It was an idea cooked up by some of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s top chefs and restaurateurs — to give Niagara-on-the-Lake residents a one-stop shop to support local during this round of pandemic lockdowns.

The goal? Encourage people to help our area restaurants by ordering takeout, while in-person dining is shut down.

The end result is the Upper Canada Food Guide, this exclusive, limited-edition pull-out section.

This “menu of menus” contains several hybrid menus from NOTL restaurants, so you can easily check out the deals of the week and find something to suit your cravings.

Pull it out of the paper right now and put it on the fridge as a reminder to keep supporting local.

Also included weekly in the pullout menu will be a story about one of the businesses within.

Read The Lake Report weekly to find out about your favourite restaurants and chefs, and to check up on new menu items and delicious meals.

There are a maximum of 12 spots available weekly, but if you’re a NOTL restaurant owner and would like to be a part of this initiative, email Megan@niagaranow.com.

Mindful of the tough times restaurants are facing, we're offering the adds at substantially reduced prices.

The Lake Report is excited to team up with NOTL chefs to bring something once-in-a-lifetime to our town during these worrisome times. As a small business we know first-hand the challenges associated with lockdowns.

We live it, too.

So it’s our pleasure to provide this menu at a minimal cost to NOTL’s dedicated food establishments. It helps us help everyone.

A bit of background: The idea for this menu comes from chef Ryan Crawford of Ruffino’s and BarBea. He wanted to do something to help promote all NOTL restaurants. Crawford thought that if restaurant operators could tie their ships together during this storm, it would help protect them all from the dangerous waters that lockdowns bring.

By creating a foundation for all, stability can be formed. And we can do it at a minimal cost to those already suffering from lower revenues due to the loss of in-person dining.

We applaud Crawford and all of the businesses involved in this project. We are a tight-knit community and it shows in times like these when businesses, all competing for customers, can stick together and find ways to bring each other up.

Found in this week’s issue are menus for: Ruffino’s Pasta Bar & Grill, The Garrison House, Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Irish Harp Pub, The Olde Angel Inn,