Smoked Chickens, Oyster Stalls, Fusion Pop-ups & Other County Takeovers

Here in PEC, we are totally obsessed with our food pop-ups and kitchen takeovers. Chances are, if you’re headed out somewhere cool in the County in high season, there will be some form of makeshift kitchen on the premises cooking up something serious. Head out to a winery and there’s an oyster stall. Stop at a brewery and someone exciting has commandeered their kitchen for the day. If you’re at a festival, it’s anyone’s bet, but you can be pretty sure some mobile culinary delight will make your heart beat faster.

“It’s not that hot” says Grant van Gameren, handing me the hottest pepper of all time.

Spontaneous food is a big part of the County scene, and while some locals follow our faves, you never know which rockstar chefs will launch a pop-up or cameo in their fave local stands. A few years ago, we spotted the late, great John Bil (Honest Weight) slow roasting a pig at Hinterland Winery, then shucking oysters at Norman Hardie. Last year, Grant van Gameren (Bar Raval, Bar Isabel, Tennessee Tavern, Quetzal) and David MacMillan (Joe Beef, Liverpool House, Le Vin Papillon) flipped sausages and hot peppers together on the smoker outside Waupoos Winery Restaurant. Former Le Sélect chef Albert Ponzo (chef at the much anticipated Royal Hotel in PEC) flexes his fingers at numerous County events, while Jamie Kennedy can be found tossing the perfect frites at Wellington Market and other local events.

If you’re looking to get in on this culinary action, here’s an alphabetical list of popular PEC Pop-ups and Kitchen Takeovers—but in the County anything goes, so make sure to check in with their websites or the ‘gram for updated appearances and listings. Bon Appetit!

Big Mikes BBQ

Website | Instagram

Barley Days Brewery, Fridays to Tuesdays (closed Wed, Thurs) 12-5pm, April to November
Midtown Brewing Co, Tuesday Takeover (third Tues of month)
The Hayloft Dancehall July 28th, 8pm-close
Fermentation Festival (Crystal Palace), August 4th
True North Beer Festival (Loch Sloy), August 10th-11th
TASTE Festival, (Loch Sloy) September 22nd
Homegrown Beer Festival (Picton Fairgrounds), October 27th

Bottle Rocket Southern

Website | Instagram

Keint-He Winery, All Season

El Taco

Website | Instagram

Three Dog Winery, Fridays 12-4pm
County Up Market (Picton), Saturdays 9am-1pm
Kinsip Distillery, June 24th, July 8th, 22nd, August 5th, 19th
Apple Falls Cider/Campbell’s Orchard, June 17
Various Pop-ups on Sundays

Flossie’s Sandwiches

Website | Instagram

The Vic Cafe, every other Thursday
Old Greenhouse Ice Cream Shop  (Wellington), Fridays
Traynor Family Vineyard, Occasional Saturdays

Guapos Cantina

Website | Instagram

The Vic Cafe every other Monday (starting June 25th) 5-9pm
Midtown Brewing Co, Takeover Tuesday, first Tuesday of the Month
Sandbanks Food & Wine Festival, July 21-22

Idle Wild

Website | Instagram

Sandbanks Winery, Tuesday-Thursday 11:30am-5pm, Friday 11:30-7pm (Food truck)
Wellington Farmers Market, Saturdays (the occasional Sunday)
Midtown Brewing Co., Takeover Tuesday (one date monthly)
Other local festivals & events

JERKebago

Website | Instagram

Carrying Place Location (22178 Loyalist Pkwy), June, Thursday-Sunday, 12-7pm
Prince Eddy’s Brewing Co. June Pop-up on Saturdays and Sunday 12-7pm

Outlet Food Co.

Website | Instagram

The June Motel, Fridays 5-9pm
Wellington Farmers Market, Saturdays 8am-1pm, Sundays 12-4pm
Trail Estate Winery, Saturdays 3-6pm (Oyster happy hour)
Kinsip Distillery, Alternating Sundays 11am-2pm (Starting July 1st)
The Vic Cafe, July 5th 5-9pm
Hayloft Dancehall July 7th, 14th (bar food, show snacks)

PicnicPEC

Website | Instagram

Midtown Brewing Co, Tuesday Takeover (2nd Tuesday of the Month)
Wellington Farmers Market(Every Saturday in July)
Sandbanks Music Festival, September 16th
TASTE Festival, September 22nd

Smokin’ Rednex

Website | Instagram

Del-Gatto Winery, June 28th
Kinsip Distillery, June 29th, July 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
Lacey Estates, June 29, 30th, July 1st, 2nd
Traynor Family Vineyard, July 7th, 8th, 28th, 29th
Broken Stone, July 12th, 19th
Chadsey Cairns Winery, July 14th, 15th
Long Dog Winery, August TBD

 

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