Halloween is swiftly approaching and if you’ve been concerned that this year’s celebrations may be lacking due to the pandemic, we’ve got some glass-half-full news for you. Many independent Canadian restaurants, bars, chocolatiers, and pastry shops have continued to work hard through the fall season to produce an array of delicious and exciting Halloween-themed offerings.
From decadent collections and confections by chocolatiers like Rocky Mountain Chocolate and Mon Paris Pâtisserie to the enchanted ambiance of a multi-course Halloween-themed dinner at eateries like Donna Mac and Tapas Restaurant, to spooky sips at Stumbletown Distillery and Black Fox Farm and Distillery in Saskatoon, there seems to be no shortage of interesting ways to celebrate Halloween across Canada.
Black Fox Farm and Distillery (Saskatoon, SK)
A fantastic venue for any occasion, Saskatoon’s Black Fox Farm and Distillery is hosting a one-of-a-kind trick or treat experience on October 30 and 31. Guests will enjoy a selection of house-made Halloween-themed cocktail samples along with candy pairings, priced at only $5 per person.
Reservations are required prior to arrival.
Chocolat de Kat (Toronto, ON)
Chocolat de Kat’s “Creep it Real” Halloween treat pack is jam packed with everything you need for an indulgent night of festive feasting. In addition to cookie butter crunch pumpkins, butterfinger bars, and plenty of ghost, eyeball, and monster-shaped cookies, Chocolat de Kat is also providing personalized custom messages with each pack along with free shipping during the week leading up to Halloween.
Orders can be made online.
Chocolats Privilège (Montrèal, QC)
While many of the country’s chocolatiers seem to have scaled back somewhat for 2020, Montrèal's Chocolats Privilège has arguably assembled the most comprehensive Halloween collection on our list. Everything from ghost- and pumpkin- shaped cookies to chocolate witches and skeletons, to chocolate pumpkins filled with assorted goodies, Chocolats Privilège really has thought of everything.
Orders can be placed online.
Donna Mac (Calgary, AB)
Donna Mac is fully embracing the spooky spirit of the season with their Halloween-themed Nightmare on 9th Street multi-course menu with orange wine pairings. To start, chef Laetitia Chrapchynski has prepared a handmade squid ink garganelli with cauliflower bone marrow cream sauce, purple cauliflower, and spicy chorizo. The main course is a seared medium rare duck breast with red wine beet jus, duck confit and le pizy croquette, red cabbage, and smashed potatoes. To round out the night, guests will be treated to a pumpkin miso chocolate butter cake.
Nightmare on 9th Street is priced at $50 per person. Reservations for seatings on October 30 and 31 can be made online. Costumes are encouraged.
Flores and Pine (Calgary, AB)
Flores and Pine is continuing its rich tradition of celebrating Halloween in the spookiest and tastiest way possible with a multi-course menu in its eerily-updated Estate Room. Surrounded by dark and vintage decor, guests will be treated to dishes such as the blood orange and local trout salad (mixed greens, beet cured local trout, citrus vinaigrette, walnuts, shaved fennel) and the canard en sarcophage (oie terrine wrapped in sausage, wrapped in duck confit, wrapped in puff pastry, black currant sauce, roasted patty pan).
Optional wine pairings will also be available upon arrival. Reservations can be made online.
Fusion Grill (Winnipeg, MB)
Winnipeg landmark Fusion Grill is offering a three-course Halloween-themed takeout menu that features a black garlic Caesar anchovy emulsion with spicy croutons and stinky cheese to start, slow-roasted beef bones with “screech” glaze, crisped red nightshade, and mixed vegetables, and a candy corn cheesecake “chicken feet” mascarpone and marshmallow for dessert.
Fusion is also treating guests with wine pairings from Burrowing Owl and an adult Halloween loot bag surprise. Orders can be placed over the phone.
Mon Paris Pâtisserie (Burnaby, B.C.)
Burnany-based pastry and dessert specialist Mon Paris Pâtisserie has crafted a charming selection of Halloween-themed Cacao Barry confections that include milk chocolate Jack-o’-lantern lolly pops filled with pumpkin spice caramel and Jack-o’-lantern statues with caramel truffle.
Mon Paris Pâtisserie’s Halloween offerings can be purchased individually or in sets of three. Orders can be placed online for pickup and delivery.
Newfoundland Chocolate Company (St. John’s, NL)
The Newfoundland Chocolate Company has put together an incredible Halloween hunt kit that comes complete with an array of treats that will satisfy the whole family. The kit’s many chocolate-filled surprises include goodies like creamy zombie fingers, spooky row house bars and a special bag of chocolate mini bars.
The Halloween hunt kit can be purchased online or at any Newfoundland Chocolate Company location.
The Night Oven (Saskatoon, SK)
After rolling out his latest lineup of delectable macarons to rave reviews this past September, acclaimed baker and The Night Oven founder Bryn Rawlyk has developed a new line of Halloween-themed offerings for the Saskatoon bakery.
Peanut butter cup, Wagon Wheel, Coffee Crisp, fuzzy peach, and candy apple flavours round up the new flavour profiles, with every pre-packaged box containing one of each. Orders can be placed online for pick up at The Night Oven.
Ophelia (Vancouver, B.C.)
On October 31, Ophelia will transform into a mystical space with flickering candles and vibrant decorations for the Vancouver eatery’s Día de los Muertos dinner. Executive chef Fransico Higareda and chef Victor Ramos have created a multi-course menu of refined Mexican cuisine, featuring dishes such as braised beef short rib with sweet pea puree, onion ash, and black mole and a 90-day aged ribeye with refried beans, masa, burrata cheese, and burnt salsa.
Ophelia’s Día de los Muertos dinner is priced at $75 per person and includes a Santa Muerte margarita welcome cocktail made with Peloton de la Muerte Mezcal, squid ink syrup, lime, and edible flower. Reservations can be made online.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate (Vancouver, B.C.)
As always, Rocky Mountain Chocolate has brought their A game for Halloween this year. Their Halloween lineup features a variety of novelty chocolates, sticky caramel apples, Halloween-themed milk chocolate balls and bars. Also on offer is a unique hollow chocolate pumpkin filled with spooky sweets like candied eyes, gummy worms, sprinkles and milk chocolate candies.
Orders for Rocky Mountain Chocolate’s Halloween gift packs, boxes, and individual items can be made online.
Stumbletown Distilling (Saskatoon, SK)
One of Saskatchewan’s premier distilleries, Stumbletown Distilling, is hosting a Halloween-themed night of mixology and spirits on October 29. Guests will go a guided tour of the distillery, partake in a mixology class, and sip on Halloween-themed cocktails.
A very limited amount of tickets still remain available to purchase online.
Tapas Restaurant (Canmore, AB)
When it comes to Halloween dinner experiences, Tapas Restaurant owner and executive chef Tracy Little never holds back. This year, the Canmore eatery has developed a storied tasting menu with hidden garnishes, based around the building’s famously haunted upstairs area.
Taking place from October 30 to November 1, Tapas’ interactive dining experience is priced at $60 per person and requires full table participation. Reservations can be made online.
Temper Chocolate and Pastry (Vancouver, B.C.)
Led by one of the country’s top pastry chefs in Steven Hodge, Vancouver’s Temper Chocolate and Pastry have created a new collection of handcrafted Halloween confections that include a variety of milk and dark chocolate lollipops, bite-sized chocolate frictures in assorted spooky shapes, and oversized hollow chocolate pumpkins filled with delicious sweets.
Temper's signature Halloween treats will be available exclusively for purchase in-store at the Dundrave neighbourhood patisserie from now until October 31.
Teuscher Chocolates (Toronto, ON)
Although this top tier Toronto-based chocolatier seems to have slightly scaled back on this year’s Halloween collection, the offerings they have assembled are still worth checking out. In addition to pre-packaged Halloween boxes of assorted treats, Tuescher has also created a lineup of dark, milk, and white chocolate ghost figurines.
Orders can be placed online.
Uva Wine and Cocktail Bar
From October 24 to 31, Vancouver’s Uva Wine and Cocktail Bar is offering three special Halloween-themed cocktails: The Bad Apple (Ketel One, Green Chartruese, lime juice, lemon juice, apple juice), Peaches Brew (Makers Mark, lemon juice, Peach Black Tea Syrup, Amaro Lucano, ango and Clingstone peach bitters), and Jack in the Box (Jack Daniels rye, Fernet Branca, lime juice, Falernum, egg white).
Uva currently only accepts walk-ins based on availability.
