Why Northumberland Ferries has revamped its menu

This summer the two ferries that run between Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island, and Caribou, Nova Scotia, have introduced an updated, locally-sourced menu that better reflects P.E.I.'s growing culinary reputation. 

Northumberland Ferries hadn't updated its menu for five years, officials say.  

There's some really traditional items you don't want to mess with.— Ilona Daniel

"With P.E.I. being known as The Food Island we wanted to showcase some of the delicious cuisine that P.E.I. has become known for," said Allison Clark, Northumberland Ferries' marketing co-ordinator. "We have many visitors that take the ferry and we want this to be their first taste of the Island."

'As much local as possible'

So Northumberland Ferries brought in well-known P.E.I. chef Ilona Daniel for a major menu overhaul.

"For the last decade I've been working ... to really establish and move our culinary story forward. And I believe this project is just a wonderful example of that," Daniel said. 

Repeat customers may notice one change right away — the ferry cafeteria now has a name, The Saltwater Café.

If you're like many travellers, you may have a favourite meal that's become a ferry-ride tradition. 

"One thing that was important for me working on the ferry menu was, there's some really traditional items you don't want to mess with," noted Daniel. "How do you strike a balance between maintaining nostalgia and some of the traditional items while meeting some of the modern dietary concerns and requirements?

"Also for me it's always important to inject as much local as possible into all the projects I work on." 

'A little more flavourful'

The menu now includes P.E.I.-made pulled pork handpies made by The Handpie Company and East Coast Craft Sodas  from Upstreet Brewing. 

There's also an emphasis on seafood: weekend specials include fish and chips, local clams and scallops and chips. There's also a lobster sandwich on a whole wheat croissant.  

Then there's chowder cheese fries — "It's like a love child of chowder and poutine!" Daniel said. P.E.I.-made french fries are topped with cheese curds and smothered in seafood chowder. 

A new "upscale" chicken club sandwich on a brioche bun includes a "fun, funky aoili" mayonnaise made with spicy ancho peppers. "We wanted to go with something a little more flavourful," Daniel explained. "We've moved past sriracha." 

Donair egg rolls are another Maritime novelty that diners are unlikely to find elsewhere. 

Daniel's personal favourite new item? 

"Right now I'm really addicted to the dill pickle fries!" she laughs. "When I first moved to P.E.I. I'd never heard of a deep-fried pickle ... my world has changed." The pickles are sliced, coated in cornmeal and deep fried, served with honey mustard for dipping.  

East Coast snacks 

Daniel recalled one of her favourite aspects of summer travel with her family was discovering locally-made snacks and treats at stops along the way, like coconut patties in Florida and pecan logs in Georgia.

"So we made a P.E.I. snack shack with all sorts of local candies and chips," she said. The grab-and-go area is called the East Coast Snack Shack. 

Maritime Marzipan, a new P.E.I. business, is selling its almond treats in the shapes of seashells and little potatoes. Jercules beef jerky and Maritime Madness bacon brittle, all made on the Island, are also stocked. 

Chowder, hot dogs remain

Daniel asked around among different demographic groups and found traditional items people wanted to remain on the menu included chowder, hot dogs, and more. 

"Some of the baby boomers were really fond of the egg salad sandwiches — which are not something I would be looking for as a diner," she said. 

"You can change and rejuvenate a lot of things but there's certain things you don't want to mess with!" Daniel did update the egg salad sandwich, swapping out the bread for a croissant. 

Pizza by the slice, hamburgers, chicken strips and a traditional cold plate are also ferry menu staples that remain. 

The ferry service also offers a program called Seaside Experiences which allows travellers on some crossings to enjoy live local music as well as sample food, wine and beer. The Confederation ferry features P.E.I. businesses and chefs, while the Holiday Island ship does the same with Nova Scotia businesses.

Daniel encourages Islanders to walk aboard the ferry with people they may have visiting and take a little cruise across the Northumberland Strait, just for a fun outing — something she said she often does. 

"For me there's something quite magical about it," she said. 

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