Forget's Happy Nun Cafe will hit the road in 2017 with its newly-launched Small Town Dinner Series.
“The idea came to me when we were closed for a month over Christmas,” says The Nun's co-owner and chef Katie Vinge. “I've done a few pop-up dinners in Regina when I worked there and I thought that bringing the idea to communities in this area- which I love so much- was something that we wanted to do.”
Vinge says the idea is a simple one.
“It's basically a pop-up dinner. All we need is a suitable space- like a town hall or something similar. We cater the dinner, the community sells the tickets, and we donate a portion of the proceeds back to the community for use wherever it is needed.”
“So far, the response has been overwhelming,” adds Vinge. “We put a post on our Facebook page announcing the project and asking our followers to nominate their communities.”
“We actually closed the contest the next day, which wasn't something we planned on,” she says. “But the response was so great.”
Vinge and her husband and Happy Nun co-owner Riley Riddell purchased the popular Forget venue in January 2015 from founders Don and Shannon Shakotko.
“Our aim was always to continue as custodians of The Happy Nun's legacy,” says Vinge. “We're both big believers in using locally-sourced food. My food philosophy is all about supporting local growers and suppliers in and around our area and throughout Saskatchewan.”
“And that's something I want to continue to do with our Small Town Dinner Series.”
Although Vinge hails from Fairview, Alberta, she says: “I have deep roots in this area. My family has a cabin at White Bear and Riley grew up- and now teaches in- Wawota.”
Vinge studied Culinary Art's at Edmonton's NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology). During her career as a chef, she has worked in Finland, at Regina's Willow on Wascana restaurant as well as helping to introduce diners in the Queen City to the concept of pop-up dining as one of the founders of Regina's The Supper Society.
During the couple's two-year tenure at the helm of The Happy Nun, the restaurant has garnered numerous awards and accolades as well as reputation for hosting innovative events. The Happy Nun was featured on an episide of TV's 'The Prairie Diner' and CTV's Small-Town Saskatchewan Summer Tour, was showcased by The Saskatchewanderer, hosted an episode of the SaskScapes podcast with Saskatoon radio personality, Kevin Power and recently, Vinge was asked to address the Community Futures and Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan.
The Happy Nun was also awarded The Saskatchewan Tourism Award of Excellence and a five-star rating from TripAdvisor for Top Canadian Cuisine and Live Entertainment and Top Family-Friendly Dining.
Vinge says that although she and Riddell are thrilled by the positive response The Happy Nun has received, she is “honoured” that customers choose the Nun as the setting for celebrating milestones in their lives.
“I have met some of the most amazing people within the last two years of taking over The Happy Nun,” she says. “I have been fortunate enough to be a part of many celebrations- such as marriage proposals, retirement parties, anniversaries, birthdays and many more.”
“I feel truly blessed that people choose to share these special occasions with us at The Happy Nun and that's part of the reason I'm so excited about The Small Town Dinners.”
“This part of the world is my favourite place to be- the people are amazing. If I can explore the area, share my love for this part of the province, do what I love to do and give back to the communities we serve; I'm thrilled.”
“We can't wait to welcome people when The Happy Nun visits their communities.”
To learn more, visit: www.thehappynuncafe.com
