One thing Kingstonians don’t take for granted is our access to beautiful waterfront. We walk, jog and bike along the paths adjacent to Lake Ontario and sometimes sweat through a workout while watching the waves. This adoration for the outdoors aligns with our love for eating al fresco. Yes, we love a good patio. So what’s better than a patio with a view of the Kingston waterfront? Enter Dox—located in the Holiday Inn downtown Kingston at the bottom of Princess Street—Dox restaurant has a fantastic waterfront patio and awesome barbecue specials to match. After a rundown of the nightly summer specials by Executive Chef Victor Clementino, I think it’s safe to say that Dox is Kingston’s best-kept secret. Clementino explains the nightly barbecue specials that are offered seven nights a week in the summer, “Sundays we feature surf and turf—a six ounce new york steak with a skewer of shrimp. Mondays we do a double skewer of shrimp, on Tuesdays we serve a barbecue rib feature, Wednesdays we serve a grilled steak feature, Thursdays another rib (we try to keep a lot of the popular ones in rotation). Fridays and Saturdays it’s barbecued prime rib. All of the features are served with corn on the cob and baked potato, butter and sour cream.” Is your mouth watering yet? While you’re eating on Fridays and Saturdays, a live band is there to add to the summer ambiance from 5 pm-9 pm. I drop in on a Friday night with a couple of hungry locals and try a few of the regulars’ favourite menu items: The chorizo butter shrimp, lobster mac and cheese, mushroom bruschetta, and prime rib. I don’t know about you but I love seafood and I love cheese so between the chorizo butter shrimp and lobster mac and cheese I am in foodie heaven. There is a generous serving of crispy baguette with both the shrimp and the mac and cheese that’s perfect for dipping. The mac and cheese is broiled so the top’s crispy crust pairs perfectly with the gooey cheese, noodles and thick bites of lobster meat. The bruschetta is a crispy baguette topped with creamy, flavourful mushrooms and freshly chopped tomatoes and cucumbers. I love how the fresh tomatoes and cucumbers brighten up the flavours in this dish. The star of the meal—the prime rib—is a generously juicy serving with au jus, corn on the cob and a piping hot baked potato. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to discover this gem of a patio with mouthwatering, affordable meals. I know I’ll be back for seconds.
AquaTerra’s Executive Chef Brent McAllister is reserved, a tad shy, and quietly profound. He believes strongly in family and community, and food. He speaks about values, community, learning, and love – all of which he ties back to food. He is frank about his own lifelong process of growing up which he talks about with a rare sense of self-awareness. There’s no doubt about his being in the right place, Chef Brent McAllister has two feet firmly planted on the ground. He knows exactly what matters in life and he loves where he’s at, and that includes being at the helm of AquaTerra.
Lindy Mechefske: Where does your passion for food come from? Brent McAllister: I have wonderful early memories of food and family. Of being in the garden and plucking radishes and green onions straight from the earth and eating them right away, with just a little sprinkle of salt. Those are tastes that are still with me. And I have many memories of big family gatherings where my mother was busy in the kitchen. When I was still in grade school I got it into my head that I wanted to make an apple pie for a holiday dinner. I can still remember that sense of accomplishment – and the feeling that I was contributing something meaningful. Food is often symbolic of bigger things.
LM: How did you train to be a chef? BM: I was always good at math, so in high school, I planned to become an accountant. At the time, I was working in a restaurant as a dishwasher. When I went on to study accounting, I was still working in a restaurant and slowly working my way up the ladder. In hindsight that humble early training taught me to really respect every position in the restaurant.
After I graduated from accounting, I realized that my first love was really being in the kitchen and working with food. I started at AquaTerra in 1999, before going on to Queen’s University Club, and then Hillebrand Estates Winery in the Niagara Region. Eventually, I wound my way back, full-circle, to AquaTerra, bringing back everything I’d learned. Some cooking skills are innate, some techniques can be learned but it strikes me that one of the most important things a chef can learn is how to move in the kitchen – there’s a sort of fluency of moves, a kind of efficiency in the kitchen, which is so important.
LM: What drives you forward in your career? Are there important influences or things that inspire you? Other chefs, cookbooks, movies, specific cuisines – or something else entirely? BM: Cooking is just what I love to do. The Winemaker’s Dinners at AquaTerra, for example, for me those dinners are pure love and joy. As for inspiration, I draw it from everywhere but I am inspired by such simple things as really good produce straight out of the garden. At its best, produce is gorgeous, just gorgeous.
LM: What’s your absolute favourite thing about being a chef? BM: I love the opportunity to create. And I also really value the relationship with the community around food: farmers, producers, other staff, and ultimately, customers.
LM: What’s makes you happy at work? BM: I’m happy when everyone else is happy. A big part of my job is keeping customers happy. And also keeping the team happy. The easy part of my job is cooking. The more difficult part is the management side of things – that’s more complex, more layered.
Photo via AquaTerra
LM: How do you see Canada’s culinary identity? BM: I think we’re evolving beyond the notion that Canadian cuisine consists of French fries and maple syrup. There’s an important emerging trend of being involved with local growers – knowing who they are, supporting their efforts, using what the land provides us with. I think we’re starting to treat food with greater respect. I think we’re getting better at doing things seasonally too. Our growing season is short but we can optimize it by preserving, pickling, and planning ahead. For example, I make tomato jam while tomatoes are at their peak and then we have the opportunity to savour that optimum flavour all year round instead of eating cardboard tomatoes in the middle of winter.
Photo via AquaTerra
LM: What are your favourite off-duty, go-to meals at home or out? BM: My absolute favourite meal is a toasted tomato sandwich made with a fresh tomato picked straight from the garden. I’ll use whatever bread is in the house. A bit of salt and pepper. Some mayonnaise. And maybe, but not necessarily, some bacon. Really impossible to beat a fresh from the garden tomato sandwich.
LM: What unusual thing do you have in your refrigerator right now? BM: I don’t know if you’d call it unusual but I usually have some kimchi and chili peppers from the Asian Market. I like a fresh salad with some chopped cabbage in it and a kimchi dressing.
LM: If you could cook for anyone at all, who would you choose? BM: I’d cook for my Mom and Dad. They’re both gone but I’d love to show them how I’ve grown up over the years, how hard I’ve worked, the man I’ve become. I’d like them to see how I’ve taken over the family dinners so that the tradition continues. I think as a society we’re in danger of losing that sense of community that big, old-fashioned gatherings around food created. In general, families are smaller than they used to be and gatherings are getting less common. We’re really losing something when we lose that sense of community. I’m working to try to keep that alive. I want my two children to understand the importance of food, family, values, and community.
LM: What do you value most in life? BM: No question. FAMILY. I love what I do and I put my heart into it – but I do it to support my family. I want to teach my children well. I want them to know what matters. Food just happens to be a big part of all that. I also really value the feeling that I am where supposed to be. I love what I do. I’m living the happy ever after.
AquaTerra is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Vu lounge, adjacent to the restaurant, is a perfect spot for a quiet drink alongside the water and offers its own menu in addition to the restaurant menu. For full menus and reservations, please visit their website here.
Tons of Canada Day festivities plus local food and drink events, free music nights, historical demonstrations, arts festivals, and more means your July in Kingston will be chock-full of enchanting adventures! Do you have an event you’d like covered in our monthly 25 Things to do list? Add it to our events calendar and we’ll consider it!
The two biggest concerts in Kingston this July will likely be Busty and the Bass (July 2, Ontario Street) and Rascal Flatts (July 8, Fort Henry), but smaller shows from the likes of Goldwing, the Trinity College Choir, and Craig Cardiff promise to be good ones as well. Remember, too, that the Canadian Guitar Festival returns to Loughborough Lake at the end of the month.
Photo via Busty and the Bass, Facebook
Busty and the Bass
Sunday, July 2, 7 pm Ontario Street This nine-piece, electro-funk collective has become one of the most vibrant new bands in Canada. After being named the top university band in the country in 2014, they’ve gone on to tour regularly in Canada and the U.S. Now they’re set to get you grooving up and down Ontario Street at this special Canada Day weekend outdoor concert. Local psychedelic soul rockers Lost Cousins will open the show. Admission: Free downtownkingston.ca
Photo via SBImages
Goldwing
Friday, July 7, 9 pm The Mansion Although they’ve only been around for a few years, this alternative folk rock band from Kingston has made a big mark. Not only have they shared stages with 54-40, Treble Charger and The Mahones in that time, but they were named finalists in Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Artist Mentorship Program, took home first place in two song-writing contests, and released their eleven-track debut album. Their progressive folk sound should play well on The Mansion’s small but mighty “Living Room” stage at this benefit concert for the Gollogly family. Admission: Suggested $10 donation mansion.rocks
Photographer WEZL Charleston via Flickr
Chill on the Hill MusicFest
Saturday, July 8, 6:15 pm Fort Henry Country music legends Rascal Flatts headline this annual music fest overlooking Lake Ontario. They have 10 albums, 16 number one hits and over 23 million records sold under their belts, so they should know how to bring a house down (or hill). They’ll be joined by Canadian country star Aaron Pritchett and other special guests to be announced closer to the date. Barbecue-style food vendors will be there, as will two large beer tents offering pints, ciders, and wines. Gates open at 5 pm. Admission: $84.99 forthenry.com
Photo via Chasing Trees
Chasing Trees
Thursday, July 20, 8 pm – 11 pm Musiikki Café Chasing Trees is only one man, Kingstonian Yan-Nick Michaud, but his multi-task performances lend a full-band sound to his indie and folk-rock leanings. He plays fresh takes on cover songs and original tunes he wrote himself. Many of them, as he says, are like “gooey inner minglings of a chocolate covered continuous run-on sentence.” The tiny and intimate Musiikki Café should be the perfect venue for those sentences to run on well into the night. Admission: Not specified musiikkicafe.com
Photo via The Great Waterway
Fort Henry Annual Tattoo
Saturday, July 22, 7:30 pm Fort Henry The sounds of fifes, brass, pipes and drums will fill Fort Henry’s parade square once again at this annual showcase of bands from Canada and around the world. The tattoo is always one of the Fort’s most popular fests of the year, one big reason being the promise of a massed band grand finale capped off with a huge fireworks display. Admission: Adult – $25. Seniors (65+) – $20. Kids under 6 – free. forthenry.com
Photo via Lost Cousins
Lost Cousins
Thursday, July 27, 9 pm The Mansion Toronto four-piece Lost Cousins have put their own psychedelic-soul spin on indie rock, and it’s definitely working. Since playing their first shows in the living of their Kingston student house, they’ve gone on to reach the top 10 in the CBC’s Searchlight competition, release an EP and tour Canada and the U.S. If the release of their latest single “Quarters” is any indication, this show should have plenty of those spaced-out, groovy jams we love from them. Admission: Not yet set mansion.rocks
Photographer Benjamin Ealovega
Trinity College Choir
Thursday, July 27, 7:30pm- 10pm St. George’s Cathedral Voted the fifth best choir in the world by Gramophone magazine, this UK troupe has existed since the 14th century and is now made up of 30 choral scholars and two organ scholars. All of them are ordinarily undergraduates at Cambridge University’s Trinity College. Their sublime, soaring vocals should find a good home under St. George’s high, domed ceilings. Admission: $25 stgeorgescathedral.ca
Photographer Dahlia Katz
The Bicycle Opera Project Presents: Sweat
Friday, July 28, 7:30 pm Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts The Bicycle Opera Project is a group of young professional artists who bring high-quality, accessible opera to communities across Ontario. And they travel exclusively by bicycle! Sweat is their ‘a capella’ opera for 10 singers about women working in the global garment industry. It promises to take you inside the sweatshop world and make you think about the ethical conundrums of the garment trade. Admission: $16 – $39 theisabel.ca
Photographer Nathan Phillips via Flickr
Canadian Guitar Festival
Friday, July 28 – Sunday, July 30 Loughborough Lake Holiday Park Every year some of the best fingerstyle guitar players in the world gather just north of Kingston near the banks of Loughborough Lake. Throughout three days they play concerts inside the 10,000-square-foot open-air hall, while at other times there are open mics, guitar workshops, a guitar competition and this year even a film premiere. Not sure which day to attend? Bring a tent and stay all weekend. Admission: Day pass – $17.50 – $35. Full weekend pass – $37 – $75. Full weekend pass with camping – $62.50 – $125 canadianguitarfestival.com
Photo via Craig Cardiff
Craig Cardiff
Saturday, July 29, 9 pm Musiikki Café Canadian singer-songwriter Craig Cardiff is in his second decade of delivering what he calls “folk with a dash of sing-along and storytelling” to audiences across North America and Europe. Some have compared him to Nick Drake, but really his talent is unique to him. His live shows are always intimate, known for feeling less like concerts and more like get-togethers between friends. Chances are you’ll make a few new pals at this warm and welcoming gem of a small venue on Brock Street. Admission: $15 in advance, $20 at the door musiikkicafe.com
These five weekly concert series also continue this month: Music in the Park Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Confederation Park downtownkingston.ca Country Music in the Park Thursdays, 7 pm – 8 pm Confederation Park downtownkingston.ca Big Band Friday Fridays, 7 pm – 8 pm Courtyard in Market Square downtownkingston.ca Sounds at St. Andrew’s Saturdays, 4 pm – 5 pm St. Andrew’s Church Lawn downtownkingston.ca St. George’s Cathedral Summer Concerts Thursdays St. George’s Cathedral stgeorgescathedral.ca
The festival lineup in Kingston this July kicks off with a massive birthday bash for Canada’s 150th and doesn’t quit for the next 30 days. Expect everything from annual classics like Buskers Rendezvous and Taste of Kingston to newer gems like the Tall Ships Regatta and the One-Act Play Festival. In other words, peak festival season is finally, thankfully, here.
Photographer Marcus Jeffery via Flickr
Canada Day in Kingston
Saturday, July 1 Downtown Canada turns 150 this year, so it’s no wonder the first capital of a united Canada is hosting one of the biggest birthday parties in the city’s history. The action takes place downtown near the waterfront and includes The Limestone Mile running race, the Red & White Parade down Princess Street, the Mayor’s Sail past Crawford Wharf, and live music all day and night on Ontario Street. At 10 pm get ready for what should be the most spectacular fireworks display in recent memory. Wagon rides, a Ferris wheel, and a public market round out the day’s lineup. Admission: Free visitkingston.ca
Photo via Artfest Kingston
Artfest Kingston
Saturday, July 1 – Monday, July 3, 10 am – 6 pm daily City Park This annual outdoor fest is back for its sixth year of showcasing the work of over 150 artists and artisans from Ontario and Quebec. Their mediums range from pottery and glass to wood and jewelry, to theatre and poetry. Live music, art workshops, and gourmet food are on the lineup too, as are a new First Nations pavilion and a new craft beer and wine tent. Admission: Free
Photo via The Great Waterway
Kingston Buskers Rendezvous
Thursday, July 6 – Sunday, July 9 Downtown The knife jugglers, acrobats, musicians, and contortionists return to Kingston this month, here to take over downtown streets for the 29th time. New performers this year will include Chris Blaze, an Australian with a fire ninja act; Dyna Mike, a multi-talented Londoner who can juggle chainsaws; and ACE-K, a Japanese artist with a talent for the most insane balloon manipulation you’ve probably seen. Check the website for the most up-to-date festival map. Admission: Free, but tips welcome
Photo via Domino Theatre, Facebook
One-Act Play Festival
Friday, July 7, 7:30 pm Domino Theatre One night, three original short plays, three Kingston authors trying to move on to the Eastern Ontario one-act play finals. Three judges and the audience will have the unenviable task of choosing one of these three plays to move on: “A Tale Told,” by Christine Harvey and the Not so Amateur Amateurs; “Tea With Enid and Pearl,” by Gretchen Huntley and Lynn McCauley; and “Binding Bridges,” by James Gow. Admission: Adults – $17.70 Kids and Students – $8.85 dominotheatre.com
Photo via The Great Waterway
Rendez-Vous 2017: Tall Ships Regatta
Friday, July 7 – Sunday, July 9 Bath, Ontario From June 30 until August 20, more than 40 tall ships will sail Canadian waters to honour the country’s 150th. The fleet will make its Southeastern Ontario port of call in the historic village of Bath, just west of Kingston. Head to the waterfront in front of the gorgeous grounds of the Fairfield-Gutzeit House to tour 11 of these majestic cathedrals of the sea. Afterward, check out the live music, historic naval demonstrations, kid’s activities, craft beer garden, evening naval battle and more. Admission: $12 in advance, $15 at the gate. Kids under 10 – free
Photographer WEZL Charleston via Flickr
Chill on the Hill MusicFest
Saturday, July 8, 6:15 pm Fort Henry This year, country music legends Rascal Flatts headline this yearly waterfront hill party overlooking Lake Ontario. You probably know them, but here’s a quick recap: 10 albums, 16 number one hits, over 23 million records sold. They’ll be joined Canadian country star Aaron Pritchett and other special guests to be announced closer to the date. Barbecue-style food vendors will be there, as will two large beer tents offering pints, ciders, and wines. Gates open at 5 pm. Admission: $84.99 forthenry.com
Photo via The Great Waterway
Fort Henry Annual Tattoo
Saturday, July 22, 7:30 pm Fort Henry Fort Henry’s parade square is set to be filled with the sounds of fife, brass, pipe and drum bands from Canada and around the world. This annual showcase of drill and musical skills has become one of the Fort’s most popular fests of the year. A big reason is the promise of a massed band grand finale capped off with a huge fireworks display. Admission: Adult – $25. Seniors (65+) – $20. Kids under 6 – free. forthenry.com
Photographer Nathan Phillips via Flickr
Canadian Guitar Festival
Friday, July 28 – Sunday, July 30 Loughborough Lake Holiday Park Every year some of the best fingerstyle guitar players in the world gather just north of Kingston near the banks of Loughborough Lake. Throughout three days they play concerts inside the open-air hall, while at other times there are open mics, guitar workshops, a guitar competition and this year even a film premiere. Admission: Day pass – $17.50 – $35. Full weekend pass – $37 – $75. Full weekend pass with camping – $62.50 – $125 canadianguitarfestival.com
Photo via Kingston Show N’ Shine
Kingston Show ’N Shine
Saturday, July 29, 12 pm – 5 pm Ontario Street If you have even a slight interest in motorbikes, head to Ontario Street in front of City Hall on the 29th for this annual charity fundraiser. You’ll find a wide variety of custom bikes on display, plus a few special shows, including one from Canadian freestyle motocross legend Jason Thorne (pictured). Feel free to bring your own ride to show off, and remember to check out the live music, vendor village, and food area. This year, all proceeds go to Almost Home, a non-profit that provides comfort and respite for families whose children receive medical treatment at Kingston area hospitals. Admission: Donation facebook.com
Photographer LexnGer via Flickr
Taste of Kingston
Sunday, July 30, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm Confederation Park Another charity fundraiser, Taste of Kingston brings some of the city’s top chefs to the waterfront to show about 5,000 of us what they’ve got. Each restaurant will have bite-sized creations on offer, and you choose which is best during the public voting competition. Tasting tickets are $1 apiece, but each restaurant “bite” could require up to five tickets. Generally, 10 tickets will get you a three-course lunch. Proceeds support Diabetes Canada. Admission: Free, tasting tickets $1/each diabetes.ca
CORK Sailing Regatta
Ongoing Portsmouth Olympic Harbour Kingston’s waters are filled with hundreds of sailboats again, most here for the annual freshwater sailing festival known as the Canadian Olympic-training Regatta, Kingston (CORK). It’s a multi-class competition and training event with one thousand-plus boats and crews expected throughout the summer. The races this month continue with the Etchells Canadian Championship and the Olson 30 North American Championship. Hit the waterfront or head to Portsmouth Olympic Harbour to see who wins. Admission: Free cork.org
When you look at a piece of wood, what do you see? Nick Allinson perceives more than just a chunk of maple or a slab of walnut—he sees form, function, and ultimately art. For the last two years, the Kingston woodworker has been busying himself making stunning charcuterie boards and bespoke home items from local lumber. We spoke with him to find out how he combines raw materials with talent, vision, and lots of elbow grease to create his sleek and beautiful signature pieces.
Allinson’s foray into the creative arts began early. “From a very young age, I was always into making things. I was always playing with Lego, egg cartons, and recycled plastic bottles,” he says. His passion for crafting things by hand went through many phases throughout his life.
“Fine woodworking is sort of the latest chapter,” says Allinson. “When I went to university I took woodworking, and I’ve been doing it now for about 6 years.”
Now with his own workshop in Kingston, Allinson spends his days skillfully crafting wooden home accessories and furniture. In addition to his signature charcuterie boards, “I’ve done countertops, dining tables, entranceway tables, desks, wine racks… it’s really an open book,” he says. Instead of simply churning out identical pieces, he prefers to meet with clients to discuss their vision in order to create something truly original. “They can come to me with any size or description or project they have in mind, and we work together to make it happen.”
One of Nick Allinson’s signature charcuterie board creations. Photographer: @kerenzayuen via Instagram
Once a plan has been formulated, his creative process begins in a nearby town, where Allinson sources his high-quality materials.
“I go to a guy who mills wood in Mallorytown,” he says. “Then I’ll strap it to the roof of my little Volkswagen and take it to the shop. I take some time to measure and get to know the raw piece before I start working on it.”
Hours are spent cutting, planing, sanding, and rounding the item until he’s satisfied with it. “I just keep working it and working it, until I end up with an almost porcelain-smooth piece.” He describes the unpredictable nature of wood as part of the excitement of his work. “I love the challenge—wood is such a basic medium to use, but it’s also so complicated, and so varied. Every piece is unique and full of character,” he says.
Allinson hard at work on a new project. Photographer: @kerenzayuen via Instagram
Finished pieces that aren’t for custom orders often go with him to Kingston maker markets and craft fairs. “Maker markets are the best way to meet new customers, and also to connect with other makers who connect you to other resources,” he says. “For example, I’ve met people who are metalsmiths, so I can source metal bases for a lot of my tables. It’s so great to be able to say ‘This entire table was made locally!’ instead of having to order parts from a website online from an unknown factory.”
Keeping his operation close to home is important to Allinson, who has lived in Kingston all his life. “I went to school in Toronto for a little while, but every time I came back home I just thought ‘This is so much better’,” he says. “It’s the perfect place to be. I love how locally-focused everything is, and it’s just such a beautiful city.”
More of Allinson’s stunning work can be seen at his website https://www.nickallinson.ca/ Photographer: @kerenzayuen via Instagram
In addition to contributing to Kingston’s creative community with his products, Allinson has plans to give back to his hometown through a new venture. “My partner Melissa Eapen (of the Kingston Collective and Improbable Escapes) and I are putting together membership-based woodshop here in town,” he says. “People will have a monthly membership, and get access to a full professional workshop, with knowledgeable technicians onsite to help them.” The shop will also offer classes on woodworking, installations, and other home projects. He explains that part of his motivation is to make woodworking more accessible and approachable to budding makers—regardless of gender, orientation, or level of experience.
“I know going to a workshop, where there are lots of guys who know more than you, can be intimidating,” he says. “So we will work hard to make sure it’s open to everyone.”
With this kind of space available to local makers and guidance from pros like Allinson, Kingston might soon become a city known for its phenomenal woodworkers.
Update: Chef Daniel Cholewa is no longer with Tango Nuevo, and Andrew Smyth is now head chef.
Co-chefs Daniel Cholewa and Andrew Smyth head up the busy kitchen at Tango Nuevo, working alongside a team of thirteen cooks. When I contact one of them for an interview—I get both. They come as a pair. Not only do they work together, they also socialize together, and sometimes finish each other’s sentences. The pair of chefs who have worked together, day in and day out, since Tango Nuevo opened its doors, use one word over and over: team.
“We’re not hierarchical in the kitchen,” says Daniel, “We can’t afford to be, this is an incredibly fast-paced kitchen and it takes a team.” On a busy night, the kitchen at Tango turns out as many as eight hundred, beautifully crafted, individual tapas plates. That’s a lot of food and a lot of attention to detail, especially given that almost everything is made on site and prepared to order.
Photo via Lindy Mechefske
Lindy Mechefske: Tell me a bit about your backgrounds—where you came from and where you developed your passion for food. Andrew Smyth: I’m originally from Montreal and came to Kingston about ten years ago. My first job in a restaurant was a part-time dishwasher position that I took to support my musical aspirations. I worked my way up the ladder and soon realized that I was very drawn to the creative side of cooking. I studied culinary management at St. Lawrence College. After graduating I spent some time working in Prince Edward County and then worked at Aqua Terra under Chefs Clark Day and Jason Legère for two years, before starting at Tango, and eventually, at Tango Nuevo. I’ve been here since before the doors opened four years ago, helping to build the place from the ground up.
Daniel Cholewa: I grew up in Aurora, in a family of nine children. My Mom was always in the kitchen cooking big family dinners. Food was a huge part of our existence. We grew up helping Mom in the kitchen. This had an important impact on me and apparently also on the rest of my family because two of my brothers are also chefs. I studied computer science but realized soon after I graduated that what I really wanted to do was get back into a kitchen. I worked at Casa Domenica, and then Red House, before coming to work at Tango Nuevo. Like Andrew, I was here helping to prepare and paint the place prior to its opening and I’m a better cook than painter! Essentially I’ve been cooking all my life. LM: What drives you forward in your career? Are there important influences or things that inspire you? DC: I am really driven to create new dishes. I love experimenting with flavours and new ingredients. I was just at the Asian market on Princess Street picking up sambal, miso paste, and pickled ginger. I’m working on a miso reduction.
One of the things I like about working here is our chef’s tasting menu dinners. We have a private room downstairs where we’ll do a special menu for up to eight guests. We put a lot of effort into planning the menus—developing something really special, catering to customers’ taste preferences and allergies, etc. It’s a unique opportunity to be creative as a chef.
AS: I’ve always been inspired by fine dining. I’m interested in molecular gastronomy. And I’m very drawn to Spanish cooking. I’ve fallen in love with tapas/small plates. But I’d have to say I’m inspired by British Chef Marco Pierre White, the first British chef (and the youngest chef anywhere) to be awarded three Michelin stars. He trained Gordon Ramsay and Curtis Stone and was notorious for his bad behaviour and fantastic food. In 1999 Marco Pierre White got fed up and gave his Michelin stars back so that he could reinvent himself. He’s a character and I find that pretty inspirational.
Photo via Tango Nuevo
LM: How do you see Canada’s culinary identity? AS: I think Canada is lagging behind world food culture. But it’s starting to happen. We’re a huge country and so multicultural that it’s hard to define our culinary identity. I think it’s very cool that our cultural and culinary identity is starting to emerge—our awareness is growing. We’re moving away from a meat and potatoes culture into something much more adventurous. I think we’re starting to trust chefs and recognize the fundamental importance of food.
DC: I think what we’re doing at Tango Nuevo reflects what’s happening to our culinary identity. It’s shifting. We’re more aware of the importance of food. We know more about ingredients and the foods of other cultures. When Tango Nuevo opened, we purposefully stopped serving lunches and dinners and shifted to tapas and small plates that can be shared. Our menu is incredibly diverse. That’s typical of tapas menus. Sharing food is important and it facilitates a different relationship to both the food and the people at the table. It makes eating a bigger part of the conversation and I think that’s important.
LM: What are your favourite off-duty, go-to-meals at home or out? DC: Beer and wings at the [Iron] Duke. A curry from Curry Original and late night poutine from Bubba’s.
AS: Beer and wings with Daniel at the Duke (a special nod to Tony the bartender). Late night pizza at Bubba’s. Woodenheads. And charcuterie at Le Chien Noir.
LM: What’s in your refrigerator right now? DC: I live with a girl so my fridge is fully stocked! It’s fabulous.
AS: Fixings for grilled cheese. Beer. Way too many condiments. And usually some leftover takeaway containers.
LM: If you could cook for anyone at all, who would you choose? AS: I think working as a chef, I have really learned to appreciate other chefs. I’d love to cook for Chef Marco Pierre White. I like how honest and real he is and I admire his passion for food and life and his commitment and creativity.
DC: I’d love to cook for my Mom and my whole family. My mom doesn’t share her kitchen easily but I’d love to take over and cook her a really big, fabulous Christmas dinner. And I’d love to watch her reaction because as chefs, we’re working in the back, we rarely get to see how people react to the food we’ve just cooked for them.
Photo via Tango NuevoPhoto via Lindy Mechefske
LM: What do you value most in life? DC: Family. My coworkers are also like family. We don’t make a lot of money in this business and we work hard, long hours and late nights—so teamwork and respect are paramount. We treat each other well. I value the opportunity to work with cooks and see them grow.
AS: Family. Friends. The opportunity to be creative in my work. To be a cook or a chef is very big—it’s to be generous, to care. To really, really care about what you’re doing and put your heart into it – that’s something I truly value.
Tango Nuevo, 331 King St E, Kingston, Kingston, is open for 12pm-12am, seven days a week for a wide variety of tapas and desserts made on site. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available. Fully licensed.
For more information please visit www.tangonuevo.ca or call 613.548.3778.
Canada’s special day has finally arrived in our nation’s First Capital, and Kingston has pulled out all the stops for Canada’s 150! The full weekend line-up will keep you busy from dawn til dusk with movies in the Square, live music, markets, and of course, fireworks. All events are free to attend, so put the sunscreen on and don your red and white best—it’s time to celebrate Canada’s birthday.
Day #1: Thursday, June 29
Movies in the Square Thursday, June 29th, Dusk Springer Market Square The weekend kicks off with Movies in the Square. Starting at dusk (or 9:15 PM, whichever comes first) in Springer Market Square bring the lawn chairs and blankets and get comfy for an outdoor screening of The Great Outdoors starring John Candy and Dan Aykroyd. All Movies in the Square are free, but be sure to bring your own seating and snacks!
Day #2: Friday, June 30
Music in the Park Friday, June 30, 5:00 PM–10:30 PM Sesqui Stage, Ontario Street Concerts in Kingston stop for no holiday. In fact, enjoy more live music than ever at the Sesqui Stage this weekend. Nick Babcock takes the stage at 5 PM on Friday to kick off a night of great Music in the Park with local artists.
5:00 PM – Nick Babcock
6:00 PM – Taylor Angus
7:00 PM – Oscar Evans Quintet
8:00 PM – The Relative
9:00 PM – Dirty Radio
Illumination of City Hall Friday, June 30, 10:00 PM Sesqui Stage, Ontario Street The festivities will truly be underway once the switch has been flipped illuminating City Hall with a full LED light show to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday.
Day #3: Saturday, July 1
Kingston Public Market Saturday, July 1, 6:00 AM–6:00 PM Springer Market Square Almost as old as the country itself, the Kingston Public Market will be business-as-usual on Saturday bringing the produce and products you’ve come to expect in celebration of Canada’s 150th. Limestone Mile Saturday, July 1, 8:30 AM TBD The 3-race-in-one Limestone Mile is a Canada Day tradition. For some, a 4 day holiday celebration doesn’t truly begin until you’ve run a mile at 8:30 in the morning, and that’s just fine! The event includes a kids race, a women’s race, a men’s race all of which can be run solo or as a team.
Art Fest Saturday, July 1–Monday, July 3, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM City Park Art Fest is a three-day Kingston arts and culture event for the whole family. This year featuring a new craft beer & wine tent!
Red and White Parade Saturday, July 1, 11:00 AM Princess Street & Barrie Street to Ontario Street You’ve been planning your Canada Day parade outfit all year and now the day has finally arrived! Wear your red and white best and join the Town Crier and civic dignitaries—and your fellow Kingstonians—in a parade from Princess and Barrie Street to Ontario Street.
Civic Ceremony Saturday, July 1, 12:00 PM Sesqui Stage, Ontario Street The 2017 First Capital Award Winners will be guests of honour for the parade and will be recognized during the Civic Ceremony on the steps of City Hall at noon. The ceremony will be kicked off with a singing of our national anthem.
Mayor’s Sail Past Saturday, July 1, 1:00 PM Confederation Park/Basin Watch a parade of boats dressed in their red & white—crew as well!— sail past Crawford Wharf.
Family Programming Saturday, July 1, 1:00 PM–6:00 PM Confederation Park Inflatables, wagon rides, vintage Ferris wheel, and more! There’s going to be lots to keep you and the kids busy today at Confederation Park.
Ferris Wheel Saturday, July 1, 1:00 PM–6:00 PM Ontario Street Don’t miss our very own heritage Ferris wheel that will be offering free rides to one and all! Take in the day’s celebrations from the top of this vintage Ferris wheel!
Music on Stage Saturday, July 1, 1:00 PM–10:00 PM Sesqui Stage, Ontario Street Another full day of great local music takes over the Sesqui Stage.
1:00 PM – The Savannah Shea Band
2:00 PM – Little California
4:00 PM – Lisa Vee & the VIP
5:00 PM – Lotus Shaker
7:00 PM – Spencer Evans
8:00 PM – Kim Pollard Band
9:00 PM – Still Standin’
The Dream Catchers Musical Performance Saturday, July 1, 2 performances 3:00 PM & 6:00 Sesqui Stage, Ontario Street This young Canadian dance troupe will have you on your feet as they share the hopes and dreams of future Canadians. The live theatre and music show has been travelling across the country and will bring its passion and energy to Kingston’s 150th celebrations. Admission is free.
Fireworks Saturday, July 1, 10:00 PM Confederation Park/Basin This year’s fireworks display is promised to be bigger and better than ever before! Confederation Park is the best place to view the Canada Day Fireworks Show.
Day #4: Sunday, July 2
Kingston Antique Market Sunday, July 2, 6:00 AM–6:00 PM Springer Market Square The Kingston Antique Market is the best place to stroll through after a busy day celebrating Canada’s 150th. Unwind and browse the wide range of antiques, collectibles, art, vintages pieces and more.
Busty & the Bass with special guest Lost Cousins Sunday, July 2, 7:00 PM Sesqui Stage, Ontario Street Busty & The Bass is a nine-piece from Montreal blend hip-hop, dance, and electrosoul and bring it all on stage in a powerful, energetic set that will have you dancing ‘til you drop. Kingston’s own psychedelic rock group Lost Cousins will open. Come and celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday with us in Kingston—we can’t wait to see you!
Restaurateur Amber Thom lives, eats, and breathes food. She’s the kind of person that people call on late at night with wild produce. One night this spring, her doorbell rang unexpectedly at 10pm. She answered to find a forager with ten pounds of freshly picked fiddlehead ferns. She took the lot and spent the entire night sorting, cleaning, preparing, and preserving fiddleheads before leaving for work first thing the following morning.
Amber and her partner, Chef Jamie Hodges, a New Zealander, co-own both the gorgeous, ultra-stylish Juniper Café at the Tett Centre and Epicurious Catering. The pair met while working in Vancouver in 2010, before returning to Kingston with their daughter. They’ve spent their lives working in the food industry and amongst other things, they once ran the Red Brick Supper Club, a small dinner-party style private restaurant where reservations were hotly sought after.
Amber Thom cares deeply about food and all that care is amply evident in the gorgeous food she and Jamie create.
Lindy Mechefske: Where did you find your love of food? Amber Thom: I come from a family who takes food seriously and understands the importance of eating well. My grandmother and mother are both wonderful cooks. I learned to love food when I was very young, kind of like our own six-year old daughter who is already a foodie. I sometimes say that I can’t do anything else – food is all I’ve ever known. Yet at the same time, it’s such a conscious choice because food is at the heart of everything.
LM: How did you get into the restaurant business? AT: I grew up in Kingston and my first job was in a restaurant. After I left high school I did a Bachelor of Commerce in Food and Hotel Administration and interned at the Banff Springs Hotel where I met my partner, Jamie, who did his chef training in London, England and has worked in New Zealand, Australia, Whistler, and Vancouver. We spent some time working in high-end Vancouver restaurants and we started a catering business there, before returning to Kingston.
Jamie and I have endless visions for new restaurants and new food-related ventures. We’re passionate about what we do. And we’re in it together. But being in this industry is a labour of love – with the same margins as farming and the same long hours. You have to love it or you wouldn’t survive the long days and nights, the weekends on, the relentlessness of starting again every day. For Jamie and me – food is our passion and our life.
LM: How would you describe your food style? Who or what do you consider important influences? AT: I like classic pairings. Things like great charcuterie and cheese and the highest quality produce along with beautiful wines and craft beer. We’re conscientious about using only local, seasonal produce and ethically sourced meat and fish. For example, we serve tomatoes for the three months of the year when we can source fresh, local tomatoes. The rest of the year – we won’t serve them because they aren’t worth eating. And we don’t serve shrimp ever, even when asked, because of the many ethical issues connected to shrimp fishing. There’s a strong New Zealand influence in our kitchen, thanks to Jamie. We make everything on site at the Juniper Café. All the bread is baked fresh daily, as are the buttermilk biscuits for the breakfast sandwiches. The pastries are all made on site and Jamie cures our own bacon using Hanover View Farms pork. We have vegetarian and homemade gluten-free options too.
LM: What misconceptions are there about Canadian food? AT: I think we struggle with culinary identity in Canada. We’re a melting pot of cultures old and new, and our food reflects that. But I do think Canadian food culture is evolving. We’re starting to get the hang of using what’s in season, regional, and good.
LM: When are you happiest at work? AT: When everything is running smoothly, when there is flow, a synergy between staff and customers, the environment, there’s a buzz, a barista steaming milk, customers chatting, kids laughing, a timer going off in the kitchen, good energy. Sitting back after a busy service, going over the day’s events with a glass of Tawse chardonnay, feeling tired but happy.
LM: What’s your favourite off duty, go-to-meal at home? AT: Jamie and I live in an old house in downtown Kingston, North of Princess, and our neighbours feel like family. They routinely feed us. It’s not uncommon for there to be ten of us, kids and adults, all jammed in someone’s small place, eating together. Last night for example, our neighbours fed us spaghetti Bolognese. It was awesome!
LM: What do you value most in life? AT: Family. Simple pleasures. Taking time to slow down and see all the blessing in our life. Feeding family. Feeding others.
LM: If you could eat with anyone at all, who would you choose? AT: Anthony Bourdain. I’d serve him grilled heart. Or heart tartare. Or maybe roasted marrow bones, crusty bread, and an acidic parsley salad.
LM: Who are some of your favourite local suppliers? AT:
Tribute Décor – for many of the antiques in the Juniper café including the 1920s Spanish Chandelier that hangs over the counter.
The Juniper Café is located on level 1 of the Tett Centre. Hours: Monday to Saturday 8am – 6pm and Sunday 9am – 5pm for coffee, breakfast, lunch, a wide variety of baked goods, and drinks (fully licenced). Beginning in June the café and waterfront patio will be open for evening service including charcuterie platters. Local on-street parking or paid parking behind the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. For more information including the full menu please visit their website.
Boasting Bob Dylan, Pride, the YGK Craft Beer Fest, Beat Beethoven Run, Cannonball Crush, #DKShopfest, Movies in the Square, Music in the Park, and more, Kingston in June is a hotbed of exciting events and activities!
‘
Do you have an event that you’d like considered for our monthly 25 list? Add it to our events calendar!
Summer finally arrives this month, and live music lovers know what that means: bands big and small are hitting the road again. This June in Kingston take your pick from travelling troubadours like Spencer Burton, up-and-coming pop stars like Scott Helman, the most legendary singer-songwriter of all time (hint: the answer may be blowin’ in the wind), and more.
Miss Emily Sings Kingston
Photo via Lisa MacIntosh.
Friday, June 2, 7:30pm Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts As The Tragically Hip’s Rob Baker put it, Emily Fennell has “an angelic voice with just a hint of sultry devilishness. This gal is a rocket ready to take off.” And he’d know, since he and fellow Hip-mate Gord Sinclair have played on two albums with her. Her performances move from rhythm and blues to jazz to rock and back again. At this one, expect a foot-stomping good time featuring songs written by Emily and her favourite Kingston artists, some of whom will join her onstage. $24 theisabel.ca
Road Apples
Photo via Road Apples Facebook.
Saturday, June 3, 10pm The Merchant Tap House The next best thing to seeing The Tragically Hip live is getting down with this iconic tribute band. From Kingston themselves, Road Apples formed in 1992 and quickly became the busiest and most sought after Hip tribute band in the country. This show will bring the fab Kingston’s five’s now iconic rock songs back to where they were first heard: a low-ceilinged, beer-stained bar packed with locals just needing a little a little liquid courage to keep going. merchanttaphouse.com
Fluffy Little Cowboys
Photo via Fluffy Little Cowboys.
Thursday, June 8, 8pm Musiikki Café The name Fluffy Little Cowboys is more than a little tongue in cheek for this alt-Americana female trio from PEI. They aren’t fluffy, they aren’t cowboys and their sound isn’t little. Think country, roots, folk and blues with spoken word and punk rock mixed in. They recently debuted their LP No Angel, and now Shelley, Maureen and Keelin are hitting the road, making a stop at this gem of a tiny whiskey bar on Brock Street. musiikkicafe.com
YGK Craft Beer Fest
Photo via Kasador.
Saturday, June 10, 12pm – 8pm Fort Henry The fresh, local suds may be what draws you to the YGK Craft Beer Fest, but the full day of live music should keep you there. Bands are still being added to the lineup, but so far The Stares, Ambush and five-piece indie rock band Kasador are set to play. Kasador (pictured) released their self-titled debut just last year, but already they’ve appeared on the same bill as Canadian greats like Arkells, July Talk, Lights and Wintersleep. Catch what could be the next big Kingston band on the outdoor stage overlooking Lake Ontario. $15 forthenry.com
Spencer Burton
Photo via Spencer Burton Facebook.
Saturday, June 10, 5pm – 7:30pm The Mansion Southern Ontario singer-songwriter Spencer Burton first made his mark with Attack in Black and City and Colour before going solo in 2014. He brought the goods on his acoustic-driven LP Don’t Let the World See Your Love, and now he’s stepping up his game. His latest, Songs Of, was cut in Nashville and given the full-band treatment. It’s a sweeping follow-up that moves effortlessly between country-gospel weepers, gentle rustic odes and string-filled haunters. The Mansion’s Living Room should be the perfect soundstage for Burton’s deep resonant vocals. $10 mansion.rocks
Supernatural Buffalo
Photo via Supernatural Buffalo Facebook.
Saturday, June 10, 8pm Musiikki Café When I first heard the song “Dime a Dozen” from this psychedelic four-piece, I thought instant summer jam. The layered, groovy dreamscape it creates — like many of Supernatural Buffalo’s tunes — is probably best enjoyed on your back on a dock. Or on a beach, watching the surf roll in. The band itself was formed in the town of Crystal Beach on the shores of Lake Erie and today plays across the country. Their promise: to “take you on a musical trip somewhere between earth and ethereal, grit and grace.” musiikkicafe.com
The Pick Brothers Band
Photo via The Pick Brothers Band Facebook.
Wednesday, June 14, 8pm The Mansion The Pick Brothers are known as one of the hardest-working indie rock bands going, so it’s not surprising they’re finally getting the buzz they deserve. The three bros are from Toronto, but since 2013 they’ve been criss-crossing the country with, as they put it, a “familiar yet strange blend of high energy rocking with introspective creativity.” They’ve opened for The Sam Roberts Band, The Arkells, Houndmouth and others, and are now headlining their own shows with ease. $10 mansion.rocks
Neon Dreams
Photo via Wiki Creative Commons.
Saturday, June 17, 9pm The Mansion This Halifax band has been one of the most successful fully independent Canadian acts in recent memory. Last year, their track “Marching Bands,” made with Kardinal Offishall, hit number 15 on the Canadian top 40 chart, and to date their EP To You has been streamed over 5 million times. You’ll definitely want to get up and move at this show if you’re any fan of electronic pop, especially if you like your EDM mixed with live instrumentation. mansion.rocks
Scott Helman
Photo via Scott Helman Facebook.
Saturday, June 24, 7pm The Mansion Singer-songwriter Scott Helman is only 21, but he’s already an industry vet. When he was 15, he blew away a room full of Warner Music Canada executives. Four years later he had his first platinum-certified single with “Bungalow.” He went on to earn two Juno nominations, tour the U.S. and Europe, and play the 2015 MMVAs and 2016 Junos. His sound is rooted in guitar-driven pop and classic alternative rock. $15 mansion.rocks
Bob Dylan and His Band Live
Photo via Marcello Linzalone FlickrCC
Tuesday, June 27, 8pm Rogers K-Rock Centre What can you say about an artist who has influenced music more than The Beatles? Who has won a Nobel Prize for Literature? Who has remained an original for over 50 years? Who never stops touring? Book loads, it turns out. So just go see him. You’ll hear new hits and classics like “Highway 61 Revisited” and “Tangled Up in Blue” — but probably not how you know them. Dylan plays what he wants how he wants, and that’s always changing. Thankfully that’s also always electrifying to watch. $55 – $85 rogersk-rockcentre.com
Five weekly concert series also begin this month. Here are the details:
Music in the Park Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, 12:30pm – 1:30pm Confederation Park downtownkingston.ca
Country Music in the Park Thursdays, 7pm – 8pm Confederation Park downtownkingston.ca
Big Band Friday Fridays, 7pm – 8pm Courtyard in Market Square downtownkingston.ca
Sounds on Sydenham Saturdays, 1:30 – 2:30pm Sydenham Street (between Menchies & Balzacs) downtownkingston.ca
St. George’s Cathedral Summer Concerts Thursdays St. George’s Cathedral stgeorgescathedral.ca
Even when the sky is cloudy, John Clark dreams in bright blues and whites. A lifelong boat enthusiast and sailmaker for almost 30 years, John has been providing quality handmade sails to Kingston’s boating community since 1988. With summer almost upon us, he’s been working harder than ever to outfit local sailors for the 2017 season.
John wasn’t always a Kingstonian, but was plenty aware of our rich sailing community from an early age.
“I’ve been coming to CORK (Canadian Olympic Regatta, Kingston – an annual regatta hosted in town) since I was about seven years old,” he says. “I’ve always loved Kingston, and it’s such a windy spot.”
He got his sailmaking start at Toronto’s North Sails in 1983, learning the ropes in a fast-paced, high-production environment. “When I worked in Toronto, it was the largest production loft in the world at the time,” he says. “It was a good way to learn, but it’s not what I wanted to do in the end.” In 1988, he made the move to K-town in search of a smaller, more hands-on experience, and set up shop as JC Sails, before partnering with Andy Soper to open the Kingston Sail Loftin 1999. “Andy is now semi-retired, and I’m running the shop on my own,” he says.
Some of John’s designs in action. Photo via Kingston Sail Loft.John hard at work. Photo via Kingston Sail Loft.
An important characteristic of John’s operation is that every sail is handmade with care and passion, by someone who truly understands and loves sailing. While technology has created more convenient means of production, he prefers to stick to tried-and-true methods.
“I am not a computer guy. I learned to make sails using a stick on the floor, and I still make all my sails using a stick on the floor,” he says. “After fifty years of sailing, and thirty years of sailmaking, you become a pretty confident sailmaker.”
John says that the art of sailmaking is what keeps him passionate about his work. “I love building sails. It’s really a creative thing,” he says. “They’re all a little bit different – you get to pick your own materials, and change little things here and there, and you go through stages of making them just like an artist would. Every day here is different.”
He also shares his excitement for being able to help sailors stay on the water. “People come in here with damaged sails, and they’re really appreciative of the fact that I can fix them up, turn them around, and get them back out on the water,” he says. “I love that.” With so few other shops in the area – John is the only sailmaker in Kingston – he is single-handedly helping to keep Kingston’s sailing community afloat.
Sail bags, ready to go. Photo via Kingston Sail Loft.
His decision to build a sailmaking business in K-town was certainly no accident. “I definitely chose this city to set up shop,” says John. “The sailing community is huge, and it stretches out really far – there’s so many people from Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal who take up space here, as well as locals.” With the price of nearby cottages and waterfront properties on the rise, John predicts that the local boating community will only continue to grow. “There’s a lot more people getting into it – you can get a really decent boat for $10,000.”
The growing market, combined with his reputation for quality work, means that John is rarely sitting idle. But his other passion – actually getting out on the water himself – is never far from his mind. “Business is great right now, and I’m having fun! But I’m working 6 days a week, and hope to change that,” he says. He’s currently in the process of training an apprentice, with the hopes of having a bit more free time for himself.
“Hopefully soon I can get to a point where it’s blowing 17 knots from the southwest and I can get out and go kiting.”
We use cookies to improve functionality and performance. By clicking "OK" or by continuing to browse this site, you agree to the use of cookies. To find out more, visit the cookies section of our privacy policy.
