St. Jacobs, Ontario

Heart of the Village

by Ingrid Champion

Luxury means different things to different people. For some of us, it represents nothing short of five-star ocean-front living, which, if financially not in the cards, will remain elusive. For others, luxury is achieved by putting life on hold, by taking to the road and looking for adventure in Mennonite country. An oxymoron? Trust me, there is excitement to be found under that heritage quilt.
Apart from the clip-clop of horse and buggy, St. Jacobs is not only about preserves and farmer’s markets, but it hosts impressive up-scale and outlet establishments to satisfy the most professional of shoppers.
Having kenneled pets and kids, I have many times adjourned to St. Jacobs for traditional German-Canadian ‘Ferien vom Ich’, a vacation from the self, a luxury I have shared with my husband, with friends or selfishly enjoyed solo. Either way, it’s a winner.
I crave the farm-raised honesty of Benjamin’s Restaurant and Inn, which since 1852 has proudly offered ‘good stabling, choice wines, liquor and cigars’. Currently owned and operated by the Stone Crock Group, this prime lodging and dining establishment claims in more ways than one ‘the heart of the village’.
I love King Street with is art and fashion, its leather and glass. But more than anything, I love to eat here. Even though Stone Crock provides a wide choice of specialty foods, my idea of luxury includes a dinner at Benjamin’s and a fine bottle from the cellar. From Market Soup to herb-marinated Lamb Chops with fig almond chutney and Dijon sabayon, their chef knows how to spread good will.
‘Break-away’ and ‘Winter Get-away’ packages deserve attention.
No dog to let out in the morning, the country quilt feels good, and whiffs of coffee lure to an extensive continental breakfast. Luxurious? You bet!
Driving toward home, I am satisfied with my mini-vacation. An interesting array of purchases crowding the car include a dynamite jacket for the newly content me, an oddly shaped grapevine Christmas tree and a sign suggesting to ‘Simplify’.. not to mention Mennonite summer sausage.