Good Food Towns (outside Toronto and Vancouver)

[Simmonte]

Hi, I'm a British food geek currently contemplating a working Holiday in Canada and was wondering if there were any English speaking cities other than Toronto and Vancouver worth considering. My ideal job would be retail work in the high end food business and I was wondering if there were any other cities in Canada where these kind of businesses are prevelent, ideally one where rent prices are lower than Toronto and Vancouver.

[sgogo]

Stratford came to mind first, although it's quite seasonal, so I don't know how well that would work for you. Maybe having the cooking school would make year-round employment more likely, though. In any case, it's a great town. Love the mint smoothies at Rheo Thompson's!

[LJS]

Lets get back to the east coast and think about Halifax and environs. FID, Morris East, Fleur de Sel, Bish and then the wonderful world of street food: fish and chips, donairs, grazing the Halifax Market on Saturday morning. This is living...this is eating!

[troutpoint]

Retail High end food= Pete's Frootique in Halifax... For East coast.

[LJS]

You got that right...I live in Toronto and we don't have the equivalent of Pete's-high end, goo attention to organic and regional foods...and compact!!!!!

[andy andersen]

Saskatoon does not have fantastic food, I'm sorry, but this is flat out wrong, and if it leads to someone relocating there, it would be a tragedy. Some Canadians are a bit too enthusiastic I think.

Stratford ON has a very vibrant high-end scene due to the theatre in town. Go to Montreal I say, I think rent's a bit cheaper there.

[foodiesnorth]

And you base this opinion on what? I lived in Saskatoon for three years and have been back at least annually since. The OP talks of a working holiday, not emigration.

[fmed]

Edmonton and Calgary have very vibrant scenes.

I'm from Vancouver, but if I were to retire or start a food related business it would be in either the Cowichan Valley or in Tofino. The Cowichan Valley is an excellent source region for 100-milers (make that 10-milers) - great meat (lots of organic meat, cheeses, etc), produce, vineyards, honey, beer, etc.They have one of the best butcher shops I have ever seen there (Cowichan Valley Meat Market). The climate is similar to Northern California.

Tofino is a tourist town and it just dies in the Winter...but it is a stunning place to be...it has quite a few opportunities for people in the biz.

[foodiesnorth]

I haved lived in and visited cities all over this country. I rarely leave home without researching the food. Every city in this country has good food. I have had the best chinese in Goose Bay, Labrador, the best burger in Iqaluit (where i met a waitress who, with her boyfriend was doing what you are contemplating...working in every province in territory through the food industry), the best fish in Yellowknife (where they also have a high end restaurant run by a french chef). Winnipeg has a wonderfully eclectic food scene reflecting it mixed heritage. Saskatoon has fantastic food. St. Johns Newfoundland has one of my favourite places (Baccalao)I were to recommend one city outside the biggies (Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto) it would beEdmonton, Winnipeg or Ottawa. Here in Edmonton was have a fantastic food scene (check out the western canada board). There are far too many higher end or innovative places in Edmonton to list. You find great food in odd places around these parts.

[Simmonte]

Much appreciated, I hadn't really considered Winnipeg up until now but I will definately look into it.

[FoodDee]

I'm doing a driving trip across Canada in May and overnighting in Winnipeg. Any more specific recommendations would really be appreciated. There is a lot of info on the boards about Montreal and Quebec, and also Western Canada, but not much on the middle of the country.

[maplesugar]

I'm a regular on the Western Canada Board, and just so you know our Board does include Manitoba so you will find Winnipeg threads - they just are fewer in number than say Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton.

[FoodDee]

Thanks, I'll check there.

[Dan G]

As another Edmontonian, I would place Calgary way ahead of Edmonton. Might not fit the OP's low rent criteria however.