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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 11, 2006 - 39 Artscene Oakville Beaver · WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2006 Taste of Italy stirring things up on Speers Road By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A little taste of Italy is stirring things up on Speers Rd. Ste. Antonio Bistro, a high-end Mediterranean restaurant, is now open for business at 467 Speers ­ right next to The Oakville Beaver office. It's the third restaurant in a franchise that's had success in Campbellville and Milton and will soon be adding a Hamilton location to the list. "It's a more challenging market here," said manager of the Oakville restaurant, Paul Johnston. "Oakville is renowned for very high-end dining restaurants. We're hoping to add to that experience in town and kind of swim with bigger fish." So far, Johnston says the new restaurant, which seats 110, has generated a good amount of interest. "We're getting a lot of positive feedback, and that's a good thing," he said. "We're trying to establish those positive relationships with people. It's a cliché, but it's one plate at a time." Located in an office/retail area, Ste. Antonio Bistro is hoping to establish a relationship with business clientele who want breakfast and lunch meetings in "an up-scale, yet comfortable atmosphere of fine-din- LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER NEW BISTRO: Chef Kamal Bekheet, server Diana Servedio, Assistant Manager Randy Alagaratnam, and Manager Paul Johnston are now calling the new Ste. Antonio Bistro their home away from home. ing," says Johnston. "We want to establish breakfast and lunch meetings here as an option instead of people having to go to the downtown area." Ste Antonio Bistro is also the lone Mediterranean restaurant in the area. "We're looking to develop relationships with an Oakville diner who is familiar and comfortable with the lakeshore dining scene, and perhaps looking for another option," said Johnston. "We wish to be mentioned as one of the quality, fine-dining establishments in Oakville." The lunch and dinner menus include everything from various sandwiches, like Montreal smoked meat and grilled vegetable with goat cheese, to pizzas, calamari, hamburgers, salads and a whole range of pastas, including spaghetti primavera and fettuccine al pollo. The dinner menu includes lobster, lamb, chicken, veal and steak prepared in various ways, including a petto di pollo, which is chicken breast stuffed with spinach, bruschetta and mozzarella cheese in a red wine sauce. All of the produce and herbs are fresh, says Johnston, and the meats are steroid-free. What sets Ste. Antonio's apart, he says, is the fact that they have a corporate chef who makes all of the stocks and sauces. "That gives us a high-end consistency, so whether you're eating at Ste. Antonio's in Oakville or Campbellville, you're going to have that same high-end quality experience," he said. "It's a marriage of quality ingredients to enhance foods and consistency of products." Another thing that sets them apart is that Ste. Antonio's provides a breakfast option. "That is something unique to a high-end dining experience," he said, noting that adding breakfast to the menu was "in response to the immediate local market." Having recently opened its doors -- Aug. 17 was the official first day -- the restaurant has now worked out any kinks in the newly renovated building, which hadn't been renovated in more than 30 years. "We're hoping to grow here as a company and as a staff," said Johnston, who has been working with Ste. Antonio Bistro for six months and has more than 25 years' experience in the restaurant business in Milton and Toronto. "I wanted something a little more challenging, but toned down from downtown Toronto," he said. "Oakville's a challenging environment. It has a reputation for quality restaurants and fine food. It's a challenging location, but I think we're up to it." Ste. Antonio Bistro, 467 Speers Rd., is open 8 a.m. ­ 9 p.m. Monday ­ Friday and 4 ­ 9 p.m. on Saturday. Ten Thousand Villages's 60th party From humble beginnings in the trunk of a car, to a network of stores across North America, Ten Thousand Villages will celebrate its achievements in building community at home and abroad. On Saturday, Oct. 14, Ten Thousand Villages stores across Canada will celebrate 60 years of trading fairly. Stores plan to mark the day with fair trade food, entertainment, and giveaways. As a non-profit organization, Ten Thousand Villages has always relied on motivated volunteers to help fill their orders and run their stores. For 60 years now, Ten Thousand Villages has been working directly with artisans in more than 35 developing countries, providing a market for them to sell their handicrafts. Ingrid Heinrichs Pauls, manager of downtown Oakville's Ten Thousand Villages store, is busy with final plans that will thank customers old and new. "Talented individuals from the poorest communities would have little hope in getting a fair price for these beautiful products if it weren't for Ten Thousand Villages and all the commitment that our community brings to it." Festivities get underway at 10 a.m., when Mayor Ann Mulvale officially cuts the fair trade brownies. "We are not your typical store, and we won't be cutting a typical cake," says Heinrichs Pauls. "Our brownies will be made with our own fair trade cocoa." Fair trade cookies and snacks will also be served, as well as samples of Ten Thousand Villages' famous fair trade coffee and chocolate. In celebration of the number 60, the first 60 customers will receive grab bags. Every 60 minutes there will be a draw for a door prize. Some of Appleby College's talented students will also provide live music for the occasion. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. on this special day. Feel free to linger in our store. (None of our merchandise ever does.) NEW ARRIVALS Fine furniture on consignment. Redecorating? Downsizing? Making Changes? Let us sell your items for you. Call 905-815-1949 to find out how. 427 Speers Road, Oakville Visit our Brand New Website: tradingplacescanada.com Specialty Products Call for a professional consultative approach to your printing needs. 905. 845. 4549