Captain Cook: Muskoka Menu Merriment
Mar 25, 2021
Our new feature is CYOB’s look at boats and food – two words that are almost synonyms! That’s a lot of landscape to cover; we will take you to galleys across the country, dockside burger joints and fine cockpit dining. Our debut contributor is Shawn Woof, a Port Carling local as well as a top Muskoka cottage realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty Canada. During his free time, you can find Shawn cruising around Lake Joe stopping by to look at all the beautiful cottages.
Shawn kicks us off with some eager eating around the fabulous Muskoka Lakes area.
-JM
Shawn and a pal exploring Lake Joseph last summer
In a world currently punctuated by Covid, springtime means we’re all anxiously awaiting the onset of (drumroll) boat and cottage season! For the second year in Muskoka is on fire, with record numbers of hopeful cottagers, sailors, skiers and cruisers fleeing reality in search of the great outdoors. Pair this with a record increase in boat sales and you’ve got yourself a booming summer in the works.
With another six months likely set to be kept restricted to relatively local, I wanted to share a few insider hotspots that can take you straight from lake to food, a vital transition we all like to make smoothly.
If you are stopping by on a quick boat excursion in the Muskoka area and feel like going contactless I would recommend The Muskoka Chef. Just order ahead and you can pick up your meal as soon as you reach land, throughout Muskoka – who doesn’t love having freshly barbecued food ready for your arrivals to the Muskokas.
It feels like the quintessential summer meal is lunch, and I have a few honorable mentions here. For a classic post sail lunch try my favourite fish and chips at Mrs H’s Fish and Chips, just east of Bala, that always makes me feel reminiscent of the Toronto Boat Show’s Henry’s, or if you’re closer to Bracebridge, a yummy stuffed deli sandwich at Main St. Delicatessen. Feel like something lighter and shareable? Set on Lake Joseph, with locally sourced ingredients, Btw, The Muskoka Chef also makes a delicious charcuterie board for pick-up, which is always a kid and adult-friendly option!
If you’ve spent the day on Rosseau and your boat is tucked away safely at a marina it’s hard to beat a night out at my favourite dinner join in town Crossroads. If you’re coming off of Foot’s Bay, head to Bass Lake and top your day off with a frosty beer from the Bass Lake Roadhouse and you can consider yourself a local.
The possibilities are endless and depending on where you’re boating in from or cottaging at, there are so many beloved Muskoka spots that are now getting big-time love. And even though we locals enjoy such fine summer dining all-year it’s nice to share (once in a while!)
Shawn – Questions? Muskoka dining tips? You can always reach out to me at swoof@sothebysrealty.ca or Instagram at @shawnwoofcottages,
www.shawnwoof.com
