The Cycling Holy Grail!

Regular readers of this Blog or those whose Social Media connections include me will be astutely aware that I have embraced the #bikelife and poured some of our hard earned savings into the necessary (as far as I see it) equipment for getting "Oot and Aboot" the country roads of Simcoe and Wellington Counties. What many may not know is that cycling, like so many passions, has an unwritten code that dictates conditions to any ride undertaken, especially if the ride is shared with like-minded folk. Some components of that code are self-explanatory, like safety precautions and such, but the more popular portions surround the quest to find any and all unique Treat Shops within a day's ride of one's home base. Not to be considered a "party pooper", I have embraced the code and all of the sugar-infused wonderfulness that results from my personal Grail Quest.

I must come clean that I fancy myself a little like Superman. 

Not the "stronger than a steaming locomotive, leaps giant buildings in a single bound" parts, but the tight-wearing, being vulnerable to Kryptonite parts and like Kal-El, my Kryptonite comes in different forms, some plain, some with pecans, some with walnuts, even some with raisons (Yikes!). The sleuths in the crowd will have already guessed that my Kryptonite is Canada's gift to the world's diabetic woes ... Butter Tarts.

Fun Fact: Did you know that the first written recipe for Butter Tarts was published in Barrie, Ontario dating back to 1900 in the Women's Auxiliary of the Royal Victoria Hospital Cookbook?

Now, anyone with an Internet connection can look up a recipe for Butter Tarts and create their own version of the syrupy delight, but that won't make the cut in my eyes because my quest has caused some rather ordinary efforts to cross my tongue, leaving behind the resulting disappointment. Like any quest, however, my Herculean effort is occasionally rewarded with a gleaming, flaky, sweet gemstone whose lure saps any and all willpower I possess to resist its Siren call, usually resulting in the consumption of multiple offerings, despite my best intentions.

In the event that you have a similar affliction, allow me to be a lighthouse beacon into the sea's foggy haze and pointing the path to a few trek-worthy finds, at least in my taste bud's opinion:

Best Overall: The Maid's Cottage on Newmarket's Main Street, ON

The Maid's Cottage, IMHO, has the greatest combination of ooey-gooey filling encapsulated by a flaky, crispy pastry that immediately spike's ones insulin levels while similarly injecting a potent blast of Dopamine. Although slightly on the expensive side at $3.50 each, they are a substantial size, incredible tasting, and consistently awesome. I will admit that my opinion is skewed by the fact that these are a relatively rare treat since my quest doesn't often include the roadways of Newmarket. Having said that, I have tried many, many offerings and I always come back to the MC!

A close Second: Belwood Country Market in Bellwood, ON

If you weren't a cyclist or a fan of small town Ontario, you would be excused from actually knowing where Belwood is. My introduction to this hamlet was on a social ride along the Elora-Cataract Trail, a route that takes you right past the Belwood Country Market, provided someone tells you to take a right over the bridge crossing Belwood Lake. The outside of this little shop belies the incredible concoctions that lie within, and upon entry, it's intoxicating aromas have a Pavlovian effect on your saliva glands. While the Butter Tarts are memorable, you would do yourself a tremendous favour to split your money and include the mini apple pie, a Butter Tart-sized, custard-bottomed, gooey slice of heaven. These gemstones are $3.25 each.

Honourable Mention for Size: Birch Farms on Mill Road in Hillsdale, ON

If you didn't know where Hillsdale, ON, is, you wouldn't be alone. This tiny village is just a short jaunt north of Barrie up highway #93, along the route to Midland. Having knowledge of Hillsdale isn't the combination to this particular vault because one has to head out of Hillsdale on Mill Road to the actual Birch Farm on the corner of Mill and Old Second Line, and are a feature of Farmer's Markets throughout Simcoe County. These Butter Tarts are gargantuan and are a Two-fer for your money, at the very least! The filling is consistently lovely with just the right amount of runny, but the crust is more pie-like, relegating them to Honourable Mention, but if you wish to stretch your purchasing power, these baby pies are only $3.00 each.

Honourable Mention for Pastry: Dar's Delights in Moffatt, ON

One of the more local shops we've run across is found in another Ontario hamlet, this one called Moffatt, just east of Guelph at the corner of Wellington Side Road #15 and Nassawageya 1st Line. At the risk of Dar herself reading this, it's not her people skills that are a delight, but her Butter Tarts are worth the trip solely for the scrumptious pastry that must have come over years of trial and error. To achieve that golden brown, crispy, flaky, deliciousness, she must be using lard or something similarly awful for your health, but your tastebuds will be your best friends for life. The filling is too gelly-like but the real knock on these offerings are the relatively smaller size for $3.25. 

As a send off, if you're feeling a personal connection between us through our shared weakness, you may wish to chance a diabetic coma and should mark in your calendar that the weekend of June 11th is Ontario's Best Butter Tart Festival. This Nirvana showcases the top 20-25 venders from all around the province in an informal contest seeking to award Ontario's most delectable treat title. The main street near the harbour in Midland is shut down to walking traffic only and features aromas that are both intoxicating and captivating. Click Here for more information.

If you'll excuse me, all of this reminiscing has caused a stir in my palette and I'm heading out for a ride!