Vibrancy is on the table for Pentictonsa国际传媒 expanding food scene. Inspired and motivated, a team of talented entrepreneurs have stepped up to the plate, promising delicious horizons of fresh flavours and hipster vibes.
Straight Outta Brooklyn Pizza is set to open on colourful Front Street mid-April. Housed in the former Honey Toast Cafe location, its bold graphics and shiny stainless steel interior stand out from the crowd. Twelve pies are on the roster, baked to order, offered by the slice and by the pie – plus six subs. Here, owners Dom and Frank Morra are recreating their popular Vancouver concept in Penticton. The New York-style pies, known for their thin crust and great ingredients, pay tribute to pizzaiolo Gennaro Lombardi, who set up a pizza shop in New York’s Little Italy in 1905. No strangers to the life of pie, the brothers own the celebrated Via Tevere Pizzeria in Vancouver and five locations of their Brooklyn concept. (They are also silent partners in Penticton’s Pizzeria Tratto Napoletana.) Tratto alum, Tage Deagan – along with his wife Sam Deagan – will be tossing the pies. 66 Front Street,
Construction has begun at 230 Brunswick Street for the new North Star Lager Haus. Behind the concept is the energetic entrepreneur/restaurateur Chris Hurlburt, an ex-Calgarian who鈥檒l be showcasing the world of lager with brewmaster Blair Calibaba at the helm. Six lagers will kick off their portfolio with Western Canadian lager guest taps to round out the pleasure, and another projected 10 to 12 taps celebrating brewing excellence. Matt Wiltshire, ex of Neighbourhood Brewing, will take on front-of-house duties, and chef Tyler Krebs (ex-Tratto and Chulo) will create a fun Asian-inspired and influenced menu that pairs perfectly with lager and pilsners. Think duck confit spring rolls, and gochujang pork belly bites, with variations on dumplings and noodles. Slated to open late spring/early summer, there will be lots of seating both indoors and out, and North Star promises a chill vibe, fun for the whole family.
Over at the 300-block of Main Street, changes are underway in the former SF Greek Market space. Armed with decades of experience in every aspect of the restaurant industry, Joel Gook and husband and chef Charlie Chin will bring a finely-tuned menu to the heritage space with authentic handmade Asian noodles and dumplings along with sandwiches and rotisserie chicken. Plans are for a part lunch counter 鈥 a nod to the spacesa国际传媒 history 鈥 and part convenience store in the style of a New York-style bodega, with great local and Canadian-made products. The name will be Sister Bar & Bodega promising a 鈥渧errrry relaxed, casual vibe鈥 but with serious food. The couple are looking at an August 1st opening, with 鈥渇ingers crossed鈥. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, things are looking up 鈥 or should I say cooking up 鈥 in Naramata. Ashley Selwood of the popular Just Baked coffee shop is set to open 9 Mile Food and Drink at 340 Robinson. 9 Mile, the original name of Naramata (being 9 miles from Penticton), will bring brunch, lunch and pop-up dinners 鈥 and all Selwoodsa国际传媒 favourite things 鈥 to her new space. With counter service and 40 seats including patio seating, there will be a liquor license for wines by the glass and a weekly gin and tonic special. Selwoodsa国际传媒 goal is to create a place with a great vibe for friends to hang out over food and a glass of wine. Proposed opening is mid-April.
Carole Morton and Mike Bernardo are now the sole owners of the iconic Naramata General Store. With a strong focus on supplying all the necessities, find also many fun, surprising and unique items including exceptional wine offerings and over 100 variations of rice crispie squares. Howsa国际传媒 that for eclectic? Summer will bring soft-serve ice cream, cotton candy and fresh popcorn. Lately Bernardo is applying his cooking talents to creating batches of butter chicken and cumin basmati rice for convenient heat-and-serve meals.
New life is being given to the restaurant at the Naramata Inn set to reopen May 16th. Respected hospitality pros Christopher Royal (Tratto and Chulo) and Michael Ziff (ex-The Restaurant at Poplar Grove and Vancouversa国际传媒 Michelin-starred St. Lawrence) have joined forces to refresh the historic property as a country inn, in the style of a French auberge. The restaurant will be reborn as a bistro 鈥 name still to be decided as of this writing 鈥 a welcoming and accessible room featuring classic French dishes emphasizing affordability, quality and approachability. The chef with serious chops for this welcome venture is Steve Ramey. You might know him from Tratto and Chulo but his pedigree stems from four-and-a-half years as sous chef at nationally celebrated Hawksworth Restaurant.
鈥淲e want the Inn to be an anchor for the community, 鈥渆xplains Ziff. 鈥淎 place where locals and visitors alike can gather over great food, excellent wine and warm hospitality 鈥 without pretense.鈥
Hours are slated for five days a week, Thursday to Monday, noon to 8 p.m. (Meaning you can pop in for a late lunch/early dinner/pit stop at 3 p.m., and enjoy something 鈥榙茅licieux鈥). The wine list will be focused on BC and France with a concise cocktail and beer program to round out the libations.
鈥淲e want to honour the foundation that owners Paul (Hollands) and Maria (Wiesner) have built,鈥 says Royal. 鈥淥ur goal is to carry forward that spirit while bringing our own perspective 鈥 one that embraces the essence of an auberge 鈥 a welcoming, relaxed and deeply satisfying dining experience.鈥
The project will be viewed as a pop-up, a way to test the waters 鈥 a smart decision given the risks of the restaurant business. 鈥淚f it works,鈥 says Royal, 鈥渢heresa国际传媒 an option to renew as an ongoing, yearly, six-month lease.鈥
Testing the waters as a customer can鈥檛 come soon enough!
