Bringing old fashioned cooking to Your Neighbourhood Table

It's a family affair at Your Neighbourhood Table.

The restaurant, formally known as Country Sisters on Highway 86 in Mapleton, has two new owners, Stephanie and Julianne Kuepfer, who held a grand opening last month.

Stephanie, 27, looks forward to offering a warm welcome for all who visit.

"That's why we named it Your Neighbourhood Table, to give that feeling that everyone is welcome here," she said.

"When we heard that the previous owners wanted to retire, we thought, this was a great time for a change for us too."

The Mennonite-style country eatery offers a rustic charm that invites visitors and regulars alike to enjoy the warmth and nostalgia of some good old fashioned homemade cooking.

With a staff of 20, Your Neighbourhood Table offers a selection of traditional breakfast classics, including eggs and bacon, and French toast.

"We serve breakfast until 11 a.m. Our western sandwich is popular and so is our breakfast wrap which is a new item that we added to the menu. It includes our home fries, bacon, eggs, onions and chipotle mayo," Stephanie said.

And for lunch, some hearty favourites include a variety of freshly made soups and sandwiches.

"All of our sandwiches are made on bread that we make here, so it's very fresh. We offer fresh bread daily as well as fresh ingredients," Stephanie said.

"We have ham and Swiss sandwiches, turkey and cheddar, summer sausage, chicken salad, tuna salad, salmon, egg salad, and the western sandwich which we also serve for lunch. And then we have a BLT, a turkey and bacon sandwich, and club sandwich too," Stephanie said.

Some sweet desserts include home made pies and butter tarts, ice cream sundaes, and a special treat – the much favoured maple doughnut.

Visitors are also invited to explore the bakery section, where shelves are filled with freshly baked bread, cookies, pastries, honey, jarred preserves, frozen meats and home decor.

Growing up just down the road in Millbank, a love for food and cooking was something both sisters always shared.

"We worked in a restaurant together a number of years ago," Stephanie said.

"Then Julianne left for Jamaica to do mission work with kids. I worked in the kitchen at Knollcrest Lodge Longterm Care Home in Milverton."

Stephanie soon realized a passion for working with the elderly in her community and she went on to pursue a position as a personal support worker (PSW).

Once Julianne returned, she too decided to follow in her sister's footsteps as a PSW.

Stephanie believes Your Neighbourhood Table has a country style feel that appeals too older folks, something the pair loves to see everyday.

"I do miss the people from my old job but I still get them here. For some, they might be a little mixed because change can be hard for people, but we really tried not to change the menu. They had a good thing here before, so we really want to keep that," Stephanie said.

"I enjoy meeting different people. And we do get our regulars that come in too. It's been fun getting to know them."

Stephanie is excited to start another new venture with her sister.

"It's so great. We are very similar, and we really get along, so it all works out," she said.

Julianne, 31, loves working with her sister too, as the two have always shared a special bond.

"We've always been very close. We've done a lot together in life and it feels great to be working with a sister who has the same passion and dreams," she said.

Your Neighbourhood Table is open daily from 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more information, visit here.

"We have always dreamed of opening something together," Stephanie said. "Maybe not quite something this big, but we decided to try it, and now here we are."