Woody Burger & Pizzeria (Havelock, ON)

"You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of taste. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination and your taste buds. That's the signpost up ahead--your next stop, Woody Burger and Pizzeria in Havelock!" (with apologies to Rod Serling)

Woody Burger & Pizzeria (102 Ottawa Street, E.  Havelock). 

I love an egg on my burger. Fried, over medium.  

And I get putting Canadian bacon on the burger (yes, please) and a jalapeño (I am from Texas).  More protein and some kick. Thank you.  

But peanut butter?  How did that conversation go?  

"Hey, this burger is kicking, but what this thing really needs is....peanut butter."  

Who does that?  

Apparently Woody does when you order the Craig Burger.  And I gotta say--it works. 

Not only does it work, but it may be one of the best burgers I ever had.  Top it off with perfect onion rings and good grief, that was ridiculous.  As in ridiculously good. My feet were doing a happy dance under the table.

The consensus of our group that ordered burgers, pizza, and a wrap was, "OK, this might be the best money we've spent."  Keep in mind my oldest son works in a pizza joint and he raved about the pizza. My wife, who is gluten free, really appreciated the gluten free bun, toasted.  

Looking over the website, it's obvious the owners, the Wood family, really care about Havelock, the hockey team, and contributing to the community. It's great to see a local business engage like that with the community.  

Yes, you need to go.  Worth the trip from anywhere. Even Texas. 

 

Theo's Pizzeria (Marmora) & Wildflower Bakery & Cafe (Havelock)

 Today's adventures took me away from Campbellford for the most part, but still in the area.  

Theo's Pizzeria (20 Forsyth Street, Marmora)

We poked around Marmora a bit this morning as we consider communities in the area for a move. Along the way we popped into Theo's Pizzeria. When I am away from Texas and in the north in general, I get pizza when I can. 

Why? 

There is not much good pizza in Texas. Tex Mex?  Yes.  Smoked brisket? Absolutely! Pizza? Not so much. 

Theo's has got it going on.  

My daughter is a perennial pepperoni fan, as most kids are. So we ordered a medium pie, half pepperoni and half barbecue chicken (the favorite of the woman who took my order).  Both my daughter and the employee know what's good.  Fantastic crusts, nice blend of spice, and perfectly done. Nice work.  

My wife went for the healthy option and got a salad, that she raved over. I sampled the olives (she doesn't eat them).  

We will be back. Hopefully.  

Wildflower Bakery & Cafe (4 Oak Street, Havelock)

Well, this is a bummer. Not because it was a bad experience--it was wonderful. 

I stopped in this morning shortly after it opened and had a wonderful blueberry danish and a mocha. The pastry was flaky on the edges and moist inside--perfect. And it all went down smoothly with the mocha. 

It's a bummer because a quick look at their Facebook profile reveals that the owners are looking to sell the business.  

I've been there and done that and know how painful that can be.  Especially when you've poured your soul into it and into the community.  Judging from the comment section, they've done exactly that. 

I hope they can meet their own goal of transitioning the business to new owners.  It would be a shame to lose this.  

Ice Cream Cafe, The Cheese Trap, Pizzaz Campbellford

Today we got our fair passes for the Campbellford Fair and while we were in town we stopped in a few places that I want to comment on.  

The Cheese Trap (13 Park Way)

  

This is a new restaurant in Campbellford that is just a couple of months old.  We (my wife, my daughter and I) stopped in while we were doing laundry next door at the laundromat and had lunch. I don't think I've ever seen a restaurant that specializes in something like 50+ gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.  Also mac and cheese, and a bunch of interesting sides (sorry, I should have taken a pic of the menu).  

My wife had a gluten-free Mac and cheese (full size) and my daughter had a regular gluten-packed side serving (enough for a seven year old).  I had a grilled Mac and cheese sandwich with pulled pork and a spicy barbecue sauce on rye that was fantastic.  The Mac and cheese servings were excellent; the cheese was a sharp cheese and according to Kim was "really nice."  The sauce was actually cheesy and creamy.  We highly recommend it.  

Ice Cream Cafe (48 Bridge Street)

For dessert?  Ice cream!!  

Ice Cream Cafe opened during the pandemic and has survived and is apparently thriving at the present time. The flavors today were all from Kawartha Dairy.  My daughter had cotton candy with rainbow sprinkles (she's seven), my wife had salted caramel and I had espresso ice cream in a homemade chocolate waffle cone (which was amazing by itself, and well worth the visit).  

Kawartha Dairy is known for its excellent ice cream and is a Canadian institution going back to 1937. 

Pizzazz Campbellford (

Pizzaz is an antique\collectible shop on Bridge Street, and sits prominently on the corner after you cross the bridge.  It's billed on Facebook as "A multi-vendor market offering a mix of shabby chic, home decor and collectibles."  When I visit a shop like this, I am looking for only one thing--used books. While there is not a ton of books since the shop focuses more on decor, I DID find a title I have in my library in a different format (three volume). As any book collector knows, having a title in an unusual format is desirable, especially if it is specially illustrated. I found a book on Biblical geography (1864) and customs in a single volume edition which is illustrated with what appears to include hand colored steel plate illustrations.  I will have to do more research on it when I get home (it may be lithographed in color). But I was tickled at the price tag: $5 Canadian.  

Arrival, Traditions and Trent Hills

We arrived in the Trent Hills area on Thursday and have had a great time so far.  We have not made it out to Campbellford yet (that changes tomorrow--woohoo!!). 

It's been a busy weekend visiting friends and meeting new ones. We went to a local beach at one of the lakes and had a great time cooling off in the unusual heat on Friday (we are from Texas--we did not expect Ontario to feel like Texas).  

On Saturday we met some new friends in Peterborough and saw a little bit of that city. We didn't have much time to explore the city, but what we did see appears to be a fascinating university town and the local used bookstores are calling my name.  Our friends got us some excellent pizza (there is no good pizza in Texas, but there IS in Peterborough).  

Today (Sunday) we went to church.  What churches do you recommend in the Trent Hills area?  

This morning I met a man on my morning walk. He's lived in the area his entire life and is in his eighties. As he walked his dog, I walked with him and we talked about his life, the heat, his family (children, grand children, great grand children) and the changes in his own neighborhood. We agreed that social media and smart phones have destroyed the sense of community in the small towns that make up Trent Hills. He spoke of old traditions in his town that have died, and what this generation misses by not having them. 

With the approach of the Campbellford Fair it got me thinking...what does it take to preserve an event--a tradition--like the Campbellford Fair?  

Maybe it'll mean turning your phone off, investing some time (and the admission price) to go to the Fair, meet your neighbors, buy their wares, and learn about the community.  Maybe you are a new resident and haven't spent much time getting to know anyone yet--this is the time! 

It's a small step, going to a community fair. But it's the kind of step that could start a family tradition--goong to the Fair. And maybe it will spiral into other community traditions--supporting your neighborhood, knowing your neighbors, and building traditions for generations to come. 

What traditions in Trent Hills exist only in memory? Why do you miss them?  Could they be brought back? 

Who's Going to The Campbellford Fair???

 

               I'll be there. 

What are the "not to be missed" events, food, and vendors?  I mean, I have never been before, so help a guy out.  

Looking over the website, these will be worth checking out, IMHO: 

The Demolition Derby, Tractor Pull and Lawn Tractor Racing. 

I watched some old video on YouTube from a previous Demolition Derby.  Y'all crazy.  My kind of people. 

The Midway.  

OK, I am a kid at heart. 

Tim Burr Circus Lumberjack Show

I don't know Tim Burr, have never seen a lumberjack at a circus and didn't know they put on shows.  I am there.

Petting Zoo

There's a petting zoo.  I know where my daughter will be.

Horse Pull

Sounds like a tractor pull without the machinery.  Horse power.  

Campbellford's Got Talent

This could be fun.  Since I have none, I can go and dream about having talent.

Zucchini Hot Rod Building Workshop

I do not know what this is. But if it results in a zucchini race....

The Eyrie Birds of Prey

I like hawks, eagles, owls, etc., etc. 

Zucchini Hot Dog Races

A-ha!  There ARE races.  Alrighty then.

Children's Pedal Tractor Pull

Hey, it's kids on pedal tractors. Something will happen. 

Homecraft Quilt Draw

Sounds like I could win something.  

Welcome Campbellford Fans.

 If you're a fan of Campbellford, welcome. If not, what are you doing here?  😁

This page has been created to introduce you (and me) to the best Campbellford has to offer. 

Me? I am just getting to know the place. But this will be the record of my own first impressions, experiences, stories, and encounters with the people, places, and things that make up Campbellford and the larger Trent Hills region. 

It seems like a lot to take on. It's not Toronto (thank God), but a place is measured by a lot more than the size. The character of a place is made up of its people. It's not brick and mortar or even geography or scenery--it's people. People matter. 

Speaking of people, I am married to Kim (33 years), we have five kids and three grand babies.  Three of my kids will be coming along with us if we move. 

I am coming to Campbellford in August 2024 for a visit. I've been here once before, and was fascinated. I am thinking about moving my family here. It's a big move. I'll talk about that here.  While I am visiting I am going to write up some of my experiences and stories of people I meet.I expect that will help me figure out if this is a good idea or whacked. 

So here's some homework. 

1. Send me a message and tell me why I SHOULD move here. 
2. Send me a message and tell me why I should stay away. 
3. Tell me about how you ended up in Campbellford\Trent Hills.
4. Tell me what you love about your community. 

In this blog, we'll talk about what makes this community. Along the way, we will talk about the big issues in life--things that matter to you and your family. 

And maybe we will meet someday in Campbellford. And you can tell me your story yourself and I'll tell you mine. And you can help me figure out life in Campbellford.