If you’re in the mood for a picturesque winery scene and an
adult beverage, but don’t want to traverse all the way to Niagara, Caledon may
satisfy your desires. The Spirit Tree Estate Cidery’s stone building and
manicured orchards is just as scenic; they have plenty of ciders to satisfy adults
and children; and you can easily spend an afternoon there through having lunch,
doing a tour and buying groceries in their quaint store.
Purchased by Tom and Nicole in 2005, the estate wasn’t
opened until 2009, with their first batch of cider served a year later. The
building was constructed with straw bales grown down the road with lime stucco
surrounding it. The dense straw acts as a great insulation and the lime has
natural anti-microbial properties, both great environmentally friendly
alternatives.
Attending the restaurant as part of a Culinary Historians of
Canada event, we were treated to a special family style menu. Renditions of
these dishes are available on their regular menu: a sandwich and soup combo
costs $14.
To start, the butternut squash was thick and vibrant, with a
hint of curry to add interest. The thick wedges of the stone ground country
bread accompanying it was a perfect pairing for dipping.
With a combination of baby greens and cranberries, I
expected the salad to be sweet. But, the dressing was actually a tangy mustard vinaigrette
with a horseradish kick, which was more up my alley.
Of course, we had to try Spirit Tree’s star product … the
cider! A lovely amber hue and intensely flavoured, it’s made on site with the
apples grown using a combination of targeted pesticides and natural remedies to
ensure there’s as little chemicals as possible. Additionally, they use UV light
to pasteurize the product to retain the nutrients present in cider.
To go, I also picked up a 6-pack of their alcoholic canned
ciders that have a bright apple taste without being overly sweet. Deciding on
what to buy may be hard with their various varieties (sparkling, ice and also
pear) so attending a tasting or indulging in their tasting flight may be a good
way to start.
Before the guided tour and tasting, we set a base with sandwiches.
The apple brie and squash with ricotta versions were too neutral and couldn’t
stand up against the inch-thick yeasty bread. The chicken and lettuce version was better, adding heartiness
and much needed moisture to the sandwich.
Personally, I think one of their fresh oven-baked pizzas would
be a tastier choice. Sadly, we weren’t served any, but they seemed to be a popular
choice.
The platter of baked goods was a great way to end the meal
(normally about $1.75 each). Being pretty full from all the carbs, I still
tried half a butter tart and it was heavenly … generously filled with the buttery
sweet syrup embraced in a crunchy crust.
How To Find Them
Location: Caledon, Canada
Address: 1137 Boston Mills Road
Address: 1137 Boston Mills Road
Website: http://www.spirittreecider.com/
Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
