From our Hands To Your Table Presents -
Hungry For Local
"Welcome to Hungry for Local, the ultimate guide to discovering in the culinary delights of Lambton and Middlesex County! We are dedicated to promoting and supporting locally sourced ingredients, which is why each of the 13 restaurants features will be offering a special limited edition menu in September. These curated menus showcase dishes that feature the freshest, highest quality ingredients obtained from 24 local farms and producers." From Our Hands To Your Table
Month of September Menu Available Tues - Friday 11:00-5:30
App/starter: Mushroom Tartlet
Fisher's Fungi Farm Mushroom Tartlet w/ Great Lakes Goat Dairy Caramelized Onion Cheese and Aslan Organics Greens tossed w/ Huron Coast Trading Co Garlic Olive Oil.....
$10 incl tax
Main: Bison Blade Roast Sandwich
Copper Flats Bison Co Blade Roast Sandwich w/ Caramelized Vrolyk Farms Onions, Kate's Garlic House & Twin Bridge Honey Black Garlic Honey Mustard and Urban Acres Family Farm MicroGreens....$14 incl tax
Dessert: Roasted Beet Brownie
Sarnia Farmers Market Roasted Beet Brownie w/ a Bayfield Berry Farm Berry Sauce...$8 incl tax
“I love Sarnia. I love the water ... After a day in the kitchen, I can head for a swim in the lake."
says Chef Paresh Thakkar!
Interview with Chef Paresh Thakkar from Personal Touch Eatery & Catering
Hashtag Local - Business Profile - Nov. 14, 2022
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.
Photo Credit: Kaoss Studios
Personal Touch Eatery & Catering
Restaurant • Catering • Private In-Home Dining • Cooking Classes
144 Mitton St. S
(519) 344-7070
Tuesday to Friday - 11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Click Below For More Local Stories From Hashtag Local
Living In Lambon Is an Exciting New Publication about Local Businesses, Events & Happenings, Charities & Real Estate in the beautiful communities we live in! On a regular basis we'll post blogs, stories, videos & real estate listings - everything that is going on in Lambton!
Get to Know The Site!
Go To Our Site - LivingInLambton.com & Sign up to get these posts by email!
Enjoy!!!