TORONTO — Ontario has ramped up its efforts to market itself as a region so rich in culinary experiences, it can rival some of world’s most famed culinary destinations. With incredible restaurants, wineries and some of the world’s best farmland, more and more tourists from across Ontario, Canada and abroad are taking advantage of the bounty of food, wine and fun available to travellers in the province.
As part of the marketing effort, the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (OCTA) recently announced the winners of its inaugural Culinary Tourism awards for Leadership and Experience. “Culinary Tourism in Ontario tells the magnificent story of our food, our land and our people,” said co-chair Barb Shopland in a press release. “This year’s champions exemplified innovation in storytelling that satiates the growing appetite to experience local flavours.”
The awards ceremony was held in Windsor, Ont., Sept. 30, at the Ontario Tourism Summit Gala Dinner at Caesars Windsor Casino. Emcee Brian Williams was joined by the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Monique Smith, to fete this year’s winners. Windsor Eats Wine Trail Ride earned the nod for the Culinary Tourism Experience Award for its guided bike tours of Essex County and the 
amazing wineries and food therein. The Ontario Culinary Tourism Leadership award went to Taste the County. During the past decade it’s built strong relations between the agriculture and tourism industries and developed signature experiences in Prince Edward County’s wineries, breweries, cheese factories and restaurants.
The award winners will also be showcased during the Ontario Culinary Tourism Summit Nov. 9, during the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. For more details of the Ontario Culinary Tourism Summit, click here.
