On Day 10 we checked out of Shanty Stay and went for breakfast across the street at Evergreen Cafe. We had the Breakfast Pocket and Original Breakfast, along with coffee and smoothies. Everything was super tasty and provided fuel for our walk to Fortune Bridge.
We walked through Souris Beach Gateway Park which is a beautiful beach and boardwalk. We saw people collecting seaglass and enjoying the available food and drink options. We took our time here because our check-in at the Inn at Fortune Bridge was at 3pm and we started out early so had time to spare.
The remainder of our walk was primarily on the Veteran’s Memorial Highway. When we saw the beer garden at Toby’s Farm Market we decided to stop in. We had time to spare and Toby’s was a cute place with good beer that also has a food truck that we didn’t try but is supposed to be good.
We kept on our way and arrived at our final destination, The Inn at Fortune Bridge, where we would be staying for two nights. While we waited for our room (we still arrived early at the Inn despite our efforts to slow down!) we were offered Benjamin Bridge Pet Nat and house-made chocolate chip cookies. It is easy to see why The Inn at Fortune Bridge is so highly regarded when it comes to hospitality.
On check-in we were very impressed with our room. The marble bathroom with heated floors and the covered porch where we could watch the horses and ponies in the paddock were favourite features.
We unpacked our things, freshened up, and made our way to the reception area of the inn to get a ride to the Fireworks Feast. Guests of the Inn at Fortune Bridge are chauffeured to and from the feast in a 1957 Bentley. It was a fitting way to start what would be a very special experience at the Inn at Bay Fortune farm.
On arrival at the Inn at Bay Fortune, we immediately headed toward the bar and ordered two Aperol Spritzes.
Soon after we were invited to a seating area to begin the farm tour. Kevin, the farmer at Inn at Bay Fortune, and his dog Harley lead the tour. It was informative and entertaining and should not be missed if you are ever attending the Feast.
After the Farm Tour was Oyster Hour, which is an hour spent outdoors visiting several open-fire cooking stations as well as an oyster bar. There is a taco bar, multiple smoking stations, a “copper dome”, and both cooked and raw oysters. You can eat as much as you want at Oyster Hour and you’ll want to over-indulge, but if you’re staying for the Fireworks Feast you probably want to save a little room.
Once Oyster Hour was over, we made our way to the pre-dinner toast. The evening we were attending the Feast was the reception dinner for a couple who were married that day. The groom was selected to sabre the “not champagne” Benjamin Bridge sparkling wine and cut the wine bottle in half, just as he said his bride had done the year before.
Next came the main event, the Fireworks Feast. While I only took one photo of the actual dinner, I don’t think I need to say what many others before have already said, which is that this is a truly exceptional culinary experience. The attention to detail and terroir are evident in every dish and the effort put into ensuring everyone goes home astounded is truly impressive.
Once dinner was over we roasted haskap berry-infused marshmallows on the campfire and made our way back to The Inn at Fortune Bridge. The drive back in the ’57 Bentley to our Parisian-influenced luxury accommodations was the perfect end to a perfect meal and we knew our decision to stay an extra day and attend Oyster Hour for a second time was the right one.
A map of our walk from Souris to Fortune Bridge can be found below.
