About Taste the Countryside

Taste the Countryside is a celebration of local food and drink in the Region of Waterloo

Established 2020

Taste the Countryside Waterloo Region is a true celebration of the bounty of our countryside—where fields, farms, and kitchens come together to showcase the very best of local food and drink.

This initiative shines a spotlight on the region’s rich agricultural roots and diverse culinary talent, bringing restaurants, farms, and producers into the spotlight to share their passion with the community.

Taste the Countryside features two signature events each year: the Harvest Dinner, a one-night celebration of the season’s abundance and community spirit, and the 10-Day Dining Trail, where we promote restaurants across the region who offer menus crafted with locally-sourced ingredients. Beyond these events, Taste the Countryside also maintains a regional food map and producer list, helping residents and business owners alike discover local food year-round.

By highlighting the flavours of Waterloo Region, Taste the Countryside not only delights the palate but also strengthens the local business community. Restaurants and producers benefit from increased visibility, stronger customer connections, and the opportunity to welcome new patrons eager for authentic, farm-to-fork experiences. The initiative fosters collaboration between growers and chefs, nurturing resilient supply chains and driving economic growth.

Beyond the table, Taste the Countryside builds community pride, celebrates entrepreneurship, and reminds us of the power of shopping, dining, and supporting locally. Each meal shared ripples outward—nourishing people, strengthening businesses, and celebrating the vibrant spirit of the Region’s countryside.

Taste the Countryside was originally created by the Township of Woolwich in 2020 as a business promotion program to encourage residents to support local food establishments when indoor dining was restricted. It was a simple 10-day marketing campaign promoting coordinated menus across participating food establishments. Since then, the initiative has grown into a collaborative effort involving the Townships of Wellesley, Wilmot, Woolwich, and North Dumfries, and Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures, a non-for-profit rural economic development organization. In 2024, Taste the Countryside won an Economic Development award for its impact across the four townships. You can read more about the award below.

Every year, Taste the Countryside expands and shifts as new networking events and community-minded initiatives are born. 2025 marks the first year local food businesses can share their story through this platform. #TastetheCountrysideWR