Mount Julian is a nine-table restaurant sitting cozily next door to the Viamede Resort on Stony Lake in the Kawarthas.
A ‘forest to table culinary journey’, this historic restaurant creates their dishes only using the freshest ingredients from local farms and farmers.
Dating back to 1874, Mount Julian has continuously been a local institution while also being a sought after destination restaurant.
Serving five, seven or nine course tasting menus with wine, cider and beer pairings, the pairings are all hand-picked with most coming from the neighbouring Prince Edward County wine region.
I was invited to try their seven-course tasting menu created by their new Chef Jay Nutt. It was his inaugural meal and I am still dreaming about all the flavours, freshness and culinary flair.
Here is what our meal looked like (prepare to drool):
Smoked candy cane beet salad with honeyed grains, cranberry vinaigrette and topped with a cheese brittle.
A whimsical take on the classic ‘Fish and chips’ with crispy Lake Eerie pickerel, winter slaw, spicy aioli and sliced, crisp potatoes.
A hearty heirloom carrot soup with goat’s yogurt and pea sprout pesto, served with house-made sourdough loaf and spruce nut butter.
Pork ‘Two Ways’ from the Viamede Resort farm. Pork loin sous vide with braised pork belly, celery root puree, crispy kale, sautéed onions, and grainy mustard jus.
My favourite, the rare beef tenderloin with fingerling potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and green beans in a rosemary and vanilla scented jus. The sauce was indescribably delicious, I wanted to lick the plate.
Adding the hint of vanilla into this savoury dish was something I need to experiment with at home.
Stonetown’s ‘Homecoming’ mild semi-soft cheese with boozy dried fruit, pumpkin seeds and crispy multigrain baguette.
Granny smith apple fritter with house-made Butter Tart ice-cream and a peppered blackberry coulis.
Every bite was memorable and we loved the cozy atmosphere, which was private and social, charming and romantic.
Speaking of romance! The Viamede Resort and Mount Julian restaurant have a Valentine’s Day package still available that includes an overnight stay and the seven-course dinner with pairings, breakfast and complete access to this year-round resort. You can check out the details, here.
One of the lovely things that make this restaurant so special is, because it uses the freshest ingredients, the menu is constantly changing….I can’t wait to go back!
M Fab PlateLicker
