Meet Koosh Kahnamoui and Stephen Sankar of Kamoosh Bistro in Waterdown.
You’ve travelled a lot, did you pick up any culinary inspiration abroad?
After working in 2 fabulous restaurants – Hôtel Le Germain and La Société – in Toronto while my girlfriend Kira was finishing her University degree, we decided to take the opportunity to travel.
I was fortunate to explore and learn new culinary techniques and flavour profiles travelling through 8 countries in Asia.
Settling in Australia for over a year, as Chef de Partie in a small bistro in Perth I experienced a passion for scratch cooking with fresh local produce, seafood and meats.We drove across Australia and I grew my love for Italian cuisine as a Sous Chef in a creative Italian Restaurant on the East Coast.
What brought you back to Waterdown?
Cutting our travel short, I was privileged to spend quality time with my grandmother in her remaining months.
I was excited to learn that in my absence Kamoosh Bistro had been created and I could learn and expand my culinary journey with a restaurant that focused on my own belief of fresh, made from scratch, quality ingredients.
Remaining near my family and hometown of Waterdown was a wonderful added bonus.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Inspiration comes on a daily basis, whether it’s from different cultures, smells, sights – we infuse that inspiration into classic italian recipes. Our mantra has always been that food should have balanced flavours – and simple food tastes best.
Where do you source your ingredients from?
We work with local farms and source special ingredients, like aged balsamic or Parmigiano-Reggiano, directly from Italy. We make absolutely everything in-house. You can tell that it’s been made from scratch.
As the holiday season approaches and temperatures begin to drop, many of us look forward to the comfort of a traditional home-cooked holiday meal – steaming golden turkey, with mash, gravy, and of course the family stuffing recipe. Many families have holiday recipes passed down for generations, creating special legacies and remembering those gone before.
Variations on timeless classics can shake things up a bit. In a new trend, we see creative cooks heading to the barbecue to make their turkey. A barbeque can cook a turkey to perfection (be sure to use a meat thermometer) and has the bonus of leaving the indoor oven free for other dishes. Try Florence Meats on Speers Road in Oakville for your holiday fare, from the turkey to ham, and the wide selection of sausages for stuffing. Dietrich’s Meat and Denninger’s are other great options. Or, you could consider farm-to-table fare by ordering straight from Hayter’s Farm. Harry Hayter added turkeys to their product selection in 1948, and they have been supplying birds ever since. Hayter’s is the only turkey farm in Canada that raises birds and processes them on-site, and their turkeys are free-range and raised without hormones.
A turducken has also recently been gaining popularity. It is a deboned chicken stuffed into a deboned duck, stuffed into a deboned turkey. It’s super easy to cook and carve, and looks visually impressive. There are also variations within the turducken theme from bacon-wrapped to stuffed with chorizo, or chicken and apple.
Turkey stuffing can vary greatly, usually with a base of bread, but flavoured with anything from chestnuts, sausage meat, caramelized onion, cranberry, apples, or mushrooms. Many people skip the turkey altogether and just enjoy stuffing as a main dish. A bacon-wrapped sage and sausage stuffing can be beautifully presented as a terrine and served with all the regular sides. The stuffing can be served in individual muffin cups, making for easy service. Cranberry and sage stuffing muffins look impressive and have the bonus of being crispy on top. Cornbread stuffing with sausage and fennel is another innovative option or even tortilla chip chorizo stuffing for a Tex-Mex version.
However, plant-based and vegetarian solutions are where the real innovation in the holiday meal comes about. The meal solutions are so delicious, even the most committed meat-eater will be salivating.
A vegan or vegetarian gravy can be made simply and slathered all over vegan mashed potatoes. Jamie Oliver has a wonderful gravy recipe using onion, carrot, celery, porcini mushroom, herbs, tomato paste, and vegetable stock amongst other things. This version is healthier and more flavourful than the traditional counterpart. An even simpler solution combines blended mashed potato, almond milk and dried porcini mushroom. Or, you could try something a bit more exotic with a base of coconut milk, dark soy, and garlic.
If your goal is a plant-based holiday meal, the ideas are endless. A fun idea is to stuff mini pumpkins with anything from vegan chili to roasted eggplant and serve them with their lids on for a huge visual appeal. Jumbo pasta shells can be filled with a lentil ragout and drizzled with rich tomato sauce and Parmesan, or a cheese alternative. There is even the option of a butternut “turducken” stuffed with eggplant and zucchini. Visually appealing, healthy, and cutting edge culinary cool.
Tofurky has become popular as a plant-based turkey option and will soak up all the delicious sauces and gravies.
There are so many options available that even the pickiest family member can be catered for – and there is so much fun to be had experimenting with new things in the kitchen. Dig in and happy eating!
Sip hot cacao from a hand-painted Emma Bridgewater Mug, available in different patterns and colours. Fairhome.ca 2289 Fairview Street, Burlington
Lakeside Livin
An adorable addition to your holiday table. These festive salt and pepper shakers will bring out the holiday spirit in everyone. Lakesidelivin.com 100 Bronte Road, Oakville
C’est Naturel
Sometimes a touch of texture is the best accessory. This soft, sophisticated cape will keep you wrapped in style (and warmth) all winter long. Cestnaturel.store 3300 Fairview Street, Burlington
Core 1
Rock around the Christmas tree with Sonos, the ultimate wireless home sound system that fills your home with brilliant sound, room by room. Core1.ca 249 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville
Tundra leather
The perfect gift for someone special. Beautiful 100% leather toiletry bag, hand-made in Hamilton. Tundraleather.ca 313 King Street East, Hamilton
Bogart Home and Décor Consignment
Whether you’re looking for the perfect ring for the perfect person, or simply a unique accessory, designer Erin Tracy has something for every style. Bogarthome.com 2448 Lakeshore Rd W, Oakville
LL Bean
Luxuriously comfortable, these slippers are made of superior sheepskin to keep your feet warmer on chilly mornings. Llbean.ca Oakville Place, 240 Leighland Ave, Oakville
Creative Insight Pottery
Give the gift of experience. A romantic gesture or fun with a friend – let your creative side run wild with a pottery class. Creativeinsightpottery.com 23 Main Street South, Waterdown
Goodnight Goodmorning
Slip into something a little more comfortable this holiday season. Cozy and stylish, these jammies are available at Goodnight Goodmorning Goodnightgoodmorning.ca 100 Bronte Road, Oakville
Burlington Museum
Made in Burlington! The perfect way to announce your special news – an adorable, gender neutral, onesie. Museumsofburlington.ca
Casual Gourmet
Show your kitchen some love with premium cookware for your holiday feast. Casualgourmet.ca 1027 King St W, Hamilton
Laura Tedesco
Shine bright like a diamond with this 14k Rose Gold Diamond Ring with a Sorbet Sapphire. Custom designed by Laura Tedesco. Lauratedesco.com 195 Locke St S #1, Hamilton
Graham & Brooks
It’s not the holiday season without holiday sweaters – even if it’s for your wine bottle. Grahamandbrooks.com 43 Cootes Drive, Dundas
Tocca Finita
These beautiful earrings are exclusive to Tocca Finita. Available in silver, gold, or two-tone. Crafted by local Jewellery designer, Jenny Bird. toccafinita.ca 315 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville
Zahara’s Boutique
Make a statement with this stunning silk scarf. Truly one-of-a-kind with wool patterns felted in. Zaharasboutique.com 321 Cornwall Rd, Oakville
Finger Print Jewellery by Mariel Pagliai
A perfect gift for family or friends. Custom hand-made silver charms to match your loved ones. Marielpagliai.com
Town Square Gallery
Elegant, stylish, and whimsical – this bronze frog crafted by world renowned artist Tim Cotterill is the perfect addition to any art collection. Townsquaregallery.com 94 George Street, Oakville
Rustic Daisy’s
For coffee, drinks, Champagne or cocktails – these tumblers are the perfect stocking stuffer for the mom on your list. Rusticdaisys.ca 25 Main Street South, Waterdown
Shop and win at Downtown Oakville’s 12 Days of Giveaways!
Christmas is coming early to Downtown Oakville! From December 5 to 16, the Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Area (BIA) will be surprising randomly selected shoppers by covering the cost of their entire purchase. During our 12 Days of Giveaways, we’ll be giving away a total of $10,000, plus additional giveaways of items from our Holiday Gift Guide. Come armed with your Christmas list and keep an eye out for Santa’s elves, as we’ll be roaming throughout the Downtown waiting to surprise you.
“Twelve Days of Giveaways is our way of saying thank you to this amazing community for supporting the businesses of Downtown Oakville throughout the Lakeshore Road Revitalization Project,” says Sharlene Plewman, Executive Director of the Downtown Oakville BIA. “We look forward to seeing you throughout the newly reopened Lakeshore Road over the holiday season.”
The holiday season is just around the corner, and with it comes the hustle and bustle of decorating our homes.From festive plates and glittery glassware to cherished family heirlooms, we all have that special something that brings the holidays alive. While we tend to spend most of our time trimming our tree, decking the halls, and hanging stockings with care, the best place to showcase our holiday spirit is outside the home. “Outdoor holiday lighting adds so much to a home,” says Don McQueen, president and owner of Christmas Décor in Oakville. “During the holiday season, as the days become shorter and the nights become longer, people go to work and come home in darkness. By adding festive lighting, it can brighten someone’s day. Every time I turn onto my street and see my house lit up, it gives me an instant lift.”
To get the best curb appeal, Don says there are three key spots you should be decorating:
Always a classic is rooftop lighting. Decorating your roof with greens and reds, or simply a snowy-white glow is a wonderful way to make your home shine. There are a variety of string lights available in both LED and incandescent. LED is the most cost-effective due to its high efficiency. Over the last few years, the trend has strayed from large, colourful bulbs popular in the 90s to mini-lights and hanging icicles. String lights offer twinkle, ambiance, and warmth to a typically cold winter night – an enjoyable sight for anyone passing by.
During the day, however, string lights lose their allure. Adding daytime décor to the porch and centre of the home, such as over the front door or garage, extends a warm invitation to visitors. Focus on decorating entrances with garlands and wreaths, or even throw a cozy blanket over a rocking chair. Incorporate festive planters filled with winter blooms, plaid ribbons, rustic wood, and lanterns to tie it all together.
Lastly, decorating your walkway, gardens, and lawn adds focus to the landscape and maintenance of the property. While we can’t see your green thumb under the piles of snow, you can bring your lawn to life with animated decorations. Holiday inflatables have become a hot-ticket item as they’re easy to use. Pathway lighting along sidewalks and driveways is another bright decorating idea. You can also dazzle with a light show, put on by projector lights and spotlights,many of which work with smartphones.
From a decorating perspective, Don recommends tackling all three focal points to get the most curb appeal.
With the inspiration of Pinterest, it’s easy to convince ourselves that we can tackle Griswold-level decorating all on our own. However, there’s a good chance you have a memory or two of your father climbing up an old rickety ladder (in a snowstorm) with a giant plastic Santa on his shoulder – DIY isn’t always as it seems.
“We’re trained to work with heights and trained in ladder safety,” says Don. “We have liability insurance and are covered by WSIB. By hiring someone, you remove the danger factor.”
Photo courtesy of Festive Décor, Burlington
Something else to consider is storage and takedown. Doing it yourself usually entails buying, hanging, taking down, and storing all of the decorations yourself. Jamie Roy, owner and operator of Festive Décor in Burlington, says that by hiring professionals, there is no need for decoration takedown and no need to worry about storage. This means you can take your lights down long before it warms up in the spring. “Your colour and style can be changed from year-to-year as opposed to store-bought lights,” adds Jamie. Lighting quality also varies depending on if you use a professional or choose to buy your own. The lights used by the pros are brighter and more durable than what can be found in hardware stores.
Whether you are tackling this year’s lighting job on your own or relying on a professional to do it, make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get the job done. Professional bookings fill up quickly and bad weather can get ahead of DIY plans. Create a true winter wonderlandthis year!
December is a wonderfully holy time of year with several religious holidays throughout the month. People of all faiths and nationalities have something special to celebrate.
The Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 12th is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe which is observed by Catholics, especially those of Hispanic descent. The story of Guadalupe dates back to the year 1531 when it’s said a native Mexican peasant named Juan Diego experienced a vision of a young woman at a place near to what is now known as Mexico City.
There are many ways to celebrate this holiday, by eating festive foods, such as gorditas, and bringing roses into one’s home – a tradition that’s important because Our Lady is said to have presented Juan Diego with roses.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is an eight-day wintertime Jewish Festival of Lights which is celebrated from Dec. 22 to 30. The celebrations begin at sunset and in honour of the holiday, eight candles are lit on a menorah. The tradition comes from the story that there was only enough oil to light a Temple lamp for one day, but the flame burned for eight.
During Hanukkah, a typical Jewish household will likely celebrate with specific foods, such as latkes, and light the menorah once per night for eight nights. Special prayers are also recited.
Yule
Yule is celebrated on December 22 by Germanic peoples around the world who celebrate the Winter Solstice. Yule is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and is the ancient name in the Germanic lunar calendar for a winter festival corresponding to December and January. Yule is a festival which refers to the 12-day holiday associated with the Feast of the Nativity.
Christmas
Next, we come to a holiday that’s celebrated by millions around the world. Christmas is celebrated on December 25th because that date is recognized as the birth-date of Jesus Christ. While the religious holiday has been observed by Christians since the Middle Ages, it is also widely celebrated by millions of non-Christians around the world. The holiday has grown to include many fun traditions, such as a red-suited fellow named Santa Claus who scurries down chimneys laden with presents.
Kwanzaa
December 26 is the starting date for Kwanzaa, a week-long, African-American and Pan-African celebration of family, community, and culture. Introduced in 1966, it was named for the time of year when African tribes celebrated the first harvest of crops. Some people who celebrate Kwanzaa believe the festival has a spiritual overtone because of its emphasis on faith.
Bodhi Day
January 2, 2020, commemorates Bodhi Day, a Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, experienced enlightenment. (Buddha means “awakened one.”) It is also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali.
Siddhartha Gautama is said to have vowed to sit under a peepal tree, a popular sacred fig tree, found in what is now Bodhgaya, India. According to tradition, Siddhartha meditated until he found the root of suffering and discovered how to liberate himself from it. He did not rise until he was enlightened.
Bodhi, which is also spelled Bodie or Bode, is synonymous with the state of nirvana – being freed from hate, greed, and ego. The day is observed by many mainstream Mahayana traditions who celebrate by decorating a ficus tree with beads, coloured lights, and ornaments that represent the three jewels: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Others mark the holiday by meditating and visiting shrines that serve special cookies shaped like Bodhi trees or heart-shaped leaves.
While these aren’t all of the cultural celebrations that take place in December (there are a total of 14), these holidays provide a look into the way many of our friends and neighbours celebrate the holidays. Whether you’re lighting your menorah, singing carols under a Christmas tree, or feasting on gorditas – we wish you the happiest of holidays.
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Meet Jocelyne Pelchat of The Cornerstone Pilates in Burlington.
What was the inspiration behind The Cornerstone Pilates?
JPI come from a 15-year career in the Apparel Industry. 2012 was a pivotal point for me where I realized I wanted to do something else with my life. I used to do Pilates every morning without missing a beat, just like brushing my teeth. One morning, while I was doing Pilates, I thought to myself “why would I not do the one thing I do every single day for a living?” It makes me happy. On my return home, I registered for my fi rst Mat Pilates teacher training. Fast forward 5 years later, I opened my fi rst brick and mortar location in Burlington which focuses on the power of movement in our every day lives.
What types of services do you offer at The Cornerstone Pilates?
JPWe offer group classes and private sessions; solos, duets and trios. We have a variety of reformer, springboard, mat and ELDOA classes to choose from every day of the week. We also offer reflexology as we believe healthy moving bodies start at the roots of our tree.
What’s your favourite part about the business?
JPOur clients. Seeing them smile every day, seeing their progress and witnessing for ourselves how the miracle of movement can help enrich their lives.
Can you tell us a bit about Pilates and who can benefit from it?
JPAt The Cornerstone Pilates, we teach movement, not exercise and Pilates truly is for everyone. We have clients that come to us from different backgrounds and for various different reasons. From a 25 year old man to an 85 year young woman, not everyone needs the same care, the same level of attention so we aim to get to know our clients, their movement patterns, but mostly their goals. Many belief systems think that when there is pain, there should be rest, we believe that moving in the proper way is most beneficial for the joints, for the muscles and for the brain. Exercise doesn’t need to be painful or aggressive. We just need to learn to move better in order to help us do the daily things we do more efficiently. We’d love to have you come visit the studio and find out if Pilates is exactly what you’ve been missing.
Are you headed to Burlington MADE this weekend? This Friday and Saturday, 60 talented artisans are gathering at McMaster’s Ron Joyce Centre for the third annual Burlington MADE Holiday Market. The semi-annual market is becoming known as one of the best curated markets in the region with an average vendor acceptance rate of 25%. In addition to handmade shopping, features of the event will include live music by Burlington artists Dan Taylor and Sarah Campbell Mills, children’s card-making provided by ActiveParents.ca, and a host of gourmet refreshment purveyors.
We intend to shop local as much as possible this holiday season, and discovering our region’s artisans is a fantastic way to score unique finds while encouraging our city’s economy. It also makes for great conversation at your office Secret Santa party.
Here are 10 items that are on our shopping list:
Concrete planter Amy McCarthy Designs
Original print children’s outfit Bebe Bird
Wooden Nativity Set Blythe House 1860
Live Edge Beer Flight Hop & Grain
Wood and Metal Cufflinks Nicole Gagnon Wooden Designs
Crystal Geode Air Plant Holder Pine Flora
Hand-cut Pendant StrayStones
Marshmallows Sweet and Simple
Bubble Bath Bars :to bathe
Charcuterie Boards The Woodsman’s Daughter
The Burlington MADE Holiday Craft Market runs Friday, November 29, from 6 to 9pm and Saturday, November 30, from 10am to 4pm. To find out more about the event, preview the full list of vendors, and purchase your tickets, visit www.burlingtonmade.com.
There’s no better time than the holiday shopping season to spread joy by supporting the small businesses around us. Our region is chock full of talented artisans with unique gifts and fantastic stories to tell. This month we’re taking a look behind the scenes at Petit Pepper, a brand of organic baby clothes handmade by nurse and mama Brittney Pepper.
How did you get started as a maker?
BAfter my daughter was born, I looked for trendy, hard-wearing clothes that could be passed on to younger siblings and couldn’t find that level of quality. I started shopping around for adorable fabrics and Petit Pepper was born!
What does your workday look like as a maker and mom?
BThings are ever-changing with a toddler—once upon a time, she played in the play pen while I worked, however now most of my sewing gets done during naptime or after bedtime.
What is your favourite item to make?
B Dresses! They’re the most time-consuming, but I can’t help imagining all the little ones that will be in them. I love seeing excited shoppers who notice all the finer details.
Where do you hope to see your business in a few years?
BI truly believe in slow fashion and want to see more and more kids wearing Petit Pepper while out and about. We’ve had so many requests for adult clothes and accessories that we have big plans! And baby #2 arrives in May, which will mean another model at the Petit Pepper stand.
Meet Brittney at the Burlington MADE Holiday Market on November 29-30, along with 60 other artisans handpicked from across southern Ontario. She also offers a local pickup option at www.petitpepper.ca
Stephanie Finn is the founder and creative director of Burlington MADE handmade and foodie markets and a small business coach serving creative entrepreneurs at Stephanie Street Co. Find out more at www.burlingtonmade.com.
The wait is finally over. After months of excavating, laying stone, and some seriously hard work – Lakeshore Road is set to reopen just in time for holiday shopping.
Many who frequent downtown Oakville know that Phase 1 of the Lakeshore Road Streetscape Reconstruction has been extensive. The project, which is to be completed in two phases over a two-year period, had closed vehicle access beginning in April 2019 from Navy Street to Thomas Street. While the second phase of the project is yet to begin, when complete improvements will include new street furniture, a pedestrian crossover at Navy and Church streets, a two-way conversion of Navy Street, bike corrals and patio design, redesign of the town square, among other exciting initiatives.
With phase 1 under wraps, downtown Oakville has come alive in their typical holiday fashion. The streets are lined with beautiful holiday décor and twinkling lights. With Towne Square construction postponed, the annual tree lighting ceremony will take place in Centennial Square (beside the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts) will be complete with a 50 ft. blue spruce Christmas tree. Also new at this year’s tree lighting and holiday market will be LED swings (only for the night, so don’t miss them!) and a 10.5 ft. illuminated ornament to help you capture amazing memories.
When you visit downtown for your holiday shopping, roads will be fully reopened to vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, construction fencing will be completely removed, parking spaces will be available on Lakeshore Road, and new street furniture will be in place.
The reopening of Lakeshore Road means the Christmas season will be in full swing in Downtown Oakville.
