Jossy’s Chill and Grill - a new addition to the Sharbot Lake strip

Jeff Green | Jul 12, 2012

A new eatery has opened up at the business strip near the junction of Hwy. 7 and Road 38, joining the Rising Bun and The Juncton.

Jossy’s Chill and Grill is located between the Brewers Retail and LCBO stores, where the Land O’Lakes Tourist Association booth had been located.

The tourist booth has moved across the road to the PetroCan site.

“My goal is to serve fresh food, using local ingredients wherever possible, and to serve it with a smile,” said Jocelyn Harpell one day last week, as she kept taking orders and bantering with customers who were streaming up to the small window where she dishes out fries, burgers, sausages and more.

Jocelyn moved to Crow Lake with her husband Bill last May when they purchased an existing cottage rental business. Although she had never owned or worked in a restaurant, Jocelyn said she has always loved cooking for people, and opening up the Chill and Grill is her dream job. She previously worked as a 9-1-1 Dispatcher in Gananoque.

“There has been a great response thus far, and I have met local people, cottagers, and people driving through from all over Ontario and beyond in my first few weeks. It’s been great,” she said.

There are a number of items on the menu at the Chill and Grill but the signature dish are the fresh cut fries, which are made using only the Downy breed of potatoes from a farm in Collingwood.

“They are the perfect potato for frying,” Jocelyn said.

“They are creamy tasting, they crisp up nicely, and they hold together well.”

All of the potatoes are peeled and cut early each day, and then stored in near freezing temperatures for use that day. They are fried in canola oil, and are available with a homemade gravy that is also made daily.

Hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages on a bun are also available, including caramelized onion sausages from Seed to Sausage. Jossy’s also serves spring rolls and other dishes from the Mi Quong restaurant in Kingston, and starting this week, soft ice cream is on the menu as well. “I try to shop locally. The buns I use are baked at the Freshmart, and I am now selling cookies from the Rising Bun.

Jocelyn is the public face of Jossy’s, but Bill Harpell works behind the scenes keeping all the equipment running and doing other work to keep everything in order.

Jossy’s Chill and Grill is open Mondays from 11-4, Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays from 11-6:30pm, Saturdays from 11-4 and Sundays from 12-4.