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Mais Oui, Patisserie

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There is nothing quite like the tempting aromas that waft from a French patisserie or bakery: fresh butter, flaky croissants, and tempting baked goods. When traveling in France – an ideal hub for foodies – it is important to know your bakery terminology (especially if you’re looking for a crispy croissant). A boulangerie is a bakery that sells bread, while a patisserie is a bakery that sells pastries.

In some countries, using the word patisserie in the name of an establishment is a legally controlled title reserved for bakeries that employ a licensed pastry chef. A pastry chef has to have completed a lengthy training process, including an apprenticeship and a written exam.

The history of pastry making is often disputed. Many people claim it started with the 13th Century baker, Régnaut-Barbon, who rolled sweet patisseries similar to waffles called oublies.  Puff pastry or millefeuille was created in 1540 by Popelini. Others say the sweet treats came from Italy with Queen Marie de Medici, who introduced ice cream and macarons to France after marrying King Henri IV in 1600.  

But it was in 1686 when French café culture really started with the opening of the now-famous Le Procope, the first Parisian café that served coffee, chocolate, and ice cream. In the early 1800s, Marie-Antoine Carême popularized the millefeuille, the multilayered pastry filled with cream and custard and croquembouche, a caramel-enrobed tower of cream eclairs, now popular at weddings.

When visiting Paris, it’s worth stopping by various signature patisseries to try their specialties. 

Arnaud Delmontel is famous for its pain au chocolat, the traditional flaky pastry with a block of bittersweet chocolate rolled into its centre. The chocolate eclairs at Yann Couvreur are worth trying for a less traditional approach to patisserie.

For a French sensation without leaving our borders, try Patisserie D’or in Glen Abbey in Oakville. Their French pastry chef is always creating exotic cakes and pastries. Their croissants are light and flaky and come in a variety of excellent flavours including plain, chocolate, and almond, and their raisin danishes (pain au raisin) are amazing too. There is a wide selection of macarons, tarts, and French desserts. And at Christmas, they have a specialty millefeuille. It is worth visiting their Instagram page to see what is new and enticing.

Tradition de France on Lakeshore Road in Oakville has a heritage of French bakers and pastry chefs dating back to 1922. There is always a lineup outside this bakery – proof of its popularity and quality. Their range is extensive and inviting like Le Saint-Honoré in Paris. Try their vanilla puffs or éclairs with interesting flavours from peanut butter, raspberry chocolate, or Nutella. Or try the strawberry vanilla millefeuille which they are famous for. They also make a nostalgic swan cake, symbolic of the chef’s father. When the chef’s grandfather owned the bakery, it was his father’s favourite cake and was always served on Sunday. This choux pastry is filled with vanilla cream in the shape of a swan.  

Maison Delice on Kerr Street in Oakville offers bespoke baking for special occasions. They have an Eid cookie collection, and even did a special range of cookies in the shape of maple leaves and pyramids for a Canadian-Egyptian wedding. Try the savoury quiches filled with chicken and mushroom and made with puff pastry. The dramatic Saint Honoré cake is comprised of millefeuille and eclairs together in this signature cake, filled with cream and decorated with spun sugar.

Croissant Express Bakery on Lakeshore Road in downtown Oakville specializes, as the name suggests, in croissants. Choose between plain, almond, or chocolate, or indulge in one of many deliciously prepared meals. Don’t forget to pair your baked treats with a Nutella frappe on a hot day. They also produce cookies for special occasions. On Canada Day, they had a wide selection of patriotic cookies, and they baked dad-friendly cookies for Father’s Day. 

Saving Thyme in Burlington produces delicious French pastries thanks to Chef Alexandra’s expertise. She is famous for exquisite quiches with a creamy custard in a traditional pâte brisée, and delicious traditional fillings such as leek and Gruyere. She also makes macarons, croissants, choux pastry and tarts, and artisanal French bread such as brioche.

So – if a trip to France is not on the cards this year, don’t despair!  There are plenty of excellent options nearby to offer you armchair travel and exquisite indulgence.   

Local Links


Patisserie D’Or, Oakville || patisseriedor.com



Tradition de France, Oakville || @TraditionDeFranceOntario

Maison Delice, Oakville || @maisondelice

Croissant Express, Oakville || @CroissantExpressBakery

Saving Thyme, Burlington || Savingthyme.ca

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Halton Is Here For Teens – Mental Health Resources In Our Community

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People often talk about high school as being “the glory years”. It’s a stage of life full of excitement and newfound freedom. But, is it really all it’s cracked up to be? Expectations are high, and with that, so are levels of stress. The teen years can be awkward, and with hormones raging and social pressures mounting, it’s hard to know who you are and where you fit in.  

Many of my peers entered high school expecting a typical high school experience… complete with a prom straight out of a rom-com. But instead, we ended up with canceled events and canceled sporting games, a global pandemic, virtual classes, and some interesting attempts at a graduation ceremony. A lot has changed in a short time, and with that, the mental health of youth has been highly affected. 

It’s not uncommon to experience struggles with mental health during your teen years, and it’s easy to understand why.
There are school pressures, social expectations, relationships, new hormones and emotions to navigate, and the daunting decision of university applications and career choices (that impact the rest of your life). 

Needless to say, the Covid climate hasn’t helped either. But where can teens turn when they need support? Especially now. One of the hardest things to acknowledge is the need for help – and asking for help takes courage. However, not everyone is comfortable opening up to family and friends. Rarely do teens know about other resources readily available to them. 

From one teen to another, here is a list of resources within our community that I’ve learned we can count on. 

Reach Out Centre for Kids

Rockonline.ca

Let’s start with the ROCK (Reach Out Centre for Kids) – a wonderful resource for all ages. With services available throughout Halton, and a large collection of therapists and youth counselors, accessing an appointment comes fairly easily. They also have a vast online system, crisis line, live chats, and a virtual walk-in clinic. 

Halton Distress Centre

Dchalton.ca

Similarly, Halton Distress Centre has a crisis line called The Distress Line. On their website, you can find the number to call (the number is city-specific) and you will instantly be placed with one of over 200 trained volunteers – any day, at any hour. A texting service will also be available soon, allowing clients to text a volunteer rather than call. 

7 Cups of Tea

7cups.com

If you ever feel like you’ve reached your boiling point, 7 Cups of Tea was made for you. This is a fully digital system offering free support to people experiencing emotional distress. Their services are available to people of all ages and in multiple languages. You can talk with a qualified listener about your thoughts or concerns, or simply get things off your mind in an anonymous and confidential chat. While it may seem intimidating to speak with someone you don’t know, these listeners are trained, respectful, and always ready to chat. 

In exploring the struggles that teenagers face, it’s fair to say that sexual identity has recently been pushed to the forefront. Over the past ten years, more people are feeling safe to come out as LGBTQ+, and they’re coming out at younger ages. This can be a difficult process to navigate for parents and kids a like. 

The Positive Space Network

Positivespacenetwork.ca

The Positive Space Network (PSN) Halton is an amazing organization that runs group meetings, weekly drop-ins, and even its own annual pride event – all for LGBTQ+ youth. They also have resources for parents, provide referrals for therapy, volunteering opportunities, and gender-affirming gear.  

Qspeak Org

Qspeak.org

Another network similar to PSN is Qspeak. Qspeak is an initiative run four times a year and is completely virtual. It is set up to help unify LGBTQ+ youth across Canada. High school students fill out questionnaires and are put into groups led by a university student that also identifies as queer. In these groups, teens participate in discussions about things like representation, stereotypes, pressures, fears, and so much more. It is all communicated in a safe environment, free of judgment. They also have volunteer opportunities and a discord server available to anyone where you can interact with other teens going through similar sexual orientation struggles across Canada. 

Although this is not an exhaustive list, it is important to provide youth with the tools to manage their own mental health and ensure they can get help when they need it. As a teenager who has struggled with my own mental health for most of my life and is part of the queer community, it is my personal hope that any teen reading this will feel relief knowing they are not alone. Things may be difficult right now with the pandemic still lurking, but with a large number of resources available to support teen mental health, I feel confident that there is hope for all of us.  

Natalie is in Grade 12 at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School and lives in Burlington. She plans on pursuing social work and writing upon graduating from high school.

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What In The World Is Pickleball? – A Hot Sports Game With A Tangy Name

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When Carol Baldwin first heard about the game of pickleball, she had the same response as many people, “I read a booklet about it and thought, what the heck is that?”

Baldwin can’t be blamed for her confusion. The game, after all, is a combination of several sports brought together on a tennis-like court…. and while it may look like tennis, it combines elements of badminton and table tennis while featuring a different racket, lower net, and new rules.

Like table tennis, pickleball is played with a paddle (smaller than a tennis racquet but larger than a table tennis paddle). And while the pickleball court is the same size as a doubles badminton court, the sport is played with a perforated polymer ball, similar to a wiffle ball.

For unseasoned players, there may not seem like there’s much to the net seeing as it’s similar to the ones used in tennis – but for pickleball, the net sits around two inches lower and can be played as doubles or singles.   

Baldwin never could have guessed she would like the game as much as she does. But after only a few games, she was hooked. That was ten years ago and she’s still a loyal player who hits the courts twice a week.

“I just loved it and I kept going back and back,” said Baldwin, who plays at the Burlington Seniors Centre on New Street.

Pickleball appeals to people of all ages partly because it’s fairly easy to learn, but also because playing at a competitive level comes quite quickly. Competitive games are popping up all over North America and are attracting players of all ages.

Pickleball tends to have a large following from seniors because it’s easier to play than other ball and racket sports (for example, there are no overhand serves). Baldwin never thought the game would be more than a passing fancy for her. But to her, it’s more than just a game, it’s also a fun social activity.

“Through pickleball, I met the group of people who have kept me sane during COVID.”

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. They were looking for an activity for their kids and combined various elements from other court games.

Contrary to popular belief, the name did not stem from one of the founder’s dogs. It came about because it sounds like Pickle Boat – a moniker from rowing where oarsmen are chosen from the leftovers of other boats, in the same way as pickleball is a combination of other games.

The game has taken off like wildfire. Two years after the trio developed pickleball, they constructed the first pickleball court. By 1976, the first tournament in the world was held in Washington.   

Since then, a sport that began as a children’s backyard activity has evolved into one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. It’s played in countries around the world, and competitions are held by groups like the U.S Pickleball National Championships.

As of 2021, there were 57 member countries for pickleball which are overseen by the International Federation of Pickleball.

The demand for pickleball has spread to Burlington and Oakville where it’s now offered in several centres, including the Burlington Seniors’ Centre, and many Burlington city-run recreation centres, like Central Arena and Mainway Arena.  In Oakville, the Global Pickleball Network lists many spots where pickleball is played, including River Oaks Community Centre and George Savage Park.  Many private racket clubs including the Ontario Racket Club have also embraced the game.

If you haven’t picked up a pickleball paddle yet there’s no better time than the present – and who knows, maybe you’ll be pining for pickleball like so many others.  

 

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Local athletes off to the Tokyo Olympic Games!

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After they were postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Games are now set to begin later this summer in Tokyo. Kicking off Friday, July 23rd, with the opening ceremony at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium – the Summer Olympics will span a total of 17 days.

The best part? Well, what we think the best part is anyway – local athletes from Burlington, Oakville and Milton will be competing in the Games! Here’s who to look out for:

Oakville Paddler, Alanna Bray-Lougheed

Burloak Canoe Club alumnus Alanna Bray-Lougheed is heading to the Olympic Games as a sprint kayaker! Alanna began paddling at the age of 10 when her mother signed her up for lessons after she bought a canoe but Alanna didn’t know how to paddle. Eighteen years later, Alanna is a Burloak Canoe Club champion and the only  female from the club to qualify for the Olympics. Many of the country’s top paddlers have come out of the Burloak Canoe Club – and multiple Olympic medals have been won by their alumni.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics weren’t always the plan for Alanna, though. After failing to make the world cup team in 2019, Alanna was considering retiring from the sport. She then competed at the 2019 PanAm games and won gold in K2 and K4 500m races, reigniting her confidence and passion for the sport. Now, Alanna has qualified to race K4 500m with her teammates at the Olympic Games.

Burlington Sailor, Evan DePaul

Evan DePaul was 14 years old when he asked his parents to sign him up for sailing camp at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club…then, he asked them if he could quit after just one week.  With encouragement from his father, Evan stuck it out at camp. And in a turn of events, he enjoyed camp so much that he went back the following summer, entering his first regatta in 2012.

Evan will represent Canada this year in the 49er class along with skipper, William Jones of Ancaster. The two first teamed up in the summer of 2015 to race in the 49er FX, before moving into the 49er in 2016. Just a year later, they won gold at the 2017 Junior World Championship held at their home training centre in Kingston, Ontario.

Jones and DePaul secured Canada’s Tokyo 2020 spot in the 49er by being the top Canadian boat at the 2020 World Championships for this class.

Oakville Kayaker, Simon McTavis

Oakville-raised kayaker, Simon McTavis, moved with his family to Sydney, Australia where he began paddling in 2011 at the age of 14. He represented Australia for 7 years from 2012 – 2018 on Olympic Hopes, Junior, U23, and Senior Teams.

In 2018 after completing his Bachelor of Project Management degree, the opportunity presented itself to return home to Canada and Simon jumped at it.

In May 2019, he secured a spot on the Canadian National Team by winning gold in the K1 x 1000 & K4 x 500 at National Team Trials 1 in Montreal. Simon is a proud member of the Mississauga Canoe Club and will be racing Men’s K4 500m at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Burlington Sailor, Sarah Douglas

Sarah started sailing at the age of seven and was drawn in by her family’s love for the ocean. Growing up in Barbados, Sarah had access to the water all year-round and took advantage of it. She was just 10 years old when she competed in her first world championship in the Optimist class. Sarah returned to Canada in 2008 to attend high school and quickly became one of the top youth sailors in the country.

Of Sarah’s many successes, the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru is certainly one to be highlighted. In 2019, she stood at the top of the podium despite a bacterial infection that kept her mostly in bed when she wasn’t racing. A month later she posted a seventh-place finish at the official Olympic test event for Tokyo 2020, proving to her what perseverance could do. Sarah’s success has come despite being diagnosed at age 14 with the genetic blood disorder alpha thalassemia, which reduces the amount of hemoglobin her body can produce. 

Milton Cycler, Michael Foley 

Believe it or not, Milton cycler Michael Foley only began cycling when the Milton velodrome opened in 2015. Before that, he had competed in sailing – but cycling suited his competitive personality more. It wasn’t long before he found success.

In December 2017, Michael stood on his first World Cup podium as the team pursuit won silver in Milton. From there, he won medals in 2018 and once again at the Pan Am Games in 2019. Now, Michael is off to Tokyo for the ultimate cycling competition. 

From all of us at Look Local Magazine, we wish all of our local (and Canadian) athletes the best of luck!  

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Thinking of a Fun Day Trip? Discover 13th Street Winery!

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Many families in our area have not booked their usual summer vacations this year due to the pandemic, and are planning a “staycation” close to home instead.  If that’s the case, there are many fabulous opportunities for day trips from your base in Oakville or Burlington.

One destination that should be on your list is 13th Street Winery in St. Catharines, on the western border of the Niagara wine district and only a 45 minute drive from Oakville or Burlington.  With three generations of agricultural expertise and over 20 years of winemaking experience in Niagara, the winery produces an array of delicious Niagara wines including their award-winning Gamay Noir.

This winery offers so much more though…  Chef Josh Berry will be serving locally-inspired seasonal dishes in the Farmhouse Bistro on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  And on Mondays and Fridays, you can enjoy a pizza from Avella’s Wood Fired Pizza.  The wine bar will be open and you can enjoy live music and a relaxing glass of wine on the patio on Thursday and Friday evenings.

There is also an art gallery which is open Mondays to Saturdays, with exhibits from Canadian artists that change regularly.

The winery offers guests the opportunity to relax in the beautiful grounds with the Niagara Escarpment as the backdrop, and enjoy Wine, Food & Art.  For more details, visit 13thstreetwinery.com.

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Summer Must-Reads by Local Authors

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Releasing a book at any time can be a challenge – but doing so during a pandemic, well, that comes with its own unique obstacles. But our summer reading list is brought to you by authors who did just that. Meet local authors who took a leap of faith and published their book during uncertain times – and we’re so glad they did!

Jane Austen Society 

by Natalie Jenner 

When Natalie Jenner of Oakville wrote Jane Austen Society, she likely didn’t expect it would take off the way it did. As an instant international bestseller, Jane Austen Society has snagged copious awards and nominations, including Historical Fiction and Debut Novel nominations from the Goodreads Choice Awards.  

A fictionalized account of the real Jane Austen Society – the book takes place in the 1940s in the village of Chawton, England, where Austen lived and wrote her six famous novels.Before Jenner tried her hand at writing, she was a corporate lawyer and founder of the independent bookstore, Archetype Books, in Oakville. Jane Austen Society was so successful, that Jenner is scheduled to release a second novel next spring. 

nataliejenner.com 

Find You First 

by Linwood Barclay 

Since retiring from the Toronto Star in 2006 where he worked for more than 30 years, Linwood Barclay has become an international bestseller. He’s written more than twenty “edge of your seat” thrillers, including such bestsellers as Elevator Pitch, Never Saw it Coming, and Find You First. 

Find You First introduces Miles Cookson, a Connecticut-based tech entrepreneur and multimillionaire who seems to have life under control. But near the start of Mr. Barclay’s whirligig of a novel, the unmarried Miles is hit with life-changing information: he has a debilitating hereditary disease that will leave him physically helpless before killing him.Barclay’s books have sold millions of copies in more than two dozen languages, and many have made it onto the New York Times Best Seller List. 

linwoodbarclay.com

Oh She Glows for Dinner 

by Angela Liddon 

When you find the recipe for success, why change it? That’s Angela Liddon’s motto anyway. In 2009 she released her first book, Oh She Glows, and since then, Liddon has become an international phenomenon. In her new cookbook, Oh She Glows for Dinner, Angela shares many favourite recipes from her first book, along with meal prep plans and new easy dishes.

ohsheglows.com

Idia of the Benin Kingdom

by Ekiuwa Air

Nigerian-Canadian author, Ekiuwa Aire, noticed a frustrating gap in children’s books – a lack of Black characters and African heroes. As a mother of two, Ekiuwa was determined to change that, and she began writing Idia of the Benin Kingdom.

Idia of the Benin Kingdom is an empowering children’s picture book that takes readers on a beautifully illustrated journey to the 1500s in ancient Africa. Readers are captivated as they watch Idia transform herself from the young and curious daughter of a village warrior to becoming the Queen of the Kingdom of Benin.

Her Name Was Margaret 

by Denise Davy

In the 26 years that she worked at The Hamilton Spectator; Denise wrote stories on an almost daily basis. The one that stayed with her the most was about a homeless woman named Margaret. 

After years of research, Denise turned her story into a book called Her Name Was Margaret: Life and Death on the Streets. It’s not only Margaret’s story but the story of thousands of people who were impacted by cuts to psychiatric hospital beds which began in the 1960s. 

The homeless we see on the streets today are the legacy of those cuts. Denise believes this story needs be told as the lack of community supports and housing created a sub-culture of homeless people who struggle with a mental illness.  

denisedavy.ca

Maybe: A Life of Choice & Chance

by R.J. Barnett

Born at the start of the Second World War, Burlington’s R.J. Barnett has maintained a lifelong fascination with world history, having devoted many hours to reseraching historical events and reading memoirs of wartime personalities.

Through his acclaimed historical fiction ‘Maybe: A Life of Choice & Chance’, Barnett’s historical insight and passionate storytelling bring to life the intriguing tale of an emerging Nazi German star, Reinhart Adler. The page-turner takes readers along a journey as they experience Adler’s rapid rise, sudden fall and harrowing escape from death, as he plots his revenge during bedlam of WWII politics.

www.rjbarnett.ca/

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Splish Splash: Backyard Waterworks

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There are two kinds of people in the summer: people with a pool and people who look to befriend people with a pool…  Due to the high demand for pool installations and a multi-year waitlist (thanks, pandemic), you may be the latter. But fear not. Whether you have a pool, are waiting on a pool, or have nothing more than a garden hose – there are tons of ways to play in the water all summer long.

If you have a pool…

Can we come over? Kidding. Kind of.

If you have a pool, the chances are you at least have a pool noodle or two. But there are so many other… dare we say “#trending” ways you can lounge this summer. Like, the Instagram-worthy giant ride-on swan and flamingo, available at Pioneer Family Pools. Want to put your baby in a swan, too? You can do it; Leisure Industries in 
Oakville carries an infant size. Or, if you like to be more active in the pool, there are basketball nets, dive rings, and goggles available at both locations. Pool toys and accessories from inflatables, games, and even drink holders, are the perfect way to splash the day away.

If you don’t have a pool…

But you have some unused space in the yard, you can actually install an above-ground pool fairly easily. 


Resin or steel pools are ultra-durable, long-lasting, and easy to assemble (and importantly, NOT permanent). They come in different sizes, heights, and shapes, and usually come as a kit including jets and skimmers. The great thing is you can set up these pools and leave them up – or if you happen to move or want to relocate the pool, you can simply disassemble it. These pools are available at places like Pioneer Pools, Leisure Industries, and Jameson Pool – all located in Oakville or Burlington. 

Even easier, you can purchase a quick set ring pool at your local Home Hardware. These pools usually cost anywhere from $90-$150. They’re larger than a traditional inflatable pool, are semi-inflatable, and above ground. Ring pools still require maintenance such as chlorine checks and they require a pump, but overall, they are more affordable and easier to maintain. 

Really tight on space? Chickadee Kids Co. has adorable and colourful kids-sized inflatable pools. Perfect to get your feet wet, or for the kids to splash around.

If you don’t have room for a pool…

There are still tons of fun ways to splash in your yard! My Giant Games, located in Burlington, has an outdoor mud kitchen the kids will love! Mud, leaves, sand, play toys…no matter what your kids like to play with, this kitchen can accommodate it. Kids can make stove-top mud pies, or whip up a grass soup. You can also provide easy access to water through a hose! 

Chickadee Kids Co. also has a new take on the traditional sprinkler – large, inflatable, perfect-for-all ages sprinklers! Run through water sprayed by a giant unicorn or dinosaur, or splash on a donut sprinkler mat. 

Ready for a water balloon fight? Grab reusable ones from The Refillery Market. These water balloons are a great addition to the summer! They are handmade in Hamilton Ontario from baby blanket yarn which is super absorbent! Just dunk the balloon in water and it will absorb up to 20 times its weight. Next, throw it at an unexpected victim and wait for the SPLASH (you also don’t have to worry about picking up tiny bits of balloon after all the fun). 

Now, with all these options for wet and wild fun – do you really need a friend with a pool?  

Local Links

Pioneer Family Pools – pioneerfamilypools.ca

Chickadee Kids Co – chickadeekidsco.com

Leisure Industries – leisureindustries.ca 

Jameson Pool – jamesonpool.com

My Giant Games – mygiantgames.com

Home Hardware – homehardware.ca

Refillery Market – refillerymarket.ca

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Shop Local: Summer Guide

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Whether it’s for the beach, patio or barbecue, here’s a selection of some of the coolest summer essentials to help make your summer fun!

The Casual Gourmet, Hamilton

Quench your thirst on a hot summer’s day with a refreshing glass of iced tea, brewed to perfection in this CEYLON.

Iced Tea Pitcher

casualgourmet.ca

Centro Garden, Burlington

Enjoy a sweet and spicy summer with this trio of gourmet spreads: candied jalapeno relish, spicy tomato jam, and charcuterie mustard. These three spreads make the ultimate burger condiments and also work well on a fancy cheeseboard.

Gourmet Burger Spreads Collection

centrogarden.com

Rustic Daisy’s, Waterdown

Spicy ancho chile, applewood smoked, smashed peppercorn, caesar pleaser… take your dishes (and cocktails!) to another level with these gourmet sea salt blends from Saltwest Naturals. Made from smoked sea salts harvested from Vancouver Island and  infused with natural, mouth-watering flavours.

Gourmet Sea Salt Blends

rusticdaisys.ca

Pure Boutique, Burlington

A  pineapple marble cheeseboard paired with an elegant antique-finish cheese knife – the perfect duo for a wine and cheese gathering on the patio!

Cheeseboard & Cheese Knife

pureboutique.ca

Lakeside Livin’, Oakville

Dress up your salad with this ceramic bistro bowl set and toss it up with these charming wooden servers!

Bistro Bowl & Wood Servers

lakesidelivin.com

Oakville Home Leisure, Oakville

This classic Adirondack chair is a must-have for your outdoor patio or for lakefront or poolside lounging!

Adirondack Chair

oakvillehomeleisure.ca

Core 1, Oakville

Bring your summer soundtrack everywhere you go with the Sonos Roam! From a backyard patio party to a backwoods camping trip, stream directly via Wifi or Bluetooth, and enjoy all-day battery and waterproof durability.

Sonos Roam Speaker

core1.ca

Nicety’s, Oakville

Bring the bonfire with you! No wood, no embers, no soot! City Bonfires is a portable bonfire, handmade with non-toxic materials by two dads whose jobs were impacted by the pandemic.

City Bonfires

nicetys.com

My Back Shed, Oakville

Illuminate your outdoor patio or late-evening picnic with this terra cotta citronella candle. A stylish way to add ambient lighting in the evening and keep the bugs away. Bonus: when the candle is finished these clay pots can be repurposed!

Citronella Candle

mybackshed.com

Burlington Beach Rentals, Burlington

Life is better at the beach! Float away your worries this summer with one of these fun inflatables, perfect for the lake or your pool!

Inflatables

staycationbeachandboatrentals.com

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Create A Raised Vegetable Garden For A Happy Harvest

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In the summertime, there is nothing more satisfying than savouring a fresh slice of a juicy, ripe red tomato or biting into a cool, crisp cucumber — and it’s even more delicious when that tender vegetable was grown in your very own vegetable garden!

The simple act of nurturing a young plant to fruition is not only good for the environment, but studies show that a connection to nature is a healthy outlet for anxiety, as well as a practical exercise in self-sufficiency.

This summer, whether you’re a novice gardener or a seasoned pro, why not hone your veggie-growing skills by growing your own?

MAKE YOUR BED

Even if you don’t have a lot of time for gardening, you can still have a productive vegetable garden, no matter the size, by starting with a raised bed. It’s a shortcut to a plentiful harvest, even in the first year. The benefits are many: 

  • Garden anywhere! Attractive cedar raised beds are an asset to your landscape. Create perimeter gardens, spice up your entryway, grow food in your front yard, or hide an eyesore.
  • You can harvest more food in less space. Set plants closer together so that every square inch is productive. Use small-space gardening techniques like succession planting and vertical supports to ensure you’re maximizing the space. 
  • You can plant earlier. Excess water drains better and the soil warms up faster in spring compared to in-ground beds. Specialized covers and garden fabric help you get started even earlier.
  • You can use better soil. A productive vegetable garden depends on good soil. With a raised bed, you start fresh with the ideal soil blend — even if the soil in your yard is poor.
  • You’ll see fewer weeds. Because raised beds are densely planted, weeds have little room to grow. And when they do find space, it’s easy to pull them from the loose, rich soil.
  • Easier pest control. It’s simpler to manage insects and exclude animal pests compared to long garden rows because you can easily cover beds with row fabrics or specialized covers.
  • Less bending to tend. Deep root raised beds are 15” high, so you bend less during planting, caring for, and harvesting plants.

“Always use untreated wood instead of chemically treated wood or wood ties as chemicals can leech into your vegetables,” Darla Malcolm-Hauraney, cofounder of The Garden Girls Garden Care, advises. “Cedar is the top choice for raised beds because this durable wood is naturally rot-resistant and can last 10 to 15 years. It is also insect-resistant because of oils in the wood.” 

“Also, fill the bed with great soil,” she continues. “The best soil suitable for vegetables includes 50% high-quality topsoil and 30% high-quality homemade or certified compost and 20% organic matter such as composted leaves, vermicompost (worm castings), mushroom compost, mineralized soil blend, ground bark, composted cow or poultry manure, and peat moss.” 


TRY SOMETHING NEW

Time to decide what to plant! Fill your garden with the types of vegetables you like to eat, keeping in mind it’s getting late in the season to plant fruiting vegetables like tomatoes. But if your family loves salad, plant head lettuce, a lettuce cutting mix, cucumbers, and carrots. If you love to cook, plant onions and peppers, leeks, potatoes, and herbs. Try to include at least one vegetable that’s new to you! See our handy list of Easy Top Ten Vegetables.

“After you’ve chosen which veggies you want to grow, research planting dates for your location, your site conditions, your soil conditions, spacing for the size planned, and fertilizer needs,” Darla suggests. “Try to select plants and varieties that are well adapted to environmental conditions in your area, as these are likely to be more vigorous and better able to withstand attack by pests.” 

 

Local Links

The Garden Girls, Mississauga || thegardengirls.ca

Van Beek’s Landscape Supply, Oakville / Mississauga || vanbeeks.com

Sheridan Nurseries, Mississauga || sheridannurseries.com

Bulow Garden & Landscaping, Oakville / Mississauga || Bulow-Gardens-Oakville

Terra Greenhouses, Burlington || terragreenhouses.com

Connon Nurseries, Waterdown || connon.ca

By Kristy Elik

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What’s Keto? Everything You Need To Know + Local Eats

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When it comes to dieting, new trends pop up every so often. There was the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, and Zone Diet. More recently, you’ve probably heard at least something about the Ketogenic (keto) diet – a low-carb, high-fat diet that has taken the world by storm.

Mostly known for weight loss, the diet works by reducing the intake of carbohydrates and replacing it with fats to put the body into a state called ketosis. Seafood, cheese, meat and poultry, and low-carb veggies are just some of the foods that make the keto-cut.

While there are a variety of benefits for health and wellness from the keto diet, Gloria Palcich, the founder of Ketolibriyum in Oakville, notes, “Most commonly cited and what headlines tend to gravitate towards are the effects on weight loss, however, the benefits go far beyond that.” She adds, “Other common benefits one might experience from following a ketogenic diet include increased energy, lowered inflammation as well as improvements with insulin resistance.” Gloria says when she started making keto-friendly meals for her father, his blood sugar dropped enough to take him off his medication for Type 2 Diabetes.

At Ketolibriyum, she now has an entire selection of keto meal plans, individual grocery items, and supplements available to support a keto lifestyle. Gloria says that not all diets are the perfect fit for everyone, but more doctors are starting to prescribe the diet to help with health concerns.  

Sandra Kay from Primal Cravings in Burlington says it’s important to do your research before jumping into any diet. “The keto diet, like every diet, should be discussed with your doctor or health professional before starting,” she explains. “Do your research. Understand it’s not a magic pill, it takes commitment”. Sandra initially started Primal Cravings in 2010 to cater to a Paleo sound lifestyle, but due to increased demand, she also offers autoimmune protocol friendly meals and desserts, as well as keto-friendly meals and desserts – free of soy, dairy, grains, legumes, and refined sugar (and everything is gluten-free!) 

As the keto diet has gained in popularity, it has resulted in a variety of bakeries and stores popping up across the Halton Region specializing in ketogenic-friendly foods. Julia Rochon, the owner of Julia’s Joyful Kitchen in Oakville, started her namesake bakery to cater to specialty diets.

“I saw the high demand for treats that were keto-friendly, so I got busy in the kitchen to create items that could be enjoyed without individuals having to compromise their way of eating,” Julia explains. “If you are following a specific diet or way of eating, I believe it’s super important to enjoy a treat now and then, especially one you can feel good about”. At Julia’s, you can find keto frosted brownies, lemon-strawberry donuts, bagels and brownie cakes.

Julia and Gloria both recommend understanding how your body works before trying something new – it’s especially important to consult with your doctor. To help with education and understanding, Gloria at Ketolibriyum has a series called “Keto 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Start Keto” that breaks down everything you need to know.

We asked our business owners to tell us their favourite keto friendly food choices in their stores at the moment. Here were their answers.

Ketolibriyum

Ketolibriyum offers meals and baked goods. Gloria says her two favourite dishes at the store are the Chicken Shawarma or Buffalo Chicken Casserole, both keto-friendly and delicious.

2387 TRAFALGAR ROAD, OAKVILLE. 
ketolibriyum.ca

Julia’s Joyful Kitchen

Specializing in not only keto-friendly treats but also vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and soy-free products, Julia says her go-to treat is the Keto Swirl Brownie for something sweet or the Keto Bagels for a tasty and healthy breakfast.

388 SWITCHGRASS STREET, OAKVILLE
juliasjoyfulkitchen.com

Primal Cravings

Known as Burlington’s one-stop-shop for specialty diet shopping, Sandra recommends the parmesan chicken with alfredo broccoli and zoodles or the meat-lovers pizza for a delicious keto meal. 

218 MOUNTAIN GROVE AVENUE #102, BURLINGTON
primalcravingsfrozen.com  

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