Since September 2011, Chef Paresh Thakkar has been serving up delicious food from Personal Touch Eatery & Catering. Opening his own business gave him the creative freedom to cook unique dishes with global flavours. "I watched my Mom and Grandma cook and learned by how they did things. There was never a recipe, they cooked by watching, tasting and smelling. I learned to cook by using my senses and wanted the space to do that for others."
Originally, Thakkar attended Wilfrid Laurier University to become an accountant; his dad and grandpa were both in the field. After graduating, he worked in the financial industry and then operated a franchise for three years. While using his business skills, Thakkar really missed cooking on a daily basis. He decided to attend Culinary School at Fanshawe College in 2006. "I’m very happy to have earned both degrees. It has served my business well." He’s also glad that he moved back to Sarnia to open his business. "I love Sarnia. I love the water, that’s a big draw. After a day in the kitchen, I can head for a swim in the lake."
Thakkar was featured on an episode of Chopped Canada Season 3 on the Food Network. "The application process was pretty intense, including a portfolio submission, phone interview, and on-camera interview." The entire episode was filmed in one day, which Thakkar said was a fun experience. While he didn’t win, he said it was a great opportunity. "I initially put together a viewing party for 50 to 100 people, and over 300 tickets were sold. I chose to donate to three local charities: The Inn of the Good Shepherd, One Tomato Project, and a culinary scholarship through 4Northern."
Personal Touch is located at 144 Mitton St. South and is open Tuesday to Friday, 11:00-5:30. The menu includes eclectic sandwiches & wraps, a weekly feature, speciality fries and ever changing soups, salads, and dips. In addition, he has a freezer onsite with prepared meals and soups, created with inspiration from ingredients at the Sarnia Farmers Market.
Alongside the Eatery, Thakkar offers a variety of catering experiences and is famous for his in-home private dinners. The experience brings the restaurant into your home. The menu is created based on a questionnaire, with the final dishes being a surprise to the host and guests. The meal preparation is finished in the home, plated, served and cleaned, leaving clients with a dinner party experience like no other. The number of guests can range from four to as many as the host can accommodate for dining.
Thakkar enjoys leading demonstrations and teaching cooking classes, with offerings generally available at The Cheese Wedge in Point Edward. He is a big proponent of supporting local and collaborating with local businesses. His hummus and sauces are available at Great Lakes Refill Company, he regularly cooks for charitable functions, and he does pop-up events at many local breweries. Thakkar sits on the board of local charities 4Northern and #charitable, giving him the opportunity to give back to the community.
Mackenzie Oil was founded in 1945 by Doug Mackenzie and his father, Charlie Mackenzie. Doug was working in Hamilton at the time and saw the opportunity to start a company in Bridgen that would service the farming community. My uncle Doug partnered with my grandfather, Charlie, to start the business.
Laurie Johnson had been quilting for 15 years when her husband suggested she open Stitcharie. "You are always driving to quilt shops. Why don’t you just open one?" he said. I jumped on the idea like a panther. I had worked in reta...
Dr. Stephane Lefebvre was curious about the dental profession from a young age. He asked his family dentist, Dr. Ken Clark, a lot of questions when he visited. In Grade 11, Lefebvre researched tooth decay for his high school scien...
Nobody will ever accuse Randy Coady or Andre Proia of easing into retirement. A chance meeting of the two men who went to high school together, but hadn't seen each other for 40 years, has led to the launching of Alfredo Pasta Boutique in Sarnia. Alfredos is a gourmet boutique offering fre
For Alex Pearson, Kombucha tea has been something of a lifesaver in more ways than one. For starters, drinking Kombucha has provided numerous health benefits for the 32-year-old who used to suffer from acid reflux, but is now cured of it. Also, when Alex was unable to continue in her chosen care
Though he is only 38 years old, Ron Realesmith has a great fascination and respect for those who served in the Canadian Armed Forces. So, when his friend, and current Sarnia Legion President, Les Jones, encouraged Realesmith to get involved with the local Legion, the Emergency Manager for the City of
As a teenager, Tammy Keuchkerian loved to cut and style her friends' hair. She decided to follow her passion and she became a hair stylist, initially working at other salons before opening Indigo Hairworks in 2006. It was Tammy's husband Vatche who encouraged her to open her own salon. It happe
The next time you are at the hospital, make sure you pop into Poppies, the cozy and eclectic gift shop located in the Atrium. Poppies opened in July of 2010 to coincide with the unveiling of the new Bluewater Health Hospital. "Two...