Detour

An urban retreat in downtown Dundas

In the September 2011 issue of Toronto Life, an article entitled “Exodus to Suburbs” appeared. It was about young couples with kids fleeing the Big Smoke for greener, less stressful pastures. In it was the story of a couple from Toronto moving to Dundas: Crystal and Kaelin, along with their three girls. This was a big plus for Dundas as they established a café/eatery where green coffee beans are roasted fresh and locally sourced ingredients are used to produce delicious cuisine.

Located right across from Cumbraes of Dundas and Picone’s Food Market (which was featured in urbanicity Magazine last October) is Detour Café. While Crystal has been a chef for years, Kaelin happened into this business is a surprising way. He was working in the movie industry and during a movie shoot in Dundas lasting a few days, he came to appreciate the place. The rest is history.

Detour is one of those places where you feel immediately at ease and at home. Perhaps it is the charm of the building and décor or perhaps it is the cheerful, welcoming attitude of the staff. They engage in meaningful conversation and exhibit a pride of place rarely seen these days elsewhere.

The menu is easy to read through and all ingredients are sourced as close to the Detour location as possible. For instance, only Niagara Wines are listed.

I ordered the “Weekender”, a breakfast dish that could be construed as brunch or lunch. For wine, I went with a Henry of Pelham Cabernet Merlot. The bacon was from pigs raised naturally, the veggies were cut small and delicious, the house-made sourdough bread was excellent. The order took some time, confirming that everything was made to order — including sauces. Not having a sweet tooth myself, I can’t comment on the desserts and all the other treats on offer. But looking around, I could see patrons delighting in a variety of goodies.

Detour Café‘s interior is very warm and welcoming, and the patio is shielded from the street with panels that still allow you to observe the scene while feeling like you’re in your own backyard. A note on the coffee: the espresso was very good and I was surprised to hear that the beans used are not fair-trade certified. The reason is that the owners pay higher than “fair trade” prices to the producers, demonstrating the importance of looking beyond marketing lines and public relations claims. Also, I am told they have the greenest roasting machine currently available on the market.

All in all, this establishment complements its neighbouring businesses very well and is a welcome option for locally sourced food and delicious coffee in scenic Dundas.

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• cafe
• coffee
• Dundas
• food
• Hamilton
• urban