PORT SEVERN, Ont. — Rawley Resort, Spa and Marina is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, the resort has re-designed its luxurious Lighthouse45 Restaurant, including a complete makeover of its menu. The resort has also launched a series of new summer getaway packages and a loyalty program that offers exclusive deals and promotions to Rawley’s VIP members.
To guide the creation of the new menu, Rawley has recruited chef Chris Locke, formerly of Toronto’s farm-to-table restaurant, Marben. The menu will be heavily sourced from local farms, butchers, wineries, breweries and suppliers, as well as incorporating seasonal dishes and closed-loop zero-waste processes wherever possible.
Lighthouse45 Restaurant seats 77 indoors, with an additional 30 on the waterside patio. Adjacent to the restaurant is the Piano Bar and Lounge, offering live entertainment along with an unmatched collection of cocktails, wines, aperitifs, premium liquors and craft beer.
Highlights from the new Lighthouse45 menu include Potato, Sour Cream and Onion, featuring organically grown potatoes from Cookstown Greens that are poached in whey (a by-product of another dish), dressed with Hewitts dairy cream and cultured with koji with fermented Niagara peppers, a locally foraged wild-onion oil and wild carrots to garnish; Heritage Pork Chop, featuring umami from anchovies and dandelion capers; and White Pine Crème Caramel infused with Seldon Creek whole milk, maple toffee and streusel.
“I’ve had an amazing six-year run at Marben in Toronto, but there’s something about getting out of the city and breathing in that fresh Georgian Bay air that you just can’t beat,” says Locke. “Rawley is such a beautiful resort in such a stunning part of the province. When I was presented with the opportunity to re-create the Lighthouse45 menu with a local flavour and a focus on sustainability, I jumped at it. I can’t wait for guests to experience what we’re dreaming up.”
“Very few resorts get to celebrate a 100-year history. We’re absolutely thrilled to still be delivering memories and marking milestones in one of the most picturesque spots in the province,” says Carlos Durao, general manager, Rawley Resort. “The shift to a more sustainable menu in the Lighthouse45 Restaurant comes at a perfect time, as we’re always looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly, as well as ways to give our guests the absolute best that the region has to offer. I’ve had a preview and people are going to love what Chris is bringing to the table. Here’s to a summer of great meals and memories at Rawley.”
Additionally, the resort is offering four exclusive new packages for families, couples and girls getaways, including the Dine and Dream package; Sips, S’mores and Spa package; Relax and Unwind package; and the Rawley Experience package.
Rawley’s property is the successor of Christine’s Lumber Mill, which operated during the 19th century, and Edgar Otto Rawson, his wife Mabel and her brother James Gawley’s three-storey fishing lodge. In 2005, the original building was restored. Today, the resort features waterside lofts, a full-service spa, 20 suites, an outdoor pool, an oversized hot tub and a red-barrel sauna overlooking the bay.
