I had a great time today petting various farm animals as well as dogs and even some guinea pigs…read more The staff were all super friendly, and it was a fun day spent doing something outside. They do have free range chickens and ducks running around as well. It's only $10 a person and it's worth it for a fun outing. If you do go please respect the rules of not chasing the chickens and ducks, you might very well give them a heart attack. And no one wants to see that. But I'd definitely recommend it especially if you've got kids. They've even got information plaques about all the animals around the place so it's fun and educational.

Great place for kids and adults alike to relax on a lazy afternoon. Has a wide variety of animals…read more Only $5 per adult. Children under 2 are free.

1500th review. Full thoughts in the blog. A $35 destination meal. Highlights below…read more Located in Plantagenet, Ontario - a small town approximately an hour east of Ottawa Mariposa Farm likely doesn't register a blip on most 'foodie' radars, but to fans of duck, goose, and particularly foie gras it is a name that should be synonymous with a Homer Simpson-esque drooling sound. Set in the rolling countryside where the quacks and honks of Barbarie ducks and Embden geese are the only sounds punctuating the serenity of hundreds of acres Mariposa is a functional farm for168 hours a week - but for two hours each Sunday it is also a $38 three-course prix fixe brunch for ~40-50 diners lucky enough to experience Chef Mark Currier's handling of the farm's bounty. The Service: Having already met one half of the ownership team, Ian Walker serves as the dining room's host, captain, and maître d'. A pleasant man more than happy to share a story the rest of the service falls in line - each dish delivered hot from the kitchen with both the servers and Ian stopping by frequently to check in and make sure you haven't any wants or needs aside from, perhaps, a little more history about the farm or their many travels to farms across North America. Foie Gras Mousse Crepe with Apple Blue Cheese Salad and Parsnip Mustard: While the ladies were welcome to skip on the very reason we traveled to Mariposa Farm, I most certainly was not - I came for foie gras and with the rich liver in this case pureed into a smooth mousse and stuffed into a buckwheat crepe I can say without a doubt it was worth the drive. Starting first with the pancake, delicate yet toothsome and moving on to its ample filling the wooden board was further dressed with thin slices of sour Granny Smith apples tossed with bitter greens, black pepper, and funky blue cheese while a light layer of smashed parsnip tinged with mustard added a subtle heat. An excellent composition served in ample portion and touching on nearly every part of the palate it would not be hyperbole to say this was the best savory crepe I've ever tasted. Bison Flank Grilled and BBQ with Pulled Pork Mashed Potatoes, Black Pepper Aioli, Duck Reduction, Carrots: Served 'pink' but so lean that it was as dry as my aunt generally prefers in her well-done steaks the overall flavor of this particular cut was not dissimilar to prime rib and with the rich aioli and duck jus serving to add both fat and flavor the richness of the dish was bumped up another notch by the locally grown smashed potatoes mixed nearly 50/50 with savory BBQ pork. An overhand smash of flavors with both my mother and I fancying the potatoes over our respective carbohydrates my aunt ate nearly all of the flank on her own - another testament to the quality of the proteins coming from Mariposa's wood grill. Duck Confit Leg glazed with Maple Mustard with Sunchoke Spaetzel, Carrots and Rhubarb Reduction: Again noting that our trip to Mariposa was predicated on their signature birds I overlooked the fact that mustard was included in both my appetizer and my main course and simply smiled and savored the subtlety of it as enjoyed one of the best duck confit dishes I've had in recent memory. Reportedly rendered in duck fat for 8 hours prior to a brief visit to the wood oven the phrase "falling off the bone" came to mind with each bite and with a sweet lacquered exterior that literally crunched on mastication before the succulent interior melted in the mouth the accoutrements hardly even mattered aside from adding a touch of fibrous vegetal undertone to help balance the otherwise intense richness of the fowl. Quebec Cheese Plate with Apple Cranberry Puree - Unable to buy many of Quebec's raw and unpasteurized options in The United States I just couldn't justify passing this up for a mere brownie and with each cheese impressive while the Tomme de Joyeux was a sort of revelation in its floral sweetness I don't regret my choice one bit - particularly as some of the better restaurants in Montreal focused their collection on non-domestic options. The Verdict: If one were to rank restaurants as Michelin does with the concept of "excellent cuisine, worth a detour" constituting two-stars then by simple default of location Mariposa would garner deux etoiles even though the setting, service, and concept certainly are not targeting such lofty goals. Focused on rustic cuisine made on a hearth by a passionate team of people hosting weekly brunch in their home Mariposa Farm remains to this day the meal my mother remembers most fondly from our trip to Canada and while I cannot quite share that degree of enthusiasm considering some of the other meals we had I would not hesitate even a second to return or to give it my strongest recommendation for others in the area - it is definitely a special place committed to doing things not only well, but more importantly doing things the right.

One of my new favourite dining experiences in the World. Mariposa is roughly 40-50 minutes…read moreNorth-East of downtown Ottawa. When I arrived, I passed by a fire and beautiful gardens into a home style restaurant with tall windows from the floor to the ceiling. The kitchen is open style so you can see the food being prepared. When you arrive, they ask you to choose an appetizer, main and dessert. One of the toughest choices you will ever have to make. Most of the food comes fresh from the farm. They are known for their foie gras, which was spectacular. Note that you need to book a reservation at least one week in advance as they only serve lunch once a week on Sunday's. It is worth the wait. Also BYOB. After we ate, the owner, Ian, happily gave us a tour of the barn and grounds. There was also a trail to take a walk down to top it all off. I look forward to going back!

Cheff Fields Alpacas is a farm that raises alpacas (they have 31 of them) and chickens; and garlic…read more- and they sell these items at local farmers markets, including every Saturday morning at the farmers market located at the Carp Fairgrounds. These animals are sheared every year for their super warm fur; Alpaca fur is 7% warmer than sheep's wool, and it's super soft! The natural colours are nice enough, but Cheff Fields also sells some spun and dyed yarn as well. At their booth at the Carp farmers market, they have several skeins in different thicknesses on display and for sale for knitting, as well as some items already made of alpaca yarn. But my review is based on an actual site visit with the Ottawa Knitting Guild. Some of us met first at a coffee shop in Stittsville, and took the drive in convoy out to Renfrew to visit the farm. There, Catherine and Dwight (the owners) took us on a tour of the facility, permitting us to pet and feed the animals - the very soft alpacas, one very loud dog, and one of the biggest horses I have seen in a very long time! They have quite a wonderful set up! It's a large facility with several out-buildings including an old log cabin that is still functional with a working modern kitchen, living room and a few bedrooms and a washroom, where they hosted about 20 of us members of the Guild. After the site tour, we met in the log cabin for refreshments, to browse the yarns, along with the knitted and crocheted items on display. There was also an area rug, with kits available to make your own. It was very worth the visit, and everyone had a good time. If you would be interested in visiting, please contact them to arrange a date. Or you could see them any Saturday from spring to fall, at the Carp farmers market.

I visited the Log Farm for the first time today for the outdoor Christmas Farmers' Market and it…read morewas very busy, but not overwhelmingly so. This is the first out of two dates for the market, the next one being next Saturday, November 27th, from 10am to 2pm. As a mama with a stroller, it was difficult to maintain the 2 metres of social distancing, especially when lining up for specific vendors, but we tried to keep as much distance from people as possible, masks were mandatory, and everyone was very respectful. Try not to handle any of the goods unless you're going to buy them - the vendors are more than happy to give you your items. There are also squares for payment via credit or credit (tap and insert available, but tap is preferable to avoid less touching, though there's also hand sanitizer at all vendor stations). The layout is a big circle, so traffic just moves in one direction, counterclockwise. If you missed something or wanted to go back, rather than going backwards, you just keep going around the circle until you're back to where you started. I thought it would be a good idea to take one loop around to see what there was first before buying, and then come back for the stuff I wanted, but I did end up missing out on some things because they sold out so quickly. My friend and I went at around 12:45pm and left when it was starting to close around 2, and it was still busy, with people buying whatever was leftover. Note that you can pre-purchase or reserve from some vendors online or via e-mail so that it doesn't sell out on you (thanks, Nat's Bread!). Speaking of bread, I thought that's all I was coming for, but nope, BIG NOPE. A lot of awesome local food and a super sore shoulder later, I left with a giant haul. There were tons of gifts and specialty food as well, and even a little shop with crafts and coffee truck for hot beverages, but I ended up doing some groceries. I'm really excited to try everything I bought, from savoury pies, sausages, and beef ribs, to fresh bread, ice cream sandwiches, chipotle maple syrup, organic apple sauce, red potatoes, and nacho chips! I could've bought more, but my reusable bag (that they give you for free at the entrance) and my stroller could only hold so much. It was a little muddy and rocky with the stroller, but nothing we couldn't handle, and it wasn't too chilly, either. Try heading all the way in with your car because there was plenty of parking in the lot, but tons of people parked on the side of the road when it wasn't necessary. And it's a shorter distance to carry everything you bought from the market to the car ;)

We had an amazing time at the farm. Plenty of activities for young children as well as older kids…read more I took my grandkids (ages 10, 8 and 6) and they had so much fun. Very friendly staff and very reasonably priced. Highly recommend! Can't wait to go back in the fall for the corn maze and wagon rides!

4th year in a row I have come to the pancake house. Some of these reviews are old. This place has…read morereally stepped up. The cooks have been the same for the past 3 years and everything is well flavoured and delicious. There is a bit of a wait when busy but that's understandable.

I have never been to a sugar bush before, but I feel like I I went a little un prepared. The fam…read moreand I went for maple fest last weekend. It was a nice Spring day +10 degrees, but it was still cold on the farm. I left my mitts at home and brought a thin jacket. Thank goodness there were fire pits across the lot to warm up. Since most of the activities are outside, except for the petting zoo, my advice would be to dress in layers and bring a pair of mitts and a good pair of boots. Don't forget to bring a backpack with extra snacks and water. Due to covid only a certain amount of guests can be on the lot at one time, so they have an online booking system to pre book your tickets. They fill up fast, so my suggestion is to plan at least a week ahead and book your time slot. The hubby and I paid just under 11 bucks each for entry, which came with a voucher for a snack (maple taffy on a stick, maple candy) and a drink (hot chocolate, juice, coffee). OR you can just pay for the entry which I believe was $5.95. Kids under 3 are free. There is a wagon ride that takes you to where the food is once you are on the lot. You can also skip all that and just drive up to it on your own and park on the street. Porta potty washrooms on site. Lots of play structures. Staff were super friendly.

Great Family/Company to do business with! Love seeing people support local businesses!read more

From the owner: Gordon Family Farm is a farm situated on a back country road where horse drawn sleigh rides are…read moreavailable by appointment in the winter. The sleigh ride will take you through the open field and into cozy trails in the woods, where you can stop and warm up by the fire, sip hot chocolate, and roast marshmallows. We have a sleigh for large groups, as well as a quaint, old fashioned sleigh for couples. We also sell rough cut lumber. Many sizes are in stock, or we can saw up the specific lumber you need for your building projects, large and small. Please call 518-529-7246 with questions or to schedule your sleigh ride!

We were introduced to AppleStock 3 years ago and now it's the only place we go. They do not have…read moreall the bells and whistles of some of the bigger orchards but the service is unbeatable. Josh and Emily are so welcoming. They have free range chicken that you can pet and feed. The apples are the best I have ever had. We go at least 3 to 4 times per season. You guys rock.

From the owner: Family owned and operated pick-your-own apple orchard in beautiful Winchester, ON - just 45min…read moredirectly South of Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

This meat is delicious. The owner is a wonderful person. It's been a few years but the food is…read morevery good

I have been a customer of 8 O'Clock Ranch since 2009, where I stumbled across their website to then…read moreplace my first order for delivery. I could not be happier beginning with the Customer Service right up to the quality!! With every order Kassandra personally writes a Thank You which warms my heart even still today! Where can you get that in a big box store, in fact you are lucky if you get a smile. Not 8 O'Clock ranch you can feel the smile in every "Thank You". A year and half ago my family fell upon hardship due to a devastating accident and my husband was severly injured. Kassandra and the 8 O'Clock Ranch Team were right there to help by gifting us an order. I was so humbled and I will never forget!! Thank you 8 O'Clock Ranch you guys are one in a million and I cannot express my gratitude for the years of delicious Beef, Pork and Chicken I have been fortunate to enjoy!! ~Marianna K.