Our totally insider, Town-by-town, hidden-gem-by-hidden-gem, guide to what’s new, hot, and legendary in Dundas & Ancaster. All the stuff you absolutely must eat, do, buy and indulge in to make the most of your time off the sofa and loving our county!
Written & Photographed by Jay Perry
Welcome to the quaint and charming small towns of Hamilton. For those not familiar with the area, on January 1, 2001, the City of Hamilton amalgamated with its five neighbouring municipalities which included Glanbrook, Flamborough, Ancaster, Dundas, and Stoney Creek. Now it’s a pretty big city. And since I was born and raised in Stoney Creek, this day marked my transformation from “Creeker” to a “Hamiltonian”. So no, we aren’t featuring the big city of Hamilton in this issue, we are shining a light on Dundas and Ancaster. I basically get to be a tourist in my home town.
I spent two days exploring these two small villages starting at the Dundas Legion. I had heard there was a pierogi dinner planned there by the Waterdown-based food truck Stuffed. Stuffed. is a “pierogi team,” as they like to be referred to, that specializes in homemade pierogi and various other European cuisine. Unfortunately, they don’t have a winterized food truck but instead of closing up shop for the winter they have been creatively hosting small dinners at various places in and around the city. So, homemade pierogi? Count me in!
I made my way to the Legion on the Friday evening dinner and as I walked in, the scent immediately reminded me of my grandparents home. I have a Ukrainian background and our Christmas Eve dinner is traditionally the best meal of the year with a feast of homemade pierogi and cabbage rolls.
I ordered my meal which consisted of five cheddar cheese potato pierogi with caramelized onions and sour cream, one pork and rice cabbage roll, a piece of sausage, sauerkraut, and fresh cucumber salad. I felt like a kid of Christmas Eve again. My game plan was to save the pierogi for last. It was part strategy and part fear of what to tell my grandmother if these were better than hers. The sausage and cabbage roll were incredible. The sauerkraut was like nothing I had ever tasted. I wouldn’t say I’m a sauerkraut connoisseur but I’ve definitely consumed my fair share and this one had quite the unique taste to it.
My grandmother makes two kinds of pierogi — a cheddar cheese and potato pierogi and a sauerkraut pierogi which is my favourite. They are pretty amazing, but it only took the first bite of Stuffed’s little cheesy gems and I was hooked! These were hands-down the best cheddar cheese and potato pierogi I have ever had. I guess I’ll be hiding this issue from my grandma. The worst part? I only ordered five.
If you don’t like cheese and potato pierogi, no problem because they also offer bacon blue cheese, bacon cheddar, dill pickle, herb and garlic, sauerkraut, spinach and artichoke, and even a vegan option.
Please check out their website at teamperogy.ca to find out where their next pop-up dinner will be, or make the trip to the Dundas Legion on January 17 and February 21, for their next dinner.
To read the full article, please click on the magazine link below. “Small Town Sunday” starts on page 50 through to page 55. Live Small Town Magazine Winter 2019-2020 Published on Dec 2, 2019.
Live Small Town magazine promotes all the unique experiences, places and people that small towns offer throughout Brant, Brantford, Norfolk, Oxford, Haldimand and the Villages of Ancaster, Dundas, Waterdown and Flamborough+
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