Frank Magazine Issue 583.pdf - Besthostingplanever.com

BEAR BURNING TO BE BACK IN A KITCHEN
BY Q. ZEEN
APPARENTLY UNDAUNTED BY HIS LAST BRUSH WITH FRONTING
AN UPSCALE EATERY, HALIFAX CELEBRITY CHEF RAY BEAR IS
WORKING TOWARD OPENING A NEW RESTAURANT.
Word is that the NSCC Akerley culinary grad has been eyeing the
3300 square foot space at 5171 Salter St. for his latest endeavour.
The space has previously housed Atlantis Steak & Seafood, the Chopin
Bistro and most recently, the Crown Diner.
Allison Bates, the city-owned building’s property manager, says the
Hardman Group is in negotiation with “several” potential tenants, and
expects to have a deal on paper within days.
In the meantime, Ray has been busy drumming up financial support
for the new eatery on Twitter.
“Looking for investors for my new restaurant,” he revealed to his followers
on April 2.
What could have been a promising partnership between Bear and
California native financier David Tabah fizzled last fall when the chef
walked away from his namesake Bear Restaurant on Barrington
Street. He would later tell Coast scribe Tim Bousquet that part-time
Musquodoboit resident David had threatened his life.
DINER HEAVEN!
RETURN OF THE COSY
BY ANDREW CORNSTALKER
IN THIS REPORTER’S OPINION, THE OPENING OF A 44-SEAT DINER
IN NEW GLASGOW’S GOODMAN BUILDING WILL DO MORE FOR
THE TOWN THAN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DOWNTOWN
REVITALIZATION CASH EVER COULD.
I’m not talking about just any old greasy spoon, mind you, but the
one by which all others will forever be measured: The Cosy Corner.
A Downtown New Glasgow mainstay since the 1950s, the original
Cosy Corner on Provost Street burned down in 2004, seven years
after long-time proprietor Peter Demetre sold his pride and joy to John
Billington and his mother Teela, both long-time employees. Peter himself
died suddenly two years after the fire at the age of 74.
I don’t believe the cause of the fire was ever officially determined.
Oh, well.
The new Cosy Corner, in the space formerly occupied by the Downtown
Deli and the Tomato Cafe, served up its first meal on March 30
under the watchful eye of Rita Billington, Teela’s talented and fragrant
mid-30ish daughter. While I understand John will continue to
help out on occasion, Teela is manning the ovens full time, churning
out the pies and cinnamon buns that have been a Cosy mainstay since
her initial hiring in 1966.
Rita tells me the menu is the same as always, featuring the Cosy’s
famous fish and chips and my perennial favourite, the cheeseburger
platter with the works and fried onions. The fries, I’m pleased to tell
you, are still hand-cut.
Business is booming, I understand, as old regulars - some of whom
I’d wager haven’t spent a dime downtown in years - are making their
way in for a visit.
“It’s been tremendous,” says Rita of the new (old) restaurant’s reception.
Does Frank Know?
atlanticfrank@eastlink.ca
FOOD
FOR
THOUGHT
The eatery, which opened in 2008, was
dogged almost from the beginning by apparent
financial difficulties, which manifested
themselves in $700,000 worth of
builder’s lien claims filed against the restaurant,
its landlord and the Lawen-owned
W building.
The resto, renamed twelvefortyone,
died a quiet death earlier this year. Jan Ray Bear
Wicha, whose Cafe Chianti was damaged in that dramatic South
Street fire earlier this year, is planning to move into that space.
Does Frank Know?
atlanticfrank@eastlink.ca
The old Cosy, pre-conflagration.
APRIL 27, 2010 ATLANTIC CANADA FRANK 7