P.J.'s Diner Is Opening Second Location On Sherbrooke Street

P.J's Diner, which currently has a location at 1274 Hwy 7 East, is opening a second location at 250 Sherbrooke Street (former location of Two Fifty Café and Sushi Yonge) at the corner of Sherbrooke and Aylmer. The Fifties-style diner is aiming to open the beginning of March. You can stay up to date with P.J.'s by following them on Facebook.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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The Bourbon Barrel Saloon To Open In Downtown

The sign is up at 140 King Street, and the Bourbon Barrel Saloon is slated to open soon in downtown Peterborough. This new country restaurant/bar is located at the corner of King and George Street in the historic J.J. Turner building.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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PTBOCanada Q&A: Mike Skinner On KEGI's Purchase Of Dolce Vita Resto In Downtown Peterborough

PTBOCanada file photo: Mike Skinner

Dolce Vita Resto in downtown Peterborough is no longer for sale. It has been purchased by the Kawartha Entertainment Group Inc. (KEGI), which is owned by a team including Michael Skinner, Catia Skinner, Jeff O’Connor, Mike O’Connor, Kyle Guerin and Lorrie McMullen. Dolce Vita joins the KEGI team alongside The Venue and WhiskeyClub (which is opening June 21st). In an interview with PTBOCanada.com, KEGI President and CEO Mike Skinner explains the decision to purchase Dolce Vita...
 
PTBOCanada: What factors made your group decide to buy Dolce Vita, and will you be keeping the name?
 
Mike Skinner... "Not only are we keeping the Dolce Vita name, but the feel of the restaurant as well. Dolce Vita has made a name in this community which we intend to keep and build upon. Chef Kyle Guerin—who will be Executive Chef at Dolce—joined KEGI last year and since then we have been expanding the Venue’s food events, such as the upcoming Savor the Flavour event coming up on July 24th, and the dinners for 300+ people that we often do twice in a week. In order to showcase Chef Kyle's talents, we launched the Lobby Bar and Restaurant in the Venue on Thursdays and Fridays at the start of this year. The challenge is the Venue has been booking large scale events and concerts on Thursdays and Fridays that take up the entire building. By purchasing Dolce Vita, this allows us to provide a dedicated, consistent restaurant in which to highlight Chef Kyle’s expertise. Also, this allows us to turn the Lobby space back into an event space for 40 to 60 people when we don’t have major events and continue to run an international menu which can be themed to the specific entertainment event we are running."

 
PTBOCanada: What are your plans for Dolce?
 
Mike Skinner... "We want to continue to grow based on the foundation of the previous owners. We believe there is a market for a high customer experience coupled with award winning food in Peterborough."
 

PTBOCanada: Tell us more about Chef Kyle Guerin, and what he brings to Dolce.  

PTBOCanada file photo: Chef Kyle Guerin

Mike Skinner... "Chef Kyle will be Executive Chef. He began his career at the prestigious Walter Wilcox Dining Room located at Moraine Lake Lodge in Lake Louise, Alberta. After successfully completing his diploma in Culinary Management, Chef Kyle moved on to apprentice at The Restaurant at Vineland Estates Winery in Vineland, Ont. Chef Kyle then worked under Chef Massimo Capra at the Rainbow Room Dining Room, located in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario. In 2010, Chef Kyle travelled back to Western Canada to assume the role as Sous Chef at Elk Ridge Resort, Saskatchewan's only "4 Star Resort". After two years, he left to move back to his roots in Peterborough to open his own restaurant, Cravings Bakery & Café. In 2013, one year after opening Cravings, Chef Kyle assumed the role as Executive Chef and co-owner of The Venue, our multipurpose event facility that caters weddings, conferences and private events. Last December, The Venue opened the Lobby Wine Bar & Restaurant. Currently, Chef Kyle is mentoring under Chef Michael Pigeon to compete in the 2014 World Culinary Championships and the 2016 Culinary Olympics in Luxembourg Germany. During Chef Kyle's career, he has had the pleasure of cooking for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former NBA Commissioner David Stern, the Jonas Brothers, actor Jason Priestley, 2-time Olympic gold medal winner Catriona Le May Doan, and Canadian Astronaut Marc Garneau."
 

PTBOCanada: What changes will be seeing under Chef Kyle's direction?

Mike Skinner... "While Chef Kyle will be the Executive Chef, we will also continue to retain the existing Dolce Vita team to ensure consistency through this transitional period. We will not be making any major changes at the beginning. We want to get into the restaurant, meet the loyal customers and really see what works, improve what doesn't, and of course continue the tradition of daily and weekly specials."


PTBOCanada: What message do you want delivered to existing customers of Dolce?

Mike Skinner... "Our message is simple: It is not our intent to change Dolce Vita. We want to continue the great service, atmosphere, attention to detail and of course the delicious food.  We will be honoring any existing gift cards as well as accepting gift cards from the Venue and Lobby. All cards will now be able to be redeemed at all our locations. Also, for our corporate customers of both the Venue as well as Dolce Vita, we believe we can now offer even more options for your catered events."
 

PTBOCanada: What is your overall sense of the restaurant scene in Peterborough right now, and where Dolce fits into that?

Mike Skinner: "I believe Peterborough has one of the best and vibrant local restaurant scenes in North America. Dolce Vita has some major competitors, but at the same time I believe that our team’s attention to detail and love for what we will do will continue to ensure that the people of Peterborough as well as the tourists that come here every year will keep coming back."

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Dolce Vita Resto In Downtown Peterborough Is For Sale

Here's the letter the owners posted to their Facebook page:

Dear friends of Dolce Vita,

I want to send a personal message to all my close family and friends to let you know that we have decided to sell Dolce Vita.

This will in fact be our last weekend in business and I would be honored if you could make it out this weekend to help us celebrate all the memories weve captured over the last year and half. Sammy and I will be at Dolce Friday and Saturday to see off all of our loyal customers and of course to say goodbye to Dolce.

Jennifer & Oziris (pic via Dolce Vita Facebook page)

As heartbroken as this decision has left me broken-hearted...you all very well know, my life has changed quite a lot from last year... and obviously for the better.

Being a mother to our son Oziris is the greatest gift ♡♡.. I have chosen to make this wonderful change my main priority.

Dolce Vita was my first baby that I will always cherish and hold dear to my heart... but I have been blessed with a love greater than anything I could have imagined and i want to be there with him for all of the many firsts.

I want to thank everyone for all your support over the last year and a half. Please always know that Dolce Vita would not have been the same without all of you enjoying our food and believing on our vision.

Love you all!

Sincerely,

Jennifer.

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The New Look Tim Hortons At Lansdowne & Ashburnham Is Spiffy

The Tim Hortons at Lansdowne and Ashburnham has gone through a major makeover, and is now open. It's looking pretty upscale. Feast your double double eyes on the facelift here...

Photo by Evan Holt

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DBIA Featured Post: Apollo Grill

Downtown Peterborough has long been a haven of locally owned and operated restaurants.  In the downtown core, you will find something offered to please almost every palate. Coming back with a vengeance—and to everyone's delight!—are classic "burger joints."  They don't get any more classic than the Apollo Grill located at the corner of George Street North and Hunter Street (402 George St. N.).

Locally owned and operated by Dan Rennick and his wife Kerry, the Apollo Grill brings you an incredible burger experience within the warm confines of a 1940s diner located at one of the busiest intersections in Peterborough's downtown. This resurrection of the mouthwatering homestyle burger provides the perfect destination to everyone from young families, date nights, to evenings out with friends.

The new downtown Apollo Grill is actually the second location in our fair city, with the original located at 1840 Lansdowne Street West. The George and Hunter street location opened late last year, and was brought downtown due to the overwhelming success of the original location that opened July 2011 on Lansdowne. Dan and Kerry were actually approached by the building's landlords and asked if they would like to bring Apollo Grill downtown.

The Apollo Grill features fresh cut fries and a great selection of burgers made daily from ground steak. What is interesting is that instead of using basic frozen ground beef, Apollo Grill uses fresh steak that is ground in house each day. They also cut and blanche their own fries. To complete the experience, Apollo Grill offers hand-dipped shakes which are made from premium local Central Smith ice cream. Of course there are also onion rings, sweet potato fries, veggie burgers and delicious poutine offered at both locations. A few must tries include the Apollo burger, the Mushroom Swiss, and of course the famous Royal Burger, all offered as a single or double burger.

Dan and Kerry are extremely excited and proud of the opening of the Apollo Grill in Peterborough's downtown, and plan to continue expanding to other locations and cities.  Within only a few short months, the downtown Apollo Grill is already considered one of the best places to gather with friends, co-workers or family for a quality meal!

Dan and Kerry invite you to experience their newest location in downtown Peterborough and taste the difference local quality makes.

For more on Apollo Grill (402 George St. N.), go to:
Website: Apollogrill.ca
Facebook: Apollo Grill
Phone:
705.874.3444, Apollo Grill Downtown Location
705.775.4745, Apollo Grill Lansdowne Street West

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

DBIA Featured Post: Dr. J's BBQ & Brews

When the historical Montreal House closed its doors for a final time in late 2013, Ted and Addison Brown heard opportunity knocking. The father and son partners knew a good thing when they saw it and purchased the property with a specific intent in mind. They loved the history of the building, the ample parking, and its proximity to downtown. After some extensive renovations, on January 15th, Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews (282 Aylmer St) opened its doors for the first time and hit the ground running!

Named after Dr. Alexander and John Harvey who originally built the historical building in 1858, Dr. J’s has kept some of the past, but has brought a new feel to the property. Operating as a restaurant/pub and with owners who have an extensive background in the industry, Dr. J’s brings a distinctly different flavor to the downtown core. Specializing in southern cuisine, and featuring an authentic smoker brought in directly from Alabama, you know exactly what you’re getting as soon as you walk in the door.

Before opening, head chef Eric Hoflick went so far as to travel the southern United States in search of ideas and recipes to bring back to the great white north. His mission to learn was a major success and the menu is where Dr. J’s customers reap the rewards. From chicken and ribs, to brisket and pork shoulder, almost everything is smoked and absolutely nothing is skimped on. The menu features monster main courses, smaller sandwich options, and even vegetable options for those who aren’t meat eaters! A few of the house favorites include the ribs with a signature pineapple chipotle seasoning you won’t find anywhere else, the brisket on rye, and the pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw.

Everything is made fresh from scratch in house daily, and local suppliers are supported as much as possible. Being a pub as well, the beer menu can’t be missed with 30 different types available by the bottle and 14 different varieties on tap!

With food available during the day and into the night, Dr. J’s is an environment for everyone. The renovations they’ve done include new flooring, tables, washrooms, booths, and a separate party room for larger groups of up to 24 when needed.

The restaurant also transitions during the night into more of a pub type atmosphere. Keeping with the old tradition of being a great live music setting, Dr. J’s has kept a stage area and have live music every Friday and Saturday night. With televisions set up all around, there is always some type of game on and specials to go along with them, including beer deals during Leafs and Raptors games.

If you’re in the mood for a new food and drink experience, Addison and Ted invite you to come down to a building that everyone already knows. They know you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the changes and you won’t leave disappointed!

For more on Dr. J's BBQ & Brews (282 Aylmer St), go to:
Facebook: Dr. J's
Twitter: @DRJSBBQnBREWS
Phone: 705.874.5717

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

A Mucho Burrito Franchise Is Available In Peterborough

The last spot in the new plaza on Lansdowne Street West is a Mucho Burrito, and the franchise is available still (see poster in window of the plaza, at right, we spotted).

The restaurant will feature a small patio, and offer a selection of Burritos, Quesadillas, Tacos and Taqueria Salads.

---

Update: July 9th, 2014 - Work has started up again on construction of the business. A sign now adorns the face of the building.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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DBIA Featured Post: Kettle Drums

Every small business owner has to start somewhere. Sometimes their journey starts and ends with the same idea, while others are always looking to evolve and expand. For Reg Maranda and Cam Green, the challenge to continue evolving is what pushes them. Previously the successful owners of highly respected and recognized Reggie's HotGrill, Cam and Reg made the transition from amazing fast food to upscale casual dining with the opening of Kettle Drums located at 224 Hunter St W.

With a desire to be located in a district that is recognized for incredible food and beverage establishments, they quickly jumped at the opportunity when it knocked to take over the northeast corner of Hunter and Aylmer St. in 2012 after extensive renovations to what was previously a long standing radiator shop. They knew it would be a challenge to convert it over to the restaurant they had envisioned, but they loved every aspect of it.

Walking through the doors at Kettle Drums, you immediately sense the relaxed atmosphere they have created. With elegant dining inside and an incredible creekside patio outside, the restaurant has a little bit of something for everyone. Whether you’re simply out on the town for a drink or looking for an upscale yet casual dining experience, you’re going to find them both here under one roof.

The menu at Kettle Drums is quite expansive, with options ranging from soups, salads, and sandwiches, to pizza, pastas, and fine steaks. If you’re a burger lover, they have quite a few options, covering beef, lamb, and bison which are all made fresh in house. Putting an emphasis on great food, their signature mac and cheese, panko crusted meatloaf, and pork medallions with maple bourbon sauce are just a few of their can’t miss dishes!  

Open 7 days a week, Kettle Drums with its experienced management team along with head chef John Thompson have become a fan favourite for many who are looking for an unforgettable dining experience in Peterborough’s downtown core. Sunday features a “Farm Fresh” brunch which makes use of many local distributors such as Electric City Bakery and Harley Farms Free Range eggs, while Tuesday is Pasta night followed by Wednesday’s Prime Rib night to name just a few specials.

Having been part of the business community for years now with their previous ventures, while also currently being part owners of McThirsty’s, Cam and Reg have made it a mission of theirs to be as involved as possible. To top it all off, they now have expanded to offsite catering in and around the area for any type of event.

Cam, Reg, and the staff at Kettle Drums invite you to come down to Kettle Drums regardless of the occasion and experience what so many already have. They know you’ll be back for more!

For more on Kettle Drums (224 Hunter St. W.), go to:
Website: Kettledrumsrestaurant.com
Facebook: Kettle Drums
Twitter: @Kettle_Drums
Phone: 705-874-1500

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

Dr. Hunger To Become Hot Grill On Wheels

Dr. Hunger Hot Grill at 382 Water Street has closed its physical location, and will now become Dr. Hunger Hot Grill On Wheels. It can be found at special events and outside the Red Dog on Hunter Street starting in April on Friday and Saturday nights.

Stay connected with Dr. Hunger on Wheels through their Facebook page.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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