An institution burns down
- May 26, 2009 9:47 AM |
- By Kevin Yarr
by Kevin Yarr, CBCNews.ca
Charlottetown's Maid Marian's Diner was gutted by fire last Wednesday night, a total loss.
The story was one of the most read on the CBC website the next day. Not bad for a small town greasy spoon, and you have to wonder what would spark such interest. The fare at Maid Marian's was what you would have expected - turkey dinner, two-for-one cheeseburger nights, pie, milkshakes, eggs for breakfast - but it was well done and reasonably priced.
It created an attraction that defied demographic analysis. Young people knew the breakfast as a hangover cure, some seniors ate three meals a day there, and it was a classic stop for families. When a friend of my eight-year-old daughter asked on the playground Thursday "Who likes Maid Marian's?" only one child needed to be reminded of what it was, and joined all the others in raising her hand.
Maid Marian's was the kind of place that looked like it had been there for as long as anyone could remember, but in fact opened in the late 1980s. That it developed such a sense of permanence, and such loyalty amongst its customers, was not a testament to the food.
At this point many regulars would be reminding me how fabulous the turkey gravy was, how bountiful the breakfast, and how you just couldn't get pie like that anywhere else. Still, I maintain it wasn't about the food. It was about a simple, welcoming atmosphere.
Consider the story of 89-year-old Clifton Stewart, whose breakfast was on the table at Maid Marian's every day at 7 a.m., whether he had arrived yet or not, and who would get a call to make sure he was OK if he was running later than usual.
There are lots of restaurants that serve up basic food for reasonable prices, but the broad-based appeal of Maid Marian's was something special. The business was covered by insurance, and the owners intend to rebuild on the same location. They hope to reopen in September or October.
Canada Games notwithstanding, it will likely be P.E.I.'s biggest party this year.
What restaurant in your town would you miss the most?
About the Authors
- Elizabeth Bridge is a producer with CBC's Digital Archives project. She got her start in the kitchen baking brownies and making fudge but is still trying to get pastry right.
- Andrea Chiu
is an associate producer at CBC Radio Digital. Though she loves to eat, cook and discuss food,
don't ask her to bake. It never turns out well. She tweets as @TOfoodie on Twitter and organizes food and wine events in Toronto called FoodieMeet.
- Amber Hildebrandt
works for CBCNews.ca in Toronto. Growing up on a farm in Manitoba, she acquired an insatiable appetite, but it was during a stint in Japan that she developed her discerning tastebuds and foodie ways.
- Tara Kimura
is a multimedia producer for CBCNews.ca.
- Andree Lau
is a CBC web reporter in Calgary. Her journalism career includes seven years as a CBC-TV reporter. Her own blog called "are you gonna eat that?" chronicles her eating adventures (including sampling snake and camel hoof tendon).
- Jessica Wong
is a CBCNews.ca writer who loves to eat and cook, as well as discuss, read and watch programming about food, sometimes all at once.
- Kevin Yarr
, CBCNews.ca's writer in Prince Edward Island, wrote about food and beer for national and regional magazines before joining the CBC. He acquired a desire for new tastes on his first trip to Europe, and an appreciation of eating locally and in season when he finally settled down on P.E.I.
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Comments (4)
I may live in Ottawa now, but for 13 years I lived in North Bay. My favourite restaurant in North Bay was Greco's. Great pizza and pasta. I also lived for many years in Toronto, and my fave there was California Sandwiches. THE best veal sandwiches I have ever had. Have not been able to find any Italian-slyle veal sandwiches in all of Ottawa. Please enlighten.
This is in reply to Mark Laing's question as to a good Italian-style veal sandwiches. You need to check out Dirienzo's. There are 2 locations, but the one in little Italy off of Preston Street. It's amazing! Ridiculous choice of meats and cheeses, along with wonderful condiments.
The Blue Goose Restaurant in DeSable, along the Trans Canada Highway truly is an institution, an integral part of the South Shore scenery, sitting somewhat quietly at the roadside for over 50 years now. Its charm is partly in its understatement, partly in its timelessness, and in the history vested in it. The late John Matheson, perhaps the third in the line of "Goose" owners, was a gracious man who cultivated roses along the entrance, and if he was taking a moment to tend them when a woman walked toward the door, as likely as not he would ensure she had a perfect rose to mark the visit.
With that longevity and the excellent quality diner fare, somewhat similar to Maid Marion's, it would be a terrible loss to locals and visitors if it should close. Economy aside, the young couple who have run it for almost a decade now seem to be assuring it remains a welcome landmark for ages yet.
True comfort food is served daily at the Ardmore. From fish cakes and brown beans to thick milkshakes and homemade pies the Ardmore has served food that please appetites and souls for decades.