Taking the Show on the Road Or, What Starts with “f”, Ends with “uck”, and Makes Delicious Food? - theHumm August 2019
Taking the Show on the Road Or, What Starts with “f”, Ends with “uck”, and Makes Delicious Food? - theHumm August 2019
By Sebastian Weetabix
There are many unanswered questions, and even more that are unasked, but there are seldom unanswerable questions. A diligent quest by Weetabix was triggered by the question: “What starts with the letter ‘f’ and ends with ‘uck’?” Herewith some words on a local seasonal phenomenon, the out-door restaurant or Food Truck.
In the beginning was the Chip Wagon — and it was good. Evolution drives the basic phenotype (a deep-fryer on wheels) towards more specialized and sophisticated cuisines. Today’s food trucks and their proprietors offer a variety of culinary styles delivered from mobile kitchens constrained only by size. With supplemental trailers for cold storage, mobile kitchens can expand to operations large enough to support the catering needs for large events. The army has been doing this for years.
But if you are a talented amateur with dreams of operating a seasonal restaurant, think some more and read on. There are many routes to success in the food chain, but none are easy and all require a mix of skill, dedication, tolerance for hard work under difficult conditions, and patience. Weetabix reports here on three food trucks that have already demonstrated that they have what it takes to create an economically viable business. While food trucks avoid some of the problems of fixed establishments, they come with others, and, like all establishments serving a fickle public, it starts and ends with food quality and service. Readers are asked to note that time, space and appetite constrain Weetabix to comment on only three trucks and that the selection was based on geography — results reported are based on personal experience and, as they say in ads for portfolio managers, results may vary.
We started in Perth and progressed via Carleton Place to Almonte. This allowed Weetabix to graze and, accompanied by his boon companion and Humm photographer/columnist Ms. Sally Hansen, we had a pleasant and very extended lunch.
Just outside Perth on Hwy 43 find The Grub Hub @TheGrubHub613 — a family operation staffed by Jamie and Ashley Rouble with behind-the-scenes help from Ashley’s mom Leslie. Leslie, it turns out, is not “00-licensed to kill” but makes killer baked goods. The Grub Hub remains close to its origins as a chip truck and offers traditional fare (poutine, burgers, etc.). Fresh, local offerings and menu specials such as a crispy chicken buffalo wrap make this place stand out. Look for skid marks on the highway and try the Fro-do, a novelty based on a donut from HFT in Almonte with a layer of maple-bacon ice cream. Weetabix could not resist a dessert course in mid-meal. The Grub Hub also features some interesting home-made sauces such as Maple Moonshine. There are plans to offer bottled sauces and other packaged items “to go”. Keep an eye on this place — and pick up at least one butter tart for the road.
Despite being short a butter tart, the road obligingly brought us to Carleton Place, home of the Jolly Hog jollyhog.ca . For those needing directions, look for a bright pink truck parked at the edge of the car wash on Lake Street and note that if the truck is not there, it will return soon. Food trucks can be mobile but are generally tethered to a (leased) location with power, parking and some outdoor table space. Matt O’Brien has been in Carleton Place for four years and has built a loyal following based on innovative cuisine of high quality. A well-seasoned chef who “wanted to have a restaurant since he was twelve years old,” he honed his skills at Fitzgerald’s and Castlegarth (Weetabix attributes to him no blame for their demise) and Matt now cuts a caper in his own establishment. Behind the scenes, his wife and several other unsung staff work on preparation for the daily show. Menu selections are interesting, but when we ordered his tasty balls, we were informed that he was out of stock since his wife had eaten them. He was also out of deep-fried maple syrup, so a return visit is required. Weetabix suggests phoning ahead (299–3570).
Matt’s value proposition is: “Make familiar food that tastes better,” and he wants his clients to not feel weighed down after their meal. An interesting and delicious result of this objective is that he offers site-made potato chips (not fries) so you can eat them later since “fresh fries don’t have a later”. Weetabix agrees with the concept but notes that these really good chips may not have a later either, since it requires too much willpower to test their longevity. An innovative and skilled cook with energy and ambition, Matt has succeeded in developing a steady and loyal client base and is now at the cutting edge of mobile cuisine. The man has balls; try to get some.
And, speaking of balls, it takes a pair to up and leave your native country, move to the hinterlands of The Empire and bring traditional British food to the natives, but that is exactly what Tim Allars has done. Well, almost exactly. The Cheeky Chippy @cheekychippyft is actually a husband and wife operation located as one enters or leaves metropolitan Almonte on route 49. Tim and Kelly met in the hotel business in Basingstoke, Britain, where she, a graduate of the Algonquin culinary program, was working as a chef de partie and he was managing the front. A shared love of beers and food brought them together, and a shared dream of having an independent business resulted in the purchase and refurbishing of a well-used truck. A surprising amount of work and money later (both working other jobs — he in sales and she at the kitchen of the Cheshire Cat), they found an excellent location with the help of Nick at nearby Crooked Mile Brewing Company. But the real story here is the food. Traditional British fish-and-chips is the Cheeky Chippy’s contribution to the local food scene. It is simple in its essence; it is anything but simple to execute. Developing and maintaining a supply chain from sea to Almonte was and is critical. Really good fish is. Batter must meet several somewhat conflicting requirements, and the recipe has evolved over four years of trials and adjustment. The product is superb, and wisely, the Cheeky Chippy stays on focus with a few other items to complement the main offering. If you have never had real fish-and-chips, try it; if you want real fish-and-chips you now know where to go. But either way, go early as quantities are limited and they often sell out early.
Adrian Baker — Upping the Ante with an Extraordinary Hand - theHumm August 2019
By Sally Hansen
Art… and Soul
In June, 2005, the title of our featured artist article was “Adrian Baker — Putting the Extra in the Ordinary.” At that time her Artist’s Statement was “My intention is to enable the observer to see beyond the familiar and witness the extraordinary in the ordinary.” She has succeeded admirably.
Since then she has upped the ante. Today she paints because “Art is my protest sign.” Maturity suits her. Her current work is an exploration of humanity’s interdependent relatio......
The Magical World of Narnia Coming to Life in Smiths Falls this Summer - theHumm August 2019
“You can’t imagine how beautiful it was,” sings Tumnus to Lucy about Narnia before the White Witch turned it into a cold winter wasteland. The musical Narnia was written by Jules Tasca, with music composed by Thomas Tierney and lyrics by Ted Drachman. It is based on C.S. Lewis’s classic story of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Together they have all created a unique, enchanted show filled with magical creatures and spirits.
The story is set during World War II and begins with......
Salt-Water Moon A Love Story from the Heart of Newfoundland - theHumm August 2019
By — Jane Stott
It’d be some sin if you missed the Studio Theatre’s production of Salt-Water Moon. There’s gonna be a jolly time when people start talking ’bout this play — like they got a record in them as big as a 45-gallon drum, no mistake! So, if you don’t want to feel like a Friday fish at a Saturday market you’d best come in out of the wet and get on down to the Studio T’eatre, where you’ll be greeted with “Best kind, b’y, and hows’ yerself?”
David French’s touching love story, set in......
Mayors’ Monarch Pledge - theHumm August 2019
Lanark County is taking strides to support and promote restoration of pollinator habitat through several initiatives, including its recent proclamation of the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge Day on June 26.
“Lanark County’s goal is to create diverse roadsides with an abundance of pollinator habitat through practices of planting flowers, seeding disturbed soil, improving maintenance practices and by participating in new projects aimed at improving pollinator habita......
Acclaimed Theatre Organist Plays Perth - theHumm August 2019
By — Bob Sneyd
At 7pm on Friday, August 16, the internationally-renowned organist Lance Luce will play the inaugural concert of Eastern Ontario’s newest theatre organ. This 40 rank, 3 manual digital instrument is located in Perth’s Creative Community Hub at St. Paul’s United Church (25 Gore St. W.), which is now air-conditioned and fully accessible.
The repertoire will include music to “tap the toes” of all generations, with sounds and effects along musical roads less travelled, including ......
Calling All Wild Children! Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust’s Annual Festival of the Wild Child - theHumm August 2019
The third annual Festival of the Wild Child, a two-day event at High Lonesome Nature Reserve in the Pakenham Hills, takes place on August 24 and 25. Open to the public from 10am to 4pm, this festival is offered by the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) and provides a variety of stations along wooded trails and by ponds to learn, explore and engage with the natural world.
Knowledgeable volunteers will be at each station to help open windows into the many wonders of nature. A......
Sundance: 40 Artists Along a Riverbank - theHumm August 2019
This Labour Day Weekend, get ready for forty artists to converge in Maberly and create the annual Sundance Artisan Show!
Celebrating their 13th year on the Fall River Restaurant festival grounds (21980 Hwy 7 in Maberly), Sundance artists are preparing to show off their latest creations. The outdoor setting is a picturesque backdrop of open field lined by a forest and a lush riverbank with the stone ruins of an old mill. Under a string of white-canopied tents, artists display their wares f......
Taking the Show on the Road Or, What Starts with “f”, Ends with “uck”, and Makes Delicious Food? - theHumm August 2019
By Sebastian Weetabix
There are many unanswered questions, and even more that are unasked, but there are seldom unanswerable questions. A diligent quest by Weetabix was triggered by the question: “What starts with the letter ‘f’ and ends with ‘uck’?” Herewith some words on a local seasonal phenomenon, the out-door restaurant or Food Truck.
In the beginning was the Chip Wagon — and it was good. Evolution drives the basic phenotype (a deep-fryer on wheels) towards more specialized and sophisti......
Interlibrary Loan Update - theHumm August 2019
By Erika Heesen, Perth Library
The Perth and District Union Public Library is pleased to announce that it resumed interlibrary loan services, with some changes, as of July 1.
In April 2019, provincial funding to the Southe......
Lanark County Backpack Drive - theHumm August 2019
Believe it or not, back to school season is right around the corner, and many parents and children in our community are preparing for the big day! United Way Lanark County, along with the local 3......
Paddle for AGH Raft Races Fun for Participants and Spectators Alike! - theHumm August 2019
On Saturday, August 10, Paddle for Almonte General Hospital will again bring the community together for a fun, family-friendly affair featuring raft races at the Almonte Beach in support of quali......
Finding Water in Perth - theHumm August 2019
One of the first thoughts of a Canadian summer is Water. Strévé Design Studio Boutique Gallery in Perth is exploring this idea in a summer themed Art+Fashion exhibit running until September 1.......
SING! For SchoolBOX A Musical Fundraiser with Jennifer Noxon - theHumm August 2019
Singers of all stripes and abilities are invited to SING! For SchoolBOX on Wednesday, August 14 from 7–9pm at Equator Coffee (451 Ottawa St. in Almonte). No experience is necessary. Singers will ......
Learning in Almonte: All New for Fall 2019 - theHumm August 2019
By — Glenda Jones
After an enlightening year with courses on everything from flying pigs to harmonics, Learning in Almonte is now heading for the stars, literally. The course line-up for the fall will include star......
Save the Datefor Seniors Expo! - theHumm August 2019
Mills Community Support is once again hosting the North Lanark Seniors’ Expo — this year on Thursday, September 5 from 10am to 3pm at the Almonte Community Centre. Now in its 9th year, the Senior......
First CAMMAC Ottawa Valley Choral Concert - theHumm August 2019
Co-chairs Michael Hoffman and Rosalind Spencer are delighted to announce the inaugural CAMMAC Ottawa Valley Choral Concert. Taking place on Sunday, September 15 in the spectacular “cathedral” of ......
“Paint Out” at the Mill of Kintail - theHumm August 2019
By — Lucy Carleton
Imagine painting on the spot in a natural environment. Now, picture the setting as the historic Mill of Kintail Conservation Area just outside Almonte. Artists are invited to choose any location ......
Parkinson SuperWalk - theHumm August 2019
The Parkinson SuperWalk, now in its third year in Lanark North Leeds, takes place on Saturday, September 7 at Conlon Farm (109 Smith Drive in Perth) with check-in at 9:30am. The walk is one of ei......
Governor General’s Foot Guards Return to St. Paul’s - theHumm August 2019
The Regimental Band of the Governor General’s Foot Guards will be returning for their fifth concert at St. Paul’s United Church (aka the “Creative Community Hub”) in Perth, on Labour Day Sunday, ......
“I Want You to Panic” - theHumm August 2019
By — Chandler Swain
It’s very clear that if we don’t put a few more Green Party MPs in the House of Commons this fall, to help counter the ruinous policies of the usual old-school parties that keep skirting issues r......
One Hour, Peak Summer - theHumm August 2019
By Susie Osler
Yesterday while sitting next to the lower garden down near the pond — a garden that I abandoned with some remorse this spring — I spent an hour writing down the names of the beings I recognized t......
It’s Half Over Already! - theHumm August 2019
By Glenda Jones
What happened when I wasn’t looking? Summer’s half over; we’re past the longest day, which didn’t seem long enough; we’re into the dog days, when the dogs don’t know they’re supposed to lie aroun......
Storytime! Introducing Cards for Readers & Will-be-readers - theHumm August 2019
Once upon a time a young reader entered the book industry. She learned to sell, serve, market, write, design and do data entry until the cows came home. She loved it all. She moved to Almonte and......
MERA Award of Excellence - theHumm August 2019
MERA (McDonalds Corners & Elphin Recreation & Arts) is pleased to announce that Rosemary Kotze has received the 2019 MERA Award of Excellence in the Fine Arts and Fine Crafts for her crea......
Blueberry Tea at Union Hall - theHumm August 2019
Summer is back and once again it’s time for the folks at Union Hall to open the doors for their annual Blueberry Tea, taking place on Sunday, August 25. Everyone is invited to join neighbours and......
Classic Theatre Festival Mystery-Thriller Follows Shaw’s Most Popular Play - theHumm August 2019
For those who remember the 1960s and 1970s, there were certain spine-tingling bedside table titles that were always kept away from the kids. Among the most popular of them was Ira Levin’s Rose......
Jim Arendt: Those of Us Still Living - theHumm August 2019
By — Maureen Korp is a writer, historian and lecturer who reads theHumm faithfully.
More than a hundred years ago, German artist Käthe Kollwitz’s lithographs, etchings and sculpture had people talking on both sides of the Atlantic. Her subject? Working people, their life-long cr......
An Active August in Mississippi Mills - theHumm August 2019
By Miss Mills
Remember when summer meant sleeping in, lounging on a beach towel, sitting ‘round the campfire, reading in a comfy chair in a summer breeze? Well, I hope you still take some time to enjoy those t......
Miss Mills’ Bicycle Postcard Project - theHumm August 2019
By — Theresa Peluso
The bicycle postcard project confirms it: Mississippi Mills is in love! After a month of mostly glorious weather during June’s Bicycle Month, all the festivities have come to an end — the street ......
Creative Arts Fair is Full of Surprises! - theHumm August 2019
After the success of the 2018 Creative Arts Fair in Smiths Falls, this year’s event is going to showcase so much more! The 2019 committee, governed by the Smiths Falls & District Arts & C......
Market & Music Days and Cemetery Tours - theHumm August 2019
The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum will be hosting Market & Music Days every Saturday throughout August. These events will provide music, fun, games and activities for the whole family wh......
Missive from My Office Desk Drawer - theHumm August 2019
By — Angie Arendt is the Director of Big Stone House: a Center for Courageous Living in Almonte <bigstonehouse.ca>
The middle drawer of my office desk is only a couple of inches deep and a bit over a foot wide. In it belong some simple necessities: a couple of pens and some scratch paper, extra staples, a pai......
Garlic, Kilts and Fair Play in Perth! - theHumm August 2019
By John Pigeau
Oh, August in the beautiful ol’ town — you’ve got us sweating and swimming, camping and kayaking, barbequing at the cottage, delighting in cold drinks by the Basin, and browsing our favourite sho......
Special Days at the Calabogie Market - theHumm August 2019
By — Lucie Perrier is a Councillor in Greater Madawaska
The Calabogie Summer Market has become a great Saturday draw this year! It attracts vendors from Renfrew, Dunrobin, Almonte and Carleton Place (to name a few), and is free to vendors who wish to ......
Get Ready for Roots on the Clyde! - theHumm August 2019
By — Haley Bowes
The 3nd annual Roots on the Clyde country music festival, sponsored by J.B. Garage, is happening on August 16, 17 and 18 in Lanark. A full weekend of music to enjoy!
Our vision again this ye......
Cindy Thompson in Concert - theHumm August 2019
The Middleville Museum is pleased to announce a fundraising concert featuring dynamic fiddler Cindy Thompson and family on September 7 from 7–9pm at the Middleville Agricultural Hall.
There ......
JoyFest — Bring Back the Wonder New Summer Festival to Reconnect Us with Fun - theHumm August 2019
A new two-day festival brimming with live music, dance, cirque, drumming, art, nature, inspiration, conversation and storytelling will help us focus on enjoying life. JoyFest will be bringing a h......
20 Years of Garlic! - theHumm August 2019
You’re invited to the 20th annual Carp Farmers’ Market Garlic Festival! Come be part of this truly unique local event, taking place for two days in August.On Saturday, August 10 from 8am to 3pm a......
Apr 27 Festival of the Maples
Apr 27 The Moth Project
May 4 - 5 Spring Fine Art Show
May 4 - 5 Spring Fine Art Show
May 4 Outskirts
May 5 Music at Mera: The Andrew Collins Trio
May 11 - 12 Art in the Attic
May 11 Engelbert Humperdinck & Tom Jones Tribute
May 16 MMLT Talk & AGM
May 24 Birds of a Feather
- IS THIS A PROTEST?
- A Classic Whodunnit Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee at Studio Theatre
- Readers, Writers, and Poets
- Celebrate Indigenous Culture in CP
- Celebrate the ClassicsWith the Arnprior Choir
- 4F Auction Concoction Food, Fun, Fashion & Favourites
- Cheerfully Made Spring Market
- Electrify to Decarbonize Lanark
- Volunteer Forum
- Frankenstein Comes to The Station Theatre
