Have you met Steph?

If you’ve ever dined at the Innisfil Sunset Grill, you’ve surely been greeted by Steph’s rollicking presence. The tenacious, talkative woman with the charming elephant tattoo has been with us since day one and has become such an important part of the Sunset Grill family.

“I saw that Sunset Grill was opening and thought, you know, I’ve never really done breakfast before… and being in the industry, you always want to try something new,” said Steph. And so, she decided to go for it. “I took on the role, and I’ve loved it ever since. It’s what I enjoy; I do it genuinely,” she said.

Steph moved to the quaint town of Innisfil from Etobicoke about 10 years ago and brought with her an innate understanding of the restaurant industry, as she assisted with the opening and managing of numerous Kelsey’s restaurants across Toronto during her tenure with Cara.

Steph, Manager of the Innisfil Sunset Grill.

“The restaurant is never not a chance to grow,” she explains. “There’s so much more you can learn from a restaurant.” You don’t have to be any one thing, but you can achieve anything you set your mind to, she adds.

“It’s a very open, loving community and you can grow as much as you want to grow in this atmosphere,” she said. Steph’s energy and enthusiasm is very much unparalleled.

She’s learned much and has made connections to last a lifetime during her almost four years at Sunset Grill and has become a vital part of the tight-knit community of Innisfil.

She never misses a PTA meeting and is always initiating fundraisers to help local charities and clubs. From setting up co-op programs with the nearby high school to sponsoring local sports teams or welcoming Santa to the restaurant during Christmas time, Steph never skips a beat. She’s already planning something special for the restaurant’s four-year anniversary in August.

“I love what I do. You either give it your all, or you just don’t. For me, it’s like, I want to acknowledge everyone. Everyone is special to me,” Steph said as guests walked through the door and she greeted almost every one of them by name, while simultaneously tending to her teams’ needs.

“My kids see what hard workers my husband and I are, so for them, they know good work ethic,” said Steph.

She couldn’t do it all without a great support system by her side, cheering her on. Her four young girls are her pride and joy, or “golden stars” as she calls them.

Her eldest daughter, Serena, turns 18 in a couple of days and will be off to university in the fall to pursue a career in Medical Engineering. It’s bittersweet for Steph. Serena has worked at the restaurant since she was 14 and has been a big help in growing the business. While it’ll be an emotional time to see Serena move on from the restaurant, she couldn’t be prouder as a mother.

Steph (centre) with her mother and four daughters.

“This is why I love the Sunset Grill family and the one-shift operation, because I have a life outside of Sunset Grill and I don’t feel so overwhelmed,” she said. It has allowed Steph to be able to spend more quality time with her kids, be there for extra-curriculars and watch them grow. Her other daughter, Seffrah, 10, has recently gotten into baking and often tags in her two younger sisters, Sicily, 7, and Soriya, 5, for help with the icing and decorating.

Looking to the future, Steph can’t wait to get back to travelling again and is planning a trip to Italy in the summer with her family. “My husband and I are workaholics,” she said. They’re looking forward to showing the girls a little piece of their heritage in Italy while also getting away from the grind, even if only for a short while.

At the end of the day, Steph takes joy in the simple things in life, whether it be a quiet glass of wine after dinner, sipping her morning coffee on the patio listening to birds chirping, or relishing in the nostalgia of ‘80s pop culture while watching one of her favourite television shows, Stranger Things, she never forgets where she came from or where she’s headed.

There’s no doubt in our minds that the sky is the limit for Steph.

The next time you’re in the area be sure to stop by our Innisfil Sunset Grill and say hi to Steph and her amazing team!

Go-To Breakfast: Turkey bacon with veggie omelette

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Steph is the first in this year’s Mother’s Day profile series highlighting Breakfast Moms – the strong and talented women that make up the many faces of the Sunset Grill community.

STORE INFORMATION

Innisfil Beach Rd. & 20 Side Rd.

(705) 431-0095

Open Daily 8 AM to 3 PM