Sometimes a special lunch is worth a little extra effort, especially a scenic drive on a Durham autumn morning. My trip to the Cameron Street Co-Op Café took me up and down the wooded hills of Lake Ridge Road with wide vistas over the Oak Ridges Moraine. Then east at Brock’s 12th Line where the café sits halfway down Cannington’s handsome main street. This is where a treated myself to one of the best deals in Durham’s Savour the Season.
The $15 lunch was rich in locally sourced produce from C. Bruni & Sons Farms, including the roasted zucchini and onions in my cheese-topped pizza bagel, the butternut squash in the soup and the apple slices in the salad topped with walnuts, chevre and a maple dressing from Barkey’s Sugar Bush. I was too full to eat the large chewy ginger cookie that came with it so I took it to go along with one of the best cups of coffee I’ve ever had. The secret? Manager Kelly Stacey explained, “The double hopper coffeemaker grinds the beans just before brewing, the thermal lined carafe keeps coffee hot without burning it. But the biggest difference is the reverse osmosis water.”
More than just another eatery, Cameron Street is the town’s social hub. The café’s six owners put local art on the walls, bring in live entertainment and create a mood that encourages locals and visitors alike to linger. Their socially conscious coffee also comes with a great sense of humour. Where else will you find funnel cakes on the menu? Check out their You Tube commercials.
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