Community News

ITALIAN SAUSAGE, POLISH PEROGIES AND MORE AT WYATT'S

WYATT'S COUNTRY GRILL/CORNER OF ATHERLEY ROAD AND GILL STREET

FRANK MATYS fmatys@simcoe.com

If it weren't for the brightly coloured signage that brings to mind a classic ballpark-style mustard, Wyatt's Country Grill would be easy to miss in the rush of traffic passing by.

Situated on a bend where Atherley Road meets Gill Street, Carl Martin's takeaway hotdog/sausage stand makes its home in the parking lot next to Super EBikes.

Martin, who was born and raised in Orillia and now resides in Oro-Medonte, opened the popular stand two-and-a-half years ago after spending roughly 20 years working at Honda.

"I just wanted to supplement my income, so this is what I decided to do," he said of the decision to open a business in retirement.

"I've always wanted to do it."

A food stand was the natural choice, he told Simcoe.com.

"My mother was a great cook," the 63-year-old said of his earliest culinary influence. "And I cooked at (base)ball parties and people loved it so I thought, you know what? If it's that good, I'll give it a go."

Martin — who long ago gained the nickname "Wyatt" courtesy of his friends — offers hot dogs, sausages, peameal on a bun, and homemade perogies that marry potato and cheddar in a dumpling he sources from a Polish supplier.

"It's a healthier alternative to a french fry," he said, adding that a loaded version of this popular item comes adorned with bacon bits, cooked onion, sour cream, and seasoning. "They are very nice."

Martin's sausages are of the mild Italian variety, though anyone wanting a little more zing with their order is welcome to ask for a splash of Frank's RedHot, a cayenne pepper-based sauce.

"If you want a hot one, I can spice it up a bit for you," he said. "It's not a problem."

Martin said he enjoys his time running the roadside stand and the opportunity to have "good conversations" with customers, in particular older patrons.

"They have so many stories," he said. "I have a fellow who comes here and he's 90 and he's still driving and he gets a peameal a week."

FOOD AND DRINK

en-ca

2022-06-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-06-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281616719045788

Metroland Media Group Ltd.