An early August hail and rain storm damaged crops and property across the Island. Hail the size of marbles to golf balls fell in the middle of a torrential downpour and caused havoc. Power outages also resulted in some restaurants having to close on a Friday night, typically a busy time for most.
PEI Food Share has made changes to their structure. They will continue to assist people with food needs, but will no longer have representatives coordinating requests, pickups, or drop offs. Instead, their current Facebook page will serve as a way for donors and recipients to connect. As stated on their Facebook page, “We realize that this will not be a positive change for many people, but as a board, we must make the decision that’s best for the sustainability of the group. We hope that everyone continues to request help when needed, share when they can, and work together so that no one has to go without.”
Congratulations to farmers and brothers, Harris and Winston Callaghan of Callaghan Farms Inc, who were awarded Potato Producer of the Year by the PEI Potato Board in O’Leary during the annual Potato Blossom Festival.
In restaurant news, Rawsome Juice Bar has opened a second location in Charlottetown, within Founders Hall. The Loyalist Country Inn in Summerside recently revamped their restaurant, opening it with a new menu and name, Iron & Salt. After nearly 45 years, Red Rooster Restaurant in Crapaud has a new owner, Alie Mills, who bought it from previous owners Marion and Edgar Miller. A new Hibachi restaurant, Red Maple Hibachi Grill, opened in Summerside at the Ocean View Resort and Golf Course. As well, The Salty Pier Bar & Grill opened at the Inn on the Pier in Stanley Bridge—a new venture by Billy MacKendrick, owner and manager of Local 311 in Summerside. Up West Fire Fries is a new food truck that has been opened by Kelly and Doug Wilson of Pleasant View, PEI. They currently operate Thursday to Sunday in the couple’s yard, but are also available for catering and special events. In unfortunate restaurant news, The Prince Edward Restaurant in Charlottetown closed its doors in August after five years.
Farm and Food Care PEI’s first annual Breakfast on the Farm was hosted at Crasdale Farms Inc. in South Rustico in early August, with over six hundred people taking advantage of the opportunity to visit a modern dairy farm, enjoy a PEI sourced breakfast, and learn about farming and where our food comes from.
Serving up breakfast at Breakfast on the Farm Photo credit: Richard Schroeter/Salty
Congratulations once again to Cows Creamery. Their cheese won more awards recently at the American Cheese Society Competition. Their Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar placed third best of all categories, against nearly 2,000 other cheeses from North and South America. Along with that medal, their Sea Salted Cultured Butter, Extra Old Cheddar, 2- and 3-year-old Cheddars, and Appletree Smoked Cheddar all won awards as well.
Cavendish Farms announced that they would be closing their fresh produce packaging facility in O’Leary, PEI, causing a loss of 40 jobs. The closure is “based on ongoing demand, and limited availability of potatoes on the Island,” Ron Clow, general manager for Cavendish Farms said in a news release.
If you happen to be off-Island and visiting Halifax, NS, why not pop into HopYard’s second location? The local Charlottetown restaurant has recently opened their doors at HopYard Halifax, located on Gottingen Street. Like their PEI location, the Halifax spot will have a menu that changes every second Monday, craft beers (including Island brews) on tap, and vinyl records to spin your favourite tunes.
In unfortunate news, a fire caused extensive damage to the Olde Forge Country Kitchen in Rustico, PEI in early August. It’s unclear whether the restaurant will open again this season.
Piatto Pizzeria + Enoteca, known for its authentic Neapolitan pizza restaurants across Atlantic Canada has opened a second restaurant in PEI called Piatto Pronto. The quick service restaurant is a stone fired pizzeria that allows the customer to create their own Neapolitan style pizza from scratch and is a new concept for the chain. The new location is just outside Charlottetown at the North River Causeway.
In other good news, the fundraising dinners at Sadat’s Cuisine have been able to meet their goal and Bibi and Sayed Fazli are slated to join their family in PEI on September 13. There will be one last fundraising dinner on September 8, and there is a new option of take-away ordering.
George’s Island Market in North Bedeque, PEI celebrated its grand opening in August. After purchasing the site that was previously the Bargain Fabric Outlet in December 2017, father and daughter co-owners Edward and Ashley Guergis renovated the building, creating an open market space. The market will be open on Saturdays and Sundays, featuring local vendors selling local produce, baked goods, art, and other goods.
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