The Pine | A Hidden Michelin-Starred Gem Near Toronto 🌲🌟
📍 Why Drive 2 Hours for This? Tucked away in the quaint village of Creemore, The Pine isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a culinary pilgrimage. Ranked #40 on Canada’s Top 100 and freshly awarded a Michelin star, this unassuming barn-turned-eatery marries Asian-inspired flavors with hyper-local Canadian ingredients. The chef, who honed his skills in Shanghai and Hong Kong, brings a subtle sweetness to dishes that’ll make you rethink "fusion" cuisine. 🍽️ The Experience ✔ 17-Course Tasting Menu ($195+) A 3-hour odyssey of unexpected pairings—like maple-glazed duck with Sichuan peppercorn, or foraged mushrooms atop miso-infused custard. Each plate is small but deliberate, designed to tell a story (even if some chapters are… confusing). ✔ Best Bite The smoked trout with fermented black bean cream sounds like a dare, but works bizarrely well—like umami fireworks on a silky fish canvas. ✔ Vibe Imagine a rustic-chic barn with exposed beams, soft candlelight, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing rolling hills. It’s date-night gold… if your date appreciates 3-hour meals with 17 forks. 💡 Brutally Honest Tips ✔ Go For: The Chef’s Counter (+$75) to watch the team plate like artists (and sneak extra amuse-bouches). Wine pairings—but ask prices per glass first (that $28 Chardonnay will haunt your receipt). ✔ Skip If: You want authentic Chinese (this is "Canadian-Chinese" through a fine-dining lens). You’re hangry (portions are thoughtful, not gluttonous). ✔ Budget: $300+/pp with drinks (yes, it’s splurge-worthy, but not weekly material). #MichelinEats #CountrysideFineDining #NoSadDuck
