With the Grain is my favo(u)rite place to have brunch in Guelph. Along with The Woolwich, it was one of the two places Josh assured me I’d love when we moved here, and he was absolutely right. I’m a sucker for a good bakery-cafe, and With the Grain does it exactly the way you’d hope: great, fresh food made in-house, with a warm atmosphere and friendly staff.
But seriously, the food is amazing. There’s a wonderfully simple toast platter featuring avocado, tomato and aged cheddar, an absolutely divine (I know I’m gushing, but it really is that good) yogurt-fruit-granola breakfast parfait (complete with maple drizzle and homemade granola!), and a really tasty breakfast burrito with roasted veggies. And I haven’t even started to talk about pastries. I have yet to have any baked good here that isn’t over-the-top delicious, and I’m a bit embarrassed to admit how many I’ve had. From scones to cookies to brownies, it’s all great. And I should also mention that Josh and I are in agreement that the bagels and cream cheese at WtG, while a bit pricey, are unequivocally the absolute best we’ve ever had.
If I had to pick a favo(u)rite sweet though, I’d go with the Bee Stings (in the photo on the right, they’re the ones with the almond and honey topping). This initially came as something of a surprise to me, given my general preference for all things chocolate. They have a crumbly cookie-like bottom, which is topped with this incredibly aromatic honey and almond concoction, which smells distinctly of lavender, with a hint of vanilla. It’s simple, but so surprisingly good and indulgent-feeling, especially if you’re a lover of floral smells. They’re pretty sweet, though, so it’s usually a nice treat to share…unless you’re feeling particularly self-indulgent.
Of course, I now realize that I’ve spent almost the entire time discussing sweets, when the purpose was to highlight WtG as a brunch destination–but hey, what’s a good brunch without dessert, right?
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