Happy November, everyone! Is it just my imagination, or is this fall really flying by? I hope you all had a great Halloween, whether you spent it dancing the night away at a costume party or going trick-or-treating with little ones. Tania and I went out over “Halloweekend”, and yesterday on actual Halloween, her family came over and we ordered pizza and handed out candy. We didn’t get nearly as many trick-or-treaters as I expected, but it was still so cute seeing them in their adorable costumes! My costume this year was Barbie, but being my vintage-loving self, I had to be the original 1959 Barbie. Below is the inspiration and my take on it… how’d I do?
Image Source: Business Insider
If you enjoy retro style as much as I do, then I’m sure you enjoyed my last post about the Waterford Antique Market (if you missed it, click here to check it out!) While Tania and I were in Norfolk County, we stopped by another cute spot that I can’t wait to share with you all! It’s absolutely charming, and sweet tooths, take note: it happens to have some of the best apple fritters I’ve ever eaten.
Located in the town of Vittoria, about 25km south of Waterford, the Cider Keg Farm Market was founded in 1990 by farmer Tom Haskett and his wife Joan. Today, Tom and Joan’s daughter, Tracy, owns the store (you all know I love supporting family businesses!) The market is a foodie’s paradise, selling a bounty of locally made delicacies along with a curated collection of clothing, gifts and home decor.
The Cider Keg Farm Market is passionate about environmental sustainability, and they have signed the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge. They are committed to further improving their business’ sustainability by reducing food waste, using biodegradable packaging and promoting local agriculture. You can view a list of all the steps they’re taking here. Every business likes to talk about sustainability, but it’s rare you’ll find one that actually spells out the concrete actions they’re taking towards that goal, so kudos to Cider Keg on this!
As soon as we pulled into Cider Keg’s parking lot, I knew we’d found someplace special. Their charming front patio – fully decorated for fall -exudes a cozy and welcoming vibe. From the porch swing and rocking chairs to the checkers sets on the tables, it practically begs you to sit and stay awhile.
Inside, you’ll find a variety of gourmet goodies, all of which are locally sourced and/or made: freshly baked bread, sweet and savoury pies, produce, meats, cheeses, honeys, preserves, nuts, candies… the list goes on and on. But the Cider Keg is most famous for (you guessed it) their cider! Whether it’s a carton of their traditional apple cider or a bottle of their sparkling cider, you can be sure you’re getting the good stuff: each bottle is made from apples grown right on their farm, with no added water or sugar. Their sparkling ciders have won several awards, and they’re all non-alcoholic. It’s always a good idea to have a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling cider on hand for parties, so that people who don’t drink can join in the celebrations. The bottles are so pretty and festive, so nobody has to feel like they’re missing out!
Cider Keg Farm Market also sells a variety of beautiful items for the home, from handcrafted pottery to unique wall art. Check out these gorgeous decorative paddles, hand-painted by local artist Jennifer Adams: they’d make a perfect house or cottage-warming gift! You’ll also find cozy loungewear from local apparel brand The Folk.
Don’t worry… I didn’t forget about the apple fritters! They’re baked fresh daily, and they are seriously so good. Fruity, fluffy and glazed to perfection – what more could you ask for?? You can buy them individually (very reasonably priced at $2.50 apiece) or pick up a box of six to take home. They may not last past the car ride, but don’t say I didn’t warn you…
From May through October, Cider Keg Farm Market runs a biweekly Farm Market Dinner Series. They set up dining tables on their patio, where guests sit and enjoy a seasonal, farm-to-table, four-course meal. Each course is paired with a local wine or beer. While the series is done for the season, I’m definitely adding this to my list for 2024! The ticket price is just $87 a person, which is very reasonable for everything that’s included. I’ve seen many similar dinners advertised at other places, and tickets are usually upwards of $200 a pop – so this is a great deal!
And if you’re headed to Norfolk County for the weekend and are looking for a place to stay, the Cider Keg Farm Market also has an Airbnb property located right beside their apple orchard. Talk about a one-stop shop!
Well, now that I’m craving apple fritters, I’m off to satisfy my sweet tooth with a fun-size chocolate bar. (We bought nearly 200 and gave out maybe 50, if that… so it looks like we’re going to be eating them for quite a while.) As always, thanks for reading, and I hope you have a great rest of your week!