On Friday, October 2, the team from Frankie’s in Burlington will head north of the border for a collaborative dinner at Espace Old Mill, a restaurant, farm and inn in the Eastern Townships village of Stanbridge East.
Frankie’s co-owner and general manager Cindi Kozak had an “unplanned awesome day” with her boyfriend in the spring at Espace Old Mill, where she met Alexandre Legault, a sommelier and manager at the restaurant. Over coffee the next morning, the two talked about agriculture, the restaurant business and the Michelin Guide’s announcement that it will no longer award Green Stars, starting next year — an honor Espace Old Mill received for its excellence in sustainable cuisine when the guide launched in Québec in 2025.
Kozak said the ethics of the two restaurants “aligned,” given their mutual emphasis on “supporting farms; seasonal dining; small, thoughtful menus; and minimal-intervention wines.” They soon hatched a plan for the collab.
Friday’s tasting menu meal ($115 Canadian dollars per person) will feature a welcome aperitif and walk through Espace Old Mill’s market garden, followed by five courses, with Frankie’s chef and co-owner Jordan Ware and sous chef Johnny Capitanelli working with the Canadian restaurant’s team on each dish. Kozak and Legault will select wines for an optional pairing with each course.
Reservations remain as of press time, and Frankie’s in Burlington will be open that night as usual, Kozak said.
If you miss this pop-up, don’t worry: Plans for bringing the Espace Old Mill team to Burlington for another one this winter or early spring are already in the works.
In Bristol, the Bobcat Café & Brewery, which closed “until further notice” in July, is officially for sale. Owners Jon and Christopher Ruggiero, who attributed this summer’s indefinite closure to “a private medical matter,” announced their decision online last week.
The popular Main Street spot opened in 2002; the Ruggieros bought it in February 2025 for the asking price of $165,000. Today, the business — not including the building — is listed at $105,000.
“Since we closed our doors, many of you have asked what comes next for 5 Main Street,” the post said. “We hope the answer is a new owner who will open the doors again and give Bristol the Third Place it deserves.”
This article appears in September 30 • 2026.
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