FOOD FOR THOUGHT
THIS ISSUE FEATURES . . .
Ten Friends Diner 1412 Wyandotte Street East, Windsor Story And Photos By David Clark
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pproaching the restaurant near the Olde Walkerville area, the Ten Friends Diner (TenFriendsDiner.org) greets you with two smiling faces on the facade, a welcome to a happy place. According to Carolyn Burton, Manager, “Founded in 1993 in a previous location, Ten Friends Diner (TFD) has always been a nonprofit organization and a community-based project that offers aid to people who suffer with mental health setbacks by helping them through specialized employment training programs at the restaurant.” Carolyn is involved in all aspects of operating the diner, including financial, programming and even, cooking. In fact, she does such a great job that customers nominated her for a Biz X Award in the “2019 Powerhouse Professional” category. Additionally, her husband Michael Burton is a manager who assists with cooking and waiting on tables. So what makes this restaurant unique from others? All of the staff have mental health setbacks and TFD provides a healthy environment that encourages intermingling with the public, while promoting teamwork at the diner. Learning a skill is also helpful as is the supportive employment opportunity. Upbeat and colourful, the diner can accommodate 95. You will immediately notice the superior customer service — they always aim to please at TFD. In total there are 30 “peers” as they say, at the diner. “The peers can receive counselling and help with difficulties in a real world environment,” says Katherine White, Peer Leader. “Also, our training program here helps to support clients who have suffered previously with mental health difficulties or do now.” The awesome food at TFD keeps the customers coming back for more with a loaded
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menu featuring breakfast and lunch selections. At breakfast time (or even later) diners have several choices. The Breakfast Special reigns supreme and comes with two eggs; two pancakes; ham, bacon or sausage; and toast. The Sunrise Double comes with all that’s in the Breakfast Special without the pancakes, but with home fries. You can also choose an omelette from the “Omelette Factory” with an exciting list of toppings to pick from. For heartier fare, look at the lunch favourite Clubhouse sandwich with an option of doing it in a wrap. An appetite buster! The classic Hamburger has à la carte choices with a six ounce patty and all the toppings. How about another popular lunch special, the Crispy Chicken Wrap with four sauces to choose from?
Ashley George (Cook) displays the popular Breakfast Special, a menu item that satisfies hungry customers with its large portions and great price.
Under the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit “Meet Smart” program (WECHU.org/ meetsmart), TFD’s menu items promote healthier choices such as two eggs with toast and fruit, the two-egg Veggie Omelette and a Whole Wheat Turkey and Veggie Wrap with a side salad and seasonal fruit. Other healthy choices include Oatmeal and Grilled Chicken Garden Salad. TFD also has a kids menu. TFD has their own large community garden located off McDougall that not only supplies the
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The highly stacked Clubhouse Sandwich with fries and coleslaw entices Peer Leader Katherine White to dig in!
restaurant with herbs and vegetables, but also donates produce to charitable organizations like Street Help. The diner will use almost all locally sourced food products as well — supporting local businesses when they can. A highly acclaimed and active catering business, TFD provides veggie and fruit platters, wraps and cookies and more. The diner can serve up to 200 and offers customizable menus. New and onsite is Café 10, serving you after hours till 8:30 p.m. A good place to mingle and chat with friends and family and a safe environment for people with an illness. Regarding the peers, it is a slow and steady process to end the stigma in and around the community, but TFD is working towards it. “At Ten Friends Diner we foster self-esteem, self-confidence and they encourage us to come out of our comfort zone — a true recipe for success!” explains waitress Melissa Rei. For more information about this special eatery, including hours and the latest news, check: Facebook.com/TenFriendsDiner.
