Peterborough Startup Locavorest Offers Home Delivery Service For Local Produce

Locavorest, a delivery service that connects local food producers to consumers, is now launching home delivery services throughout the city of Peterborough.

Over the past year, Locavorest has provided food to more than 100 customers in the region with products from over 25 local producers, including Lunar Rhythms Organic Garden, Electric Juice Factory, Healey Falls Bison Farm, and Chick-a-biddy Acres.

Happy customer with her order from Locavorest

With home delivery, customers can pay a flat rate $7 fee to have a Locavorest employee deliver their order straight to their home.

Delivery is available within the City of Peterborough, with plans to expand throughout Peterborough County in late 2018. Customers can have their order delivered to their home on Fridays between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Locavorest co-founders Megan Boyles, Mark Kirton and Vinay Viswanathan

“By providing a home delivery service, we will be able to better provide consumers an efficient way of gaining local produce, without having to leave their home,” says Megan Boyles, Chief Executive Officer of Locavorest. “This service is also great for those that don’t have vehicles or general access to places like the farms or farmers markets.”

If Locavorest delivers when a customer won’t be home, they can simply leave a cooler and ice packs outside the residence so a Locavorest employee can drop the produce off.

For more info, visit their website here.

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Muddy's Pit BBQ Is A Must Eat Spot In Kawarthas

If you love Southern-style food like pulled pork, brisket and ribs, you must try Muddy's Pit BBQ in Keene near Peterborough.

Picture via @MuddysPitBBQ

It's so delicious that a Search and Rescue Team out of Canadian Forces Base Trenton landed in a farmer's field shortly after Muddy's opened last season so they could grab food there.

Trenton crew that landed near Muddy's April 13th, 2017. Picture via @MuddysPitBBQ

Muddy's, which is located at 3247 County Rd. 2, has fired up the cookers for the 2018 season—it's 9th season in business—and open on April 4th.

Picture via @MuddysPitBBQ

And yes, it's worth the drive to beautiful Keene.

Picture via @MuddysPitBBQ

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Add Your Recipe To This Delicious New Community Cookbook Project

The Nourish Project—a local food-based collaborative that is part of a broader movement that seeks to give food more importance in our communities, our economy, and our everyday lives—has recently launched a neat  Community Cookbook project.

 Community Harvest dinner put on by Nourish Project

Since food can be an important and vital part of feeling a sense of belonging and connecting as a community, Nourish Project is asking Peterborough (and County) residents to submit a recipe that signifies belonging, such as a family recipe or a potluck favourite. 

As an example, Nourish Project posted here about the inspiration for one submitted recipe, "Italia's Petelli", that they sampled. 

Sampling Italia's Petelli

If you're interested in submitting a recipe to this cookbook project, you can submit to this online form or do so by email here. They ask that you include photos of either the final recipe, ingredients or and/or preparation.

Nourish Project will reach out to you (by phone, in person or email) about your submitted recipe and what belonging and your passion for food means to you. They will then create a "story" to attach to the recipe. 

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Nostalgic Peterborough Couple Launching Ice Cream & Popsicle Bicycle Pedal Parlor Co.

[UPDATE, May 6th]: Here are pictures of the bike and the design...

Niki AllDay prepping bike

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ORGINAL POST:

Ever since Peterborough couple Niki Allday and Jesse Guerin first begin dating, they agreed that one day they would purchase an ice cream bicycle and bring back those amazing childhood memories of Dickie Dee ice cream.

"The sound of the bell is something I will never forget," Niki tells PTBOCanada of her childhood memories of the colourful modified tricyle with its fiberglass compartment full of frozen tasty treats. The couple purchased a vintage original Dickie Dee bike and are refinishing it, and the name of their business will be the Pedal Parlor Co.

The bike Niki and Jesse purchased

Niki and Jesse believe their locally owned and operated ice cream bicycle will bring a sense of nostalgia along with it—"a feeling of happiness, and memories of sunny summer days where the bells ring, and you run outside to catch the bicycle with your friends."

Niki & Jesse

"We are hoping to have some of the original flavours sold by Dickie Dee, including rockets and fudgsicles," Allday tells PTBOCanada.com, adding "we are also hoping to have a few dairy free, vegan and healthy options."

Weather permitting, Pedal Parlor Co. will launch sometime in May on residential streets in town, but the bike will be "road ready" with its new design by April. Jesse will be doing most of the actual bike riding, while Niki will look after marketing and purchasing. If all goes well, more bikes will be added and they will eventually have a fleet.

The modern twist of being able to utilize social media will enable people to find out the location of the bike on Pedal Parlor's Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages. As well, the bike will be available to service birthday parties, picnics, weddings and other special occasions. For more info, email the couple here or visit their website where you can submit your favourite flavours.

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Amusé Coffee Co. Opens Pop Up Location In VentureNorth Building In Downtown

Local café Amusé Coffee Co., which opened its first location at 641 George St. in 2015, has now also opened a "pop up" location for its authentic Paris-inspired charm of fair trade organic whole bean coffee and baked goods in the main lobby of the VentureNorth Building in downtown Peterborough.

Photo courtesy FastStart Peterborough

Owner Lindsay Brock will be serving Amusé products on Mondays and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the hopes of eventually being there more days.

“I’m so excited to be expanding into VentureNorth, they have so many exciting things happening in this building and I’m really happy to be connected to that,” says Brock. “We are currently here Mondays and Wednesdays for March, and hopefully on a more permanent basis thereafter.”

Amusé founder Lindsay Brock at her second location (photo courtesy FastStart Peterborough)

We are so excited that @amusecoffeeco is now in @VentureNorthPtb Monday & Wednesday! ☕️ #fuel #MondayMotivaton pic.twitter.com/zP5520enxz

— Innovation Cluster (@InnovationPtbo) March 5, 2018

Amusé Coffee Co., which sprung out of the FastStart Peterborough program for budding entrepreneurs, continues to serve Fair Trade Organic whole bean coffee, premium loose tea, and a range of baked goods and brunch options with a French-feel.

The VentureNorth Building is located at 270 George St. N.

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Watch: Documentary On Oral History Of Peterborough Downtown Farmers' Market

The Downtown Farmers’ Market is proud to have been a producers only market since their inception 20 years ago.

Starting in 1996, this market was formed by a group of local farmers looking to set up a new, producers only market that would help them grow their businesses, build community, and offer customers a mid-week downtown location for purchasing fresh seasonal produce, local meats, cheeses, flowers and other local goods.

Shoppers can be sure they are buying local seasonal vegetables, flowers, meats, and cheeses from the farmers themselves, as well as wonderful baking, prepared lunches, crafts, coffee and drinks from the folks who made them.

To learn more about the history of the market and how it has helped local farms and businesses, check out this new documentary from local filmmaker Brian Mitolo...

An oral history of our local downtown farmers' market, as told by some of the farmers.

The market's 2017 season ends October 25th.

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Stock Up For Thanksgiving At Peterborough Downtown Farmers' Market

Hit up the Downtown Farmers’ Market on Wednesday, October 4th to stock up on all your Thanksgiving grocery needs with all the best local produce, meats, cheeses and products our region has to offer.

In addition, local potter Carolyn Cisco will be on-hand offering pottery demonstrations between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Watch or receive a 10 minute hands-on lesson! (6+, weather permitting).

Only four weeks remain in what's been another great season for the Peterborough Downtown Farmers' Market. The last market for this year is on October 25th. Come on down to stock up on all your favourite products, thank your farmers, and bring someone who hasn’t visited yet.

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What Peterborough Needs: A Mariposa Type Market?

During our travels, we come across interesting businesses that we think could be a neat fit in our beautiful city.

If you were to stop for a meal at Orillia's own Mariposa Market, we think you would agree. With over 500 reviews averaging 4.5 on Trip Advisor, we're not the only ones who make sure to stop in for a bite when passing through.

Open 7 days a week, this gem is in a turn of the century building that sprawls out in all directions once you enter. With lots of wood accents and nods to its historic roots, they offer baked goods, a café and plenty of places to sit down and socialize with three levels that overlook the store. Each time we have visited, there has been a line-up for their numerous glass cabinets of freshly made meals.

Their extensive menu rotates daily so even upon frequent visits you won't have the same food twice.

Thanks to their success, the Mariposa Market recently renovated to add a quick to-go counter at the back of the building to help alleviate the line-ups for sit-down meals. They also added numerous new bathrooms on the main floor and spacious new seating in their upper floor.

Make sure to feed the parking meter in the lot across the street because you will be sure to spend some time here. The Market also includes two neighbouring stores (The Seasons Shop & The Scent Shop), both located on either side that offer home curiosities, books, kitchen ware, clothing, jewelry and handmade items.

There is also the store Apple Annie's downstairs offering every kitchen gadget you could ever dream up, fresh fudge and sauces, jams and other tasty meal items that you can either make yourself or give as a gift.

Curiously, the Mariposa Market does't offer Wi-Fi, but perhaps if they did it would clog up their already busy locale.

So now that you've had a quick run-down of what the Mariposa Market is, hopefully we've answered "Why would Peterborough need another coffee shop?". The building itself really adds to the experience so we would envision it being in an older building downtown.

Obviously we are just coming up with fun ideas to ponder in our debut "What Peterborough Needs" column, and while we already love our city the way it is, it's always fun to think of what could work or not work.

We would love to hear what you think Peterborough needs. Email us with neat places you've seen on your travels that might translate here.

—by Evan Holt

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Peterborough Entrepreneur Launches Mobile App For Users To Discover Their Next Meal Based On Their Mood

Peterborough entrepreneur Sultan Moni, a student at Trent University, has launched a new app that could change the way consumers choose their next meal. Zatiq is a platform for users to discover local foods around them that will match their cravings to a meal.

Through artificial intelligence, this unique app—now available in Google Play Store and launching on the App store in August—could redefine the food and hospitality industry. A mix of inputting the user’s mood and meal preferences will allow the app to be personalized at any user’s command.

“People are always hungry but often never know what they want to eat,” says Moni. “I wanted to solve that problem since there are so many different types of meals to discover.”

Moni is based out of the Innovation Cluster’s downtown Cube in Peterborough, and combined his love for trying new meals and developing technology to create a food discovery app that can benefit anyone who wants to discover new food and find that perfect dish.

Entrepreneur Sultan Moni

“It is exciting to see a disruptive new app born in Peterborough & the Kawarthas which has the potential to be used in different markets around the world," says Michael Skinner, President & CEO of the Innovation Cluster.

With Zatiq’s leading search capabilities, there are various inputs available to find their next meal. When searching by business, user’s can browse for specific restaurants, cafés and other food hot spots. The innovative “mood” search engine lets the user find meals that will satisfy based on what they are feeling, such as happy or heartbroken. No matter what kind of day the person is having, they can find a meal fit for them.

With the ability for users to follow each other’s profiles, the app provides an interactive experience when trying new foods, allowing people to comment or like another user’s ratings, check-ins, or pictures.

Another benefit of the app is each time a user checks in to a location, points are gained. These can be redeemed as coupons, discounts, samples, offers and other deals provided by businesses. Rewards could be anything from a free coffee to a free iPhone 7.

“This app will expand even more as people in different locations download it,” says Moni. “Zatiq will allow users to add meals and locations to the app’s search list, so anyone around the world will be able to find a good meal, gain points and have fun wherever they are.”

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15th Annual Rotary Ribfest Is This Weekend At Millennium Park

The 15th Annual Rotary Ribfest starts this Friday (July 7th) at Millennium Park in downtown Peterborough along the Otonabee River.

Photo courtesy DBIA

“There is an exciting musical lineup for this year’s Rotary Ribfest as well a delicious sampling from nine local restaurants and of course, lots of cold beer,” says Terry Guiel, DBIA Executive Director. “All through the year we hear people saying they’ve got Rotary Ribfest marked on their calendars and that it’s one of their favourite events of the summer."

Hot Rocks: Rolling Stones tribute band plays Friday night (Photo courtesy DBIA)

Admission to Rotary Ribfest is free. The hours are as follows:

• Friday, July 7: 11 am to 11 pm
• Saturday, July 8: 11 am to 11 pm
• Sunday, July 9: 12 pm to 5 pm

Photo courtesy DBIA

Local restaurants participating this year include:

• Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews
• The Nutty Chocolatier
• The BrickHouse Craft Burger Grill ‘n Bar
• Island Cream Caribbean Cuisine
• Village of Thai
• Kettle Drums
• La Hacienda
• Silk Roots
• The Silver Bean Café
 
Ribber’s Row includes:
• Fat Boys
• Boss Hogs BBQ
• Jack the Ribber
• Smokehouse Bandits
• Ontario Corn Roasters
 
ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP

Friday, July 7
• 12 – 1:30 pm: Pat Temple and the HiLO Players
• 1:45 – 3:15 pm: Rye Street
• 3:30 – 5 pm: Briannah Cotton Band
• 5:15 – 6:30 pm: The Cadillacs
• 6:45 – 8:15 pm: We Ain't Petty / Tom Petty Tribute
• 8:30 – 10 pm: Hot Rocks – Rolling Stones Tribute presented by Shorelines Casinos
 
Saturday, July 8
• 12:00 – 1:30 pm: John Curtis musical show
• 1:45 – 3:15 pm: John Curtis Band
• 3:30 – 4:45 pm: Max Mouse and the Gorilla's
• 5:00 – 6:30 pm: Samurai Fly
• 6:45 – 8:15 pm: Kim Doolittle
• 8:30 – 10 pm: Rikki Nicks — Fleetwood Mac Tribute presented by Wolfe Lawyers
 
Sunday, July 9
• 12 – 1:30 pm: Austin Carson Band
• 1:45 – 3:15 pm: Dean James
• 3:30 – 5 pm: Gunslingers

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