Gourmet Nova Scotia
Lynne MacKay, co-owner of Ironworks Distillery in Lunenburg, photo by Lola Augustine Brown.
Lynne MacKay, co-owner of Ironworks Distillery in Lunenburg, photo by Lola Augustine Brown.
In the pretty fishing town of Lunenburg you’ll find Ironworks Distillery, a small batch distillery where they craft smooth rum, vodka, Eaux de Vie (with a pear grown in the bottle), apple brandy, and specialty liquors. The owners are generous with samples, and visiting with them is a treat.
Fried clams, scallops in garlic butter, and a pint of Keith's. Photo by Lola Augustine Brown.
Digby is famous for its scallops, and the seafood there is fresh right off the boats. Head to the Fundy Restaurant, and order up a plate of fat scallops, or fried clams, and be sure to was it down with a pint of Keith’s (the local beer that you’ll find everywhere on tap in the province).
Friendly service at LaHave Bakery. Photo by Lola Augustine Brown.
Take the quaint cable-ferry over to La Have on the South Shore, and stock up on jams, jellies, and local honey in this gorgeous bakery store. Grab lunch there, then sit and eat it on the dock out back, overlooking the ocean. Bliss.
Jams and jellies on display at Tangled Garden. Photo by Lola Augustine Brown.
Located just before you get to Wolfville, Tangled Garden is a beautiful store selling gourmet jellies and vinegars made from herbs and fruits grown on site. There’s also a labyrnth to explore, and you can look around the gardens. Martha Stewart is a big fan.
Apple crisp in a mason jar at Saltscapes, photo by Lola Augustine Brown.
At Saltscapes Restaurant and General Store, located just before you get to Truro, there’s an expansive menu of typical Nova Scotian fare (including lots of really good seafood).Be sure to save room for dessert. The attached store carries interesting hand-made gifts to take home too.
Chowder at the Salt Shaker Deli, photo by Lola Augustine Brown.
The Salt Shaker Deli in Lunenburg serves up hearty bowls of delicious creamy chowder that are packed full of scallops, mussels, haddock, and clams. You could also choose a bowl of fat mussels, or go for one of their gourmet pizzas. Everything there is great.
Salt Cod Dinner at the Sea Dog Saloon, photo by Lola Augustine Brown.
At the Sea Dog Saloon in Sheburne, order the Salt Cod Dinner, a traditional maritimes meal consisting of salt cod piled on mashed potatoes covered in onions, pork scraps and bits of bacon. It comes with a big servinbg of chow (tradional chutney). So delicious!
Bistro Le Coq in Halifax. Photo by Lola Augustine Brown.
There are lots of really great restaurants in Halifax, Nova Scotia’s biggest city, and you can get pretty much whatever type of cuisine you desire. Try Bistro Le Coq for local oysters, housemade charcuterie, and delighful old-fashioned cocktails.
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