When I booked our trip to Ottawa, Canada for my cousin’s wedding, I had no idea I was in for a culinary adventure! After a lovely stroll through the breathtaking Parliament and over the Rideau Canal, we stumbled on the Byward Market.
Like any true foodie, I had researched restaurants before my travels and many of them were in the ByWard Market. I was intrigued, but I had no idea how amazing the Market would be. It is anchored by one main indoor market featuring a variety of worldly vendors much like the San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace, NYC’s Chelsea Market and Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market. However, the ByWard Market is surrounded by permanent tented street vendors that extended the culinary journey for blocks. Plus, there are hundreds of restaurants (70-plus) and fashion, food and home retailers that circumference the Market.
We stopped at Stella to enjoy the 75-degree weather on the outdoor patio. While sipping the signature “Stella-tini,” Smirnoff Strawberry, Lemoncello & Cranberries, we enjoyed the sites and sounds of all the other packed outdoor cafes on the street.
Before leaving, we made sure to pick up a wonderful custard and berry dessert at Le Moulin de Provence to bring to my Aunt’s home for dinner that evening. Nothing beats homemade Italian cooking, but I would have loved to eat my way through the ByWard Market. I snapped some photos instead.