Mennonite Baking in Waterloo Region: A Food Guide

Mennonite baking in Waterloo Region is the plain, generous tradition of bread, pies, preserves and farm food that Mennonite families have sold at local markets for generations, and it is a large part of why people drive to St. Jacobs on a Saturday. Expect honest recipes, farm ingredients and big portions. Buying it respectfully is part of the pleasure.

Waterloo Region has one of the largest Mennonite communities in Ontario. The food is simple, seasonal and made to feed a family.

What is Mennonite baking in Waterloo Region?

A set of farm-kitchen traditions brought by Mennonite settlers who farmed this area from the early nineteenth century. Mennonite baking in Waterloo Region covers bread, buns, pies, tarts, cookies and cakes, along with preserves, sausage and pickles. The recipes are hearty and unfussy, and the cooks make them in quantity for markets and farm stands.

Which Waterloo Region pies are worth looking for?

Fruit pies in season, and anything with a flaky crust. Waterloo Region pies change through the year, from rhubarb in spring to berries, peaches and apples later on, with custard and cream pies as year-round comforts. Ask the baker what was baked that morning. Pies sell out, so buy early on a market day and eat one the same day.

What is a Mennonite country lunch?

A plate of farm food served plainly. A Mennonite country lunch in the region might include roast meat, potatoes, vegetables, bread and a slice of pie, and many cafes near the villages serve something in this spirit. Portions are large, so share, or take half home. Check the cafe's days, since some places open only on certain days of the week.

Where does St. Jacobs baking fit in?

At the centre. St. Jacobs baking is concentrated at the village's farmers market, where many vendors sell breads, pastries and sweet treats, and in shops and cafes in the village. The St. Jacobs Farmers Market guide explains how to plan a morning there, and the baking counters are among the busiest.

What are Waterloo Region preserves?

Jams, jellies, relishes and pickles made from local fruit and vegetables. Waterloo Region preserves are among the most portable foods in the region, and a jar from a market stall makes a good gift. Look at the label for ingredients and the date, and ask about flavours that change with the season. Strawberry, peach and apple butter are typical, though the lists vary.

How do you buy respectfully?

By asking, not assuming. Many Mennonite vendors prefer not to be photographed, and some communities limit the use of technology, so ask before you take a picture and follow the stall's lead. Be patient, say thank you and carry cash in case a stall does not take cards. Respect does not need a lecture, only good manners.

What else should you know about the season?

That the harvest sets the menu. Spring means rhubarb and maple, summer brings berries and corn, and autumn fills the tables with apples, squash and pumpkin. Winter is quieter, with baking, preserves and meat. A return visit in a different season turns up different pies, so rating what you buy by month is useful.

What goes well with the baking?

Coffee, tea, cold milk and a good cheese. A loaf of bread from a market stall wants butter or a slice of aged cheddar, and a pie is best with something plain on the side. Local sausage, pickles and apple butter round out a country lunch. Bring a bag for the heavier items, and eat the cream pies the same day.

Can you visit the countryside around the villages?

Yes, with care. Quiet roads, farm stands and small shops surround the villages north of Waterloo, and visitors are encouraged to drive slowly, share the road with horse-drawn buggies and respect private property. Stop at stands that are open to the public and leave photographs of people alone. A pie bought at a farm gate tastes better for the drive.

Is it a good gift?

A jar of preserves, a loaf, a box of cookies or a pie that will not survive the journey home makes a thoughtful present. Pick items with a long shelf life if you are travelling, wrap them well and ask the stall about storage. A gift with a story, such as where you bought it and who made it, is more memorable than anything bought in an airport.

How can you remember what you bought?

In the Mosey app, rate the baker's stall with the dish you took home, add tags such as Bakery or Market Stall and keep a list called Waterloo baking. Invite friends to add theirs. "Had something else? Name the dish" lets you record a pie by name, so the next visitor knows what to ask for.

Combine this with the Waterloo Region and St. Jacobs guide for the wider area, and see the Canadian food guides for other towns.

The rest of the province is on the Food in Ontario page.

After your next pie, open the Mosey app, rate it by name and add it to a list of Waterloo Region favourites.