Bruce is far from your average wine bar, and the Kitchen at Bruce is far from your average kitchen. Our globally inspired, locally sourced menu continues to offer Bruce’s signature wood-fired pizzas, seasonal, locally inspired entrees and sustainably sourced seafood, paired beautifully with house-crafted cocktails, Ontario craft beer and our sommelier-curated wine list.
Bruce carries the Feast On certification from the Culinary Tourism Alliance, a program that recognizes businesses dedicated to sourcing Ontario grown food and drink. Bruce also carries the important Oceanwise designation, a conservation program from the Vancouver Aquarium designed to assist businesses and their customers make environmentally friendly choices. Bruce only serves 100% sustainable fish and works with local suppliers and fish farmers to that end as well.
Shaun
Chef Shaun Edmonstone is the Executive Chef & Co-Owner of Thornbury’s award-winning Bruce Wine Bar & Bodega. Ingredients like fiddleheads in the springtime and sweet roast squash in the winter are typical of the ultra-local, often foraged menus that Shaun has carefully crafted in his restaurant to highlight the bounty of what the region, and the whole country, has to offer. Shaun found his place in the kitchen at an early age, and later earned his Red Seal Certification at George Brown School of Hospitality & Culinary Arts. Throughout his 24 + year career, he dedicated himself to the art of creating great food. During his years in Toronto, Kitchener and The Blue Mountains, he honed his skills at top restaurants and hotels including Panagea, The Windsor arms and Charcoal Steakhouse. Shaun was a key member in the opening team for Georgian Bay Golf Club, and has also worked several seasons at Georgian Peaks Ski Club. At Charcoal Steakhouse in Kitchener & Panagea in Toronto, as Sous Chef Shaun was responsible for a 450 seat dining room, plus an additional capacity of 120 in the private dining spaces & bar. Shaun and the team regularly prepared and executed service for over 700 guests a day. Back at Bruce, locals and tourists alike are treated to creatively crafted plates grounded in traditional techniques. Shaun’s passion for open fire cooking off-site has earned him notoriety in caterings and community events alike. His summers spent at the market farm with his grandmother and raising bees with his grandfather led Shaun to believe in the importance of a strong connection between artisans, farmers, and local producers. This belief is evident in his involvement with Ocean Wise, his seat on the Grey Bruce Chefs’ forum advisory board, his participation in FeastOn, the Georgian Bay Community Cookbook, Terroir Symposium, Ontario Tourism and countless other collaborations within the hospitality community and beyond.
Nicole Paara
Nicole Paara brings over a decade of marketing and event experience to the team, as well as well over a decade of hospitality experience. Nicole spent 10 years in marketing agency background in Toronto, where she developed strategic communications plans, planned and executed many consumer and media-facing events and oversaw multi-platform marketing campaigns for brands such as Dove, Panasonic, Purina and Microsoft. She has won several industry awards for communications excellence and always strives to deliver excellent client service and marketing strategies that will deliver results. After moving north to Thornbury in 2010, Nicole was the Director of Events, Marketing & Sponsorship for Cedar Run Horse Park, a state-of-the-art equestrian event facility where her role includes overseeing the entire event season at the Park, as well as heading up the sponsorship team and directing all marketing activities for the park, including media buying, public relations and social media. Nicole returned to the hospitality world after a several years in real estate, having served as General Manager in two restaurants before bringing her knowledge of client service, management & marketing to Bruce Wine Bar.
Cindy Cooper
Cindy has been an integral part of the Bruce team for over 9 years, starting out as a server and working her way through the business over the years. Cindy is responsible for all on and off-site event coordination and execution for Bruce as well as managing our beverage program and dining room operations. Cindy’s role at Beaver Valley would be that of Beverage Director. The appointed Food & Beverage Manager hired by Bruce would work closely with her to manage the beverage program, and all beverage purchases and budgeting would be Cindy’s responsibility, supported by the F&B Manager. Her career in food & beverage has spanned over 20 years, where she bartended in various nightclubs & restaurants in Barrie & Toronto, including Easy on the Fifth, before turning to the event planning & management side of the business at Satori Supper Club & Czehoski in Toronto. Cindy honed her wine skills during her time at Bruce, completing both WSET Levels 2 & 3, and achieved her Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers with Academic Honours several years ago. She completed stages at both Canoe and Leña.