By Maxine DeHart

If you like Crème Brulee you will love this product. It’s local, unique and decadent. Chef Henry Truong has launched his new catering business Burnt Crème. Chef Truong is creating small-batch handcrafted specialty Crème Brulee using local free-run eggs and whole cream. He is focusing on using local products as he creates new flavours weekly. As summer rolls around he will be heading to local growers and using what’s in season for his flavours. I sampled the Vanilla Bean Madagascar and Darjeeling Earl Grey. Both were incredible. He torched them right in front of me. Now, chef Truong is offering pre-orders a week in advance online at www.burntcreme.ca. Prices start at $5 for each serving and it’s well worth it. The crème brulee comes in small glass jars that are very attractive. He is now accepting orders from individual consumers and for weddings, special occasions and private events with himself onsite torching each serving. What a great idea for a dinner party that’s new and exciting. Facebook.com/burntcreme. Call 1-604-265-1485.

Bill Everitt, former COO of the Southern Interior Construction Association is now a business advisor. Bill will be working with small and medium size construction companies to make them more profitable as they grow their business and to assist owners and design consultants in mediating contract disputes. weeveritt@shaw.ca

Bouchons Bistro on Sunset Drive is now open for brunch Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. all year round. Owned and operated by Stephane Facon and Beatrice Laforge, a few of the menu items are Ceufs en meurette (poached eggs with red wine-foie gras with pearl onion), toulouse sausage, (mushrooms and crostini); croissant au homard (fresh croissant with house made mayonnaise, lobster and greens); morning cassoulet (navy beans, port belly and toulouse sausage with cumin) and almond and chocolate croissants. Take a look at the full menu on their Facebook page. Call 250-763-6595 for reservations.

Mike Erdmann has joined Tom Harris Cellular as sales manager Okanagan. Mike will manage the business solutions team, looking after all the Southern Interior including Kamloops, Salmon Arm, ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç, Merritt, Penticton, Osoyoos and all towns in-between. Mike is not new to the industry as previously he was a corporate account executive with Rogers Communication for eight years looking after the enterprise, medium and government accounts for Rogers in northern B.C., interior and kootenays. Previous to that Mike worked for four years at TELUS as an account manager in the lower mainland and ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç. Call 250-317-8401 or mike.erdmann@tomharris.com.

International Gateway ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç (IGK) is celebrating its 15th Anniversary. IGK is ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç’s original language school and is owned and operated by original owner Ms. Chong He (Coco) Koh. Dale Lockhart is the director. It is not part of a foreign owned multinational chain. The school delivers personalized caring education to students just like they did when they started the school with one student. The students are their client’s and not just numbers. During the past 15 years IGK has hosted students from over 30 countries aged five to 80 and have hosted their first students from Uruguay and Madagascar. IGK was recently recognized as Canada’s best language school by iStudy International; a UK based online travel and study abroad site. Winners are based on student and travel agent feedback worldwide. www.igcanada.com.

Chef Rod Butters and Audrey Surrao of RauDZ Restaurant and RauDZ Creative Concepts have welcomed Terrafina at Hester Creek into its family of restaurants and bars. Terrafina is a Tuscan style restaurant at Hester Creek Estate Winery in Oliver. With their new blended family they are welcoming Terrafina’s current chef de cuisine, Jenna Pillon to their culinary team and Roger Gillespie, director of hospitality at Hester Creek. Chef Pillon will be working closely with Butters and RauDZ executive chef Brock Bowes. Terrafina will undergo a renovation refresh.www.terrafinarestaurant.com.

The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, a full service neighbourhood pharmacy in downtown Westbank at 2441A Main Street has expanded and doubled their size. Owned and operated by pharmacists Paolo and Tracey Sales the pharmacy has taken the space right next door and with this expansion the pharmacy will increase from 1,200 to 2,400 square feet. The new space is bright and ultra-modern with more work space for the pharmacists and a new greeting area for the customers. Paolo and Tracey have been operating their pharmacy on the westside for nine years. The grand re-opening will be in May. Open Monday to Saturday. Call 250-707-2952.

BC Tree Fruits Cider is celebrating the 3rd Annual BC Cider Week by presenting Okanagan Craft Cider Festival on Saturday, May 6 from noon to 4 p.m. at 880 Vaughan Avenue. They will be pouring their apples, apples & hops, and the incredible new pears and peaches cider. In addition 15 BC Cideries will be pouring their finest ciders, including SunRype Ciders, Burton City Cider, The BX Press, Wards Cider, Howling Moon Craft Cider, Summerland Heritage Cider Co., Scenis Road Cider Co., Orchard Hill Estate Cidery Ltd., Ravenskill Orchards – Gabbies Cider, NOMAD Cider, Dominion Cider Co., Sea Cider and Left Field Cider Co. The road will be closed to enjoy bites from CrAsian Food Truck and The Boneyard BBQ & Grilling Co. Tickets $20 or 2 for $30 at BC Tree Fruits Cider or online at www.kelownatickets.com.

Happy 40th anniversary Rob and Faye Willms (Apr. 23).

Sears is hosting their Beauty Event on April 26. Buy your ticket early and have a chance to win an early-bird basket. There will be a DJ, eyebrow threading, MC college girls to do demos and tarot reading. Lots of prizes and draws. Tickets $10 with $8 towards your purchase.

Electro-Motion Energy is gearing up for initial production in Summerland of its patented revolution distributed generation technology in response to a three year renewal of its distributed generation peak grid management pilot project with the District of Summerland. The revolution replaces traditional heating, cooling and hot water systems with a single compact and reliable unit which also generates electricity for homes, farms, grids and other types of businesses. The planned three part project could see up to 1,000 of the company’s revolution combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP) technology installed and built locally in Summerland. Consumers participating in the pilot program will enjoy reduced natural gas consumption, lower power bills, a plentiful supply of hot water, 24/7 remote monitoring, free servicing and the peace of mind that comes with knowing they will always have heat and power even when the power grid fails. The company is hoping to establish a major manufacturing facility in the Okanagan. For more information contact Jai Zachary, president and CEO at jzachary@ElectroMotionEnergy.com 250-494-7322 or Barry McDivitt, director of communications at BMcDivitt@ElectroMotionEnergy.com or 250-494-7322.

The Central Okanagan Heritage Society Spring Concert is this Friday, April 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Benvoulin Heritage Church and Reid Hall. The concert is a cajun party with jambalaya. Tickets $20 at 250-861-7188.

The Bay’s Beauty Heroes Charity Cosmetic and Fragrance Gala is April 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets now on sale at the cosmetics department at The Bay for $10 with $8 redeemable towards your purchase and $2 donated to Look Good, Feel Better.

Celebration of Canada and The Netherlands with special guest, The Veendam Winkler-Prins Harmonie Band hosted by The ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç City Concert Band is April 29 at 7 p.m. at the ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç Community Theatre. The tour marks Canada’s Sesquicentennial, the Bands 40th anniversary and the 37 year sister city relationship with ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç. Tickets available at ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç Tickets or at the door.

Birthdays of the week –Happy 100th Phil Moubray, born and raised in Glenmore (Today, April 19); Happy 85th Bill Winters, Friend of Mickie’s Pub (Apr. 21); Happy 80th Glen Rea (today Apr. 19); John Goncalves (Apr. 19); Sue Martin (Apr. 19); Cleo Curalato (Apr. 19); Joyce Ritchey (Apr. 21), Kevin Cutting (Apr. 22); Shelley Vida (Apr. 23); Chris Koutsantonis (Apr. 22); Jim Stuart, former mayor (Apr. 23); Mary Krupa (Apr. 23); Alena Francis (Apr. 24); Norm Felty, Stormin’ Norman (Apr. 24); Ron Maclaren (Apr. 21); Myrna Telford (Apr. 25); Alan Dolman (Apr. 25). In memory of Rev. Albert Baldeo (Apr. 21).

Maxine DeHart is a ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç City Councillor and local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546 or 250-862-7662, fax 250-860-3173, E-mail maxdehart@telus.net.