Special Features - Golden Fork 2016

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2016

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RED DEER EXPRESS 3

DOSE Coffee Co. recognized for serving up the best

BY ERIN FAWCETT RED DEER EXPRESS A locally owned and operated café in the heart of Red Deer’s downtown continues to impress.

DOSE Coffee Co. won gold for Best Café and silver for Best Cup of Coffee in this year’s Golden Fork Awards.

From high quality coffee to seasonal specialty drinks and lattes, the staff at DOSE Coffee Co. pride themselves on offering the very best to their customers.

Rolland Forsland, co-owner with Alison McCracken are the driving force behind DOSE Coffee Co. Since opening in 2013 the café continues to see success. The café is also famous for their ‘latte art’ in which lattes are served with a heart on top.

“Things have been really good. Red Deer has been very supportive of us and they continue to be supportive of us,” said Forsland, adding their location on Little Gaetz Avenue has been perfect. “The street has really taken shape.

There are such good businesses here and it’s been nice to see it becoming developed. At the same time when we first moved here it was up and coming but I don’t think it had taken

the shape that it has now. It’s nice to see.”

Forsland said what sets DOSE Coffee Co. apart from others like it in the City is their focus.

“We really focus on the product that we have rather than trying to diversify too much,” he said. “I think that is what actually differentiates us from other businesses and cafés. Other cafés will have really great food and things like that and we put our effort into our coffee.

“Our staff here is also amazing. They take good care of our customers. And beyond just being great to deal with, they want to learn more themselves to help create a better product. We do our best in choosing a good quality product, but they really do a great job of serving the customer and providing the best end product.”

As for their win in this year’s Golden Fork Awards, Forsland said it is exciting.

“It’s really nice and really humbling to get awarded for something that you work really hard on,” he said. “It was very surprising, but at the same time we do work really hard, so it’s nice to be recognized for putting in the work.”

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MADE WITH LOVE - Rolland Forsland prepares a specialty coffee at DOSE Coffee

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Roosters Wood Fire & Smoke takes silver for Best New Restaurant Owner Joel Martens looks to make customers’ experiences the best

BY MARK WEBER RED DEER EXPRESS A relatively new addition to the City, Roosters Wood Fire & Smoke has already landed silver in the Best New Restaurant category in this year’s Golden Fork Awards.

The restaurant - warmly decorated in rustic tones with a warm and friendly vibe - is located in the Gaetz Avenue Crossing shopping area on the City’s southside.

Joel and Kim Martens, owners/operators of the eatery, first opened its doors this past June. And from the start, the restaurant has been landing high marks from those who have dropped by to check out the extensive menu and comfortable surroundings. The couple also own Westlake Grill at Heritage Ranch.

From the start, Joel said the goal was to provide a unique and compelling experience for customers - where folks leave having thoroughly enjoyed their time out on the town.

When asked what he wants guests to be chatting

about on the way home, he said those considerations are a driving force behind bringing the vision to the forefront.

“I want them to be saying, ‘What a great experience the food was amazing, the service was amazing, and I’m coming back as soon as I can’,” he explained, adding that he’s also very proud of his team at the restaurant.

He encourages them to not just provide the top-notch service, but also to engage with folks as they enjoy their meals.

As he explains, it’s like having a customer who has an enjoyable evening, but then for whatever reason may not return for a few years. “What is it that we can do to bring that timeline up to tomorrow?” he said.

Again, it goes back to the simple but all-encompassing rule of careful customer service. Servers are trained to do all they can do to make a diner’s experience as top-notch as it can be.

If there is, for any reason, dissatisfaction - immediate steps are taken to take care of the situation and have

GEARING UP - Rachel Danilak, a supervisor at Roosters Wood Fire & Smoke, prepares the restaurant for another busy day recently. The eatery landed silver in the Best New Restaurant category in this year’s Golden Fork Awards. Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express that person leave a happy, satisfied customer.

To that end, Martens added that another key to

Thank You to all of our staff who work so diligently to bring you baking, and to all our customers who give us such great support!

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success comes from how and Curried Maple Glaze) to 2, Korean BBQ Fire Roasted well one adapts to the local a Burger Bar that runs daily for 2 and Sour Cherry culture. That affects every- from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pomegranate Lacquered Chicken for 2 Fired thing, from the variety of choices on the with Cherry Whiskey. menu to the selecThere are single serv“I WANT THEM TO BE SAYING, tions of cheerful, enings of the above ‘WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE - THE gaging tunes playing choices as well.

FOOD WAS AMAZING, THE SERVICE in the background.

Folks may wish to WAS AMAZING, AND I’M COMING Roosters Wood Fire & finish off their meals BACK AS SOON AS I CAN’.”

Smoke also features with a piece of pie live, acoustic music or a dark chocolate JOEL MARTENS several evenings a mousse. week as well.

For Martens, keep“It’s acoustic, so it’s ing tabs on how folks not overwhelming and you Dinner highlights run the feel about Roosters Wood can still talk,” he adds with gamut from a range of ap- Fire & Smoke is key. And a laugh. petizers to specialty salads with the success of the After all, the food is really (Beef & Watermelon; Baby Westlake Grill, he’s aiming ‘the show’.

Caesar, Spinach & Berry) to shape the new venture And there is plenty to to specialty crust pizza according to what cuschoose from, too, from choices, burgers, succulent tomers wish to see and a lunch menu that fea- steaks and fish. There is also experience. tures such highlights as a range of chicken dishes “The more good stories I soups and salads, fish and including such favourites can send out the door, the chips and steak sandwiches as Tequila Fired Chicken, better.”

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RED DEER EXPRESS 5

Providing healthy options at The Maple Tree Bakery wins bronze for Best Gluten-Free in this year’s Golden Fork Awards

BY ERIN FAWCETT RED DEER EXPRESS A local business which will soon be celebrating its one year anniversary has garnered attention in this year’s Golden Fork Awards.

The Maple Tree won bronze for Best Gluten Free in the City.

The Maple Tree offers gluten-free and dairy-free options as well as vegan options. They offer a variety of baked goods including cookies to banana and chocolate zucchini loaves, to buns and bread, squares and more - all of which is baked fresh daily.

Vanessa Darling and her husband John Darling are the founders of The Maple Tree. The bakery opened last fall.

The gluten-free lifestyle began for Vanessa out of necessity after she was told by her naturopath she was intolerant to gluten.

“I was chronically sick all the time. I had sinus infection after sinus infection, I had rashes, discomfort in my stomach and chronic fatigue. I was always sick and I didn’t know why,” she said. “I finally went to a naturopath and he told me I was so close to being Celiac and he recommended that I go on a gluten-free diet right away, as well as dairy-free.

“I did that for a solid year and I felt amazing. Then I discovered that it was something I had to continue doing. I eventually introduced dairy again but I continued on with the gluten-free.”

Vanessa has always had a passion for baking and cooking and she turned her love with being in the kitchen into a business and that is how The Maple Tree

came to be.

“What we’re trying to do is provide a healthy option by using healthy fats, healthy sugars, a lot of organic prod-

FRESH - Vanessa Darling showed off some delicious gluten-free muffins in The Maple Tree, which won bronze for the Best Gluten-Free category.

Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express

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ucts, lots of seeds and some nuts. But we are trying to meet a lot of dietary restrictions at the same time,” she said.

“While we aren’t a nut-free facility we can certainly make items that are nutfree in order to accommodate those with nut allergies.”

Vanessa added delving into a new lifestyle like gluten-free can be a daunting task.

“I was actually really mad (when first diagnosed). And out of the frustration, that is when I started the recipe development and it became easier as I went. Once I was informed and knew what I needed to avoid so I wasn’t getting sick - it was a lot of experimenting and it’s not straightforward. That is another reason we exist, we want people to come here who are feeling that way and we can suggest certain items to them and they can give it a try,” she said. “When people are newly diagnosed Celiac or gluten sensitive, the best advice I can give them is a quote from my sister which is, ‘Rather than focusing on the things you can’t have, try an find the fun and joy in enjoying new foods you may not have tried before.’”

As for their win in this year’s Golden Fork Awards, Vanessa said it is an honour.

“It is fantastic. I feel really blessed to be able to help those people in the community that need this,” she said. “It’s heartwarming to know a little business like this can succeed and can have continued growth in the community.” efawcett@reddeerexpress.com

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Couple enjoys success with new downtown café Chill Out Café and Bakery garners silver in the Golden Fork Awards

BY ZACHARY CORMIER RED DEER EXPRESS One pair of new Red Deer business owners have quickly worked their way into the hearts of their customers thanks to good eats and relaxing seats.

When Gabor and Csilla Dudas first opened the doors of the brand new Chill Out Café and Bakery in downtown Red Deer last December, they had no idea that the City would take to their idea of a non-traditional coffee shop with such gusto.

“We didn’t know much about Red Deer, we just moved from Jasper here. The residents are awesome. We have found new friends here between the customers and they love us, they love the tastes,” said Csilla after finding out that her and Gabor’s restaurant had been voted silver for Best Café in this year’s Golden Fork Awards.

“This was a big, big surprise. We didn’t even know that the Express has such a thing, so it was so touching.”

The couple had been working towards opening a café of their own in Canada since moving here from Hungary three years ago.

“My husband has been in this business for about 30 years. So back in Hungary he had the same bakery and café,” remembered Csilla, adding that Gabor first started his own business 16 years ago after having worked as everything from a cook to a cake decorator.

So the couple chose Canada and began working towards opening a restaurant of their own on this side of the Atlantic.

After living and working in Jasper for two years, they eventually settled on Red Deer as the site for their new café.

“It’s between the two big cities and because it’s a cool place. It’s calm,” Csilla said.

Quickly, the couple set about bringing some brand new ideas into the food scene in the City, starting with the name of the restaurant and moving right down to the food itself.

“We didn’t want a Hungarian restaurant because we don’t want to push people to new things. We want just to make more colour; to put more colour in this industry - more tastes, different kinds of stuff.

So we have Hungarian stuff, but we have Canadian and we have everything,” Gabor said, adding they also try to keep up with what the customers want rather than sticking stringently to one fixed menu.

“We’re flexible. We go after the customers’ needs,” said Csilla. “You used to say that it’s a European bakery, but with Canadian tastes or just a hint of Europe,” she laughed, looking at Gabor.

The idea, they added, is the process is Hungarian. The couple makes all the food themselves from the soups to the breads and everything in between. They also only use real ingredients, nothing is frozen or artificially preserved.

“It’s like grandma made,” Csilla said.

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NEW FACES - From left, Csilla and Gabor Dudas stand inside the Chill Out Café and Bakery in downtown Red Deer. The couple, who are originally from Hungary, were voted silver for Best Café in the Golden Fork Awards in their first year of operation. Zachary Cormier/Red Deer Express They also have everything on the bakery side, from bread to soups to hot food.

They even have wine for those special date nights.

“The most important thing is that this is a show bakery. So people come in and they see what they’re buying. It’s not by order,” said Csilla, adding in Europe, this is ‘in fashion’. “We wanted to introduce this. You see the food, you see the pastries.”

Beyond the food, the atmosphere in the relatively small space is relaxed.

There are a number of sofas interspersed around the tables and chairs, some of which are adorned with a stuffed animal or two to really make you want curl up with a good book.

“I was the designer, he’s the chef,” Csilla laughed.

“The idea was to have like a meeting place. Because restaurants are like meet-

ing places but then you need to order and then food’s coming and you go. This is more like a catering place. Now we see that people are using the space for meetings and girl nights.”

She added the colours in the café and bakery also give off a calming vibe, which is just what one needs after finishing a term paper or a particularly stressful day at work.

“Safe, calm, peaceful, relaxing. Chill out.”

The couple said they are extremely grateful to the people of Red Deer for being so open to their ideas and food.

“We want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts. We were new and you know when somebody’s new in a new town, new country, you don’t know what to expect. And this was way over our expectations,” said Csilla. zcormier@reddeerexpress.com

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RED DEER EXPRESS 7

Boston Pizza offers something for everyone

BY KALISHA MENDONSA RED DEER EXPRESS Locally owned Boston Pizza (BP) restaurants have once again claimed a number of Golden Fork awards, adding five more to their past six years’ worth of awards.

This year, Boston Pizza was named silver in the categories of Best Wings, Best Appetizers and Best Dessert and was bestowed the bronze for Best Kid Friendly and Best Sports Bar. Regional Vice President Richard Carramusa said it feels great to continue to be recognized for the efforts of the Central Alberta Boston Pizza team, as well as the efforts of other BPs. “One benefit to having all the shops in and around Red Deer under the same ownership is that we can really cater our restaurants to the demographics of those areas,” Carramusa said.

He added by changing up the dining sizes and viewing options in lounges depending on the demographics of the customers, it gives people the freedom to enjoy Boston Pizza food and deals while having the option to avoid certain crowds based on interests of the customer.

“We have the ability to offer sports and other viewing events at some restaurants - for example UFC nights in Blackfalds and our north hill Red Deer location - and focus more on our family demographics in other locations, such as the south hill and Gasoline Alley locations,” he said.

“We are also one of the few restaurant chains that will still take larger reservations who can sit together, even some-

FOR THE LOVE OF BP’s - Richard Carramusa, regional vice president of Boston Pizza, prepared to serve up a tasty pizza with a side of award-winning wings.

Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express

times up to fifty or more people. Every weekend, from basically open to close throughout our restaurants, we have any number of hockey teams, baseball teams, soccer teams and groups of that nature who come in to eat. We’ve got large groups that come in after annual concerts or tournaments or other events as well.”

Carramusa added with over 130 items on the Boston Pizza menu, there is typically something for each person to enjoy who comes through the door. As well,

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specialized children’s menus, contests and activity books allow for families to enjoy an evening out that incorporates all ages into the experience.

Boston Pizza restaurants have separate dining and sports bar areas to better accommodate families, teams, business meetings and family get-togethers, while also allowing other guests to choose their preferred experience.

Carramusa said these are the reasons he believes BP restaurants remain a top

kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com

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contender for kid friendly environments, sports bar accolades and praises for their food selection.

“Red Deer has really embraced the Boston Pizza brand. Red Deer now has four locations in and around the City, plus we have a delivery kitchen downtown that was created with a partnership agency.”

“Central Alberta - and Red Deer in particular, has been great to us. We definitely appreciate what we have to offer them as far as menu offerings and events. Now that we have a pulse on the community and what the expectations and wants are, we can offer special deals and things to make people happy.”

As of Sept. 12th, Red Deer and Blackfalds restaurants will be offering specials each Monday where individual pizzas will be available for $5. Carramusa said the restaurants will also be offering an online promotion, where MpBp Online members have the option to get ‘buy one get one’ deals on pizzas.

“That’s an online offering that’s brand new to us. We usually do the second pizza 50 per cent off. And we’re going to do ‘buy one get one’ pasta all October, and a BoGo pizza deal again in November,” Carramusa said.

“Right now, we know it’s tough for people economically and it’s becoming a bit harder for people to enjoy the great taste of Boston Pizza at home so we’re going to make it easier for them. We’re going to fire up a few specials and promotions and hopefully that will help us still be able to serve people what they want.”

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8 RED DEER EXPRESS

GOLDEN FORK 2016 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

GOLD

Winners

SILVER

Winners

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

BRONZE

Winners

Best Chinese

Dragon City

China Ben

Red Star Chinese Restaurant

Best Greek

It’s All Greek To Me

OPA! of Greece

Saros Restaurant

Best Italian

La Casa Pergola

East Side Marios

George’s Pizza & Steak House

Best Mexican

Las Palmeras

Old Mexican Taco Buffet

Jose Jose Latin Restaurant

Best Indian

Tandoor N Flame

Indian Flame & Pizza

Indian Feast

Best Vietnamese

Pho Thuy Duong

Thap Ba

Vietnamese Garden

Best Hamburger

Burger Boy

5 Guys Burger and Fries

Fatburger

Best Wings

Bo’s Bar and Grill

Boston Pizza

Original Joe’s Restaurant & Bar

Best Sushi

Shiso Japanese Restaurant

Momo Sushi

Sushi Sushi

Best Ribs

Tony Roma’s

Montana’s Cookhouse

Red Boar Smokery

Best Steak

The Keg Steak House & Bar

Westlake Grill

Tiffany’s Steak House and Lounge

Best Pizza

Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria

Pizza 73

Pizza Hut

Best Chicken

Nando’s

Swiss Chalet

Mary Brown’s

Best Wraps

Taco Time

Pita Pit

The Chopped Leaf

Best Appetizers

Moxie’s Grill & Bar

Bos Boston Pizza

Earls

Most Kid Friendly

McDonalds nalds

Montan Montana’s

Boston Pizza

Best Healthy Eats

The The Ch Chop Chopped oppe ped d Le Leaf af

Subway

Freshii

Best Fine Dining

Westlake Grill

50 West Bistro

Redstone Grill and Wine Bar

Most Romantic

Westlake Grill

La Casa Pergola

50 West Bistro

Best Wine List

Earls

Redstone Grill and W Wine Bar

The Keg Steak House & Bar

Best Donairs

Best Late Night Eats

Best Buffet

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Th k you to everyone who Thank h participated in the voting.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

GOLDEN FORK 2016 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

GOLD

Winners

SILVER

Winners

RED DEER EXPRESS 9

BRONZE

Winners

Best Fast Food

Subway

McDonald’s

A&W

Best Breakfast

Cora

Phil’s Family Restaurant

Denny’s

Best Lunch

Dragon City

Tandoor N Flame

The Chopped Leaf

Best Brunch

Cora

abc Country Restaurant

Browns Socialhouse

Best Dinner

Westlake Grill

The Ranch House

Earls

Best Dessert

Dairy Queen

Boston Pizza

Earls

Best Pub

Bo’s Bar and Grill

Hudsons Canada’s Pub

Fionn MacCool’s

Best Lounge

To The Lost

Moxie’s Grill & Bar

Tiffany’s Steak House and Lounge

Best Patio

Earls

Tiffany’s Steak House and Lounge

Bo’s Bar and Grill

Best Sports Bar

Bo’s Bar and Grill

The Canadian Brewhouse

Boston Pizza

Best On Wheels

Chedda Heads

Traptow’s Cool Beans Coffee Company

The Stache

Best Ice Cream/ Frozen Yogurt

Little Ice Cream & Soda Shoppe

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt

Dairy Queen

Best Bakery

The Tasty Bakery

Babycakes Cupcakery

Cuppitycakes Bakeshop

Best Deli

Sobeys

Big Bend Market

Superstore

Best Café

DOSE Coffee Co.

Chill Out Café and Bakery

City Roast Coffee

Best Cup of Coffee

Starbucks

DOSE Coffee Co.

Tim Hortons

Best Organic Food

Save On Foods

Big Bend Market

Purearth Organics

Best Gluten-Free Food

Tandoor N Flame

The Chopped Leaf

The Maple Tree

Best Produce

Sobeys

Superstore

Save On Foods

Best Caterer

Red Deer Catering

Remi’s Catering

The Chopped Leaf

Best New Restaurant

Hudsons Canada’s Pub

Roosters Wood Fire & Smoke

State and Main (north)

Best Independent Restaurant

Red Boar Smokery

Bo’s Bar and Grill

To The Lost

Thank You Red Deer for voting us one of the Best Cafés!

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Thank You!

A big thank you to our Socialhouse guests for voting us bronze for Best Brunch in the Golden Fork Awards! y!

We are thrilled to be a part of the Red Deer community!

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10 RED DEER EXPRESS

GOLDEN FORK 2016 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Long-time restaurant garners Golden Fork Award

BY ZACHARY CORMIER RED DEER EXPRESS

months because he put everything he had into the business before we even had money for rent or anything like that. So Even though it is no longer owned by he came with whatever he had,” rememGeorge Konstantopoulos, George’s Pizza bered Tina. and Steakhouse on Gaetz Avenue in The new restaurant, and its owner, north Red Deer is still basically the same quickly became a mainstay in the City. restaurant as it was when it first opened “My dad was pretty involved in the its doors back in 1981. community. We all kind of were. Over the The small, family restaurant has been years I don’t really know too many people a staple of the Red Deer from when my dad had it food scene for more than that don’t know who my 30 years and for at least dad is; who the original the second year in a row, George is.”

“EVERYBODY’S Red Deerians have recTina added that the GOT A FAVOURITE. ognized that timeless building itself went WE HAVE A PRETTY taste with the bronze through a number of Golden Fork Award for changes when her father EXTENSIVE MENU.” Best Italian. ran the place.

“When this place “He did try putting VLTs TINA started obviously it in here at one point but was a lot smaller than KONSTANTOPOULOS that didn’t work out. He it is now,” remembered didn’t like that atmorestaurant manager Tina sphere. He was more of a Konstantopoulos. family type,” she said.

Tina, who is George’s daughter, said the She also noted that at one point, one restaurant has always been about fami- side of the restaurant was walled off and lies first. used as a dedicated bar, back in the days “My mom and dad worked here every when smoking was allowed inside, but day. My dad cooked in the kitchen. It’s over time the area was opened up and 100 per cent family started. When we got just became a part of the restaurant as a little older — the girls, there’s three of a whole. us — we all worked here.”

The building, menus and atmosphere According to Tina, when George im- haven’t changed much since George remigrated to Canada from Greece, pretty tired and sold the business in 2006. much everyone he knew in the country “Some of the stuff like the lasagnas and owned a restaurant. the pizza, it’s just remained a constant.

“When this place opened, we had just Obviously this is what the customers come here. In fact we lived in here for keep coming for. It’s remained the same

WINNER

LONGSTANDING - Tina Konstantopoulos gets ready to greet guests at George’s Pizza and Steakhouse. Tina’s father, George Konstantopoulos, was the original owner of the restaurant and retired in 2006.

Zachary Cormier/Red Deer Express salads, appetizers and pizzas to ensure everyone goes home happy.

“Everybody’s got a favourite. We have a pretty extensive menu,” Tina said.

“You start off with the lasagna, but the pizza’s pretty good here. We only have one kind of dough, but it’s traditional. The pasta, Caesar salad, we have really good short dry ribs.”

To top it all off, George’s also offers takeout and delivery.

“We cater to a lot of people.”

as much as it can remain the same,” she said.

It’s that kind of atmosphere, she said, that the new owner has tried to keep around.

“I think for some of the customers, I guess, it’s a familiar place. Obviously it’s been here for a very long time. Most people really know what to expect. We get a lot of people who come from out of town for our dishes,” she said.

And oh the dishes they have. From the home-style lasagna to the famous dry ribs, George’s has a huge variety of pastas,

zcormier@reddeerexpress.com

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GOLDEN FORK 2016 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

RED DEER EXPRESS 11

New owners settling in at It’s All Greek to Me

BY ZACHARY CORMIER RED DEER EXPRESS For one pair of new restaurant owners, winning a Golden Fork Award is the culmination of a year of hard work.

Janet and Albert Zadoorian took over It’s All Greek To Me, a Greek restaurant on Gaetz Avenue, almost a year ago despite having no experience in running a restaurant.

After a year of learning the ropes and getting settled, the pair’s hard work has been rewarded by Red Deer Express readers, who voted their restaurant gold for Best Greek food in the City this year.

“I’m so happy. It is an accomplishment for me because I think if they kept the high standards, we should do the same,” said Janet, who does a lot of the cooking and management of the restaurant. “For us, not having any restaurant experience before — we have staff here that stayed on from the previous owner, so that helped a lot. I have to thank them as well.”

Two years ago, the couple never would have thought they would end up as the owners of a Greek restaurant.

“We had a machine shop before this and I just did bookkeeping for that company and a few other companies,” Janet

NEW MANAGEMENT - From left, Janet and Albert Zadoorian, the new owners of It’s All Greek To Me stand in the dining room of their restaurant. remembered. “We had another business and we sold it. We were 10 months unemployed and looking to see what could we do.”

In the end the pair decided to get into the food industry.

“Everyone always says I’m a

Zachary Cormier/Red Deer Express

good cook, so we just decided to do something in food,” said Janet, adding that while she has never cooked professionally, she does enjoy cooking for large numbers of people.

“I have done fundraisers and I have cooked for 100 people at a

time and it was very successful.

Everybody just complemented me on the food and they loved it,” she smiled.

After looking at a few different options that were available at the time, Janet and Albert decided to purchase It’s All Greek

to Me last year and they haven’t looked back.

“In the beginning there were a lot of people here, the previous owners were here to train us. It was going smoothly. Then the previous owner left. After that it was a little bit of a struggle but I videotaped things they made and they were teaching us,” Janet said, adding it was a challenge learning how to make a whole new style of food.

She added she enjoys the new work, even though it can be difficult at times.

“It is good. I do enjoy cooking.

It has its struggles. There were sometimes that I wasn’t sure if this is how we did it? Is this how she showed me? But overall it’s not too bad,” she said.

Janet, for her part, does much of the cooking and food preparation herself.

“Most of the food that needs prep work I do it myself. And of course if they order skewers — chicken, beef — then that has to be grilled right away, so my husband cuts them and marinates them,” she said.

“It’s long hours.”

But those long hours of work haven’t gone unnoticed by It’s All Greek To Me’s customers.

“I’m grateful that people feel that way. I appreciate it and I’ll try to keep doing my best.” zcormier@reddeerexpress.com

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12 RED DEER EXPRESS

GOLDEN FORK 2016 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Dairy Queen sweetens the deal on desserts with pride in community

BY KALISHA MENDONSA RED DEER EXPRESS Red Deer’s Dairy Queen (DQ) restaurants are truly a family affair, with three generations of ownership that have carried on a legacy of community spirit and high standards of service.

The Hamill family has owned and operated Central Alberta Dairy Queen stores since 1967 and are still continuing their traditions of supporting staff, creating a fun environment and recognizing community needs.

This year, DQ - specifically the downtown location was given the recognition of gold for Best Dessert, bronze for Best Ice Cream/ Frozen Yogurt. Co-owner Rob Hamill said he and his team are happy to have been recognized by the community they love.

“We enjoy the people we meet as customers, but also our staff and all of the young people who have been able to work for us over the years. We’ve been able to hopefully touch a lot of lives by helping young people develop some good work habits that they’re able to take out into the work world in their futures,” said Hamill.

“It is a family business for sure. Both my brother (Dean) and myself grew up in this business with our father and our kids have grown up in it as well. It’s now at the point where my children the third generation- have grown up to become a part of our team and they help us run the day-to-day operations.”

Rob said his son Drew and daughter Justine have worked hard to make the downtown DQ a particularly strong force within the community and especially through the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) partnership of Miracle Treat Day. “Across Red Deer, we managed to raise just under $82,000 this year on Miracle Treat Day. We do own all four stores in town and we try to get all of our staff involved through initiatives and friendly competition during that event,” he said.

“Drew and Justine really push at this location to get people involved. We do all sorts of things like challenges and in-store contests to get our staff interested and involved. We make teams and try to see how we can best ourselves, and Drew has come up with all of that. We’ve got prizes and

FAMILY EFFORT - From left, co-owner of Red Deer Dairy Queen restaurants, Rob Hamill, stands proudly by his children Justine and Drew, carrying on the family’s legacy of providing great food and outstanding community participation.

Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express

things to encourage our staff to take part in our efforts.”

Drew currently manages the downtown DQ restaurant. He has a great deal of enthusiasm for Miracle Treat Day and is proud to be able to take part in an event that directly benefits Central Alberta families.

“Growing up, I’ve had the value instilled in me that if

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you take care of your community, they will take care of you. That’s something my grandfather taught my dad and was passed down to me.

It’s so rewarding seeing our team join in and get behind our Miracle Treat Day campaigns, and it’s an honour to see how they take it and run with it,” Drew said. “That’s the best part - seeing how much our team cares.

“Everybody knows somebody who has been treated by one of the hospitals we help out through the Children’s Miracle Network.

Everyone is able to have that personal attachment to it, and I think that’s what gets people so involved.

“Every year, we set goals and seem to beat them.

That is a true testament to our amazing staff and

how much they care about the community as well. I love seeing everyone get involved in our Miracle Treat Day fundraisers. It’s not just me saying, ‘Let’s go!’ - everybody on our team gets on the boat and rows.”

The Hamill and Red Deer DQ family continue to work towards a cumulative goal of $1,000,000 raised for Miracle Treat Day. According to Drew, the DQ team is at a total of approximately $840,000 through their 14year partnership with the Miracle Network.

Rob shares his son’s pride in being able to directly affect the lives of any Central Alberta families whose children’s lives have been touched by either the Stollery Children’s Hospital or Calgary Children’s Hospital - both

recipients of funds raised through the CMN events.

“Of course, we can’t do any of this without the community and their support. We have a lot of great community partners and customers who come together to donate and support our cause and support kids. I think working with kids is something everyone can get behind,” Rob said.

“The funds we raise mostly go to the Edmonton and Calgary Children’s Hospitals, but everyone in Central Alberta knows that if your child needs specialized care, you’re going to one of those hospitals. People in Central Alberta know the money is in turn helping Central Alberta kids and that helps people stay involved.” kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com

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RED DEER EXPRESS 13

Cuppitycakes Bakeshop caters to Red Deer’s sweet tooth

BY ERIN FAWCETT RED DEER EXPRESS A quaint and charming bakery situated in Red Deer’s downtown has won accolades in this year’s Golden Fork Awards.

Cuppitycakes Bakeshop received bronze for Best Bakery in the City.

Sarah Thomas, owner/baker has turned her love for baking, which was initially a hobby, into a full-time career.

“I was working an office job and it didn’t take too long to realize it wasn’t really for me.

I started playing with cupcakes and I would bring them in for the staff. Someone asked if I would make them some cupcakes with toppers on them, so I made those and from there it grew and grew. Strangers started asking me and someone asked me to do a wedding - it has all just been learning as I go,” she said. “I quit my office job and last year I bit the bullet and here we are.”

Cuppitycakes Bakeshop offers a tasty variety of gourmet cupcakes and baked goods, all of which are made fresh and from scratch daily.

“We offer a variety of cupcakes every day.

I pick my own menu every day and I get to bake and that’s what I love,” said Thomas.

“We offer cookies and lemon squares. We also offer specials on certain days - Wednesday is ‘Sammich Wednesday’, Thursdays is ‘Treat Yourself Thursdays’ where I get to play and make something that I saw on Pinterest, so that’s fun for me. And on Fridays we just started offering a gluten-free option, because a lot of people have been asking for it.”

Aside from their daily treats, Cuppitycakes Bakeshop is known for are their custom orders.

SWEET SIGHT - Sarah Thomas, owner/baker at Cuppitycakes Bakeshop relishes her business success.

“We have albums of things that we have done and our facebook is littered with photos of custom cakes, cupcakes and cookies,” said Thomas. “That is really what set the whole business in motion.”

Since opening her bakery one year ago, Thomas said the community has embraced her.

“Because I had been around for about five years before opening, with having been at farmers’ markets and things, I had a bit of a clientele before I opened. That really helped a lot,” she said. “It’s been better than I could have ever imagined. I’m amazed.”

For Thomas, the bakery is a dream come true.

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“I don’t even know if I can put it into words,” she said. “It’s happy, it’s joyous, it’s exciting and it’s different.”

Looking ahead, Thomas said she hopes to expand the bakery into a specialty bistro.

“I want to have homemade soup, bread and sandwiches and still the baked goods as well.” efawcett@reddeerexpress.com

14 RED DEER EXPRESS

GOLDEN FORK 2016 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

New downtown pub making a name for itself

BY KALISHA MENDONSA RED DEER EXPRESS Hudsons Canada’s Pub, located in the heart of downtown Red Deer, has been granted the gold standard for this year’s selection of Best New Restaurant and silver for Best Pub. Curtis Butler, manager of Hudsons, said he is thrilled about this acknowledgement and about the way Red Deer has taken to the new pub with open arms.

“I think our company values are what got us the title of Best New Restaurant. We really want our staff to feel like family and we have a culture of being a place that anyone can come to and be happy at any hour.

We’re really about empowering our staff to follow that mantra and that attitude. We’re a place that wants our staff to be happy at work every day and we are a place where our customers can feel comfortable,” Butler said.

Butler said Hudsons Canada’s Pub has a very relaxed atmosphere and welcoming attitude which he believes keeps people coming back and enjoying

loves now being a part of the Hudsons team.

Downtown Red Deer has seen many changes in recent years, mostly stemming from the Greater Downtown Action Plan (GDAP) and other revitalization initiatives. Butler said he feels these changes in the downtown area have made people feel safe and excited to explore the community.

“Downtown is changing and the biggest thing we’ve heard from business neighbours and City Hall is that downtown feels safer and more welcoming in recent years. We are glad to be part of the downtown community and to be part of the downtown revitalization project that is underway,” he said, adding he feels proud to be part of the new vision in the area.

“It’s awesome to have GOLD STATUS - Curtis Butler, manager of Hudsons Canada’s Pub, is excited to have won two Golden Fork Awards this year. been named Best New Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express Restaurant and we’re very excited to have that award. their time in the restau- wing night, a happy hour Butler says a lot of the the biggest thing for us Our goal is to be one of the rant. beer or just coming in for success Hudsons has as a business here in Red best places in Red Deer “We’ve got a very ‘come- a good dinner, we want seen in the City is due to Deer - we want to push and there are a lot of great as-you-are’ attitude at people to be happy and the community-oriented everything we do to that places to be. To be named Hudsons, and for me, comfortable coming here. spirit of the citizens and community mentality.” in this category is awethat’s a big thing. Whether We pride ourselves on cre- businesses in Red some. I’m really you are coming to watch a ating that atmosphere,” he Deer. very proud of our baseball game, coming for said.

“One of the bigteam and our staff gest things about “I THINK OUR COMPANY VALUES ARE and of Red Deer. coming to Red We’ve been acceptWHAT GOT US THE TITLE OF BEST NEW ed into the Red Deer is that it’s RESTAURANT. WE REALLY WANT OUR very community Deer community STAFF TO FEEL LIKE FAMILY AND WE oriented. We parvery well and we HAVE A CULTURE OF BEING A PLACE ticipate in that want to continue through charitable THAT ANYONE CAN COME TO AND BE that great level of events during our service we’re proHAPPY AT ANY HOUR.” dry runs and even viding with our atthrough partnermosphere to keep CURTIS BUTLER ships,” he said. people coming “Right now, back,” Butler said. we’re working on a “We would love partnership with Red Deer Butler said he spent time for people to come down College and the Red Deer at Hudsons as a custom- and try us out. We’re right GOLDEN FORK AWARDS GOLDEN FORK AWARDS Rebels to become more in- er before and after many in the heart of downtown volved in our community. Edmonton Oilers games, and we definitely hope We want to get into things and he always found the people come down to like Wingfest and golf atmosphere to be relaxed check out what it’s like to tournaments to really sup- and welcoming. He said be happy at any hour and port the community that it was an environment he enjoy our beautiful space.”

INDEPENDENT RIBS 2016 Readers’ 2016 Readers’ supports us. I think that’s thoroughly enjoyed and he Choice Awards Choice Awards kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com GOLDEN FORK AWARDS

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RED DEER EXPRESS 15

Bo’s Bar and Grill hits the mark in several categories

BY MARK WEBER RED DEER EXPRESS Bo’s Bar and Grill has been recognized in several ways via this year’s Golden Fork Awards.

The popular City pub has landed gold in the category of Best Wings, gold for Best Sports Bar, gold for Best Pub, silver for Best Late Night Eats, silver for Best Independent Restaurant and bronze for Best Patio.

In the food department, there are a multitude of choices from tasty salads to an array of sandwiches, appetizers, mains, desserts, sides and a weekend brunch as well. “Our chef’s team is amazing. I think one of the things that we have going for us is because we are a locally operated business and not a chain, we have the freedom to experiment. Once a year, we change our menus we are always evolving and doing feature menus and things like that,” said Owner/Operator Brennen Wowk, who explained that Bo’s first opened in 1996.

“We change our menus almost like a musician creates an album - we do it very collaboratively. We work together - we sit down basically eight months prior to launching a menu, and we talk about what’s working and what isn’t working.

We also discuss our vision - where we would like to see things go. And from there, we start to generate ideas and recipes, checking to also see what the trends are in Alberta and seeing where we can take our menu from there.”

Bo’s is also known for hosting live music events as well, with many popular artists showcasing their latest sounds at the venue.

And overall, it’s really about maintaining a local focus on virtually all aspects

GOLDEN FORK AWARDS

MULTI WINS - Bo’s Bar and Grill staff members, from left, Josh Blanke and Tatiana Gardner are proud to be among the award-winning Bo’s team, who took home six awards this year.

Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express of the business, said Wowk.

“We are very locally driven,” he said, pointing to a number of special events that are held at Bo’s throughout each month.

“We just really believe in community and the idea of supporting the community whether it be through the events that we do, through different programs we do in house. We also support local artists, teams and foundations,” he added.

“It’s really important for us to support the people who are around us.”

There are also a number of events held that support local charities.

“A lot of chains aren’t based in Red Deer, but we are. And we want to make sure that our roots are very much entrenched in Red Deer.”

Bo’s is also a hot spot for bands and a range of other performers coming through the City to perform at, including comedian Tom Green in October, unique groups such as Scenic Route to Alaska and also established bands like The Trews who are stopping by in November.

“We try to encompass everything,” said Wowk.

“As one of the largest bars/ restaurants in Red Deer, it’s important for us to make sure we tailor things to as large a demographic as possible.”

During Alberta Beer Week from Sept. 23rd to Oct. 1st staff are also featuring local craft brewers, too. “We want to feature things that are important to us. Bo’s is about great food, craft beers, hand-crafted cocktails and our team - our family - that

works here, too.”

Wowk goes on to describe his employees as an amazing group. “We have the best team in town,” he said. “Very

much, off the top, we think of Bo’s as a family. We run our business as though it was a family type of business,” he said. “Because of

the scale of events that we have - and the frequency of them - my staff has to work very hard, and often do a lot of extra work. They do it because they believe in Bo’s and they believe in the vision that we have here.

“That kind of camaraderie is huge.”

For Wowk, it’s the ideal place to work.

“I very much love the people that I work with.

I’ve been working in this industry for six years now, and I’ve met a lot of amazing people whether they be staff, people we come across at our events, our customers,” he said, adding that seeing those relationships grow has always been very rewarding.

“For me, I’m a very big music fan so the idea of having bands come through and play my venue that I’m passionate about is also extremely rewarding.

“I always want people to have a great time,” he said when asked about what he hopes customers’ impressions are. “I want them to be comfortable here, I want them to come back again, and I want them to see that what we are doing here is unique.” editor@reddeerexpress.com

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