Savour the Sights, Tastes and Charm of Walkerville

Just a couple short weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit Ontario’s Southwest for a little weekend getaway to see what the city of Windsor had to offer, and it turned out to be a great getaway filled with delicious food, beautiful scenery and the amazing features and sights that Walkerville has to offer.

The trip started with an early morning since I couldn’t wait to get to my destination on that gorgeous Saturday. After hoping in the car with my guy and making a quick stop for some coffee on the way, we arrived at the Caesars Windors, which is where I decided to stay for the weekend. Feeling like I was a celebrity as I approached valet parking, I was more than eager to begin my weekend, and I had the perfect itinerary to max out on all the fun. Beautifully inspired Grecian décor, rows and rows of slot machines in the busy casino and inviting staff at the Caesars Windsor was the first indication that this was going to be a fun-filled weekend. Once checked in, the friendly staff helped us up to the room and with the quick insert of the card key, I was delighted to see that the popular hotel was exactly what I envisioned.

Once the bags were unpacked and I took some time to freshen up and do an outfit change to get me feeling great for the day, we were off to Walkerville for a number of fun activities including The Canadian Club Brand Centre, the Walkerville Brewery and a tasting at the Willistead Restaurant in the heart of Walkerville. Our drive over to The Canadian Club Brand Centre took us along the waterfront on Riverside Drive which offered a beautiful view of the water overlooking the city of Detroit.

Arriving at the beautiful Canadian Club Brand Centre was the perfect way to start the eventful day. Once I arrived, I mentioned that if the outside is any indication of the beauty on the inside then I would be blown away. Our tour guide, Christina was amazing. Her enthusiasm for Walkerville and the activities that day were intoxicating and I couldn’t help but get excited as I learned more and more about Canadian Club and Walkerville.

The tour took us room to room with a guide that informed the group of the Canadian Club origins and how Hiram Walker began his whisky business. From the original bottle designs to the details of the building, it was a must-see tour whenever you are in the area!

Following the Canadian Club Brand Centre tour, we were taken for a walk on the beautiful sunny Saturday through the historic Old Walkerville where we learned about the stunning architecture, traditions and history of the neighbourhood. The tour was enlightening, learning more about Hiram Walker’s dedication to the area which originally was used as a ‘model town’ that included homes for his workers, as well as a church in which he dedicated to his late wife as well as a school – pulling the community together to design a space for the town to grow.

We made our way to Walkerville Brewery where we would take part in a tour and tasting of a number of their craft beers available. What I was happy to see was the large number of Walkerville folk enjoying a tasty beer on the hot day inside the brewery with a constant hum of chatter in the air. This was a true representation of the town’s sense of community. Joining the people of Walkerville, the tour group sat and enjoyed 5 samples of craft beer:

• Honest Lager
• Milk Stout
• Geronimo IPA
• Loophole Ale
• Ampelmann Dunkel

I personally prefer a light beer, so the Honest Lager was my beer of choice that day as I got a beer to enjoy as our Walkerville Brewery tour guide; Nico showed us the brewing process. I can tell that the rest of the group was just as surprised as I was learning the ins and outs of the detailed process from ‘malting’ to what we taste at our favourite bars including specific details that give a chocolaty or citrus feature – which you don’t typically get with your basic beers found on shelves.

After finishing the Walkerville Brewery tour and getting a closer look at the big machines that make delicious brews, we strolled to Willistead Restaurant to enjoy a flight of bourbon. On our walk, our guide Christina took us to a back alley showcasing Walkerville’s beautiful graffiti art done by some talented artists of Walkerville, and just a short walk later, we arrived at Willistead Restaurant. Our bourbon-tasting connoisseur, Craig had the glasses laid out on the bar ready for us to indulge in.

Before getting into the bourbon tasting, I first have to discuss the beautiful Willistead Restaurant. The decor is a perfect mix of modern and rustic design, so you just know it was right up my alley. From the marble bar to the jewel-tone paint colours and raw wood accents, you felt like you were in a place that was truly original. As we sat back and listened to Craig explain the fine details of bourbon, we sipped, tasted and enjoyed a number of brands including the fan favourite, Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Borubon Whiskey, which was the finale to the fun tour.

After the long day, we retreated back to Caesars Windsor to freshen up and take a walk to Rino’s Kitchen that was highly recommended by foodies in the area. The house-like restaurant was intimate and the perfect way to unwind and discuss the adventures of the day. My date and I started with a beet salad and rice balls and then shared the Carbonara Pasta and Asian-Inspired Pulled Pork and Waffle.

It was safe to say that once our bellies were full to its limit, we just had to call it a night and save more for the following day.

After rolling out of bed in our cozy sheets at Caesars Windsor, we started the day with some breakfast at their huge – wait, massive buffet brunch that featured everything from breakfast staples like bacon and eggs to a salad bar, pasta bar and a big selection of desserts and more. We knew we had to stop by the Casino and play some slot machines before heading home, so we played, won, then lost and won again. We then knew we better quit while we’re ahead so we stopped there and check out!

Once checked out, we drove the car along Riverside Drive, which is just beautiful as we enjoyed the scenes of people driving their boats in the water and bike riders along the bike path. Windsor Sculpture Park would be our final stop before heading back to Toronto and we couldn’t have pictured a better ending to the weekend. We walked through the long pathway of the park filled with a number of creative sculptures. Of course the large (perfectly manicured) hand holding an apple was our favourite , but the large elephant sculptures were a close second. The view of people riding bikes, enjoying a picnic and walking the pathway hand in hand was the ideal wind down we needed to get us on our way home.

It’s safe to say that I’m leaving Ontario’s Southwest and the town of Walkerville feeling like I need to visit again. It was a complete summer weekend getaway filled with sights, delicious food and charm.

CONTEST ALERT!

Since our trip, I’ve become such a big fan Ontario’s Southwest, so I had to share that they are giving people the chance to win a four-day foodie escape to experience the region’s culinary offerings. To participate in this online contest, entrants must follow these three easy steps:

Step 1: Go to oswculinary.com/enter-to-win. Grab three ingredients from an array of eight ingredients and electronically drag them onto the harvest table.

Step 2: Complete the entry form.
Step 3: Tag your photos of Ontario’s Southwest foodie inspiration using #OSWPourAway and #OSWDigin and increase your chances to win.

The Dream Foodie Escape contest grand prize valued at $1,500 includes:

• Three-nights accommodation at Elm Hurst Inn Spa, Iron Kettle B&B and Oakwood Resort
• Dining experiences at Six Thirty Nine, Jack’s Gastro Pub, Rino’s Kitchen, Twisted Apron and Smackwater Jacks
• A tour and cheese tasting at Gunn’s Hill Cheese
• Wine tastings and tours at Coopers Hawk Estate Winery, North 42 Estate Winery, Oxley Estate Winery and Viewpointe Estate Winery
• A wine tasting and cycling tour with Farm Dog Cycles
• Craft beer tastings at Twin Pines Cidery and Craft Heads Brewery
• A $200 gas card

To enter, visit oswculinary.com/enter-to-win. The contest will run until October 31, 2015, so don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

For all the latest details on the food and drink scene in Ontario’s Southwest, visit www.oswculinary.com. And don’t forget to join in the conversation using the hashtags #OSWdigin and #OSWpouraway on Twitter and Facebook.

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