I attended the Grand Opening of Grill 55 last week and it was evident that a lot of love, care and planning went into this new WOW facility. The restaurant was replete with beautifully presented food stations and a full house of guests, all dazzled by the impeccable service.
From the moment you enter this newly-opened restaurant at the Holiday Inn & Suites on Huron Church Road, you feel the elegance and ambiance in this urban atmosphere. It’s sleek and spacious with a contemporary lounge club feel. The booths are roomy and intimate; perfect for quiet talks or family occasions. A large and stunning bar graces the room.
Sleek and modern, this spacious restaurant is the perfect place for a light meal or a celebratory dinner. The food is exquisite and well presented, but it’s the feel of the space that is also so very unique.
Outstanding food, presented with flair is the key to their future success. And, this team serves it up in an exemplary manner. Signature dishes and a signature drink, The Grill 55 Shooter is on a menu with international choices, and, is presented with great service and attention to detail.
The new private dining room is a gem of a space that can hold any party from an engagement, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, wedding or corporate meeting.
 Grill 55 Party Room inside Holiday Inn & Suites, Huron Church Road, Photo by Trevor Booth Photography Beautifully appointed with a gas fireplace and internet service, the room can hold up to 50 and is contemporary and filled with warmth. It is appealing to the senses, is soothing and inviting, and looks stunning set-up in party mode.
This is the newest party room in the area and has all the right ingredients to be a popular and busy spot for years to come. The 250 person ballroom is under total renovation and will open in time for December holiday parties.
The culinary team perfects the little details that make up any big day and will take your vision, whatever size your occasion and make it come to life. Dedicated to superior service and outstanding food, this is the place in Windsor|Essex to hold your next celebration.
Executive Chef Steve Meehan who is now the Director of Food and Beverages services has created a balanced and tasty menu that appeals to even the most discerning diner.
For more information/tour, please contact: Susan Holden, Catering Sales Manager, 519-969-7144, 1855 Huron Church Road, Windsor
Eleven years ago, Marcy Milne found her grandmother’s recipe book with its handwritten notes, written in the margins and she hasn’t looked back. While studying for her Masters and Doctorate degrees, she started Marcy’s Cakes and after her graduation, she returned to cake baking as a full time occupation.
 Photo: Marcy's Cakes Cake decorating is an art much like photography and Marcy has her own unique style. Her custom cakes are fresh; eggs, milk, butter and sugar are natural ingredients that produce a beautiful and delicious cake. With many flavours, fillings and icings to choose from and with names like Sunshine Lemon, Calypso Coconut, 24 Carrot and Golden Almond, her cakes have been discovered by Windsor and area brides-to-be.
Fillings for cakes vary and Marcy makes everything from Vanilla Chai Latte to butter cream, ganache, cream cheese and the traditional fruits. The choices are endless and her creativity is always up for a new challenge.
 Photo: Marcy's Cakes Her handcrafted, specialty cakes, cake balls and cupcakes are an indulgence and look as good as they taste. Each cake is made from scratch and they are simply unique in design and flavours, reflecting the personal taste of the couple’s wedding theme.
Anything goes for today’s cakes, including Milne’s Tuxedo cake with alternate layers of vanilla and chocolate cake filled with vanilla butter cream and chocolate ganache, Pink Lady, a vanilla cake layered with raspberry and vanilla buttercream and Breakfast at Wimbledon, layered with strawberries and whipped cream. Her flavours, fillings and exterior finishes will make your mouth water.
Marcy recently appeared on Slice Network’s, Cake Walk and showed off her style, baking a stunning Hollywood themed wedding cake that was a wow! Decoration is all important and she can take any idea and produce a memorable dessert. She knows that after a day of celebrating, nothing will taste as good as a freshly prepared, beautiful custom wedding cake.
 Photo: Marcy's Cakes The wedding cake is also a focal point and second only to the wedding dress for attention, as well as being the spot for many picture- taking memories at the reception. Milne takes great effort to “touch” it as if it were her own. Weddings are special for her and the details are ever- important, as she takes pride in adding those touches to make it spectacular.
Marcy is also baking the Groom’s Cake, which is a gift from the bride to the groom, which is a delightful way to honour him. It can be modeled after a hobby, sports or a special interest. It is served at the rehearsal dinner or presented any time during the wedding celebration.
Her new shop scheduled to open October 18 and Milne is now booking weddings into 2012. Her custom cakes and dessert confections are only limited by your imagination.
Come to Marcy’s Cakes for endless wedding possibilities, authentic elegant taste treats and the sweetest moments of your wedding day! Specializing in wedding, cheesecakes, cake balls, cupcakes and special event cakes.
2694 Howard Avenue, 519-962-1099, http://www.marcyscakes.com
Planning a wedding is a very exciting time. However, it is important to create three important lists.; guest list, budget and wish list.
All go hand-in-hand and everyone knows that you can’t include everyone on the guest list. It would be wonderful to share with all you know, but it is impossible and expense is the biggest reason. It’s a special day with special guests. Your whole dream day will hinge on the guest list, so be realistic with your available money.
 John Lyons Photography, Windsor, Ontario- will travel Create only one guest list; this is the one! Never exceed the capacity of your venue. These guests most be very special to the bride and groom. And remember, once a guest is invited and accepts the invitation, that guest is counted as attending and can never be uninvited. Never feel that you have to add a guest as a courtesy.
When your budget is established and your final guest list tally is in; divide the number of guests into the budget and you’ll get your cost per person. Your total budget must include everything required for the day, so prioritize carefully.
Trimming your list is doable and sometimes those guests on the first draft are eliminated. You don’t have to invite everyone from your yoga class, office, home neighbourhood or workplace. In fact, you and your fiancé will have guests that have come to a beautiful celebration at a stunning location. The happy couple will be able to spend time with everyone.
I cannot reiterate often enough, that in this economy, you need to know who the real wedding professionals are. In this day of ”wannabe” vendors in this industry, there are less than desirable businesses out there that you don’t want to deal with. There are inexperienced and unreliable people and how is the bride supposed to know what is truth and what is fiction?
Ask for references and ask to see a wedding in progress, if that is applicable to the service in question. Ask questions and compare apples to apples. Know what you are contracting for and be confident in your decision, before you commit to a service.
Whenever I hear about or see a bride who has been disappointed, I cringe at the lack of integrity from people who are spoiling the bride’s experience. My advice is that your wedding day is far too important to have it spoiled. Hire people you can trust because you don’t want to risk having your day ruined by someone who is not qualified. Seeing finished pictures, tasting the food, knowing where the flowers originated from, all help you to know who you are dealing with.
The only fireworks you want to have during your wedding are the ones you pay for and enjoy. If a service provider clearly is a hobbyist or you feel any doubt in your mind about them delivering your services- don’t contract them to do any work for you.
Qualified experienced professionals are not hard to find, and at The Wedding Guide, we only deal with reputable businesses, which eliminates those worries for you. But the above advice is still the same, as we all have different expectations.
 Chalet Studio Photography, Windsor, Ontario- will travel JUST AS YOU WOULD any other legal documents for large items you purchase- such as a car or home- be sure to have a written contract and/or a letter of commitment from each of your wedding services. This is the only way to assure that you and the service provider agree on all details. Include a departure, goods that will be delivered and time of delivery, contracted costs, overtime costs, deposits required, balance due and due date.
If you have a list of details (such as types of flowers in each bouquet or arrangements) or items to be included (like the total number of tuxedos and their sizes that you are renting) amend the contract to include that information. Both you and the service provider should sign and you should both have a copy. The contract should clarify any price increases and clearly state that you will pay the original quoted price.
Since your reception will likely be the most costly item in your wedding budget, that contract should contain the most details. If you are purchasing a wedding “package”, make sure that all those items are specifically listed in the contract, from the exact food items and courses that will be served that evening to the brands of liquor poured at the bar to the style of the service (white-glove, full tuxedo) that will be attending to your guests that evening.
If your reception facility is undergoing a renovation, that should be noted in your contract along with the completion date, as well as any provisions they will make should the renovation not be completed for your day. Any special considerations for your event that are being made by your facility should be noted in your contract. For example, if they are providing table arrangements for you or they are providing an extra bar during the cocktail hour, make sure the contract states that clearly.
Other services such as disc jockey and limousine services should provide times when all events are happening and when and where they will be to service you.
Have someone bring your contracts to the wedding to answer any last minute questions or concerns.
You want to look your best for your wedding day but you don’t know where to begin. For expert Beauty advice and treatments, as well as a relaxing experience to take you away from the hectic pace of wedding planning, make a date with a spa.
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF SPAS: destination spas and day spas. A destination spa is a spa that guests come to from both near and far and are usually thee for a least one overnight and maybe for an entire week or two of vacation. These destinations spas are often located in scenic surroundings that may have natural features such as hot springs for therapeutic purposes or mountains for hiking and biking. Guests can choose from packages that can include both beauty and exercise regimens or exclusively one or the other.
 - For those who just don’t have the time or resources for a destination spa, a trip to a local day spa may be all you need to begin a new beauty regimen as you approach your special day. Many trips to the day spa begin with a consultation as to the services you’d most benefit from.
Many of the services are beauty-oriented, including hair colouring and styling, make-up consultations, and application, waxing, manicures, pedicures, and body exfoliation while others may benefit your inner self as well. These include various types of massage and aromatherapy.
You may choose to visit the spa for one or more services, or for an entire day of treatments that includes lunch or dinner. Many have special cuisine catered in or actually have their own kitchen to prepare meals.
Day spas definitely do vary in price; services and equipment, so it is best to do your homework. Ask your friends about their experiences and spend time calling each day spa and inquire about the services you require vs. the services they provide.
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