When the owners of Sophie’s Kitchen at 1614 Bayview decided it was time to sell, Anosha Thamesh, with her husband in the background, was ready to buy, in July 2023. Sophie’s got a new look including foldback glass doors to the patio for warm weather and a new name to reflect the new ownership – Tiarré’s Brunch ‘N Cakes – Tiarré’s in honour of their daughter and with a nod to the beautiful Polynesian flower, the tiare, for whom their daughter was named.
Armed with a business management degree from the Schulich School of Business at York University, Anosha worked in a corporate engineering environment for over 18 years in product management. This proved to be good training for the now entrepreneur when she decided the time was right to do something “close to my heart – to open a little café with an atmosphere similar to, when growing up, going out for high tea with my grandparents.” But true to her corporate background, she did study the neighbourhood demographics before making the leap.
After a relatively short time in the neighbourhood, the business is thriving. Mid-morning on a Tuesday, there are 14 people enjoying a leisurely breakfast. During the week, there are three to four people working a shift; on weekends, six to seven, many of them former Sophie’s staff.
Anosha is a talented cook who enjoys developing recipes, which are then tweaked by her trained chefs. As much as possible is purchased locally, and all the sauces are made from scratch. But you’ll also see Anosha’s love of travel reflected in recipes inspired by visits to places like New Orleans and Jamaica.
The service is also expanding. Brunch is served every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner Thursday to Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and high tea Friday to Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Kids eat free every Thursday night, as long as they bring an adult who orders an entrée. There are also gluten free, lactose free, vegan and vegetarian options. I was pleased and surprised to learn that they can, with notice, make the whole high tea gluten free – a real boon for a celiac like me. But Anosha did mention that while they’ve been trying, they still haven’t managed to perfect a gluten-free version of their chicken parm – at least, not yet. After making a reservation, the restaurant calls to confirm the day before and also ensures you have mentioned any dietary restrictions. And yes, there is Uber Eats, but you’d miss the relaxed atmosphere of being pampered in the restaurant.
If you and your dog are out for a walk along Bayview, it’s good to know there’s a pink bowl filled with water just outside the restaurant.
You might also have noticed that a relative opened last year – Tiarré’s Brunch & Bistro at 1980 Queen St. East. Some menu details differ, but you can tell it’s all in the Tiarré’s family.
And for something almost completely different, Anosha and her husband also own Set the Table Kitchen & Co. based in Ancaster, specializing in meal delivery. Busy people, delicious options.
