As executive chef of Cambridge, Ontario’s award-winning Langdon Hall Country House Hotel and Spa, Jason Bangerter spends a lot of time tending the garden at the Relias & Châteaux property, building relationships with local producers, and coming up with some of the best food in the country. The internationally recognized chef has received various awards for his work over the years, including Rising Chef Award in Paris in 2015, Hospitality Pinnacle Award for Chef of the Year 2017, Ontario Hostelry Institute Chef Gold Award 2017 and more.
You can watch Bangerter compete on the next episode of Iron Chef Canada, which airs tomorrow night (Nov. 21) at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada.
Although you can usually find Bangerter roaming the property, he regularly visits farmers' markets and restaurants to keep get inspired and satisfy food cravings. Check out where he likes to shop for food and dine in Milton and around Toronto.
Breakfast
I love going to farmers' markets on Saturday morning with my wife, two boys and our family dog. We walk up and down the farmers' tables chatting, exploring, learning and tasting. My wife and I grab our favourite coffee and the boys and I indulge in a good old Canadian bacon sammy. There may even be some dried beef liver for the pup. We always end up with fresh fruits and vegetables, something fun to create with at home, supporting our community’s farmers and artisans.
Lunch
This is not so much the place but the company, and where I am standing at that moment. Enjoying a lunch with my team, a fellow chef or a farmer is always inspirational and enjoyable. This is the usual scenario. Most of the time, lunches for me are on the go or work-related. So it’s not uncommon to be tasting some wonderful ingredient in my boots, in the field on the farm, standing in a stream eating watercress or tomatoes warm off the vine, while we discuss next year’s garden and inspirations. It is also a time when we test new dish ideas, and I have meetings with my sous chef team.
Dinner
When I get the chance to dine out, I often will visit multiple places in one evening to fit in as much as possible. The place I love most when I am not cooking at Langdon Hall is home with my family. My wife is a wonderful cook. We eat very well at our house. Simple is my favourite. I love pasta. I could eat it every day... and good pizza. Margherita, some Tignanello or good Chianti--I’m in heaven.
A restaurant close to home that really is my go-to for a pizza is Pasqualino in Milton, a family-run business with a true passion for good food, wine and hospitality. Some of the best pizza I have eaten.
Drinks
Red wine with my wife, Scotch with our dads, Latour Grand Cru Corton Charlemagne with the guys--anywhere with a great wine list. If we have the opportunity to get out for a night, my wife and I like to sit by the fire at table 106 in the Wilk’s Bar at Langdon Hall. There are some great value old vintages on the list. For a super craft beer, I pop into Orange Snail brewery in Milton to fill my jug.
