By Thomas Smith

Bella.

The Italian word for beauty.

For Shukri Middleton, bella is the mantra and word of inspiration behind her newly opened cafe in Kinmount.

Walking into her cafe, you are greeted with a bright shop and one word to describe it – pink.

From her sign that hangs above the door, to the chandelier on the ceiling, to the faux turf wall, every square inch of the cafe is Instagrammable and inviting.

“My vibe is happy and fun,” said Middleton. “Pink, to me, is happy.”

It is a space that you want to return to.

For her daughter, Raliyah, she says ‘girly’ defines the space’s signature look.

Having worked in the service industry for 20 years, you may recognize her as a friendly face at Coboconk’s Tim Hortons. There, she was manager for several years.

No stranger to Kinmount, Middleton and her family have lived in Kinmount for a decade, with her husband Chris being a volunteer firefighter.

Middleton’s dream while on maternity leave was starting her own food truck. Her parents, immigrating from Somalia to Hamilton, have ensured that their culture is preserved through their daughter and grandchildren.

Wanting to share her culture and unique flavour of Somali cuisine, Middleton was struck by the idea of opening her own restaurant when she saw the space beside the laundromat for rent.

Taking the leap with support from friends and family, Middleton renovated the space and opened on Saturday, Aug. 15.

“I have always loved working with and talking to people,” said Middleton. “I love getting to know the people that come in”

For Middleton, opening her own cafe was the next step in life. She can now devise her own menu, research new food offerings, and sing to her heart’s content.

For the summer, Raliyah can be seen zooming around the cafe while lending her mom a hand. She says that she loves living in Kinmount, with her best friend Mackenzie not far away in Coboconk.

“The community has been very welcoming and coming out to show their support,” said Middleton.

The menu of Bella’s Country Cafe has something to satisfy your craving, whether stopping by for a hot coffee on your way to work, or popping in to grab lunch.

An eclectic list of coffee variations list the wall. Her fridge space is filled with ready made sandwiches, with more to be made if requested. Everything from hot chocolate to matcha are ready to be drunk.

For the time being, Middleton has not added Somali dishes to the menu.

“We use a lot of cumin, coriander, and garlic,” said Middleton.

With rice as a staple in Somali cuisine, she promises a variety of stews and flavour packed dishes, including Somalian sambuusas, their own version of a samosa.

Middleton says that she will slowly introduce more hot dishes as time goes on. She hopes to fill her freezer with meals ready to be heated up at home.

With her experience working at Tim Hortons, she is an expert in all matters of hot beverages.

“It is something I know very well,” said Middleton. “I wanted to make sure I was offering people things that I know I can do well.”

As a coffee lover, Middleton knows what goes into a good cup of joe.

Realizing that there is a need for a dedicated coffee shop, Middleton chose her hours to cater to those heading to work early in the morning, and those working later into the night.

Opening at 6 a.m. during the week, she hopes early birds choose to pick up their morning coffee at Bella’s in lieu of further options.

For Middleton, opening her own business has come naturally, but with some learning curve, such as keeping up with prep and ensuring her supply of ingredients.

“You want to make sure that you are able to sustain yourself long term,” said Middleton. “Also, not to scare away people with your prices.”

With every customer, she offers an ear to listen to any feedback or suggestions. As we speak, her husband arrives with a delivery of lactose free milk, as suggested to stock by a customer.

For Middleton, she is most proud of the inclusivity of her menu. She is regularly researching what options she can make for vegans, catering to a celiac diet, and other speciality diets.

“That is what I love about being my own business, you are not stuck on just one thing,” said Middleton.

“Before I opened up, I asked the community what the community was looking for,” said Middleton. “There is nothing here, the closest you have to go is Bobcaygeon for those options.”

For Middleton, she is most excited to offer cuisine from Somali culture to the community of Kinmount.

In lieu of a tip jar, Middleton has opted to have a donation collection jar in support of the Ridgewood Public School’s breakfast program.

“I want to make sure that every kid gets breakfast,” said Middleton. “I am passionate about kids being fed. We don’t know what every household is like, but when kids go to school they are all in the same place.”

Starting the breakfast program in her son’s school, she saw firsthand what difference the breakfast program made in not just food security, but her own son’s willingness to try new foods.

“When you have an empty stomach, your brain can’t work as well,” she said. “For being a wealthy country, our schools lack the basic necessities. Every child deserves to eat.”

All money that is collected from ‘tips’ will be donated directly to the breakfast program. She also has local author’s books for sale and plans to rotate out the featured local creative.

“Bella’s is a place for people to come gather, talk, get to know one another, and be able to support your community at the same time,” said Middleton. “And to try some good food.”

Committed to remaining consistent, Middleton says that she plans for Bella’s Country Cafe to remain open throughout the winter, with the same generous hours.

Bella’s Country Cafe is currently open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the weekend and Mondays from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cafe will be open year round with catering options available in the future.