If the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, then Peterborough is sure to steal some hearts this winter.
Celebrating the diverse culinary destination that is Peterborough, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is launching the Brrr-O-Licious pilot project at 10 restaurants in the downtown core from March 1 to 17.
Held in partnership with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), Brrr-O-Licious will see participating restaurants offer a three-course prix fixe menu for dine-in lunch and dinner guests, showing off the best flavours, tastes, and culinary techniques their dishes have to offer.
“We’re very proud of our vibrant and diverse culinary scene in Peterborough,” says Joe Rees, Director of Tourism for Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. “This time of year is a bit quieter and a perfect time to expose the vibrancy of our hospitality industry while supporting the businesses that are predominantly locally owned.”
Participating downtown Peterborough restaurants include Agave, Dirty Burger, Gerti’s, La Hacienda, La Mesita, Sam’s Place, The EI (P), Publican House Brewery & Pub, Riverside Grill & Lounge at the Holiday Inn, and The Vine. Beginning at $35, each menu includes an appetizer, dinner entrée, and dessert, with select locations including a beverage as well.
From homemade soups and stews to spread the warmth in the final weeks of winter to comforting authentic cuisine and chocolatey treats to satisfy post-dinner sweet tooths, each restaurant offers an experience that is entirely unique.
“With the prix fixe menus, we’re taking foodies on a culinary adventure where a restaurant here can double down on what they do best,” says DBIA Vibrancy Manager Hillary Flood. “They are showing off their creative flair on what makes their restaurant special.”
Between the 10 participating restaurants, there is ample opportunity to explore different styles of cuisine and dine-in atmospheres from casual pubs to fine dining.
Several of the eateries offer various price points, with options provided for each course. Paired with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free selections, Brrr-O-Licious gives foodies the opportunity to, as Flood describes it, “create your own adventure.”
“We have seen a real explosion as far as diversity of our restaurant offerings goes and Brrr-O-Licious gives us the opportunity to showcase that diversity,” adds Rees. “Some of them have been really creative with what they’ve done by providing multiple options for each of the price points. There really is something for everyone.”
Brrr-O-Licious takes inspiration from the playbooks of the popular Winterlicious Toronto and Kingstonlicious programs. Brrr-O-Licious, however, is unique for its wide selection of offerings available within a mid-sized city.
“Our downtown is very much a culinary destination — within a few city blocks, you can taste the world,” Flood points out. “Most mid-sized city downtown districts are composed of antique and retail shops and just the odd restaurant, but we have over 100 restaurant experiences available. Where in most downtowns, shops close at five, that’s when our downtown is just getting started.”
Flood adds that Brrr-O-Licious, with its prix fixe menus, is a way to support locally owned businesses during difficult economic times for everyone.
“We’re no longer dealing with the pandemic but we are just getting started on recovery,” she says, citing high rates of inflation, the cost of goods, and labour shortages as some of the many factors affecting restaurant success.
“Consumer behaviour when it comes to dining out is based on the economy, and right now diners are a little bit more timid with their spending. We’re trying to elevate what’s already available here 24/7, 365 days per year, and demonstrate that robust experience.”
Another consumer trend is the increase of take-out and delivery services instead of sitting down to dine in a restaurant. Offering Brrr-O-Licious strictly as a dine-in experience works encourages consumers to not only enjoy diverse cuisine but connect with the people behind it.
“The best way to experience downtown is by foot with the sights, the sounds, and the people that make it so fantastic,” says Flood. “With independently owned restaurants, you get to meet the person behind the brand. There’s an access you don’t necessarily receive from a chain restaurant or ordering through third-party delivery. It’s important to build those human connections.”
Over the 17 days of Brrr-O-Licious, diners can also experience other local happenings such as the First Friday Art Crawl, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and March Break events and activities including Trent University’s open house for prospective students.
“There are all kinds of opportunity to welcome people who are here and get them downtown to eat and enjoy so many community events,” says Rees. “As much as we’re an outdoor recreation community, some of those options aren’t available this year, so a better thing to do is come, eat, and enjoy what we have.”
As community events invariably bring out-of-town visitors to the downtown as well as locals, Brrr-O-Licious is an opportunity to introduce them to Peterborough’s vibrant culinary scene.
“One of the only things we know for sure is visitors are going to eat and drink while they’re here,” Rees says. “We want to show the best and brightest we have to offer. What better way to get to know the community than to check out the food scene and try something new?”
For more information on Brrr-O-Licious and to browse the menus of participating restaurants, visit thekawarthas.ca/brrr-o-licious/, where you’ll also find several local accommodation options for visitors wanting to turn their culinary experience into an overnight stay.
Brrr-O-Licious Participating Restaurants
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Agave by Imperial
From the cousins behind The Imperial Tandoor on Lansdowne, Agave by Imperial serves up authentic Mexican cuisine that fuses traditional recipes with modern techniques. When dining in during Brrr-O-Licious, diners can get a chicken or mushroom flautas (crispy taquitos) served with homemade guacamole as a starter, a slow-cooked short rib with traditional house-made mole and Mexican rice, or a grilled portobello mushroom for a main, and a spiced chocolate mousse with tequila whipped cream for dessert. The special is available at $50 per person.
Dirty Burger
At the family-owned Dirty Burger, Chef Om Patel uses his Indian and Ugandan heritage to craft a one-of-a-kind smash burger paired with craft beer and signature cocktails. The $50 Brrr-O-Licious special comes with a choice of any beer on tap, Vineland Estate Cab Franc, or Pinot Grigio. For a starter, diners can choose either veggie samosas with mango chutney or “freaky onion rings” (chickpea battered onion rings with tamarind chutney and spiced peanuts). For the entrée, participants can choose the Brrr-urger (smash patty with swiss cheese, truffle oil, fried onions, and sautéed mushrooms) served with dirty (spicy) fries, or the cauliflower taco. Dessert gives the option of either a vegan chocolate brownie or the rotating weekly dessert feature.
Gerti’s
Cozy gastropub Gerti’s is giving several options with varying price points for their prix fixe Brrr-O-Licious menu. The $35 experience comes with a choice of soup or salad, orange crush tacos, and a white chocolate molten lava cake. The $50 serves a choice of soup or salad, a big smoke burger, white chocolate molten lava cake, and a choice of a 9 oz. glass of house wine or 20 oz. draft beer. The $75 menu serves a choice of soup or salad, a Sunday steak dinner, a choice of dessert, a 9 oz. glass of house wine or 20 oz. draft beer and includes a $10 gift card for the next visit to Gerti’s.
La Hacienda
La Hacienda has been serving up authentic Mexican cuisine in a comfortable setting for more than 20 years. When diners visit the restaurant during Brrr-O-Licious, they will be treated to the $35 three-course prix fixe menu. The appetizer is a gluten-free crema poblana soup made with roasted poblano peppers and topped with roasted corn and tortilla chips. The gluten-free entrée is a Jalisco-style beef stew made with steak and bacon simmered in salsa verde and whole beans and garnished with cilantro, caramelized onions, and blistered jalapeño peppers. Churros will end the meal with caramel sauce on the side. Both gluten-free and vegan options are available for each of the three courses.
La Mesita
Home cooking will come to mind when dining from the Mexican menu at La Mesita. For $35, the prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner includes sopecitos (a traditional Mexican dish of a fried corn tortillas with various toppings) for the appetizer, chiles rellenos (roasted peppers coated in batter) with rice pilaf and charro beans for the main course, and a Mayan cupcake for dessert.
Sam’s Place
Known for meats that are locally sourced and cured and smoked in house, Sam’s Deli has always been downtown Peterborough’s go-to sandwich stop. On the $35 prix fixe menu, Sam’s Deli is serving up potato and cheese perogies with sour cream and fried onions, a warm roast beef and brie baguette with red pepper jelly and a side of butternut squash and pear soup, and raspberry fool for dessert.
The EI (P)
Old-school comfort foods are on the menu at The EI(P). The $50 Brrr-O-Licious menu lets diners create their own meal with several options. For the appetizers, guests can choose between a Thai green curry shrimp, caprese flatbread, or brussel sprouts, followed by a main course option of seared salmon, leek pesto pappardelle, or a beef udon bowl. A chef’s cheesecake bookends the full meal.
Publican House Brewery & Pub
With daily specials, beer pairings and a wood-fired pizza over, pub food has a whole new meaning at Publican House Brewery & Pub, with the $50 prix fixe menu providing ample opportunity to make it your own. The appetizer gives an option of the flatbread bruschetta or Kawartha fried cauliflower, the main course is an option of a smash burger with fries, a falafel pita, or chicken club, and dessert serves a strawberry cheesecake or malted chocolate brownie.
The Riverside Grill & Lounge
What better reason to dine out than having a waterfront view? The $75 Brrr-O-Licious menu at The Riverside Grill & Lounge comes with various options. Appetizer choices include the pea crostini, French onion soup, and beef carpaccio (house coffee-rubbed beef tenderloin), main course options include a chicken supreme, smoked pork chop, and squash ravioli, and dessert is a chocolate lava cake or sorbet trio with fresh fruit, either accompanied by tea or coffee.
The Vine
One of Peterborough’s newest restaurants, The Vine serves up vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian comfort foods. On the $50 prix fixe menu for Brrr-O-Licious, the appetizer options are a clam chowder or the rotating soup of the day and the main course is a creamy gnocchi or lentil meatloaf served with roasted peppers, green beans, and mushroom gravy. Sticky toffee pudding rounds out the meal.
This story was created in partnership with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development and the Peterborough DBIA. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
