The University of Guelph has an absolutely fantastic certified organic urban farm that you can…read morevolunteer at, learn from, or visit to purchase fantastic, affordable, local organic produce from during their fall Farmer's Market (Thursdays from 12:30 - 4:30 through the end of October and cash only; check their website to confirm.) I toured the farm with a small group after a conference at Guelph University. We got to try a bunch of the produce that was growing - including phenomenal cherry tomatoes, and the best carrot I've ever eaten in my life. The farm teaches students and community members, supplies food to the community and to local chefs, and helps the university by composting all their waste and providing a lot of the vegetables used in university dining halls. They grow a ton of specialty and interesting fruits and veggies - litchi tomatoes, lemongrass, bitter melon, tons of leafy greens, asparagus, and more. They're a model of sustainable, community based agriculture. Word on the street is that the University is trying to pave over a huge portion of the farm for a new research center. If you want to help fight against this and preserve this urban organic farm, reach out to them to find out how you can help!

I've been experiencing a lot of frustration, lately, with my local food scene. We live in the heart…read moreof Ontario's best growing country, and yet the "Farmer's Market" is crammed full of sellers who import things from Mexico, Morocco, even from my beloved Willamette Valley in Oregon, 3000 miles away -- all with the inconvenience of cash-only, no ABM/ATM on the premises, and so desperately overcrowded that it often takes 10 minutes to move 5 feet. (And did I mention that it's only available Saturday until noon? And the actual local producers sell out long before then? And that parking thereabouts is a nightmare?) The grocery stores that we've investigated are full of cheap/generic/environmentally unsustainable, with some of the most appallingly aged and limp imported produce I've ever seen -- and all with the customer service attitude of "like it or lump it; who do you think you are, someone special?" Oh yeah, and the supply is inconsistent -- if I find a product that I like, they'll stop carrying it and won't bring it back, even if I'm willing to special-order it by the case. Disheartened, I had pretty much resigned myself to shopping weekly at Whole Foods, an hour away, which (as always) is stocked to the rafters with beautiful organic foodstuffs, nitrite/nitrate-free meats, sustainably-harvested, marine stewardship council-certified wild-caught fish, artisan boutique cheeses, and organic fair-trade shade-grown coffee. (Did I mention that it's an hour away? Not exactly convenient. And that's a lot of driving -- 2 hours worth of carbon emissions per shopping trip.) But coming from Portland, I have food quality standards that I am unwilling to compromise, knowing just how good food can be... Enter Angelino's Market. My darling husband, feeling adventurous, found this gem due to a traffic detour. Locally owned family market, featuring local produce and high quality meats. It's not much to look at on the outside, but get a load of the pics I took inside... it's spotlessly clean, and filled with gorgeous high quality food. Some of my faves: The best fresh-squeezed orange and grapefruit juice I've had since I left Portland. On par with what I used to drink daily when I lived in Southern California, where the oranges and grapefruits are grown. Vast and varied meat and cheese deli. They roast their own garlic roast beef in-house -- tender, medium-rare, stuffed with roasted garlic cloves and crusted in fresh herbs. Thinly sliced, it's the only lunch meat I've found in the Guelph area that isn't chock-full of nitrites/nitrates (which prematurely age cells and tissues -- I don't need any help aging, thanks -- and can lead to cancer). It's also utterly delicious. An enormous olive and antipasti bar. With several different iterations of anchovies and sardines. Yum. A large meat section -- they cut and grind their own meat daily, and it's lean and red and very appealing. A bakery section that features local bakery bread, gorgeous focaccia pizzas, and some of the loveliest pastry confections I've ever seen. The best produce I've seen in the province. Period. Friendly, attentive, responsive staff -- I spent half an hour gabbing with Rob, the meat department manager, who was knowledgeable, clued-in as to the health benefits and superior flavor of sustainably-produced, local fresh meats, and held forth in intelligent discourse about production methods (he's produced his own in the past, and is currently raising free-run chickens). So, for those of you who love good food, good news! I'll see you at Angelino's. Just save me some orange juice.

Great selection of food and staff. Great place to order food for a family gathering…read more Try the hot food counter it's good for a healthy lunch

Guess who'll be visiting this new hot grocery more often? I came here two days in a row. The first…read moreday inbetween working to grab something quick to cook for lunch. The second for some family groceries. The variety of food is incredible, fresh, and well organized. The people working there are friendly and helpful. There is a wonderful space to sit inside and outdoors to drink coffee, eat, and hang. Best part? It's actually affordable. We bought groceries for the whole family for a week, fresh produce with some specialty foods, and it cost us less than an arm and a leg

This store is awesome usually. The flat chicken is so easy and healthy. Every thing is always…read morefresh. It is a great store and even the hot food is pretty good. Except the person making burgers was sweeping away and purposely not looking at me like I don't want to make a burger. So I ended up across the street in McDonald's. FYI this happened at 4-5 pm

So the GPS will bring you to a different name and when you actually get here from the outside it…read morelooks like an Indian grocery store. This is actually an international type of store where you can get all kinds of groceries. I was looking for Korean "Wakame" and they were amongst a select few store that actually sold it. They have Kimchi, Dashi etc in the fridge section along with Tofu. You will also find some very unique selection os mexican chillies. They have a Huge variety of noodles, Japanese and Korean. They have a wide selection of over 32 different types of Soy Sauce. They sell steamers and sauce pans including some stainless steel utensils. Lady is very friendly and knowledgeable. You will also find Indian basmati rice, chips and snacks. So dont be intimidated by the sign just go in and browse the isles!

The only place in Guelph I've found to get dried chipotle, ancho, etc peppers. Great, small shop…read morein downtown Guelph.

The market was okay but it was expensive and super crowded. We made the mistake of going on a…read morereally hot day when the 2 closest parking lots were under construction. The few items we did buy were melted by the time we got back to the car. I also expected more artists. Definitely a foodie market.

It has taken me quite a while to face up to the task of writing this review -- which is much how I…read morefeel about actually going to the Guelph Farmers' Market. Saturday mornings involve the girding of the loins, preparatory to doing battle in order to put food on the table... easy to sympathize with the viking raiders. I'm a locavore. The farm-to-table movement is enormous where I come from -- fresh, local, seasonal foodstuffs full of nutrients and flavor, without the huge carbon footprint of long-distance shipping, while keeping my money in the community and supporting my local growers, blah blah blah... lots of reasons I went this direction. Having become horribly spoiled by the Farmers' Markets in Oregon (Willamette Valley, end of the Oregon Trail and all that), and having learned that Guelph is in the middle of the big growing area in Ontario, I had high hopes when I moved here. Enter, disillusionment. First thing: parking is a beast. Even with a handicapped placard (people often disregard the handicapped only sign). And even though most people don't file into Harvey's for a hamburger before noon (which is when the Farmers' Market closes), the Harvey's people are out there patrolling their empty parking lot, to make sure none of those damn hippies going to the Farmers' Market don't park there. OK... did you catch that the Farmers' Market is open one day a week, for half a day (7-12)? Seriously? The Market has its own building, so what gives on the miserly hours? Oh and P.S. -- most good stuff sells out by 10 AM. Next thing I noticed: everything is cash only, and there are no ATMs (sorry... ABMs in Canada) anywhere nearby. The aisles are entirely too narrow for the ravening hordes packing the building. I mean, there must be some major breakage of the fire marshall's codes. Trying to move from one seller to the next involves appalling invasion of personal space, squeezing up against total strangers, tripping over their double-wide strollers (strollers? Here?), stepping on their feet and breathing in their faces. I feel like I ought to get an introduction first. Or at least a drink. But here's the kicker: the majority of sellers are reselling foodstuffs imported from far, far away (mostly the U.S. and Mexico). So, in summary: no parking, no convenient ways to pay, no convenient hours, miserably crowded... for very nearly what you'll find at your local supermarket. There are a few noteworthy exceptions, which is the only reason I still attempt the Market, from time to time: Thatcher Farms (http://www.thatcher-farms.com) -- local, naturally-raised beef, pork, lamb and chicken, delicious meat pies, and THE ONLY nitrite/nitrate-free bacon to be had ANYWHERE in Guelph. (Sorry; as a veterinarian, I just know entirely too much about what those chemicals do on a cellular level. Not interested. I'll do without bacon, first.) Did I mention that the meat pies are truly delicious? Mmm, Irish stew. Funky Maven crocheted (and felted) hats (http://www.funkymaven.com/2010/11/monster-hats-or-why-i-havent-been.html). (Yes, you all know I have a weakness for hats, by now.) Wonderful, creative, warm -- and Charlene gives terrific advice on making hats, if you're a DIY sort (which I occasionally am). She gives lessons, too! I'm hoping to catch up with her in the new year, to learn felting. Brantview Apples & Cider (http://www.brantviewapples.on.ca). No, they're not organic. They will, however, bend your ear about minimal spray (if you ask). They feature a pretty large selection of apple varieties, and grow my all-time absolute favorite -- the Honeycrisp (ripe in early fall). Their fresh-pressed unfiltered cider is the bomb, and their apple mustard is dynamite on roast beef or sausages. (And hey, if you let the cider go bad, it makes for some spectacular cider vinegar.) River's Edge Goat Dairy (http://www.goatmilkproducts.ca). Fan-freakin-tastic chevre -- plain, dill, or garlic blossom (OMG). And very mild, creamy goat milk. Backyard Bounty (http://www.backyardbounty.ca) -- wonderful fresh veggies and fruit grown on converted back yards around Guelph. What a wonderful use of land! Down with useless, water-guzzling grass! (And the veggies are mighty tasty, too!) Cedarvale Farm -- beautiful fresh brown eggs, inexpensive boneless/skinless chicken thighs (superior to breasts, in my book), and delicious whole roasting hens (I brined and roasted one of their birds for christmas, and it turned out juicy and tender). And the lovely people at Shepherd's Watch Sheep Dairy Farm (http://www.recipestoexperience.com/index.cfm?page=member&name=shepherdswatch) who always offer not only delicious, no-antibiotic lamb, but gorgeous soft skeins of spun wool. (Look out, once I learn to felt hats and slippers!)

They have a very tasty, full and fresh bunch of sourdough bread brought in regularly. Some of the…read morebest sourdough bread in the area I'd say. As well, they have kombucha on the tap (bring in a bottle or you can buy one from them). Or you can simply get the bottled kind.

I love this place! They have fresh organic produce, organic meat, tons of natural packaged…read moregroceries like canned goods, cereals, pastas etc, most of which are organic. Lots of vegetarian entree type dishes in fridge and freezer, organic dairy, eggs, soy milk, breads of all description including gluten free and a large selection of natural/organic/cruelty free beauty products, cleaning products, hygenic products and a ton of herbal/homeopathic and supplements! Just about everything you could want in a good health store.

Excellent bakery. Busy, but friendly and helpful behind the counter…read more MF was my go-to for bakery and basics, but then the new no-bag policy began. You must either carry their basket or push a cart around. Both are big and bulky and patrons end up running into each other or hitting one another in the very narrow aisles. And if you try to avoid the policy, their security and will hassle you. I understand that theft has been an issue, but when I show up at the cashier to pay for my purchases, I don't expect to treated with distain and scorned for having no basket.

Great ready made food, the bakery is also amazing. Staff are also very friendly and niceread more

It's late. I've finally completed my 2500-mile trek from Portland to Guelph, checked into my hotel…read moreroom, grabbed a bite to eat. Now I need to replace the stuff TSA took away from me. Ultra mart! You're open 24 hours. You had the maps that the rental car company *didn't* give me. You had Sensodyne toothpaste. You had Advil (but no Alleve or other NSAIDs... odd). You had chocolate bars. You even had Natracare organic cotton tampons. It was a long day. Thank you for being there for me.

I have been shopping at Metro for many years and like the store and their products. As of late I…read morehave noticed how unfriendly some of the cashiers have been and one lady at the deli counter. They have a scowl on their face...they look miserable. I feel uncomfortable and it is very unpleasant to be around such people. My roommate has encountered the same problem. It is a shame that few miserable people bring down the rating of the store. Perhaps they are affected by the magnetic poles.

It's a pretty small store and you will definitely find good meat. Solid service, and definitely a…read morefeel of buying local. Some good premade frozen goods and lots of interesting snack options. A bit pricey but that is always expected from smaller stores like this.

Love the freshness of the meat products and staff is very knowledgeable…read more Small store will great selection