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il ~ i _ - ~ ~wI l-~I I I I 1-i ~i I i~i vRevamped Grand Chalet on Steeles Ave. offers Italian dining but specializes in catering levents Operating a catering business in Milton hasn't been with- out challenges, but it looks promising so far, according to Mike DiBiase, manager of the Grand Chalet restaurant and reception centre. Mr. DiBiase took over the facility in April last year. "It's bren slow getting the news out tIsaI we're here," Mr. DiBiase said. "But it's starting to pick up. Wr jusl came back fromt îwo bridai shows. Hoprfuily Ihat wiii help." January through Mareh is usualiy a siowr lime in the bospitaily industry, said Mr. DiBiaae. "We've bren trying 10 organize our facilitirs out Isere," he said. "But now we're going 10 try 10 get the word out." WIsile the Grand Chalet offera Italian dining in its restaurant, il specializes in catering events in ils banquet halls. "Iî's what we reaily love 10 do," he said. T'he main nloor of the building accommodates the restaurant and the smaller banquet hall while the upper level bouses tIse larger banquet hall. "We were very well known in tbe hospitaiity industry," Mr. DiBiase said, about bis family-run catering business. Formerly. thk family operated out of tIse Laguna Reception Centre in Misaissauga. "We're able 10 give our cualomera a lot more here," be said, adding tIsaI tbe Grand Cbalet's freestanding structure is more conducive 10 large social eventa than a centre like Laguna tIsat's part of ahotel. Througb the catering business, Mr. DiBiase tries 10 customize esch individual event. Photo by GSRAHAM PAINE Grand Chalet operators Tony DiBlase (loft) and Mike DiBlase <dight) along wlth chef Salvatore Vivl show off a tray of menu Items lncludlng fillet mignon and brarolo mui- room sauce, tortellini wlth tomato and bal and one of thelr signature dishea, spiduccl. "We b'y 10 make eacb event special," ke said. Tke Grand Chalet can accommodate large or small social or corporate funetions within one of ils two banquet balla. The smaller hall accom- modle up 10 100 guesi while the larger one can fit up 10 220 guests for a ait down meal. "Customer service is what I enjoy moat about Ibis industry," Mr. DiBiase said. "We create sometbing different for eacb event. It's a worry free day for the couple wken tbey deal with us. We take rare of everytbing." Mr. DiBiase leamned the business from bis par- ents. -We ail work together," Mr. DiBiase said, adding that his parents and brother ail heip run the business. Formerly the Bavarian Chalet. the structure has undergone some renovations since the DiBiaaes took il over last year. The restaurant had many animal-shaped fix- tures which Mr. DiBiase found to be too loud for the fine-dining experience. "We've neutralized the place, made lit more coml'ortable," Mr. DiBiase said. The fixtures have bren remove and the room repainted. Word bas been slow getting out about the Italian-style restaurant, bot things are starting 10 pick up according 10 Mr. DiBiase. "Wr olfer aIl kinds of tbings in our restaurant, chicken, steak, seafood, pasta. We work prima- rily with fresh ingredients. The menu consista of traditional and new Italian food. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday throg Friday, and dinner on Satsarday and Sunday. Currently the kitchen is rxperimenting with a traditional Italian dish from thse Abrssrzi region of Italy called Spiducci. TMe Italian-style sbisb-kebobs are (un 10 rat and tasty, said Mr. DiBiaae. He described thse disb as a "classier alternative t0 cbicken wings." The DiBiasea plan to intnxluce Spiducci as a special price on Wednesday nights. "People who are familiar with spiducci have it ail thse time, Mr. DiBiase said. 1he business operatora aise have fwther plans to renovate the facility to include a lounge on the upper level and some additional decorating in the restaurant. MacLean is guest speaker CBC Broadcaster Ron Mace£an will speak 10 Halton businesses next Itbesday on thk benefits of building communities through volunteerism. Mr. Macean is the guest speaker aI a special breakfast meeting at th Burlington Convention Centre. To gel tickets for the event, bosted by the Halton Social Planning Council and Volunteer Centre, caIl 632-1975. ~7 NDOOR USED CAR SALE! SUE MRDAY'S b PAPER FOR MORE DETAILSI DONPT MMIS FED. 23m & 24v" P- ST. %UICKMoi LT ! -r â-Î. le.ilimp-lu- - 401L