Leamington’s Freddy’s Cocktail Lounge & Restaurant And Making Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal

As the weather gets warmer, it usually means our favourite seasonal restaurants are starting to open, and so are their outdoor patios awaiting our arrival. Due to our current circumstances (time of writing early May 2020), as we are unable to visit these restaurants quite yet, thankfully we are still able to order curb side pick-up from all of these places that we love. Meaning we can get nostalgic about last summer. Who’s with me?

In Leamington, one of its well-known seasonal restaurants is Freddy’s Cocktail Lounge & Restaurant. Freddy’s is located on the waterfront at 655 Point Pelee Drive at Mersea Road C.
Freddy’s is family owned and operated and has quite an interesting story about how their restaurant came to be.

In 1988 Freddy and Maria Makhlouf along with their five children purchased a small variety store and made it their own. After doing many renovations, they first opened up and sold pop, chips, coffee, homemade sandwiches and more.

In 2001-2002 their two sons, Rob and Mike, were working elsewhere and decided to come back to the business and to expand it by opening up the restaurant portion. After many years of hard work and dedication they were able to expand and refine their menu to fit their new business venture.

Their business has now grown to become the popular restaurant it is today.

The menu brings full awareness to allergies and has gluten-free and vegan options. They are known for their Lebanese cuisine, their perch, their ice cream parlour and their beautiful dining lounge outside. Their tropical patio over viewing the amazing sunset on Lake Erie has become THE summer destination place.

The business is known for their dedication to quality and fresh quality ingredients and meals with a menu consisting of many more Lebanese cuisine of recipes that have been passed down from generations. Options such as grape leaves, tabouli, hummus, toum and baba ghanoush and there is a wide variety of choices for all diners.

My favourite dish is their falafel wrap which is chickpea and fava bean patties topped with hummus, lettuce, tomatoes, pickled turnips and tzatziki with a side of their Fattoush salad (they will also include the in house made fattoush dressing if you ask!).

The two brothers are lovely beings as they are always the first faces you see when you arrive at Freddy’s. They are always hard at work and engaging with their customers. Every time I go, I am always welcomed and greeted by them, as are all their customers. Their slogan is ‘You’re only a stranger once!’, which is something they truly stand to at Freddy’s.

This general going the extra mile attitude shows in how Freddy’s is constantly involved within the community as well. The family has generously donated to the Leamington Hospital Golf Tournament for the for the last six years. They have hosted the Ride for Dad motorcycle event the last four years and have sponsored as well as organized the Freddy’s Walk/Run for Diabetes. The event is held at Point Pelee National Park with everyone returning to Freddy’s for a hot meal. This would have been their seventh year, but the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 shutdowns. All proceeds raised were used to benefit the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) research fund.

Freddy’s is currently open Tuesday to Sunday from noon until 8:30 p.m. for curbside pickup. Check out their website to view a menu and for more information.

When businesses re-open after the COVID-19 shutdown, I recommend taking a drive along the waterfront and making your way to Freddy’s for a delicious meal, a scoop of ice cream, and enjoy a walk at the Leamington Marina to support another awesome local restaurant.

You can find Freddy’s on Facebook and on Instagram @freddys_resturant

Now moving on to cooking at home, this week’s recipe is a simple, yet delicious breakfast dish. I will still focus on trying to use things that we may already have in our pantries at home, or something you can purchase in bulk.

Being at home during the stay at home requirements, we all tend to snack a lot! This is also a great snack idea, and perfect for your after dinner sweet tooth. Also, it is a fun recipe to whip up with young ones.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal (Serving size: 1)
½ cup oat or almond milk
½ cup oats
½ banana
½ tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon peanut butter (optional)
½ tablespoon cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
Small handful of dark chocolate chips

How to:
1. Combine all of your ingredients in an oven friendly bowl
2. Mash up ½ of your banana to add to your ingredients
3. In a small oven friendly dish, place it in the oven
4. Bake your creation for 25 minutes at 350 degrees
5. Add your toppings and enjoy!

Toppings
I topped mine with the other half of my banana, shredded dark chocolate, and natural peanut butter! You can use whatever you’d like on yours or eat it just as it is.
Enjoy!