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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-04-26, Page 33Contributed photo Lambton County native Glenn Sheridan is the executive chef at a Bayfield restaurant that has won a coveted four -diamond status from CAA/AAA Travel. Alvinston native leads Bayfield restaurant to four -diamond status The Red Pump Air Inn marks 45 years of food Melissa Schilz Postmedia Network Glenn Sheridan is enter- ing his third season as exec- utive chef at Bayfield's The Red Pump Inn, but this year is special one forhim and owner Harry Israel. Not only is the restaurant marking 45 years of busi- ness, but it's also received four -diamond status from CAA/AAA Travel - an achievement the former Lambton County man says has been his long-time goal. "I had been working for these diamonds since I came back from Britain in 2004," he said. "When I finally got it, it was a sense of relief and a sense of, I can't believe I actually did it." He told Israel the news once he had digested it for himself. "I told him, 'you're now the owner of a four -diamond establishment...his eyes went like dinner plates," Sheridan said. "It was a very surreal experience" To achieve that status, Sheridan said it takes a lot of hard work, including being highly creative with food while creating a full experience for every guest who comes through the res- taurant's door. He said part of The Red Pump Inn's charm includes good coffee and homemade bread, as well as an informed staff who aren't overbearing. "You have to be knowl- edgeable, do things that are in season; there is definitely an artistry to it," he said. "You have to have profes- sional service staff out front and a well -coordinated ambiance... it's not just the food." According to the AMA travel website, to achieve four diamonds, a restaurant must have "distinctive fine - dining, typically expensive; highly creative chefs, imagi- native presentations and fresh, top-quality ingredi- ents; proficient service staff, upscale surroundings, and the wine steward may offer menu -specific knowledge" Out of 31,000 restaurants rated annually in North America, 2.1 per cent achieve four -diamond status. In Southwestern Ontario, The Red Pump Inn is one of just six restaurants that made the four -diamond list this year. Sheridan said when Israel established the restaurant in 1972, Bayfield was just corn- ing into bloom. Now The Red Pump Iran has become a cor- nerstone of the community. "Just to be in our industry for 45 years is unprece- dented," Sheridan said. "It's pretty amazing." Originally from Alvinston, Sheridan and his family moved to Oshawa in 1986. He said his first restaurant job was at a local golf course. He was in Grade 9 when he took on dishwashing, and it was in that kitchen where he met a German chef whose work left Sheridan awestruck. "I remember just being amazed that he could take a raw ugly product... and in a matter of hours create some- thing that was so beautiful to look at, and tasted great as well," said Sheridan. "It drew me to it... I went right from being a dishwasher to an apprentice and I've never done anything else." Sheridan trained at George Brown College in Toronto before taking his career in 2001 to the United Kingdom where he worked in Glasgow, the Isle of Man and at the Soho Hotel in London. He left Lambton County decades ago, but Sheridan said he visits Sarnia, Petrolia and Alvinston and area regu- larly to see friends with whom he played hockey and with home he attended Brooke Township Central School. «Alvinston was a little garden were my family and the locals let me grow and it shaped me to who I am today,» he said. «A lot of great people came out of that area and I'm happy to be a part of it.» After working overseas, Sheridan said his goal has been to bring a British stand= and to his daily work as a chef. He said North Americans often rush through meals, but he wants his guests to savour every moment of their dining experience, making it the main course of a couple's date night. "We're always rushed, and I almost feel it's a lost art where people just don't take the time to go out to dinner," he said. "It's a different way of life, and I really like it...we were like that in the '50s and '60s, and that's what I'm try- ing to bring back." As a classically French - trained chef, Sheridan said he was drawn to The Red Pump Inn because it brought him back to what he feels is real cooking. "Our industry is constantly changing...[The Red Pump Inn] reminds me a lot of the inns I worked at in England," he said. "The freedom to cre- ate and the clientele is really what brought me here." For opening hours and informa- tion, visit www.redpumpinn. com. Wednesday, April 26, 2017 • Signal Star 33 International Plowing Match budget increase lk County if Council increased budget for IMP 2017 that the IPM has put acces- sibility as an over -arching objective for the entire match. "We are going to have about 18, 000 square feet of board walk within the tents, making it completely acces- Kathleen Smith sible for anyone to move Goderich Signal Star through the area," said Ujiye. The County Showcase A motion was passed by Committee and the Acces- County Council at day two sibility Committee has of a Committee of the Whole made an effort to make the meeting, to increase the site accessible, including budget for IPM 2017 from some of the interactive dis- $108, 000 to $186, 000, but plays, working in partner - with grants, the IPM Show- ship with the IPM and by case Committee expects to applying for grants. use only $136, 000. The Showcase Commit - In a presentation to tee was also able to calculate Council, Jenna Ujiye pro- that the IPM will have great vided information and visu- cost recoveries, with aspects als to demonstrate the work such as Muskoka chaos and that needs to happen trees being re -used for before the 2017 IPM. future projects in the area. The project began in "The plan is that the March and the Showcase barns or the pieces can be Committee has 22 mile- sold. The silos are paid by stones to reach before the the municipalities, so we IPM begins. don't have to cover the cost According to Jenna the of those, explained Ujiye. .site will include two large "The boardwalk will be tents that are 82x148 and made by County trees that one small tent connecting need to be removed from the two large tents that is our forests. It is expected 30x30. One of the Large that the minimum cost tents is titled the `Country- recovery from this will be a side tent' and the other the minimum of $7,500:' `Coastline tent: There are around 40 The `Country -side tent' members of staff involved will include nine barns for in the Showcase Commi- the nine represented teeforthe 2017 IPM,which municipalities. is reflective on how this "We are excited to work project is directly impacted with everyone and figure by thecommunity coming out how to excite people to togetheL come to our area," said "One of the greatest Jenna. things about all of us coni - There will also be a "camp- ing together, is that we have fire" area that is less -camp- been able to leam so much fire and more a display of about all of the other videos highlighting all of the departments and how we represented municipalities. can work together on future The 'Coastline tent' will projects," said Ujiye. "So, we have highlights such as have really come together sandcastles, a stage for brief as a County staff, but also informational sessions, a through the Municipal beach bar showcasing local partnerships." beer, wine, and cider, an The 2017 IPM will see artist mural and highlights approximately 15, 000 visi- from some of the County tors in five days, and department& through cross-departmen- "We are pretty excited for tal communications and the sandcastles. We have a Municipal partnerships, world award-winning sand- will be a successful event castle builder who is coming The Council motioned to in to do two large sandcas- increase the budget from ties at the very front of the $108, 000 to $186, 000 for tent. They will also have the the 2017 IPM Showcase, Canada 150 and the Huron which also includes cost County logos on either side," recoveries of $15, 500 and explained Ujiye. $34, 000 in County owned This will be the first time product for future projects.