Finkle Street Dining celebrates a decade of community, sustainability, and local food

Jenny Peace-Hall, owner of Finkle Street Dining, is celebrating the restaurant’s 10th anniversary by reflecting on the changes over the years and expressing gratitude to the loyal customer base. (Jenny Peace-Hall photo)

Emily Stewart, Echo Correspondent

Known for its focus on supporting local, preparing high-quality food, and providing a warm atmosphere, Finkle Street Dining reached its 10-year mark.

Finkle Street Dining on 450 Simcoe St. celebrated its 10th anniversary on March 15. An eight-course menu and prize giveaways marked the occasion. Owner Jenny Peace-Hall is grateful for the support of customers, staff, and the flexibility of the community amid the restaurant’s changes over the past decade.

"It's been emotional, actually,” Peace-Hall said of the monumental anniversary. “It's phenomenal, but at the same time after reflection looking back at all of the things that Finkle has navigated through and what we've navigated through as a community with COVID and just all of our changes have been bittersweet and I have so much appreciation for our guests, for our team, how adaptive we are and just incredibly grateful for the support of the community as our providers and our suppliers in the area and our great agricultural area."

Post-COVID restrictions, which were difficult overall for the hospitality industry, Finkle Street Dining changed from the tap and grill it used to be to a casual fine dining restaurant focusing on serving high-quality food with local ingredients. The restaurant uses ingredients from food producers within a 100 KM radius, such as Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese, Jakeman’s Maple Syrup, Great Canadian Cattle Co., Rymel Farms, Slegers Living Organic Greens, Good Leaf Farm, and Manna Mushrooms.

“What we grow in our community is going to be healthier, more sustainable for the environment, and it supports the land, it supports the people, it supports the area, so giving recognition to all of that, all of the producers, suppliers, to the Earth and to the community itself. We try to give back to the community in a multitude of ways,” Peace-Hall said. “Not only in our services and offering space and wholesome real food to nourish their bodies with, but a space to build connection in the community.”

Peace-Hall also expressed her utmost love and gratitude for her customers over the years.

“The reason we are still there is because of the beautiful people that walk through our doors daily,” she said. “My team and I are still there because of you, and we can't thank you enough for your support, for continuing to choose us, and we are just so grateful and thankful we get to welcome you to our space."

More information about Finkle Street Dining, including the menu, can be found online by visiting https://www.finklestreet.com/finklemenu.