My mom has a tradition of taking us to brunch over the holidays at the Ancaster Old Mill. Ancaster is a lovely town (well, it has been sucked into the large, gross city of Hamilton but it retains its small town feel) about 20 minutes west of us. The mill was originally built in the 1850s and is nestled into the escarpment. The creek runs right through the restaurant.
We were originally supposed to go last weekend but mom canceled when she came down with a cold. She changed the reservations to today. This morning we had a VERY light breakfast, got all dressed up and headed off to Ancaster.
Last year when we went there was lots of snow on the ground. This year there was nary a flake to be found (behave).
If it weren't for the gorgeous decorations you wouldn't even know it is Christmas!
The restaurant wisely separates the buffet throughout a number of different rooms.
The main room had a crepe station, make your own pasta dish station, Caesar salad station, juice bar, make your own omlette station, make your own waffle station, a HUGE chocolate fountain (happily I did not witness an errant child licking the fountain this year), and the dessert table. Needless to say this room can get quite crowded at times!
Outside this room was a long table filled with different breads, all made on the premises. You can also get yoghurt with berries and granola.
We were seated in the main room. Right behind our table was a long table that was where the desserts used to be set out. This year they had changed things up a bit and this table was full of seafood, cheese, smoked meats, and salads. Mom was in heaven - this huge container of steamed crab legs was 6 feet from where she was sitting . . . I was worried that she might never leave!
This large room also is where the main hot buffet is located. Today it featured steamed vegetables, roasted potatoes, perogies, eggs benedict, a chicken and rice dish, ham, roast turkey, and roast beef. All of the meat is carved for you and all of the 'trimmings' that you might want are there for the taking.
The chef has caught on to the 100 km movement and tries to use locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Mind you, this is a challenge for us in Canada - during the winter we'd be eating dried up apples and root vegetables from storage cellars, road kill, and the bark stripped off the trees! However, if he can get something local he does and where things are imported he tries to source from sustainable, organic producers.
You can taste the difference in the food - many buffets, frankly, serve up mediocre food. Not here. The food is hot and well prepared.
Now I must explain something - one of the popular google searches that drives traffic to my blog is 'how much does the ancaster old mill buffet cost?' To be truthful . . . I don't have a clue! Mom always pays and she hides the bill very carefully to ensure that her guests have no idea of the extent of her generosity. I'm sure that it isn't cheap - if you want cheap go to the Golden Griddle - if you want a delicious meal, in a beautiful setting, where you will be well taken care of . . . then you might want to consider the Old mill.
Sounds like a wonderful time with your Mom.
Posted by: Eden | December 27, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Sounds wonderful, and a lovely family tradition to boot.
Posted by: Robert | December 28, 2009 at 05:37 PM
It was a great time with Mom. I don't generally enjoy those 'family traditions' but I'll admit to being a huge fan of THIS one!
Posted by: JDeQ | January 08, 2010 at 07:27 AM