After breakfast at our hotel in Paris we set out on the trails again. Our final destination was Langdon Hall near Cambridge but we weren’t going to walk the whole distance as not only was it too far, but we needed time to change and get ready for the Grand Tasting menu which we had a reservation for at 7pm.
As we made our way, we came upon the Murray Overlook – a viewing platform that allows you to look out onto the Grand River and what remains of the Great Western Railway Bridge, built in 1858.
We also saw some interesting wildlife: bull-rush seed heads, a pool of super clear water, and a six-spotted tiger beetle!
Eventually we came to our first stop, the Riverbend Grillhouse in Glen Morris. We picked this place more due to location than anything else, but after experiencing it we would pick it again because of the tasty food, great live music and amazing staff. We watched part of the Blue Jays game while having lunch, which was delicious, and there was a live band playing on the patio that attracted a decent sized crowd. They played covers and were very good and it was fun to listen to the band as well as watch the baseball game. We spoke to a few people in the bar since they were curious about our backpacks and they recommended we keep going with our hiking when we said that we planned to Uber the rest of the way. We took their advice and are glad we did as we got to see the ruins of German’s Woollen Mill (they are difficult to see in the photo due to the trees.)
Once we had hiked a few more kilometers we got an Uber to Langdon Hall in order to give us enough time to check in and get ready for dinner. We were doing the Grand Tasting, a 9 course menu, and we were very excited as this was the cherry on top of our hiking sundae! We checked into our room, which was beautiful and comfortable, and made our way to the dining room for our 7pm reservation. The dining room at Langdon Hall is very formal and there is a pianist further enhancing the mood. Our server and sommelier introduced themselves and suggested we may want to start with cocktails before jumping into the menu so we obliged. The cocktails were refreshing and delicious and when done, we were ready to start the tasting.
To say the food at Langdon Hall is extravagant is an understatement. Everything is so precisely considered, from the serving vessels to the utensils and even the floral arrangements on the table. The flavours were intense and unique and the ingredients were mainly local or from trusted suppliers (like the West coast seafood.) Each dish was as beautiful as it was delicious, and while we didn’t take too many pictures, you get the idea from the few we did. The service was beyond exceptional and it was an experience we won’t soon forget.
The tasting took 4 hours so by the time it was done we were ready to retire to our room and rest up for the next day of walking, eating, and drinking!
