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New Downtown Doughnut Shop 'Tragically Dipped' Becomes Instant Hit
/Arriving early for a bite at local downtown doughnut shop Tragically Dipped may be a good idea as the new joint sees daily sellouts since its soft opening last week Wednesday.
The name “Tragically Dipped” is an homage to the popular Canadian band “The Tragically Hip” and also references Frampton’s past work as a biohazard technician. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
"We were sold every day last week and we're sold out for pre-orders every day this week," said Mike Frampton, Tragically Dipped owner.
The new business owner says he makes roughly 485 doughnuts a day for preorders. He makes them available on Mondays at 10 a.m. but typically sells out by 4:30 p.m.
Frampton is overjoyed by the customer base and volume he’s attracted in his first week open.
"I couldn't have asked it to be busier so no complaints,” he said. “It's exactly what I wanted it to do and it's doing it."
Frampton’s doughnuts are all nut-free including tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, etc.). Some doughnuts include gluten-free crullers, fritters, Boston cream, lemon-filled, jelly-filled, maple and honey dips that are available on rotation.
The shop also sells coffee and tea with homebrew options.
Frampton started the business as a change of direction and a mental health break from his previous job. He was a biohazard technician for 15 years, cleaning up contagions such as death scenes or hoarders’ homes.
The doughnut entrepreneur said he was finished with his past career’s trauma and wanted to go from ‘death to doughnuts.’
"Everyone in the city would know me as the 'death guy' before this and now I'm the 'donut guy' and I'll take it," he said. "This is so much better for my mental health.”
@ptbo_canada Move over Tim Hortons there’s a new Canadian favourite in town @TragicallyDippedDonut has no-nuts donuts made from scratch every day! #LocalEats #tragicallyhip #CoffeeShop #DonutShop #PTBOCanada ♬ Ahead By A Century - The Tragically Hip
Frampton had the storefront since May last year but ran into roadblocks and financial hiccups before opening last Wednesday.
Prior to the brick-and-mortar store, Frampton operated Tragically Dipped out of a food truck after receiving a $5,000 startup grant from the Peterborough and the Kawartha Economic Development in March last year.
In an effort to bolster and promote the community, Tragically Dipped will host First Friday Art Crawls to invite artists and chefs to do pop-ups to feature their work.
Customers can view local art and purchase it from the artists or enjoy food made by the chefs that come to in Tragically Dipped.
"Chefs to me are just as artistic as someone who is painting," remarked Frampton. "I would host a chef and they would come up with maybe a fun doughnut-themed or maybe not and we'd do food here and art."
The new entrepreneur thought his vision of a doughnut shop was not going to happen but was relieved to finally get his store open. He was overwhelmed by the response and publicity he received after his first week of business.
"This city is everything to me so to be able to do this in this city is fantastic. I wouldn't do this anywhere else,” reflected Frampton. “I'm blown away. Every time I peek out that door, there's a lineup of people and we're selling out.”
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Family-Owned Downtown Restaurant "Rare" Is Up For Sale
/After three years of owning Rare, owners Kassy and Tyler Scott have put the business up for sale announced on their social media on Tuesday.
Two couple rebranded the restaurant to “Rare” in less than one year after purchasing the business. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The husband and wife are selling the business since taking over from previous owner Brad Watt — who owns Publican House Brewery — in the summer of 2019. Tyler was hired as a sous chef by Watt in 2013 at the previously named “Rare Grill House” before becoming the executive chef.
Two couple rebranded the restaurant to “Rare” in January 2020.
They are selling Rare to spend more family time with their two daughters and take care of their mental health. The pandemic was an influence on the decision but ‘not in ways most people would think’ according to the couple. It gave them time to reflect and meditate to recognize what means the most to them.
The two work tirelessly in the restaurant. Kassy works social media, marketing and in-house duties for the restaurant. Tyler worked roughly 80-hour weeks in a six-day span which barely affords him any time to see his children.
“Being able to have evenings, for now, to be able to spend with them as they grow is going to be really refreshing and really important,” said Tyler.
"Our kids are so involved in what we do here," said Kassy. "We look around this space and there's a memory that somebody can't see. Our kids have never known a relationship with their dad outside of their dad being a chef and working super hard in this industry doing super cool things."
The couple wanted to shift their professional focus and rekindle their love for nature in their new “outdoor guided culinary experience” venture called Rare Escape.
They started this endeavour to help tell stories of local food systems including how nature plays a role in getting what you eat to a table.
"A restaurant is a great place to experience each other and experience company and intimacy," said Tyler. "It's a bit of a different setting where you can go and experience your own thoughts and own connections to nature. It's about experiencing nothing else but your own feelings."
The two have stressed that they are not leaving the community since the restaurant’s mandate and philosophy is to support local as much as possible. Their new venture gives them a new outlet to support the surrounding area while leaving behind an outlet for someone to continue that motto.
"We are engraved in this community,” said Kassy. ‘We are going to continue supporting local and to find special ways to implement our community and in our next step and adventures.”
The couple has received inquiries about the business’s sale however they will provide updates on if and when it gets sold.
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Downtown Restaurant Adds A Side of Drag Queens to Sunday Brunch
/Peterborough’s newest restaurant, “The EL[P]” added some glitz and glamour to their weekend service as they hosted two sold-out drag brunch events on Sunday.
The EL [P] had its grand opening on March 2. The da Silvas also rented the former Olde Stone property but unknown to what it will be. Photo by Luke Best.
The event, “Hot As EL,” had an all-ages 11 a.m. show followed by an adults-only version at 1 p.m. Both were hosted by Just Janis and featured three additional drag queens, Banshee Waylon, Sahira Q and Betty Baker.
“We had worked with Betty Baker over in Cobourg and we had three drag brunches there already and it’s always been phenomenal,” said Greg da Silva, The EL [P] co-owner. ”It’s just great energy and we really appreciate it. When Janice reached out to us and asked us if we want to do it, we’re ‘like yeah, of course, we’re down.’”
The drag queens paraded around the venue during the sold-out shows, lip-syncing and dancing to songs. Guests enjoyed their meal and offered up cash tips to the performers. The closing performance was a group number to the song “Time Warp” that had the audience dancing beside the drag queens.
“I have to say they’re kind of the leaders of doing safe shows throughout the pandemic and it’s just so much fun,” says Shawna Blackwood, who brought her mother with her to see the show. ”You come here and there’s just pure joy.”
Drag performances were on-and-off during the pandemic as Peterborough’s queens often cancelled their shows. Performers found it challenging to lip-sync with a mask and preferred not to cover their makeup after spending hours on it.
The EL [P] is located downtown on 378 George St. N., Hot Belly Mama’s former location. Owned by wife and husband Amanda and Greg da Silva, The EL [P] is a sister restaurant of their other location in Cobourg, called “The El.”
“We’re new to Peterborough and the community has seemed to embrace us,” said Greg. We’ve been open for just over 10 days and it’s going great!”
Peterborough has had successful drag shows with a sold-out show at the Gordon Best Theatre last weekend with Icesis Couture — Canada’s Drag Race’s second-season winner — in attendance. PTBO Live Summer Concert Series hosted its first drag show at the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot on July 24 last year.
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Foodie Friday: The Pastry Peddler Incorporating Bicycles and Going From the Farmer's Market to a Bakery and Café
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We talk with co-owners Deanna Bell and Colin Hall of the Pastry Peddler about starting from the Farmer's Market into a Millbrook café, being a cyclist hotspot and how bicycles became the icon for the bakery.
@ptbo_canada Check out The Pastry Peddler in Millbrook Ontario #foodie #PTBOCanada #FoodTok #PastryTok ♬ France - Paris Cafe Society
Local Restaurants Planning First Super Bowl Weekend Under COVID-19 Restrictions
/Since the Ontario Government lifted restrictions for in-house dining on Jan. 17 at half capacity, local restaurant owners are excited to be open for Super Bowl Sunday weekend.
This is the first Super Bowl that Ontario will have in-house dining under COVID-19 restrictions. Last year, restaurants were only available for take-out and delivery. In 2019, they operated at full capacity, one month before the province went into lockdown. In spite of the restrictions, restaurants have made more food orders — especially chicken wings and beer — in preparation for the event.
Maple Moose Pub opened last year and will host its first Super Bowl weekend in Peterborough. Angie Poucher, general manager says despite the restrictions, the exciting atmosphere for restaurants will be present.
"It's definitely going to be more exciting. A big difference between watching the Super Bowl at home with your friends and being in a bar is the dynamic," said Poucher. "You almost get that energy like you're at the game. Like you're in the stadium because it's loud. Every TV will be on the Super Bowl and it will be cranked."
Other restaurants that have been in Peterborough for several years are thankful to be open for dine-in regardless of the restrictions.
"It's an amazing feeling (to be open) with what we've been through,” said Franz Roessl, One-Eighty owner. "It's good to see people back and definitely here to celebrate the Super Bowl. It’s nice to see people come through the doors again."
"It's nice to get back to normality, I think that's a huge thing on everyone's radar," said Addison Brown, Dr. J's BBQ & Brews owner. "To be able to have people in here, separated with their friends, having drinks, watching great football and enjoying barbeque, nothing goes better than football, barbeque and beers."
However, the restrictions have created challenges and obstacles for some owners. Staffing, omitted features and short-notice planning were examples some owners had to face.
"With the limited tables, I only need so many servers and the bad side of this is a lot of servers haven't been brought back just because there's not a ton of work for them right now," said Roessl. “Once these restrictions open up a bit, it'll help us out.”
One Eighty is not doing their annual outdoor pig roast as a result of the half-capacity seating.
