One of the 13 Most Spectacular Dining Destinations in the World

The Telegraph (UK) named Dining on the Ocean Floor - one of the 13 Most Spectacular Dining Destinations in the World in 2022. Helen Elfer shared “Everything about Nova Scotia’s Dining on the Ocean Floor is geared towards showcasing the wild landscape where the food is sourced.” To be named to this list is indeed a great honour for Chef Domenic Padula. We knew it was Nova Scotia’s Ultimate Dining Experience, but now the world is taking notice, too! Eller added that “Food can connect us with a destination like nothing else, the ingredients offer a taste of the climate, the soil or the sea, while preparation and service, steeped in tradition, can speak volumes about the local culture. Destination restaurants show us the world, not just through flavours, but through pine-scented forest or sand under-our-toes settings. We can feel close to the land & culture that we’re guests of, and get to know our hosts and the communities where they source their ingredients.” Nothing could be more true of the Dining of the Ocean Floor experience.

Experience the Culinary Adventure of a Lifetime

I was invited, along with my husband to experience the culinary adventure of a lifetime at the site of the world’s highest tides. Dining on the Ocean Floor truly is a masterful symphony of excellence. Every tantalizing menu offering is superbly orchestrated by Chef Domenic. By the end of your day, you will have enjoyed a luncheon, as well as a 3-course meal - all perfectly paired with local Nova Scotia wine and craft beer. Organic, fair-trade tea, and coffee are served as a finale at a campfire with the ever-approaching tide creeping closer to your happy and fully satiated dining group. This is Dining on the Ocean Floor, and it does not get much better than this.

Burntcoat Head Park

The Dining on the Ocean Floor adventure takes place at Burntcoat Head Park on the Bay of Fundy - declared to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of North America. The park is located at 45 Faulkner Lane, in Noel, Nova Scotia. You are advised to don rubber boots, and bring along your camera as you set off on this incredible experience. And don’t forget to bring your appetite, too!

Dining on the Ocean Floor

Leann Grosvold - the fun-loving, personable team member you first encounter when you arrive at the park, leads the Meet & Greet. She impressively doesn’t forget a name, and anticipates your every need (before you do sometimes). Leann, along with the entire Dining on The Ocean Floor team go out of their way to ensure the day unfolds precisely as planned. The excitement was tangible from everyone in attendance, including Eric and I, along with 18 other guests who came from all across North America to enjoy this world-class dining experience.

Nova Scotia Wild Edibles Tour

Local forager Johnathan Newell gathered our group and walked us through a Nova Scotia wild edibles tour. This demonstration highlighted characteristics, location foraged, and specific uses. Some examples were ingredients used by Chef Domenic when preparing Dining on the Ocean Floor recipes. This hands-on experience had us using all our senses. We were seeing, touching, smelling, and tasting samples, describing our experience with each other, and comparing and contrasting each one to more familiar herbs & seasonings. Johnathan left us with suggested resources then Anita, our park tour guide, took us on a walkabout. She shared Burntcoat Head Park’s history as we visited the lighthouse, and continued down a park trail culminating at our next activity.

Shore Boil

Chef Domenic and his staff greeted us at our luncheon picnic site. Dining on the Ocean Floor business partners, Sean Coutinho from Avondale Sky Winery and Cameron Hartley, owner of Schoolhouse Brewery welcomed us to try tastings of their paired offerings that would complement our upcoming scrumptious seafood feast. Sean offered the soft, yet crisp Tidal Bay wine, and Cameron served their award winning Principal Ale - a North American-style pale ale and their Backpack Seltzer, a gluten-free sulphate-free naturally fermented lemon-lime seltzer. Shore Boil: a generous bowl brimming with fresh, sustainable Nova Scotia seafood cooked in Tidal Bay wine was then served, followed by rousing games of who can get the most shells in the buckets.

Guided Tour of the Ocean Floor

After lunch, Anita led us on a private guided tour of the ocean floor and tidal pools. We carefully descended the equivalent of 3 stories of carved stone steps on our tidal reveal tour to discover the fascinating creatures and natural history Burntcoat Head Park had hidden.

Three-Course Dinner

Before you knew it, Anita’s dinner bell phone alarm signalled it was time to meet up with Chef Domenic and his team again. As we rounded the flower pot island, like magic - our colourful rainbow of Adirondack chairs (from our luncheon picnic spot) had reappeared on the ocean floor. It was cocktail hour again, and refreshment orders were taken as we settled back in our seats and chatted amongst ourselves. We all marvelled in delight at the nearby dining table beautifully set in preparation for our three-course dinner.

Ocean View Dining

It was what we were all here for, and it was time now to take a seat and enjoy the view from our ocean floor dining table. It truly is an awesome wonder. Chef Domenic described each mouth-watering course as it was being served then Sean, from Avondale Sky Winery and Cameron, of Schoolhouse Brewery gave a brief description of their wine and beer pairing choices. Over the next couple of hours, Sean and Cameron shared how each grew their businesses from their humble beginnings to current production and LeAnn divulged the evolution of the Dining on the Ocean Floor experience. It made for a very entertaining afternoon. Dining on the Ocean Floor has you in awe as you savour every single bite and simultaneously take in the spectacular scenery right in front of you.

Celebration Plate

The Celebration Plate was our first course showcasing a selection of fine Nova Scotia cheeses, charcuterie, locally made pickles, and artisanal crackers. Sean paired his fresh and crisp Avondale Sky Winery Lady Slipper Rose with notes of cherry, strawberry, and raspberry with cinnamon spice, and apple blossom. Cameron, of Schoolhouse Brewery paired his Vice Principal IPA - a hybrid that bridges the gap between the modern hop and traditional sweet malt foundation.

High Tide, Low Tide

High Tide, Low Tide: our surf and turf course came with a beautiful cut of local, pasture-raised beef, butter-poached Nova Scotia lobster tail and succotash with organic vegetables. Sean paired his Avondale Sky dry, medium-bodied oaked NOTORIOUS R.E.D. and Cameron, of Schoolhouse Brewery paired his Scotian Export - their adaptation of an amazing Irish Red. The Vice Principal was also recommended again with the ‘surf’ portion of this course.

Sun and Moon

Sun and Moon was our third course and it was a decadent serving of fresh local berries, lavender phyllo and Grand Marnier mascarpone cream. To complement this scrumptious dessert, Sean debuted his Avondale Sky’s Drops of Amber - a semi-sweet exclusive wine with cotton candy and strawberry notes.

World Class Bucket List

All at once you glance up to see the ocean is much closer than it was earlier on the tidal tour. Years ago, we were told, it was cut much closer at the end - with the water coming within mere feet of the dining table. There are some great stories of the staff scurrying to beat the tide, and guests rushing up the stone steps, but I will let your event guides and servers share their harrowing tales at your Dining on the Ocean Floor experience so as not to spoil the fun. Each guest I spoke to at our experience had an amazing time. We lived in the moment, treasured every second, and we all agreed that Dining on the Ocean Floor is a must do and a world-class bucket list experience. In 2024, you will now also enjoy a campfire with Mi'qmak story telling with an elder.

Gravity Luxury Domes

My husband and I enjoyed glamping accommodations in a geodesic dome at Gravity Luxury Domes located at 9415 Highway 215 in Maitland, Nova Scotia. It is less than 20 minutes away from the Dining on the Ocean Floor venue at Burntcoat Head Park. The location is ideal for Dining on the Ocean Floor guests but it will win you over for so much more. Eric and I stayed in Dome #1 - Ashley’s Dome. There are four domes onsite, and they are all lovingly named, and tastefully designed with the owner’s Christa & Gary Giddens’ daughters in mind (Ashley, Taylor, Nicole & Kayla). There is even a little book lending box onsite named Lindsay’s Library after their daughter that passed. Gravity Luxury Domes is a place with heart & soul.

Dome Sweet Dome

Each dome is well appointed with a very comfortable queen-size bed, a small dining table with two chairs, and a panoramic viewing window with breathtaking day and night time views of the Shubenacadie River. There is a well-stocked kitchenette with a coffee maker, plus a full-size modern fridge, microwave, and convection oven. Everything you need for a great night’s stay is here: lots of coffee & tea, coffee cream, bottled water, and a couple yummy local chocolate treats from Chocolates Galore. The bath has a heated ceramic tile floor, and a good-sized shower with a rainfall showerhead. I was pleased to see lots of local products, including goats milk artesian soap from Green Oaks Nubians.

Bay of Fundy Gravity

What’s in a Name? Why ‘Gravity’ Luxury Domes? Christa shared in researching the area, they discovered that the volume of water going in and out of the bay is so large that it alters the region’s gravity, making Nova Scotia and New Brunswick lean slightly towards the bay at high tide, and relax away at low tide. 

Shubenacadie River

Each dome also has a private stone patio seating area complete with a Broil King BBQ grill, and a propane firepit. Two domes feature private hot tubs. When Gary & Christa purchased this 8-acre property in 2019, they were determined to develop a getaway on it unlike anything else available in Nova Scotia. They welcome guests from around the world seeking adventure or simply peace & serenity. Skydive with the Atlantic School of Skydiving, or watch the eagles soar from inside your cozy dome. Jump in the mud with Shubenacadie River Runners, or peer down on the ‘Shubie Rafters’ in the waves from your Adirondack chairs perched high above, or just lay back in bed with a front row view to spectacular sunrises, sunsets, and nighttime stargazing. Gravity Luxury Domes delivers this and more with the wide open countryside, historic heritage buildings, and convenience to the world class dining that is Dining on the Ocean Floor in Burntcoat Head Park - just 18 minutes away.

Oldest General Store in Canada

The village of Maitland is a hidden gem in Nova Scotia with its rolling countryside setting and historic heritage buildings. Did you know that Frieze and Roy General Store here is the oldest operating general store in Canada? This 185 year old store was once the center of shipbuilding and trading on the Bay of Fundy and Shubenacadie Canal during the 1800’s and 1900’s. Memorabilia dating back to 1839 is on display here. Visit the Mudslide Cafe inside, too. Try the fish & chips and pick up anything you need in this all-in-one convenience store, restaurant, cafe, and liquor store.

Lawrence House Museum

Lawrence House Museum is another hidden gem in Maitland. It symbolizes the critical role shipbuilding had in Nova Scotia. In 1874, William D. Lawrence secured his place in marine history by constructing the largest wooden-hulled, fully-rigged ship ever built in Canada. Explore his Victorian home and witness the Golden Age of Sail in Maitland; Nova Scotia’s first designated Heritage Conservation district.

Food Fantastique

Chef Domenic offers Dining on the Ocean Floor along with a variety of other superb services, and mouth-watering menus. Food Fantastique is one of today’s leading voices in the contemporary cooking industry. Years in the making have helped them develop a unique business catered, literally, to every client’s taste. So whether you are planning a housewarming party, or simply need a break from the kitchen - Food Fantastique is here. Don’t forget to book your stay at Gravity Luxury Domes, while enjoying the area, too.

This post was sponsored by Dining on the Ocean Floor & Food Fantastique along with Gravity Luxury Domes; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Follow Maritimes Maven on FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn & Threads. Subscribe to be the first to receive my latest articles. Share articles you love with your social media community so they, too, will discover, There’s No Place Like Home!