PTBOFoodie Review: Sam's Place Deli On Hunter

Sam's Place Deli
188 Hunter St. West, Peterborough, Ont.
Hours: Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays

It was just over a year and a half ago that Sam's Place Deli opened its doors and established itself as the new premier deli in town, and today that reputation is still holding as strong as ever. 

Owned and operated by Daniel Fitchko and Sam Sayer, with assistance from one of the Trasheteria's former managers Ted Whelpdale (pictured), Sam's Place has turned from the neighbourhood deli into one of Peterborough's favourite lunch destinations.  This was achieved through great food, amazing customer service, and a willingness to go a little farther to please their patrons.  

Upon entering, the restaurant's atmosphere provides the customer with a feeling of comfort. It is decorated with old and amusing framed posters, and in the front window hangs a stained glass pane which casts a beautiful light through the dining area. The highlight of the decor is the extensive collection of unique shaped salt and pepper shakers which line the counter, and are fascinating to look at while waiting for your sandwich. You won't have to admire for long though, as the cooks at Sam's Place will generally have your meal done in no time at all.

Sam's Place also decorates with one other thing that is important to Peterborough: news of the surrounding area. On your way in (or out) of Sam's, you can grab one of several pamphlets which discuss everything from local events to environment impact reports that are informative and great to read if you are passionate about the Peterborough and Kawartha area. Sam's Place is run by people who care about Peterborough, for people who care about what they eat in Peterborough.

The appeal of Sam's Place doesn't just come from its friendly atmosphere however, but from the staff's knowledge that the people of Peterborough want a fresh, fully house-prepared sandwich that meets almost any standard. 

There are a plethora of house sandwiches for any picky eater, from the massive BBQ Beef Brisket pulled to perfection, to the aptly named Piggy with all the fixings. The menu is spiced up even further by the daily addition of a special sandwich that is posted to their Twitter feed so that anyone can find out and go down to Hunter St. These specials are usually gone by early afternoon however, because of the increasing demand for their sandwiches, and their smart use of marketing strategies.  

Meals cost between $7 to $13, with the latter price including a freshly prepared side and beverage to go with your sandwich. The side dishes range from baked beans cooked down with meat, to a potato salad that had one patron so enthused he told his mother that it was better than hers and made her travel from Kingston to sample the truth.

Whichever way you go, you won't leave Sam's Place Deli unsatisfied or with an empty stomach.  

—reviewed by PtboCanada's food columnist Matt Ferguson

PtboCanada's new food reviewer Matthew Ferguson has a passion for food and cooking. Matt's worked at several establishments in town, both cooking and managing in kitchens, and now plans to insight Peterborough to have the same love for food that he does. Follow him on Twitter @PtboFoodie.

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Job Fair This Weekend For New Restaurant Being Started By Reggie's Owners

As seen on their Facebook page, Reg Maranda and Cameron Green, owners of Reggie's and El Camino's, will be running a job fair this weekend.

The job fair is in search of a new team for their latest venture—a new sit-down restaurant to open up later in June at the corner of Hunter and Aylmer Streets. 

Here's the info below from their Facebook page:

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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PtboPic: Construction of The Keg At Lansdowne Place Is Beginning

Work has begun on building Peterborough's The Keg Steakhouse & Bar in the Lansdowne Place parking lot. Construction should be complete by the Fall, and it is slated to open in October sources tell us.

The Keg Steakhouse & Bar in @Ptbo_Canada is looking for Assistant Managers bit.ly/KtYfQy

— Peterborough Careers (@Ptbo_Careers) May 4, 2012

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Backroom Briefing Q: What Kind Of Social Issues Do You Deal With At City Hall?

Q: We’ve had high unemployment and prices keep going up. What kind of social issues do you deal with through the Mayor’s Office? –Rennie Marshall

Goyette: Rennie—the person who asked this question—was a candidate for City Councillor in Monaghan Ward in the 2010 municipal election. She is an inveterate political groupie and informed City Hall watcher.  (A Cityhallic?)

Municipal government and its association with the delivery of social services has long been a moving target.

 In Ontario, the first framework for local self government came about as a result of The Municipal Corporations Act of 1849, better known as The Baldwin Act. At the time, cities and towns had a limited role in providing social services that was focused on the funding of charities.  The modern welfare state in Ontario really got underway in the late 19^th Century with the Great Reform government of Oliver Mowat, at a time when poverty was associated with a moral failing that was remedied by “Houses of Industry and Refuge”—the original poorhouses—or jail.  

Toronto hired its first “Relief Officer” in 1893. Compassion for First World War disabled soldiers and their families led to the introduction of a number of social services such as Mother’s Allowance and the first public pensions, as did the Great Depression that gave rise to a variety of employment related benefits. Civil and human rights movements have propelled the modern municipal agenda that now includes social assistance, housing, hostels, employment, counselling, child care, wage subsidy, nursing and homemaking—the bulk of which are mandatory and cost-shared between the City and the province.

When people ask what issues we deal with in the Mayor’s office, my answer is all of them. Our role in the field of social services is to provide cooperative leadership in setting an agenda, choosing priorities, finding the balance between compassion and fiscal responsibility, reviewing reports and agendas, liaising with staff, preparing reports and motions, advocating with other levels of government, communicating the City’s plans and programs, and carrying out constituent relations.  

It’s this last category of social service that Rennie likely has in mind. People communicate with the Mayor every day, and some of them do so in person and unannounced. On their arrival at the Office—which they often see as a place of last resort—they are sometimes confused, resigned or despondent. Some recent examples we have dealt with involve personal issues of homelessness, food, inability to pay bills, family violence, child custody, depression, addiction and banishment from agencies. (There are also the angry, like the person who mailed his parking ticket payment to the Mayor in a large, heavy envelope containing 80 carefully and individually wrapped loonies.)

It may come in different forms, but it’s all social service.

---------------

David Goyette is the Executive Assistant to Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett. Email your burning questions for David about City Hall to feedback@ptbocanada.com.

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Here's Mike Judson Showing Why He's The Ultimate Wing Man

Newswatch weather guy Mike Judson ate 18 wings in 120 seconds at East Side Mario's for a Five Counties Children fundraiser yesterday to claim the title of media person who eats the most wings in two minutes.

[Chex Newswatch]

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Store Closings: Dag's Grill

Back in September, we reported that Dag's Grill was going to open up on the corner of Alymer and Hunter. PTBOCanada reader Ryan Ford tipped us off that the restaurant had closed down, and the paperwork in the front window confirms it.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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PTBOCanada's 1st Day of Christmas: Little Lake Musicfest Diner's Card

With Christmas just around the corner, it doesn't have to be expensive or difficult to find a unique little something for that special someone. To help you find a gift, here is PTBOCanada's 12 Days of Christmas - 12 Local Gifts $20 and under.

Day One is Little Lake Musicfest's Diner's Card. For $20 you get a booklet of cards that allow you to "buy one entrée get the second entrée for half price" at 28 different local restaurants.

Drop by the Customer Service Desk at Lansdowne Place to purchase them.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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PtboPics: A Wall Of Movember Support At Reggie's HotGrill

There's still about a week to go for Movember, and here is the wall of support that's still going strong at Reggie's HotGrill. 

Be sure to pop into Reggie's or El Camino's to check out Reg and Cam and the rest of the staff as they continue to grow their Mo's!

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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The Bring Food Home Conference Runs This Thursday To Saturday In Peterborough

From October 27th to 29th, farmers, processors, health care professionals, educators and government officials will be coming together at Trent University for a unique food conference called Bring Food Home 2011: Preparing the Ground for a Sustainable Food System. Conference attendees will be engaged in collaboration to build a food system in Ontario that is responsive to the needs of all.

On Thursday, Bring Food Home will host the "Let’s Talk About Food" event at Showplace. It will feature scholar and food policy expert, Mark Winne; the Director of Sustain UK, Jeanette Longfield; Indigenous scholar and educator, Dawn Morrison; writer and broadcaster Jon Steinman; and a welcome address by Mayor Daryl Bennett. Tickets can be purchased at the Showplace Box office for $12, or $5 for students and seniors.

Conference organizers have been working closely with Farms at Work, a local non-profit that works to keep farmland active and healthy, to provide conference attendees with a range of educational and engaging experiences. A number of other local programs will be making presentations and participating in the conference proceedings.

Peterborough’s local food scene offers wonderful opportunities for conference participants to visit innovative food projects, including By The Bushel Community Food Co-op, JustFood Boxes and Trent’s Seasoned Spoon Café. A bus tour to McLean Berry Farm and Kawartha Country Wines is being offered. Conference attendees will also enjoy the "Feast of Local Flavours" at The Elmhirst Resort, featuring local beers and food made with ingredients from Peterborough and Kawartha area farms.

For more info about the conference, visit Bringfoodhome.com.

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Here Are Some Signs That It's Definitely Fall In The Patch

Signs that Fall has arrived in Peterborough... the windows have gone up at Hot Belly Mama's and The Old Stone Brewing Company for the season. No more enjoying a meal in the summer breeze.

The Reggie's chip truck near Trent University is closed for the season (but don't forget to visit them in East City!).

The Silver Bean Cafe is closed for the season.

The fountain at Millennium Park has been turned off for the season.

Know of other signs that Fall has arrived in the Patch? Send your pics to tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]