Friday 6 December 2013

Holiday Hours

Please take note of our 2013 holiday hours:

Friday, December 13 - CLOSED for a private function

Sunday, December 22 - Wednesday, December 25 - CLOSED for our holiday break
Thursday, December 26 - OPEN 6 pm - 12 am

Tuesday, December 31, new year's eve - OPEN 7 pm - 2 am - info about our new year's eve specials to be posted soon!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014 - CLOSED


Tuesday 22 October 2013

TIKI ZOMBIE FREAKOUT

The zombie party of the year is happening at Le Petit Bar, Thursday, October 31

10pm no cover
Best irradiated zombie costume prizes
Tiki tiki tiki

Tuesday 15 October 2013

We're hiring

October 15, 2013

Le Petit Bar is looking for part time staff (2-3 shifts per week)


We are looking for a competent server/bartender, good problem solver and team player. Must have three years of serving/bartending experience. Talking about and serving wine is a major part of this position, as is mixing cocktails and tending bar while waiting tables. Must be available weekends and late nights. Experience serving wine and wine knowledge is an asset. Any previous kitchen experience is an asset, as you will be expected to work one shift a week in our kitchen. Interested applicants can drop a resume and cover letter at 399 Water Street, Peterborough, or e-mail to lepetitbar@nexicom.net

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Labour Day weekend hours

Please note a small change to our hours this Labour Day weekend:

Friday, August 30 - 4pm - 2am
Saturday, August 31 - 4pm - 12am (last call at 11:30pm)
Closed Sunday and Monday

Hope you all really enjoy the unofficial last weekend of the summer. We look forward to seeing you in September!



Monday 19 August 2013

Closed for private party, Tuesday August 20

I apologize for any inconvenience, but we will be closed this Tuesday, August 20th for a private party.

Please visit us a different day this week. We'll be open for regular hours Wednesday through Saturday:

Wednesday 4pm - 12am
Thursday 4pm - 1am
Friday and Saturday 4pm - 2am

-Shannon and staff

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Sorry, we can't answer your call! Or return your message!

We are currently without a telephone. We'll have the issue sorted out within 24 hours, but we are unable to receive calls or check messages. I apologize for any inconvenience.

S

Monday 22 July 2013

My mind to your mind.

Sure to be another great night at Le Petit Bar.

Spock arrives Thursday, July 25 at 10 pm.

Don't miss DJ Nug, J Bender and DJ Bubble in action!


Monday 15 July 2013

Pop up sausage cart!

For one afternoon ONLY. EVER.

Wednesday, July 17 we'll be serving our famous house-made sausage on a bun from 12 noon till 2 pm.

"pop up" sausage cart
le petit bar 399 water street
july 17 from 12 - 2pm

Don't miss us!


Tuesday 2 July 2013

Summertime 2013

Here we are... into our second year and our second summer open!

We hope summer has been good to you so far. We're having a good time at Le Petit Bar.

We had a blast at Taste of Downtown - always nice to see our friends in the industry and meet some new customers.

Our summer cocktail list is the best we've put forth so far. People are going crazy for the Maple Bourbon Sour (Four Roses bourbon, maple whiskey liqueur, fresh lemon and egg white), the Dark & Stormy (El Dorado 12 year aged rum, fresh lime and ginger beer), the Shandygaff Francais (St Germain elderflower liqueur, Blanche de Chambly and ginger beer), and the Ambrosia (Stolichnaya vodka, Aperol, fresh lemon and prosecco).

If you haven't been in in a while, you haven't tried our new food menu items - and they're delish! The Curried Oeufs Mayonnaise have really been popular - often described as "the best deviled eggs I've ever had". The Tuna Tartar is proving to be another crowd pleaser, and of course, we're always trying to source and serve interesting and delicious charcuterie and cheese. Don't miss the Bresaola from Niagara Foods: brined and salt-cured certified organic beef from Niagara - it tastes like perfectly seasoned beef carpaccio.

We're transitioning into our summer wine list, which means crisp, refreshing whites and light, juicy reds. Favourites include:

2009 Clare Hills Riesling, Clare Valley Australia - German-style dry Riesling, bold lime, lemon and orange blossom flavours, piercing mineral notes, zesty acidity, elegant and sophisticated, a real bargain at $8/glass

2011 Champalou Vouvray Sec, France - beautiful, very slightly off-dry Chenin Blanc. Tropical and orchard fruits, well balanced, delicate lingering finish.

2012 Domaine Roncee Cuvee Marie Justine Rose, Chinon, France - salmon coloured Cabernet Franc. Strawberries, peach & rose water. Concentrated fruit on the palate, refreshing, dry and delicious. So good.

2011 Whoa Nelly! Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon - really great example of Oregon Pinot Noir and a great value wine. Classic earthy Pinot Noir notes of cherry, warm spices and flora. Very light, but flavourful.

2012 Raisins Gaulois, France - mostly cru Beaujolais fruit, which means quality Gamay Noir. If you've only had Gamay Noir in the form of Beaujolais Nouveau, this wine will shock you. Brambly fruits - cassis, blueberry, blackberry. Very juicy, light-medium bodied red.

Our favourite wines move fast, so don't delay! Hope we see you soon.

Thursday 13 June 2013

Taste of Downtown

We're participating in the Taste of Downtown on Charlotte Street this Saturday, June 15.

As a result we'll be opening one hour later than normal. Our Saturday hours will be 5pm - 2am.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Art Pop

Another great dance party brought to you by Le Petit Bar, DJ El Yacht and DJ Golden Boy


Friday 26 April 2013

One year in...

This week marked one year of Le Petit Bar. Seems like a good time to look back and share some thoughts about our first year. It's always challenging and very rewarding.

I feel embraced by the Peterborough community, and to hear our customers say they are happy we're here is just the best.

When we started this project a little more than a year ago, the idea of introducing Peterborough to something new was a little scary. What if no one liked it? What if the timing is bad? What if it fails... ... ... ?

Of course, these fears still weigh on me, but a little less heavily day by day. Our customers seem thrilled with the charcuterie and cheese "experience". They are enamoured with Jamie Kohls and his weekly creations. The cocktails have been so well received. Customers are willing, and often enthusiastic, to put their wine selection in our hands and let us introduce them to new grapes, styles and regions.

Unfortunately, I think, from time to time, we still battle the misconception that we are an expensive stuffy wine bar. I think anyone who saddles up to the bar quickly realizes this isn't the case. Sure, you can spend $16 on a glass of wine if you feel so inclined, but you can also find something delicious and interesting for $7 a glass. I believe we've built a comfortable bar where one can enjoy a really, really great glass of wine, a carefully made cocktail, craft beer or some great food. To hear a regular customer refer to Le Petit Bar as their home away from home is one of the best compliments I ever get.

We've successfully made it through year one and we owe a lot to our customers and our incredible staff. Our loyal regulars who have also become friends (Pierre, Jamie, Emma, Gail, Pat, Gavin, Brent, Donna, Tommy, Phil, Dan, Andy and family, our friends at St. Veronus, and the others I am forgetting - I'm sorry!), and of course the staff. Jamie, Katie and Sarie who have stuck with us throughout this first year. I'm having trouble figuring out how to write about how important they are to us. Professional, loyal... we share a great first year with them. We've also been lucky to work with Christopher Wilton - we're always learning from him.

Something very important I have learned is how necessary it is to constantly be evolving. Try new things, experiment, take a risk - anything to stay ahead. Upcoming changes to Le Petit Bar include introducing a seasonal food menu. We've been happy with our changing weekly features list, but we're looking forward to a seasonal menu that we can take time perfecting and that you, our customers, can get familiar with. Look for this change in May. I can't divulge too much yet, but I can tell you that some of your favourite items will become fixtures (at least for approximately three months). We're looking to hire a bartender. We have an opening for part time bartending/wait staff. About two shifts a week, with the potential for more in the future. Mostly weekends and late nights. Three years experience required. If you're reading this and interested, please drop by with a resume. We hope to host more wine events in the future, like our upcoming Cabernet Franc tasting. Making the world of wine more accessible is our goal, and events focused on sharing wine and knowledge are key. We still have a few tickets left for this event. They're available at the bar.

Okay... I think this has been self-indulgent enough ;) Time to wrap this thing up! I'm so glad we made it through our first year. Here's to, hopefully, many more years to come...

xo
Shannon





Thursday 18 April 2013

Exclusive Tutored Cabernet Franc Tasting

Six wines, tasted blind.
Guest panel of Cabernet Franc enthusiasts.
Only 14 tickets left!
Reserve your spot by purchasing your ticket at LPB



Thursday 28 March 2013

Open Easter Weekend

We're open for regular business Friday and Saturday this Easter weekend.

We're closed until 9pm today, Thursday, March 28, for a private function. We'll open at 9 for regular business and Thursdays Sparkle - come see us for $6 sparkling cocktails and premium bottles of bubbles sold by the glass!

Monday 25 March 2013

Closed till 9pm on Thursday, March 28

Please note we are closed to host a private function until 9pm on Thursday, March 28.

We will open at 9pm (open until 1am) for regular business.

We are open our regular hours this week otherwise:
Sunday/Monday - closed
Tuesday - 4pm - 12am
Wednesday - 4pm - 12am
Friday/Saturday - 4pm - 2am

If you are interested in hosting a private function at Le Petit Bar, please give us a call or send us an e-mail. We're happy to speak with you about some options.

705-775-7384
lepetitbar@nexicom.net

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Le P'tit Bar Paris - no relation to Le Petit Bar Peterborough

I took my first week away from Le Petit Bar (pretty pleased to be able to have gone, considering we're still in our first year!) and went over the pond.

Roland and I were in Wales for three days and Paris for three days.

Vising family in middle Wales - a very hobbit-y and beautiful land, populated mostly by sheep - and enjoying some real ales at proper British pubs and some lovely food. We lunched with Roland's family at a fantastic hotel bistro on a scenic lake - I can't remember any place names... they're all in Welsh, which, to me, is a crazy language (not a lot of vowels). I had braised Welsh lamb shank and Roland had a trio of local sausages. It was very much comfort food, but very well prepared with carefully selected, mostly local ingredients. Roland's lovely mum made us a lovely shepherd's pie and had a pile of Welsh cheese in for us to try.

In Paris we saw some sights - walked around the Arc de Triomph, visited the Basilica de Sacre Coeur, toured the Musee d'Orsay - and ate some nice food, particularly at Bistrot Paul Bert. But what I really want to tell you about is Paris' own Le P'tit Bar.

It is hard to find the right words to describe Le P'tit Bar. My experience there was truly surreal... Le P'tit Bar is the most unbelievable bar I've ever been to. I had no idea it existed until after opening our Le Petit Bar in Peterborough - the establishments are completely unrelated. As soon as I learned of its existence it became a destination.

I don't have any photos because the proprietress, Mme Polo, didn't seem too keen when I asked if I could photograph her space. You can find photos of this crazy little place on line and I suggest you check them out.

Le P'tit Bar is a dive bar in the 11th arrondissement, or the Bastille; a somewhat trendy area of the city known for its restaurants and bars. Roland and I stayed in this area, and Le P'tit Bar was just around the corner from us. This little, very very little, bar is no more than a quarter of the size of our Le Petit Bar. The sign has mostly peeled off the awning outside and we would have missed it if we didn't know exactly what we were looking for.

At the time of our arrival there was already one patron at the bar - a fairly intoxicated, somewhat slobbery French fellow - and, so, only enough room left for Roland and I. Seriously. Only enough space for three bodies, plus Mme Polo, her canary and her cat (!). This visit was an experience...

It's very dark inside Le P'tit Bar. And very narrow. Mme Polo tends the bar wearing a pink sweater. She is very small. She is 90 years old. She has been operating Le P'tit Bar seven days a week, from 2pm till 2am, for more than sixty years. She opened the bar with her late husband in the 50s. She is perched behind the bar surrounded by personal belongings. Bags of things. Stacks of paper. Photos. Clothes. Mme Polo might be a hoarder. And it appears she literally lives in her bar.

Her cat, a large male Siamese, is rubbing against the French fellow, looking for attention. Cat jumps up, walks along the bar, and sits on an old-school tape player where, as Roland jokes, "il fait le DJ". The bar top is not very clean. There is just enough room for the three of us to stand at the bar. We take up the length of it, and there is minimal space to even turn around. Cat is DJing and the canary is in his cage behind us. The space smells. Like cat pee, animals, drunks and poor hygiene. Beside Canary is a pile of baguette pieces. I think maybe Mme Polo is drying them to feed to Canary. Beyond the drying baguette is a pile of more of Mme Polo's things, including her dry cleaning still in its plastic bags.

Over the narrow zinc bar is a thatched roof - tiki style. Liquor bottles hang empty behind the bar and (this is for real) Mme Polo is drying Cat's hairballs on these bottles. The bottle labels appear to be from the 70s, and every glass in her bar is very dusty. We have read warnings online to only order bottled beer as "Mme Polo does not like to clean very much".

Lying on the bar, rolling in a sticky pile, is a collection of empty beer bottles. Roland picks one up and says he'll take two. Mme Polo pulls herself up off her seat behind the bar and disappears for five minutes behind a curtain. She returns with two bottles of Belgian beer for Roland and I, and one for the French dude. Dude takes a liking to Roland and wants to get Roland's opinion of Celine Dion. Using our best French we tell Mme Polo she and her bar are famous. She agrees and tells us she meets lots of Canadians, Americans,  Australians... Mme Polo and Le P'tit Bar have become an attraction for tourists looking for something off-the-beaten-path.

While we are in Le P'tit Bar a young guy stops at the window and looks in. It's clear there isn't any space for anymore patrons.

We chat with Mme Polo and Dude, and it's really quite charming, despite being also mildly disgusting. Dude is a bit too drunk and gets a little angry when Mme Polo says he can't have another. He remembers all her old cats, he says, and I start to feel badly for Mme Polo; she's probably dealt with this dude for years, day in and out. We ask her if she's tired, working her little bar non-stop on her own. There isn't anything else she wants to do.

I wonder how she stays open. Only enough room for three bodies at a time. Charging 3 euro for a beer. It's obvious time, and the health inspector, have forgotten about Le P'tit Bar. I do not imagine it is frequented by many locals, with the exception of Dude, and probably a few more dudes like him. You won't find Le P'tit Bar in guidebooks or suggested as a hot spot on many well recommended websites. Ninety-year old Mme Polo has stamina, that's for sure. Much more than I have. It's all very remarkable.

We down our beers and leave. One is enough. As soon as we are out the door the young guy and his pal, who have been waiting on the street, take our place at Mme Polo's bar.

Le P'tit Bar, 7 rue Richard Lenoir, 11e