SIP AND SAVOUR
SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2019
BARRIE
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ARTS UP CLOSE
ORO-MEDONTE
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WITH FLYING MONKEYS CRAFT BREWERY
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30759641
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Essa
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4+1
3
30758886
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Bradford
Entertainer’s Stunning Finishes 4+1 3 Dream, 2519+ sq.ft. Bradford Normerica Must-See Craftsmanship 3+1 3Build,2545+ sq.ft. Essa Entertainer’s Dream, Stunning Finishes Normerica Build, Must-See Craftsmanship 30758778 30759322 $1,368,000 $1,198,000
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2019-09-06 5:39 PM
The New SONOS Move Portable Speaker - Brilliant Sound Anywhere The durable, battery powered, smart speaker for Outdoor and Indoor Listening. Combine the Sonos Move with the new Sonos SL indoor speaker and new Sonos Port Streaming device for your stereo or Home Theatre system to fill your entire whole home of your favourite music.
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september | october 2019
Contents
GOODLIFE GOODLIFE Publisher Dana Robbins
Regional General Manager Simcoe - York - Muskoka Shaun Sauve General Manager Simcoe & Editor Elise Allain Graphic Design Brenda Boon Nick Borino Karl Strasser Advertising Representatives Kim Bergeron Carolyn Brayiannis Debbie Booth Vic Dellamora Shannon Dunlop Renee Duthie Debbie Halikas Janet Lee-Holden Stacey MacDonald Mary March Chelsey Simon Photography Contributions Ellie Kistemaker Jim Craigmyle Mike Guilbault Editorial Contributions Katherine Elphick, Dawn Ritchie, Margaret Harlos Patti Vipond
21 Patterson Road, Barrie, ON L4N 7W6 Phone: (705) 726-0573 First Place
upfront
8 10 goodlife book club arts up close 12 16 arts up close shopaholic BEAUTY
STUDIO 737
LUANNE TURNER
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, 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
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2016 2017 2018 Readers’ Choice 2019
Thank You
"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
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610 Huronia Rd., Barrie • 705-737-1151 • whitecedardental.com GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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september | october 2019
nest
Contents
19 home tour 20 home tour 30 taste 41 notes 42 local flavour tasting notes 62 at home 64 noteworthy 66 roam 69 notes 70 travel weekender live 78 82 luxury adventures 98 notes 85 outdoors notes
INSPIRED HOMES
LUXURIOUS SECLUSION
CHALET RUSTIQUE
DELICIOUS BITES
FLYING MONKEYS CRAFT BREWERY
TAWSE WINERY
ANDREA MCMULLEN
BJ’S RECORDS & NOSTALGIA.
LUXE TRAVEL
BORDEAUX
SPARKLING HILL RESORT
CURATED EXPERIENCES
LOCAL FLAIR
DISCOVER KAYAKING
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Canada’s largest Home & Holiday gift source. Season to season the Evergreen Store fulfills your wish list. Open 7 days a week, 9a.m. to 5p.m. October Hours EXTENDED Sat til 10p.m.
FRIGHTFUL FOREST HAY RIDE Weekends Oct. 5 to Oct. 27 - 10am-4pm Themed for Children under 14 & Children 3 and under are free
HAUNTED HAY RIDE Saturday Evenings Oct. 5 to Oct. 26 - 7pm-10pm Adult themed 14 plus
Join us for our annual Harvest & Halloween Festivities! Weekends in October. Pumpkin Patch, Train Rides, Face Painters, Magician, Tarot Card Reader, Zip Line & Halloween Village!
705-424-9719
6635 Simcoe Road 56, RR#1 Egbert, ON L0L 1L0 info@drysdales.ca | www.drysdales.ca
15 Minutes South of Barrie! GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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beauty
upfront | shopaholic
Dramatic lips for fall
Lip Colour Lipstick in Violet Fatale by Tom Ford
Lip Veil Lipstick in Pink Lotus by Chantecaille
Tom Ford’s modern ideal of an essential makeup shade is made with Soja Seed extract, Brazilian Murumuru butter and Chamomilla flower oil to create an ultra-creamy texture, $70.
A lightweight, creamy lipstick enriched with organic Baobab oil to leave a luminous veil of hydrating colour on lips, $65.
Physo-Lip Shine Ultra-Brilliant Lipstick in Sheer Cherry by Sisley-Paris
Le Rouge Intense Colour Lipstick in Prune Trendy by Givenchy
This lipstick combines intense gloss and absolute softness giving fruity shades a semitransparent finish, $70.
This is a lightweight, ultra-smooth lipstick that coats lips with intense colour in a single stroke, $46.
Volupté Shine Oil-in-Stick Lipstick in Coral Aviator by Yves Saint Laurent
This revolutionary lipstick provides luscious colour and luminous shine while conditioning your lips. With the addicting signature YSL mango scent, it smells good enough to eat, $45.
Rouge Dior Couture Colour in Deep Matte Red (999) by Dior Rouge Coco in Love by Chanel
Enriched with natural hydrating mango butter the lipstick comes in a new metallic couture case with discreet details. Here, shown in its flamboyantly sexy signature shade, 999. $46.
The iconic Chanel lipstick, reinvented in a new palette inspired by the close friends of Mademoiselle Chanel. A combination of three vegetable waxes hydrates and nourishes the lips for immediate and lasting comfort, $46.
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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
braestone.ca
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books, etc
MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE A T H E R A P I S T, H E R T H E R A P I S T , A N D O U R LIVES REVEALED
By Lori Gottlieb Review by Danielle Leonard If you’ve ever been to therapy, or even considered it, you’re apt to find Maybe You Should Talk to Someone an insightful and entertaining memoir by Lori Gottlieb – a practicing psychotherapist and advice columnist for The Atlantic. When her boyfriend, with whom she was planning to marry, suddenly announces he’s leaving her, Gottlieb finds herself with what therapists call the presenting problem. It’s what sends a person into therapy and how she ends up seeking the help of a therapist named Wendell. We are soon enveloped in the interesting dynamic that ensues when a therapist seeks therapy. This narrative is not exclusively about Gottlieb’s own therapy, however, as she simultaneously weaves the personal stories of her patients throughout. John is the Emmy award-winning TV producer whose penchant for calling everyone an idiot is a façade to cover the pain of losing his mother as a child and then losing his young son decades later. Charlotte is the 25-year-old who attracts non-committal men into her life and struggles with alcoholism. Lastly, Rita is the self-loathing and lonely 69-year-old who is estranged from her grown children, escaped an abusive husband and subsequently married and divorced two more times. Gottlieb presents each patient to the reader as she perceives them. We get a glimpse into the struggle a therapist faces when patients appear unlikeable or, even worse, unfixable. Case in point: John is callous and inconsiderate through his sessions, preferring to complain about all the idiots in his life rather than discuss his emotions. Gottlieb doesn’t hide her distaste for him, going so far as to admitting to her peers that she wants to ditch him. Ironically, she also finds herself mimicking the behaviours she finds so frustrating in her own patients during therapy sessions with Wendell. Session after session she vents about her ex-boyfriend in a ploy to seek empathy from Wendell, rather than build the self-awareness that she knows is necessary to move on. This uneven journey toward self-healing is, essentially, at the heart of the memoir and through which her insights into our humanness surface. Over the course of the book, we are slowly exposed to the layers that mask the deeper pain of each character and, subsequently keep them stagnated in their lives. Meanwhile, we have an intriguing view into the therapist’s delicate balance between gently guiding and forcibly directing the patient. While Gottlieb’s job is to facilitate healing, she also recognizes
it may not ever happen for some; ultimately, the patient needs to perform the work. Push too hard, and they might shut down. Don’t push enough, and the healing may never start. Each patient’s journey – including her own – progresses. We discover that the issues and frustrations that plague them at the outset of the book are a result of pain avoidance. Gottlieb’s insights reveal that their destructive behaviours are created by a subconscious need to protect the emotional wounds of the past. Opening the wounds means risking more pain, but it also is the key to greater happiness and personal peace. The result is a very honest and heartwarming portrayal of humanity at its highest and lowest. The author explains at the outset of the book that all the names of characters are pseudonyms to protect her real patients. Additionally, the patients are composites created through the experiences of the many people she has counselled. Thankfully this does not take away from the story. All the characters feel authentic and are easy to connect with. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. It made me laugh and cry. Gottlieb’s writing is both entertaining and poignant. The book is, in many ways, a form of therapy to the reader. As we journey alongside the characters, there is an opportunity to look inward, ourselves, and ask what bad behaviours do we want to end? What wounds are we protecting that prevent us from transitioning to a life of greater meaning? Happiness, Gottlieb explains in a self-revelatory moment, is not actually her goal as she’d initially thought. Happiness, after all, can never be permanent. During one of her final sessions with John, they both conclude that happiness is sometimes. It comes and it goes. And, that’s ok. What she actually seeks is more meaning in her life. Her writing indicates that this can only be reached through an authentic and honest relationship with oneself, with a strong dose of self-compassion. As the author evolves in self-awareness, she makes some tough personal choices including cancelling a lucrative book contract once she realizes it feels inauthentic. No surprise given that the contract was to write a book about finding happiness. A new book idea arises, however. I’m sure you can guess what it is. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is the result of her risky decision and, more importantly, a strong testament to the power of therapy.
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GRAND OPENING STUDIO 737 Art Gallery
Contemporary Art Gallery featuring 40 artist from across Canada housing the largest collection of Original Canadian Art
CUSTOM FRAMING
OVER 400 PAINTINGS ONLINE
505 Bryne Dr. | 705-734-0332 | www.studio737.com Behind Williams Fresh Cafe
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arts up close
SERIOUS GALLERY, SECRET LOCATION - Vassey Road
STUDIO 737
FINE ART GALLERY
Hidden directly behind Williams Fresh Café at 505 Bryne Street (across the street from the Mapleview water tower) you’ll find Studio 737 Art Gallery, by Dawn Ritchie 12n GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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“WE ARE PROBABLY THE OLDEST GALLERY UNDER THE SAME OWNERSHIP ANYWHERE IN CANADA,” Barrie has grown leaps and bounds over the last ten years as new residents flow north from the GTA. Yet cultural outlets have lagged in meeting the interests of this burgeoning Simcoe population. Art gallery owner, Joe Kurek and his painter wife, Arja Palonen, new residents to Barrie themselves, decided to set that right. In May, they opened the third in their series of art galleries, this time in a central Barrie location, which up until recently, has largely remained undiscovered. Hidden directly behind Williams Fresh Café at 505 Bryne Street (across the street from the Mapleview water tower) you’ll find Studio 737 Art Gallery, which Kurek and Palonen invested a considerable sum in renovating to transform it into a serious space. The gallery has fourteen foot ceilings, classic white walls and multiple display stands. Their mission: to celebrate Canadian artists and generate a new benchmark of heritage art that goes beyond the Group of Seven.
A celebration of new Canadian Art “It’s lively art,” Kurek says. “By living artists who are painting in this era. A person can come in and buy original art that is an investment. For $400 $800 you can get a real nice painting.” Keeping the price point within the average homeowner’s decorating budget was important to Kurek and Palonen. They do stock works that reach into the five-figure range, such as the work of the late Don Fraser and wildlife artist, Beth Hoselton, but for the most part they try to keep things affordable. Smaller paintings go in the $200 range. That’s primarily because they want people to enjoy original art, instead of purchasing the mass produced “worthless” pieces they find at big box stores or home décor retailers. 737 Studio originated as a painting location for Kurek’s wife, Arja Palonen in 1988 and she still sells her work through the gallery to this day. Back then, Palonen, along with fifteen other artists used a space in Tweed, half way between Toronto and Ottawa at Highway 7 and 37, hence the name of the gallery. The studio eventually morphed into an art gallery which grew in scope and soon was selling over a half million dollars of art in a single year. After that, they opened a satellite gallery in Richmond Hill. Barrie is their third location. “We are probably the oldest gallery under the same ownership anywhere in Canada,” says Kurek. “We’ve sold 5000 paintings to over 3000 Canadian customers. Our artists have exhibited in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and at museums across Canada.” The gallery currently represents over thirty carefully selected artists, all of which Kurek is passionate about. Beth Hoselton is one of his favourites. He considers her to be Canada’s top female wildlife artist. “She was as good as Robert Bateman at 20 years old,” he asserts. “Her work comes in the back
door and goes right out the front door. They sell so fast. Her paintings are all motherings.” Several of the artists that Studio 737 represents hail from the east around Peterborough, including landscape artist, Lucy Manley, who has been with the gallery for 30 years. But there are also local painters in the collection. Orillia artist, Marlene Bulas, offers a contemporary flare in her rural roads and villages of Georgian Bay, Oro Medonte, Lake Simcoe, and Manitoulin. The landscapes of Wasaga Beach artist, Eduard Gurevich, who has been heavily exhibited, command higher prices due to their size and intricacy. “They would fill any wall in a home,” says Kurek. “They are three foot by four foot paintings. A perfect centerpiece for a home.” Kurek is grateful that so many designers are now explaining the value of original art to their clients, but good art isn’t only for the well-heeled in his opinion. “You don’t need an interior decorator to select a piece for your residence,” he says. “You can come in and have a good time. Take home a painting and if it doesn’t work for you, in ten days, bring it back. I don’t force paintings - A new Dynasty on anyone.” Kurek remains optimistic about the future of Canadian art as investment pieces, as long as collectors don’t stagnate in the “mortuary of the past,” as he refers to it. Only by embracing the vibrancy of our time can new legacies be born. Kurek places that onus on the auction houses and investors, but if we are to continue enjoying a rich cultural heritage in our city, then that calling falls to us, as well. Patronizing local galleries and buying new Canadian art will keep it alive and growing, enriching our community and the breadth of who we are as Canadians. “Grab a coffee, take a meeting, have lunch and come on in and look at some art,” Joe Kurek invites. “We’re at 505 Bryne Drive behind Williams Café and right next door to Topper’s Pizza.” Visit Studio 737 Fine Art Gallery’s website to view their artists’ work at: www.Studio737.com.
- Joyful Celebration GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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arts up close
O F A R E L AT I O N S H I P BY DAWN RITCHIE
“T
o me it’s in the eyes,” says pet portrait artist, Luanne Turner. “I try to capture the spirit of the animal. There’re a lot of layers involved.” Working from reference photographs of her subjects, along with the stories of the animals’ lives, relayed by those who loved them, Luanne has been preserving memories of family pets and equines for five years. Her renderings are styl-
ized in form, making them more than just commemoratives, but rather true works of art. “If you want real details you might as well take a photograph,” Luanne explains. “My work is impressionistic. Maybe a funky blue horse or a bulldog with a red background, whatever style or specific colours a client wants, I can take a cue from that.” When a commission is requested, Luanne
asks for a photo of the pose they’d prefer along with additional angles that will help her capture the proper colourings and markings of the pet. “I want the person to feel, yes, this is my dog,” she says. “It’s always very emotional when they get the pieces. They’ll send me messages about how happy they are to have something to re-member that pet.” One woman even sent her a message about the painting Luanne had done of her late
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beloved cat. The woman’s dog wandered up to the painting and barked at it, imme-diately recognizing the lost housemate. Turner studied graphic design and took a year in the basic arts programme at Georgian College, diving into colour theory and sketching. She continued her studies at night college, taking tech-nical drafting, which turned out to be useful in her employment as a layout artist for MetrolandMedia. Following a long and successful career in print media, the canvas eventually called out to her again, and she finally made the leap, taking an early retirement to become a full-time pet portrait artist. “I do miss the camaraderie of being at work,” she says. “I loved what I did, but I knew if I didn’t do it now, I may never get the chance.” Today she paints farm animals and thoroughbred champions but most frequently, family pets. “I’ve always loved animals,” Luanne says. “It started when I did a painting of a horse for my niece and after that I thought, huh, I really enjoyed doing that, and then friends asked, ‘can you do one for me?’ and it grew from there.” Her work has been commissioned from patrons as far away as Australia and P.E.I. and hangs locally in the Pet Grocer in Alliston and at the Rusty Truck in Orangeville. After exhibiting at the 2019 Beeton Honey Festival, the commissions really flowed in. “I’m busier than ever right now,” she says, “The one thing I do find, when I’m painting a pet is that they keep me compa-ny. I fall in love with the pet and when I have to part with it, I miss them. You spend so much time with them and they’re so cute. I always think, I’m gonna miss that face.” Luanne Turner also paints children’s portraits and nautical depictions, including a salvage ship which worked Georgian Bay, but she tends to return to animals as her primary subject matter.
“You’re not always connected to why you do things,” she says. “But I find refuge in pets and animals. Sometimes, I enjoy them more than people. I have two rescue dogs of my own. God created us to look after the planet and animals and what greater pleasure do we have in life than to look after those things.” Visit Luanne Turner’s booth at the MBM Home Show on October 4th and 5th at the Barrie Molson Center, 555 Bayview Drive, Barrie. Her website is: luanneturnersstudio.com. GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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OVER 60 YEARASRINRIE DOWNTOWN B
Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers of Barrie
Tales from the Bench: How to Make a Wedding Band 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 sure you’ve experienced a wedding ceremony that spoke of the band exchange with the metaphor of a perfect circle, one without beginning or end. When I became a goldsmith I found a different s mbo ism hi e making m first edding band. A edding band actua starts out simp as a flat strip of go d. Each end is carefully bent up and around until they’ve given equally and can meet perfectly in the middle. When the ends are as close to each other as possible they are fused together. It is after that joining that the real work begins. The ring needs to be gently wrought round and the connection sanded do n in stages, s o refining the surface to b end the joint a a . After fina being po ished to a mirror finish the band appears seamless; one continuous whole. Gold is soft however and daily life will wear away on it, leaving deep marks and cracks, sometimes even severing the joint entirely. But that’s why we make wedding bands from precious metal; no matter what they go through with the right amount of patience and hard work they can always be made whole again.
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Throwing Shade
Turn your windows into works of art with a variety of design options from Hunter Douglas’s Banded Shade line. Two different geometric designs and three band heights add glamour to your windows. The versatile Banded Shade uses a clutch to open the shade for a variety of lighting effects. Shift the solid bands to overlap, and you ensure privacy. Offset the bands, and you get natural, diffused light. Find them at Complete Blinds. 102 Commerce Park Drive in Barrie. www.completeblinds.com
Bombs Away!
Fall is the perfect time to plant wildflower seeds for next year’s blooms. Seed bombs make that task hassle free. Just toss the bombs, which resemble round chocolate truffles, into your garden and come spring thaw, behold, the explosion of wildflowers that will bloom spring to fall attracting endangered pollinators. Mulmur’s Heritage Bee Company has packed their bombs with native Ontario perennial wildflower seeds surrounded by clay and compost that withstand wind, hungry birds, and those icy winter storms. Get them at Concession Road Mercantile in Alliston. 96 Victoria St. West or online at shopheritagebee.com
Get Artsy
Beach Baby Bath and Body’s cold-process artisan soaps are 100% vegetarian, crueltyfree and palm oil-free. No rainforests were destroyed in the manufacturing so you can freshen up with a good conscience. Packed with natural, moisturizing glycerine, the soaps are scented with pure essential oils. No preservatives or chemical compounds found in fragrances will ever touch your sensitive skin. Dish soaps are also all-natural, non-toxic, biodegradable, and septic and water safe. Buy them at the Barrie Farmer’s Market every Saturday at City Hall, 70 Collier St, Barrie. www.beachbabybb.com
Space Saver
Richelieu’s Pull-down Cabinet System embeds a hidden storage unit inside the rear section of your upper kitchen cabinets. The unit can hold up to 3.3 pounds of storage and glides down easily using constant force springs which require less effort. Voila, instant access to teas, coffees, spices, protein supplements or breakfast cereals. The unit also contains a grid and holder for extra utensils for quick meal preparation. Slide it back up and your work surfaces are clutter-free again. www.richelieu.com
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M
oving means change. But sometimes you wish you could take the best features of your current residence with you. Randy Porter did just that. When it came to the luxurious backyard oasis he had perfected at his former Windfield Drive residence he just couldn’t leave it behind. by Dawn Ritchie | photos by Nat Kay
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He hired the same contractors, Majestic Pools, to replicate the spectacular entertainer’s escape at his newest secluded Oro estate property. Lying on 28 acres of scenic trailed hardwood bush, the new property was made for outdoor living. Groomed horse riding trails meander through the treed estate which is dotted with Trilliums and Periwinkle. Wildlife abounds with serene bird song and regular deer sightings. The land backs onto 300 acres of Simcoe forest and the closest neighbour is half a kilometer away. It’s the ultimate in residential privacy, Porter says. The saltwater lap pool, designed by Randy Porter himself, has a sheer descent waterfall that flows out of cultured black stonework. Inserted in the top of the wall is a trough of fire that warms the entire patio area in mere minutes. Multi-coloured under-wall landscape lighting adds ambience. The spa and pool are on separate filtration and pumping systems, allowing the pool to be shut down for the winter while the spa bubbles away under a snow-filled sky. Numerous seating opportunities are provided for on the patio, including a covered dining area with an embedded fireplace, multiple lounging areas, a wood burning fire pit, and a bar. Porter 22n GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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was also sure to add the outdoor cabana with change rooms he had at his previous property and his famous AstroTurf putting green. The one new addition is the snug man cave he housed in an out building. The building had a former life as a two-horse stall which was overrun with flies and manure when Porter first took it on. He purged the compost, gutted the building, cleansing it thoroughly, foam sprayed insulation to an R60 value, plumbed it with hot and cold running water, wired it, dry walled, paneled, heated, air conditioned, painted and furnished it for the ultimate man cave. Armor stone was brought in to edge the adjoining patio, which is functional with its own private BBQ, chat set, stand-up barrel bar and yet another fire pit. The man cave is so comfortable now, that Porter says he and his wife could live in it, and in fact they have. While renovating the home, which was torn out to the studs and completely restructured, the Porters stayed in their mammoth RV on the property for the first six and a half months. When the November freeze arrived, they were driven inside and took up residence in the man cave which they found cozy and workable enough as a full-time residence for the final three months of the rebuild.
Call 705-721-9148
for an in-home consultation or visit our showroom at 464 Penetanguishene Road, Springwater.
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‘‘
This inspired design concept proved a real plus when entertaining because guests that would naturally gravitate to the nearby kitchen are now spilling over into the lounging area as well because of the sociability of the space.
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DOWNTOWN BARRIE
downtownbarrie.ca
It was tight quarters, recalls Porter. “Comfortable, clean, and warm but still quite the adventure.” The adventure was worth the wait. The new floorplan of the residence’s interior is a visual stunner. Martin Veenstra Construction was the main contractor who performed all the additions and framing at Porter’s direction. “He does fabulous quality work,” says Porter. “And cleans up every day. I use him on all my properties.” This is the eighth home Mr. Porter has renovated and each one is always done to his exacting standards with no corners cut. “I design how I want to live,” he says. “The best of everything. This property is the nicest one I’ve ever done. The rolling hills, the valleys, hardwood bush. It’s gorgeous. When we bought it, it needed a lot of work. But I saw the potential. I can visually see things when I walk in,” says Porter, who admits that his friends have now given him the nickname of “Martha” because of his innate designing acumen. Enter the foyer through double doors and you find the office to the right. Straight ahead the traditional curved stairwell that was formerly slammed up against a wall has now been moved center and replaced by a modern, glass railed, open tread linear staircase constructed of ash. Cory Clarke of Greywood Custom did both the stairs and wood railings. Behind it, a fireplace welcomes you into the main living area. This is one little trick that Porter discloses about his design technique. If there’s a potential for a dead space, he creates a cozy sitting nook with a fireplace, so that every square inch of the home becomes useful and there are a series of private corners to tuck away in for a quiet moment.
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Move past this lounge and you are in the dining room which leads to the airy kitchen and breakfast area. Here, the cabinetry is solid maple inside and out, installed by Lucvaa Kitchens out of Etobicoke. “It’s a framed kitchen,” Porter explains. “In a normal kitchen, the doors sit outside of the frame, my doors are part of the frame. They’re built like a proper cabinet and every guide rail is metal. No plastic.” Top of the line appliances, including a double drawer Fisher Paykel dishwasher and refrigerator all came from TA Appliances and at quite a hefty price Porter notes. The range is propane but the oven is electric because they don’t have self-cleaning propane ovens, Porter explains. The counter top for the island is granite and grey counters around the sink are Caesarstone, installed by Bill Pickard Granite. Lighting in the home is 100% LED for energy efficiency. Over nighty percent of the fixtures came from Lighting Gallery in Orillia. There’s also a 22-kilowatt propane fired generator that comes on if there’s ever a power outage. “It runs everything on that property,” he says. “Air conditioning, pool, every light and outlet.” The living room was so large Porter didn’t want the seating area dwarfed, so he created a mirror image configuration of two sets of identical sectionals and coffee tables. This inspired design concept proved a real plus when entertaining because guests that would naturally gravitate to the nearby kitchen are now spilling over into the lounging area as well because of the sociability of the space. The home’s five bedrooms and four bathrooms are all well-appointed, but the recreation room continues to be another highlight for this entertaining fam-
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DOWNTOWN BARRIE
downtownbarrie.ca
ily. There, an infrared sauna, with wine room and “Zen lounge” sits adjacent to the games and billiard room. All areas are serenaded by Bluetooth stereo. Even parking space was taken into consideration. The original home had two garage bays, but as with every home there never seems to be enough storage space, so Porter added two new bays at a right angle with plenty of height and room for all those extra recreational vehicles, workshop activities and sports equipment storage that higher end estate homes demand. The finishing touch was the 26-foot-long by 14-foot-wide portico over the circular front drive that ensures guests could enter and exit the estate without the stresses of inclement weather. With the job done and a year and a half enjoying the fruits of his labour, what’s next for Randy Porter? He confides that he has his eye on renovating a recreational property in the Gloucester Pool area near Honey Harbour. He recently placed 316 Old Barrie Road on the market. It is represented by Eleanor Faulds of Forest Hill Real Estate Brokerage, Inc.
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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS
OASIS OasisAUTOCARE Autocare
-AaDecade decadeof ofBuilding building Community community By Patti Vipond
Since opening Oasis Autocare in 2009, Kate and Nick Keates have grown their family owned and operated oil change and car wash business on a personal level. Long time customers have become friends. Kids who rode in the back seat when their parents brought the family car in for an oil change now arrive in the their own vehicles, some with babies on board. Conversely, customers have seen the Keates’ son Fisher grow from a wee tot to a 13-year-old. This summer is his inaugural season as the company’s designated lawn mower.
We are the
“We are a family business only quick that has become a family lube in Barrie business in every way,” says that provides Kate, who along with Nick is a FREE CAR celebrating Oasis Autocare’s WASH with tenth anniversary in August. “We bought a plot of land and every oil built the business from the change! ground up. We are the only quick lube in the Barrie area that offers the bonus of a free car wash with every oil change. At the same time, we keep our oil change prices lower or at par with our competitors. People ask if we charge more because the car wash is free. The answer is no, and the price we post is the price you pay. There are no hidden fees.” To mark a decade of building a loyal family of customers and forging strong community relationships, Kate and Nick are gratefully holding a Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, September 28. Bring your vehicle in for special low prices for oil changes and the top-of-the-line Ultimate car wash. “Customers can get our Ultimate car wash for only $5 on Customer Appreciation Day,” says Kate. “Oil changes will be $10 off the regular price all day and, of course, will
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Kate, Nick and Fisher are looking forward to welcoming long time and new customers at Oasis Autocare’s Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, September 28 include our famous free car wash. As well, oil change customers can enter a draw for wonderful prizes donated by local businesses. The Grand Prize will be an Oasis Autocare year-long car wash pass.” Want another customer perk? Oasis Autocare is the only automatic car wash in Barrie with a full-time attendant on duty to help guide people’s vehicles onto the rails. “People can be nervous about that, especially seniors,” explains Kate. “Seniors flock to us because of our attendant, especially on Seniors’ Day. On Wednesdays, seniors have their cars washed for $3 off any level of wash. They also get $5 off an oil change and have a free wash. Our $10 Ultimate car wash on Tuesdays is very popular all year. The car wash is busiest in the winter because of the road salt. We can wash 400 cars on a sunny day!” Oasis Autocare also offers customers
savings with monthly wash passes and wash packs that give a 15 percent saving for 5 washes and a 25 percent saving for 10 washes. Kate and Nick have worked to build Oasis Autocare’s reputation as an honest lube shop in an industry often known for aggressive sales. Their staff, especially the lube technicians, are trained to show people what needs to be done, what they can do and then leave the decision up the customer. The business’ upstanding reputation has also grown through its sponsorship of local sports teams and charities. Kate and Nick believe in supporting curling, basketball and hockey teams as well as arts groups like dance troupes and gymnastic clubs. Many sports and charity sponsorships result from requests from their customers. The company’s major charities are Gilda’s Club and Big Brothers and Sisters of Simcoe, but they also support smaller ones like seniors’ groups.
Join us for
Customer
APPRECIATION DAY
“Customers ask us if we are willing to help,” says Kate. “We get to know our customers very well because we are hands on. Nick manages and does the day-to-day operations. I take care of all the administrative and marketing duties and help manage the car wash booth in the winter months.” Kate, Nick and Fisher are looking forward to welcoming long time and new customers at Oasis Autocare’s Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, September 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Drop in for savings and, as usual, a free car wash with an oil change. “Our customers love the free car wash,” says Kate. Oasis Autocare is located at 585 Yonge St. in Barrie. Open Mon. to Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information, call 705-733-8868 or go to www.oasisautocare.ca.
• $5 ULTIMATE CAR WASH (taxes incl.) • $10 OFF ALL OIL CHANGES • PRIZE DRAWS • GRAND PRIZE Year Long Wash Pass
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28th.
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nest
t e l a h C e u q i t Rus
By Dawn Ritchie Photos by seb@elevatedphotos.ca,
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“W
e walked into the model home and said, ‘where do we sign,’” says homeowner Jean Lafreniere, about the day he and his wife chose their new Clearview chalet. The couple weren’t in the market for a property but on a whim stopped at an open house for the new Windrose Estate development. They were instantly smitten.
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Developer John Perkins was offering 43 estatesized plots, each with 1 - 2 acre lots. The Lafrenieres chose the larger size, primarily because there would never be anyone behind them. “It’s communal land with a stream and forest offering peace and quiet,” says Jean. The promise that no building would ever interrupt those features meant their spectacular views of the ski trails of Osler Bluff Ski Club would remain intact. With twelve models to choose from, the Lafrenieres picked a rambling five-bedroom, five bath two-story with thirty foot vaulted ceilings in the great room. “It was so obvious. It was one of the model homes we saw,” he says. “Our mouths dropped when we saw it. We gotta go with this design, we said. We were the first ones in.” The couple already owned a smaller place near Blue Mountain but this would provide their two Flat-coated Retrievers with loads of space to run. Fencing, landscaping and a maintenance free sprinkler system for the property would be installed by Sean McDonald Landscaping. Flowers and trees supplied by Bloom ‘n Nursery in Collingwood. MacPherson Builders, who constructed the award-winning chalets of The Orchard at the base
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of Craigleith, was their builder. But first they requested a few revisions to the floorplan. The primary change was eliminating the pantry which Jean felt closed off the flow of the main floor. “There were tons of cupboard space anyway and we didn’t need it,” he says. Removing that wall opened the area up and made a 4-seater casual sitting area possible. It’s the spot they tend to hang out most days now because of the views. Toronto’s Paris Kitchen designed and built the kitchen cabinetry. The chef’s kitchen is wellequipped with top-of-the-line Kitchenaid appliances and a six-burner gas range and wine
fridge—important features to this family who love to cook. The backsplash is a fresh, staggered pencil-thin subway glass tile in taupe. The couple also wanted the home to have a chalet feel and went with post and beam and classic chalet colours. “We wanted brown floors and neutral Collingwood White walls,” Jean says. Engineered flooring was also their choice because it can really take a beating, and the dogs put them to the test daily. The Retrievers, who are valued members of this family, were also the reason for another change at the drawing stage. There was no door in from the
exterior to the laundry room/mudroom. Access was from the den, so they had an exterior entrance added along with lockers for ski equipment and transformed the adjoining small powder room into a full walk-in shower. “Instant doggie bath,” says Jean. This change also allowed the den next door to be utilized as an overflow bedroom for guests once a sofa bed was installed. “We liked the idea of having a potential bedroom on the main floor with a bathroom right next to it,” explains Jean. “More and more people, especially older residents, want a main floor bedroom without stairs.”
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The second level is where the chalet’s four bedrooms reside. Two share a Jack and Jill bathroom and the other two have en-suites. The master also enjoys a gas fireplace and lovely Juliette balcony with double French doors. Access to the bedrooms is along an upper balcony which overlooks the dramatic great room with floor to ceiling stacked stone wood burning fireplace. This was another change the Lafrenieres made. The original plan called for a gas fireplace with the surround finishing at the mantle, but the couple wanted a greater impact to feature the grandeur of this room and requested an open fireplace with stones that traveled right up to the ceiling. This 30-foot stone feature is flanked by three levels of windows and lit by two double-tiered rustic chandeliers from Georgian Design in Collingwood. The Lafrenieres used Georgian Design for all the chalet’s lighting to ensure continuity, and retain the rustic theme. Twenty-year LED lightbulbs were installed to ensure changing bulbs would not be a frequent chore given their height. The same consideration was given to the window shades which extend to the top of the thirtyfoot ceiling. Blue Mountain Shades and Shutters installed remote blinds which raise and lower at the push of a button, making shade-control, carefree. Furnishings in the residence come for the most part from Joshua Creek Trading in Oakville and again were chosen specifically for their neutral browns and chalet chic styling. “Nothing pink, nothing white, nothing modern,” says Jean. “We wanted this to be a place we could kick around and be comfortable.” The chalet’s artwork maintained the theme of casual and rustic. The Lafrenieres are proud to support the work of local artists and chose Georgian Bay galleries including Blue Mountain’s Bright’s Gallery and Clarksburg’s Matilda Swanson Gallery for their suppliers. A large Bertie painting from Matilda Swanson Gallery is featured in the great room, along with Collingwood artist, Sue Tupy’s, Aspens. Pop artist, Brian Porter’s immense psychedelic Bear painting enlivens the dining room. “It’s important to support the local economy,” Jean explains. “Georgian Bay has so many galleries, you have to go local. You live here and shop here and the shopping is amazing. A lot of the decorations in the house come from local artists.” The lower level of the chalet was unfinished by the developer, allowing the Lafrenieres carte blanche in laying out the floorplan. They brought
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BURLINGTON • HAMILTON • MARKHAM • TORONTO GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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Proximity to the ski, bike and hiking trails are prime and a wraparound cedar deck, three pergolas and numerous outdoor dining and lounging locations make it guest-friendly.
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in Robin Schmidt of Paragon Carpentry in Clarksburg to do the renovation. A glass-enclosed fitness room with rubberized floor is packed with a treadmill, rowing machine, weights and cycling trainers. A signed hockey jersey autographed by superstar, Wayne Gretzky and his father, Walter, graces the walls along with other inspirational sporting photography. In the main rec room, a blue-felted billiards table sits next to the media lounge, so everyone can be part of the action. “We didn’t want a dedicated movie room,” Jean says. “People can play pool next to you, and have special family games.” Barn board wall treatments maintain the chalet design theme here and this level also holds an additional bedroom and full bathroom with luxe shower facilities. But it’s really the exterior features which make this chalet the perfect getaway. Proximity to the ski, bike and hiking trails are prime and a wraparound cedar deck, three pergolas and numerous outdoor dining and lounging locations make it guest-friendly. “Everyone in the family skis,” says Jean. “We like to cycle, kayak on Georgian Bay, get on the trails and hike the foothills. In the winter, we come up, cook some nice food, go skiing and get in the hot tub. The dogs are perfect in the fields at the back. It’s all fenced. No need for any leads or to get in the car and go to a dog park. We like to eat and drink and be merry. The food, cooking, sports, it’s a nice base.”
2 Raintree Court is now on the market, represented by Locations North Brokerage, Royal LePage
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ADVERTORIAL
WHY YOUR “CLEANING” COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! Barrie Primary Care Campus
E
veryone knows that swelling and bleeding mean that something is wrong. A swollen twisted ankle or a nasty infected wound often take people to an emergency room. However not everyone realizes that red, swollen or bleeding gums should also be immediately addressed. Gingivitis, while commonplace, can be an indicator that other serious health changes can be occurring throughout the body. The swelling that is seen in gingivitis is inflammation. Inflammation is our body’s response to cellular injury. Our body swells up to try to rid the body of the initial cause of injury and to try to reduce further damage. However, the chemicals that our own body releases to stop the problem can end up being a longer term inflammatory response. Studies are showing that our full body health and our oral health are very closely linked. The inflammation we see in the mouth may also be present in the heart, liver and circulatory system. Those bleeding gums can be the first visible sign that you have other medical conditions. If you have other medical conditions, a gum infection like gingivitis or periodontal disease can just add to the stress that your body is under. Dental professionals are trained to diagnose
and treat all types of oral disease. Whether it be a localized gingivitis brought on by pregnancy, or an advanced case of periodontal disease caused by an aggressive strain of bacteria, there are treatments and home care regimes available. The dentist and hygienist will assess the condition and then monitor the healing. Just as a doctor may prescribe statin medication, your hygienist can make recommendations to use specific preventative oral care products. The hygienist will also remove plaque and hard deposits to help your body fight the infection and reduce inflammation. The length of time between your cleaning appointments is determined based on how you are responding to the treatment. In some cases, if a person does not respond to treatment, a medical consultation may be warranted. Dental and medical professionals work together to determine your risk factors and condition. The professionals at the Barrie Smile Centre want to treat your whole body health. They will educate you about your level of inflammation and disease and advise you how to treat it. They will also work with your doctor should that be necessary. The Barrie Smile Centre wants to keep you smiling for many healthy years to come!
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e are excited to welcome Dr. Goli Ariafar to our Smile Centre family. Dr. Goli Ariafar completed a Bachelor of science degree in Kinesiology with honours and proceeded to attain the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) with honours from the University of Toronto at the top of her class. She is a member of both the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) and the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO). Dr. Goli is continuously committed to improving her knowledge and skills through a variety of continuing education courses, including hands on courses in cosmetic dentistry. We feel so lucky to have her as a part of our team at the Smile Centre. She is looking forward to building a practice here in Barrie.
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370 Bayview Drive, Barrie
705-315-3000 barriesmilecentre.com GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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D
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Bent Taco is Coming to Barrie
Collingwood’s ever popular Bent Taco is opening up a location in Barrie. “We’re hoping to be serving customers by late summer, as long as everything goes well with the permits,” explains Dan Lennox, who owns Bent Taco with partners George Russell and chef Nick MacGregor. Bent Taco is best described as a modern Mexican restaurant serving tacos, burritos and craft cocktails in a hip, contemporary space. Why bring Bent to Barrie? “My partner, Nick, grew up in Barrie and my cousin is one of the owners at Homestead Bakery. So, we have ties to the area and thought we could bring something neat to Barrie,” explains Lennox. Bent Taco Barrie will be located at 55 Collier Street (the former home of Jun’s Roll) benttaco.com.
Arabesque Is Closing
After 28 years of serving delicious Middle Eastern fare, Arabesque is shutting its doors. “Our landlord is tearing down the building to make way for new condominiums,” explains owner and chef Lucie Jones. No plans are in the works to open a new location, but Jones says she hopes to still cater special events. Arabesque Restaurant serves food inspired by Middle Eastern culture. Their menu, full of exotic and authentic Middle Eastern dishes, includes favourites such as hummus and vegetables, shish kabobs, vegetarian dishes, and Turkish coffee. The restaurant, which is located at 43 Maple Ave in Barrie will be open until December 2019. For more info call (705)739-2343
Fruit Forward Brews
Crafty flavours are all the rage in the beer industry these days. For folks looking to explore flavoured beers, complex sours and fruit-forward products this season, LCBO’s beer lineup offers opportunities for experimentation, creativity, new flavours and new favourites. Here’s a sampling of what’s on offer: Muskoka Hazed and Confused (a Juicy IPA), 472mL (#159772), Bud Light Orange, 473mL (#10141), Bench Brewing Strawberry Grove, 500mL (#10577), Brickworks Lemonade Cider Radler, 473mL (#10574) and Belgian Moon Mango Wheat, 473mL (#697268)
Apple Picking & More
Best described as a culinary adventure trail, the award-winning Apple Pie Trail is worth visiting. “There’s so much to do,” says Patti Kendall, marketing director of the Blue Mountain Village Association. “Apple picking and apple pie are just the beginning.” Twenty-eight stops are represented along the Blue Mountains-area trail, which features orchards, shops, restaurants, bakeries, farmers’ markets, art galleries, cideries, wineries and more. “The big story this year is cider,” she explains. “More and more local cideries are popping up here in apple country every year, and most producers offer tours and tastings together to craft a stellar experience.” applepietrail.com GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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local flavours
FLYING MONKEYS IN THE TAP ROOM WITH PETER AND ANDREA CHIODO By Katherine Elphick | Photos by Ellie Kistemaker
When the Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery opened in downtown Barrie in 2004, founder Peter Chiodo never dreamed he’d find himself in the restaurant business. “But that’s how the craft beer industry works,” muses the artisanal brewer who owns and operates the local craft brewery and tap room with this wife, Andrea, two other families, and a whole team of Flying Monkeys. “It’s constantly changing and evolving, and that’s what is so cool about it.” The craft beer industry has exploded in popularity over the past decade, and the Flying Monkeys’ Tap Room has really enhanced visits to Barrie’s downtown brewery. “We wanted guests to experience the art of craft brewing and to immerse themselves in the Flying Monkeys culture of brewing fearlessly and having fun,” he explains. To learn more about this award-winning craft brewery and its hip tap room, this Goodlife reporter recently sat down with Peter and Andrea. Here’s how the conversation unfolded.
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Flying Monkeys’ free tours draw in about 70,000 curious imbibers to the brewery each year. Adding the tap room where guests can enjoy a beer and a bite made perfect sense. Peter Chiodo: The tap room adds to the experience of visiting a craft brewery and gives people another presentation of our culture and vision. Since our beer is enjoyed around the world, we often see international visitors coming through our doors. Andrea Chiodo: We’ve also enjoyed bringing back the idea of a local brewery as the heart of a community. We love that we’re a gathering spot for locals in downtown Barrie, as well as, a cool place to bring visiting friends to enjoy music and art and just share in the cool vibe of our city. Flying Monkeys is known for its creative brews in colourful, whimsical packaging, but that’s not how the brewery started. Originally called Robert Simpson, after Barrie’s first mayor and brewmaster, the focus was market-friendly beers. But in 2009, the brewery created a mission to champion the craft beer revolution, switched gears, and took on the Flying Monkeys’ moniker experimenting with new beer styles and novel flavour profiles. Why the shift in direction? PC: We decided to start making craft beers that weren’t already on the shelves in Ontario. These were the craft beers that we ourselves wanted to drink, and the new vision worked immediately. The orders just kept getting bigger and bigger, and the business continues to grow. Today, we employ 89 people and export our product to over 23 countries making us the largest international shipper of Ontario craft beer. The United States is our largest market followed by Europe, then Asia.
“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
The 70-seat tap room is definitely a fun place to hang out. The funky decor features an eclectic mix of music posters, neon signs, colourful chalkboards, painted seats, vintage telephones, a wall of antique radios and much more. The second floor houses a 40-seat Attic Lounge for group reservations and an extension of the downstairs on busy days. There’s even a wall of free pinball machines and arcade games. What was your design vision? AC: The idea was to create a space that embraced the hospitality of the Flying Monkeys and the independent spirit of craft beer. We designed it as a funky, friendly place where we’d enjoy hanging out. It’s all about celebrating the Flying Monkeys’ culture. We aren’t just a bar, everyone is welcome here. GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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CRAFT BEER CREATES LITTLE COMMUNITIES AT EACH TABLE, SO LOTS OF OUR FRESH, HOMEMADE FOOD IS DESIGNED WITH SHARING IN MIND.
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What’s on offer on the food front? AC: The menu is small but creative and fresh — like our craft beer, and it’s designed to enjoy with our taps. Folks love our big, fat pretzels, sprawling sheet nachos, and fabulous burger. A particular favourite seems to be the Yardbird, which is a crispy, buttermilk fried chicken sandwich with fresh fennel slaw and spicy, beer-infused sriracha mayo. What’s your food philosophy? AC: Craft beer creates little communities at each table, so lots of our fresh, homemade food is designed with sharing in mind. And because we’re a brewery, naturally we use our beer in much of our menu. On the sipping front, 16 taps are on offer in the tap room. Can you tell us about those brews? PC: Eight are core or seasonal beers, while the remaining taps are small batch pilots we are researching. Some of our pilots offer unique flavours that you might only experience at the brewery. What’s your top beer? PC: We really don’t have a flagship brand anymore, per se. Honestly, craft beer drinkers picked the favourites. Right now, our Juicy Ass IPA is the top craft IPA in the LCBO, and everyone loves a 12 Minutes to Destiny on the patio at the end of the day (this reporter loves this refreshing raspberry hibiscus pale lager). Live Transmission Milkshake IPA is another super-unique brew, and Wonderstar Botanical Lager has a gin-and-tonic-inspired profile, which is a really nice summer sipper. Sounds like Flying Monkeys is serving up some pretty interesting flavour profiles these days. PC: We delight in our hop-forward IPAs, but we also love experimenting with exotic ingredients creating unique, crushable beers. We also have specialty barrel-aged beers, so we love being all over the map with beer styles. Crushable? PC: You can drink more than one. A lot of IPAs have pronounced bitterness and slightly higher alcohol. When people drink them, their palates and bellies get full after one or two beers. Our 12 Minutes to Destiny is a very crushable beer because you can keep drinking it all afternoon and, at 4 per cent alcohol, you can enjoy more than one responsibly.
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BECAUSE WE’RE A BREWERY, NATURALLY WE USE OUR BEER IN MUCH OF OUR MENU
Flying Monkeys’ Chicken Wings Featuring a Chocolate Manifesto Mole Sauce
(by chef Paul Tingley, Flying Monkeys’ Tap Room) This dish pairs nicely with a hoppy American IPA like Flying Monkeys’ Juicy Ass or our new Killer Cupcake Panda Double IPA brewed with pandan leaves. Save the extra Manifesto for a dessert drink, or top with vanilla bean ice cream to make a craft beer float. 5 Lbs chicken wings* *Chef Paul uses full chicken wings for this recipe for a little variation in our Tap Room, but cut wings are fine, too. 1 Tbsp good vegetable oil or olive oil 1-1/2 Tbsp Cajun Spice (Use 1 teaspoon of the spice for the wings) Salt & Pepper 1-750 ml bottle Flying Monkeys Chocolate Manifesto 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup white vinegar 1 cup your favourite BBQ sauce....preferably, not a smoked variety
PREPARATION: First, get the wings started. 1. Pre-heat oven to 400F 2. Toss the wings in the oil. 3. Sprinkle the wings in 1 teaspoon Cajun spice, and salt and pepper, to taste. 4. Spread out on baking sheet with a rack (if you have one). 5. Bake at 400F for about 45-50 minutes. While the wings are in the oven, get going on the sauce. 1. In a 3 litre sauce pan, combine remaining Cajun Spice, Flying Monkeys’ Chocolate Manifesto, brown sugar, white vinegar, BBQ sauce, salt and pepper to taste, and whisk together. 2. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Never boil, or you will regret it! 3. Reduce the mixture until it coats the back of a spoon and when you draw your finger along the surface, it does not run readily back to the swiped groove (approximately 15-20 minutes). 4. Toss the wings in the sticky, spicy sauce, and serve!
What new beers are you working on? PC: We’re going to continue to evolve our IPA selection and focus on some new lighter style lagers and lighter style IPAs. One of our newest beers is called Killer Cupcake Panda Double IPA brewed with pandan leaves from Indonesia. It has a fantastic vanilla custard flavour with a creamy texture. We will play with any ingredient to keep things unique. AC: As an independent craft brewery, our beer offerings are always evolving— it’s a game that moves as you play. And we do love playing. Speaking of the Ontario craft beer industry, I would definitely consider you trailblazers within this burgeoning field. PC: We were one of the first ones out of the gate when we started in 2004. Gosh, I think there were only 12 of us at that first round table meeting of the Ontario Craft Brewers (OCB). Now, there are about 130 members in the OCB alone, and hundreds of other small, local breweries and brewpubs. It’s crazy! It really shows you how the whole industry of craft beer has come alive.
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I love that your outdoor patio has a “Dog Bar” complete with a running water keg fountain and a side bucket of doggie biscuits. Can you tell us more about it? AC: We’re a family-friendly place that attracts lots of craft beer tourists in the summer. We don’t want dogs left in cars as folks drop by for a growler fill or lunch. Plus, Dunlop Street and the waterfront are great places to stroll with our pups. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are more than welcome on our patio to enjoy a drink with their owners outdoors in Barrie’s beautiful downtown. Sadly, this option goes away with the patio in the winter months. What about music? PC: We feature live, local artists five days a week. There’s such great, local talent in our area that adds so much to the atmosphere of the brewery. Where can you buy Flying Monkeys’ beer? AC: Our beer is sold at the brewery and stocked at over 500 LCBO stores, 400 Beer Stores and in 300 grocery stores. We also have a growler filling station, so you can bring home fresh draught beer or a special brew you just discovered on tap at the brewery. When do you offer tours? AC: Like all the best things in life, our tours are free. We offer weekday tours Monday to Friday at 2 PM; and weekend tours are Saturdays at 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM, 4 PM and 5 PM; and Sundays at 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM and 4 PM. Reservations aren’t required. What’s the next big trend in craft brewing? PC: It looks like ultra-low alcohol beers are the next big thing. You’re looking at beers with an alcohol content of 1.8 or 2 per cent that are still IPAs. They will still have a big hop presence, but not a lot of alcohol. AC: But, noting that, our recent spring release, Sparklepuff Triple IPA, has 10% ABV (alcohol by volume), so you see we don’t really follow trends. We prefer to set them!
BE COMFORTABLE. BE CONFIDENT. BE HAPPY.
FALL INTO BLUE AT BLISS BENEATH! • fine lingerie • swimwear • sleepwear • sports bras • breast prostheses
241 Essa Road, Barrie
705-503-2547 (BLIS)
www.blissbeneath.com Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
Advanced Laser & Skin Rejuvenation 393 Yonge Street Unit 1 | T: 705-503-0311 | theonefaceandbodybar.com
Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery and Taproom 107 Dunlop Street East, Barrie (705)721-8989/flyingmonkeys.ca Open: Sunday to Tuesday 11 am to 10 pm; Wednesday & Thursday 11 am to 11 pm; Friday & Saturday 11 am to 1 am
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THE TIME HAS COME! here is no growth without change and after 13 years of business Glow Day Spa Inc. is making their biggest change yet!
“I couldn’t be happier or more excited about this next chapter” says Kimberly Crook, Owner and operator of Glow Day Spa Inc. Together, their awesome team has worked hard over the years to grow a talented and caring business in the community while humbly adopting a reputation as Barrie’s favourite Spa. When interviewed Crook was asked if the hair salon located next door to Glow was a part of the Glow business. Graciously, Kimberly set the record straight. “Although we have complimented each other’s businesses well these past 13 years by conveniently being located next door to each other, we are actually not affiliated in any way shape or form and never have been. Contrary to popular belief, we are and always have been two entirely separate businesses with two separate owners” notes Kimberly. Glow will be moving just a minute up the street from their current location to 178 Essa. This new development will host their own private parking lot to make for easier parking for their guests. A work space almost 4 x larger than their current location ensuring a decrease in wait times, and what Kimberly says she is most excited about, a roof top terrace for guests to relax on before and after services during the warmer months! Glow will continue with their popular menu of manicures, pedicures, eyelash extensions, spray tans, facials and more, but also plans to expand their retail and service menu once settled. Adding
makeup application, registered massage therapy and medical esthetic services. “We are excited to have new talent join our team and grow with us!” exclaims Crook “Although I enjoy doing an array of services our menu offers, I specialize in permanent makeup application (micropigmentation). I have applied permanent makeup to over 5000 clients throughout my career. The benefits of permanent makeup are endless. Amazing for saving time of course, but also for women with busy lives- isn’t that all of us?! Especially women who can no longer see well without glasses or have allergies that restrict them from wearing makeup. Many want to create a better brow shape or simply replace the colour where the hair has decreased with time. All these make for great candidates for permanent makeup and I’m always thrilled to meet new guests for a complimentary consultation who feel this may be something they would enjoy” Notes Kimberly
Good is the enemy of great. Although I don’t think we ever really arrive at greatness, the goal is to keep moving towards it.” notes Kimberly
Despite the larger space, Crook insists the vibe of Glow Day Spa will not change from what Barrie has come to know and love. A comfortable environment where you are always greeted with a smile and offered a heated neck wrap and drink regardless of whether you are booked for a service or just waiting for a friend who is.
“This chapter feels really good! Finding our path in life can be difficult. I am grateful and blessed for the opportunity to work with the caliber of women I do, doing a job I love. This new Spa will enable Glow to do so much more and influence so many more lives. Thank you for supporting this small business!”
“You’ve heard me say it before but I’ll say it again anyway …… It is without a doubt our awesome clients and amazing team that motivate me to want to do better. This project is a massive undertaking and to say it hasn’t been stressful, scary and emotional would be a fib. I once read a quote by Jim Collins that has steered many of my decisions in life since”
5 Elements of Glow • Express gratitude • Smile and serve others • Stay away from drama and negativity • Do the right thing even when no one is watching • Be kind and lead with Love
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SIP Savour AND
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Common Good Cafe & Social House TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD. What is common in your life? We believe in inspiring environments, good food, and good drinks – the kind to help you wake up and the kind to help you unwind. We believe in meeting with friends and sharing stories and making new friends and creating new stories. We believe in laughter, kindness, community, and doing a good deed every day. big or small. Hold the door open. Say hello. Drop by. Stay longer
than expected. Make us the common factor in your week. Whatever you do, and however you do it, be good. Common Good Café & Social House is your place. Yes, yours. Lunch meetings. First dates. Book clubs. Friday nights and Saturday mornings. Exceptional coffee, meaningful connection and well-crafted cocktails. We are here for the wifi users, the crossword doers and the conversation starters. Common Good is downtown Barrie’s purveyors of quality food and beverage. Your
85 Bayfield Street, Ground Level, Barrie
early morning wake-up, your healthy midday café break and your indulgent evening social house. Common Good offers unique selections using fresh, seasonal inspirations. Our community-minded spirit means espresso roasted in Toronto, Ontario small batch liquors and locally-sourced products. Let us introduce you to your new favourite flavours, served by your new favourite baristas. Make us what’s common in your day, week or routine.
commongood.cafe
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Q&A
The House of Pasta
WITH OWNER
Real Authentic Italian Restaurant with Pasta Made Fresh Daily
Chef Micheal Lazzarino’s new restaurant, The House of Pasta offers Old World Italian cuisine in a comfortable, intimate atmosphere in Gilford, Ontario. With a wide range of delicious pastas and other classic Italian fare reminiscent of what Nonna used to make, this new hot spot will delight the taste buds of the most discerning pasta critic. Trained in Florence under world renowned chef Francesco Lagi, Lazzarino serves up exquisite dishes native to northern and southern Italy. His pastas are handmade with care, using only the finest ingredients imported from different parts of Italy. Their menu offers a mix of fresh pasta, seafood, pizza, and chicken wings. Why chicken wings? Because Buffalo wing sauce was invented by an Italian woman named Teressa Bellissimo— a simple food done right! They are in the midst of applying for an alcohol permit to serve a selection of imported and domestic wine and beer. They have signed up with What’s For Dinner Today (wfdt.ca) for they offer convenient home delivery for their customers.
280 Bells Lane, Gilford, ON
CHEF MICHEAL LAZZARINO THE TOPIC OF CARBS CAN BE CONTROVERSAL. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON CARBS?
The question of whether carbohydrates (or carbs) are good or bad is the big question today. I believe we should all avoid processed carbs because they are not in a natural state. I believe this rule of thumb is very important. However, whole (including whole grain), natural unprocessed foods that contain carbohydrates are good for you because they are God’s creation—your body can digest these foods and turn them into energy. This is good! I have three more words about carbs: I love pasta! Yes, pasta contains carbs, but if semolina from durum wheat is natural and unprocessed, it’s not a carbohydrate we need to be afraid of. The problem with many pastas in North America is time! North Americans do not take the time to prepare and enjoy their pasta. Instead, they want to save time. They want to put limits on how much time they spend cooking and eating. I believe regardless of what you eat, you shouldn’t rush it; give your body a chance to enjoy and digest your food. It’s pretty simple. Also, people tend to get it wrong when it comes to pasta. People often overcook it. If your pasta is overcooked, you will not digest it well. In turn, the pasta will turn into fat instead of energy. I always make pasta “al dente.”This helps with digestion and the conversion of food into energy.
(705) 290-2433 GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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CAKES BY DESIGN Inspired to create the unexpected You want a wedding cake that looks like the Muskoka birch stump where you and your beloved carved your initials. Bring your idea to Cakes By Design in Barrie and they will make your dream cake a reality. Baker and owner Jennifer Mayrl and her staff design, create and bake between 60 and 100 stunning custom cakes weekly for occasions ranging from hip replacements to anniversaries. Gender reveal cakes with pink or blue interiors are popular at baby showers. “People come to us for a little fun,” says Jennifer, who fell in love with cake decorating at a part-time job as a teen. “If you can dream it, we can bake it.” At the 14-year-old company, every cake must taste as fabulous as it looks and only cakes Mayrl would be proud to serve are made. Customers can also pick up ready-to-go cakes, cupcakes, decorated sugar cookies and more.
Q&A
WHAT LED YOU DOWN THE CUSTOM CAKE PATH? When I was in high school, I got a part-time job at a custom cake shop in Richmond Hill. I was hired to stock shelves, but almost instantly I was hooked on cake decorating. I worked there for about 10 years, right through university studying kinesiology. I learned everything on-site, and knew I wanted to do this for a living.
WHAT ARE THE LATEST TRENDS IN CAKES? We’ve been doing a ton of gender-reveal cakes. When a couple is having a baby, they bring in the ultrasound that indicates the gender and we make the inside of the cake blue or pink and that’s how everyone finds out whether the baby is a boy or a girl. Other trends include naked cakes- where the icing gets scraped off and the cakes are decorated with fruit and flowers.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR CRAZIEST COMMISSIONS? We did a cake for a plumber with a roll of toilet paper on it and the words “Holy Crap, it’s your birthday” written on it. we also do lots of hip bone- shaped cakes to celebrate replacement surgery and diaper- shaped ones for baby showers.
89 Toronto Street, Barrie
705.739.6886
WITH BAKER
JENNIFER MAYRL WHAT’S YOUR CAKE-MAKING PHILOSOPHY? It’s twofold. I want every cake to taste as good as it looks. And second, we only make cakes that I would be proud to serve.
WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION? Our customers inspire us! They will find something on social media, bring it in, and we will go from there. Other than that, we are constantly keeping on top of the latest trends.
BEYOND CUSTOM ORDERS, WHAT’S ON OFFER AT THE SHOP FOR WALK-IN CUSTOMERS? We always have cupcakes, ready-to-go cakes, plenty of decorated sugar cookies and more.
FINALLY, WHAT’S THE SWEETEST PART OF WORKING IN THE BAKERY BUSINESS? We all smell like vanilla and cake all the time, so that’s pretty sweet!
www.cakesbydesign.ca
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daGrazia Ristorante The DeLeo Family History
Francesco and Graziella DeLeo, along with their children–Domenico, Teresa, and Francesca– moved from their hometown of Calabria, a town in Southern Italy, in the summer of 2014. With them, they brought their love and passion for authentic Italian cuisine to the New Tecumseth community. Graziella can be found in her Cucina giving her careful attention to the preparation of each of the dishes that will be served to her guests. When you enter the restaurant, you will be greeted by a friendly waiter or waitress who will ensure your
meal and dining experience is one that brings you, your family and cherished friends back again. It’s About Tradition and Quality In each of our dishes, you will find that we have stayed close to our Italian heritage, traditions, culture and family recipes to enhance our unique style of cooking. At daGrazia Ristorante you can enjoy your favorite Italian classics such as fresh pasta, veal, homemade meatballs, lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, steamed vegetables and sautéed rapini. Menu items are available for either take-out
20 Victoria Street E, Alliston
705-435-8868
www.dagrazia.com
or eating in. All dishes are made fresh daily and we offer new menu items on a regular basis. We recommend that if you do not see an item on the menu please ask your server and they will try and accommodate your request. If you are looking to join us on the weekend, it is highly recommended to call the restaurant to make a reservation. The Ristorante is open Tuesday to Friday from 11:30am to 9:00pm and Saturday noon to 9:00pm. Closed Sunday for private functions. dagraziaristorante
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Mahogany Room Alliston’s Hidden Culinary Gem Nestled within the Nottawasaga Resort the Mahogany Room, the resort’s flagship fine dining restaurant, is one of the local area’s best-kept secrets. Located off the hotel lobby, the restaurant offers an intimate and inviting ambiance which is ideal for a romantic evening, a social gathering or a business meeting. The sustainably sourced menu utilizes wild and heirloom varieties of ingredients that are harvested at the peak of the season, as well as ethically sourced, innovative artisan products from local farmers and Canadian suppliers. The resort’s culinary team is not only devoted to traditional offerings, but forward thinking and delicious vegetarian and gluten-free options that have been designed to entice the most discriminating of taste buds. The Mahogany Room offers both traditional and contemporary dishes to not only enchant your palate, but serve as a lasting memory of a thoughtfully prepared experience.
Within the restaurant, beautiful views of the outdoor scenery mix harmoniously with elegant fine fabrics, refined finishes and rich mahogany wood details. Nestled within the intimate Mahogany Room, La Tavola del Padrone provides an exclusive space for private dinner parties and special celebrations.
The resort, which has undergone extensive and stunning renovations in recent years, has been a fixture in Alliston since 1968 and offers a myriad of amenities that are open to both guests of the hotel as well as the public which includes everything from massage therapy to two golf courses and onsite arena with two NHL sized ice pads, to two restaurants and a lounge. For your next special occasion try the Mahogany Room – an exquisite culinary journey awaits you. The Mahogany Room is open from 6pm-9pm on Tuesday to Thursday and 5:30pm-9:30pm on Friday and Saturday.
Nottawasaga Resort 6015 Highway 89, Alliston
705-435-5501
Q&A WITH EXECUTIVE
CHEF PAUL DILLS WHAT IS THE ONE THING WE SHOULD TRY AT THE MAHOGANY ROOM? That’s a difficult question as there are so many amazing dishes on the menu. I highly recommend the bison short rib as it’s a nice seasonal dish that really embodies our commitment to local ingredients. The maple syrup glaze really elevates the dish and adds to it’s excellent multi-layered flavour profile.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LOCAL INGREDIENT? Some of my favourite local ingredients are the ones that are grown on site here at the resort. We have a small garden where we harvest fresh herbs, tomatoes, peppers and edible flowers.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR COOKING STYLE? I consider my cooking style to be classic. I believe as a chef it’s important to have a solid understanding of how ingredients will work when paired together. From there you can build on the dish and add a fresh new spin; which is what you will find in many of our menu items.
www.NottawasagaResort.com
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HOMESTEAD
Q&A
ARTISAN BAKERY & CAFE
WITH OWNERS
Specializing in artisan sourdough breads and baked goods, crafted by hand in small
batches. The tradition of breaking bread with family and friends is ingrained in our history; we have deep roots in Barrie. Owners Cait Patrick and Lise Garden studied under world renowned Certified Master Baker Jeffrey Hamelman. We believe in supporting all things local. From the Barrie Farmers Market to the thriving downtown core, we are investing in our community. 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; and have joined forces with our friends at EPIC NORTH ROASTERY to become the go to destination for both your baked goods and coffee in the region. We carry fresh roasted (in house) top-line single origin coffees, full espresso bar, breakfast and lunch service. Our breakfast menu includes a variety of breakfast favourites like our locally smoked turkey with aged cheddar, house aioli, spinach, tomato served on a homestead croissant. We have a ton of freshly baked pastries that change with the seasons. Our lunch menu includes fresh sandwiches, seasonal soups, salads and fresh baguette with house made spreads & preserves.
80 Dunlop St. E., Downtown Barrie
705.252.3680
CAIT PATRICK LISE GARDEN WHAT’S NEW?
With an extended space that now combines both our front of house and bakery production team in one space; we are also offering more retail and an extended pastry and soon to come brunch menu which we are really excited about. We are also very excited to have Epic North in the new space; roasting delicious coffee.
WHY IS SOURDOUGH A HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVE?
The science of sourdough or naturally leavened bread is alchemy in action. The starter is where the magic begins, it is truly digestive greatness; believe us your gut will thank you! Sourdough or naturally leavened bread is more easily digested than regular bread, both white and whole grain; it is also far more nutritious.
Sourdough bread with all its goodness also renders gluten in flour more easily digested, which means it is less likely to cause food intolerance, such as Gluten. It tastes good, toasts well, it is all around better bread. We keep it super simple with three ingredients are flour, water and salt.
The local flours we use for our sourdough include: rye, spelt, whole wheat, unbleached organic all-purpose, buckwheat, semolina and red fife.
www.homesteadartisanbakery.com
www.epicnorthcoffee.com GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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Q&A
SIGRID’S CAFE & FINE BAKERY A Traditional European Bakery
WITH OWNER
At Sigrid’s, baking is a never-ending art form. For the past 35 years now, we have been a proud family-owned bakery in downtown Barrie. All our baked breads and pastries are made from scratch with all natural ingredients, the way it used to be done! The flavour or our creations showcases the true passion behind our work.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MUST-HAVE TASTE SENSATIONS?
We invite you to join us in our lunch and tea room and treat yourself to a savoury soup and sandwich on our homemade bread and buns. Top it off with a European specialty coffee and authentic pastry, that are sure to please!
Tell us about your Blackforest cake?
If you’re looking for fresh gluten-free products that the whole family will enjoy, you’ve arrived at the right place! We bake fresh daily with no preservatives. From our sunflower, multigrain, raisin bread and classic loaf and buns to our Florentiner pastry, almond crescents, and macaroons and famous gluten-free brownies, we’ll win you over!
623 Victoria St., Barrie, Ontario
705-555-2345
ANDREA HIGGINS You have to come in and try our delicious Bienenstich which is a yeast-based pastry with our homemade custard filling, topped with honey-coated almonds. You will love our specialty cakes like our mousse, raspberry, chocolate, strawberry & lemon. Our chocolate, mocha, grand marnier and a trio of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry buttercream cakes are simply irresistible! We pride ourselves in having the “real” Blackforest cake made with fresh cream and Kirchwasser and dark cherries which has been lovingly handed through the generations!
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE BAKERY BUSINESS?
Sigrid’s, is a traditional European bakeshop, specializing in German baked-goods,celebrating 35 years in business this year and was founded in 1983 by Andrea’s parents. My parents left a very successful bakery in Germany to start a new life in Canada with my sister and me. The idea was to bring a touch of Europe to Barrie. I took over the bakery in 2004 with the help of my husband Brian, and our three children and our fabulous staff.
www.QuinnsSteakhouse.com
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Q&A
DANNY’S FISH & CHIPS Voted Barrie’s Favourite because we love what we do!
Danny’s Fish and Chips owner’s Ben and Limoza Demiri, along with their team were thrilled to win Barrie Advance Readers Choice Award for Favourite Fish and Chips.
“It is very gratifying that people have gone out of their way to recognize us for what we love to do! We are passionate about our Mom and Pop family business and moved by the incredible support of our long time clients and excited by the new ones that have found out about us.” Danny’s Fish and Chips takes pride in the quality of their product that’s second to none. “We treat it like it’s our baby and deliver it with the service you’d expect from a family run business.” Danny’s Fish and Chips offers variety of dishes other than fish and chips. “But our fish and chips is what we’re known for and we feel such a sense of responsibility to my dad “Danny” who founded Danny’s Fish and Chips,” Ben said. “He strived for perfection in himself and in all of us. He was the inspiration to have something that tasted amazing and then strive to make it ever better! We take great family pride in hand cutting our fresh fish daily along with our hand cut fresh fries! You can trust that we happily serve you the freshest fish and chips in town! From our family to yours - we look forward to seeing you soon! “Thank you for loving what we love to do so much!”
411 Huronia Road, Barrie
705.721.8998
WITH OWNERS
BEN & LIMOZA DEMIRI CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE SECRET IS TO BECOMING BARRIE’S FAVOURITE FISH & CHIPS YEAR AFTER YEAR?
Here at Danny’s your delicious fish and chips arrive fresh every day from the ocean and the garden. Our family have been taking pride in what we do for over 40 years now using old family recipes that don’t cut corners on quality food without preservatives. We love seeing families grow up with us here and treating them like family is the only way we know how to do business. We bring in whole haddock and Alaskan halibut and hand fillet the fish everyday so it is served fresh to your table and you can totally taste the difference. We use only fresh locally grown potatoes and hand cut them as well. The crispy, light batter on our fish is made from a 40-year-old family recipe so I guess you can say there is a lot of love that goes into your meal.
WHAT IS YOUR SIGNATURE DISH?
Although halibutand chips is a customer favourite. We also recommend you try our excellent haddock on your next visit.
www.facebook.com/dannysfishandchips GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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Cocina Mexicana Restaurante MADE FRESH TO ORDER • ALL YOU CAN EAT
Q&A
WITH OWNERS
ULISES, VERONICA & RICARDO
It’s a Thursday afternoon at 2:30 pm and Barrie’s newest Mexican restaurant, Cocina Mexicana, is hopping. “We just opened on January 19, 2019, and we can’t believe how busy we are,” confesses Ricardo Sierra, who owns and operates the cheerful eatery with his wife, Veronica Serrano, and business partner, Ulises Hernandez. Serving up fresh and authentic Mexican fare, Cocina Mexicana is Barrie’s first all-you caneat Mexican restaurant. “We are definitely bringing something new to local diners,” he explains. We recently sat down with the trio of owners. Over a few cups of Café de la Olla (a delicious Mexican style coffee with brown sugar and cinnamon), we chatted about everything from the secret to great Mexican cuisine and future patio plans to some of the bustling restaurant’s hottest dishes.
144 Burton Ave., Barrie
705-252-7086
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE COCINA MEXICANA?
It’s an authentic Mexican culinary experience. We 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. It also has a happy and fun environment [the walls are decorated with colourful straw Mexican placemats] that reminds you of Mexico.
COCINA MEXICANA OFFERS AN ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT MENU, BUT ISN’T A BUFFET RESTAURANT. CORRECT?
That’s right. Our food is prepared as it’s ordered, or á la minute. That way, it’s always fresh. People can order one piece at a time, and as much as they want until they are satisfied.
WHAT’S THE SECRET TO MAKING GREAT MEXICAN FOOD?
The first secret is passion and a love for Mexico. The second secret is Sazón, which is the talent of mastering acidity, seasoning, tradition — a technique in a Mexican kitchen. Our chef, Oscar Jimenez, has passion, Sazón and a love of Mexico.
WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST I ORDER FOR DINNER?
RS: I would recommend starting with the Enchiladas Rojas o Verdes (soft corn tortilla filled with chicken, topped with cheese and onion, baked with green or red sauce), followed by Pozole (soup made with hominy and pork, seasoned and garnished with shredded cabbage, onion, radishes and limes), then one Quesadilla, and one Taco de Pescado (fish taco). For dessert, I would suggest a Café de la Olla and a slice of Pastel 3 Leches (cake dipped in three different kinds of sweetened milk).
WHAT IS NEW THIS FALL?
We are so thrilled to have received our liquor licence and eager to make you all your favourite cocktails along with great beer and wine choices. It’s Margarita time!
www.cocina-mexicana.ca
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QING’S CUISINE
Q&A
Szechuan & Thai Cuisine
With over 20 years of culinary experience, husband and wife, Qing Ni and Lien Tran have both worked in cities such as Toronto, Saskatoon, Collingwood,Vancouver and California. After so many dedicated years of hard work, in 2014, the husband-wife team have ventured off on their own to open up our Szechuan and Thai restaurant. Today, they are proud owners of Qing’s Cuisine in Barrie’s south end. Szechuan cuisine comes from Sichuan, a southwestern Chinese province which happens to contain a stretch of Asia’s largest river called the Yangtze. We love creating delightful and unique dishes with the Schechuan and Thai influences for our customers who continue to show their support for them week after week. Only the freshest ingredients are used in all of our creations. We know you’ll love anything you try here, just simply tell us your likes and if you have any food allergies and we’ll be happy to delight your taste buds. Come in and try our delicious Shrimp Spring Roll Vermicelli bowl made with the very best shrimps of course. Thank you Barrie for allowing us cook for you everyday. You make it so easy as we love what we do!
610 Huronia Rd., Unit 9, Barrie
705.503-6610
WITH CHEF
QING NI A LOT OF RESTAURANTS OFFER A PAD THAI DISH, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT MAKE YOURS UNIQUE? Unlike the traditional method of cooking Pad Thai, we stir fry vegetables first then add the rice noodles and cook them to perfection until done. This means we don’t use pre-soaked noodles, instead, we cook our noodles raw in the wok! Our non-spicy Pad Thai sauce is sweet and has a special fish sauce added to it and our Spicy Pad Thai has no fish sauce but we add in special spices for a perfect medium spicy dish. Both are made with a tomato sauce base and topped with nuts which we can leave off in case of any allergies. This is a dish that our clients can’t seem to live without CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT ALL GOES INTO YOUR DELICIOUS SHREDDED CRISPY BEEF DISH? Strips of tender beef is deep fried until crispy perfection, followed by stir frying fresh ginger, onion, jalapeño peppers, dried Thai chili peppers, celery, carrots and then we finish it off with our special spicy sweet and sour sauce. You’ll love it! WHAT IS ANOTHER DISH FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY A LITTLE MORE SPICE? Our Mongolian Chicken is a little sweet and a little spicy. Sliced chicken breast served on a bed of dry vermicelli noodles. It’s stir fried witah white and green onions, dried Thai chili peppers, Thai chili sauce and soy sauce. We are also happy to offer a gluten free option with no added soy sauce.
www.qingscuisine.com GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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OLIVE OIL CO. BARRIE & NEWMARKET Gourmet Choices for premium olive oil, aged balsamic and an extensive selection of gourmet foods for every occasion. At Olive Oil Co. in Barrie and Newmarket we are a team of locally minded, passionate foodies who love to talk about simple meals with our line of delicious and healthy oil and balsamic vinegar. It’s important to eat real food that tastes amazing and fits your lifestyle. We believe that you don’t need to be a chef to make awesome meals, you just need quality ingredients and a little inspiration. We would like all our customers to feel welcomed and valued and go home with something they love and know how to use. We provide our customers with the highest quality olive oil and balsamic in the world for the very best price as well as a good selection our gourmet foods that compliment our oils and vinegars. We offer both fused and infused oils that come in a variety of flavours,using natural ingredients only and our fresh harvest oil. You are also invited to savour intense white and dark balsamic vinegars aged up to 18 years from Modena, Italy. Our balsamics are made in the traditional fashion, starting with grape ‘must ‘and working their way through a
45 Dunlop St. East
series of wooden barrels. Taste our traditional condimento and explore other flavours such as raspberry, cranberry-pear and coconut. Our balsamic, unlike any other on the market contains absolutely no caramel colouring. Taste before you buy. We are generous with our samples and with our advice. We take the time to help every customer with their selections. We can’t wait for your visit!
BUTTERNUT SQUASH PITA WITH A ZIP INGREDIENTS: 1 butternut squash, halved 1/2 teaspoon honey 1 tbsp Green Chili Olive Oil 6 pitas 1 can black beans 2 tablespoons lime juice A dash of salt 1/4 cup Greek yogurt 1 avocado, sliced Cilantro 1/2 pound chicken or pork, cooked and shredded Directions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place squash on a lined baking sheet. Roast for 45 minutes. Remove squash from peel. In a bowl mix stir honey and Green Chili Olive Oil into squash and puree with a blender or by hand. Toast pitas in oven until soft and slightly toasted. Stir together black beans with 1 tablespoon lime juice and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon lime juice and Greek yogurt. Assemble tostadas by spreading butternut squash across pita. Top with black beans, avocado, cilantro, shredded chicken and a dollop of yogurt mixture. DELICIOUS . HEALTHY . SIMPLE
705.503.6457 • OliveOilCo.ca • 31 Commerce Park Dr Market & Co at Upper Canada Mall 905.235.7645
705.792.0300
60n GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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WATERFRONT LIVING ON
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wine, etc.
TAWSE ON TAWSE By Carmelo Giardina
WINTERY
How a love for burgundy turned into a geeky obsession with Niagara wine country 62 â– GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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taste | wine, etc.
SELECTIONS
...THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO PRODUCE WINES THAT REPRESENT A VERY SPECIFIC TERROIR, OR THAT SENSE OF PLACE, AND DO JUSTICE BY IT. By Carmelo Giardina
Moray Tawse is a self-proclaimed wine geek, and he’s quite proud of that. Start talking wine with him and there’s no telling how far he’ll go. Tawse is the Executive VP and co-founder of First National Financial Corporation. That’s his day job, making him an interesting man to begin with. But what makes him fascinating is that he’s also the proud owner of three ultra-premium wineries – two located in the Niagara region and one in Burgundy. Yes, that Burgundy. It’s his love for Burgundy that drove him toward the path of wine proprietor. He launched his Burgundy wine label about a decade ago – a decade after purchasing vineyard property in Niagara. In fact, owning his own Ontario winery (and then a second one) was technically never supposed to happen – at least not before Burgundy. “My first trip to Burgundy was in 1993 and the 1990 vintages were just coming out,” says Tawse, fondly reminiscing. “I fell in love with the place. I wanted to buy a vineyard there but it was just impossible at the time. So my sights were re-directed towards Ontario, even though my initial instincts were that it wasn’t going to work because I didn’t think that Ontario was capable of producing very good wine at the time.” Tawse, who has a considerable interest in geology, began commissioning studies on the soils along the Niagara Escarpment and came to realize that they were very much like Burgundy. “Outside of Burgundy, I think Ontario has the best soils for terroir grapes,” he explains. “This was so important to discover because all the flavours and personality of our wines come from our soils.” So in 2000, Tawse
took the leap and bought a vineyard, and not just anywhere. It had to be in the Niagara Bench area because of – you guessed it – the soil content. “I wasn’t interested in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The soils are sandy there (well suited for Bordeaux style varietals). I was interested in the limestone soils along the escarpment, perfect for growing pinot noir and chardonnay – the classic Burgundy varietals.” Finding the right terroir was fundamentally important to Tawse because “it’s the soul of the vineyard and of the wine. The whole idea is to produce wines that represent a very specific terroir, or that sense of place, and do justice by it. When I found out about the soils along the Niagara Escarpment, I knew there was something there. I wanted to make the best wines possible, really bringing out the complexities of our terroir.” Tawse admits that his wines aren’t for everyone. “Terroir wines are really for wine-lovers who have a palate and can understand the levels and flavour profiles.” Tawse is referencing those “wine geeks” that really know their wine. “Someone who has taken the time to appreciate and understand the difference terroir makes. So maybe that’s two to three per cent of the buying population? I’m chasing those people.” When discussing his penchant for a qualitydriven product and why his prices need to be what they are, Tawse wants people to understand that “it’s not about buying better equipment. It’s about your commitment to the vineyard. I find that the ones who spend a lot on fancy pieces of equipment are also the ones that spend the least amount of time in their vineyard. My wines are priced to recoup the investment I’ve put into each bottle. Farming a conventional vineyard costs about $4,000 per acre, whereas farming a biodynamic vineyard (such as the ones I own) costs $10,000 per acre. I’m also not harvesting five tonnes of fruit per acre; I’m getting between two and three depending on the varietal. So I get fewer grapes and I’m paying a lot more money in farming costs.” Yet despite those costs, it’s worth it for Tawse, and his community of wine geeks are grateful that he feels that way. “I don’t think we could possibly do anything better than what we’re doing right now. As soon as you start to cut corners, the quality goes down. So we strive to maintain this course we’ve put ourselves on. I think we’re at this stage where we’re just waiting for the vines to get older so that we can really showcase our potential.”
Tawse 2016 Tintern Rd. Pinot Noir
The Tintern Road site is a six acre vineyard that was planted in 2010 atop the Niagara Escarpment. Moray Tawse believes it will one day be the crown jewel of his portfolio, saying “pinot noir vines need to be 30 years old before you really start to see what they’re truly capable of producing in terms of complexity in wine. I think Tintern Road will be our best site in 15 to 20 years. It’s showing some really good potential right now and it’s neck and neck with the pinot coming from our Cherry Avenue Vineyard.” The wine is very aromatic and there’s a lot of depth here. Rich and complex, Tintern will indeed be one to follow. ($44.95)
Domaine Tawse 2015 Savigny-lès-Beaune – Les Lavières 1er Cru
This single vineyard selection from Tawse’s Burgundy label is made biodynamically. “The energy in the wines that you get from biodynamics is what makes them refreshing and ripe, really separating them from the pack,” explains Tawse. The “Lavières” name comes from “lava” which defines the type of limestone soils within the vineyard block. “I love the Burgundian terroir – the fact that each village is different, giving way to different wines”. This one displays a discreet minerality on the palate, layered with subtle earthiness and a dark fruity core. ($64)
Redstone 2015 Syrah
A gold medal winner at the National Wine Awards in 2018, this syrah is organically and biodynamically farmed and is structured to age well into the mid-20s. It’s beautifully expressive with what Tawse calls “that lively hallmark Ontario acidity.” Says Tawse: “The wines at Redstone have their own identity. They taste different. The hard red clay soils make a difference. I love northern Rhone wines too. So I am very pleased with our Redstone syrah because it’s so different than anything you’d expect to get from Ontario.” ($39.95) GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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at home
Andrea McMullen WITH
By Dawn Ritchie | photo by Mike Guilbault
“
I’m trying to bring Toronto north,” says designer, renovator, artist and home décor retailer, Andrea McMullen, who picked Friday Harbour Resort as the location of her newest interior design boutique. “I’m trying to get people to understand that next level of design,” she says. “I’m for sure, more cutting edge than others, and I’m always trying to get people to step out of their comfort zones, whether it’s furniture or art or whatever the case may be.” The official ribbon cutting for ADM Design and Décor took place on July 12th, but the boutique has been opened since May. This is the second showroom for the ADM brand. A 5000-square foot retail operation was launched in Newmarket in January and McMullen reveals that she has bold plans to roll out even more locations in her “chain” very soon. Retail is the latest division of her booming design and renovation business, which was founded in 1988, but her work also includes art consultations and complete home services from stocking
bars at resort properties to staging homes for sale. Bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, painting, flooring, furniture, art, rugs, lighting, and décor are all in her wheelhouse. McMullen manages a staff and crew of more than twenty who have managed to knock off seventeen “complete guts and redos” in a single summer. How did you get your start in design? I was asked to do a mural for a design firm in Newmarket—Diane Hill Interiors. I was 19 at the time and it was for a charitable event for The Canadian Cancer Society. I took it from painting a bed to look like a train coming out of a wall to painting this entire room. I had done a three-dimensional roof on the inside of the room and then painted it to look like a full train station. I got a ton of magazine articles on that. Lots of radio and TV promotion on it because it was quite fabulous. How did that translate into design? I got into faux finishes after that and did work for a big design firm, Brian Gluckstein, way back in the day. My faux finishes were popular enough
that I would sell my samples to Crown Wallpaper and different companies that reproduced them into wallpaper. I was making these rooms that were so unique and different that I started helping them buy accessories and different pieces that would go with the room. Then I went to the International Academy of Merchandising and Design and started doing custom countertops in Rosedale and the Bridal Path with a friend of mine. There were a lot of magazine articles with House and Home, so it really took off quite quickly. Then from there I went to OCAD and I took Heritage Design and traveled through Europe and studied Interior Design. Budapest, Hungary, England, Paris. I started a painting company and then got more involved in construction and renovations and then we started building. I’m constantly growing and constantly aspiring to do more. What are the earmarks of an Andrea McMullen design? I like to start my rooms with the art or the rugs and work backward from there, whereas a lot of
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Kyla Vavala
independently owned and operated.
“A Name that Friends Recommend ”
Sales Representative
KylaVavala.ca
Call or or Text: Text: 705-796-6913 705-796-6913 Call 4 RF 9’ RO N
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W AT E
waterfront and has a fabulous layout with over 3000 sqft, open concept main floor with loads of windows that overlooking the fabulous view! Enjoy the sunset from the wrap around deck or the covered patio overlooking your
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23 GRANDVAIEW CRESCENT 75’ of waterfront & a million dollar
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view of Lake Simcoe! This home includes an over-sized boat house w marine rail, dock, patios, tiered gardens & balconies overlooking the water! Features 2 custom kitchens, Master suite w walk out to private balcony, bright above grade lower level that could easily be used as an in-law suite & a backyard was 4.1 2.3 meant for entertaining and enjoying MLS 30745119 Lake Simcoe! Only 15 min to Barrie. Contact Kyla for a full list of features!
19 FOREST HILL DRIVE Custom-Built Bungalow on over 3 acres! Quality ICF construction, 2 stacked 3 car garages, 4 spacious bedrooms & 4 baths, in floor radiant heating, hardwood, granite & 5 walkouts. Back yard oasis with fenced inground pool, hot tub & 4 4 pool house! Contact me for MLS 30740478 a full list of features. G 6 A CA RA R G E!
2 WILSON STREET Welcome to this exclusive waterfront home
W AT E
people start with the opposite, they start with their paint colour which is the last thing that you choose. So that’s a really big part of what I try to do with my clients, is to give them direction, a fiveyear plan, for example, for those who don’t want to do it all at one time. I’m not that designer who wants to come in and create a bizarre and wild look for their portfolio because there are tons of designers who do that. For me it’s all about form and function. I want it to make sense. I want it to work but it needs to be beautiful at the same time. Your own home is both beautiful and very livable. What is your favourite room? That’s really hard, I love the design elements of my bar room. I absolutely love my cabinet style, asymmetrical, a lot of horizontal lines. I had some really difficult design issues that I had to resolve, but once I got it, it was like a lightbulb went off. I figured it out and was so excited, so I love that room for that reason. I also love the grandeur of my great room, because the sun pours in. I have nineteen windows around the top and it has twelve foot panels across the bottom, so I love that. But I live in my bedroom and my master bathroom. I really do. I love those rooms. I love to be in them. What’s the value in a homeowner hiring a designer? I always tell my clients, it costs the same amount of money to paint your house the wrong colour. That’s a real simplification, but if you get a professional to help you make some choices you’re going to get something better. Are there new colour trends coming in? I’m doing a lot of black and white right now. Black trim, black accents. It’s like that little black dress, it’s always in style, always classy. I’m not talking about fifties black and white. I’m talking about penthouse style black and white, with gold accents and maybe some blush walls. I’ve been trying to bring in blush for, oh my gosh, fifteen years, and finally you can find it in fabrics. It’s becoming more mainstream. And the jewel colours. I know that blue is becoming really popular, so you’re seeing a lot of blue kitchens. I try to take that and change it a little from what people are doing. So instead of a navy blue, we can go with a robin’s egg blue. You just have to make sure that you make the rest of the place work with it. Anything can be tasteful, just as long as you complete it, finish it. In the city, I am known as The Finisher. ADM Design and Décor is now open at Friday Harbour Resort. www.admdesign.ca.
MLS 30747270
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
www.hmhlawoffices.com
info@hmhlawoffices.com GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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noteworthy
THE ENDURING COOL OF VINYL & CDS By Patti Vipond
W
hen CTV Barrie needed a retro rock aficionado to talk on air about the Rolling Stones concert at Burl’s Creek in June, they wisely contacted BJ’s Records & Nostalgia. With over 50,000 vintage and reissued vinyl records and CDs in stock, the renowned downtown Barrie shop was the natural choice. Sales clerk Elaine Bayliss filled viewers in about the Stones’ musical history. Since about 2010, interest in vinyl LPs and 45s has rocketed but vintage albums have always been on the radar of shop owner Bill Loiselle. “Vinyl is making a comeback as young people discover the warm sound and tactile experience of holding an album cover,” says Loiselle. “But we never stopped selling it. In the last four years, we’ve notice the demographic getting younger. At one time, it was mainly men in their 50s who were buying vinyl. Now, it’s being bought by many people in their 20s. Handling and playing vinyl records is a new thing for them. But I also think whenever technology goes a little too far, some people have the tendency of stepping back. Carrying thousand of songs around on your iPod is one thing, but it’s not the same as sitting down and listening to an album for an evening. There’s more of a connection.” On BJ’s main floor is one of Ontario’s largest in-house selections of vintage and reissued records, CDs, memorabilia, and collectable magazines and posters. LPs are
designated by categories such as Psychedelic Rock and Icons of Rock. Downstairs, used stereo equipment are ready to spin platters. About half of the store’s stock comes through estate sales and people selling private collections. The shop buys and trades vintage LPs, CDs and classic memorabilia from the public with no appointment necessary. Other inventory is bought from distributors of brand new reissued albums in the U.S. and Europe. On the store’s Facebook page, customers can regularly view the latest LPs to arrive and ask to have a hold put on ones they want to purchase. In terms of customers’ preferences in music, Loiselle says people have a broad variety of favourites. He is often asked for advice by those wanting to get into retro LPs, but don’t know where to start. “Sometimes people have an idea of what they like, or want something similar to what they have heard before,” says Loiselle. “Basically, we act as a resource. We have people asking advice about what to buy all the time and we are more than happy to steer them in the right direction.” All magazines in BJ’s are vintage, with some dating from the 1920s. Most rock era publications are from the ‘50s and ‘60s. The store’s posters are a mix of new and original, such as the unused Janis Joplin poster from 1968.
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live | noteworthy
Looking for the fountain of Youth? Now you can capture your glow, indulge in a Red Light Therapy or Cocoon session and enjoy the best that Sunset Tan’s Medical Aesthetics has to offer.
TriLipo Body Contouring “A lot of the older posters were found in a warehouse in Ottawa,” says Loiselle. “Somebody locked them up in the early 1970s and never went back. They sat in storage for decades and are in great shape.” One of the most expensive memorabilia items the store has stocked was an original 1966 batteryoperated Batmobile in the box, priced at $1000. Old tin toys from Japan and sealed model kits from the 1960s are also valuable finds. For Loiselle, the choice between listening to an LP or a CD isn’t an issue. “For me personally, I’m just happy to have the music,” he says. “If I find it on an LP, that’s great and if it’s on a CD that’s fine with me too. But for most people who come through the door, it has to be one or the other. We have a loyal clientele, no doubt about that. We see second generation customer come in now.” BJ’s Records & Nostalgia is located at 13 Clapperton St. in Barrie. Open Tues.-Fri. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Sat. 11a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Sun. and Mon. For more information, call 705-737-3031, email bjrecordsnostalgia@yahoo.ca or visit www.bjrecords.com.
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2019 NAUTILUS AWD300A
AVAILABLE 360-DEGREE CAMERA THE LINCOLN SIGNATURE GRILLE
53,516
$
Stk# NT19152
Offer includes freight and air tax. Offer excludes taxes. AWD300A model.
2019 MKC AWD300A
ADAPTIVE SUSPENSION AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
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BARRIE’S LINCOLN DEALERSHIP
379 BAYFIELD STREET, BARRIE, ON | 705.728.5558 | BAYFIELDLINCOLN.CA
Vehicle(s) may be shown with optional equipment. Dealer may sell or lease for less. Limited time offers. Offers only valid at participating dealers. Retail offers may be cancelled or changed at any time without notice. See your Lincoln Dealer for complete details or call the Lincoln Client Relationship Centre at 1-800-387-9333. For factory orders, a customer may either take advantage of eligible raincheckable Lincoln retail customer promotional incentives/offers available at the time of vehicle factory order or time of vehicle delivery, but not both or combinations thereof. Retail offers not combinable with any CPA/GPC or Daily Rental incentives, the Commercial Upfit Program or the Commercial Fleet Incentive Program (CFIP). * Lincoln Employee Pricing (“Employee Pricing”) is in effect from July 3, 2019 to September 30, 2019 (the “Program Period”), on the purchase or lease of a new and available 2019 Lincoln vehicle (excluding Limo/Livery models). Employee Pricing refers to A-Plan pricing ordinarily available to Ford of Canada employees (excluding any Unifor-/CAW-negotiated programs). The new vehicle must be delivered or factory-ordered from your participating Lincoln Dealer during the Program Period. Employee Pricing is not combinable with CPA, GPC, CFIP, Daily Rental Allowance and A/X/Z/D/F-Plan programs
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World’s most expensive tea
The most expensive tea in the world, called Ceylon Golden Tips by PMD Tea, is now being served in London, England at The Rubens Palace Lounge in The Palace hotel overlooking The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace. For £500, you can order the pot of tea during its Royal Afternoon Tea where gold tweezers will be used to pick the leaves and weigh them with precision, then infused with mineral water and poured from a special silver tea set with white glove service. Talk about luxe service. Rubenshotel.com
Airbnb goes high end
Airbnb Luxe offers pristine, expertly designed homes with luxury amenities, services, and a dedicated trip designer. Along with “destination” accommodations like the Fleming Villa in Jamaica, where Ian Fleming wrote his James Bond novels, the platform offers luxury homes in cities like London, Los Angeles, Milan, Paris and Austin. A dedicated trip designer will craft a five-star stay, even down to securing a table at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Airbnb.ca/luxury
Luxe living on wheels
EarthRoamer designs and builds supremely luxury expedition vehicles. Its two models, the LTS and the more spacious HD, are hand built in Colorado. They enable adventurers to travel far off the beaten path in unparalleled safety and comfort, without the need for water, sewer or electrical hook ups. The waitlist for the EarthRoamer LTS is about 10 months from time of order with prices starting at $490,000 USD. The lead time for the HD is mid 2020 for delivery. Earthroamer.com
Club Med in Quebec
The first Club Med mountain resort in Canada is slated to open December 2020 in Charlevoix, Quebec. Inspired by the region’s beauty and dynamic character, the resort’s design is reflective of the surrounding landscapes, colours and climate. With its inspiration mirroring traditional Québec culture, Club Med designed the facilities’ stone walls, wooden siding and terraces to capture the essence of authentic local culture while adding its own modern twist. Clubmed.ca/l/quebec-charlevoix
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Sometimes you just have to eat the cake, or open that bottle of champagne that has been lingering on the shelf for two years. And sometimes you just have to travel to a place where gourmet dining and world class wine drinking are the primary activities. Go ahead. Visit Bordeaux, on the southwest coast of France, city of foie gras and chateaubottled clarets. You can diet tomorrow, but indulgence for a brief time is good for the soul, if not the waistline.
Bordeaux
City of Earthly Delights By Barbara Ramsay Orr
It was the gastronomic allure that brought me to Bordeaux and led me to the Rue Gourmonde in the old part of town. On the windowsill of my hotel room, there was a yellow duckie. It was just one of the odd little touches of whimsy in the Maison Fredon, a small hotel on Rue Porte de la Monnaie. But it wasn’t the décor that dictated the choice of this stylish hotel - it was the fact that it is directly across the street from La Tupina. I could see the restaurant’s blue and white awnings from my window, underneath which one of the waiters was enjoying a smoke before service began. A less than a minute stroll had me sitting at a table in front of the fireplace. La Tupina is a tribute to all things traditionally Bordelais, and the fireplace in the centre of the restaurant is not just for show. It is used to cook most of the main dishes - roasted chicken, duck, lamb, perfectly aged beef and local black pig. Aesthetically the space is so satisfying – wooden boxes piled high GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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roam | bordeaux with fresh radishes and herbs, the open hearth fire where the evening’s chickens rotate slowly, crisp blue and white tablecloths. It feels like a place you would like to come back to, again and again. If I lived here, this would be my local. The meal began with a starter of country paté with little sour cornichons and excellent bread, fat crisp radishes and a chunk of cold butter, then a thick grilled heritage pork chop with a Bernaise sauce and frites cooked in duck fat. There was, of course, a robust Haut-Médoc to go with the main dish. Dessert was a simple plate of canelés, the little fluted pastries that are a traditional local sweet, served with hazelnut ice cream and small aromatic strawberries. The food was authentic, robust and devotedly traditional. Just a few blocks from Maison Fredon is the venerable Marché des Capucins, a traditional farmer’s market with stalls so beautifully arranged they could be art. There are tins of the local foie gras, for which Bordeaux is famous, fresh fish, cheese stalls, bread stores and tables mounded with seasonal vegetables. Both inside and outside the market, there are clusters of casual cafes servMarché des Capucins
Anticipation is half the fun Whether it’s an occasion, a gift, or a delicious treat, the anticipation of something can be just as exciting as the experience. For those with a move to Allandale Station planned, the anticipation is almost over and your amazing new lifestyle is about to begin. Allandale Station opens in October. Don’t miss out. Call us at 705-721-7227 to schedule a visit or check us out online at: AllandaleStation.ca
Presentation Centre 393 Yonge St., Unit #2, Barrie (Corner of Little Avenue and Yonge Street) 705-721-7227 • AllandaleStation.ca Independent Living • Assisted Living 72n GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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ing fresh oysters and mussels. I got to the market early to be ahead of the crowds, and treated myself to a ‘dune Blanche’, a rich puff pastry filled with cream mousse, and coffee at Bistro Poulette. A short tram ride away I found the Cité du Vin, the new museum of wine, which struck me as Disneyland for wine lovers. It is a museum, a wine bar, a wine-rich restaurant, a multi-sensory wine experience, and a totally immersive journey into the culture and history of wine, from Man’s first sip of fermented liquid to the latest trends in winemaking, from all areas of the globe. It’s ambitious in reach and completely and delightfully entertaining, whether you are a wine connoisseur or an infrequent sipper. Situated on the left side of the Garonne River, in the Bacalan district of Bordeaux, this architecturally dramatic museum is more than a shrine to wine. It is designed to be an immersive journey, an entertaining ‘degustation’ of wine history and its place in our culture. There are twenty two different modules, all interactive and controlled by hand held devices that give the visitor the ability to activate the many layers of sound, sight and even smell that each module can present. Le Cité du Vin, Bordeaux
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roam | bordeaux
CHEF RAMSAY'S PRESSOIR D'ARGENT, NAMED FOR THE SOLID SILVER CHRISTOFLE LOBSTER PRESS THAT TAKES PRIDE OF PLACE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE HOTEL, IS A SERIOUS DINING EXPERIENCE
PHOTO CREDIT: INTERCONTINENTAL GRAND HOTELS PHOTO CREDIT: INTERCONTINENTAL GRAND HOTELS
Top photo: Chef Gordon Ramsay poses with the Christofle lobster press in his restaurant, Pressoir D'Argent, located inside the Intercontinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel (bottom photo).
Fine wine cries out for great food, and Bordeaux delivers on that count. One of the best restaurants in the city is the two Michelin-starred Gordon Ramsay restaurant, on the top floor of the Grand Hotel Intercontinental. The elegant Belle Epoque style Intercontinental Grand is the perfect venue for the over-thetop exuberance of Chef Gordon Ramsay. Directly across the square from the hotel is the Grand Opera House and the busy and upscale section of the city known as the Golden Triangle. But inside the Intercontinental, there is no hint of crowds or bustle. Chef Ramsay’s Pressoir D’Argent, named for the solid silver Christofle lobster press that takes pride of place at the entrance, is a serious dining room. The space was dimly lit, hushed, and beautiful, with white table cloths, sparkling silver and pale orchids reflecting light in the shadows. At the table, the servers placed silver domed plates on goldrimmed chargers, exchanged glances and in perfect coordination, removed the domes. Each course was a fusion of ceremony, flavour and design - gorgeous to look at and perfectly prepared. The meal began with fresh seasonal asparagus, on three separate plates, with three different sauces and three matching wines. Asparagus is always tricky to match with wine, but the three white bordeaux wines were exactly right. There followed turbot mariniere with seaweed and frigola, plump little mussels from nearby Arcachon, a fat white veal chop and roasted quail. A trio of sorbets, served in a circular container that released a cloud of frosted air when the dome was lifted, preceded desert, a chocolate and hazelnut delight. At the conclusion of the dinner, I was presented with a box of freshly baked madelines, a tasty grace note. There is more, of course, to Bordeaux, than food and wine. After Paris, this medieval city has the highest number of preserved historical buildings
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roam | bordeaux
Chateau Palmer is a winery in Bordeaux.
River Garonne, Bordeaux
of any city in France. The old quarter of the city, with its narrow streets, quaint squares and winding alleyways, is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. You can work off dinner by exploring on foot to appreciate the well-preserved architecture, and to enjoy a glass of good Bordeaux at one of the small wine bars. Visit the Place de la Bourse, built around the Three Graces fountain. Be sure to see the Mirroir d’Eau reflecting pool, the Grosse Cloche, one of the oldest belfries in France, and Port Cailhau, the royal entrance to the old city, built in 1494. The city’s Musee de Beaux-Arts is one of the best art museums in France and there are numerous leafy parks. Day trips to visit the legendary wineries of Bordeaux, like Margeaux, Petrus, Latour or Lafite Rothschild can be easily arranged. The resort town of Arcachon is close by too, as is the wine village of Saint Emilion. Active visitors can rent kayaks and paddle along the Garonne River. But don’t be afraid to indulge in what is Bordeaux’s greatest treasure – its food and wine. You can hit the gym when you get home. While in Bordeaux, eat the cake!
If You Go.
WHERE TO STAY Intercontinental Bordeaux- Le Grand Hotel. This five-star hotel sits across from the Grand Theatre in the heart of the city, adjacent to the Golden Triangle, the city’s the luxury shopping district. Intercontinential.com/bordeaux Maison Fredon. Latupina.com/en/maison-d-hotes-fredonbordeaux WHERE TO DINE Pressoir D’Argent Gordon Ramsay’s belle époque style super elegant restaurant offers challenging and exciting dishes with expert service. Intercontinental Bordeaux - Le Grand Hotel, 2-5 Place de la Comedie La Tupina, 6 rue Porte de la Monnaie Le Cité du Vin, Esplanade de Pontac, 134 Quai de Bacalan
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CONSUMERS’ CHOICE • TOP CHOICE READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
705.721.5800 I skinsational.ca • 65 Cedar Point Drive, Unit 801, Barrie, ON 77
2019-09-06 5:03 PM
weekender
SPARKLING HILL RESORT
ROMANCE
AND
SWAROVSKI
IN
BRITISH
COLUMBIA
By Danielle Leonard | Photography by Sparkling Hill Resort
A GUIDE TO THE GREAT STUFF
BRING:
Running shoes to hike along one of the Predator Ridge trails offering stunning views.
TREAT YOURSELF:
Spa treatments are only open to guests of the resort, so be sure to book one of its indulgent services while you can.
DON’T MISS:
The steam and sauna room for a unique wellness experience you won’t find anywhere else.
Sparkling crystals, opulent spa treatments and a stunning vista of mountains at every view are three good reasons to experience British Columbia’s world-class destination resort, Sparkling Hill. Located just outside Kelowna in the Okanagan region of the southern interior of British Columbia, it’s a bit off the beaten track for Ontarians who tend to beeline to Vancouver or Whistler when appeasing their wanderlust for Canada’s most western province. Sparkling Hill is a luxury resort perched atop Predator Ridge – a granite bluff surrounded by a stunning mountain ranges overlooking Lake Okanagan. The setting, alone, is enough reason to book a stay here but there’s more. Its architecture and design is the brainchild of Gernot Langes-Swarovski. Yes, that Swarovski. The patriarch of the Swarovski family dreamed of bringing the European concept of whole body wellness to Canada and, no surprise, to adorn the space with his empire’s signature bling. The resort boasts 3.5 million Swarovski crystals placed throughout the space. I was intrigued (I do like my bling) and decided this was the perfect setting for a romantic weekend for two.
Breathtaking scenery
head south for warmer climes, or Europe for cultural experiences. Suffice to say, once I arrived at Sparkling Hill on a warm breezy summer day, I was struck by the beauty of this part of the country and swelled with Canadian pride. From the peak of the ridge where the hotel is located, the view of majestic mountains rising above a beautiful lake on one side, and miles of verdant landscape (including a world class golf course) on the other, was awe inspiring. The spectacular views continued inside the lobby with its enormous floor to ceiling windows. Massive chandeliers hovering above set the stage for the crystal-embedded design prevalent throughout the resort. I was smitten to observe a couple in white robes and slippers at the front reception. The hotel strongly encourages guests to wear the supplied robes throughout the resort, as well as during breakfast and lunch service. I knew, right then, that this was my kind of place. One might say the panoramic views are as much a part of the hotel’s décor as the crystals. As we walked into our suite, we faced a wall comprised completely of glass, offering a postcard-perfect view of the mountains and lake. The bathtub is situated next to the window (yep, right out in the open); I was happy to soak in it later that evening.
I haven’t been to British Columbia since I was seven years old and, like many of us living in Ontario, a trip I spa, you spa out west is a big investment in time, planning and money. No visit to Sparkling Hill is complete without indulging Rather than traipse across my own country, I’ve opted to in its luxurious spa treatments. The spa is 40,000 square
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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
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AS WE WALKED INTO OUR SUITE, WE FACED A WALL COMPRISED ENTIRELY OF GLASS, OFFERING A POSTCARD-PERFECT VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINS AND LAKE. feet of space offering an extensive list of services ranging from massages to cold chamber treatments, as well as naturopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture and botanical medicine. For the more adventurous guests, its signature Cryo Cold Chamber is an option. The spa boasts it’s the only place in North America to offer a three chamber approach wherein guests move through three cold chambers that grow progressively colder (the third chamber is -110C) to aid in the relief of various ailments. While I’m certain there are many health benefits to this approach, I opt for the couple’s massage treatment. There are four couples-based treatments on offer at the spa. Our selection, Empress Sissi, includes a hot luxurious bath followed by side-by-side mas-
sages. With a little pleading, I was able to coax my partner into wearing his robe and slippers through the hotel. He didn’t have much choice, anyways. The spa does not allow guests to enter its premises in city clothes (gym clothes are the exception to use the fitness facilities). The bath was bubbly, as was the champagne, when we arrived for our treatment. The half hour luxurious bath in a candle lit room was the perfect preparation for our one-hour side-by-side massages. When it ended (always too quickly) we left the treatment room feeling relaxed and pleased with our experience.
Get steamy Next stop was the steam and sauna room, compli-
mentary to all resort guests. It’s one of the most unique experiences of the hotel. There are eight themed steam and sauna rooms: aqua meditation, rose, salt, crystal, herbal, panorama, Finnish and igloo. Here, my partner and I hung our robes to join the many other guests (mostly couples, like us) wandering from room to room in bathing suits. My favourite was the rose steam room for its intoxicating floral scent. The rooms range in temperature based on European spa principles that encourage alternating between hot, cold and rest for maximum health benefits. After experimenting with the rooms, we headed to the outdoor infinity pool. By this time, the temperature outside had cooled. I was relieved to discover the pool’s temperature was comfortably warm, so I could enjoy a relaxing, rather than refreshing (read: cold), dip in the water.
Dining Sparkling Hill Resort offers farm-to-table dishes at both its on-site restaurants. Our experience at its PeakFine Restaurant certainly corroborated that. The nightly soup was fresh and perfectly seasoned. Its Caesar salad was delicious (not too creamy) as was the cauliflower fritto – fried and spiced cauliflower florets with curried cashews and mint yogurt. Both nights, I thoroughly enjoyed my seafood entrees. The service was impeccable in a formal yet welcoming atmosphere. In addition, the complimentary breakfast provided a nice variety of hot and cold options, which we enjoyed each morning along with multiple coffee top-ups.
Getting there Sparkling Hill Resort is about a 30-minute drive from Kelowna Airport. Fortunately, there are plenty of flight options from Toronto to Kelowna. Most include a brief stopover in Calgary or Edmonton but non-stop routes are available if you’re flexible with departure times. A weekend at Sparkling Hill offers just enough time to fully immerse yourself in its uniquely luxurious experience while indulging in grown-up fun. All the ingredients are there to reconnect with your romantic partner: gorgeous natural setting, spa treatments for two, playful experiences, fine dining, nearby trails for hand-in-hand strolls and enough opulence to feel like this is, indeed, a special time together..
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roam
LU URY
A D V E N T U R E S
Exploring possibilities for curated experiences around the corner, around the country & around the world By Barbara Ramsay Orr
Near: Gourmet pop-up dinners Chef Tobias Pohl-Weary is the man who seduced diners with his locally-anchored and creative menus at the now closed Red Canoe in Burlington. In a new incarnation, Chef Pohl-Weary is orchestrating gourmet pop-up dinners through the Blue Dinghy Kitchen Series in unique locations, with his signature insistence on quality and perfection. The most recent dinner took place on the top floor of Budds’ Imported Cars in Oakville. Titled The Decadence or is it Gluttony popup, it featured Australian Kobe beef, fresh shrimp from the Gaspé, escabeche of swordfish, oysters with mango and creme fraiche – 10 courses, with wine pairings and tastings of Macallan single malts and Hibiki Suntory whisky. It sold out almost instantly. The chef partners with other chefs, local wineries, locations and distilleries. There is usually live music, and one event included artists who created pieces in real time during dinner.
Future pop-ups will explore some of the other deadly sins envy perhaps and will happen in unanticipated places. Past locations have included The Cotton Factory in Hamilton, the Burlington Art Centre and Nickel Brook Brew Co. Events are works-in-progress, with clues leaked through social media as new partners, new dishes or new entertainment acts join the menu. Pohl-Weary’s main business is his catering arm, Topowe Boutique Events and Catering, which engineers no-hassle events at the gourmet high end. He has designed dinners for intimate groups as well as parties for two hundred and brings his alwaysevolving culinary aesthetic to every event he plans –don’t look for any menu packages or standard dishes. Every event is a unique work of art. Follow the chef on social media to learn about the pop-up dinners, @blue.dinghy.itchen.series on Instagram and visit www.topowevents.com for catering details.
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Far: El Paso
This storied Texas city is in West Texas, on the borders of both Mexico and New Mexico. El Paso is at heart a cowboy town, no longer the lawless one of Marty Robbin’s heartbreaking ballad of the same name, but still a place that wears its Stetson proudly. And its boots. At Lucchese Bootmakers, you can buy a pair of real cowboy boots from this exclusive boot maker who has shod every president, as well as celebrities like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. A pair will set you back more than a few hundred dollars, but will last a lifetime. Touring Concordia Cemetery, resting place of gunfighters, Buffalo soldiers and Texas Rangers, is a lesson in the history of the old West. In contrast, the El Paso Museum of Art holds over 7,000 works of art, from the Byzantine era to Canaletto, as well as contemporary local artists. The legendary Hotel Paso del Norte, where rumour has it, Pancho Villa and his men smoked cigars on the terrace and watched the Mexican revolutionary skirmishes across the border one mile away, is undergoing a complete renovation. It will reopen in November 2019 as a Marriott Autograph Collection property, but with all its historic details preserved. A short trip takes you to the other-worldly terrain of White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, where fine white gypsum sand dunes roll away to the horizon, looking like snowbanks. Hike the Organ Mountains, try out the best chili dishes in old Mesilla, tour the Chili Pepper Institute in Las Cruces or follow the Mission Trail to get more of the old West history. For something forward looking, visit Sir Richard Bransom’s Spaceport America. El Paso is a multi-layered place, where past, present and future meet, and where the tacos are dangerously good.
Farther: Glasgow Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland’s western Lowlands, is Scotland’s largest city. It’s rare that someone sends you to a cemetery to experience a city, but in the case of Glasgow, the necropolis really does give you an encompassing view of the city and its history. The cemetery is a testament to the wealthy industrialists who made Glasgow the bustling ‘Second City of the Empire’. It overlooks the river, the city and the massive stone ediface of St. Mungo’s Cathedral, the oldest in Scotland. But that industrial city has evolved into a new entity, smart, sharp, energetic and culturally cutting edge. As I walk down from the cathedral, I’m stopped in my tracks by the massive mural of a man whispering to a small bird perched on his finger. The city has become famous for its street art. Buchanan Street is pedestrianized and lined with upmarket shops and cafés, spilling over onto neighbouring Argyle and Sauchiehall Street. There are museums like the Hunterian, well worth a visit, and the city’s Victorian and art nouveau architecture remains well preserved. Glasgow buzzes as a musical launchpad, with places like Oran Mor, (Gaelic for ‘big song’) and King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut hosting some of the best bands in the country. Visit the Willow Tea Room, fashioned in the style created by Charles Rennie Macintosh for a traditional high tea, and party in Ashton Lane where bars, restaurants and galleries stay open till the ‘wee’ hours. There are many excellent hotels in the city, but consider a stay in Crossbasket Castle Hotel, about a twenty minute train ride from the centre of Glasgow in the small town of Balantyre. It’s a 17th century castle transformed into a five-star luxury hotel. A bit of the old, bit of the new! www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/glasgow/see-do/ www.crossbasketcastle.com/
visitelpaso.com www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/elpak-hotel-paso-del-norte-autograph-collection/
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Thank You for nominating
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Discover
It’s peaceful, it’s great exercise and it’s fun. No wonder so many Canadians are rediscovering the simple joy of getting out on the water.
BY CRAIG RITCHIE
S
ometimes the simple approach is the best one, and that’s absolutely true when it comes to enjoying time on the water. Being able to abandon the complications of daily life on shore while escaping to a more peaceful place is a big reason why so many Canadians enjoy boating – and increasingly, with little more than a paddle. It is impossible not to notice the growing popularity of paddle sports over the past several years. While serious canoe trippers and white-water paddlers have always been part of Ontario’s boating landscape, over the past few years recreational kayaking has positively soared in popularity. It’s easy to understand why – apart from providing a great upper body workout and a terrific way to cast off stress, the simple act of paddling a kayak is just plain fun, which is why we’re seeing more and more of them on our rivers and lakes each year. Kayaks hold a lot of appeal. The double-bladed paddles
used in kayaking make it a lot easier to maintain a straight course, and some people find them more comfortable to use than the single-bladed paddle of a canoe. Modern kayaks typically provide more amenities than canoes, like dry-storage compartments for your truck keys, cell phone, wallet and other essentials, and they can be a bit easier to transport. That, in turn, means they’re more likely to be taken out for an early morning cruise before work. While kayaks can trace their history back more than 4,000 years, the current surge in kayaking reflects the benefits of some seriously modern technology. Lighter-weight materials have made today’s kayaks easy for anyone to handle, and they require no maintenance whatsoever. Best of all, they’re inexpensive for what you get, with some models starting at just a couple of hundred dollars. That makes them ideal for introducing the kids to the water, since you can outfit an entire family of paddlers without breaking the bank.
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The stealth afforded by a kayak allows anglers to quietly sneak into shallow bays where huge bass and pike hide out, without making all the noise of an approaching boat. Kayak styles Modern kayaks come in two basic styles: sitin kayaks, and sit-on-top varieties. Sit-in kayaks are the traditional style, and remain the hands-down favourite among serious paddlers who value their speed and maneuverability. Because you sit in the boat rather than on top of it, your centre of gravity is lower, providing a bit more stability when executing sharp turns. Because they also sit lower to the water surface, these styles are also far less prone to being blown around in the wind – especially when compared with a canoe or a row boat. Sit-on-top kayaks are a newer style and quite popular with anglers, since they allow easy access to stored gear. Because your weight is situated off the water, sit-on-top kayaks are often wider than other styles in order to maintain stability. They’re great in the summer, since you can dangle your legs in the water to cool off, or simply slide overboard for a quick swim if you get too warm. Both sit-in and sit-on-top kayaks are built from a wide range of different materials, each with their own advantages. Inexpensive plastic kayaks are generally constructed from two pieces – the top and bottom shells – which are screwed or glued together to form a rigid hull. While this approach allows these kayaks to be very light in
weight, they’re not as strong as one-piece hulls created from rotomoulded compounds. The typical trade-off with one-piece styles is greater weight. Featherweight one-piece kayaks are available, but these tend to be very expensive. If you’re going to be transporting the kayak to and from the water on the top of your car, weight can be an important consideration. Both sit-in and sit-on-top kayaks come in both single-seat and tandem models, with the single-seaters generally being more popular due to their lighter weight and lower cost. Selecting the right kayak for you comes down to deciding how you will use it. If your aim is to go exploring along the lakeshore, longer, narrower kayaks are easy to paddle and fast in the water. But they’re not quite as stable at rest, so they might not be the best choice for fishing or wildlife photography. That’s where shorter, wider hulls tend to really shine. Fishing kayaks Many anglers believe kayaks are the ultimate fishing boat. There are literally dozens of kayaks on the market designed specifically for fishing, complete with rod holders, tackle storage compartments, and the ability to accept modern electronics like fish finders, GPS and even electric trolling motors. Of course all the extra gear means more
weight, but serious anglers don’t care. The stealth afforded by a kayak allows anglers to quietly sneak into shallow bays where huge bass and pike hide out, without making all the noise of an approaching boat. Kayak fishing has grown so popular that a number of big-money kayak tournaments have sprouted up, offering huge prize money. There are even tournaments on the open oceans, where kayak anglers chase big game like tuna, sailfish and sharks. Propulsion One area where kayaks definitely stand out compared with other forms of water craft are in their propulsion options. The traditional approach is the iconic double-ended paddle. With their twin blades, kayak paddles are highly efficient. They divide the work across both arms, while the action of alternating leftright-left-right strokes keeps the boat travelling on a straight path. When it comes to kayak paddles you definitely get what you pay for. Higher quality paddles are built from lightweight resins and carbon fibre, so they’re incredibly strong yet feather light. They also tend to incorporate modern features, such as adjustable grips that let you rotate the two ends against or toward each other, in order to adjust the angle of the blades for greater comfort and maximum power with every stroke.
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If you’re going to be transporting the kayak to and from the water on the top of your car, weight can be an important consideration. Other kayak makers have taken a different approach by trading traditional paddles for innovative pedal drives. These boats are powered by your legs, pedaled like a bicycle or with a simple back-and-forth pumping action. Each pump of the pedals activates a set of fins under the hull that power the boat. Because human legs are generally stronger than arms, these types of kayaks hold a lot of appeal among people interested in doing extended touring, or with new paddlers who may not feel they have enough upper body strength. These styles are also popular with serious anglers, since they leave both hands free for fishing. For the ultimate in ease of mobility, small electric motors controlled by a throttle lever and steered by a rudder also exist for kayaks. Because the kayak hull is so efficient in the water, even a tiny motor powered by a compact and lightweight motorcycle battery can cruise along for an incredibly long way. These styles are also popular with serious anglers and nature photographers, since they cruise along silently while again leaving both hands free for casting or shooting pictures. The ‘other stuff ’ The great thing about kayaking is its simplicity – just grab your boat and go. Well, almost. You’ll also want to make sure you have a safety kit stowed someplace onboard so that you meet Coast Guard requirements and that you have essentials like signalling devices if you ever really need them. You’re also going to want some form of personal flotation device, for both legal and safety reasons. Inflatable PFDs are far more comfortable to wear than traditional life vests – to the point that within a few minutes most people forget they even have them on. Self-inflating models, which use a hydrostatic actuator to immediately inflate the vest upon submersion in water, cost a little more but are worth the small premium for the extra safety advantage they provide. But that’s it. Sometimes the simple approach really is the best one.
BY ANDREW HIND
There are many beautiful kayaking destinations in Muskoka. (Photo by Randy Mitson/Algonquin Outfitters)
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or many, the best way to experience Muskoka is by kayak or canoe. With numerous lakes and rivers of varying challenge and aesthetics, there’s something for every paddler – from the novice to more experienced individuals looking brush up on their J-stroke. Randy Mitson, marketing director for Algonquin Outfitters, has helped us identify five of the best paddling routes in Muskoka. All can be considered easy to moderate, but as Mitson notes, “Nine times out of 10 it’s the weather conditions, like wind and high-water levels, that make a route challenging so always exercise good judgment.” Muskoka River The South Muskoka River is ideal for recreational paddlers. Part of the route’s immense appeal lies with the history that infuses it. The South Muskoka River, which stretches from Baysville in the north to Lake Muskoka in the south, was a route that had been used by First Nations for centuries before British Lieutenant Henry Biscoe explored it in 1826 as part of a possible canal system linking the St. Lawrence River and Georgian Bay. Later, the famed explorer of Canada’s West, David Thompson, also explored the river. Retracing a historic waterway is an intoxicating reason for a paddling expedition. Big East River Paddling the Big East River sees one launch their kayak or canoe at Arrowhead Provincial Park and, after traversing the Big East and passing along Lake Vernon, end up in downtown Huntsville just a few hours later, in time for lunch at one of that town’s many eating establishments. It’s a pleasant, safe,
one-way journey though the rugged terrain typical of north-eastern Muskoka. Oxtongue Lake to Ragged Falls For dramatic photo opportunities, try a trip down the Oxtongue River. This is one of Algonquin Outfitters’ most popular day trips. Departing from Algonquin Outfitters’ Oxtongue Lake dock, it’s a short and pleasant lake and river paddle to the base of the scenic Ragged Falls – where you’ll want to snap photos of the crashing water – and back again. Extend the excursion by hiking to the top of the falls for an even more scenic vista. Black River The Black River is considered one of the finer paddling waterways in southern Muskoka. It is a peaceful route, passing by cottages and homes, culminating in a view of Wasdell Falls and its power-generating station, originally built in 1914 by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission. Moon River The Moon River cuts through southwestern Muskoka before spilling into Georgian Bay. While adventurous sorts tackle a two-day adventure from Highway 69 down to the Bay, a more leisurely option exists. Put your kayak in at Woods Bay Marina and point your bow through Woods Bay, Moon River Bay and Arnolds Bay. At the head of Arnolds Bay, the Moon River converges at the end of two channels and – in spectacular fashion – flushes into Georgian Bay through two cascades collectively called Moon Falls. Snap some photos, enjoy a lunch on the barren rocks, and retrace your route.
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Calendars available at Connect Hair Studio / Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka / or order online at www.gildasclubsimcoemuskoka.org
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Kayak Buyer’s Guide Ready to give it a try? Here’s a look at some great kayak options ...
Pelican Argo 136X Tandem www.pelicansport.com At only 67 pounds, Pelican’s Argo 136X Tandem is a lightweight two-seater made from the company’s patented RAM-X material for incredible strength and durability. Both cockpits are quite spacious, with moulded footrests and adjustable Ergofit padded back supports for comfort. Ocean Kayak Malibu Pedal www.oceankayak.com Ocean Kayak’s PDL Drive System uses twin pedals to make the most of the powerful leg muscles, offering easy paddling and the ability to turn on a dime. Plenty of space for gear, integrated cup holders and a comfy seat all come standard. Swift Adirondack 12LT www.swiftcanoe.com Weighing in at a svelte 24 pounds in its carbon fusion laminate and just 26 pounds in a Kevlar fusion version, Swift’s remarkable Adirondack 12LT is one of the lightest kayaks made. Features include a high back seat with lumbar support, adjustable foot braces and more.
Hobie Mirage Angler 14 www.hobie.com Six rod lockers, tons of tackle storage, an elevated seat and Hobie’s Mirage Drive pedal system make the Mirage Angler 14 one of the most popular fishing kayaks on the market. Options include electronics, a motor and even a live well. Clear Water Design Muskoka www.clearwaterdesignboats.com The versatile Muskoka from Clearwater design is stable and compact like a recreational kayak, yet fast and sleek like a touring model. Standard features include a padded seat with pump-up lumbar support, two storage compartments, and adjustable foot stops. NuCanoe Flint www.nucanoe.com Designed for enhanced stability, the Flint from NuCanoe was designed for fishing with integral rod holders, moulded foot braces, a custom seat, an anchor, paddle storage, mounting brackets for fish finders, GPS and other accessories.
Old Town Looksha www.oldtowncanoe.johnsonoutdoors.com/ kayaks The Looksha tandem kayak from Old Town is stable and roomy, with a composite rudder, adjustable foot pedals, comfortable composite seats with adjustable thigh braces, and twin cross-lock storage compartments for gear. Designed for extended trips, it’s also perfect for an after-dinner ice cream run.
Riot Escape 12 www.riotkayaks.com Built for fishing, the Escape 12 from Riot is a versatile day-touring kayak with excellent stability. Plenty of storage space, two rod holders, a moulded-in bottle holder, four attachment points for other gear and a high back seat provide all-day comfort and convenience.
Boreal Design Halo 130 www.borealdesign.com/kayaks Designed for comfort, stability and agile handling, the Halo 130 from Boreal Design comes with an ergonomic cockpit featuring a five-way adjustable seat to fit a wide range of paddlers, a storage hatch for gear, on-deck bungees for still more gear, and an optional rudder for added control.
Perception Kayaks Pescador Pilot 12 www.perceptionkayaks.com A fully-featured sit-on-top fishing model with pedal drive, the Pescador Pilot 12 from Perception Kayaks comes with everything an angler needs, including YakAttack gear tracks, a cup holder, four moulded-in rod holders, easy-to-reach storage and bow-and-stern tank wells.
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Prestigious Real Estate Services Chay Realty Inc.
1%
Broker of Record & Owner
705-321-0132 Direct Mike@BrokerMike.ca www.BrokerMike.ca
Andrew Meadows Victoria Meadows
Donna Hunter Sales Representative Owner
Sales Representatives
Direct: 705-794-6330 705-728-9846
www.firstchoicerealty.ca
Independently IndependentlyOwned Owned&&Operated Operated
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Listing Commission
Mike Mifsud
Incentive Realty Inc. Brokerage Sutton Group Incentive Realty Inc., Brokerage
Brokerage
705-623-9907 Mobile 705-722-7100 Office Email: Berriehomehunterteam.com donna.hunter@live.ca
Max Viskovich Sales Representative
705-730-9161 Direct BILINGUAL SERVICE
www.donna.hunter@live.ca www.barriehomehunterteam.com
sellwithmax.ca
Hallmark Chay Realty Independently Owned & Operated
Janine Dezotti Sales Representative
705-528-3885 416-628-1357
Kyla Vavala Sales Representative
Cell Office
janine@janinedezotti.com
705-796-6913 Direct www.KylaVavala.com
The Real Estate Centre, Brokerage Independently Owned & Operated
First Contact Realty The Faris Team, Brokerage I N D E P E N D E N T LY O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D
Mark Faris Broker
Ultimate Service Guaranteed
Lily Cadeau Sales Representative
705-797-8485 Office FarisTeam.ca
705-722-8191 Office 705-321-7781 Direct lily-cadeau@coldwellbanker.ca
Michael Stuart Webb Sales Representative
705-817-7355 Direct 705-722-7100 Office www.MichaelStuartWebb.com
& Sheila Krasowski Sales Representative
705-436-5111 www.barrieagent.com steph1miller@hotmail.com 705-718-9920 sheila.krasowski@sympatico.ca
www.sutton.com Incentive Realty Inc. Brokerage Sutton Group Incentive Realty Inc., Brokerage INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED
705-796-6433 Direct 888-966-3111 Business Email: karenandsteve4you@gmail.com E-MAIL: Karens4us@yahoo.ca www.karenandsteve.ca www.karenandsteve.ca
91
705-727-6777
Direct don@realtyexecutives.com
www.DonMcAskin.com
Sales Representative
Independently Owned &&Operated BAYSIDE REALTY, BROKERAGE Independently Owned Operated
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Stephanie Miller
B.J. Roth Realty Ltd., Brokerage Independently Owned & Operated
Karen Yurkiw
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705-321-2879 Direct 705-726-7000 Office www.crippshomes.com
Incentive Realty Inc. Brokerage Sutton Group Incentive Realty Inc., Brokerage Independently IndependentlyOwned Owned&&Operated Operated www.sutton.com
INCENTIVE REALTY INC., BROKERAGE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED
Pat Fergusson
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705-436-2121 Direct
705-730-8971 Direct 1-866-704-0052 Office
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igor.vujovic@century21.ca
www.isellinnisfil.com
www.warrenlandry.com
Making real estate a moving experience!
2019-09-06 3:22 PM
taste
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Maple Glazed Walnuts
Take advantage of the abundance of Ontario pie pumpkins in your fall baking. This cheesecake has all the taste and creaminess of pumpkin pie without having to make pastry. Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 5 minutes Baking Time: 65 minutes Chilling Time: 4 hours or up to 24 hours Serves 12
Crust: 1-1/4 cups (300 mL) graham wafer crumbs 3 tbsp (45 mL) granulated sugar 1/4 cup (50 mL) melted butter Filling: 1-1/4 cups (300 mL) granulated sugar 4 tsp (20 mL) cornstarch 3 pkgs (250 g each) brick light cream cheese, softened 3 Ontario Eggs, at room temperature 1/4 cup (50 mL) packed brown sugar 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) cooked Ontario Pie Pumpkin Purée, drained 1/3 cup (75 mL) 2% plain Greek yogurt or low-fat sour cream 1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) vanilla 2 tsp (10 mL) ground cinnamon 1 tsp (5 mL) ground ginger 1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt 1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) ground cloves Maple Walnuts: 2 tsp (10 mL) butter 1 cup (250 mL) walnut halves 2 tbsp (25 mL) Ontario Maple Syrup 1 tbsp (15 mL) granulated sugar 3/4 tsp (4 mL) ground cinnamon Whipped Ontario Cream
1. In medium bowl, mix together crumbs and sugar. Stir in melted butter. Press firmly into 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan; wrap bottom of pan with foil, set aside. 2. In small bowl, mix together sugar and cornstarch. In large bowl, using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, granulated sugar and cornstarch together until very smooth. 3. In separate large bowl, whisk together eggs and brown sugar. Stir in pumpkin, yogurt, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt and cloves. Fold in cream cheese mixture until well blended. Pour over prepared crust. 4. Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven until almost set in the centre, about 1 hour. Remove to wire rack. Immediately run knife around edge of pan. Allow to cool completely. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or up to 24 hours. 5. In large nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in walnuts, maple syrup, sugar and cinnamon. Cook, stirring constantly for 3 to 4 minutes, until nuts are well coated. Spread on parchment paper-lined baking sheet, separating pieces. When cooled, coarsely chop. 6. Remove outer ring from springform pan and place on serving platter. Decorate with whipped cream and chopped walnuts.
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Barrie has been my home for 13 years, as I reside here, I continue to see the changes of our growing city. We offer so much which has encouraged many new families making lifestyle changes to reside in our beautiful city. I have strategically positioned myself with Engel & Völkers Toronto Central, Yorkville and Don Mills, to connect Buyer’s directly with my Seller’s. I am on the forefront of the Real Estate Market, not only with technology, marketing and direct positioning to find you a buyer for your home, but also the effects the Toronto Market has on our Barrie Real Estate Market. Concierge Service; Passionately Tailored, Exclusivity to YOU, Competence Throughout. Janine@janinedezotti.com Janinedezotti.evrealestate.com Direct: 705.528.3885 Office: 416.628.1357 110 Avenue Road, Toronto
$3,650,000 ULTIMATE LUXURY!!! Private water front w/ magnificent views of Kempenfelt Bay!! Over 5000 square feet, 7 Bedrooms, 7 Baths, Large dock w/covered boat lift & jet ski lift, Massive deck overlooking Bay, Pool +++Truly Amazing home!! Call Max for more information
Max Viskovich
$899,900 AMAZING SPACE!! Steps to Simcoe’s shores, using only the finest materials & craftsmanship, this custom residence built by Daycor Homes has the balance of the Tarion warranty in place. Acacia hardwood, porcelain tiles, Corian counters & top of the line appliances. 2+2 bedrooms, 2.5 spa-like baths. Walls of windows! Call Todd & Lynn MLS 30749619
Todd & Lynn Guergis* Direct (705)
Sales Representative
728 - 4067
DIRECT www.sutton.com INCENTIVE REALTY INC., BROKERAGE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED
705-730-9161
$999,000 Exceptional Home in Midhurst Beautiful plan with a lovely architectural flow, substantial additions & renovations, master suite with loft, impressive kitchen overlooking the treed yard & pool, 5 bedrooms, 4 washrooms, attached & detached garages & so much more in this treed estate. Belmont Cr. MLS 30739717 John Lawler** Direct (705)
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$1,199,900 Live a prestigious lifestyle at the new Cameron Estates in the highly-sought after Snow Valley. Enjoy nearby skiing, golfing and trails with minutes to amenities. This custom new build has 3 beds and 3 baths. 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 stone 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 Daycor Homes is known to feature. Massive walkout covered deck overlooking very private treed premium lot. David Weeks Sales Representative
Greg Weeks
Sales Representative
B.J. Roth Realty Ltd., Brokerage Independently Owned & Operated
B.J. Roth Realty Ltd. Brokerage
First Contact Realty, Brokerage Independently Owned & Operated
Office
735-2525
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dining guide
Dining Guide
Chavo Crepes
Groovy Tuesday’s Bistro
You won’t find yourself under the Eiffel Tower, however our sweet and sinfully savory crepes will bring you a taste of Paris right here at our new location in downtown Barrie! Chavo Crepes was created in order to deliver a delicious and health conscious alternative to the ever evolving food industry. Maintaining the quality and integrity of our ingredients has always been our number one priority and our vision is to offer a product that has been naturally and locally grown and harvested and presented in recipes and food offerings seldom found here in Canada.
Comfortably Small • Locally Focussed • Open Kitchen •Casual Elegant Atmosphere
74 Dunlop Street East, Barrie | 705.727.8721 www.chavocrepes.com
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
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Sigrid’s Cafe & Fine Bakery
Ripe Juicery
At Sigrid’s, baking is a never-ending art form. For the past 35 years now, we have been a proud family-owned bakery in downtown Barrie. All our baked breads and pastries are made from scratch with all natural ingredients, the way it used to be done! “Savor every bite of your favorite pastry and do not feel guilty about it. Desserts are like all good things in life - they need to be enjoyed in moderation but everyone deserves to treat themselves”. Andrea Higgins
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!
10 Ross Street, Barrie | 705-726-0121 www.sigridsbakery.com
Ripe Juicery, Barrie | ripejuicery.ca Downtown - 118 Dunlop St. | 705-503-7473 South End - 371 King St. Unit #4 | 705-503-4777
Cocina Mexicana Restaurante 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
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 and served with warm hospitality.
62 Dunlop St. W, Barrie 705.728.0890 Follow on Facebook & Instagram
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dining guide
Jessi & Bekki
J’adore Fine Cheese & Chocolate The Speakcheasy The Speakcheasy is a prohibition themed tasting lounge located beneath J’adore Fine Cheese and Chocolate, exclusively open Friday and Saturday evenings. The nostalgic atmosphere singing Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong will transport your back to the 1920’s from their gin based cocktails served in tea cups (just in case a raid erupts) to their dim lighting and history posted wherever your eyes wander. The Speakcheasy’s menu focuses on dishes to share and dishes to have all to yourself. Monthly events are carefully crafted to send you on a journey exploring fine cheese and beverages from around the world. Scotch Nosing’s, Beer and Cheese Tastings and Wine and Cheese presentations are just a few of the crowd pleasers.
123 Dunlop Street East, Barrie | 705.503.6633 speakcheasy.com | jadorefinecheese.com During Dunlop Street construction guests are welcome to use our back entrances to J’adore, The Speakcheasy and ALL Dunlop street shops!
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
Freshii at Park Place Barrie 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 plant-based, vegetarian, low-carb, high-carb, to keto, we can accommodate! Freshii donates one meal from the sale of each WE menu item to developing communities. • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner • Customized Menu Offering • Catering
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
• Cold-pressed Juice Cleanse • Kid’s Menu • School Lunch Program
90 Park Place Boulevard, Unit 8, Barrie (705) 230-1940 parkplace@freshii.com www.freshii.com
128 Dunlop Street East, Barrie 705.737.1821
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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!
Liaison College of Culinary Arts Liaison College of Culinary Arts - Barrie Campus offers a variety of Diploma and Certificate programs, kids cooking camps, team building events, kitchen rentals and more. Make a unique and fun date night or girls’ night out with our fun recreational cooking classes! Enrolling NOW for Fall and winter classes. Join our accelerated programs and earn a Culinary Diploma from as little as 15 to 34 weeks! Call for more information or a free tour of our newly renovated campus. FEED YOUR PASSION
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
94 Dunlop Street West, Barrie 705.720.2433 www.liaisonbarrie.com
Danny’s Fish and Chips
Homestead Artisan Bakery + Cafe
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!
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. Thank you for nominating us again this year for Readers’ Choice Awards!
411 Huronia Road, Barrie 705-721-8998
80 Dunlop St. E., Downtown Barrie | 705-252-3680 homesteadartisanbakery.com
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Party Like It’s 1812
Journey back and celebrate the robust life of Fort Willow during its days as a War of 1812 supply depot. At The Festival at Fort Willow on Sept. 28, historical re-enactors will portray Simcoe County life as it was two centuries ago. Muster-up the family and march in the King’s army, learn blacksmithing and enjoy bbq treats. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Fort Willow Conservation Area, 2714 Grenfel Rd. Details at www.nvca.on.ca.
Autumn Beauty Times Two
Beautiful Autumn countryside and glorious artwork are both on display during the Images Thanksgiving Studio Tour. From October 11-14, artists and craftspeople greet guests at 17 studios throughout Oro-Medonte, Horseshoe Valley, Orillia and along Lake Simcoe’s shores. New artists include rusted steel sculptor Roy Hickling, abstract painter Sandra Title, and spouses Carol Currie and Stuart Leggett who mutually create Sculpted Paintings. Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Details at www.images-studio-tour.com.
Rogues, Scoundrels and Graveyard Rambles
Despite Barrie’s sterling reputation, the city’s had its share of quirky characters. Get to know them on two free historical walking tours led by Official Town Crier Stephen J. Travers. The Victorian Barrie Heroes, Heroines, Rogues and Scoundrels walk on Sept. 28 starts at Meridian Place at 1 p.m. On Sept. 29, come to the Union Cemetery at 1 p.m. for Barrie’s Early Pioneers walk. Wear comfortable shoes. Info at www.barrie.ca/Culture.
Enter the Terror Zone at Pumpkinferno
Penetang’s Discovery Harbour is Haunted Harbour during October’s scary popular Pumpkinferno. Hordes of pumpkins glow eerily in the night in this outdoor event. Visitors aged 12 and up can brave the Terror Zone while kids have their own maze to navigate. Dinner packages at Captain Roberts Table available. Open Thurs.-Sun on Oct 3-20 and evenings Oct. 21-30. 7-10 p.m. $8, kids 5 and under free. Food donations appreciated. Info at www.discoveryharbour.on.ca.
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GET EVERYTHING* YOU SEE HERE AT
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.
491 Bryne Drive, Barrie ∙ 705-735-3337 100n GoodLife | Barrie Sept - Oct 2019
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2019-09-06 3:26 PM