Visit any cottage on Muskoka’s lakes and you’ll find the same culinary duo: a grill master who gets the glory of basting, flipping, and searing the main course to perfection while enjoying the summer sun, and the humble kitchen crusader who spends too much of the weekend indoors, prepping meals to keep the crew fed from Friday to Sunday.
While food is an essential part of the cottage experience, Melanie Carter, owner of McMaster’s Muskoka Fine Foods believes you shouldn’t have to spend your entire weekend preparing it.
“There’s a better way to keep your family and friends fed,” says Melanie, which is why she’s designed her business to address every aspect of your entertaining needs.
At their market, located just outside Bracebridge on Hwy 118 West toward Port Carling, you’ll find expertly crafted pre-cooked foods, premium cuts of meat which have been aged to perfection in-house, and carefully curated artisan goods that make entertaining faster, easier, and more enjoyable.
Their beautifully designed shop is hard to miss. While the previous owner had McMaster’s Muskoka Fine Foods tucked away in a former garden centre nearby, the one-of-a-kind, locally owned one-stop-shop now has its own top-of-the-line building, lined outside with fragrant dwarf lilac trees and inside with artwork featuring historic Muskoka scenery.
“It’s a building worthy of the premium selection of fine foods you’ll find here.”
While many guests stop by for their custom cut house-aged, pasture-raised meats, free-range chicken, and wild-caught seafood, others enjoy their selection of handmade ready-to-enjoy meals and salads, in-house smoked meats, fresh produce and thoughtfully chosen collection of imported olive oils, tapenades, and cheeses.
As a Red Seal Chef, Melanie and her team of skilful butchers, talented chefs, and friendly service staff are constantly innovating, creating delicious new food combinations that are sure to impress.
“We’ve developed close relationships with our customers, who know they can depend on us to carry superior products, offer tips and tricks to help them create wonderful meals at home, and provide personal service with a smile.”
Whether you call ahead to place a custom order for pickup, or stop by to stock up for the weekend, you’ll find everything for both your grill master and kitchen crusader – allowing you and your company to relax and enjoy a mouthwatering menu you’ll never forget.
