What’s cookin’ in Great Lakes’ new kitchen?
Jerk chicken is proving to be the most popular item on the menu
It’s cooler by the lake.
Great Lakes Brewery (GLB) may sit on the north side of the Gardiner Expressway, but the lake breeze flutters the bright-yellow sails atop its large outdoor patio, which seats 60.
Customers pop into GLB’s retail store for a $5 glass of beer on-tap — today it’s Octopus Wants to Fight IPA, Sunnyside Session IPA, Pompous Ass English Ale, Blonde Lager and its award-winning bestseller, Canuck Pale Ale.
Last month, GLB opened the Wavy Wall Craft Kitchen, a fire engine-red trailer commercial kitchen boasting a double flattop, fryer, oven, three fridges and a meat slicer. “We do handmade food with locally sourced produce and protein,” chef Michael Tucker said.
Jerk chicken is the most popular item on the menu, which includes panzerotti, barbecued ribs, grilled cheese, southern fried chicken and fresh-cut fries.
Wavy Wall, which replaces GLB’s Food Truck Fridays, realizes a lifelong ambition, and is a hit with customers, owner Peter Bulut said.
“I’ve had a lifetime dream of having food service here,” Bulut said of his three-decade, familyowned business in Etobicoke. “Instead of being inside, we’re starting it on the outside.”
Bulut lives his local philoso- phy, selling local — GLB only sells in Ontario — and buying equipment.
Its custom-made120,000-litre beer tanks from Highland Equipment Inc. are located just down the street.
GLB supports the community, including Franklin Horner Community Centre, Daily Bread Food Bank and Furniture Bank.
GLB is one of the oldest independent craft breweries in Canada, said Troy Burtch, GLB’s marketing and communications manager, who led a reporter and photographer on a recent tour. Canadian Brewing Awards named GLB Canadian Brewer of the Year in 2013 and 2014.
Last year, GLB created 105 beers to mark its 30th anniversary, 40 of them in large volume.
GLB is known for its fun beer names on vibrant-coloured cans featuring cartoon characters. People even collect them. Toronto Star retired cartoonist Patrick Corrigan, who still draws the Star’s weekly Saturday cartoon, has designed characters for new GLB beers for the past year.