Shop, eat and drink small and local this season

The holiday season is here and with it brings Christmas wish lists, stockings to fill, dinner parties, dining out, coffee catch ups and more!  This year instead of dashing off to a grocery store, hitting up that fast food drive thru or running to a box store to find that perfect gift – consider looking around this wonderful city at all the beautiful shops and restaurants to find what you are looking for.  

Harrington Lane Farms Christmas Breakfast Basket!  Photo Credit: Krista Harrington

For a festive meal this season why not check out the local food options here in the city!  Mattson and Co., Aberdeen Tavern, The Mule and Mezcal are just a handful of the delightfully delicious places to dine.  Skip the typical pizza place and try NaRoma or Bread Bar for their take on the tasty classic.

Rushing around this season you’re bound to feel hungry and most likely will be inclined for typical drive through foods.  That isn’t your only option though!  Several awesome places such as the Burnt Tongue, Mesa, Fsh and Chp and the new Mattson to Go offer delicious eats.  If you are craving a burger try switching it up and ordering from Delirious Burger or Hambrgr.  This type of takeout might be a little more work – you may have to call your order in but well worth it! 

Savoury and sweet trays are a must have for any host or hostess during the holidays!  There are great options to order offered by Harrington Lane Farms and Cake and Loaf bakery.  Bonus is Harrington Lane and Cake and Loaf have plenty of other wonderful gift options to grab while you are there!  

If you’re up for building your own trays or platters The Real Food Market, Locke St. Meat and Deli and The Mustard Seed Co-op are wonderful places to shop for your ingredients.  The Hamilton Farmer's Market also has everything you could need PLUS the Real Food Court where you can grab yourself a bite from Pokeh, Cake and Loaf Market or enjoy some Henry Brown’s Small Batch Ice Cream.

Cake and Loaf Bakery Seasonal Latte

Having your event catered can save a lot of stress and the businesses of Hamilton can cover that too!  Jonny Blonde, Picone Fine Foods and Taylor’s Tea Room are a handful of those who offer this service.

Meeting for coffee or tea to catch up throughout the holidays is always enjoyable!  Hamilton has so many lovely places to grab your favourite beverages!  Relay Coffee, Cannon Coffee Co., Finch on Locke, Vintage Coffee, Mulberry Coffee House and Parkermanns Fine Tea are a few of the great places to swing by with your friends or family!

As far as gifts are concerned there is something for everyone in the city!  Needlework, Handknit Yarn Studio, Quills and Mixed media all offer the creative gift giving solution and so much more. 

Citizen Kid and Barefoot Babies are two excellent places to search for special and quality items for the littlest humans you know!

Burlap and Twine and Simply Zen have plenty of awesome things for that person on your list who could use some relaxation.  Epic Books or J.H. Gordon Books might also have something to help one unwind.

Citizen Kid goodies!

Hotti Biscotti would be a treat to anyone’s stocking which brings me to chocolate - everyone needs chocolate in their stocking!  Forrat’s Chocolates & Chocolate on James are just two of the outstanding places you can find treats for the stocking, to give as a hostess gift or to just eat yourself!

Yellow Dog Grooming can certainly pamper your pooch with a bath and groom!  While Beasley Pet Co has just the right gift for your canine or feline companion.     

I could go on for days rhyming off all of the wicked restaurants and shops in the greater Hamilton area – there are so many I haven’t mentioned but they are all equally fabulous.  The best part is they all offer much more than just what I mentioned them for – most have pre-wrapped gifts, gift certificates, subscriptions, classes, unique confections, specialty drinks, platters, catering it goes on and on – no one trick ponies to be found! 

It is really hard to stray from the boxed stores sometimes especially when your child ONLY wants a Hatchimal…. Which my daughter did and I found for a non-inflated price lucky for her.  But wherever I can this holiday season, I will be shopping, dining and sipping small and local!  I encourage everyone to do the same, the businesses you support will thank you <3

PSA:  Saturday November 26th is small business Saturday!  Skip the mall and head to the sweet shops the city has to offer!

FREE Parking makes shopping small easier!

Lights of Locke Street Festival!  Lots to do while you shop!

Presented by Cake & Loaf Bakery and Community Partners
Supporting a wonderful cause
http://cakeandloaf.ca/news/second-annual-dundurn-lights-festival-friday-dec-9th/

For those who love links like I do I added a link to each of the above listed businesses!  I hope it helps you find what you are looking for this season!  - Cheers!

Food and Drink Related Mentions:

Aberdeen Tavern
http://theaberdeen.ca/

Bread Bar
http://www.breadbar.ca/home

Cake and Loaf Bakery
http://cakeandloaf.ca/

Cake and Loaf Market
https://www.instagram.com/cakeandloafmarket/

Cannon Coffee Co.
https://www.facebook.com/cannoncoffee/

Chocolate on James
http://chocolatonjames.com/

Delirious Burger
https://www.facebook.com/DeliriousBurger/

Finch on Locke
https://www.instagram.com/finchonlocke/

Forrats Chocolates
http://www.forratschocolates.ca/

Fsh and Chp
http://fshandchp.ca/

Hambrgr
http://www.hambrgr.ca/

Harrington Lane Farms
https://www.facebook.com/harringtonlanefarmsvillageshop/?fref=ts

Henry Brown's Small Batch Ice Cream
https://www.facebook.com/smallbatchice/

Hotti Biscotti
http://www.hottibiscotti.com/

Jonny Blonde
http://www.jonnyblonde.com/

Locke St Meat and Deli
http://www.lockestmeats.ca/

Picone Fine Foods
http://www.piconefinefood.ca/

Mattson & Co.
http://mattsonandco.ca/

Mattson to Go
http://mattsontogo.ca/

Mesa
https://www.facebook.com/MesaHamilton/

Mezcal
http://www.mezcaltnt.com/

Mulberry Coffee House
http://www.mulberrycoffeehouse.com/

NaRoma Pizza Bar
http://naroma.ca/

Parkermanns Fine Tea
http://www.parkermannstea.com/

Pokeh
http://pokeh.ca/

Relay Coffee
http://www.relaycoffee.com/

Taylor's Tea Room
http://taylorstearoom.com/

The Burnt Tongue
http://www.theburnttongue.com/#good-food-cant-wait

The Hamilton Farmer's Market
http://hamiltonfarmersmarket.ca/

The Mule
http://themule.ca/

The Mustard Seed Co op
https://mustardseed.coop/

The Real Food Market
http://realfoodmkt.ca/

Vintage Coffee Roasters
http://www.vintagecoffeeroasters.ca/


Other mentions:

Barefoot Babies
http://barefootbabies.ca/

Beasley Pet Co
http://beasleypetco.ca/shop/

Burlap and Twine
https://www.facebook.com/Burlap-Twine-247599648720794/

Citizen Kid
http://citizenkid.ca/

Epic Books
http://epicbooks.ca/

Handknit Yarn Studio
http://handknityarnstudio.ca/

J.H. Gordon Books
http://www.jhgordonbooks.ca/

Mixed Media
https://www.instagram.com/mixedmedia154/

Needlework
http://www.iloveneedlework.com/

Quills
http://quills.ca/

Simply Zen
https://www.facebook.com/simplyzenhamilton/

Yellow Dog Grooming
http://www.yellowdoggrooming.com/

Harrington Lane Farms

Harrington Lane Farms previous shop - photo credit -Krista Harrington

I remember my first visit to Harrington Lane Farms (Spring 2015) like it was yesterday.  The drive up the long tree lined lane way, being greeted by chickens, ducks and geese — it was so inviting, so peaceful.  I stood there for a moment after stepping out of my truck taking in the sights.  The gorgeous laying boxes for the hens along the barn, they even had a ladder leaning against a window for the hens to climb in and out with ease.   A charming hand written sign on the side of the barn listed the hours (3 days a week) and specials offered at that moment.  It was all so warm and welcoming, I felt at home.

Photo credit - Krista Harrington

At this time the shop was in a little area off of the barn.  It was a small space, but every inch served a purpose.   There was a cooler where fresh meats could be purchased and a freezer with a chalk board displaying its contents, as this changed week to week.  Eggs, jams and other pantry items were displayed perfectly on the sweetest country shelving surrounded by handmade items like honey pots and knitted mice.

Krista and I discussed my order and she happily answered any and all of my questions, though they were minimal as it was obvious these animals were adored and lived the best life possible.  She told me to take my kids around to see the animals before I headed home.   This was well-received by my animal loving littles!

We walked down the big hill and to the pastures where the pigs — Berkshire, Tammworth, Mangalista and large black pigs — were all sun bathing, rolling in mud and happily munching away on some delicious veggies.  I was surprised as the closer we got, the closer the pigs came to us!  They were happy to see humans, not fearful.

Bathing Beauties

Off to the right we walked to see the sheep in pasture — Icelandic Dairy and Cheviot Meat — these creatures are magnificent.  The kids loved watching as they grazed and basked in the warmth of the spring sun.

Some of the flock

As we walked back to the truck we had some followers!  We were being trailed by some adorable heritage ducks, geese and chickens.   It was here I became aware of what free range truly is, though Krista prefers to describe her birds as pastured since they are free to travel the pastures as they wish.  What a wonderful way to end our first visit!

Harrington Lane Farms is environmentally cautious as well as sustainable.  This lovely farm is powered by wind and solar and heated with wood during the winter.  They have honey bees galore to pollinate the gorgeous pastures that provide for the animals, allowing the eco system to thrive as it was meant to.

A gaggle of geese

Around the time most of us were pre-occupied with Christmas holidays in December of 2015, Krista was hard at work making her vision of a more central and larger shop come to life.  Behind the scenes Harrington Lane Farms Village Shop in Waterdown was starting to unfold, and would soon be a place where meats, pantry items, produce and so much more would readily be available throughout the week.

Early 2016 Harrington Lane Farms Village Shop opened and has quickly become a reliable source for humanely raised, no hormone or antibiotics, NON GMO meats and other local items such as breads, coffee, preserves, cheese — the list is quite long!

Harrington Lane Farms Village Shop

Krista’s love for her animals, passion for the environment and sustainable farm methods is a true labour of love.  She is incredibly hard-working and inspiring with a lot to offer the community and the city.  Many of her products are used in local shops, and you might have enjoyed them in some form without knowing!

I am so thankful I found Harrington Lane Farms, feeding my family responsibly is much easier now and I know that our dollars spent there are truly appreciated by this outstanding family-owned business.

Thanks for reading!

Note:

Harrington Lane Farms Village shop took over for the shop on the farm and the original shop is now closed.  This new location is convenient for many communities with easy access from the highway, and Krista is still apart of three Farmers' Markets – Waterdown, Dundas and Hespeler Village Market — to better serve her customers.

Photo Credit - Krista Harrington

Fun fact!  Krista is also the owner and face behind From These Roots Jam and preserve company!

Jam and preserve display

Follow along on the Harrington Lane Farms Village Shop Facebook page to see upcoming specials!

https://www.facebook.com/harringtonlanefarmsvillageshop/?fref=ts

For more information on the farming practices and mission statement of Harrington Lane Farms here is the webite.

http://www.harringtonlanefarms.ca/

Turkeys roaming through pastures