Westfest is a community-oriented outdoor festival that showcases local musical, visual art, dance, spoken word, and performance art talent. It is a 3 day event that takes place entirely in the Westboro village of Ottawa. During the event, a stretch of Richmond Road, between Tweedsmuir and Golden Avenues, is cordonned off from traffic. This year it took place on Friday, June 8, 2007 and ended on Sunday, June 10, 2007. Most importantly, Westfest is free. It is sponsored by the Ontario Trilliam Foundation and local businesses, newspapers, and, of course, restaurants.



Many of the eateries along Wellington and Richmond participate in WestFest by having open air stalls that showcase their distinctive wares. This includes artisanal bakeries, the Ottawa Bagel Shop, and Il Negozio Nicastro. A good number of restuarants either rent temporary accomondations or use their existing facilities to have open air patios as well. The patios at the restaurants closer to the festival itself open onto the street.

One of the restaurants that has participated in the festival year after year is the Works. The Works has 5 locations in the Ottawa area. One is on Bank Street (580) near the 417. Another is in Westboro, 326 Richmond Road at Churchill.

The Works is renowned for serving the best hamburgers in town, albeit perhaps the most expensive as well. The Westboro branch is rumored to puchase its meat from Saslove's on Wellington St., which is the local outlet for organic meats. During Westfest, the Works rents out large gas barbecue facilities and produces hamburgers for purchase. One is called the WestFest burger.

Jenn and I have been meaning to visit the Works ever since we moved here. Happily, we tied our inaugural visit to the Works with our annual visit to Westfest.

By the time Jenn and I could find time to visit WestFest, it was late Saturday evening, so we were scoping out possibilities for dinner. We stopped at the Works where we both orderred WestFest burgers; hers without cheese; mine with a nice slice of cheddar, non-processed to boot. What distinguised the WestFest burgers from the Works' regular cheese burgers was the addition of sauteed onions in an almost hickery barbecue suace. The burgers were sublime: juicy, flavorful, perfectly grilled with just a little crust formation, and, most importantly, fresh (made to order). A regular cheese burger cost $6.00 each. The WestFest burger cost $8.00 each. It was worth every penny.

We ate our burgers, sitting on a bench, listening to a live performance of a local band. We were surrounded by numerous families, young couples, elderly couples, and people just out walking their dogs. It was definately a wonderful way to spend a warm spring evening.

Particulars:
The Works
326 Richmond Road
(613)564-0406



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