Staff
Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Betty’s of Fort Frances is putting the spotlight on local products this evening through Sunday.
Doug Anderson said yesterday that he and his brother, Blair, have been thinking about the idea for some time and finally decided to go for it.
“We, at Betty’s, have always been happy to help local products to become noticed in the community,” noted Anderson.
Betty’s will be open late tonight (5-8 p.m.), during its regular hours tomorrow, and then from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday.
One product they’ll be featuring is Hagens Dressing—a salad dressing created and produced at the Riverview Lodge in Dryden.
Recipes will be available for dips created by Betty’s own Judy Kielczewski, as will free samples.
Anderson said the Hagens will be posting dip recipes on their website, adding the dressing’s creators originally had using the dressing for salads or as a marinade, and not as a blender for dips.
“We had a ladies’ night and people were really quite excited about the different flavours, what we were able to create,” he noted.
“Judy just started with us, so I said, ‘Can you do a project and make up some dips?’
“So she made four dips up. Fantastic.”
Also, local artisanal chocolatiers Debbie Ballard and Kielczewski will have samples of their hand-dipped chocolates. Come out and hear how they made them.
Betty’s always has enjoyed selling local authors’ books, and this weekend it will feature “Bush Pilots Lie” by S. Wampman (which Anderson said has been “selling like crazy”), “One Dog Canoe” by Mary Casanova, and “As Long As the Rivers Flow” by Larry Loyie and illustrated by Heather Holmlund.
Betty’s also will be featuring the artwork of local artist Vi Plumridge.
Her paintings of local historical buildings (such as the old Robert Moore School) have been reproduced onto everything from coffee cups to post-it notes to T-shirts, which are available at Betty’s.
Even prior to the weekend event, Anderson said they’re already thinking about ways to expand it for next year.
