MANOTICK MESSENGER
The MessengerCOMMUNITY
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2017 Page 9
Foreign students bring a taste of Italy to the Miller’s Oven By Jeff Morris Manotick has been known for the past few years for its restaurants. And while you can get some of the best Italian food in Ottawa in the village, the volunteer-run Miller’s Oven brought a taste of Italy to its menu for a few weeks in the summer. Arianne Bonfanti and Beatrice Rossini, two university students visiting the village from Milan, Itlay, volunteered at the Miller’s Oven and turned the restaurant’s kitchen into their own little playground for homestyle cooking. The girls were visiting Manotick and volunteering for the purpose of improving their English. They worked at summer camps, and for the last few weeks they were here, they were looking for something to do where they could interact with people. They went to the office of Rural Ottawa South Support Services, and were pointed in the direction of the Miller’s Oven. They became regular volunteers at the Miller’s Oven, and news
of their incredible pasta soon spread throughout the area. Bonfanti, who is studying medical biotechnology and hopes to land a career as a researcher, the trip to Canada was not her first. Bonfanti spent a year in Montreal as an exchange student in high school. English is her third language, as she already speaks Italian and French. “I’m better in French than in English,” Bonfanti said. “But my English has improved a lot here. I am also learning a lot of different expressions that I have never heard before, especially from the kids we worked with at the summer camp.” For Rossini, it was her first time in Canada. She thoroughly enjoyed her time in Manotick. Working with kids at the summer camp she volunteered at was a great experience for her, as she is studying to become a teacher. “I love Canada,” she said. “It’s a beautiful country and this community is beautiful. The people have been very
nice to us.” In addition to their time in the kitchen cooking their signature pasta dishes, Bonfanti and Rossini spent their time at the Miller’s Oven waiting on tables, meeting and engaging with local residents and visitors to the community. “We met a lot of wonderful people here,” said Rossini. “Everyone has been so nice and so welcoming to us.” The girls left Manotick last week to do some travelling. They are heading to New York, Montreal and Toronto before returning to Italy. “We couldn’t come here without going to New York,” said Bonfanti. “I am excited about going back to Montreal, and seeing more of Toronto as well.” Rossini was also excited about going to New York. “New York has a big Italian influence, and I am sure we will meet a lot of Italian people there,” she said. “We are also looking forward to seeing things like Times Square, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. I am also
Miller’s Oven cook Jerry Mask, left, and volunteer Jaydon Thompson, right, had some help in the kitchen and in the dining room last month from Beatrice Rossini and Arianne Bonfanti. The two students from Milan, Italy were working in the community to improve their English skills. GARY COULOMBE PHOTO
hoping we get to go to Yankee Stadium.” Despite being welcomed with open arms in Manotick, both girls said they were home-
sick and were looking forward to going back to Milan. “I miss my family,” Rossini said. “The people here are won-
derful, but family is a big thing in Italy. I can’t wait to go home and see them and share our stories of being in Manotick with them.”