresh City Farms         
70 Canuck Ave.

The Green Wood          
1402 Queen St. E.

Hawthorne Food & Drink         
60 Richmond St. E.

Hearty Catering
1527 O'Connor Dr.

Her Father's Cider Bar + Kitchen        
119 Harbord St.

Le Select Bistro           
432 Wellington St. W.

Library Bar - Fairmont Royal York
100 Front St. W.

The Local Cafe and Restaurant - Centennial College
937 Progress Ave.

Magic Oven
1450 Danforth Ave.

Maple Leaf Tavern
955 Gerrard St. E. 

Marben             
488 Wellington St. W.

Montecito Restaurant       
299 Adelaide St. W.

Paintbox Catering & Bistro            
555 Dundas St. E.

Queen Gozleme*
550 Bayview Ave.

Quetzal             
419 College St.

Richmond Station       
1 Richmond St. W.

Ricky & Olivia Events         
686 Queen St. E.

Sanagan's Meat Locker           
176 Baldwin St.

Tapioca Toronto*
550 Bayview Ave.

TC's Tibetan MoMo* 
550 Bayview Ave. 

Traditional Persian Food*
550 Bayview Ave.

Urban Acorn Catering       
245 Jane St. 

360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower        
301 Front St. W.

* located at Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market.

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Supporting these restaurants means supporting Ontario producers and people dedicated to local ingredients.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

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Restaurants, bars, caterers, shops, and brewpubs interested in applying - fill out the forms here. 

And stay tuned for the exciting new Toronto Restaurants Feast On Series, highlighting a different Feast On certified restaurant every month.