By Rebecca Dumais / Photos by Alex Lukey | 

Form and function permeate every aspect of our lives via feasibility and visual appeal. From practical pieces to those of pure aesthetic, it’s a designer’s role to create interiors that tell a story.

Emily Cade’s self-described design aesthetic is “curated modern,” but it’s not limited to just that. “It’s a dynamic and ever-evolving entity,” says the co-owner of Arcade Home and custom furniture designer. “I’m in a perpetual state of evolution as a designer, constantly refining my filter and design voice. While I deeply respect classic design principles, I don’t feel confined by them. Instead, I find my passion in the interplay of contrasts and juxtaposition within my work as a multi-disciplinary designer.”

Cade began her career in fashion styling, followed by set design for the film industry. When fashion styling began to expose its limitations and couldn’t sustain her creative interest, she began working on sets and became immediately loved the process. Creating new worlds and atmospheres “felt so much more involved and layered,” she says.

She aspires to design spaces that convey a sense of gradual curation over time, to speak from the soul of the home and the client. Cade is launching a new line of furniture and accessories, which will coincide with a celebration around the store’s first anniversary on September 22.

The new collection will include pieces Cade has already created and that are on display in the store. Pieces include marble goods and hardwood furniture such as dining tables and chairs, coffee and side tables, and customizable upholstery in bespoke shapes and forms.

Being unable to find appropriate designs she felt matched her vision or was unable to access spawned the creation of Arcade’s line of goods. Opening the store on the heels of COVID was also a factor. “We wanted to bring a high level of design and quality, I didn’t want to bring things in from overseas,” she says.

What made the most sense was to carry over her independent custom furniture design for clients into what would be offered in the store. She felt that High-end dining tables were lacking in the industry, specifically quality solid wood. Gorgeous hardwood is sourced mostly from British Columbia, and marble pieces are carved from blocks (not slabs) of Turkish marble.

There’s heavy inspiration from the 70s in Cade’s design work seen in the shapes and material finishes. “I’m very much inspired by chrome again, which was huge back then – and marble; heavily-veined marble was very much of that era.”

A chair in the store covered in a rich avocado green fabric is a clear design nod to the 70s. This and other earthly tones of rust and shades of caramel with warmer woods sees Cade designing pieces that are moving away from that Scandinavian minimalist look.

“We’re kind of going back into an overdecorated and lush (design). “What happened for me when designing and creating the line, I was coming from a place of wanting to create a comfortable environment but inspire form and function and make it accessible. I wanted to push the envelope and bring some wild pieces in that would be unexpected but show a very organic palette. It makes it feel approachable, accessible and comforting,” she says.

After COVID, Cade felt that people needed that and designers have put forth work that’s a little bit more layered, warm and textured. No one wants to live in a showroom, they want it to feel like lived-in luxury.”

Cade also favours organic forms and loves to create juxtapositions between brutalist profiles and sharp angles. “I love mixing and you’ll see that in the new collection,” she says. “You’ll see a collection of organic forms and shapes – things that you’ll notice in nature.” This could include pebble-like forms and edging; freeform and organic elements that fall into more of a natural palette.

This intersection of different design elements is where Cade finds the most excitement. “Throughout my journey, I’ve amassed an assortment of past and present influences that I incorporate into my creations,” she says. “I cherish the process of reinventing my approach, especially when confronted with projects that push me to innovate and produce something entirely outside the box.”

Most of her creative work takes place late at night – there’s too much is happening in the middle of the day. “I like nighttime. I like quiet and just to deep dive into it, but you can’t force it.” Sketchbooks are at the ready (in her bedroom or on her desk) for drawings and ideas that can be explored further and transformed into new pieces.

There’s a heavy slant toward sculptural furniture and interesting pieces in an unexpected mix. “That’s where the eclecticism comes from that you see that in my body work but I could go super minimal, I can go super decorated and I can go classical or somewhere in the middle because I appreciate all levels of design.”

Cade’s biggest inspiration in the design world is Kelly Wearstler. “She’s one of the best, most inspiring designers of our generation, in my opinion.” There’s a kinship that they speak the same language. “She’s a little bit wild; a little unexpected. Someone said to me ‘You’re good at good at picking the thing (you’d assume) that’s not going to work and somehow make it work.” 

That in itself describes the role of a curator. “The tagline for the store is ‘Curated for living’ so it was that idea of being a curator more than anything else,” she says of gathering all of the inventory of everything in the store. “I’ve always considered myself a curator. Obviously, you need things in your space, you need the function but how do we make that beautiful? How do we make it inspired and timeless, even if it’s trend forward? The things around it can change. We can have form and function and not have to sacrifice design.”

In her 14 years of professional design, Cade says there’s a confidence that happens from experience, the mistakes we learn from that result in adaptation. “There’s that ability to be confident in your decisions and also not hang on to things. I think you have to be malleable; you have to be flexible. If something doesn’t work, well there’s an opportunity to pivot and maybe it’s going to be better. It pushes you to rethink and re-imagine. I’ve had lots of that in my career. It’s made me quite resilient.”

For more information visit Arcadehome.com

Haley’s Four-Step Skincare Routine:

Haley is a strict follower of a four-step method: cleanse, exfoliate, protect and hydrate using her HBFace products (Hbface.com).

Cleanse

Rosehip Replenishing Cleanser – it’s gentle and removes dirt, oil, and sweat without stripping the skin of its natural oils. Rosehip oil leaves the skin soft, smooth and supple. A deep-cleaning cleanser that’s gentle enough for daily use that won’t dry out the skin.

Moisturize

Layer moisturizer with the following: start with Vitamin C serum, then add Hyaluronic Acid. Follow with The Balm, a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer that hydrates the skin without clogging pores.

Sunscreen

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of 30 SPF to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. A simple add-in: Ageless Vitamin C serum, which protects from the sun and prevents pigmentation from getting worse.

Exfoliate

Coconut Microdermabrasion Scrub, used once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells and keep the skin smooth. Gently brightens and exfoliates, helps reduce surface pollutants and minimize pores as well as invigorates and promotes skin rejuvenation.

Be kind to your skin – what to avoid

During the summer months, Haley cautions against any laser, chemical peel or procedure that will over-process the skin, and also avoids using heavy lotions or creams as they can clog pores and cause breakouts. Opt for a hydrating lightweight gel or serum, such as HBFace’s Hyaluronic Acid. It’s a deeply hydrating serum that helps generate and retain moisture. Promotes a smoother, softer, firmer and more supple complexion.

Summer’s trending tones

Peaches, pinks, neutrals and soft brown shades are having their moment in the sun. Tint Stick 01 is the perfect peach for summer, versatile, creamy and blendable for cheeks and lips.

Haley’s 5-Minute Face

Skin Stick, which has a light SPF. Apply with the Complexion Blender Brush, designed as a fan to maximize coverage. Next, use the Skin Stick again as a concealer for areas that need extra coverage: underneath the eyes, the eyelid, and any blemishes or red spots. 

White Correcting Powder on the T-zone and under-eye areas to avoid any creasing. Then apply Matte Bronzer, on the cheeks and lightly dust all over for a beachy glow using the Bronzing Fan Brush. (Tip: place two fingers next to one of your nostrils, then use the Bronzing Fan Brush and apply diagonal strokes from the ball of your cheek to your temple – where the sun would usually hit. Repeat on the other side. Then do a light finishing dust on your forehead, cheek, and jawline.

Tint Stick, which simplifies applying pigment to your eyes, lips, and cheeks. Adds a quick pop of colour. Delicately use a blending brush for eyelids, the complexion brush for the cheeks to lightly blend, and for the lips, dab the stick on directly and blend using your index or ring finger.

Brow Glaze to brush up and over brows to give them a fluffy, laminated, long-lasting look that lifts the whole face shape.

Miracle Mascara – start with the top lid of the eye (from the outer lash and working inwards towards the tear duct) and do one coat – wiggling the brush from the root to the end of the lash in three separate sections (exterior, middle, and inner lash). Repeat for bottom lashes. Let dry. Repeat on the other eye. Add a second layer of mascara (using the above method) for volume.

Lastly, you’ll always find White Correcting Powder and a dome brush in Haley’s handbag for on-the-go blotting to prevent creasing or looking shiny throughout the day.

For more info visit Hbface.com

The first thing you’ll see on Lashforever Canada’s website reads like a wish list. “Better Hair. Better Sleep. Better Skin.” Yes, please!

As a businesswoman who understands the zeitgeist of the beauty industry, Lauren Spencer has a definite edge when it comes to characterizing those longings. Who in the world isn’t looking for better hair, better skin and – please help! – better sleep. Putting a finger on the beating heart of what women want has allowed the 36-year-old Oakville entrepreneur to tap into our obsession with aesthetics and well-being. That edge has helped her build a multi-million-dollar, female-owned and operated made-in-Canada company.

Spencer’s products have expanded to include lotions, potions and accessories that accentuate and enhance not just hair but skin and sleep as well. Credit her natural business acumen, ability to anticipate markets and inherent ability to market, brand and design beauty products with her success.

As the brainchild of Canada’s number one hair elixir, Spencer got her start about 15 years ago as a lash artist, who pioneered one of Toronto’s first lash-extension studios. She quickly became certified as a master lash artist known for her expertise in permanent makeup and lash artistry. Spencer would go on to build her expertise, mastering not just extensions but also permanent makeup for lips, brows and eyes including micro-blading, perimedical solutions for scar concealment or areola restoration as well as using techniques to camouflage skin imperfections.

Spencer expanded her skill set to include training and education and so far has taught over 12,000 students in lash artistry and permanent makeup. In 2012, she developed her first lash and brow serum with a team of scientists. The line, known as Revive7, is sold in 11 countries. Last year, 175,000 tubes of lash serum were purchased and overall sales increased by 273 per cent. The company’s growth has been nothing short of phenomenal.

“It’s pretty crazy, what it’s turned into,” says Spencer. “Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that I would have developed the number one-selling lash serum in Canada. We took over market share during Covid.”

The Covid years would provide a kind of kick-start for the company as consumers no longer were able to get lash extensions due to lockdowns. But women still wanted the wide-eyed look of bigger lashes so they began turning to products that over time would give them similar results. They also like Revive’s clean and minimalistic approach to beauty ingredients. The company would increase its sales from 1,000 retailers to over 50,000. Spencer likes to say that the 7 in Revive7 represents the seven months it took to create the product, its seven ingredients and the seven days it claims to start working.

Wanting lush brows, long full eyelashes and a thick head of hair are popular beauty pursuits but consumers are always looking for more and Revive7 offers an array of products. For lashes, there’s a revitalizing lash serum mascara and a lash curler/serum set. For brows, Revive7 offers a sculpting brow kit including an eye pencil, brush and serum. Cleansing foam, silk pillowcases, a rose water facial mist and cleansing help beautify your skin. The company also carries a wide assortment of supplies for beauty technicians.

Spencer prides herself and her company on further taking a pure approach to the beauty industry. The products do not contain sulfates, parabens, or prostaglandin analogs, which Spencer describes as working like a kind of steroid, unnaturally growing hair. Using ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and collagen, Revive7 promotes hair growth by lubricating and moisturizing each follicle.

While Spencer got her start as a lash extension technician, she concedes that her serum is an all-around healthier way to go.

The single mother of a three- and –six year old is a young entrepreneur who continues to pinch herself each and every day. While she acknowledged that it was her mother who in 2008 suggested she explore the world of lash extensions, she also allows that a lot of her success comes from personal determination and plain old hard work.

As an entrepreneur who’s made it thanks to grit, ambition and a strong work ethic, Spencer wants to reciprocate her good fortune by assisting women who are just starting fledgling careers in the beauty industry. The company plans to launch a business-coaching division to support novice businesswomen. With a staff of 10 women and the largest lash-training facility in Canada, the company promotes female empowerment, stresses Spencer, so education efforts are tops on its list of priorities.

“It’s all about you can be a lash technician working in your mother’s basement like I did and now building a multi-million-dollar company,” Spencer says. “You just gotta work your ass off.”

For more information visit Lashforevercanada.com

Tennis Clubs

Fulfill your Love of tennis at the following membership-based clubs, many of which also have fitness facilities.

Burlington Fitness & Racquets

First established as a tennis club in the early 1970s, the Burlington Fitness & Racquet Club is the city’s longest-running indoor tennis club and also offers a 16,000 sq. ft. gym, four singles squash courts and one doubles court, an indoor basketball practice court, a licensed restaurant, Chiropractor, fitness classes, and more.

1233 Dillon Rd., Burlington.

Fitnessetc.ca

Cedar Springs

For over 40 years, Cedar Springs has been a destination for racquet sports. There are 12 tennis courts, six international, two hardball and three doubles squash courts. Its newest edition is the ever-popular pickleball, with three outdoor and two indoor courts. The club also has a fitness centre, a licensed restaurant, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, camps, and more.

960 Cumberland Ave., Burlington.

Cedarspringsclub.ca

Oakville Club

Sports, recreation and social activities since 1907. There are five outdoor tennis courts available for play day or night (court 5 has the best views while the boats sail by on Sixteen Mile Creek.) Four indoor squash courts and four badminton courts are located in an area which once served as an airplane hangar during the First World War. Pickleball is also available, as well as fitness, sailing, swimming, children’s activities, and dockside, poolside or indoor dining.

56 Water St., Oakville.

Oakvilleclub.com

Ontario Racquet Club

Home to 15 hard-surface tennis courts operating year-round, including for pickleball and badminton (six are temperature-controlled indoor courts, and nine outdoor courts are bubbled over the winter months). Extensive fitness centre, training room, boxing area, classes, yoga and more.

884 Southdown Rd., Mississauga.

Ontarioracquetclub.com

Pickleball

Looking to get into this popular sport but not commit to a full facility membership? Try your hand at pickleball through one of these local associations.

Burlington Pickleball Association

Offers pickleball play for all ages, levels and abilities on designated outdoor pickleball courts. Visit the website to see which courts permit dedicated pickleball play, as well as court times. Burlingtonpickleball.com

Pickleball Pad

Learn to play through lessons or sign up to participate in a league. Games are held at Kings Court, 3485 North Service Rd., Burlington.

Pickleballpad.ca

Sailing & Yacht Clubs

Bronte Yacht Club

Learn to sail, and various community programming. The BHYC’s racing season runs from May to October and has an active weekend regatta schedule. There’s an active cruising program for sailors with destinations all over Lake Ontario. Cruises feature organized meals, sightseeing and events. Reciprocal arrangements are available. 2514 Lakeshore Rd. W., Oakville.

Bhyc.on.ca

Burlington Sailing & Boating Club

Located in tranquil LaSalle Park on the tree-lined shore of Burlington Bay in Aldershot. There’s a two-story clubhouse with a lounge, fireplace and washroom facilities. Take part in the organized weekend cruises to other ports, club races, visitation privileges at other yacht clubs, and storage for kayaks and canoes.

839-841 LaSalle Park Rd., Burlington.

Burlbay.com

Oakville Yacht Squadron

Active race programs compete up to three times a week, organized cruises nearly every weekend throughout the summer, and a high-calibre sailing school. Plus, regattas, sailpast, pub night BBQs and banquets. Reciprocal visitors are welcome.

97 Forsythe St., Oakville.

Oysqn.com

Port Credit Yacht Club

A year-round, private club offering yachting, facilities, services and social activities for over 75 years. Racing and learn-to-sail programs, engaging members-only events, a modern facility with casual and fine dining rooms and an outside licensed patio, and a pool. Plus non-boating and family activities and reciprocal visitation.

115 Lakefront Promenade, Mississauga.

Pcyc.net

A cold cocktail on a hot day is a glorious thing. And yes, when it’s high noon here and you’re poolside or lounging on the dock, it definitely is 5 o’clock somewhere… Make these cocktails for yourself and a friend or two and sit back and sip at your leisure.

Cocktail: Caribbean Breakfast 

Ingredients:

1.5 oz of Pineapple-infused Rum

1/2 oz of Glenmorangie Scotch
1/2 oz of Demerara
A few Dashes of Black Walnut Bitters

Pineapple for garnish

Method:

Stir in a Yari mixing glass, then transfer to an old-fashioned glass over a king cube of ice.
Garnish with pineapple (dry and smoked).

Beacon Social House, 305 Lakeshore Rd., E., Oakville, Beaconsocialhouse.com

Cocktail: Summer in the Village

Ingredients:

1 oz Don Julio Reposado Tequila

1/2 oz St-Jermain Elderflower Liqueur

1/2 oz Peach Schnapps

1 oz Fresh Lime juice

1 oz Simple Syrup

Method:

Shake all ingredients together in a cocktail mixer with ice. Pour over ice in an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh basil and dehydrated lime wheel.

Buvette Restaurant & Wine Bar, 417 Elizabeth St., Burlington, Buvetteresto.com

Cocktail: Gin & Jam 

Ingredients:

5-8 Fresh Basil Leaves

2 oz Tanqueray Gin

1/4 oz Lemon Juice

3/4 oz Strawberry Jam

1/2 oz Simple Syrup

1/4 oz Giffard Rhubarbe Liqueur

1 oz Maria Laflor Cava Brut

Method:

Smash basil and put in shaker. Add strawberry jam, lemon juice, gin, simple syrup and Giffard Rhubarbe. Fill with ice and shake for 30 seconds. Double strain into a highball glass with fresh ice. Top with Maria Laflor Cava Brut. Garnish with fresh strawberry and basil.

Conversate Steak & Seafood, 38 King William St., Hamilton, Conversaterestaurant.ca

Cocktail: Espresso Martini

Ingredients:

2 oz Vodka

1/2 oz Kahlua

1 oz Freshly-Brewed Espresso (or cold brew concentrate)

1/2 oz Simple Syrup

Coffee Beans for garnish

Method:

Add vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with 3 coffee beans.

Michael’s Back Door, 1715 Lakeshore Rd., W., Mississauga, Michaelsbackdoor.com

Cocktail: Voulez Vous 

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Beet infused Vodka

1 oz Yuzu Sake (Azumi Sake)

1/2 oz Lemon Juice

1/2 oz Thyme Syrup

1 oz Egg Whites

2 dashes Plum Bitters

2 dashes Rhubarb Bitters

Method:

Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker and dry reverse shake (shake first with ice and then a second shake without). Serve in a sour glass and garnish with fresh thyme.

Ce Soir Brasserie, 134 Lakeshore Rd., E., Oakville, Cesoirbrasserie.com

Photos supplied by each restaurant.

The OxyGeneo Facial is a service offered by Tufford Medical that will greatly enhance your skin and offers immediate results and long-lasting rejuvenation with no downtime or pain. It provides skin with oxygen (essential for skin rejuvenation), exfoliates, and nourishes. Even after one session, you’ll notice more suppleness, a brighter complexion, and improved texture.

How it Works: Exfoliates, Oxygenates & Nourishes

OxyGeneo exfoliates the outer layer of skin, removing dead cells, it opens clogged pores and smooths the surface while renewing the skin.

The treatment generates carbon dioxide (CO2) bubbles, which reach deep beneath the skin’s upper layer, triggering a positive physiological response.

This oxygenating process naturally increases the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the treated area and allows the skin to absorb nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. Not only will the skin be better able to take in your favourite creams and cleansers more effectively, OxyGeneo treatments also treat the skin with nutrients, vitamins and other active ingredients, keeping it healthy and glowing.

No downtime. Immediate Recovery

Have an important event coming up? You can schedule OxyGeneo treatment for the same day as your event to ensure your skin looks its best immediately.

Benefits of OxyGeneo

• Immediate results from the first treatment
• Soothing & relaxing
• Creates natural skin oxygenation
  from within
• Long-term texture & appearance improvement
• Suitable for all skin types
• Vegan ingredients
• Treatments can be done on the face & body
• No downtime & no pain

Tambra Tufford, owner of Tufford Medical offers her top three products for the summer:

Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps protect the skin from many issues, including sunburn, photoaging, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. 

Sunscreen: Sunscreens protect the skin. They are crucial in preventing the skin from absorbing ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation damages the skin, leading to premature aging and skin cancer.

Retinol: Retinol increases skin cell production. It helps unclog pores. Retinol also exfoliates your skin and increases collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving your skin a fresher, plump appearance.

For more info visit Tuffordmedical.com

Who writes a dystopian science-fiction story unmindful that its prose would be better matched on a bookshelf with Dune or Dr. Who as opposed to The Great Gatsby?

Jade Shyback, a 50-year-old Oakville author, that’s who. The single mother of three adult daughters readily admits to being very green about the world of book publishing. After completing her long-dreamed-of debut novel, she pitched publishers, describing her story as Young Adult. Fortunately, a publishing-savvy friend set her straight.

“She said, ‘You wrote a dystopian tale without knowing it,’” recalls Shyback. “As I was writing this, I had no idea it was science fiction. I thought I was writing a coming-of-age, post-apocalyptic climate novel. I’ve since learned it’s called cli-fi. That’s the new sci-fi.”

Released in May by Red Hen Press, Aqueous is a coming-of-age story about a young woman’s struggle set against the near collapse of the earth. A deeply feminist tale that pits protagonist Marisol against the trials and tribulations presented to her in an apocalyptic underwater world. Aiming for placement on the all-male diving team, Marisol uncovers misogyny and deception in a tale that can only be described as ultimately hopeful.

Shyback wove her science fiction tale by working problems backwards. For example, to portray a realistic world beneath the sea, she had to describe and learn about submersible glass, the kind that doesn’t implode underwater. “I have a great imagination and once the story was opening up to me, I had to troubleshoot certain situations,” explains the former financial regulator. “But it’s all about a girl losing her mother and being separated and taken to a new place to survive.”

Shyback’s naiveté about publishing extended to her friend’s benevolence. She told Shyback she could send her manuscript to an editor-friend. “I thought it was a prank,” recalls Shyback. “I sent off the manuscript and she said she read it and loved it. She took mine immediately and I thought it couldn’t be real. This is not how I saw this going.”

The California-based Red Hen Press publishes 20 to 24 books a year, though it receives over 500 manuscripts annually. Shyback is planning two more novels, which will complete the Aqueous series. She has sold the foreign-language rights to Russia and there’s talk about an adaptation for TV or film, though Shyback is mum on details.

An Alberta native, Shyback received an English literature degree from the University of Calgary but would go on to a career in financial services, landing a role as a financial regulator in the United Arab Emirates. While there she lectured on anti-money laundering and the counter-financing of terrorism before becoming the Deputy Head of Compliance at The Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange.  Despite the thrill of raising her three daughters in the Middle East, Shyback decided to return to Canada to focus on being a mom.

Fitting that it was her daughters who would encourage Shyback to put pen to paper. A well-deserved and close-quartered driving tour of California’s Pacific Coast Highway got the family brainstorming subject matter ideas for Shyback’s first book, which everyone agreed would be the perfect project for the mother whose daughters were growing and needing her less and less. The confluence of timing mixed with her lifelong love of words finally became clear. “There are moments in everyone’s life where magic and strokes of luck and things fall into place,” she says. “There have been many indicators and little things that tell me I’m supposed to be here right now. I have a lot of books that need to come out; stories related to the Aqueous series and other things.”

Her great big imagination was fed organically. Growing up in a farming community south of Red Deer, life did not offer many modern-day distractions. Cable television and private residential phone lines were big-city conveniences not afforded in her small hometown. That meant she spent her youth reading, mainly classics. She fancied herself as an author and would sometimes think, ‘I could write that’ after finishing a good book. Since that time, her ‘I-could-write-that’ mantra has reared its head many times. She credits her high school teacher Nat Sapach with imparting her with a can-do attitude. “He is a legend to me,” she says. “He told me I was an excellent writer and saying that solidified it for me.”

Shyback dedicated Aqueous to him but attempts to let him know about her book proved difficult. Finally, an old friend offered to drop off a copy of the book at his home in Alberta. Shyback cherishes the response she received from him. “I hope you understand why the news of your success helps to warm these aging bones and heart,” the retired English teacher told her in an email.

“The supreme irony is that I have always believed that competent teachers do not teach students very much at all. They make students aware of what they have known all along but did not know that they knew it. The magic occurs when the student becomes aware that he/she is beginning a journey of self-discovery. I am so grateful that I can be a very small part of the magic.”

For more information visit jadeshyback.com

]]> http://www.westofthecity.com/food/taste-fond-of-fondue/ Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:12:15 +0000 http://www.westofthecity.com/?p=17224 By Rebecca Dumais |

Fondue was all the rage in the 1960 – and even into the 1970s. If you’re of a certain age, you’ll remember gathering around the fondue pot for a leisurely meal.

If you didn’t experience this type of slow-moving, relaxed and deliciously cheesy way of eating back in the day, the following tips and recipe on page 86 will get you started.

While there are many recipes for cheese fondue, Chris Wood, owner of Farmhouse Artisan Cheese in Oakville likes the half-and-half kind.

This melty mixture is a combination of Gruyere and Appenzeller. “Or you could do half Gruyere and half Emmental,” she suggests, noting that both fondue and raclette are best using good Switzerland cheeses that melt well.

Having the proper fondue equipment is a must – the pot with a flame/warmer, and of course the fondue forks. Aim for 200 grams of cheese per person.

Some recipe variations call for garlic, or perhaps a pinch of cayenne pepper, Wood says. You can also add Kirsch (a cherry liqueur). Once you’ve decided on your ingredients, Wood says it’s easy to cook on the stovetop (don’t scorch the sauce) and then put the fondue into the pot and place it over the warmer.

Next, you need some food to dip into. There are traditional foods to serve with fondue, but you can always try experimenting with anything you’d like to be coated in cheese. “Typically, it would be served with a crusty baguette,” says Wood. “Even day-old baguette because you want the cubes to be a little bit dry. It works better and it’s more traditional.”

Along with the cubed bread and vegetables, Wood recommends cocktail onions and gherkins – these can help cut the richness.

Any meats that are to accompany the meal should be cured.

Regardless of what cheeses you use or what you dip into the fondue, remember that it’s a faux pas to lose your food in the pot. “You may be designated to do the dishes,” Wood laughs.

Former professional soccer player Giuliano Frano, 29, has had surprising success starting a local restaurant with little experience, no theme and just a hunch.

Frano, who played for the Seattle Sounders for three years, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Hamilton’s Forge FC, says he and his business partner decided to open a restaurant following the shutdowns during the pandemic.

His scholastic background was in finance, which he studied at Boston College in Massachusetts. But he decided to try something different in his hometown of Mississauga. “We had time to plan, and we waited for an opening to become vacant,” he explains. “When we found the location at 80 Lakeshore Road, East, I looked at the garage door at the back and thought, ‘What if we brought a car into the back of the restaurant and had an artist spray paint it?’”

Unfortunately, the city wasn’t keen on the idea and ordered the door to be sealed off, so they opted to turn the bar/restaurant into a place where artists and performers could express themselves.

And thus Canvas Art Bar was born, and now in business for one year.

The restaurant, under the auspices of chef Ben Osmow, initially served “international” tapas and spreads, to keep prices low, but has now expanded into other items such as pizza, maple glazed salmon, Spanish pimento shrimp, Dali’s Strip Loin, Picasso’s Peri Chicken and Gogh’s Shrimp Tacos.

The restaurant’s focus, says Frano, “is making sure there is that wow factor. We can’t claim credit for the artwork. We’re first a restaurant/lounge. But we’re also an art gallery. All our artists are local and their names are prominently displayed. They set the prices for their work, which range from $200 to $15,000. “If you notice, even our tabletops are works of art.”

In the beginning, the owners partnered with a company called Figuration, bringing in a live model to be painted by an artist. Customers can also paint the model. Art classes cost $35, including materials. That tradition continues, with regular sessions listed on the restaurant›s website.

The long, narrow structure features paintings on the walls, which are for sale. QR codes beside each work provide additional information about the artist. One code, beside a portrait of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, comes alive when you point your phone at it (with the Artivive app), morphing into different portraits shown from different angles and in different colours. “That’s called Augmented Reality,” Frano explains. “Pointing your phone at the QR codes also brings you to a website where we have a video profile of all the artists,” Frano says. “We also use it to showcase their work.”

The art bar rotates artists every three months or so, to bring in new talent. “We also like to showcase artists we haven›t worked with,” he adds.

It should be noted that Canvas Art Bar also features dancers and comedians on different nights. The professional comedians come from as far away as Scarborough to hone their craft, and Frano says they›re a popular feature with diners.

The lounge also features Bachata lessons with a professional dance instructor, where customers can learn Latin dancing, including salsa.

In addition, the restaurant holds regular Mixology classes, where guests can learn to make different types of cocktails, which are a highlight of the menu. Each person gets to make cocktails, and the session costs $50, including materials. “On Friday and Saturday nights we have a DJ, usually accompanied by a musician,” Frano adds. “The DJ provides the main sound, and the musician accompanies him. We also bring in an artist and customers can watch him paint a canvas. It’s a relatively unstructured activity.”

The schedule is posted on the Art Bar’s website and is updated weekly. “Every night, we try to do different events,” Frano says.

Another interesting event the restaurant has offered is a private function in co-operation with local men’s clothing store “Cloth Talk,” a fashion show that was so popular Frano plans to repeat it several times a year. “Other businesses are approaching us now,” he says. “Same thing with the artists, now there’s a big waiting list for them to show their work.”

Canvas Art Bar can accommodate up to 270 patrons, and in warm months offers a rooftop patio. So far, it has accommodated eight corporate events and has hosted birthday parties of up to 100 guests.

The restaurant’s food is all supplied locally, and the wine list features mostly Italian wines.

Frano has certainly started an ambitious project with Canvas Art Bar. Few other venues offer the number of events, performers or artists that he’s presenting.

The bar has been raised; no pun intended. Experience what Canvas Art Bar has planned to tantalize your palette and see what results from the artists’ colour palettes.

For more information visit Canvasartbar.ca

When traditional talk therapy wasn’t working for him, David Lawson started looking for other solutions.

Now he wants to share those lessons with other men.  “I was 15 years old when my dad died. That had a huge impact on my life, obviously,” Lawson says.

As a boy and man, he pushed down his feelings of grief and loss, focusing instead on excelling at hockey as a teenager, and then later, persevering in the business world as an entrepreneur.  

But one day, his entire being refused to co-operate.  “I came home and told my wife, “I can’t do this anymore.”  That week, instead of going on yet another business trip, he booked a ticket to a self-help retreat in California. 

That trip was his first of eight healing retreats with Deepak Chopra, a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation, and author of more than 90 self-help books. “The main idea is to take care of yourself before you get sick, whereas here in the west we get sick and then take pills,” Lawson says. 

Western medicine techniques often involve pharmacological and surgical interventions but don’t address the underlying issue of stress that may be causing the disease. The Western approach to medicine is a reactive response to symptoms rather than a preventative approach. 

Lawson also went to India in 2019 and 2020 to learn more. There he dove deeper into his learning and practices.  He describes his experience in India as “intense. It’s like you become a dishrag. They rinse you out and you feel incredible afterwards.”  

These days the entrepreneur is pumping the brakes on his role at his other businesses to focus on Awake Warrior, a life-coaching business that assists men in all areas of their life. “I’ve delegated a lot of work at Icegreen,” says the 53-year-old owner of an international manufacturer, wholesaler and supplier of reusable bags and other environmentally responsible packaging solutions in Oakville and the United States. “My main goal is to help others. Men are struggling. We’re conditioned to (live in the) ego. We evaluate ourselves on external factors. It’s a never-ending treadmill. You have a big house; you want a bigger house, but the real true joy is peace on the inside.” This male conditioning to “suck it up” or “muscle through” tough times is evident in popular culture, Lawson says.  

For instance, take these lyrics from Shawn Mendes’ song Wonder, released in 2018: “I wonder, when I cry into my hands, I’m conditioned to feel like it makes me less of a man.” The Canadian singer told an interviewer “I was coming off the back of a couple of really big songs and was just so driven by my ego.” During an interview with Apple Music, he explained that he’d become laser-focused on cranking out hit singles. “It’s addictive… It’s destructive. You miss out on the most beautiful part, which is the process.” Through meditation, journaling, and self-care, Mendes reconnected with the joys of making music. 

Similarly, Lawson dived into learning about ancient eastern health practices to manage stress and anxiety. He learned about healing practices. He learned about living in the moment and experiencing emotions as they happen instead of ignoring them.  “Women are better at reaching out to people for help than men. Men tend to suppress feelings and that leads to addiction and all sorts of crazy things,” Lawson said.   

Males account for more than 75 per cent of suicides in Canada. That’s an average of 50 men per week, according to Statistics Canada. 

Similarly, surveys indicate that Canadian men are around three times more likely to experience addiction and substance abuse compared to Canadian women. This includes alcohol, cannabis, and opioid abuse.  

Lawson explains the reasons for these alarming statistics are many, but his view is that mental health services are typically offered in ways that do not appeal to men. “Guys tend to prefer solutions to problems,” Lawson says.

They are doers. They want informal action-based or group-based mental health services as opposed to formal one-on-one talk therapy. He says Awake Warrior is for men who are looking for the tools to apply to their own life.  “As men, we’re very good at solving problems, but we need to have tools to be present. True intelligence is in the body and heart. The truest intelligence is in the heart. You can call it intuition.”

Lawson teaches embodiment practices. Embodiment practices use the body as a tool for healing through self-awareness, mindfulness, connection, self-regulation, finding balance, and creating self-acceptance.

Embodiment explores the relationship between our physical being and our energy. It involves the interaction of our body, thoughts, and actions. “Men don’t know how to feel. Once men learn how to feel the full range of their emotions things begin to change. We must embrace our feminine side. You should cry, you should let it out. When men connect with an open heart, that’s when the healing journey takes place,” Lawson says. “Otherwise, they run around staying busy as a distraction from emotions or they get addicted to stuff. Bottling emotions is an awful thing, that’s why the suicide rate for men is going up. Listen,” he says, matter-of-factly, “I know this is Oakville and we have a lot of high achievers in the community. I am an ambitious guy too, but it cannot be your only focus. We’re taught to become successful. Success is based on material things but that’s not all there is.” 

Awake Warrior offers one-day retreats at a canoe club in Oakville and Sherwood Inn on Lake Joseph in Muskoka.  

There is also an online option. For $499, clients have access to six modules to guide the healing journey. Each video module has a downloadable file with instructions for self-mastery tools. He opted to share a pre-recorded online course so people all over the world can connect and learn the skills and techniques on their own schedule from any location.

Dr. Christina Hyland, who has a PhD in social work and has worked with Lawson, says he has so much real-life and professional experience. “As a therapist, I’ve referred clients to David who’ve benefited immensely from his support in deepening their healing journey, she says. “David can really assist in making mindfulness, meditation, self-love/compassion and healing tangible and attainable. He has a kind and compassionate demeanour and having gone through the journey to his own awakening, he understands the roadblocks that can surface along the way.”  

Frank Dunbar, a client of Lawson’s says, “My experience working with Dave was incredibly helpful. His holistic approach to stress management was very powerful yet easy to adopt.” 

On the Awake Warrior website, Matthew Wright recommends Lawson saying, “Over the years, David has taught me Qigong, meditation techniques, breath work, mantras, and continues to inspire me to up my game daily, to do the work that offers real value in life.” 

While these testimonials are uplifting, Lawson insists the secret to real success is to “discover what your gift is and share that with the world.  

“Now that I’ve learned it, I feel like I need to share it.”

For more information visit Awakewarrior.com