GoodLife Barrie Edition January/February 2020

DINING GUIDE

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2020

BARRIE

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IN THE CROWD

S P R I N G W AT E R

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ORO-MEDONTE

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ARTS UP CLOSE

INNISFIL & AREA

LOCAL FLAVOUR GOODLIFE BARRIE EDITION

LIMONCELLO BISTRO

NEST CAREFREE CONDOS

ROAM SPANISH LUXURY $5.95

The Signs You See Everywhere!

Showrooms

Barrie 705.737.1554 92 Commerce Park Dr.

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Newmarket 905.895.1554 569 Steven Court

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Commercial Services audio and video solutions for restaurants, hospitality, office buildings and more.

sound advice for the right price

411 Bayfield Street, Barrie | 705-737-1195 | www.simcoeav.ca GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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january | february 2020

GOODLIFE GOODLIFE Publisher Dana Robbins

Regional General Manager Simcoe - York - Muskoka Shaun Sauve General Manager Simcoe & Editor Elise Allain Graphic Design Brenda Boon Nick Bornino Advertising Representatives Kim Bergeron Carolyn Brayiannis Debbie Booth Vic Dellamora Shannon Dunlop Renee Duthie Debbie Halikas Janet Lee-Holden Stacey MacDonald Mary March Photography Contributions Ellie Kistemaker Jim Craigmyle Mike Guilbault

Contents

Editorial Contributions Katherine Elphick, Dawn Ritchie, Margaret Harlos Patti Vipond

21 Patterson Road, Barrie, ON L4N 7W6 Phone: (705) 726-0573 First Place

Statements opinions and points of view expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher, advertisers or GoodLife.

GoodLife Barrie edition is published six times per year: January/February, March/April,

upfront 8 shopaholic 10 shopaholic BEAUTY

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

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May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December (Holiday Edition) For further information regarding all our products, we invite you to call us at 705-726-0573.

For advertising inquiries, please email: goodlife@simcoe.com or call 705-726-0573 ext. 792031 Digital Edition: www.simcoe.com

GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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"Our goal is to have everything in-house so that you can always count on us to take care of you here.”

We are happy to announce that we can now offer crowns is just one visit!" ~ Dr. Bashi Proud New Sponsors of the Barrie Colts

Thank You

Readers’ Choice

2016 2017 2018 2019

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610 Huronia Rd., Barrie • 705-737-1151 • whitecedardental.com

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january | february 2020

nest

13 notes 14 home tour 20 home tour the big easy 30 38 at home with INSPIRED HOMES

SCANDI-FARMHOUSE CHIC

RESORT LIVING

CAREFREE CONDO AND TOWNHOUSE LIVING

IRENE TURNBULL

taste

41 42 local flavour notes

DELICIOUS BITES

LIMONCELLO BISTRO

roam

49 50 weekender 54 travel notes

LUXE TRAVEL

SAN DIEGO

MALLORCA

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Contents 60 arts up close 84 in the crowd MEGAN BAILLIE,

SIMCOE COUNTY HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION

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beauty

upfront | shopaholic

Look stunning naturally with clean skincare and beauty products Blushing beauty

Delivering rich pigment, this talc-free blush will leave you glistening or lit from within depending on your choice. The Cover FX Monochromatic Matte + Shimmer Blush Duo in Soft Peach will last all day and do wonders for your skin. Paraben and sulfate free, the duo can be used together or alone, $50. coverfx.com

Lip service

The award-winning, Tinted Lip Conditioner in O Baby from ILIA will never leave your lips dry or flakey. Made with sunflower seed oil, castor, oil, cocoa butter, $37. iliabeauty.com

Chaotic neutrals

The lilah b. Palette Perfection Eye Quad in b. stunning is a natural eyeshadow palette that can be used on your brows or as a face highlight.

The formula includes aloe, agar, coconut oil, and marigold extract for a silky smooth finish, $78. lilahbeauty.com

Mellow out

This Supermello moisturizer by Kinship is cool to the touch and will make your face feel calm and hydrated. It nourishes your skin while reducing the appearance of redness with natural active ingredients like coconut water, marshmallow root, and plantbased probiotics, $22. lovekinship.com

Thirst Quencher

The Hydra-Restore Cream Cleaner from Grown Alchemist is created using a powerful antioxidant known as olive leaf extract. This cream cleanser will remove makeup and condition your face without stripping natural oils, $60. holtrenfrew.com

Serum savvy

Quick-absorbing, weightless and moisturizing, the Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Balancing Oil contains the ingredients your skin craves. It works to reduce blemishes, enlarged pores and other imperfections without the use of harsh chemicals, $65. sephora.com 8

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Booster Juice

Protect your scalp from the harsh winter with this natural and soothing scalp oil from Earth’s Nectar made with tea tree oil, vitamin E, almond oil, and jojoba oil, $23. sephora.com

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VOTED FAVOURITE INTERIOR DESIGN/DECOR & INTERIOR DESIGNER/ DECORATOR IN THE 2019 READER’S CHOICE AWARDS

boda Decor President/Owner Colin Springgay chose the name Aboda for several reasons; “To be first in the phone book and because it’s a play on the word ‘Abode’’, and, like on the Big Bang Theory when you are sitting in that sofa it is the perfect spot— Aboda means your comfort zone.”

Founded in 2001, Aboda Decor carries 80% Canadian name brand furniture for every room in the house in styles which include contemporary, traditional/ transitional and mid-century modern. “We came to Barrie as a higher end, fun choice for furniture and have evolved the store to carry mostly top end Canadian furniture and decor, along with some European brands,” says Colin.

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We are a custom furniture store for people who want something special and unique and offer a multitude of furniture styles, fabrics, leathers, colour choices, wood choices and more.

Favourite Interior Designer/Decorator, Michael Miller Michael travels across the province servicing clients from as far away as Sudbury and Kingston to the GTA. “I go to people’s homes and discuss their wants, needs, lifestyle, tastes and talk about how they use each space.” Says Michael. “We talk about whether they like leather or fabric, wood or glass, etc. I then create a floor plan and give them one or two options.”

I’m in my 12th year at Aboda We have a beautifully Décor and have developed arranged 10,000 sq. ft. many close friendships with showroom which is set up my clients and have worked like a gallery. Our room with them on their first, vingettes showcase furniture, second and third home, area rugs and flooring, condo or cottage.” I get to lighting, artwork and decor know their families and they elements. It’s a great place recommend me to other to visit to get ideas. I want family members. I am proud people to know it’s free to of my connection with my visit our store and it’s a clients and that they trust friendly, creative atmosphere me to help their vision with no pressure to buy.” come true.”

31 Commerce Pk Dr., Barrie • 705-735-1825 • abodadecor.com

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Michael Miller, Sue and Colin Springgay

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upfront | shopaholic

Essentials for the modern traveller Travelling dentist

The Oral B Genius X Electric Toothbrush has artificial intelligence to track where you brush in your mouth and gives personalized feedback on areas that need more attention. It comes in a case that charges both the brush and your phone at the same time when plugged in, starting at $299 Amazon.ca

Mask your eyes

Rest weary eyes from lights and stress, wherever you are, with this 100 per cent silk eye mask by Cilque, $45. cilque.com

Stylin’ in the rain

Booked

Always be prepared for rain with this Original Shell Jacket (in nebula here) by Hunter.

Packable, water-resistant and lightweight, pack it away once the sun comes out using the attached bag at the neck seam. In various colours for men and women, $150-$170. hunterboots.com

Can’t decide which book to bring? Pack them all in this Kobo Libra H2O with enough storage for 6,000 books.

It has ergonomic one-handed page-turn buttons and an HD Carta E Ink glare-free screen, $199.99. kobo.com

Wrist ready

There’s little need for your smart phone when you’re wearing the Apple Watch Series 5, like this WatchGold Stainless Steel Case with Sport Loop. Easy access to your boarding pass, a compass, GPS, activity tracking, payment, music and more. from $929. Apple.com/ca

Duffel to go

This Leroy Rolling Duffel by Solo New York meets carry-on requirements for most major airlines and makes for easy carrying wherever you go. It features two front zippered pockets, separate shoe/laundry compartment, pushbutton telescoping handle system and easy-glide wheels, approx. $150. solo-newyork.com.

Jet lag no more

My Flight Pack prevents dehydration and assists in adjusting your circadian rhythm with three different powders to mix with water or juice at recommended times, according to your flight time (arriving day or night), start at $15.99USD. myflightpack.com.

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OVER 60 YEARASRINRIE DOWNTOWN B

Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers of Barrie

Tales from the Bench: The First Diamond

By Katie Wilton Graduate Diamonds GIA Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers

Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers 52 Dunlop St. W., Barrie On 705-728-3343 BillLeBoeufJewellers.com

SERVING THE BARRIE AND SURROUNDING AREA CElEBRATING OUR 60TH ANNIVERSARy yEAR IN DOwNTOwN BARRIE

I’m always surprised when people (my own brother included) assume that we won’t have anything within their budgets. Certainly we carry a variety of impressive and expensive things but we have just as many inexpensive items. I think one of the keys to our successful six decades in Downtown Barrie is our desire to be a part of every jewellery milestone. Of course we want to be there for your engagements, weddings, births, and anniversaries, but m persona favorite is the first diamond. Usua from mom or dad, sometimes from the grandparents or godparents, and on rare occasions from that schoo ard s eetheart hose name, first and ast, ou still remember.

Working in the back I don’t often see them leave our showcases. I meet them twenty or thirty years later when they no longer inspire awe. I meet them as selfdeprecating diamonds accompanied by qua ifiers of “I kno it’s just a chip�, “It’s not orth an thing� The omen ho ong ago outgrew them laugh as they tell me they want the diamond built into something new.

Finding room for that little diamond in their wedding bands, engagement rings, or right hand rings is one of the most satisfying parts of m ork here. So the next first diamond I see please remember it doesn’t need to be accompanied by an apology or explanation, I get it.

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NATURE’S PRESERVATION SYSTEM

Reusable beeswax wraps that breathe and keep foods alive, just like nature’s peels & rinds, make eliminating those plastic food storage containers easier. Foods are preserved longer, saving money, creating zero waste, and helping to reduce toxins in our landfills and oceans. Beeswax also contains traces of antimicrobial propolis, which are natural tree resins that the bees collect to keep everything sterile. Wash with cool to lukewarm water. abeego.com

A SIGN OF THE TIMES

As we tick into 2020, a return to nature and sustainability is the overarching theme for the year. The passion for natural wood and the greening of homes endures as a trend due to the backlash to all things synthetic and disposable. Accessories, furnishings, utensils, their most raw and pure state are in demand. This live-edge wood and metal artisanal clock from New Tecumseth’s Generational Design Work, is an example.

Delivering visual impact and artfully drawing the warmth of a natural forest into the home, it still serves a timely purpose. generationaldesign.ca

HEALING HIBERNATION

Winter brings a much needed respite from the hectic action of the summer months.

Rest and rejuvenate with a long soak in a fragrant meadow of glacial salts and ethically harvested wild botanicals from Canada’s wilderness. Boreal Folk sustainably harvest plants by hand, then dry, infuse, macerate and distill them for their unique properties in their mobile wilderness lab.

Boreal Folk also offer face serums, oils, masks and lip and body butters made with medicinal plants from Canada’s boreal forest. A boon to skin restoration after those brisk skiing and snowshoeing adventures. borealfolk.ca

THE ART OF TEA

Every day dinnerware doesn’t have to be boring and utilitarian either. Bringing artistic flare into your daily experience with unique handcrafted pieces like Léa & Nicolas’s cantilevered teapot and tankard buoys the spirit in the dark days of winter. The exterior of the pots is a stunning polished natural Canadian red sandstone. The interior is enameled white stoneware for long lasting wear. The tankard comes both as a mug or a tea set with strainer and lid. A joy to brew in and drink from. leanicolas.com

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SCANDI-FARMHOUSE CHIC

“We

dug the hole,” says Katie Jenkins, about the foundation she and husband, Brad, had laid for their first full design/build project in Oro-Medonte.

Previously, the couple had managed six major house renovations between them and they’d been champing at the bit for a bigger challenge.

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Story by Dawn Ritchie Phototgraphy Nat Kay

After purchasing a plot on the tony Windfield Drive West, they were handed a house plan with drawings. “It didn’t flow,” says Katie. “You’d come in from the muddy side and end up in the bedroom. It was like the wrong puzzle pieces were all jammed together.” There’d be none of that in a Jenkins house. Flow and function are this couple’s watchwords. They chucked that plan.

The year before they had transformed an east end property from a claustrophobic bungalow into an airy two-story with farmhouse flair and Katie was already leaning towards a chic Scandinavianinspired farmhouse. She’d spent months combing

through Pinterest and Instagram accounts, culling her favourite looks. It came down to a mashup of four homes that most reflected the style she was going for. Storage was key. Built-ins in the kitchen, dining room, office and living areas would eliminate the need for extra furnishings and create that airy atmosphere a Jenkins home was known for.

Katie dove into her design app and began laying out the floorplan with serious thought to how people truly live.

The bedrooms for younger children, along with the main laundry room would be placed near the master for safety and convenience. The master

bedroom would sit the furthest back in the house with a walk-in closet, luxurious ensuite and forest views of the treed yard where deer, fox, and wild turkeys roam. The office, and nanny/in-law suite would lie on the opposite side of the main living area in a separate wing for privacy and noise control.

The residence, which has the aspect of a Norwegian longhouse, would be comprised of a unique series of structures connected by hallways, laid out in a u-formation to form a protected courtyard in the rear.

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flips, this residence would sing with clean lines, plenty of room to move and eco-friendly concepts.

Not a stitch of carpeting would off-gas toxic chemicals anywhere into this home. Flooring would be sleek custom European white oak throughout, finished with plant-based Woca oil and dressed with the occasional area rug or grass mat to warm things up. Majestic North Flooring would do the work.

Continuity in furnishings and fixtures would also be a priority. All five washroom vanities would be custom-built in ash and Katie tasked her brother of Woods Bay Builds in Michigan to build her a series of custom wood furnishings that generated a flow in the decorating style as well. The finish would remain natural, of course, with only environmentally conscious Osmo oil and beeswax as polish. Accessories would be organic textiles with cherished antique family heirlooms that held a personal history. Rustic and upcycled fixtures with some occasional industrial touches would provide interest. Finally, the exterior would be clad in lowmaintenance tongue and groove Maibec wood siding, with recycled brick, steel roofing and custom cedar front doors by Madawaska Doors.

The plan unfolded exactly as they calculated.

Enter the foyer and your view immediately extends through windows to the forested backyard, avoiding any moment of constriction. Turn right and you are in the open concept main floor which 16

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Katie tasked her brother of Woods Bay Builds in Michigan to build her a series of custom wood furnishings that generated a flow in the decorating style as well

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THE JENKINS HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF SHELVING BUILT INTO THE LIVING ROOM ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FIREPLACE AND A WOOD-TOPPED SIDEBOARD CONSTRUCTED IN THE DINING ROOM TO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR AN EXTRA STORAGE UNIT. consists of a great room, dining room and kitchen flooded with natural light through more windows. The Jenkins had an abundance of shelving built into the living room on either side of the fireplace and a wood-topped sideboard constructed in the dining room to eliminate the need for an extra storage unit.

The kitchen is equipped with shaker style custom cabinetry with dovetail drawers in maple and Blum soft close hardware from JSA Cabinets out of Toronto. Countertops are Caesarstone with a backsplash of four by four-inch white tile from Giovana. The stove, range hood, and panelled fridge, freezer, and dishwasher are all Thermador.

Taps are Kohler. Pot filler is Moen and the farmhouse apron double sink is American Standard DXV. Over the sizeable island, which was painted black in contrast to the cupboards hang three distinctive industrial pendants. Katie, who frequents antique and junk shops, hit the payload on a jaunt

to Waubaushene where she combed through a tractor trailer packed to the hilt and unearthed the three explosion-proof industrial Crouse-Heinds lights. Cleaned up, they were repurposed for kitchen lighting. “I kinda hope the new owner doesn’t want them so I can take them with me,” she admits. Designed for military and hazardous locations, the bomb-proof lights are constructed out of extra thick steel and glass with safety features. Katie left the red insignias intact. To stay with that theme, she also hung an enormous 72inch remote-controlled Big Air industrial-sized fan on the vaulted ceiling of the great room.

Directly behind the kitchen wall is a spacious light-filled butler pantry that is packed with storage, mudroom cubbies and egress to the yard and garage. The perfect location for storage when bringing in groceries.

The colour palette decided on throughout is all white, but it took some time to arrive at the shade.

“There are fifty shades of white,” says Katie, who

Open shelving keeps with the clean lines and offers functional decor in the kitchen.

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The only departure in colour is in the laundry room where Katie painted cabinetry a soothing Dried Thyme Green. “I love green,” she says. “

A glassed-in wine display room that holds 120 bottles is roughed in for temperature control, and a dry bar with a Danby beverage fridge keeps everyone happy.

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didn’t want any pink or green undertones floating about. Sue Kay was summoned for a colour consultation. She landed on the right colour of white Katie wanted, Sea Oyster Pearl. Katie loved the tone but once tested on the walls decided to lighten that shade even more. She tweaked the colour with her supplier, Sherwin Williams, repeatedly.

Each new sample still proved too dark for her very precise vision until they finally had added 50% more white and cut the original colour by half.

“We call it PITA White,” laughs Katie. “Pain in the Ass White.”

The only departure in colour is in the laundry room where Katie painted cabinetry a soothing Dried Thyme Green. “I love green,” she says. “And I wanted to make sure there was a warm feeling in that room because, well, I hate being in that room.

I hate laundry, so I picked my favourite colour. I want to be happy and now I don’t mind being in there.”

Sue Kay also introduced the couple to the 30 by 30-inch porcelain tiles from Spain that mimic the concrete look Katie wanted for the hallways.

“It looks just like poured concrete which was the look we were going for,” she says. “My husband loved laying that tile.”

Matt Kiegelman of Stairhaus, who they had used at the last property, was brought in to do all the stairs in natural wood. They were so pleased with his work, that they booked him to install the rustic beams over the range hood in the kitchen and in the front entry as well as all the woodwork on the cathedral ceiling, countertops, and open shelving in the kitchen.

The lower level is where they snug in to watch Maple Leaf games. Balanced heating is achieved with a 2-stage modular furnace that keeps both floors at the same cozy temperature year-round.

The lower level holds a spacious media room with a 75-inch flat screen TV and built-in speakers, a fitness room, and another bedroom and washroom for guests or teens. A glassed-in wine display room that holds 120 bottles is roughed in for temperature control, and a dry bar with a Danby beverage fridge keeps everyone happy.

With the picture-perfect home now complete, the couple are looking forward to their next challenge and are currently in discussions with their realtor for new properties to build again.

24 Windfield West in Oro-Medonte is now on the market represented by Harvey Kalles Real Estate Brokerage.

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RESORT

LIVING Story by Dawn Ritchie

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ccasionally new builds don’t go quite as planned. When visions of grandeur meet construction overages a project can completely derail. Such was the case with the executive estate at 3 Pinehurst Lane in Minesing. The original builder spared no expense in facing the exterior of the home in lavish stone from top to bottom.

The result was the bearing of a stately manor from the exterior. But cost overruns took their toll on the interior finishes which didn’t live up to that promise. Soon ownership was in different hands and the estate was on the market. Realtor, Nadene Milnes, and husband Ryan, leapt at the opportunity to snatch it up. And thus, began their ten-year journey of refinishing the interior to equal the grandeur of the exterior.

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Today the six-bedroom, seven-bathroom home is an entertainers’ paradise with a massive near commercial-sized infinity pool, an inground hot tub with two gas-fired fire bowls, an outdoor sauna, stunning four-season sunroom addition they’ve dubbed “the cabana,” a gourmet kitchen with top of the line appliances, cinema, wine cellar, full-sized wet bar and remarkably, even an indoor hockey rink.

To accommodate all of the company they were bound to have, the property was equipped with six garage bays in detached and attached formation. Both are now fully finished and heated.

The biggest ticket item was the kitchen according to the Milnes. The original kitchen was gutted and completely reconfigured by Corinthian Kitchen and Bath Studios with an old world black, white and wood design. Serious 22

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Warm Winter Recipe

Guinness French Onion Soup

4-6 Onions (About 8 Cups), Sliced Thinly 5 Garlic Cloves, Minced 2 Tbsp. Butter Olive Oil 6 C. Reduced Sodium Beef Broth 1/2 C. Guinness Draught Beer

2 Tbsp. Italian Herb Balsamic 1 Bay Leaf 1/4 Tsp. Dried Thyme Salt & Pepper To Taste 2 tbsp flour 1 tsp grainy mustard

Croutons:

industrial pendants hang over the kitchen island. Countertops are quartz with a pencil tile backsplash.

“I love rustic elements in the home because I find it cozy and warm,” says Nadene. “My husband prefers modern so we worked on combining both styles.” Appliances here are all high performance with a Viking range and fullsized Sub Zero fridge and freezer. The kitchen bustles with extended family during the holidays.

“My family loves cooking in this kitchen,” says Nadene. “But the funny story is I hate to cook.

I’m so busy, whatever I can cook fast and get on the table to get the kids and us fed, works for me.”

With three children under the age of ten and a busy realty business to run, her answer was a rapid cook commercial TurboChef oven that cooks a roast in a mere ten minutes. A full

6 Slices French Bread (1 Oz. Each), 1 cup of aged Chedder, 6 slices of Swiss cheese Directions

• Put Butter Olive Oil into a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add the onions and Neapolitan Herb Balsamic and cook until completely caramelized and golden brown, mixing every 10-15 minutes and adding water or Guinness to deglaze the pan as needed to prevent burning. • Add the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about a minute. • Add 2 tbsp of Butter Olive Oil, mix in the flour and let it cook for 2-4 minutes. • Add the stout and deglaze the pan. • Add the broth, grainy mustard, bay leaves, salt and pepper, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. • Ladle the soup into oven-proof bowls on a baking sheet, top with the sliced bread and cheese and broil until cheese melts, about 1-3 minutes.

Visit OliveOilCo.ca for FREE SHIPPING on Orders Over $100!

VOTED BEST SPECIALTY FOOD STORE 5 YEARS IN A ROW!

Barrie Downtown: 45 Dunlop Street East • 705.503.6457 Barrie South: 31 Commerce Park • 705.792.0300 Newmarket: Upper Canada Mall • 905.235.7645

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“

THE BIGGEST TICKET ITEM WAS THE KITCHENACCORDING TO THE MILNES. THE ORIGINAL KITCHEN WAS GUTTED AND COMPLETELY RECONFIGURED BY CORINTHIAN KITCHEN AND BATH STUDIOS WITH AN OLD WORLD BLACK, WHITE AND WOOD DESIGN.

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turkey is done in only 45. “I love it,” she says.

“That’s definitely the one thing I’m never doing without ever again. You click it on, it gives you the time and you’re done. It was expensive, around $15,000.00 but we use it more than we use the stove.”

The Milnes also wanted substantial flooring installed. They had rustic, reclaimed hardwood from a barn in Stayner laid on the entirety of the main level, save for the master bedroom which was carpeted for comfort. “Those floors have really taken a beating and they stand up,” says Nadene, who has watched her athletic children drag hockey sticks and ride bikes across them.

“Every scrape or dent just adds more character,” she explains. “We recoated them after 5 years and they looked as good as new. They’ll last forever.”

Another hefty investment was the addition of that four-season sunroom with a floor to ceiling wood burning fireplace. It’s become the spot where the family spends much of their time. Vaulted wood ceilings elicit a resort lodge ambience and a moveable glass wall opens to reveal the extravagant outdoor playground below.

The couple knew they wanted to put in a grand pool and installed the retracting wall screen that would allow for unobstructed views which also reach all the way to the lights of the Snow Valley ski hills in the winter. “It’s a place for the kids to play,” says Nadene. “Leaving the great room as a more formal space.” Windows by Monarch Conservatory. Woodwork by Simcoe Block.

The adjoining great room soars with twenty foot ceilings and a balcony that wraps around the room. A stacked stone fireplace is the focal point.

“I love fireplaces,” says Nadene. “My favourite time of year at this house is Christmas. We have a wood-burning fireplace in the great room and put a twelve-foot Christmas tree in there. It’s beautiful, and so big that the neighbours have said they can see the lights of the tree from the road.”

The main level is where the master and the laundry room is also conveniently located. The master enjoys an electric fireplace and a walkout to a balcony that overlooks the yard. The en suite was just recently remodeled with a stand-alone soaker tub and separate spa shower with ceramic tile. Nadene credits Darrell Sagrati of Level Up Contracting in Wasaga for the work. There are two additional bedrooms on the second level and the lower level has three more making it the perfect family home for a large family, especially one with teenagers. “Every bedroom has an en suite,” says Nadene. “Except for the basement which has a

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lunch buffet $16.99

SIMCOE’S FAVOURITE BURGER 2 locations in Barrie

40 Dunlop St. E • 511 Bryne Dr.

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Barrie - Bradford - Orillia KenzingtonBurgerBar

@KenzBurgerBar

128 DUNLOP ST. E., DOWNTOWN BARRIE 737.1821

Who says only the bride should turn heads?

You’re the mom, grandmother, aunt, sister, guest.

You deserve a moment. We can help.

Our style experts will be by your side to get you ready for your entrance. Just enough. Not too much.

ZuZu is Barrie’s go to destination for the special occasions in your life.

Downtown Barrie www.zuzufashionboutique.com GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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Jack and Jill washroom.”

Entertaining features flourish on that lower level, which was completed by Village Builders.

There’s a walkout to the pool and covered patio.

A chilled wine room holds dozens of bottles, and a fully equipped wet bar services big crowds. The projection screen cinema has seven red luxurious leather recliners elevated on graduated levels so there are no bad seats in the house.

The pool outside is equally impressive. The 40-foot shotcrete infinity edge pool fits easily into the near two-acre property. It’s accompanied by a custom oversized 360-degree infinity hot tub with remote controlled LED lights that change colour on demand. The pool was originally installed with a Marblelite finish but after a few years they decided to upgrade the finish to Pebbletech for a more durable look. The decking is heavy duty IPE wood which can either weather naturally to a grey or be refinished with oil every few years.

Betz Pools finished the work on the pool. Darryl McMurter of McMurter Landscaping worked on the landscaping.

Adjacent to the pool lies a timber frame gazebo, outdoor sauna, and built-in stone BBQ with outdoor gas fireplace and a three-piece bathroom, leaving no luxury unaddressed. Timmerman Timberworks built the structure. “Being in the backyard is like being in your own little paradise,” says Nadene. “Really, it’s like a resort. Once we had a drummer here who sang and we thought, why go to Cuba when you have this?”

But the piece de résistance is the location.

Across the road, trails lead through the bush where the family regularly take their ATVs, engage in dirt biking, snowshoeing and hiking. There’s also a cement pad laid for hockey practice outside and in the summer an indoor hockey rink with synthetic ice from Hockey Shot awaits practice.

The spacious rink, with penalty boxes and all, is built atop the three-car garage. Originally the space was designated as nanny quarters but Ryan blew out the walls and repurposed it for their son who at age ten already plays in an elite league.

“Our family is hockey crazy,” says Nadene.

“We’ve sponsored the Barrie Colts at this property for two years in a row.” In fact, hockey is the primary reason they have decided to put their estate on the market. “We love this house,” says Nadene. “But we’ve entered a new phase of all things hockey and are relocating to Kleinberg, closer to where our son plays.”

3 Pinehurst Lane in Minesing is now on the market represented by Royal LePage Locations North

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Real Estate Family Law Wills Powers of Attorney Estate Planning Douglas J. Hill, B.A., LL.B. Susanne Mary Hayward, B.A., LL.B. Mark D.W. Weir, B.A., J.D.

35 Owen St., Barrie | 705.726.3712

fax: 705.726.3895

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84 Dunlop Street E., Barrie • 705-739-0990 • bravofinelingerie.com

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HOME

Sweet

HOME

EcoRefinishers GET TO KNOW US!

WelcometoEcoRefinishers!ZackandIenjoyco-owning and operating our business together, where we specialize in professional cabinet refinishing. Between his incredible work ethic and eye for detail, and my personal love for colour and working with people, we’ve been offering a qualityproductandserviceforoversevenyears,inaddition to Zack having thirteen years of experience since he began working with EcoRefinishers back in 2006 with his father.

We both love the idea of leaving the world better than we left it, using what people have in their kitchens to make it beautiful again. Rather than filling a landfill, we can take yourexistingdoorsandgivethemnewlife–nottomention

keeping your wallet happier, too. We use water-based lacquers to ensure you have the quality you’re looking for – and back our word with a three-year warranty. In an era of rushing, it can be stressful working on your home.

But I’m here to tell you that we will do our best to make the transition as smooth as possible, while maintaining a timely schedule within a ten-business-day turnaround.

Working with clients is a relationship and one that we desire to cultivate. To the best of our ability, we strive to be clear, open, and prompt with our communication; as well as supportive and informative. It’s about us wanting to make sure that you have what’s best for you, whether

that means we are a part of your renovation journey or not. We want to help! Whether it’s helping you pick new colours and getting that shade of white just right, recommending a local countertop company, or figuring out whether bronze or brushed nickel would work with your cabinet doors, we want to be as beneficial as possible.

“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” are words we live by. We will treat your home like our home, your family like our family – and above all, treat your kitchen well! We look forward to sharing our work and a bit of our lives with you – welcome to the family!

All the best, Zack and Rachel

Serving Simcoe County and Muskoka | 705-345-6102

www.ecorefinishers.com

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The

BIG

By Dawn Ritchie

CA R E F R E E CO NDO AN D TO WN H O U SE LIV IN G The days of yore when a condominium apartment meant a basic kitchen, bathroom and four blank walls are gone. Today, luxury features that solve lifestyle problems are driving design in the maintained condo and townhouse market.

Many of these changes rival and even surpass the advantages of detached homes. Lawn care, snow removal, fitness rooms, maintenance-free outdoor terraces with fire pits, swimming pools, games rooms, basketball courts and even pet spas are all becoming de rigueur.

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nest | condo life

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Younger buyers are a part of the reason. Millennials today opt for smaller footprints and minimalist designs with open concept layouts that work for their hectic schedules. The growing population of active downsizers are another.

Boomers want less house but have no intention of putting limits on the good life they’ve worked hard to enjoy.

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The upshot is a whole slew of new condo and maintained townhouse developments currently under construction in Simcoe County that are packed with easy-living features.

Electrical vehicle charging stations, bicycle storage, master planned neighbourhoods with trail systems, parks and immediacy to beaches, ski hills, the Go Train and transportation corridors are all factors in this fastgrowing market.

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CONSUMERS’ CHOICE • TOP CHOICE READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

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nest | condo life

The Residences at Five Points

LakeVu Condominiums

The Residences at Five Points in the heart of downtown Barrie, slated for a 2022 occupancy, focuses on sophisticated social spaces that create community, enliven wellness, and expand residents’ living areas. The building offers not only a fitness room but also an outdoor crossfit area, yoga garden, fire pit lounge, pool, terrace, dining areas, shopping and much more.

LakeVu condos, a project from the JD Development Group, overlooks Little Lake in North Barrie. Luxury suites here offer stunning lake views through glass balcony

railings and plenty of lifestyle perks. An onsite fitness facility, party room, games room, dog wash station, underground parking, and outdoor terrace are just a few.

Here are a few of the other luxury features you can expect in the latest developments.

Entertainment Lounges

Party Room at LakeVu Condos

Feeling isolated is no longer an issue when entertainment lounges and party rooms are amenities that expand your social network and permit for special events and celebrations.

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Cabanas Want more privacy? A rooftop or poolside cabana instantly creates a private outdoor room.

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Community Kitchens Tiny condo kitchens that used to be an impediment to large gatherings are also a restriction of the past. Pratt’s Bistro 6’s two community kitchens were designed by a chef and include high end appliances, a wine room, gas grill, wood-fired pizza oven and even a wood pellet smoker. Anything from a pig roast to a pizza party can be on the menu.

Bistro 6 also offers a unique “kitchen library” that allows residents to check out best-in-class small appliances for use in their own culinaryinspired kitchens.

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Pratt Bistro 6 Community Kitchen GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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nest | condo life

Pet Spas The Doggie Wash is a fabulous new feature being incorporated into several developments.

Living in the Simcoe area means that pets enjoy regular beach and wilderness romps along trails.

On-site DIY pet spas keep the residents’ suites and the building’s common areas pristine.

Pool at The Residences at Five Points, Downtown Barrie

Rooftop Dining at The Residences at Five Points

Guest Suites Maintaining that empty guest room for 50 weeks of the year is another obsolete concern.

Several developments, including LakeVu and The Residences, offer rentable guest suites right in the building where owners can put up family and friends on a short-term basis. Rooms have sleeping facilities with en suites and their own private patio ensuring everyone’s privacy is respected.

Swimming pools Homeowners with pools know what a major undertaking pool maintenance is. Pools need to be opened for the summer, maintained throughout the swimming season, and shut down again for the winter—significant factors that bite into free time and the wallet. A pool in a condo means all the enjoyment with none of that work. Jump in, jump out, and put your energies into tweaking that BBQ marinade instead.

Cornerstone Townhouses > 34

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Moving into a condo doesn’t mean you lose your outdoor dining area either. Developers are creating resort-style spaces with fully equipped outdoor kitchens and dining sets. The only thing residents lose is the chore of hauling patio furniture in and out of sheds on a seasonal basis.

OUTDOOR

SHOW

Fitness Facilities Most condos today have a fitness room on site with state of the art elliptical, weight, rowing, and treadmill equipment. But some, like LakeVu, also offer outdoor basketball courts as well. The Residences provide a rare yoga garden, where the whir of fitness machines are shunned for the peace and tranquility of an open aired setting.

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Smart Home Technology The smart home is the home of the future and Cornerstone Towns, coming soon to the east end of Barrie, offers those options at turnkey. Included standard are: Nest thermostats, Schlage Smart Locks, Smart Garage Door openers, Google Home capabilities and USB outlets prewired throughout

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the residence.

Snow Removal and Lawn Care Townhouse living means there’s still yard work and shoveling to deal with but maintained townhouses whisk those tasks away. Some plans are all inclusive such as Urban North Development’s Executive Towns, which lies conveniently next to the Barrie South Go Station. There are also optional plans for snow and grass removal at an extra cost for standard towns. This arrangement is especially appealing to commuters who want to enjoy Simcoe’s great outdoors on the weekends instead of being occupied by yard work.

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705 726 7000 INFO@CRIPPSHOMES.C OM 132 COMMERCE PARK DR I, BARRIE, ON L4N 8W8 GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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ROLEX SUBMARINER MARINER 16613 TRITIU TIUM DIAL $11,495.00 CAD. E12513

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Electric Car Charging Stations and Underground Parking As cars move into a greener future, developers are also staying abreast and incorporating electric car charging stations right into the building’s facilities. Underground parking at condominiums also means no time or gas is spent warming up engines in the winter months while scraping off windshields.

Storage and Bicycle Rooms One of the biggest challenges for condo and townhouse owners is storage, but savvy developers now provide storage lockers on site. Owning a bike has also presented issues for style-conscious younger generations who don’t relish two-wheelers bunging up their living space. Bicycle lock up rooms are the new answer.

Games Rooms Games rooms in condos are more than just random card tables these days. Expect billiards and fuss ball tables, ping pong, darts, big screen TVs and more.

Location And it’s not just what you live in, it’s where you live that developers are paying attention to as they situate housing close to the 400 Highway, Go Train, and bus systems to draw in commuters from the GTA. Other amenities like trail systems, access to outdoor skiing, hiking and biking, proximity to the waterfront and Barrie’s many excellent restaurants and boutiques are all on the long list of benefits.

Security and Fire Systems Brazilian Slate New Porcelain Tile Collection from Italy Tilemaster Barrie 79 Anne Street South Barrie, L4N2E2 www.tilemastercanada.com 36

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Finally, one of the greatest conveniences of condo living is the ability to lock up and go, whether south in the winter for snowbirds, or weekdays into the city for employment for the working generation. Plumbing shut off valves are now being installed in many suites to remove flooding worries while away. WiFi enabled security systems also help homeowners keep an eye on their investment, and smoke, fire, and sprinkler systems help keep everything safe.

GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

2020-01-17 1:14 PM

It’s hard to talk to mom

about making changes You know that a move to Allandale Station would provide a rewarding new lifestyle for your mom — plus peace of mind for you. We’d welcome her to any one of Allandale Station’s many events.

Introduce mom to retirement living while treating her to a great time.

New Orleans Carnival

Tuesday, February 25 • 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Enjoy a fun filled afternoon of entertainment, New Orleans style food, games and tours of Allandale Station.

Be sure to RSVP to 705-721-7227 or register online at: AllandaleStation.ca/events

357 Yonge Street, Barrie 705-721-7227 AllandaleStation.ca

Independent Living • Assisted Living GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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at home

At Home with

Irene Turnbull

Story by Dawn Ritchie | Photography by Jim Craigmyle

D

esigner, Irene Turnbull, grew up in a family that owned a general contracting business. Her father was an engineer and the passion for construction ran deep in her blood.

Her first job out of school was in the industry before moving on to work in the engineering department at The Toronto Harbour Commission. It was during the Commission’s heyday of waterfront development that delivered Ontario Place and the Leslie Street Spit to the GTA. That expansion reignited her passion for design and she enrolled in Toronto’s School of Interior Design to grow her skillset. Combining her knowledge of construction techniques and design skills she opened That

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Country Place in Orillia offering custom draperies, upholstery, and home furnishings. In 2001, she moved her operation to Barrie, rebranding as Irene TurnbulI Interiors and further enlarging her services.

Turnbull has written three books on design: The Secret of Great Decorating, Colour Sense-abilities and 17 Things You Should Know Before You Start Your Home Makeover Project. She’s served on the Board of Directors of Canadian Decorators Association (CDECA) and is currently a member of the Georgian College Advisory Committees for the Interior Decorating and Kitchen and Bath Programs.

GL/What services do you provide?

I provide renovation and project management, custom decorating solutions and interior design and space planning. I am also certified as a Feng Sui expert through FSIA. What I bring to the table is understanding clients in terms of what their real needs and desires are, and how they are perceiving their space in terms of a design that both expresses them and enables their happiness.

GL/ What are the most important things to consider in space planning?

The moment your feet hit your floor the house should serve you. The happiest people have an

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MY BIGGEST PET PEEVE IS THAT FURNITURE HAS LOST ITS CONNECTION TO THE HUMAN BODY. SEATING MEASUREMENTS ARE OFF. easy flow, morning to night. It’s about making life easy. It makes more sense to have pullout drawers in the kitchen, for instance, or placing an oven right where it should be. Layouts are increasingly cookie cutter with bad design. Part of the problem is a result of computer applications. There’s a drag and drop mentality that results in rooms being put in the wrong locations. The laundry room is stuffed at the back doorway where you come in from the garage. The garage door opens and bangs into the washing machine and then you go through another door and literally pass through the dining room or cut through the kitchen to get to the common living areas. It’s all roundabouts.

Poor layout. That’s why we still do drafting by hand to ensure everything works properly. I do the conceptual work and when I need structural drawings I have an engineer twho does that.

GL/You are on the advisory board for the Kitchen Design Program at Georgian, what material do you recommend for countertops today?

There are good materials in every snack bracket you are in. It’s all about the purse strings for the people doing the buying. If laminate is your budget, there are several good choices. If stone is your price bracket, there is engineered stone with resins, natural stone and so on. Understanding the supply chain is vital, however. Where did it come from? Maintenance factors are also a consideration. Calcious-based stone, such as marble, have a different mineral mix than granite. They react to acids. Vinegar, wine, fruity acids, ketchup will etch them if not sealed properly. In old Italian kitchens, they lived comfortably with the stains.

We don’t. So, it’s not just the material to consider, it’s maintenance. Making sure the product is compliant and suitable for the application is key. You want it to have a seamless integration of product to application.

GL/What are people most asking for in their homes today?

My clients are looking for comfort, emotional comfort.

GL/How does that translate into design?

Bringing warmth to a home. The touchy, feely aspect—fabrics, textiles, colour. People are also

feeling deprived of colour. Why does everything look the same today? Is there no other colour than grey? There’s a predisposed idea of what something must look like to be good and we get conditioned that way. But conformity doesn’t necessarily reflect individuality. In fact, they are polar opposites. Are we just going to be a bunch of clones or are we individuals? I look to nourish the spirit of the person in the space by unlocking those keys to help them discover their own vision.

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2044 sq ft on the main floor delivers luxury features with a partial walkout basement that could be finished to your specifications. The main floor impresses with an exquisite 10 foot ceiling open layout. There is a custom designed gas fireplace and wide plank hardwood, gourmet kitchen with quartz throughout all the counters, large master wing with spa ensuite, and all the premium finishes that Homes by Daycor is known to feature. Massive walkout covered deck overlooking very private treed premium lot.

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GL/Is the problem following trends?

We are steered by the market. The industry is fastpaced and market driven. But I’m not one who encourages following trends. That’s about sales and the image of what we should be, not of who we are. That said, there is innovation. Plumbing for instance. The guts of plumbing are more efficient and you have more options there, but the question to ask yourself is, why am I changing things? Why am I unhappy with my home? Is the chair wrong? The lighting wrong? Becoming more authentic is the goal.

My biggest pet peeve is that furniture has lost its connection to the human body. Seating measurements are off. You need pillows behind your back to get comfortable and some furniture is so low you can’t get out of your seat. I focus on bespoke design that delivers comfort and longevity. I guide people to the proper choices for their specific needs. People who really love their home want bespoke design and that’s the client that I work best with.

GL/Are those choices you made for your own home?

Most of the stuff I have in my house is third generation. I like things that make you feel warm. I even have furnishings from my grandmother.

There are no pretensions in any way. But my fabrics are decent. I have good draperies.

Visit Irene Turnbull’s studio at 560 Bryne Drive in Barrie. Website: TurnbullInteriors.com

David Weeks

Greg Weeks

Sales Representative

Sales Representative

B.J. Roth Realty Ltd. Brokerage

B.J. Roth Realty Ltd., Brokerage Independently Owned & Operated

Office

735-2525 Custom Basement Finishing Call to arrange a free, in-home consultation and detailed written estimate today, and get ready to enjoy the kitchen of your dreams!

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Let us create a look that’s just your style with a quality custom home renovation.

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leacontracting@gmail.com GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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Pack your bags, forget your worries and allow us to show you our planet, CAA-style.

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LIQUEUR MADE WITH LOCAL HONEY

Chef Randy Feltis has created a honey of a drink. Made with 44 all natural herbs, spices, roots, flowers, berries and lightly sweetened with honey, the new liqueur is called Honey Bee Elixir. “It’s the ultimate bartending companion because it offers endless craft cocktail opportunities — from Straight Up sipping to a Honey Negroni,” says Feltis, who owns the Farmhouse restaurant in Barrie and is a celebrity chef for CityTV. And talk about local! The delicious honey-based liqueur is made with Dickey Bee Honey in Essa Township. It’s also sustainable. “For every drink sold, we introduce a bee to the hive,” he explains. Honey Bee Elixir is available at the LCBO. honeybeeelixir.com

NASHVILLE-STYLE RESTAURANT TO OPEN IN DOWNTOWN BARRIE

The owners of Donaleigh’s Irish Public House plans to breathe new life into the former home of Made in Mexico at the Five Points in downtown Barrie. The empty space will soon be converted into a Nashville-style honky tonk restaurant that serves up barbecue and live music. Steve Ricalis and business partner Don Kellett are currently renovating the space at 10 Dunlop Street East and hope to open the yet unnamed restaurant in coming months.

WINTER BARRIELICIOUS IS BACK

That’s right, it’s Barrielicious time!

“About 55 restaurants have signed on,” says chef Randy Feltis, one of the driving forces behind the popular food event which runs from January 17 to Feb 2, 2020. The eating event serves up a select three course menu at various local restaurants. Prices are $15, $20, $25 or $30 per person.Most restaurants are located in the Barrie-area, but a few from Midland, Orillia and Bradford are also participating. Book early to avoid disappointment by contacting your desired restaurant directly. barrielicious.com

TASTY COOKING CLASSES OFFERED AT LOBLAW

On the lookout for new recipe ideas? If so, you’ll find plenty of culinary inspiration at the PC Cooking School at Loblaw on Bayfield Street in Barrie. “We’ve got lots of delicious classes going on for food lovers of all ages,” says PC Cooking School coordinator Sarah MacIsaac. “There’s something for everyone.”

For more information on upcoming classes visit pccookingschool.ca or call (705)7301577. Register via the website or by visiting the customer service desk. Prices and times vary.

GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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LIMONCELLO BISTRO — IN THE KITCHEN WITH FRANCESCO PETRUSA

By Katherine Elphick | Photography by Ellie Kistemaker

Since opening its doors for business last summer, Limoncello Bistro has gained a following of local foodies. “Diners really seem to love our rustic home-cooked southern Italian food,” explained 36-year-old chef and owner, Francesco Petrusa.

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ocated in downtown Barrie, the 50-seat eatery prides itself on making everything from scratch, including its own pasta. “My cooking philosophy is that everything has to be fresh and locally sourced, when possible,” said the trained chef who was born in Sicily and raised in Toronto.

To learn more about this cozy Italian eatery, Goodlife recently caught up with the chef at his restaurant in between the lunch and dinner crowd. Here’s how the conversation unfolded: What led you to call the restaurant Limoncello?

Francesco Petrusa: Limoncello is the name of a popular Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, that my girlfriend and business partner, Maeghan [Thomas] likes to drink. She’s

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not Italian, but she’s thought the name, Limoncello, was catchy and easy to say. Limoncello also means baby lemons in Italian, and since I’m from Sicily where lemons are a big part of the local food culture, we decided it was a fitting name for our restaurant.

Let’s hear about your culinary training.

FP: After getting my chef’s training at Liaison College in Vaughan, I headed to Southern Italy and worked in Pescara, which is in the Abruzzo region. While working there, I learned the art of fresh pasta making, and also did a lot of fish and seafood dishes. It’s also where I learned to make authentic Sicilian cannoli, which we are really well known for. It’s our biggest selling dessert.

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Friends have told me that your cannoli is pretty spectacular. What’s your secret?

FP: We don’t use cream. Instead, we use ricotta cheese because that’s how it’s made in Sicily. Along with a traditional flavour, we also make chocolate chip, pistachio and cassata Siciliana (which features dried Sicilian fruit).

On the savoury side, Limoncello’s menu serves up plenty of authentic Italian flavours with various daily specials. What are some of your top sellers?

FP: Overall, everything sells really well because it’s all made in our kitchen. Guest favourites include: pizza, chicken marsala, Sicilian rice balls, Caprese salad, penne alla vodka, handmade gnocchi with a smoked salmon and cognac sauce and lasagna (served twice a week on Wednesdays and Thursdays). I would say that our osso buco sets us apart for sure. It’s a huge draw and people love it.

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You’re also well known for your porchetta, a savoury and moist boneless Italian pork roast.

Can you explain the cooking process?

FP: We slow roast it for eight hours, and come in everyday at two or three in the morning to get it started. It’s so tender that you don’t even need a knife to cut it. We use the savoury meat in pa

241 Essa Road, Barrie

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104 Essa Rd., Barrie • 705.737.1201 • essadental.ca GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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taste | local flavour

AND ONCE THE WARMER MONTHS ARRIVE, WE HAVE A 40-SEAT PATIO WHERE OUR CUSTOMERS CAN ENJOY DINING ALFRESCO 44

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ninis and pasta sauces. Actually, one of our pastas, which people go crazy for, features porchetta.

It’s called fettuccini Roma (fresh fettuccini with pulled porchetta, rapini and topped with ricotta) and I invented it. It’s a signature dish that you won’t find anywhere else.

What led you to open a restaurant with a Barrie address?

FP: I moved to Barrie to be closer to my parents who moved up here a few years ago. I just love it up here, and couldn’t imagine opening a restaurant anywhere else.

Let’s hear about your invitation to compete on two Food Network shows in coming months — Chopped Canada and Fire Masters.

FP: I’m just thrilled that they asked me. I’m planning on competing sometime next year. I’ve had to put it off for a bit because I’ve just been so busy at the restaurant. Over the holiday season, we booked 28 Christmas parties. It was crazy!

Do you offer specials?

FP: Along with daily menu specials, we reduce wine prices on Tuesdays and Thursdays. But the truth is, our wines are already priced very competitively with bottles starting at $25 per bottle. At lunchtime, we serve a chicken or veal parmesan sandwich along with a soda or bottled water for $10.

What about dishes for diners with special dietary needs?

FP: We have some very tempting gluten-free and vegan options. And since we make everything in-house, we’re pretty accommodating to most dietary needs Do you cater?

FP: We do both on and off-site catering. We also shut down the restaurant on Sundays and Mondays for private events.

Any interesting future plans?

FP: We’d love to expand with more seating. Our landlord might be able to offer us more dining room space upstairs, so we’re crossing our fingers.

And once the warmer months arrive, we have a 40-seat patio where our customers can enjoy dining alfresco.

LIMONCELLO BISTRO 41 Maple Ave, Barrie (249)-880-4001, Limoncellobistro.ca Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 am to 3 pm & 5 pm to 10 pm, closed Sunday and Monday

The RAW & REFLECTIVE 2020 Calendar Was launched to give a voice to cancer survivors (and those who have lost the struggle) and to bring awareness to the impact of this fateful diagnosis.

Gilda’s Clubs exist to provide support for anyone affected by cancer. Your purchase will help continue the work of Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka.

Calendars available at Connect Hair Studio / Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka or order online at www.gildasclubsimcoemuskoka.org GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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taste | local flavour

LIMONCELLO’S SICILIAN LASAGNA (recipe by chef Francesco Petrusa) Lasagna is a popular dish at Limoncello. This tasty dish is served on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the restaurant, or with this recipe — try making it at home.

1-1/2 Tbsp olive olive 1 Spanish onion, finely diced 4 cloves garlic, finely diced 900 grams lean ground beef (option to mix half beef and half pork) Salt and pepper, to taste 2 litres fresh tomato sauce (preferably San Marzano) 12 sheets fresh lasagna (not dried pasta) 1-1/2 cups parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded 200 grams of prosciutto cotto, shredded 1 cup peas 5 hard boiled eggs, cut in coins

“It’s more than just the sign on your lawn.

It’s taking extra care in helping you discover your new home.”

Contact Donna Hunter to learn more.

M 705-623-9907 O 705-431-7100 donna.hunter@live.ca HALLMARK CHAY REALTY BROKERAGE Each Office Independently Owned and Operated

barriehomehunterteam.com

1. PREPARATION: In a sauce pan, heat oil on medium low heat and sauté onions and garlic until translucent.

2. Add ground beef, salt and pepper to taste. Sauté on medium heat until meat is cooked through. Once cooked, add in tomato sauce. Simmer on low heat for approximately one hour so all favours have time to blend. Set aside and let cool.

3. Preheat oven to 400F. 4. In a 14-inch deep baking tray, ladle in one scoop of sauce. Lay down one layer of lasagna sheets followed by a heaping scoop of sauce. Lay down a light dusting of parmigiano-reggiano cheese, prosciutto cotto, peas and eggs. Then a light amount of mozzarella. Be sure to leave enough ingredients to spread out over all six layers of the lasagna. Repeat each step.

5. Once you have completed all six layers, add a larger amount of mozzarella to the top layer of the lasagna. Cover with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes.

6. Uncover lasagna and bake for an additional 10 minutes, giving the cheese some time to lightly brown. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes and then serve!

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the country estate, rethought.

welcome to braestone.

Braestone is an award winning country estate community located in the heart of the Horseshoe Valley. Inspired by the farmhouses, barns, and sheds of the Oro-Medonte region, the homesteads are an authentic reflection of refined country living with four seasons of outdoor activities at its doorstep.

Hiking, skating, apple picking and maple sugar tapping are just a few of the many remarkable activities homeowners experience living at Braestone.

down home, up country.

PHASE 4 NOW SELLING. Visit the Braestone Discovery Centre for a personal site and model home tour.

Distinctive and timeless bungalow, loft and two-storey homesteads on a selection of 1/2 acre to over 1 acre valley and ridge lots. From the mid $700’s to low $1M’s.

705.727.5656 48

braestone.ca

Another project developed by:

GEORGIAN COMMUNITIES

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Stunning beauty on Fogo Island

The Edge of NYC

Opening March 2020, Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the western hemisphere, with a one-of-a-kind design. It’s suspended in mid-air, giving you the feeling of floating in the sky with 360-degree views you can’t get anywhere else. Look 100 storeys down from the thrilling glass floor, lean out over the city on angled glass walls and sip champagne in the sky. Tickets are available for purchase online. edgenyc.com

The Ritz on reserve

The Ritz-Carlton opened a reserve property in Los Cabos, Mexico. Set on the Sea of Cortez, the new Zadun is designed with an indoor outdoor concept, furnished by Mexican artisans to cultivate authenticity for guests. Its spa blends ancestral and modern aspects of Mexico and offers freshly made body scrubs with ancient rituals in a secluded setting amid rich foliage. ritzcarlton.com/en/ hotels/mexico/los-cabos

Photo by CraigMcGee

For the ultimate winter wonderland, consider the stunning setting at Fogo Island Inn located on Fogo Island, Newfoundland.

The luxury inn features 29 suites with floor to ceiling views of the North Atlantic Ocean and unparalleled stargazing at night.

Rooms feature custom furnishings and details handmade by local carpenters and artisans using only natural materials such as wood, wool, cotton, and linen – the only plastic is the telephone. Room rates start at $1,975 per night for two which includes meals showcasing local seasonal produce, afternoon tea, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. fogoislandinn.ca

Carnaval turns 65

The 2020 Québec WinterCarnival takes place Feb. 7 to 16 in Québec City. This 65th year of the celebration has been condensed to 10 days, updating classics like the Ice Palace and the Parades and propping up associated activities all over town. Take part in the festivities—Bonhomme is expecting you! carnaval.qc.ca (Photo: ©Audetphoto)

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roam | weekender

Irresistible

San Diego

Vibe

TWO WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT

Balboa Park Photo credit: San Diego Tourism Authority

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SAN DIEGO IS IDEALLY SUITED FOR AN ACTIVE PERSON WITH A YEN FOR EARLY MORNINGS.

by Danielle Leonard It took a visit to San Diego to truly appreciate the song California Dreamin’ by The Mamas and the Papas. The hip beach vibe for which California is known was irresistible during my four days in the sunny state’s southernmost metropolis. To fully immerse myself in the California scene, I split my time between the city’s vibrant downtown and its upscale coastal community La Jolla (pronounced la hoya) – a picturesque village with a rock-sculpted shoreline, friendly sea lions and stunning estates.

San Diego is ideally suited for an active person with a yen for early mornings, such as myself, offering walkable cultural hotspots, nature hikes and surfing lessons, as well as delectable cuisine. For Ontarians eager to escape winter, SoCal is a great destination in place of the more common Florida choice.

Here are my top recommendations for doing it right:

Downtown San Diego

The downtown embodies a fresh, relaxing vibe with a boardwalk that hugs the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and restaurants within walking distance. There are, however, places outside of downtown worth visiting that are a 15-minute drive away. While I chose to rent a car, a taxi or Uber would also work.

La Valencia Hotel, La Jolla

Stay: The Guild Hotel This retro-styled luxury boutique hotel is a recently refurbished YMCA. I loved the urban quality that permeated this architectural beauty – from its stylish bistro to the bar lounge that buzzed with patrons.

My room boasted modern design and furnishings with luxe gold accents. From the hotel entrance, it’s an easy stroll to the ocean and the USS Midway Museum –the longest-serving American aircraft carrier of the 20th century. This is a must-see tour to appreciate the city’s significant naval history.

I fell in love with San Diego’s Little Italy. A 15-minute walk from the hotel, this urban pocket sizzled with energy, day and night, with its eclectic collection of eateries and a European-inspired outdoor square.

Eat: The culinary scene offered a Southern California authenticity with its hipster aura, al fresco-like designs and fresh culinary options. Eating breakfast at Morning Glory, located in the heart of Little Italy, was pure California. Its glamourous interior was an art-

Windansea Beach, La Jolla Photo credit: Lisa Field

ful medley of copper, wood, tile and deep rose accents. With two adjacent walls opened to the sky in a second-storey location, fresh morning breeze wafted in as I ate a hearty breakfast. It opens at 7 a.m. for the early birds.

Just outside of Little Italy is Craft & Commerce, certainly among the coolest restaurants I’ve ever eaten at. Its hypnotic atmosphere is intoxicating; at night, tall flames rose from tables’ centerpieces, casting a mysterious glow to the museum-like interior comprised of distressed wood and brick, traditional paintings, book shelves and stuffed animals (the hunter trophy kind). I loved its communal style of feasting thanks to a menu of shareable dishes. For late night thrills, make reservations at False Idol, its

Morning Glory in San Diego Photo credit: Zack Benson

famed tiki bar hidden within the restaurant.

Culture:

Wandering the sprawling natural oasis of Balboa Park should be on every San Diego itinerary.

Across its 1,200 acres are more than 17 museums, garden paths, restaurants and the San Diego Zoo. One could easily spend a day here; a few hours was enough, however, to explore the natural surroundings and stunning architecture that houses the museums. I happened to arrive just before sunset, which created a magical atmosphere as streetlamps and stringed lights glowed against the darkening sky.

To get a feel for the city’s thriving arts scene, I checked out Arts District Liberty Station. Once a GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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roam | weekender naval training centre, today it’s dedicated to showcasing local artists, cuisine, entertainment and culture across 100-plus acres of parkland and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. I met artists working in their studios that doubled as shops and concluded my tour at the Liberty Public Market – a funky warehouse-style marketplace jammed with artisanal vendors selling food, refreshments, fine goods and more. The Command Center should be the starting point for guidance on how to best navigate the district. Both Balboa Park and Arts District Liberty Station are 15 to 20 minutes’ drive from downtown.

La Jolla

The allure of La Jolla is no secret; it’s one of California’s top beach destinations. With its gorgeous beaches, bustling village charm and opulent quality, I could understand why. This upscale seaside community offered a nice juxtaposition to my stay at The Guild. Major bonus was its population of sea lions that lounge, unperturbed by tourists, across the rock formations that wrap the shoreline.

Stay: La Valencia Old Hollywood glamour and luxe ocean living collide in this iconic hotel, affectionately known as the “Pink Lady” due to its rosy hue. Despite the litany of activities that beckoned in La Jolla, the atmosphere of La Valencia deserved to be savoured. I lounged by the pool perched above the Pacific coastline, enjoyed a meal in the ritzy restaurant and moved languorously in the lush hotel room. It’s ideally located on the main strip, Prospect Street, for shopping, eating and people watching, and next to La Jolla Cove where the sea lions chill.

Eat: When you live well, you’d best eat well, too. I certainly did at Georges at the Cove which is a few

Children’s Pool in La Jolly Photo credit: Lisa Field

minutes’ walk from La Valencia. The restaurant is divided into three dining areas, however it’s the California Modern, located on the lower level, that offers sumptuously crafted dishes that earned it a Michelin Plate in 2019. The service was impeccable and the food dazzled on the plate and my palate.

For double the indulgence, have your second dinner at Marine Room, also recognized as a Michelin Plate that specializes in surf and turf dishes.

Jackets are recommended for gentlemen.

Wander: Galleries line Prospect St., featuring art ranging from National Geographic to Dr. Seuss, one of La Jolla’s most famous residents. Don’t limit yourself to this street, however. On an early morning run, I wound through a neighbourhood lined with jaw dropping estates and saw more of the California coastline, including the famous surf destination, Windansea Beach, and its iconic surf shack, now a historic landmark. The early morning version of La Jolla is vastly different from the daytime, tourist-packed version.

It’s also when the sea lions go out to play in the waves – a joy to watch. Grab a java at the nearby café, Buzzed, and you’ll look and feel like a local.

Surf:

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Arts District Liberty Station, San Diego Photo credit: Zack Benson

I considered kayaking in La Jolla, but that’s just so…

Canadian. Instead, I signed up to learn how to surf in the Surf Diva Surf School’s Party Wave class. The hour-long group lesson included on-land training before hitting the waves, small ones thankfully. I did

succeed in getting on my feet a couple times before face planting into the water. It was a lot of fun but be forewarned: it’s humbling.

Sunset: No California trip is complete without savouring one of its sunsets in the perfect surrounding. For me, it was during a late afternoon hike in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. I grabbed a map from the Lodge at Torrey Pines – a 15-minute drive from La Valencia, and followed a looped trail that led to a clifftop overlooking wind-swept sandstone formations and the rocky Pacific coastline just as the sun was setting. I won’t venture to describe something so sublime as a California sunset. Suffice to say, it made for an epic conclusion to a fantastic visit to San Diego. The stuff dreams are made of, especially on a cold winter’s day.

For more inspiration visit SanDiego.org

GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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GRAND OPENING FEB 8

BradleyHomes.ca 1-866-404-6142 REGISTER TODAY! GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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roam | mallorca

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Mallorca SPANISH LUXURY

by Shannon Mastaler One of Europe’s hidden gems, the island of Mallorca sits proudly in the Mediterranean Sea. Part of Spain’s Balearic Islands, its coastlines offer jawdropping views of mountains, Roman and Moorish remains, beaches, caves, old small towns and historic cityscapes. While you’ve heard of Santorini, and Capri, Mallorca is just a little more inconspicuous… already a favourite luxe travel destination of the British and Russians, it’s a diamond just being discovered by North Americans.

The unusual and striking beauty of Mallorca is found in the juxtaposition of almost everything. Palm trees are set among ancient European streets, stunning historic buildings house luxurious hotels and Michelin Star restaurants and Spanish estates reside among farms where the sounds of chickens fill the air. It’s the very best of European charm, gastronomy, wine and architecture with the luxury comforts that travellers from around the world demand.

To explore all that Mallorca offers, I embarked on a Mallorca hotel tour to spread my stay across three unique five-star hotels claiming to offer extreme luxury stays and amenities.

The first stop is Finca Serena. Only 20 minutes from the airport, this hotel is everything you’ve ever dreamed a country estate in Europe would be. Set on a hill, the old stone estate dating back to the 13th century overlooks miles of farms, villages and mountains. With cobblestone everything, palm trees, and million-dollar views, Finca is the ultimate in European luxury retreats.

Finca has perfected the art of luxurious simplicity. Surrounded by acres of vines, olive trees and lavender it’s a treat for the senses – especially taste.

The food is crafted by the talented Chef Celia Martin-Nieto with a menu that changes daily based on availability of the freshest and best ingredients. With its own gardens and fruit trees to provide a wide selection of natural produce, the result is a modern take on traditional roots utilizing the latest techniques to create one of my best dining experiences in Mallorca. Over the course of three days, my partner and I are treated to char grilled crayfish and gnocchi, marinated vegetables with red tuna belly, slow cooked lamb shoulder, scallops with almond cold soup, beef filet mignon with saffron, cheese boards, gourmet coffee, fresh made croissants and breads, homemade jams and more.

A true treat for the palette.

The main estate houses the dining room, kitchen, reception, a few guest

suites and the main gathering space. The décor of the gathering space reflects a philosophy of luxurious simplicity comprising of white and cream linens, natural wood, an extra-large fireplace, chess board, textured rugs and pillows inviting you to get cozy. Its natural elements, matte black, combined with refined materials are blended to create a rustic European feel. This gathering space is where my partner and I later spend a rainy morning playing chess and drinking freshly brewed herbal tea. The rain pours down outside of the estate, while ambient music plays. It’s magical.

Finca Serena includes a gym and spa where we enjoy the indoor pool, sauna and steam rooms. The spa overlooks stunning views. With the entire wall open to the outdoor patio, I sit in the warm pool reading my book, lulled by the sounds of the chickens clucking and the rain falling.

Outside of the main estate is a large patio overlooking mountains, where firepits burn at night and breakfast is served in the mornings. With a pool surrounded by comfy loungers, cabanas and food and beverage service, it’s the perfect place for a sunny afternoon. To further enhance the mission to relax and be calm, Finca offers yoga, meditation, and other classes each morning – all in an effort to treat each guest to the ultimate in relaxation.

Surrounding the main estate, are original stone buildings converted into private suites. Many with stunning views and private terraces. Our suite offers a state-of-the-art shower, gourmet coffee and tea, luxury bedding and sheets, a large living room and a beautiful patio overlooking the cobblestone grounds, made private by a curtain of lime trees.

Finca is the kind of place that inspires you to find the very best part of yourself. My stay accomplishes this. I feel refreshed and renewed.

From Finca we make our way to the island’s capital, Palma. Hotel El Llorrenç is a new chic, luxury hotel where the décor is a visual experience – urban sophistication that mixes beautiful wood, gold accents, marble and bright pops of colour. Its signature Arabic star is ubiquitous throughout, imprinted in wood doors, tiles, floors, towels and more.

Set seaside with views of the coast, city streets and ships, and only steps from the Palma Cathedral, this location allows guests to experience the finest Mallorca has to offer. Our room epitomizes comfort, offering various options for lighting, mood and more. With its rich wood details, signature Arabic pattern, contemporary furniture and metallic accents, the room is a work of art.

This gem of a hotel offers a jaw dropping experience on its rooftop that features an infinity pool overlooking the sea and much of the city. With eclectic design choices paired with modern luxury, the rooftop offers an unparalleled view to enjoy leisure and relaxation. There is a cocktail bar along with comfortable sun loungers and Balinese beds to take shelter from the sun. It’s without a doubt a game changer for hotels in Palma.

The wellness studio at El Llorenç is described by the hotel as a modern version of Arab baths. It’s an oasis of tranquility. Its restaurant, The Tannur, takes its name from an Arabic term referring to the clay oven that was discovered during the hotel’s excavation (a must-see when you visit).

In the evenings we venture out by foot to explore the city. Must stops are the cathedral and the Royal Palace of La Almudaina. You can also explore caves, take the tram through town and into the country and enjoy the beach.

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roam | mallorca Palma offers luxury shopping and world class cuisine; it’s home to several Michelin Star restaurants.

The harbour area offers a selection of eateries overlooking grand yachts. It’s a city I fell in love with.

My dinner at Fera Restaurant and Bar was a gastronomy experience. Executive Chef, Simon Petutschnig offers Mediterranean-Asian flavours with its refined tasting menus and a hand-picked selection of 60 wines. With eight courses and an attentive server to explain each dish, alongside a sommelier to pair each course perfectly, our experience at Fera is a sensory feast for the palate and the eyes. Our menu included simmental steak tartar, bluefin tuna, foie gras, chicken and truffle cannelloni and sea bass. Fera is a treat for any foodie.

Our third and final stay in Mallorca is at Hotel de Glòria de Sant Jaume located in the centre of one of the best areas of old city Palma. It is a restored, elegant masterpiece that conserves some of its medieval construction from the 16th century. With elegant décor throughout, and a feel of pampered luxury, each of the 14 guest suites are uniquely designed for guests to feel like they’re staying in a grand Mallorcan home.

A most intriguing feature is the hotel’s underground wellness spa. Located in the basement of the hotel, the spa boasts a large pool, which enters the original water reservoir, with vaulted ceiling, sauna, steam bath, a relaxation area and hydromassage.

The rooftop of the estate is an outdoor space to enjoy the tranquility of the old town for a few hours under the sun, view of the Palma skyline and relax in the large Jacuzzi. The perfect place for cocktails and lunch. We treat ourselves to a full day traipsing between the roof and the underground spa to fully appreciate the luxurious and elegant vibe of the hotel.

Our room offers a luxurious soaker tub with floor to ceiling windows that opens to a small balcony overlooking old narrow streets. A bath here is a real treat when combined with the sounds of the horses trotting on the cobblestone below, a gentle breeze blowing and a glass of Cava in hand.

Dinner at the hotel restaurant El Patio De Gloria is one of the best meals in our Mallorcan adventure.

Hidden away inside the beautiful hotel, the restaurant is a gem just waiting to be discovered. We enjoy a delectable meal of fois gras and steak tartar, Pekin style veal ribs, onglet, Mallorcan burrata and

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Stunning rooftop at Hotel El Llorrenç.

A villa at Finca Serena

Hotel El Llorrenç

Hotel de Glòria de Sant Jaume

GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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Prestigious Real Estate Services Hallmark Chay Realty Inc. Brokerage

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Terrace at Finca Serena

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The restaurant in Hotel de Glòria de Sant Jaume

Fera Restaurant and Bar offers a gastronomy experience.

more. Our bellies satisfied, we contentedly head to our room with night caps to prepare for our departure the next day.

As our car arrives early the next morning, we say goodbye to Hotel de Glòria de Sant Jaume and to Mallorca. We are sad to go and vow to return to this little piece of Spanish luxury. With so much to offer luxury travellers looking for a special European vacation, it’s no wonder Mallorca is becoming one of Europe’s hottest destinations. Until next time Mallorca!Our room offers a luxurious soaker tub with floor to ceiling windows that opens to a small balcony overlooking old narrow streets. A bath here is a real treat when combined with the sounds of the horses trotting on the cobblestone below, a gentle breeze blowing and a glass of Cava, Spain's sparkling wine, in hand.

Dinner at the hotel restaurant El Patio De Gloria is one of the best meals in our Mallorcan adventure. Hidden away inside the beautiful hotel, the restaurant is a gem just waiting to be discovered. We enjoy a delectable meal of fois gras and steak tartar, Pekin style veal ribs, onglet and Mallorcan burrata. Our bellies satisfied, we contentedly head to our room with night caps to prepare for our departure the next day.

As our car arrives the next morning, we say goodbye to Hotel de Glòria de Sant Jaume and to Mallorca. We are sad to go, vowing to return to this little piece of Spanish luxury. With so much to offer travellers looking for a special European vacation, it’s no wonder Mallorca is becoming one of Europe’s hottest destinations. Until next time, Mallorca!

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arts up close

MEGAN ANNE A Musician of her Time

By Dawn Ritchie

I

ndie Pop singer-songwriter, Megan Baillie, has been playing music since she was a youngster.

Growing up in a musical family, she listened attentively as her father played his guitar and filled the house with Peter Frampton, Eric Clapton and Beatles’ tunes. Soon she was poring over the liner notes on CDs. A practice that stirred her inner poet and inspired her to unleash her own music onto the world.

Baillie went on to learn the keyboards and ukulele, an instrument she loves the tambour of.

By age fourteen, she had already recorded and uploaded numerous tracks to social media sites.

Which, she admits, is part of the reason why she has rebranded herself as Megan Anne, (Anne is her middle name) and dropped the Baillie altogether. Her sound had changed significantly in her late teens, and she wanted to ensure fans wouldn’t be bombarded with those early experimental renderings instead of her more mature

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work. “I didn’t want those old songs to define me,” she says.

Performing in and around Barrie for five years now, Megan Anne won the Emerging Artist Award in the Barrie Arts Awards in 2018. In 2017 should took both the Sterling Beckwith Award and the IMASCO Performing Arts Award at York University and was a Local Live Canada V Winner for Rogers TV in 2015. As an artist, she still performs solo but more frequently is seen collaborating as a trio with guitarist Russell Jackson-Wyatt and percussionists Matt Dunn or Stanley White. Her preference remains live instruments, she says, as opposed to computer generated sounds.

Her 2018 EP, Phoenix, is filled with it. Here she treats fans to seven tracks teeming with the angst-riddled candor of youthful yearnings.

Phoenix is the title track but it’s her single, Made of Glass, that most characterizes her confessional-

journal style. In it she writes, “My heart is made of glass. If you don’t want it, then just put it back.

‘Cause if you drop me I’ll shatter. You’ll ask what’s the matter. I’ll lie and say everything’s fine.”

Her storytelling draws comparisons to Megan’s idol, Taylor Swift, who is renowned for fearlessly exploring the nadir of love. Other influences include Sara Barielles, Amy Winehouse, Paramore and Vancouver pop rock band, Mariana Trench.

“A song can capture a moment in time or a feeling in time,” says Megan. “Whenever I have a strong event that happens or a strong emotion that I feel, I just really want to write it down.

It’s how I work through it. I heard someone say, when you’re happy you don’t want to pause and analyze it. You want to enjoy being happy. But I think when you’re upset about something there are so many different lenses to look through.

I’ve had some stuff happen that’s not great. Like I’ve had a bad breakup or something, but then I

GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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Sadlon Arena | MARCH 28 + 29, 2020

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ADMISSION! wrote this song about it. So, it all happened for a reason and the reason was this cool song. It’s a nice way to turn it to positivity.”

Following a busy summer playing over fifty shows with her group, Megan’s begun concentrating on her songwriting again and is itching to get back into the studio. She isn’t rushing the process, though. Her preference is to let her new songs breathe for a while to see how they settle in before she commits them to an album.

Her greatest dream is to have a career as a fulltime musician. Part of her business plan to get there is to sell songs to other artists and hopefully dabble in the commercial and television arenas.

Revenue streams for musicians are manifold she’s discovered, while studying at Seneca College’s Independent Music Production Program, from which she just graduated.

Megan’s also mulling a future trip to Nashville.

“I want to have a good game plan when I go,” she says. “Specific songwriting nights that I want to hit and a meeting or two set up so that when I go it can be really goal-oriented. I don’t want to show up and panic. I’ve heard so many horror stories where people go and someone comes up and says, hi, we’ll make you a star and next thing you know you’ve signed all your stuff away. But I think it would be so amazing to be somewhere where it has so much history to it.”

With a firm head on her shoulders, a solid work ethic and professional training behind her, Megan Anne’s hopes for a bright future surely lie ahead.

Find Megan Anne’s music on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music and at Sunrise Records in the Bayfield Mall. See her perform live every third Saturday of the month at Homestead Bakery in downtown Barrie. Order her EP online from her website: meganannemusic.com

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Brought to you by: For more info visit mbmshows.com GoodLife | Barrie Jan - Feb 2020

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dining guide

Dining Guide

Bacio Trattoria Authentic Italian Cuisine • Warm & Inviting Atmosphere Cooked From Scratch & Made To Order With Love!

Downtown Barrie’s Cheff Willliam Ortiz, sister Elizabeth and mother Nancy invite you to join them at their new Italian Restaurant “Bacio Trattoria” where you are greeted with a smile and great food. “We want people to feel like they are eating at home with family,” And based on high scoring social media reviews, local diners appear to have a soft spot for this family run eatery that focusses on Italian cuisine made from scratch!

62 Dunlop St. W, Barrie 705.728.0890 Follow on Facebook & Instagram

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Cocina Mexicana Restaurante

WINNER 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards Barrie’s first all-you can-eat Mexican restaurant serves up fresh, authentic Mexican fare in it’s cheerful family owned and operated eatery. Think of it as a piece of Mexico that teaches the art of eating and the passion of cooking. “Our goal is for every Mexican diner to love our food, and for every Canadian diner to enjoy a real Mexican food adventure.” Fully licenced. it’s Margarita time!

144 Burton Ave., Barrie | 705-252-7086 www.cocina-mexicana.ca

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Tara Authentic Indian Cuisine Delighted to be considered Barrie’s finest, Chef Brothers Yar and Nur Mohammad have committed 25 years tantalizing the palates of their customers. Their culinary prowess makes Tara a most unique palatal experience.

Open seven days-a-week the alluring aroma will bring you in. Lunch Buffet available for $16.99

Kenzington Burger Bar The KBB offers the finest fare for all burger lovers in Simcoe County!

For the last 5 years we’ve been cranking out some of the most creative, mouthwatering burgers this side of Toronto. Whether you’re in for the live music, or just looking for the best burger you’ve ever eaten in your life, KBB has all our ducks in a row to satisfy your most intimate culinary desires!

128 Dunlop Street East, Barrie 705.737.1821

Downtown Barrie, 40 Dunlop St. E. | South End Barrie, 511 Bryne Dr. Bradford, 4 Holland Dr. | Orillia, 85 Mississaga St. E. 705.725.1667 | www.kenzington.ca

Freshii at Park Place Barrie

Ripe Juicery

Salads. Bowls. Burritos. Soups. Smoothies. Juices.

Freshii’s mission is to change the way the world eats. By making superfoods like kale and quinoa convenient and affordable for every citizen of the world, while continuing to introduce the latest culinary health trends. Turmeric juices, energii bites and grain bowls only skim the surface. Whether vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, paleo to keto, DISCOVER YOUR FRESHII! Freshii donates one meal from the sale of each WE menu item to developing communities.

• Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner • Cold-pressed Juice Cleanse • Customized Menu Offering • Kid’s Menu • Catering • School Lunch Program

90 Park Place Boulevard, Unit 8, Barrie (705) 230-1940 parkplace@freshii.com www.freshii.com

Cold Pressed Juices • Parfaits • Acai Bowls Salads • Sandwiches • Smoothies • Treats Ripe Juicery is a cold pressed, organic juice bar serving two locations in Barrie featuring cold pressed juice, hand crafted smoothies and acai bowls. Not to mention the oh-so-popular raw treats, cleanses, and a full plant based food menu. We serve in-house made soup, sandwiches, tacos, grain bowls and parfaits. We hand press all of our almond milk daily for smoothies & make every menu item from scratch using organic, plant based, raw ingredients.

Offering Doorstep Delivery!

Ripe Juicery, Barrie | ripejuicery.ca Downtown - 118 Dunlop St. | 705-503-7473 South End - 371 King St. Unit #4 | 705-503-4777

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dining guide

Groovy Tuesday’s Bistro Comfortably Small • Locally Focussed • Open Kitchen •Casual Elegant Atmosphere Melanie Barrett is where she wants to be. “People tell me that I should expand and make my restaurant bigger,” says the owner of downtown Barrie’s Groovy Tuesdays Bistro, “but I like it small, that way I can see and interact with all of my diners. Getting a bigger space would change that, and make it less personal.”

Our menu is small, fresh and always changing. To put our best plate forward.

From our breads and pastas to our desserts, we make absolutely everything from scratch. Being consistent with the quality of our food is really important to us.

73 Collier Street, Barrie 705.721.0302 www.GroovyTuesdaysBistro.com

Homestead Artisan Bakery + Cafe Homestead Artisan Bakery and Cafe specializes in artisan sourdough breads and baked goods, crafted by hand in small batches. We source ingredients from local suppliers and base our menu on seasonal availability of local products.

We are open bright and early every day for your morning coffee; our custom house blend was created for us by Creemore Coffee Company. Our lunch menu includes fresh deli-style sandwiches, seasonal soups, salads and fresh baguette with flavoured butters and seasonal preserves. A sweet selection of classics done right will be baked fresh daily; cookies, croissants, scones and squares.

2019 Winner of the Readers’ Choice Awards!

80 Dunlop St. E., Downtown Barrie | 705-252-3680 homesteadartisanbakery.com

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Qing’s Cuisine Barrie’s Tastiest Szechuan & Thai Cuisine Barrie’s Tastiest Szechuan & Thai Cuisine Qing Ni is a recognized Canadian Chef with over 20 years experience having worked out west in Vancouver and California as well as in Toronto, Collingwood and now Barrie. He and his wife Lien have delighted those who appreciate amazing Szechuan and their authentic Thai cuisine. Offering an extensive menu for take-out, delivery and a cozy atmosphere for dining in.

610 Huronia Rd., Unit 9, Barrie 705-503-6610 www.qingscuisine.com

Danny’s Fish and Chips We make the extra effort to hand-cut our chips and fillet our fish daily!

Our Fresh Alaskan Halibut and chips is hand sliced fresh, just minutes before it reaches your plate. Our English style fish and chips are made from an old secret recipe (thinly battered) and passed down through generations and served alongside our famous home-cut fries. Just one bite and you’ll be hooked!

We don‘t just claim to be the best, we prove it through honest workmanship and genuine caring. Voted “Your Favourite Fish & Chip Restaurant” in Barrie and celebrating 40 years of doing what we love!

411 Huronia Road, Barrie 705-721-8998

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the

crowd Dale & Charlie from Kool FM were our amazing MC's for the evening!

On Friday, November 22nd, 2019 The Simcoe County Home Builders’ Association held their 9th Annual Awards of Creative Excellence & Presidents Gala!

The theme was “A Night In Paris” This is where we recognize excellence & honour creativity, innovation and design in new home construction & renovations! There were 60 submissions & competition was fierce.

The Winners are:

The Group from Georgian International Build Corp. came away with some of the top awards!

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Ontario Home Builders' Association Bob Schickedanz welcomes & gives greetings everyone to start the night off.

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Exclusively In Barrie at

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LA-Z-BOY *Kristen Bell not included

Everyone knows that La-Z-Boy makes great recliners, but you might be surprised to discover that we also make stylish sofas, ottomans, loveseats, and so much more. At La-Z-Boy, you can get everything you need to furnish your perfect home, except for Kristen Bell, of course.

Visit us at our NEW location ∙ 76 Barrie Drive Barrie ∙ 705-735-3337 la-z-boy.ca/barrie

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©2020 La-Z-Boy Incorporated

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