662401 Mon Oct 26 09:37:10 -0700 2009 19 57 Western Canada 0 5131674 There's a funny log barn structure on the corner of 14th St NW and 16th Ave (across from North Hill Mall) where a travel agency used to be. It's called Log Barn 1912 and as far as I can tell sells sausages and pies. On Sunday it looked closed. Its website - http://www.logbarn.ca/ - doesn't say much about where its products are from or made Anyone been here? Know more about it? Mon Oct 26 09:37:10 -0700 2009 45619 alau2 1 5131829 Ahh, the "drive through pie" place. I've been curious about this pace as well, though looking around at their website and then doing a quick google does not look promising. Granted, I haven't been there in person yet and you can't always believe everything you read on the internet, but when the second google link comes up as a warning about the company (with purported corroboration from a former employee), I don't think I'll be in any rush. http://www.ripoffreport.com/Tourist-Attractions/Log-Barn-Fruit-Stand/log-barn-fruit-stand-1912-frau-fwdcb.htm Not to mention the fact that for a company who's slogan is "Reclaiming our Heritage" (the wording of which gives me a bad vibe all on its own), they sure have a lot of plastic imported junk in their Giftware section...hmmm, I wouldn't hold out much hope on any of the food products being great. However, as I said...I haven't been there in person yet, so I'd be happy to hear otherwise. Mon Oct 26 10:21:41 -0700 2009 5131674 11898 KcM 2 5131896 Well, since you haven't even been there, you are right, I wouldn't believe everything I read on the internet especially if it comes from a past employee. Mon Oct 26 10:40:21 -0700 2009 5131829 162977 sarah galvin 2 5133529 Wow I'm gonna check this place out next time I'm in the area just to see for myself. I'll let CH know of my findings soon. Mon Oct 26 20:45:07 -0700 2009 5131829 149353 hclass 2 5133669 Wow that post on ripoff could be considered libelous. Mon Oct 26 22:48:14 -0700 2009 5131829 138472 maplesugar 1 5132283 Having looked at the website, I am sure we went to the Armstrong, BC location in the early fall a few years ago. I think (I may be wrong) the family that owns it are Mennonites. Delicious homemade pies and the one in Armstrong had tons of fresh BC fruit. Also the tourist drawing card there was a contraption where you could feed goats, and they spin some kind of wheel to get their feed. To be honest, I don't remember what else they had besides sausage, pies, jams, cheeses and homemade baking and the fruit. It was a fun, kitchsy, but touristy place. Mon Oct 26 12:38:30 -0700 2009 5131674 136670 sweeterpea 1 5133559 "Log Barn 1912 is a return to the pioneer spirit that built our great nation, of which strives to provide healthy and nostalgic experience." Is "the great nation" Japan? Mon Oct 26 21:05:58 -0700 2009 5131674 12135 John Manzo 2 5133688 Bahaha. That is fantastic. Mon Oct 26 23:07:49 -0700 2009 5133559 87054 peter.v 1 5133621 We stopped by the Armstrong location on our way back from Kelowna this past September and picked up some fruit and a still-warm freshly baked peach pie. The pie was mouth-wateringly delicious, as were the fruit, but it was definitely on the expensive side, especially considering the fruit was grown in the area. The owner did tell me they were planning on opening up a location across from North Hill Mall, but I didn't think it was going to be up and running already. I'll check out the new location - good thing it's not a far walk from the C-Train station. Mon Oct 26 21:49:39 -0700 2009 5131674 160840 can_i_try_some 2 5133905 It looks like an installation of kitsch. Non-perishibles are stocked - but it is not yet open Tue Oct 27 05:46:36 -0700 2009 5133621 13649 Gobstopper 1 5134217 Oh yes! the goat place from Armstrong BC! From our travels through there, yes - run by pretty devout Mennonites, lots of products (yes, adds to kitschyness), but locally made, homemade pies (pretty good - we thought good price for the size & quality), homemade sausages (we bought a few links - I think it was no preservatives, etc). And they definitely were the ones opening another location in Calgary. Their location in Armstrong was a complete tourist attraction (produce was a little on the expensive side), but who's the say they won't be competitve in Calgary's market. Will have to check this location out and see. Tue Oct 27 08:00:37 -0700 2009 5131674 160411 morefuuud 1 5135504 We have stopped off at the Log Barn in Armstrong for the past few summers, I chatted up the owner on our last visit and here is what I know: - The "mennonite sausage" is all natural and has no preservatives or additives; it has apparently won "worlds best sausage" contests in Germany for a few years running (perhaps where this family is from?). I was told that all their meat is made themselves, so I guess that explains why the quality is so high. It is pricy, but personally I would rather pay the extra buck to avoid having chemicals in my food. - The pies are made by hand each morning using fruit grown in the Okanagan, we have had their apple, peach and pumpkin and they are by far the best part of our trip through the Okanagan. Good news, they will also take requests if you have a favourite flavour! - This year I had some of their amazing cheese, I am not sure they are affiliated with Armstrong cheese, but it was really good. I regret not bringing some back home with us. - The family that runs the business is mennonite, from what I can tell they seem to be pretty decent. I have read the rip-off report, and like I said we have been going there for a few years now, and I just don't see it. Usually you can tell when a business is "shifty", but they seem pretty legit to me, however that is just my take on things after seeing the business and meeting the staff and owners. From what I was told on our last pass through the Armstrong location is that the Calgary store is opening up the first week of November. They will have a drive-thru where you can order hot pie, sausage buns, coffee, etc... It's actually a pretty cool looking place. I know I would like having the pies and sausage closer to home... I'm just not sure if my waistline can handle the strain! Cheers! Oh BTW, you can see photo's of the Calgary store on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thivierr/3978047071/ Tue Oct 27 14:52:31 -0700 2009 5131674 1119669 ChowKungPow 1 5159159 Picked up some stuff on the way back from kelowna this summer. Pies are amazing, sausages are the German/eastern european style as opposed to British style and were so good. Strawberry jam with almonds was amazing too. Good stuff, but definitely on the expensive side. Thu Nov 05 14:31:36 -0800 2009 5131674 85415 greenboy 2 5159608 I see that they are finally open for business. We plan on stopping by this weekend for some pie and sausage buns. I agree they are pricy, but so long as I get what I am paying for I don't mind too much. Maybe the extra dollars pays for the goat boxing? I have some pent up rage that needs unleashing! Thu Nov 05 17:25:40 -0800 2009 5159159 1119669 ChowKungPow 1 5160371 This looks interesting. I think I'll have to stop by and give a report when I get back. Fri Nov 06 05:44:13 -0800 2009 5131674 99828 AriaDream 1 5162414 OKAY! *rubs hands together* Farnes and that ripoff report inspired me. I just HAD to check this out and today I went and plunked down quite a bit on a wide variety of products at the Calgary location. It was extremely touristy but interesting. Here is my report: Sausage in a bun: I was hungry so I got one. It was okay. The bun could have been better but the honey mustard was great. Unfortunately it was very windy and it really needs some kind of lid... the less said the better. Let's just say I took a shower when I got home. But it's my own fault really... ahah. Cheese: They have mild Gouda and smoked Gouda. It's cheese. I liked it and the price was okay. Sausage: The sausage is quite nice and boasts that it's free of preservatives. I'm not a huge sausage fan but my mother says it's good. Definitely goes well with the honey mustard. Pie: THIS WAS GREAT! Farnes, this pie did NOT come from CostCo. It was 13.95 and worth every penny. They only had apricot and there was only four of those, but fortunately I love apricot. I cannot say enough good things about this pie and I know good pies. Delicious! Salt Water Taffy: I like it. I'm a huge fan of the Nut Man's taffy and this was similar but different. Far saltier... I think I like it better. Certainly worth a try. I also got Antipasto, although that says Urban Kitchen so it might not be their product. And I got same apple syrup but I'm saving that for pancakes so I can't tell you if it's good or not. Overall report: Everyone wait a week or two before going. There were several empty cases including an empty cooler so I'm sure a LOT of their products have not arrived. There are very few pies at the moment and I suspect they're going to run out. Maybe call ahead to see what they have? Things seem a bit disorganized at the moment and prices are not up for many things. However, I would definitely recommend going when the opening pains have died down. Most of the food you could get equivalents elsewhere but the pie was SUPERB. Enjoy! Fri Nov 06 17:51:25 -0800 2009 5131674 99828 AriaDream 2 5163049 Good report, thanks for giving us some facts to counter the controversy. Sat Nov 07 07:10:05 -0800 2009 5162414 15832 sharonanne 2 5163388 Thank you, AriaDream! Sat Nov 07 10:30:53 -0800 2009 5162414 45619 alau2 1 5169077 We've had to remove a number of angry / off-topic replies from this thread. We'd ask that people keep the conversation friendly and focused, or we'll be forced to lock or remove the thread. Mon Nov 09 20:27:54 -0800 2009 5131674 2 The Chowhound Team 1 5181746 **UPDATE** I went down again to get another pie... it was a really good pie... and it looks like this place has all their stuff together. There were many different flavors of pies available and I'm going to be trying their rhubarb tonight. I decided to get a few other things I hadn't tried, namely the jalapeno pepperoni and the almond roca. The pepperoni isn't that hot but it's very tasty, has more flavor than the usual stuff I buy at Safeway. The almond roca is great although I freely admit I've never encountered almond roca I didn't like. XD Those empty cases I noticed before have been filled with fresh produce. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, potatoes... unfortunately I had plenty at home so I didn't get any of that. Other than that, I checked out the rest of their stuff... they have the most amazing assortment of kitsh I've ever seen. My grandma would love it. The only things that really interested me were what looked like a wine bottle holder shaped to look like barrels with bunches of grapes between them and a wooden motorcycle. But that interested me because I play WoW and give that thing a "pwnd" license plate and a paint job and it would be a dead ringer. I might have to do that sometime when I'm very bored. Anyway, have fun! Sat Nov 14 14:19:59 -0800 2009 5131674 99828 AriaDream