by Yose Cormier
The beavertail is as iconic to Ottawa as the Parliament buildings and the Rideau Canal.
Now, 40 years since the first BeaverTails shop opened in Ottawa, Hintonburg has access to this sweet delicacy. And it’s not just in the form of any stall or food truck.
“It must be one of the most unique ‘food trucks’ in the world!” says BeaverTails founder Grant Hooker of “Beau Benjie”, a 40-plus-year-old motor coach turned “BeaverMobile”.
“We needed something mobile to service the many catering requests we receive. In our 40 years here in Ottawa, we’ve sort of taken pride in operating out of facilities that are a bit unique,” says Hooker.
The introduction of Beau Benjie is part of the brand’s 40th year anniversary, which will see them take part in the Chinese Dragonboats on Dow’s Lake during Winterlude, organize a year-long virtual reunion targeting approximately 12,000 former employees and host a live reunion in Lansdowne Park in August.
Beau Benjie will spend its first winter in the parking lot of West Park Lanes Bowling Alley.
It’s open from noon to 9 p.m. seven days a week, but it will temporarily move to the Dow’s Lake Pavilion from February 6 to 10 for the Ice Dragonboat Festival, with a portion of sales going to one of the many charities that benefit from John Brooman’s Ottawa Dragon Boat winter and summer events.