Mount Julian Restaurant Nine-Course Culinary Dining Experience at Viamede Resort

Recently, we traveled local to Viamede Resort in the Kawartha Lakes region. They have a forest to table philosophy that has the foodie in me doing somersaults. Keep reading to see what Mount Julian Restaurant nine-course culinary dining experience at Viamede Resort looks like.

Mount Julian Restaurant is only available by reservations, be sure to call and book leaving plenty of time before your arrival at Viamede Resort. At that time, let them know of any dietary restrictions you have so they can prepare accordingly for your dining experience. They were very accommodating to me and had a dairy-free cheese on hand for my consumption.

I highly suggest you book the nine-course tasting menu with wine pairings. Food and wine go hand in hand and Viamede Resort’s GM Ben will walk you through a wine tour from the comfort of your table. Most wine that Ben features are from Ontario’s Prince Edward County. 

Interesting Read: 7 Wine Touring Tips For Beginners.

Quiet, cozy, and very rustic we were sat at one of the few tables inside the Mount Julian Inn. A very intimate setting for an adults-only experience. The floors creak as you find comfort in your chair; adding a charm to the environment.

Playing over the record player was a step back in time jazz melody’s feeling like you just walked into the early 1900’s. A time, I know I lived in my past life because I’m moved deeply by the sense that creeps over my body to the unique sound of the background music.

Mount Julian Restaurant Nine-Course Culinary Dining Experience

Mount Julian Restaurant Amuse-Bouche

The tone is set, and now it’s time for our Chef Alexander’s amuse-bouche. Which he nick-named the “spring bouquet.”  This tiny parcel features all of the springs first delights to pop out of the ground. Pea shoots and cattail wrapped in wild leek drizzled with Canadian maple syrup.

Most of the 9-course tasting menu featured edibles that were all foraged on Viamede property. My boys and I went foraging with Ben earlier that day, and it was fascinating to taste this forest to table experience, especially since we forged a few of them earlier that day.

Mount Julian Restaurant First Course

Next up, we received a multi-grain baguette and house-made butter featuring honey and sumac. You may have a Sumac tree in your backyard or be familiar with the bushy red tree. The redbuds of the plant are what can be consumed. Stay clear from the white flowers on the Sumac tree those are poisonous. Ben told us on our forging walk if you’re unsure what to eat in nature be safe and don’t eat it.

Mount Julian Restaurant Second Course

Our second dish was a blast of spring in the liquid form. It wasn’t the most appetizing colored soup, but as you can tell by my picture, we couldn’t stop sipping this spinach and wild leek soup and forgot to snap a picture. It was so delicious; I’m inspired to use the fresh green spinach popping up in my garden to duplicate this course.

Mount Julian Restaurant Third Course

While Manitoulin Island isn’t anywhere close to us in the Kawarthas, their Rainbow Trout paired perfectly with the neighboring wild-rice region. Which blew me away because as a local I had no clue we grew wild-rice so close to home?! Topped with a savory cranberry jam and garnished with chives; this by far was one of my favorite dishes. I’m a seafood lover, and Chef seared the Manitoulin Island Rainbow Trout to perfection.

Mount Julian Restaurant Fourth Course

Next up, was a lovely display of spring. Each piece of nature perfectly placed on our plate like a piece of artwork.

Lost In A Storybook at Mount Julian Restaurant

As the evening continued course after course followed by a new wine a new story we found ourselves in a storybook, turning page by page. I’ll be honest from here on out I was so consumed by the flavors and experience my note taking skills were tossed aside, maybe it was the wine? In other words, bare with me as I recall the remainder of our 9-course tasting meal.

Mount Julian Restaurant Fifth Course

Earlier that day we took the kids for a walk through the farm where we saw the cutest little piggies; who knew the farm to table experience would be so close to home? Farmed fresh from their backyard this pork chop was sitting on homemade applesauce, and sautéed wild leeks picked from the Viamede property.

Mount Julian Restaurant Sixth Course

Lamb, petite potatoes over a rhubarb puree. We have rhubarb in our garden, and I’ve never thought about using it as a savory addition to my meal. It was very similar to the homemade applesauce in the last course with a sour kick to it.

Mount Julian Restaurant Seventh Course

They say it’s helpful to cleanse your palate by eating small amounts of cheese, fruit, and bread; which is precisely what we did during our seventh course.

Mount Julian Restaurant Eighth Course

It’s hard to believe we even had room for our eighth and ninth courses, but a birdie told me dandelion cookies were on the menu, so I was waiting for these all day long. Mount Julian uses dried dandelion flowers to make flour and voila you have cookies. Topped with a rhubarb sauce, I would have bought a bag of these to take home if they were selling them.

Mount Julian Restaurant Ninth Course

The last course was sinking in your seat good. A flour-free chocolate cake topped with sour cream (crazy but it worked) and the local cherry on top has been soaking in bourbon for a year. Yep, need I say more?

Speechless after nine glasses of wine, nine-course meal and an intimate dinner with my love. Dining at Mount Julian Restaurant was an experience I’ve never had before. It was as if we were in a storybook, turning page after page and being introduced to flavors and knowledge we never experienced before. We would dine at Mount Julian again in a heartbeat. Ben, you and your staff, took dining to a new level with Mount Julian, unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before. Forged to the table is breaking all the rules – and we love it! Congratulations!

You may also find this article interesting ->  TEN WAYS VIAMEDE RESORT IN KAWARTHA LAKES, ONTARIO IS BOLDLY DIFFERENT

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Thank you, for reading In R Dream Canadian Blog.

Thank you, Viamede Resort for your warm welcome and hospitality. As always, these are our opinions and this, and all reviews are written with honesty from our heart.