If you are on Six Nations and looking for a fantastic home cooked meal complete with dessert you must head over to Homestyle Kitchen & Heavenly Sweets.
The cafe, located inside the ‘Ronatahskats’ Community Living Gift Shop, has been the talk of the town lately, specifically on social media. Community members are raving, posting pictures of their lunch with captions such as “best NDN taco on the Rez”.
These two culinary businesses are led by two strong, independent Haudenosaune women: Holly McComber Bomberry and Jolene General.
Bomberry, owner of Homestyle Kitchen has nearly 20 years of experience cooking. “Everyone told me to open up a kitchen because of how good my food was.”, she says. The cafe is now renowned for their Indian Tacos which are available daily, but don’t be surprised if trying the food once leaves you wanting more. Last week the offerings included Homemade Linguine with Chicken Parmesan and Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings, all for about $10 a plate.
Bomberry, a Kahnawake Mohawk from Buffalo, NY now resides here on Six Nations with her husband Brock. She was thrown into cooking at the age of sixteen to feed her four children; Tommy, Donny, Robert and Lisa. “I had my kids early and I was on my own. I had no choice but to learn how to cook. I’d watch others and learn from seeing them cook. My kids love sauce so I learned how to make it but I put my own stuff in there.” Although she is self-taught Bomberry says it is definitely a gift. “My food just comes to me. I don’t have recipes.”
Now she has teamed up with Six Nations chef Jolene General of Heavenly Sweets to offer dessert with dinner. General is a professionally certified cake decorator and professional chef with a diploma in Chef de Cuisine. General had no interest in cake making until her brother invited her to a class. “I had just had carpal tunnel surgery. I thought it might strengthen my hand. The surgery did not go well, I had complications afterwards and I was not able to squeeze my hand. So this was a great idea, to do some strengthening by piping the icing. My brother told me the day before class was to start he wasn’t going to do it but I had already paid so I went and loved it!!”
Specializing in fondant covered cakes with intricate Haudenosaune flair and artwork, Heavenly Sweets cakes are in high demand throughout the community. Last week a longhouse themed cake was raffled off replicating a water drum, turtle rattle and Gustowah. Her cupcakes, pies and other sweet treats are bought up quickly at the cafe. Earlier this month a batch of Banana Pudding Cakes with White Chocolate whipped topping sold out after only 30 minutes. Diabetic-friendly desserts are also available.
General is a self-made success. “Everything I’ve done. I’ve done it all on my own. No funding, no nothing I raised my girls without financial help. My oldest is in college. I think I’ve done a good job being me so far.”
The cafe is open from 10am until 4pm Monday to Friday at 1676 Chiefswood Road inside the Country Living Gift Shop. For more information and daily specials you can keep updated by liking both Homestyle Kitchen and Heavenly Sweets on Facebook or call to order 519-445-1604.
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