WORLD CLASS DINING IN GEORGIAN BAY

Perhaps one of the oldest in the world, the Italian cuisine can be traced back to the 4th century BC.

Some food lovers travel the world, tasting everything it has to offer. Fortunately for the rest of us, not only does Georgian Bay offer dining experiences that are “world class” in caliber, but it offers cuisines from some of the most interesting parts of the world. French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Greek, Portuguese, British. We can enjoy world cuisine without leaving Georgian Bay. We start our tour of local world dining with Italian cuisine. It would not be a gastronomic exaggeration to say that in the four restaurants we have highlighted, we can savor many of Italy’s major regions.

Andrea Greyerbiehl, owner of Azzurra, together with her Chef, Leona Nyman and manager, Sarah Slater, offers contemporary Italian cuisine from various parts of Italy. After a visit to Florence, Andrea brought back the idea of the traditional Pranzo, a longer meal with several courses. It offers dining groups a unique way to taste and share “a bit of everything” as the food is brought out to the table. It’s a perfect way to enjoy a long and pleasant meal with friends and family…the way they do in Italy.

The Pranzo as well as the “à la carte” menus are changed four times a year by the Chef, pulling dishes of pasta, gnocchi and various meats and fish from many different regions of Italy. The priority remains an appreciation for fresh produce, a well-stocked wine cellar and a dedication to quality and service. “I chose this business because I love food. I love to eat”, confides Azzurra’s owner. It’s a love which adds up to a fine taste of Italy for the rest of us.

Mario and Teresa Comegna, owners of Brunello’s have brought the traditional cuisine from central Italy to the Georgian Triangle. “Everything here is authentic Italian, not just the name”, stresses Chef Mario. “My experience comes from central Italy. I grew up with the food that I cook.” The house specialties include osso bucco served with pappardelle (flat broad pasta), rack of lamb, veal dishes and fresh pastas. A house feature is the assagini, meaning small portions of first course selections which makes an appetizing alternative to a classic main course and is ideal for groups of four or more people.

Mario’s commitment to cooking everything from scratch and using top quality ingredients has earned Brunello’s the Readers Choice Award for “best Fine Dining” for 2 years in a row. He explains his philosophy, “I enjoy doing it and I’m the first one in and the last one out. If I’m not here, I close the door of the restaurant.”

The Tuscan décor and the great selection of wine rounds out this truly Italian dining experience. It’s no surprise that regular customers will often come up to Mario and say, “Thank you for coming to Collingwood”.

Many South Italian dishes that we have come to love were brought to North America by the immigrants who fled Campania, Calabria, Sicily and the other Southern regions in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

With its southern Italian flavours, Tesoro Restaurant offers traditional rustic fare from the south of Italy. Joelle and Winston Rogers moved to Collingwood in 2002 to raise a family and start a business. “We felt Collingwood could use a restaurant that is comfortable and has fresh homemade food”, explains Joelle. Tesoro is known for its comfort food—gourmet thin crust pizza, fresh salads, local favourite Sicilian meatballs, spicy Penne Arrabbiatta, seafood pasta and veal Marsala.

Joelle is quick to acknowledge Head Chef Tony Vanderwal’s flair and passion for food as an important ingredient in Tesoro’s success. “He is meticulous and very regimented on making all stocks and sauces from only the finest ingredients.”

Tesoro is truly a family affair, with Joelle’s mother Mary making the biscotti and her father Doug making the Sicilian meatballs and homemade Roma tomato sauce. With its casual atmosphere, open kitchen and welcoming bar area, Tesoro brings us a welcome piece of southern Italian charm. Abruzzo, where the north of Italy meets the south, is known for the simplicity of its cooking.

The dishes served up by La Pizzeria come from a family recipe from a sea-side village on the East Coast of Abruzzi. Jody and Londy, both cooks and owners, first came to Stayner’s La Pizzeria as customers and liked it so much they bought it. They created a cozy, rustic ambiance in their small restaurant where you can linger as you wait for your pizza or you can sit down and dine in.

Jody is emphatic about their commitment to quality. “We’re all about freshness. The dough is freshly made, the meat balls and the Panzerotti are home made, the Caesar Salad is freshly made”. A former member of the Canadian military, Jody has introduced a new pizza to their menu—the Peacekeeper Pizza— to honour Canadian soldiers. Our travel plans may not take us to Abruzzi, but whiffs of its cuisine can be enjoyed close to home. La Pizzeria does not deliver, so it’s best to call ahead to order.

Azzurra
100 Pine Street, Collingwood, ON
L9Y 2N9
705-445-7771
Visit Web Site

Brunello at 27 on Fourth
Collingwood, ON
705-444-8322
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Tesoro Restaurant
18 Schoolhouse Lane
Collingwood, ON
705-444-9230

La Pizzeria
7278 Hwy 26
Stayner, ON
705-428-3131

You can look forward to more countries highlighted in future editions of Dining and the Arts.