The Grateful Fed
We all know why the chicken crossed the road. But why do they get up so damn early? So your eggs are fresh – every day – that’s why.For breakfast, take two of those eggs (three! for an omelette), then add bacon (the good kind), ham, sausage, or OUR personal favorite – our signature Montreal smoked meat.
Expect a generous portion of our inhouse panfries and some toast. Want more? Then it’s omelette time. Big, loaded and tasty. You’ll need to kick back with an extra coffee after one of these. Can you say hollandaise? Easier than I can spell it, I bet. So have a Benny, or go totally nuts – have the Montreal Benny.
Did someone say burgers? As in twenty different burgers? Try the Manilow . . Barry, being one of the cheesiest singers of all time, gets our ultimate cheese burger named after him.
Venture past Kelowna’s The Grateful Fed Bar & Grill any Tuesday through Saturday night and you might think you’ve stumbled upon a street festival. In among the hordes of people gathered in front of and inside the Bernard Avenue restaurant, there will inevitably be a juggler or two, people spinning poi, and, of course, a live band or DJ cranking out the tunes as a backdrop to it all.
The music-themed ‘psyche deli’, as it’s been dubbed, has been offering live entertainment five nights a week for the past two of its three-and-a-half years, making it quite the main street hub most nights. One never knows what to expect from one night to the next – from hip hop to reggae, house music to folk, with the occasional belly dancing event thrown in for good measure (see – thegratefulfed.ca – for a schedule). It’s become a favourite for the art set, modern day and old-fashioned hippies, travellers, the alternative crowd and punks. “Sometimes you can see this mix of people sitting together – a trades guy next to a mohawk next to someone with dreadlocks. It’s rare to see these people all in one room,” said Ryan Abougoush, owner Kamel Abougoush’s son and business partner. It is he who organizes the evening lineup, which runs from about 8:30 p.m. to midnight.
The music theme started with a collection of old promotional posters and record jackets adorning the walls, of classic rock artists from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. Everyone, from Elvis Presley to the restaurant’s namesake, The Grateful Dead, is there. Under the glass that covers every table is a collection of rock ‘n roll memorabilia, from handbills to concert tickets, with pictures of customers – famous or not – also thrown into the mix.
It wasn’t long after opening that The Fed started receiving donations of more posters, record jackets, promotional pictures and concert tickets. “It’s become a community thing”, Ryan told eVentLife during a conversation this week. “I think it gives them a certain feeling of ownership.” The collection has grown to include some hometown talent, including local bands Ricky and the Blue Cats, the Zamboni Brothers and Sleddogs. And they’re just some of the up-and-coming talent who have played the place.
