Tim Hortons Launches Second Smile Cookie Holiday Campaign For Kawartha Food Share

Tim Hortons is keeping Kawartha Food Share (KFS) happy this holiday season, as the latter has been selected as the recipient of the Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign.

Kawartha Food Share is a central collection and distribution warehouse that partners with 37-member agency food banks, food cupboards and other food action programs in the City and County of Peterborough. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The campaign launches next Monday and runs until Nov. 24 at all Tim Hortons locations in Peterborough, Lakefield, Bridgenorth, Curve Lake and Havelock. Cookies are $2 each and all proceeds will be split between KFS and Tim Hortons Foundation Camps.

Last year, the campaign raised $67,290.96.

“Supporting communities is at the heart of the Tim Hortons brand and there's no better time than the holiday season for us to rally with guests, Tims’ restaurant owners and team members to spread kindness right across Canada,” said Axel Schwan, Tim Hortons president.

This year’s Holiday Smile Cookie is a white chocolate chip sugar cookie infused with red and green sprinkles and finished with a hand-decorated smile.

“We are so thrilled to be partnering with Tim Hortons for this wonderful initiative,” said Ashlee Aitken, KFS general manager. “The funds raised during this campaign will assist us in purchasing much-needed food items to keep our agencies shelves well stocked.”

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Don't Be Scared of 'Ghost Taco' As They Host Grand Opening Of New Peterborough Location

Peterborough’s newest spot for one of Mexico’s most popular food, ‘Ghost Taco’ held its grand opening at its location at 110 Chandler Cres. on Friday morning.

(From left to right) Samantha Buckley, Ghost Taco co-founder and CEO, Addison Tomas and Chef Matt Basille doing the ‘Ghost Taco Challenge’, testing customers spicy limits with a ghost pepper consomme. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The grand opening opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Jeff Leal, Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP and the Peterborough and the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce.

The event featured merchandise giveaways, a social media photo contest, raffles, drink samples (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and live cooking demos from chef Matt Basille.

Guests could participate in the ‘Ghost Taco Challenge’ to test their spice tolerance with the restaurant’s latest creation, a consommé made from ghost peppers.

The restaurant is known for experimenting with traditional tacos. It offers more familiar styles, such as ‘Carnita’ (pulled pork) and Baja fish but also original concepts such as ‘Crispy Korean Tofu’ and ‘Charred Brussels.’

Bowls, sides and drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), including their own brand of beer called ‘Ghost Taco Cerveza,’ are also available.

The grand opening showcased their new limited offer: ‘The Ghost Taco,’ a birria beef and cream cheese taco in a deep-fried tortilla with a ghost pepper consommé.

“We call ourselves 'unauthentic Mexican' largely because it gives us the chance to really experiment with different flavours and different concepts,” explained Samantha Buckley, Ghost Taco co-founder and CEO. “There really is something for every flavour profile and they're all chef-inspired gourmet creations so it's not your typical build-your-own taco place.”

Tomas (left) checks in on Liam O’Connor of the Peterborough and the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce (right) for social media during the ‘Ghost Taco Challenge’. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Ghost Taco was created after some creative pivoting from Buckley during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We own a couple full-service restaurants in Newmarket and a boutique event venue and in the middle of Covid, we were going into the second lockdown, we got shut down at our event venue and we just testing different take-out concepts,” she explained. “We figured, 'you know, what's really missing in the market?' and it's gourmet tacos in a quick-service setting.”

Through testing, social media and a pop-up, the restaurant started a hole in the wall before blowing up which started Ghost Taco.

The small franchise began in Newmarket and opened a second location in Vaughan. Peterborough has become home to its third restaurant and Whitby is planned to be the fourth in the winter next year.

“Jamie, one of our operators here in Peterborough, he really loved the brand and he inquired with us about what we could do to get one of these in Peterborough,” said Buckley. “It was always on our radar. We have ties to Peterborough through our family. You have such a family small-business feel so it really was the perfect fit for us.”

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Photos: AON Inc. Hosts 'Taste of the Gardens' In Food Vendor Showcase; Held Bake Sale To Benefit Kawartha Food Share

AON Inc. held a double feature of events with a ‘Taste of the Gardens’ food showcase and a ‘Fall Bake Sale’ held at Princess Gardens and Empress Gardens respectively on Thursday afternoon.

Teri Penfound, Colio Estate Wines area manager (left); Ray Barlow, AON Inc. VP (middle) and Dan Leal, director of dining services (right) enjoying a wine sample. All Photos by David Tuan Bui.

The Taste of the Gardens is a food showcase with over 20 vendors at Princess Gardens. It allows residents to sample various foods and drinks served at AON Inc.’s long-term care homes.

“It's bringing a food show to our residents so they get a chance to sample different ideas for the menus,” said Dan Leal, AON Inc. director of dining services. “Our vendors have come to showcase some of their new products with feedback for their fall menu.”

The feedback allows AON Inc. to adjust its menus from the feedback to better suit the needs of the residents and mix up the food choices available throughout the year.

“A lot of the vendors have commented on how the residents are enjoying their products and it's nice to see that the products that they are promoting and selling are bringing smiles to someone's face,” explained Leal. “They're enjoying it and they're getting honest feedback.”

Ashlee Aitken, Kawartha Food Share general manager (left) helps a customer select baked goods made by AON Inc. staff. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Simultaneously, Empress Gardens hosted a bake sale, with all proceeds benefitting Kawartha Food Share.

The baked goods included brownies, cookies, pies, haystacks, tarts and more, all made by AON Inc. staff.

Samples of baked goods, coffee, tea, and lemonade were also available to the public.

$1,575 was raised as a result of the bake sale fundraiser.

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New Peterborough-Based Company Launches Alcoholic Maple Seltzer

Locally-owned company Maple Light has launched its self-titled hard maple seltzer in various locations in Peterborough.

While the drink is produced elsewhere, Maple Light is owned and operated in Peterborough. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

According to a press release, the drink is a vodka-based seltzer and the first of its kind. It contains a hint of maple syrup (tapped by the founders in Ontario), citrus notes and sparkling water. It has a four-percent alcoholic content.

“Maple has a long heritage in Canada, and we're excited to share it in an innovative new format,” said Maple Light’s founders.

The drink’s inspiration came from the founders boiling down sap in their sugar shack in 2023. It created a maple cocktail that was a hit with their family and friends.

Maple Light is available at the following locations and is coming soon to grocery and convenience stores:

• Local bars and restaurants, including (but not limited to) Maple Moose Pub, Jesse’s Tap and Grill, Night Kitchen and The Vine

• Peterborough Memorial Centre

• Liquor Convenience Outlets, including Sullivan’s General Store and Express Convenience (Fowlers Corners ESSO)

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Sixth Annual Peterborough VegFest Hits Millennium Park This Sunday

The sixth annual Peterborough VegFest’s will delight vegetarians and vegans at Millennium Park this Sunday from 11 pa.m. to 4 p.m.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The event will have 25 food vendors showcasing the local restaurant community and other fantastic small businesses across Ontario.

According to a press release, the event will include a full afternoon of live local music, a kid’s zone, and more.

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Elementary School's Breakfast Club Gets Cooking After Donation of Two Ovens From Rotary Club of Peterborough

Prince of Wales’s Breakfast Club kicked off the school year on the right foot as they received two new ovens donated from the Rotary Club of Peterborough and unveiled on Tuesday morning.

Thea Chaput, Grade 6 (left); Camryn Chaput, Grade 5 (middle) and Sophie Bradley, Grade 7 (middle right) getting '“apple-loutely’ excited over the new overs with Colin Mackenzie, Rotary volunteer (Middle left) and Tommy Reburn of Leon’s Peterborough (right). Volunteers and Rotary Club members have been providing breakfast to the Prince of Wales students for nearly 30 years. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

An official ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorated the ovens and the Rotary’s work during breakfast hours at the school.

The program feeds roughly over 500 children according to Brad Conlin, Prince of Wales principal.

“The School Nutrition Program has a major impact on the safety, well-being and belongingness of our students,” he said. “Many students use the breakfast program not only as a place to fill their tummies for the start of their day, but it is a place that students can use as a soft-start transition from home to school.”

At the end of the last school year, the ovens began to malfunction, making it difficult to prepare meals promptly and efficiently.

“Faces of trusted adults and the impact of our volunteers goes beyond the needs of just the healthy breakfasts and lunches that are provided,” said Conlin. “The staff and volunteers always have a lens of inclusivity which fosters an environment of food for some, food for all.”

Peterborough Rotarian of the Year and volunteer Catherine Hanrahan contacted her fellow Realtor colleague at Century 21 United, Tom Reburn, who also owns Leon’s. His company supplied, delivered, and installed them free of charge during the last week of August.

“Leon’s is well known as a great community supporter so I didn’t hesitate to reach out to my friend Tom to see if he could hook us up two new stoves and a microwave.” says Hanrahan.

One Prince of Wales student highlighted the club's importance and how having breakfast can positively impact a child’s learning experience.

“This year, as soon as I saw the first person go in the Breakfast Club doors, I went in as well. I was hungry and I didn’t have a chance to eat breakfast. At my old school we had plain oatmeal everyday. At POW we have a variety of foods. A couple of days ago we had eggs, hash browns, and cereal. If we have eggs three days in a row, they are always cooked differently. The program is really important to me because in the morning sometimes I can make myself a hot chocolate but most of the days I don’t have time. After I eat breakfast, it helps me to focus better at school. There are a lot of community volunteers and they are always treating us nicely and coming to our tables to ask us if we want more. I would love to volunteer because I love to cook. Today I helped a little girl make her yogurt more tasty by squeezing an orange into her yogurt like the adult volunteer showed us how to do. Another day I helped that girl’s little sister when she spilled her drink all over herself and the floor. Children from every grade can eat breakfast together, whether they can’t afford it, or they didn’t have time that day. That is why Breakfast Club is important to me and the rest of the school.”

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Ontario Convenience Stores Able to Sell Beer, Wine, Cider and Ready-to-Drink Alcoholic Beverages

The Ontario Government has permitted all licensed convenience stores in the province to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages effective immediately, announced on Thursday.

Doug Ford, Ontario Premier (left) and Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario Minister of Finance (right) making the announcement at a convenience store in Etobicoke. As of Sept. 5, 4,187 convenience stores across Ontario are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, in addition to nearly 3,000 other licensed retail outlets as well as takeaway options from licensed bars and restaurants. Screenshot.

Doug Ford, Ontario Premier announced the coming of alcohol in convenience stores on Dec. 14 last year.

“Today’s expansion delivers on our government’s promise to give people in Ontario the same choice and convenience enjoyed by people throughout the rest of Canada,” he said. “With today’s announcement, we’re also creating new opportunities to produce and sell world-class Ontario-made beer, wine and ready-to-drink beverages in nearly 4,200 convenience stores across the province.”

By the end of October, as part of the government’s plan to expand alcohol sales, every eligible convenience, grocery and big-box grocery store in Ontario will be able to sell eligible alcohol if they choose to according to a press release.

“People finally have more options to responsibly and conveniently support local Ontario breweries and wineries – or whatever their drink-of-choice may be – even closer to home, and today’s announcement is another milestone in the government’s commitment to deliver more choice and convenience to consumers,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario Minister of Finance. “In addition to supporting Ontario retailers, domestic producers and workers in the alcohol industry, our vision for a better marketplace has come to life thanks to people and businesses across the province.”

The government adds that they are permanently allowing the transfer of wine and spirits between locations with the same owner and/or affiliated licensees to help bars and restaurants effectively manage inventory and is allowing licensed grocery and convenience stores to display alcoholic beverages in multiple areas of a store while maintaining small-producer shelf space requirements as well as policies that will continue to ensure the safe and responsible sale of alcohol.

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Lang Pioneer Village to Hold Corn Roast On Aug. 18

Join the harvest season as the Corn Roast at Lang Pioneer Village Museum is happening on Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Heather Doughty and Lang Pioneer Village.

The family-friendly day has historic demonstrations, live music, and plenty of fire-cooked corn. Tour with a free horse-drawn wagon ride and tour the historic village.

The village will teach visitors how corn was used back then such as cornbread, popcorn, dried corn, corn soups and corn relish in the Fitzpatrick House. They will also sample some Johnny cake with maple syrup in the Milburn House.

The village will have demonstrations including threshing, bagging, fanning mill and corn grinding.

A corn-on-the-cob eating contest will take place on the Village Green at 2 p.m. Corn crafts and corn hole by the Ayotte Cabin are some activities that will be run.

Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60+), $7 for youths (ages 5-14) and free for children under five. Family admission is also available for $40 and includes two adults and up to four youths (ages 5-14). Visitors may purchase admission in advance via the Museum’s online shop but advance purchase is not required.

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Peterborough County Cattlemen's Association Hosting 42nd Annual All-You-Can-Eat BBQ Aug. 10

The Peterborough County Cattlemen’s Association is holding its 42 Annual All-You-Can-Eat BBQ at Whiskey Lane Livestock located at 2295 on Hwy 7, Indian River on Aug. 10.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough County Cattlemen's Association.

Activities and the Peterborough County 4-H Beef Club Achievement Day starting at 1 p.m.

An animal show and sale starts at the conclusion of the beef show, slated for 3 p.m. Dinner is being served at 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. with all-you-can-eat barbecued beef, baked potatoes, baked beans, a dinner roll and dessert.

The association is asking guests to bring their own plates and cutlery but there are some at the event. There is plenty of space for lawn chairs.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate with cash or debit. Adults are $25 while children aged six to 12 are $10. Kids under six are free.

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Photos: Barbeques Are Firing Up For the 19th Annual Kawartha Rotary Ribfest

The barbeques are fired up as the 19th Annual Kawartha Rotary Ribfest is underway at Millennium Park from Friday to Sunday.

Giovanni Spina of Jack the Ribber gets a delicious rack of ribs ready for a hungry customer. They are one of four rib vendors at this year's Ribfest. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

The event is filled with activities, food and entertainment that will cater to all walks of life according to Susan Zambonin, Habitat for Humanity CEO.

“We have four ribbers this year, we have a number of food vendors and other vendors,” she explained. “We have lots of entertainment, we've also added family-friendly entertainment. We have a magician here, face-painting for the kids and colouring.”

Proceeds from the event go towards the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha and its community projects. Their main one includes building a washroom for the Brock Mission.

Rib vendors at the event are Boss Hog’s BBQ, Fat Boys Barbeque, Silver Bullet, Bar-B-Q and Jack the Ribber. Other food options from the vendors include brisket, pulled pork, chicken and cornbread.

Other vendors available are Corn, Beaver Tails, Kettle Curls, Poutine Supreme, Lemonade, Mr. Kettle Corn and Kawartha Buttertart Factory.

Live entertainment with 15 groups are set for the stage throughout the three days.

The following are the operating hours of Ribfest:

• Friday: Noon to 11 p.m.

• Saturday: Noon to 11 p.m.

• Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m.

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