are feeding them. Most of the major dog food companies are divisions of giant food conglomerates. Every day they create tons of by-product from the manufacture of human foods. It’s good business to use this ‘garbage’ in the manufacture of pet food. But is it good for our pets?” This is the second location for Dogs We Love – the other store in Orangeville is in its 14th year of operation. In addition to dog food, the stores also bake humangrade dog cookies, using ingredients like sweet potatoes and flax seed, and there are specialty cookies for holidays like Valentine’s Day and Christmas. There is also a small retail section of dog toys, bowls, beds and crates. Open Wed. & Thurs. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Fri. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 10 Keith Ave., Cranberry Mews 705-293-4001 www.dogswelove.com
TheSmoke
site. The ice creams, smoked fish, smoked cheeses, patés and homemade barbecue sauces are also available for sale, in addition to regular take-out service. TheSmoke is fully licensed, but family friendly (there’s even a kids’ menu). “We’re about keeping prices affordable,” says Dyment. “We’re trying to give a lot of value, but the number one thing is the flavour, the taste experience – we’re trying to create the whole dining experience. Open Mon. & Wed. - Sat. 11:30 a.m. till close. Dinner menu starting at 5 p.m. Sunday 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Closed Tuesdays and Sunday nights. 498 First St., Collingwood 705-293-5522 www.thesmoke.ca
MEAFORD Concrete FX
No, this is not a cigar shop. TheSmoke is a new restaurant on First Street where “not everything is smoked, but everything is about smoke,” says owner and chef Cam Dyment. He adds, “We’re taking barbecue to a new level; we’re not your typical barbecue place. All of our meat and fish is smoked on the premise. Everything is fresh and made from scratch, using my own recipes. Our four smokers are inside the restaurant, and it’s open concept so you can see them.” The restaurant makes and serves four different kinds of smoked fish (Georgian Bay trout, whitefish, Arctic char and salmon), as well as bacon, wild boar bacon, wild boar sausages, smoked beef burgers, pulled pork, and ribs. The mac and cheese is made with smoked cheddar, bacon and chipotle, and “we have turkey burgers with cranberry citrus aioli – the combination of the two is like a Thanksgiving party exploding in your mouth,” says Dyment. Soups are homemade, with unique flavours including smoked butternut squash and curried apple, or smoked green chili soup. Even the homemade ice cream has a smoky component. The smoked banana ice cream starts with smoked bananas, made into ice cream by Mad River Ice Cream on
Owner Kevin Thompson started this decorative concrete business in Calgary over 10 years ago, and recently moved back “home” to Southern Georgian Bay. Thompson repairs, restores and resurfaces existing concrete, and can top it with a brand new surface using specialized concrete. “It goes on in paper thin layers, so there is no build-up to the concrete I put on,” he explains. He can add colours, designs, inlays, and for exterior surfaces the concrete contains UV protector so it won’t fade, and is sealed with a special acrylic sealer. “Patios, driveways, decks, walkways, steps – anything that’s concrete outside, I can redo, says Thompson, adding, “One option is a stippled effect, so it’s a non-slippery surface.” There are also lots of interior applications, especially in basements. “I can put an acid stain over a basement slab,” he explains. “It reacts with the chemicals in concrete, and you get marbleization of the concrete – every concrete patch will be a little bit different.” Concrete FX can also overlay over existing ceramic or vinyl tiles, and wood in some cases. “I can even do vertical surfaces such as walls,” says Thompson. Concrete FX’s process differs from stamped concrete, which has disadvantages such as limited choice of patterns and colours, and slipperiness when wet in the
2013 G&M HOSPITALCHALLENGE Join the G&M Hospital Challenge and help raise $10 million! Wasaga Beach Triathlon - September 7 & 8, 2013
Centurion Blue Mountain Cycling Challenge - September 14 & 15, 2013 Run Collingwood Half Marathon & 10 Km Race - October 5, 2013
You can participate in any one of these events as an individual or team. Collect pledges for the Collingwood G&M Hospital Foundation to help us meet our $10 million goal for a New Age of Care!
www.RunBikeSwim.ca 705-444-8645
On The Bay
Spring 2013
81