Staff

We are truly blessed with an amazing staff. Every single one of the gals who work at Bramble House is a gem, which means no matter which day or what time, someone wonderful is always working at the shop, making customers laugh and being the most-friendly person on the face of the earth.

Everyone at Bramble House also loves the television show, “Glee” and we play the soundtrack from that show quite constantly, prompting us frequently to break into song, or dance. But that’s just part of the Bramble experience.

BRENDA – Brenda Hodges is the owner of Bramble House, and is the Boss of All of Us. Bramble House is also Brenda’s vision, and her dream. We are all absolutely thrilled to be able to help make the vision a reality, and make the dream come true

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ALI – What can we say about our Alison? Well, for one thing, she likes to be called Ali. Ali has been with Bramble House for many years now, and we adore her. She is invaluable for her sunny disposition and keen sense of retail. She is also our Dessert Girl, icing aficionado and self-proclaimed Cupcake Creator Extraordinaire.  I asked the employees for a little blurb for the Staff Page and Kyrie wrote about Ali, “Like her wonderfully creative concoctions, she is every bit as sweet.” See? She’s really like that.  Ali is known for her catching charm and contagious smile. She is Christmas music all-year ‘round, and come December, she is our Christmas Spirit. Ali is also quite hilarious, wonderfully inventive, and – in a word – joyous. Everyone should be blessed with an Ali in their lives, and we are grateful for her loyalty and generous spirit.

 

STEPH G - Steph G. is our hardest worker and best math expert. Whether  the task is dubious or dull, or number-challenged, Steph G. will step up and do the job brilliantly. Also, Steph G. is the Mighty Wielder of the Broom. Her sweeping skills are much admired and she knows how much Diane likes a tidy shop, which always earns her a couple of extra points. Most important, a day with Steph G. in the shop is a day filled with laughter and everyone loves the laughter at Bramble House. (She also loves Aldo. If you see her using the computer at work, it is probably because she is shopping online. Tsk. Bad Steph.)

 

 

KYRIE – Kyrie possesses an encyclopedia-like brain that retains every tiny piece of information that ever crossed her path. Kyrie is also our resident expert on all things COOKING and EATING; so if you ever have any question at all about any of the food products sold at Bramble House, Kyrie can tell you everything you could possibly want to know about the ingredients, the preparation, and the taste. As well, she can probably tell you everything in Japanese. She is the Amazing Brain of Bramble House.

ERIC – coming soon!

 

ADAM – coming soon!

 

VIRGINIA – coming soon!

 

HALEY – coming soon!

 

DIANE – What can I tell you about Diane? She is often in the basement. She claims she is working, but no one is absolutely certain if that is indeed what goes on in that office of hers.  Every once in a while she’ll emerge and be seen upstairs, but that is usually just to tell her employees to get back to work. She’s a tyrant, that way.  She is also the one who will frequently effuse on matters of interest with a burble of such profanity that her diligent employees have to vigourously point and mouth these words: “There are people in the store!” and then, embarrassed, Diane will return to her basement.

 

 

VINNIE – Vinnie, our treasured Dachshund mascot and Diane's #1 dog, passed away in November 2010 at the age of 10. As many of you know, he had been suffering from distressing back problems for many years. While it was tragic to lose him, we are consoled with the knowledge that he was utterly effervescent and joyous in his life, and enjoyed innumerable treats, meat snacks, cheese, and other yummy bits. He also led a very rich outdoor life and generally lived in heaven on earth. Nevertheless, he is missed terribly..

BARNEY – Barney is the second Dachshund of Bramble House, and Diane's #2 dog (although now he is technically #1). Barney was rescued from a horrific life in the hands of a lunatic, and is now gleefully living a charmed life of excellence. While he used to be very shy, he has lately emerged as a more trusting fellow and wanders the shop quite freely, greeting people and seeing what folks are up to. He is very gentle, very sweet, and now at the age of 10 he has the look of a wizened old chap. But in his heart he is still a puppy, and a very happy one at that.

 

 

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Past Employees

MEGAN - In what was an extremely emotional departure, Megan left in the Spring of 2011. She has successfully moved on to other employment, and while we are desperately sad that she had to leave, we are also thrilled that she is doing so well at her new job. We do miss her ever-so-much, but she does come by to see us frequently and of course we pester her constantly on her Facebook page so… yeah. There’s no getting away from us, quite frankly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEPH B – Stephanie moved on from Bramble House in October 2011. Although she no longer works in the shop, she is still part of the Bramble family and now helps our sister company, Gallagher Distributions, with their British imports. We are sad to see our product specialist depart, but we're truly happy that she is now helping head up another company's quest for British deliciousness! She also stops by quite often, and occasionally helps us out during busy days, so really, she hasn't completely managed to escape us yet .

 

LEANNE - Leanne left us in January 2012 to return to her native land of Cornwall, ON. It was a bittersweet departure because although we know that whoever Leanne works for now will be blessed with a wonderfully hardworking and dedicated employee, we were very sad to see her go. We hope that Cornwall will appreciate her as much as we did, and are looking forward to any visits from her in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steph B's Favourites:

 

Walkers Prawn Cocktail Crisps!  

These crisps are my absolute favourite! They have the flavour complexity of All-Dressed Chips, but with a slight "vinegary" taste, and the oh-so-delicious prawny goodness that can only be tasted in Walker's Crisps

 

 

Galaxy Minstrels!

Made in the Magical Factory of Awesome that is Galaxy Chocolate by absolute geniuses, Minstrels look deceptively like big brown Smarties. HOWEVER, unlike North American-made Smarties, Galaxy Minstrels have a chocolately goodness that makes the mouth water. The candy-shell is merely a ruse to the chocolate excellence within. They are addictive, trust me!

 

 

     When pigs Fly.....

 This little cutie from Abbott Collections is made completely of cast iron.  I love this little guy because he reminds me that nothing is impossible, even pigs can fly!

 

 

 

 

Meg's Favourites:

 What's better than cheese & crackers? THIS IS:

I start with the Bramble 7-year old Aged Cheddar, a package of Jacob's Hovis Digestives, and a jar of Summer Kitchen Caramelized Onion Chutney.   Then you cut a slab of cheese, drop that onto a Hovis biscuit, spread on a little chutney, and then pop that nugget in your mouth. I am pretty sure that in the entire history of cheese and biscuits, this one is probably the best. Ever. 

 

Fox's Nice Creams!

This little sugar biscuit has a hint of coconut in it,  and a lovely creamy center filling. Best of all, it doesn't dissolve when I dip it in my tea - the biscuit stays nice and crispy. It is the perfect tea-break biscuit, and it reminds me of a kind of biscuit that I enjoyed as a child, so when I have my cup of tea with the Fox's Nice Creams I am not only ever-so-pleased with the excellent biscuit, I am also transported back in time. So you see, more than a biscuit, ...it's a time machine, with ...um, hints of coconut.

Wool scarves!

Just so we're clear, I JUST LOVE SCARVES! I have over 30 scarves at home, and I am always adding more. Some people collect comics, some people collect figurines... I collect scarves. Don't judge me; just admire my brilliantly accented attire!!  The beautiful wool scarves that we have from Ireland and Scotland are so gorgeous, I find myself buying a different one every other week. They're soft, warm, and with so many dazzling tartans to pick from, I can never decide which one I want more. Mostly, I want them all. And judging by the number of scarves I already have, I expect I will have them all eventually. Then you'll be saying, "Oh that Megan. She is so classy with all her scarves," and I would just nod, yes. Because you're right. I am that classy. ...But, oh, ... wait. We're talking about scarves, right? Yes. The Bramble wool scarves. I love them.

 

 

 

Ali's Favourites:

 

Mackays Scottish Strawberry Preserve!

As a lover of strawberry jams and preserves I have dedicated a good amount of my life looking for the perfect strawberry spread. Thanks to this preserve my journey is finally over! This preserve has an excellent strawberry flavour without it being too sweet. It will top any Canadian strawberry preserve out there! Whether it is for spreading it on your toast in the morning or using it in a cheese and jam sandwich it is the perfect addition to and meal!

 

 

Rootham Tangy Red Pepper Jelly!

Break out the cheese ladies because this jelly doesn’t party alone! It is an excellent compliment to extra old cheddar cheese and crackers. The jelly gives it a lovely extra zing. It is also is an outstanding ingredient for making home made sauces for meat dishes. Buy it for a friend as a small gift or keep it for yourself to enjoy! Either way it is sure to be a favourite of all!

 

Fraser’s Chicken Pot Pie!

Where does one even begin to describe this amazing pie? The pastry is so light and crispy that I am surprised it doesn’t just float away with the slightest breeze. The chicken and veggies that are inside the pie are accompanied by this incredibly creamy sauce. It is the perfect size for one person and is just as convenient as any frozen dinner. The difference between this pie and another frozen one is that it actually tastes fresh and home made. Taste finally does not have to be sacrificed for convince!

 

Diane's Favourites

First of all, this dip mix comes with the smoked salmon in a foil pouch, so all you need is some cream cheese and yogurt, or sour cream, and that's it. Mix it up. The trickiest thing to remember about this dip is that once you've made it, it is quite difficult to stop eating it. Especially if you're serving it with pita crisps or pumpernickel bread. It is also very excellent as a sandwich spread, topped with cucumber slices and fresh baby spinach, or fresh chopped parsely... I once spread it in a warmed pita bread with asparagus and fresh slices of Bartlett pear, fresh chopped parsely, a bit of chopped green onion... OH! MY! GOD! It is so delicious. TRULY! This is a must-have for my pantry. As essential bit of decadence that has many uses.

 

MARIO BATALI "Alla Vodka" Pasta Sauce!

This, I admit, seemed like a bit of nonsense to me when we first brought it in. "Pasta sauce is pasta sauce," I thought to myself. At this price? Bah. That's nuts. Nevertheless, there was this one night when I had some left-over manicotti which needed a bit of a sauce, so I bought a jar of this stuff because it was convenient and I figured "What the hell?" ...Well what-the-hell indeed. It is exquisite. It's creamy, fresh, rich-tasting, with a bit of spicy je-ne-sais-quoi which is, I reckon, the vodka - but whatever it is that makes this sauce stand out, it is magical. I have since realized it is sometimes worth the extra bit of money to get a pasta sauce that is just better than the typical brands of plain old pasta sauce. This stuff rocks my pasta.

 

 

 

Summer Kitchen Lemon & Honey Dressing/Marinade!

I took a jar home to see if it was any good, and I have been hooked ever since. On salads, it is gorgeous because it is lightly flavoured, but pervasive. Salads taste like the salad, not the dressing, but the dressing highlights the flavours of the salad in ways that continue to surprise me. I am not just saying this - I mean really, every time I use this marinade I am surprised. I have used it in stir-fries as well, and it perfect for those times when you want to taste the food in the stir-fry, and not the sauce. Once again, this stuff adds a lovely sweet hint of honey, but the lemon jazzes up the flavour of the food in such a way that everything is just "pronounced" so nicely. I love this marinade and every time I use it I am astonished by its versatility and subtle flavour. So yes, on salads, in a stir fry, as a flavouring for a sandwich - all good.

 

Kyrie's Favourites

Angel Delight: Butterscotch!

 The absolute worst thing about this dessert is how easy it is to make. All you have to do is pour the powder into some milk and whisk for all of 5 minutes. Wait another 5 and you have the creamiest, fluffiest, most melt-in-your mouth butterscotch foam you've ever had. Agreed, this is not classic mousse, but when I'm in a pinch for something sweet and smooth, this fits the bill every single time. Forget about the snack-pack puddings, get this instead. Its better, and light as a cloud so you don't feel quite so guilty when you've eaten it all.

 

Jacob's Lemon Puffs!

 When it comes to lemons, I'm a purist. It needs to be tart, intensely lemon scented  and fresh. However, these biscuits break all my rules and I still love them. The lemon cream center is lemony-sweet (but not too sweet) and the the biscuits sandwiching it are flaky and crumbly, with just that hint of butter in the background. They are refreshing and satisfying, leaving you with that pleasant 'after baked snack' glow without making you feel like you munched a bunch of sugar and butter. They are great with tea, but best all on their own, alone, with only you to contend with.

McKay's Bramble Preserve

This jam is so good that as I am writing this at 4:30 in the afternoon, the only thing I can think of is going home and having toast for supper. It is seedless, so no gritty bits in your teeth, and tastes like the berries were just picked off the bush. My favourite thing to do with it is spread it on warm scones (that's right, pitch the strawberry and get some of this) but it has a wonderful multitude of uses. I have put it on ice cream after warming it up a little, or filled dessert crepes with it. I have even mixed it with a little warm water and used it as a glaze for trout on the bbq. Yes, that's right, on trout. The point I am trying to make here is that you can't go wrong with this jam. You never can with Bramble ;)

 

Leanne's Favourites

 

Cadbury Flake

Full of melt-in-your-mouth flakey goodness, this classic British chocolate bar has been filling the tummies of young and old since 1922. Many people haven enjoyed this chocolate in their ice cream but I enjoy it just as it is.

 

 

McVities Penguin Wafers

If you thought you loved the Classic Penguins you will looooooove these wafers! I've always had a liking for Penguin Biscuits, but I have to say that these wafers are more than absolutely delicious: they are COMPLETELY PERFECT. Each wafer is a perfectly formed chocolatey-snack! And of course, a Penguin is very small compared to other chocolate snack bars, so when you just want that little chocolate fix, they are ideal! And if you hanker for more than a small snack... have two! 

 

 

Barefoot Venus  - Coconut Kiss Bath Soak

After a long hard day of serving our lovely customers it's very nice to come home and unwind in a soothing coconut soak. Not only does it sooth your senses with lucious coconut tones but it also soothes your skin leaving it softer than a baby's bottom ( not that we go around feeling babies bottoms but we assume they are quite soft). The best part is the lingering coconut smell that stays with you long after your bath too keep you in that wonderfully relaxed state of mind.

 

Steph G's Favourites

Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Biscuits!

I am very picky about my chocolate and like a certain sweetness and taste. With Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Biscuits, I get a fine layer of excellent milk chocolate mixed with a gooey yet crisp center. It’s a perfect treat on a gloomy afternoon or late night snack.  Even better is they come individually packaged so they’re perfect for popping in a lunch or bringing out with you as an on-the-go nibble.

 

 

Jacob’s Orange Club Bars!

Talk about delicious! This is the perfect blend of orange and chocolate, achieving that wonderful point where the flavours compliment each other perfectly. To mix it up a little, a biscuit was added in for a bit of crunch. These biscuits are also individually wrapped and quite portable if you’re feeling a bit peckish while you’re out and about. They are also available in mint, chocolate, and fruit.

 

Kit Kat Chocolate Bar!

Woah, talk about different! I’m sure many people have thought “How distinct could the British Kit Kat be from the North American version?” Let me tell you, this chocolate bar is in a whole different league. As the chocolate making process is different in the UK, there is a much smoother and rich flavour to the bar and somehow the wafer bit just seems crunchier. Pick one up and enjoy it today!