Jaw drop. This place is NYC/SF league. Brio Chinotto. Spiced green olives, four flavors, in tubs…read more Italian groceries packed into the tiny place. Fresh figs. That's just the weirds stuff that I like... the FOCACCIA -- they're baking it right there! There's only two sandwiches. This is a GOOD THING... meat or veggie. Apart from amazing -- small detail: romaine, crispy, super fresh... the meats and veggie patty: great recipe. This all before mentioning their namesake dish... pasta... six feet away from the baking, a lady pulling noodles out of a pasta machine, which I'll have to experience next time.

Since moving to Toronto, I miss Pasta Genova deeply…read more They have some of the very best focaccia anywhere, which alone is enough to recommend them. But they also have nearly peerless homemade pastas (of which the smoked paprika linguine is my favourite, though they often only make it by request), spectacular prepared sauces, and regular specials on essentials that will get you things like premium olive oil or balsamic vinegar* at supermarket prices. * Genova is one of the few places I've regularly found a variety of pure, aged balsamic vinegar free from sulphites. AWESOME. So, here's some tips: 1) They ONLY TAKE CASH, no exceptions. I once witnessed a woman curse them out for this fact and declare she'd tell all her friends not to shop there; when she left, everyone in the tiny shop, myself included, burst out laughing, and one of the guys declared "we can barely keep up with the customers we have, we don't need her!". Very jovial, and they took her bitch-fest so perfectly in-stride they could give lessons on how to turn the other cheek. 2) If you need a quick lunch, pick up a focaccia sandwich -- they're about $4 if memory serves, with salami, lettuce, tomato, and mustard, and they're fantastic! If you want to suddenly realize you're hungry, walk down Wellington around 11:00am for the wafting glory of baking focaccia and just try to resist the pull. 3) When ordering pasta instead of ordering by weight, order by serving size. Say things like "I'm having a dinner party for six, four big eaters and two regular", and they'll give you an incredibly accurate amount of what you need, plus a little extra (because people WILL want seconds, believe me!). 4) Their homemade calabrese olives are out of this world good. They use a puree of oil-marinated chilis, oregano, fennel (I think), and oil, and very, very good sun cured olives... and damn, these things are so good I eat them until I hurt. 5) Ask what's on special, or if they have any leftovers. I've scored half servings of pasta, day old (but still delicious) focaccia, and nearly expired but still awesome cheese for cheap. Finally, I'll also mention that the staff here are fabulous -- very nice people who greet with a smile, always bid a good day, and work diligently to help provide you with exactly what you need to hit a homerun with whatever it is you're cooking. Only downside: Toronto Maple Leaf fans. Egads!

Going back to my old takeout lunch spot, and nothing has changed, in a good way. Same delicious…read morebread, same delicious cookies, and same great staff. Get the olive rosemary bread, you won't be disappointed.

While exploring Kingston for our first trip to Canada, we wanted to sample butter tarts. The Pan…read moreChancho Bakery did not disappoint. Coming from NC, the filling tasted like the inside of a pecan pie. Delicious! My Americano coffee was strong and hit the spot. My MIL and I also purchased baguettes and a cinnamon roll. All exceptional quality!

Love this old-timey store! It has been here since 1865 I believe…read more So many fun food stuffs to discover here. Mostly canned/packaged goods, with some delicious local fresh cheeses near the back of the store. They also sell their own coffee (try the Kingston blend) and custom or pre-made gift baskets. They carry a huge selection of unique imported food items from legit Italian pasta to local hot sauce to candy from England. I always stop by when I am in town to pick up a neat goodie to take home ;)

Cooke's is a staple in downtown Kingston. It's a specialty food store with imports mainly from the…read moreUK. They have coffees, teas, chocolates, candies, and much more. I personally go there whenever I want to find a sweet gift for someone. You never know what you'll find. What makes the store really special is the antique feel, especially the floors that are creaky old wood (that's a good thing!) Also, the aromas when you first walk in of coffee and chocolate are amazing.

Small town country local grocer feel. Not a big store, but big on customer service. Has most of…read moreyour grocery & produce needs. Deli is amazing incl homemade sandwiches while you wait & homemade chilli. Butcher has amazing cuts of meat and takes special orders. Their handmade inhouse sausages are the best- no filler. Staff are super friendly and helpful.

We ordered a fruit basket ($25) for the second time for delivery to our daughter for Easter. We…read morewere stunned again this time by the amount and selection of fruit that was included plus cheese and Easter and other chocolates. You will not find a nicer or more generous or good value gift basket anywhere!

Very clean store, nice people, great prices, cold drinks! They sell mostly everything you need for…read morea good weekend, I would like a bigger chip selection, but other than that it's good.

You can find almost anything here…read more Love the vibe of the old building and the selection of all kinds of natural foods. You can find gluten free, vegan, and other specialty options. You can also buy spices in bulk which is awesome when you only need a teaspoon of cloves for a certain recipe and will most likely never use them again. The staff kind of have a "I cant be bothered" attitude but I really enjoyed the food I bought from here hence the four stars ;)

I'm a big fan of natural products and Tata Natural Foods does a pretty good job of supplying me…read morewith a wide range of things; everything from almond flour (meal) to vitiamn supplements, dairy-free ice cream and bulk natural PB. The environment is really cool; the old wooden floors creak a bit and you feel as if you are walking around a modern-era old-fashioned general store. Staff are incredibly helpful, especially when you're not sure where something might be located.

A trip to Kingston wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Kingston Olive Oil Company. We are…read moreaddicted to the outstanding infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars. So many unusual flavours. On this latest trip we were travelling by train so took advantage of their free shipping with a minimum order of $120. We're trying a few new ones this time around: basil & thyme EVOOs, Espresso balsamic vinegar- can't wait to try it out with ice cream.

Super cute store located on Brock St just a few minutes from the main downtown corridor on…read morePrincess. I always make sure to stop by here whenever I'm in town! They have an amazing variety of vinegars (white balsamic and regular balsamic) and olive oils. The staff are very knowledgeable and can help you pair different flavours if you're feeling overwhelmed. Love that you can taste test the different products (vinegars and oils). They also run a bottle recycling program so if you bring back your washed bottles you can get 10% off a new bottle! They occasionally come out with new flavours so make sure to stop by every so often to check it out! Fun fact: this is also a stop on the Kingston food tours!