From Scratch Café Bistro Brings New Flavours to Brantford

Stop everything you’re doing and take some time to read about From Scratch Café Bistro, the new gastro delight in downtown Brantford that will knock your socks off. With reviews like, “The food is absolutely phenomenal.”; “The tacos are unreal.”; and “You have to drive an hour to get something like this!”, this hot spot should rise to the top of your food bucket list immediately. People are already coming from the GTA to sample the incredible menu.

From Scratch Bistro opened on May 25 in Brantford and is co-owned by Chef James Lorinczi (yes, the guy known for his viral Fried Chicken Sandwich that showed up on local social media almost daily during the pandemic!) and the “Brantford Bagel Babe,” Terra Wilton. James and Terra during the pandemic and struck up an unlikely friendship, both sharing their enthusiasm for food and their desire to bring new flavours to Brantford. Just two years ago, Terra was working an office job and was laid off due to the pandemic; this was a blessing in disguise, as she started to share her own recipe for bagels, operating out of a ghost kitchen to build her clientele. Both enjoy creating the perfect bite, blending sweet, sour, savoury and salty to enhance simple items with flavours that you may not have tried yet.

Over the last few weeks, Chef James and Terra have taken a lot of a time understanding what their clientele want, listening to feedback and experimenting along the way. Inspired by global flavours and finding new ways to look at traditional dishes, their weekly rotating menu will appeal to anyone who wants to try a fresh take on a dish they may already know, like a taco, grilled cheese, bagel sandwich and even sushi. Both Terra and James are the warmest of entrepreneurs, welcoming all guests with open arms and sharing their excitement for a menu that they are confident is exceptional every day. “I promise,” says Chef James Lorinczi, “I can make the best tacos and burgers you’ve ever had.” Last week, the Tourism Brantford team tried the “Spicy Dill Pickle Chicken Taco” wrapped in a shell covered in crispy cheese, and holy smokes – is he ever right!

Each week features a Chef’s Menu with four rotating dishes, and a bagel menu – including a Bagel (sandwich) of the week – with 3 different rotating bagels and specialty cream cheeses. The cream cheeses can be spread in-house on an oven-fresh bagel, or bring home a container of your own; locals absolutely adore the dill pickle cream cheese and the herb and garlic cream cheese, which is a flavour bomb that is nothing like what you’re used to from the grocery store. Inside the cooler they also have delicious salads and desserts to round out your meal. We love the cheeky names of their dishes too, as they comment on pop culture news through items named after Britney Spears and Johnny Depp. Popular items can sell out, so show up early to avoid disappointment!

The best thing about their menu? It changes every week, so with food this great there are so many reasons to come back. Talk to them about what’s next, and they’ll tell you they’re bubbling with enthusiasm as they jointly add to their idea board daily, ensuring that each idea is fresh, seasonal and can be made from scratch without some of the fast food kitchen staples – there is no microwave, freezer or deep fryer in sight! Plus, in a month since they’ve opened, they’ve had zero food waste – an impressive, responsible feat. Later this month, they’ll have a fridge with ready-to-go meals to make those busy weeknights extra delicious, and they’re looking into quick options for students and downtown workers looking for a “fast fine dining” meals on-the-go.

From Scratch Café Bistro is located in downtown Brantford at 42 George St. The restaurant is open from 10am-7pm Tuesday through Saturday. This bright, sunny space has some tables for dining indoors, or you can grab your meal and take it to a local park, Harmony Square or show it off back at the office (and make sure to tell your colleagues where you got it!) Follow From Scratch Café Bistro on Facebook or Instagram to get weekly menu updates, but do us a favour – save some for us, too.