Story by Pat Forrest, Photos by Kristen Pouru
We all need some takeout now and then to get us through a busy week or just for a break from the kitchen. A new business on Bay Street is offering takeout you don’t have to feel guilty about because its focus is on ingredients that are fresh, local, and seasonal. That is, in fact, their motto.
The Bridge Kitchen owner Anali Kazakos is motivated to reduce the carbon footprint of the food we eat. But that’s not the only reason she’s started this venture. “Local food tastes better! We are lucky to have some really great farms to choose from in the Thunder Bay area,” she says.
Kazakos has had a wealth of food experiences in her career, including a year on a cheese farm in France, cooking in remote northern Ontario camps, and working as a pastry chef at Bight Restaurant and Tomlin Restaurant. The hours weren’t ideal for family life, though, so she switched to catering. With the recent arrival of baby girl Neko, having a weekly pick-up allows her tiny assistant to be part of the fun.
The Bridge Kitchen’s ever-expanding list of farmers, growers, and producers includes Tarrymore Farms, Sandy Acres Farm, Forrest Farm, Mile Hill Farms, Thunder Oak Cheese Farm, Walkabout Farm, Giantview Farms, and Brule Creek Farms, Slate River Dairy, Whitefish Valley Vegetables, Spruce Pond Apiary, Roots to Harvest, and Root Cellar Gardens. Menus are posted weekly to their Facebook page for their freshly baked goods and frozen meals. The most popular items, the spanakopita triangles and cardamom buns, are available every week. There is usually one other sweet and savoury option.
The Bridge Kitchen utilizes only reusable and/or biodegradable packaging. You can bring your own containers for baked goods or they’ll provide paper bags. For frozen meals, they offer Pyrex containers (a small deposit fee applies) or you can bring your own glass bakeware in advance. Payment is by cash, cheque, or email transfer only.
Food is available for pick up on Saturdays from 11 am–2 pm or until sold out. Ordering in advance will help guarantee your tasty treats. Email orders to TheBridgeKitchen@gmail.com by noon the prior Wednesday.
