By Emily Stonehouse

When you walk into Toast – Minden’s newest restaurant – it feels like home. Cozy decor and cushy chairs, with the nostalgic smell of bacon and eggs wafting from the kitchen.

And that’s exactly what owner Tara Schroeder was aiming for when she opened her doors. “We live in Minden,” she said, “and we really wanted to bring something special to Minden.”

Tara and her husband, Andrew Schroeder, have been married for 13 years, and have been in the food industry for the past seven. “We complement each other well in our skills,” she laughed, noting that Andrew has a passion and dedication to the culinary arts, while she thrives in business management and front of house operations.

Many would recognize the Schroeders’ faces from Mason Jar, a well-loved food truck that lives at the main intersection in Carnarvon. The couple just wrapped up their second summer at the fan-favourite destination; a project that overlapped with the purchase and opening of their brick and mortar restaurant in Minden.

“It all happened very quickly,” shared Tara, noting that they took possession of their Minden site at the end of August, while the Mason Jar was running full tilt in Carnarvon. “It happened super fast.”

Toast is located at 12311 Highway 35 in Minden; the former home of the Lounge Cafe and prior to that, the well-known 50s Diner.

While there are challenges in the industry, Tara and Andrew are well-versed in the highs and lows of restaurant management. “Staffing is an issue, for sure,” said Tara. “Not for the front of house, but for the kitchen definitely. But we’re just trying to bring something fresh to Minden, and really trying to create a safe space for people to be.”

Tara and Andrew will continue operating both the Mason Jar and Toast simultaneously, and they are committed to creating the best possible experience for patrons at each location. “We care deeply about what we do,” said Tara. “We care about each and every plate that goes out.”

For the time being, Toast will be focusing on serving breakfast and lunch, with intentions of expanding to additional meals as they feel secure in their footing. “We will eventually branch out,” Tara confirmed, “but we’re starting slow.”

The restaurant is open five days a week, from Thursday to Monday. On their first weekend in business in Minden, they entirely sold out of food due to the warm response and excitement from the community. “We’ve had such a positive response from the community,” said Tara. “I just want it to feel like you’re coming home.”