One sunny afternoon, my friend and I set off on a special road trip to Jordan Station, home to one of Canada’s most celebrated restaurants, Restaurant Pearl Morissette, as well as their new bakery, RPM Bakehouse. It was a trip we had planned a month in advance, as I was visiting Toronto from Vancouver.

Restaurant Pearl Morissette and RPM Bakehouse were both founded by acclaimed chefs Daniel Hadida and Eric Robertson. They opened the restaurant in 2017 and the bakehouse in 2022. Restaurant Pearl Morissette topped enRoute’s Best New Restaurants in Canada list in 2018 and is currently number six on Canada’s 100Best. Recently, they were awarded both a Star and a Green Star by the prestigious Michelin Guide. Everything critics and people say is true - Restaurant Pearl Morissette is one of Canada’s best destination restaurants if not one of the best in the country. Their regenerative agricultural practices and processes are to be admired.

Location

Jordan Station is located about an hour's drive south of downtown Toronto, and just 30 minutes from the famed Niagara Falls. Our dedication to enjoying great food knows no bounds as our trip included a quick ride on the Union Pearson Express, followed by our rental car.

RPM Bakehouse

We first landed at RPM Bakehouse, a beautiful bakery and cafe with boho vibes, featuring excellent bread, cakes, pastries, sandwiches, and lunch dishes. Most importantly, the kitchen team works with local farmers and millers to ensure every type of grain they use is distinct in flavour, noble in pedigree, and of course, sown and grown in Ontario. My favourite of the day - the focaccia sandwich featuring a variety of brassicas straight from Restaurant Pearl Morissette’s garden.

The Garden Tour

Before our dinner, we embarked on a garden tour, something guests can book to experience before their dinner. This is something we highly recommend. Farmer Shane Harper and gardener-forager Deirdre Fraser give guests such an eye-opening view of what regenerative and sustainable farming can look like. They are extremely knowledgeable. During our tour, we had the opportunity to learn all about the different herbs, flowers, and vegetables that are grown in the vast garden, in addition to tasting them. Both Chef Hadida and Chef Robertson also made appearances throughout the tour. From rose thyme, and sweet grass, to sweet cicely, surprises included plants that tasted like citrus and pineapple.

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The Dinner

Restaurant Pearl Morissette’s dining room is located on the upper floor of a minimalist, barn-style building. We were seated right by the expansive windows - giving us unencumbered views of the garden (and ducks and cats).

The 12-course menu, with wine pairings, was exquisite and made even more special because we were able to take the garden tour. Many of the ingredients we had the pleasure of trying in their raw form made their way onto our plates. The restaurant keeps everything local, with the exception of seafood, which is normally brought in from different areas of Canada.

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The menu changes regularly with the season. On our particular night, we had the opportunity to experience a variety of dishes, including grilled West Coast geoduck with kohlrabi, pickled spruce tips, and sorrel; P.E.I. Blue Mussels with an egg yolk emulsion, trout roe, saro radishes, and hakerui turnips; Mahona Bay scallops with grilled mushrooms, hazelnuts, Acadian sturgeon gold caviar; and Grilled Nubian Goat from Elizabeth Greenhouse (presented on a gorgeous platter) with overwintered parsnip, green garlic puree, and sea kale. The two-and-a-half-hour dining journey was one to remember.

Our meal ended with two desserts - a sweet cantaloupe (from Fisherville Greenhouses) sorbet and a plum blossom tart with marinated rhubarb. And, of course, a slice of cheese. We talked about our amazing day and meals the entire way home.

Restaurant Pearl Morissette is certainly a special occasion spot, but one you wish you could dine at all the time. Its commitment to sustainable agriculture, promoting the local food ecosystem, and high-calibre of service makes me wish there were more similar places in Canada. That’s why they are a restaurant worth road-tripping for.