Unique food and drink experiences

Choose from 17 lovely orchards across the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve to gather fruits and nuts— following in the footsteps of the early European settlers dating back to the 1830s. Scattered across the southern Gulf Islands, many of these orchards connect us back to the original settlers where their farming practices linked into the local economy. On North Pender Island, explore the lush Roesland Orchard, planted in 1910 by Scottish immigrant Robert Roe Sr. Discover the Mahoi Orchard on Russell Island and taste the sweet apples and cherries from the garden of Hawaiian settlers, William Haumea, Maria Mahoi and the Fisher family. Follow the rules of considerate and sustainable harvesting and enjoy the taste of sweet heritage fruit!

Take part in a culinary workshop surrounded by Canada’s oldest collection of stone fur trade buildings, where trappers and traders of the Hudson’s Bay Company once gathered in the 1850s.

Learn to make tasty bannock bread, and discover the art of grinding grain by the quern— a stone hand mill to make flour. Then, as your bannock cooks, try your hand at churning butter!

Chocolate is more your thing? Take part in a workshop to discover its delicious history. Cocoa has been enjoyed by kings, governors, soldiers and fur traders alike! Prepare a heritage hot chocolate recipe and enjoy the sweet rewards of your labour.

Ice cream lover? Get the inside scoop! Could there have been ice cream at Lower Fort Garry in 1851? Immerse yourself in the stimulating story of how this tasty treat came to the prairies. Learn how to make ice cream and then taste the final product!

Get a taste of history in the cheery atmosphere of La Taverne Storehouse with tasty tavern fare such as charcuterie boards and delicious local beer and cider, each brewed with a special connection to the fortress in mind. Step back in time as “residents” of the 18th century town complete with period costumes serve you as you sit in historically accurate carved wood furniture and stone architecture.

Your visit won’t be complete without a sample of Fortress™ Rum which is aged at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site! Did you know that rum was the most popular drink in this 18th century town? Learn more about the fascinating history of this strong spirit at the Rum Exhibit. You can even see original bottles that were excavated from the site!

On special event days, tap your toes to local music or test your skills with 18th century games. Planning a special occasion with friends and family? Book a tasting experience with the Fortress Louisbourg Association. Raise a glass just as Louisbourg’s residents did 300 years ago. À la santé! Cheers!

Enjoy a blast from the past as you Time Travel at the Fortress of Louisbourg! Chat with a “soldier” about his life in this fortified town and watch a musket firing demonstration. Head to one of Louisbourg’s finest homes and let your mouth water as a kitchen servant mixes you up a piping hot cup of Heritage™ chocolate. Let this rich drink warm your spirits, just as it did for the town’s elite 300 years ago. Planning a visit during the summer months? You’re invited to taste your way through a weekend of delectable living history presentations with the Fête du Chocolat from July 15 to 17. Learn about this sweet treat and its historical ties from an expert Basque chocolatier and savour French traditions during this multicultural culinary festival.

Ride into history on a wagon pulled by the majestic Percheron horses to discover the life of a ranching cowboy from the late 1800s at the Bar U Ranch.

Visit the "belly of the Bar U”, where cowboys ate, slept and relaxed, and sample wood-fired baked goods. Don’t forget to visit the nearby garden, storehouses and the root cellar and explore how food was produced and preserved before modern-day refrigeration. Then, sip on cowboy coffee at the Roundup Camp as the smoke from the campfire curls lazily into the air, and hear tales of how Edward, Prince of Wales visited in 1919 and loved it so much he bought the ranch next door.

Hungry for more? Check out the Bar U Ranch Cafe and choose from a ranch-inspired menu like AAA beef burgers and prime rib featuring locally-sourced ingredients.

A sweet tooth didn’t just go away when rationing came into play! During WW2, many countries enforced food rationing to ensure everyone had enough to eat. On the home front, surviving the food ration period meant focusing on local ingredients and required teamwork and creativity; waste was not an option! At Fort Rodd Hill, off-duty soldiers, waiting to be shipped overseas, gathered at the Canteen for a bit of social time and to indulge in allowable treats including ice cream and soda. Today, inspired by common ingredients and historic recipes from the ration periods, you too can treat yourself to Heritage Ice Cream and Soda; which flavours will you choose: Chocolate Ration Cake, Apple Cider Oatmeal, or Eat Your Invasive Blackberries?