Eatdrink #73 September/October 2018
The LOCAL food and drink magazine serving London, Stratford & Southwestern Ontario since 2007
The LOCAL food and drink magazine serving London, Stratford & Southwestern Ontario since 2007
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8 | <strong>September</strong>/<strong>October</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
eatdrink.ca |@eatdrinkmag<br />
Restaurants<br />
Food Champion James Eddington<br />
The Chef/Owner of Eddington’s of Exeter<br />
By BRYAN LAVERY<br />
Whenever I go out to dine, I generally<br />
seek out establishments<br />
whose chefs champion farmers,<br />
small-scale producers and food<br />
artisans. Restaurateurs and chefs who procure<br />
and feature local ingredients and products<br />
that are responsibly sourced are always at the<br />
top of my list. I was particularly interested in<br />
Eddington’s of Exeter because of chef/owner<br />
James Eddington’s long-standing reputation<br />
as a champion of food tourism in Huron<br />
County, and his participation in the Feast On<br />
program. For over two decades Eddington has<br />
displayed a dedicated focus to personalized<br />
service, seasonally-inspired menus and a<br />
value-driven customer experience.<br />
Feast ON has stringent guidelines and one<br />
can be assured that any restaurant with this<br />
certification has been well scrutinized. Feast<br />
ON is the criteria-based certification program<br />
designed to promote, market, and protect the<br />
authenticity of foodservice operators whose<br />
specific attributes qualify their commitment<br />
to local food. The program is designed to raise<br />
the profile of restaurants that advocate Ontario<br />
food and beverages, and share principles that<br />
are in sync with the Feast ON mandate. The<br />
program uses verification and enforcement<br />
mechanisms to maintain its integrity. Since<br />
launching the Feast On program in 2014 the<br />
Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (OCTA) has<br />
continued growing, evolving, and improving<br />
the program. (OCTA is a not-for-profit devoted<br />
to connecting tastemakers, sharing their<br />
stories and developing authentic food tourism.)<br />
Head out of town to Exeter where chef/<br />
owner James Eddington and sous chef<br />
Lori Debrouwer prepare locally-sourced<br />
ingredients at Eddington’s of Exeter. This<br />
is contemporary, casual fine dining with a<br />
rustic charm. The yellow brick Italianate-style<br />
mansion on Main Street stands out with its<br />
decorative bracket eaves, large bay windows<br />
and well-manicured lawn with mature<br />
James Eddington in the kitchen
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