Montreal native Steve Tanguay was working in Germany when he got a phone call to become head chef at Maison St. Aubin, a fine dining restaurant serving French cuisine in Sarnia’s north end. He was 21. “I had zero English and I’d never heard of Sarnia,” Tanguay recalls. “I arrived with my car and two… Read more »
One of central Sarnia’s grand old mansions is being restored by a local realtor with an innovative leasing concept in mind. Mary Ann Raaymakers bought the imposing red brick house at 329 Mackenzie St. in March and launched a $200,000 renovation with the help of local contractor Jordan Parker. “This is a house with good… Read more »
Stephanie Smith considers each plate of food she sends out of her kitchen a work of art. “My style is artsy, creative. I love garnishes. Presentation and colour are important to me,” says the chef at The Cheese Store Bistro in Point Edward. The Cheese Store opened an outdoor bistro that seats 30 late last… Read more »
Marian Atia, born and educated in Egypt, has chosen to locate her new pharmacy overlooking Sarnia’s waterfront. She had never lived in Sarnia until this spring but says she was drawn here by the area’s beauty. The 27-year-old says she was visiting family in Sarnia and happened to drive past the St. Clair Corporate Centre… Read more »
Paul Moulton stood outside his optical centre on Christina Street and watched as the layers of time were pulled back and the original brick façade came into view for the first time in at least 40 years. Peeled off first was the white vinyl siding that covered Moulton’s Optical Centre for decades. Workers with John… Read more »
On a busy summer weekend, Copper Kettle Catering can attend up to three events and serve nearly 1,000 people. “It involves going to all kinds of different locations and meeting all kinds of people,” says chef Cris Heynen. “This is the greatest job. I’ll never go back to a restaurant full time.” Heynen, 25, works… Read more »
The first time Mike Jacques donned a chef’s hat and coat, he was helping prepare food for a grand opening attended by Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley. “I was a Grade 12 co-op student in the cafeteria at St. Francois Xavier high school the year it opened, and we made quiche for the mayor,” he recalls…. Read more »
It’s been a challenge for Manjit Singh to find a chef to prepare authentic Indian cuisine at his Sitara Indian Cuisine restaurant. Luckily, the full-time health specialist is also talented in the kitchen. “I truly believed from day one that if I wanted to run a restaurant, I’d have to be very involved,” says Singh,… Read more »
Brian Bailey, president of Bailey Toyota on Confederation, sits in temporary office quarters and marvels at the ongoing reconstruction work at his dealership. His office these days is in the new service area that was built just before Bailey and his sales staff needed to move and make way for demolition at the front of… Read more »
There’s nothing as satisfying as a room full of people enjoying your food, says Sarnia chef Mike Barnes. His career has focused on catering rather than restaurants because Barnes likes the feeling he gets from a happy event organizer or smiling bride. “At a wedding, I’ll approach the bride and groom to see how they… Read more »
