Meet Stephanie & Joanna! Stephanie is originally from Minto, New Brunswick and has been living here in Kelowna for five years. Joanna is originally from Woodstock, New Brunswick and has been living in Kelowna for nine years. They both enjoy spending quality time with their families and hiking the beautiful trails here in the Okanagan.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
Stephanie: I was born raised in a small, rural community: Minto, New Brunswick. I have been in Kelowna since September 2014.
Joanna: I am from Woodstock, New Brunswick and have been in Kelowna for 9 years.
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
Stephanie: my family; not only my husband, Jeff and kids Nolan (12) and Rielle (8) but also my brother's family, which includes Jo!
Joanna: I would have to say my husband and children.
What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
Stephanie: I love Mosaic Books. I could spend hours browsing the books, the cards and the neat gifts. It's a bonus that my dog is welcome, too.
Joanna: Don-o-Ray Vegetables. They work so hard, support local and provide exceptional produce.
Describe yourself in one word.
Stephanie: active (as in "unable to sit still")
Joanna: resilient
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
Stephanie: Any hot, sunny destination where I can bury my toes in the sand.
Joanna: My parent's house in Mapledale, NB. It's the one place I can completely unplug and unwind.
What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Stephanie & Joanna: we both love hiking and exploring the various trails in the city and seeing it from various vantage points. Wine tasting would be a close second...
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
Stephanie: I was having a conversation with a store clerk once about pregnancy and babies in general; I asked her when she was due...her son was 10 months old.
Joanna: a gust of wind blew my skirt up over my head at a very crowded bus stop in Ottawa.
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
Joanna: Becoming a mother! My girls Cameron, 10 and Ruby, 5 inspire me every day to be a good person, work hard, be positive and laugh a lot.
Stephanie: I can't think of one single thing but I am inspired by people who are "do-er's". People who don't just talk about things but who take the steps to get them done. I'm an idea person but sometimes indecisive. Joanna is a do-er.
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
Stephanie: Growing up, I spent every summer at Grand Lake in NB. We didn't have our own cottage, but we would rent one for the month of July and I had friends next door that are still my best friends 50 years later. In 2010, we were fortunate to be able to acquire our own place there - it's my happy place.
Joanna: Eating lobster that we would buy right off of the fishing boat with fiddleheads-drowning in butter, salt and vinegar- that we picked along the river.
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
Stephanie: I try to assist at my kids' school when I can, but over this last year time has been a scarce commodity. Instead, we've tried to use our business as a way to also support local charities. Over the holidays, we were able to make cash donations to both Mamas For Mamas and the Central Okanagan Food Bank that were raised from UMAMI sales. We are always donating prize baskets and raffle items to help support various organizations in our community.
Joanna: I often volunteer my cooking skills to support the community. I have participated in many charity events and fundraisers throughout the city as well as worked with Soup Sisters.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
Stephanie: For people to just be a little kinder, to themselves and to one another.
Joanna: That all children receive equal education opportunities regardless of socioeconomic status.
Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
Joanna: Sparkling Hill
Stephanie: I have a favourite hike in Wilden that I often do with our dog, Peach. Anywhere that's quiet and that gives me a view of the lake is perfect.
Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
Stephanie & Joanna: It seems to be on everyone's radar right now but it won't hurt to mention it again...homelessness and the drug epidemic that is plaguing us. Kelowna is an affluent city and one that is expensive to live in; without help, it would be extremely difficult for someone to pull themselves out of homelessness here. There has been talk of providing longer-term housing for the homeless here in Kelowna, which is fantastic. It's equally important to provide mental health and addiction support as these issues are often prevalent in this vulnerable population.
What do you think makes Kelowna great?
Stephanie & Joanna: It has everything-mountains, lakes, it's proximity to ski resorts and beaches, wineries galore, first class eating and entertainment, the weather and the people!
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
Stephanie: I need to get to Hawaii and travel to Italy to drink wine and eat bread and olives.
Joanna: To visit Italy and Japan.
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
Stephanie: We are sisters-in-law.
Joanna: UMAMI is the "cider vinaigrette" on the beet quinoa salad at BNA here in Kelowna.
How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
Stephanie & Joanna: We have a facebook page: UMAMI-Crave the Fifth, Instagram: @umami_cravethefifth, and our website is okanagan-umami.ca
What is the name of your business/organization?
Stephanie & Joanna: Your Seasoned Chef Inc is our official business name. Joanna ran a successful catering/stocked fridge service here in Kelowna a few years ago so we kept the name. YSC is the proud maker of UMAMI Dressing, Dip and Finishing Sauce.
Why did you get into/start this business?
Stephanie: Jo went on a little vacation to England and when she came back she asked me if I wanted to make salad dressing because "it would be fun!"
Joanna: I had considered it for a long time, but I was in England when I decided to go for it.
What is the goal of your business?
Stephanie & Joanna: Primarily to make a living but also to talk and connect with people, sharing our passion for food that is delicious but not complicated.
What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
Stephanie & Joanna: Keeping all of the balls in the air! Being a parent and running a household is a full-time job in itself. Add the job you get paid to do (one of us is a nurse, the other a chef) and running a business; it makes finding "me" time a daily challenge.
If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
Stephanie & Joanna: In terms of this business, we wouldn't change a thing.
What do you always find yourself saying?
Stephanie: "As bad as it might be, it can always be worse"
Tell us your best piece of life advice.
Joanna: "Always look on the bright side."
Stephanie: "You can only fail at something if you don't bother to try in the first place."
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Joanna: Will Ferrell or Ellen DeGeneres -they are both so FUN!
Stephanie: I haven't seen Tanya, my best friend from childhood, in about 7 years. She moved to the US in 1975 and now lives outside of Pittsburgh. We used to see each other every year but with kids and life, we haven't been able to connect. We are both having a birthday with a "0" in it this year so hope to celebrate together at some point.
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
Stephanie & Joanna: We've been a part of the "local" business community for just under a year and we are continually awed by the local variety and quality of what is produced right here. In order for us all to be successful, we must support one another.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Stephanie & Joanna: Every time we see UMAMI on the shelf in a store we think about how far we've come and how far we can go.
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Joanna: Zu Peters. Counsellor, life coach and chef extraordinaire. Just spending time with Zu makes you want to be a better person. Doesn't hurt that she makes the best Thai coconut soup and pad thai on the planet.
Stephanie: I tip my hat to single parents. My husband works out of town and people will say to me "I don't know how you do it on your own". I reply that the real heroes are the moms and dads who are raising and supporting a family solo: who don't have someone coming in "X" number of days to spell them off or who contribute to household finances, who work full time and beyond yet still struggle from day to day to make ends meet; the ones who go without so that their kids have their needs met. They have my utmost respect and admiration.
My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Stephanie & Joanna: Krista King-local fitness specialist & Pilates guru, fellow Maritimer and hard working mama.
Some general comments I would like to share are:
Stephanie: UMAMI wouldn't "be" if it weren't for one person, my brother and Jo's husband, Justin Best.
Joanna: Justin came across this style of dressing years ago. UMAMI is his version; he always said "Jo, we need to bottle this." Sevens years later, his sister and I are doing just that.
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