Nestled away in the small community of La Corey is a hidden gem.
The Black Gold Country Café is serving passion on a plate with their made at home-style menu.
With meats soaking in flavour fresh from the smoker, this new restaurant has become an instant favourite for foodies across the Lakeland.
Owner Clayton Tipple and his staff have created an atmosphere that says ‘welcome home.'
Before becoming a restaurant in late-November, the location was used as a room rental for oil workers.
After the recession, instead of seeing empty space, Tipple saw opportunity.
“I just thought this place needed a change. I decided to build a restaurant and to help expand the local area,” he said. “La Corey is starting to expand, and with all of the rural businesses and people around, I wanted to offer them good home-cooked meals, something fresh, and something different.”
The name, Black Gold Country Café, is inspired by one of the area's key assets.
“We're surrounded by black gold. It's oil country around here. We wanted to support and promote that. We're very proud of being Albertans, and we're very proud of being in the oil industry,” Tipple expressed.
His Albertan roots are not his only passion.
When the business owner sees a need within a community, he fills it.
“I think a lot of people are starting to get back into the home-cooked style where it's more about family, and they want to be a little bit healthier too. This way, we can do everything home-cooked,” said Tipple. “I have wonderful chefs that have extensive experience.”
Fresh air and open space are what make La Corey the perfect location for his restaurant.
“Everybody is a neighbour here. Neighbours are family, and the family gets bigger and bigger the more people who come in to eat, which is nice,” emphasized Tipple.
So far, the restaurant has served families from as far as Saskatchewan. Items such as their beef dip, smoked meats, handmade breads, and pastries bring folks in from near and far.
The restaurant purchases their baked goods and bread at small “mom and pop shops” located throughout the Lakeland.
“We're a big supporter of those small companies and businesses. We travel weekly to purchase our home-cooked bread and buns,” Tipple explained. “It might take a little bit longer to go there than to pick it up from somewhere else, but the quality is hands-down can't be beat.”
By serving healthy and hardy portions at an affordable price, Tipple believes they're giving families a chance to spend time together on a budget.
“We wanted to keep it family-oriented,” he added.
As they plan for the future, Tipple said they are looking at taking it outdoors with a patio addition to their location. This way, he said, they can serve their community in the fresh air and open space.
“This is the four corners of the oil industry in this area. Being in the heart of it is perfect,” Tipple said.
