Countylicious event supports local restaurants, food producers

By Victoria Caminha

PICTON – Restaurants in Prince Edward County are once again participating in Countylicious, which features 15 eateries offering special menus.

The event, now more than a decade old, runs until Nov. 22

The pandemic prevented Countylicious being held in 2020 and 2021 , but this year it’s back with each restaurant offering a prix fixe exclusive menu featuring more than 55 local producers. Prices variety from $20 to $60 and include an appetizer, main course and dessert.

“Countylicious has always been designed as a promotion to support local restaurants, particularly in … quieter seasons,” Samantha Mills, head of digital marketing and communication for Visit the County, told QNet News Wednesday. It also focuses on locally produced products, she said.

“While we’re at this sort of tail end of the high agricultural season, we have lots of really great local producers featured on all of these menus.”

In addition to helping local businesses, Mills said, “it’s always been about trying to get the local community (to come) out and dine in the restaurants. After the busy summer period, it’s kind of a bit of a relief. We can get out and dine at a great price point.”

This year’s Countylicious started Nov. 2, and Mills said there is already good feedback from the restaurants. “They had lots of reservations already booked in for the Countylicious period. So it’s great to see that.”

Vickie Worlidge, owner of the 7 Numbers restaurant in Picton, told QNet, “I definitely feel like it attracts people. It gives the local community a chance to come out and support restaurants..

“Our summers are so busy that locals don’t always get to try restaurants. They just stay away. So now is a perfect time.”

Countylicious has been around since 2009.

“I’ve been here (in the County) for a long time,” Worlidge said. “I’ve participated, I’ve worked at Countylicious, and I’ve been a customer. It really is a local tradition to help the restaurants, help the farmers, just kind of boost it in the lower season.”

According to Jay McColl, head chef of 7 Numbers, “It’s already brought in more guests than normally” would have visited during this season.

Countylicious menus are based what’s local and available, he said .

In his own case, “I just recently learned about a local ostrich farm and I kind of wanted to play with that. It’s just kind of seasonal comfort food.”

Participating restaurants include Countylicious veterans Bloomfield Public House, Drake Devonshire, Flame + Smith, Hartleys Tavern, Merrill House, 7 Numbers, The Waring House, and Waupoos Estates Winery, as well as eateries new to Countylicious such as Bocado, Creekside Cafe, Matron Fine Beer, Onesta, Parsons Brewing, Stella’s Eatery, and The Royal Hotel.

Mills said, “We’d love to see people come out from the broader community to dine with us here in the County.”