聽 聽 聽One of The Happy Nun Cafe's new owners says the purchase of the business is 鈥渁 kind of homecoming鈥� for she and her partner.
聽聽聽聽 Chef Katie Vinge, 27, and her fiancee, Riley Riddell, 28, finalized the purchase of the Forget institution in January from its founders, Shannon and Don Shakotko. Both Vinge and Riddell have roots in southeastern Saskatchewan and Vinge says, 鈥淭his area holds a special place in my heart.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚'm originally from Fairview, Alberta,鈥� says Vinge. 鈥淏ut my family has a cabin at White Bear. Riley grew up in Wawota, so this is home for us.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 studied Culinary Arts in Edmonton, at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology),鈥� she adds. 鈥淲e're both big foodies and we'd always heard about The Happy Nun. We're big believers in local food and my food philosophy is all about supporting local growers and suppliers in and around Saskatchewan.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he previous owners, Shannon and Don (Shakotko) have done such a good job with the menu,鈥� says Vinge. 鈥淚 want to continue that and I'm looking forward to having a garden at the back of the Nun.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 want to make my own sauces, pickles, preserves, and even my own butter. I'll be making everything myself-bread, desserts, everything.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Since completing her studies, Vinge has worked and travelled in Finland, and is currently winding up her stint at Regina's The Willows (restaurant). She has also helped to introduce the Queen City to the concept of 鈥減op-up dining鈥� via The Supper Society Regina.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hat's something I want to bring to the Nun,鈥� says Vinge. 鈥淎t our most recent Supper Society pop-up dinner, for example, we served the salad on long wooden planks that my uncle, John Vinge made for me.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e laid out salad tongs all the way down the plank and guests all shared and helped themselves off of the plank.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 love the family-style idea of dining. Food is about bringing people together. Even strangers at the beginning of the meal will surely leave as friends.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Vinge says she and Riddell will continue to keep the Nun's musical and decorative traditions alive, as well.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t's a special place,鈥� says Vinge. 鈥淭here will still be concerts, live music. Don and Shannon will still be booking all of the acts.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淎s for the decor, we'll be keeping the touches the same and adding some of our own.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淎nd depending on demand,鈥� adds Vinge, 鈥淚'd like to hold cooking classes every few weeks.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e also want to host meetings, parties, and private events,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e also want to offer off-site catering and bring pop-up dinners to this part of the province. Those long-table dinners-we want to bring that to southeast Saskatchewan.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Vinge is looking forward to opening the doors of The Happy Nun as chef and co-owner.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淎s of right now, we've been all over southeast Saskatchewan, trying to get ready to open. With all of the permits and things we have to get in order, we're looking at opening at the end of February, beginning of March.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚f I could open up right now, I would,鈥� she says.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚'm just really excited for us to start our lives in the southeast,鈥� says Vinge. 鈥淚've always imagined myself there and I look forward to welcoming our guests.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 For updates on The Happy Nun Cafe, check out: or The Happy Nun Cafe on Facebook.
