Taste of Colombia – Fair Trade Coffee & Gift Shop

“TASTE OF COLOMBIA” Fair Trade Coffee & Gift Shop has been created to be the first store for Fair Trade Colombia – our parent organization.  It is the first green and fair trade coffee & gift shop operating in Oakville, Ontario (Canada) offering a wide array of Fair Trade Coffees, Teas, Colombian Snacks and Fair Trade products in a fun and lively environment! TASTE OF COLOMBIA wants you to taste the best of Colombia through its food, music and products!

Regular Hours

Monday to Friday 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

SATURDAY 10 A.M. TO 11 P.M. (Salsa Night goes from 6 til 11 @ El Salon)

SUNDAY – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Latin Ballroom practice $5 p/p  3 til 5 @ El Salon

& Live Music with Michael E. Williams $10 p/p  6:30 til 8:30 p.m. @ El Salon) check current schedule of shows in Michael Williams Presents

For more details about our regular weekly events at El Salon please visit our Facebook page and look under “events”. Gracias! Thank you!

Recurring weekly events:

Winter Calendar of weekly classes / events for the FALL 2016:

For an always uptodate calendar please visit our EVENTS page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tasteofcolombiacafe/event

Please follow us on Twitter & Facebook. If you have been to our place and would like to leave us a review, please do so here: Yelp or Urban Spoon

See our listing with HEN (Halton Environmental Network)

or on Trip Advisor

                                                               

Need to contact us? Please do so at:

67 Bronte Road, Units #2 & #3

Oakville, Ontario, L6L 3B7 Canada

Phone: 289-837-3021 Cell 416-568-5707

Map here

FREE Parking on the street or behind our units all the time; if parked behind the units you may use back entrance!

We are located on Bronte Road south of Lakeshore. The entrance to the parking lot is on Marine Drive.

info@tasteofcolombia.ca

www.tasteofcolombia.ca

Our beautiful cafe (Unit #2) and “EL SALON” (our multipurpose room – Unit #3)  are both available for corporate and private events.

#ServeBetterCoffeeatyourRestaurant

#ServeBetterCoffeeatyourRestaurant If you would like to improve the quality of the coffee being served at your restaurant after your delicious dinners – just call us for an assessment. Can we tell you how to make an amazing cup of coffee with minimal equipment or if you already have the espresso machine – tell you how to maintain it and if necessary train your staff to make better coffee! Call us at 416-568-5707 to schedule a visit to your place.#FrenchPress coffee in the photo.

 

Announcing our NEW Barista Academy & Coffee Consulting venture!

#Barista #BaristaTraining #SpecialtyCoffee #CoffeeConsulting #CoffeeAccessories #CoffeeforHome #BetterCoffeeforCompanies#BetterCoffeeforRestaurants We are happy to announce that we are launching our own BARISTA ACADEMY & COFFEE CONSULTING PAGE! Please like it if you wish to stay informed of our upcoming barista courses, specialty coffee days, new coffee samplings & more. Also we will be posting our full list of services (coffee consulting for restaurants / companies). Stay tuned for upcoming events! Like our Facebook Page to learn more. Gracias!

 

Canada Day (July 1, 2016) hours and activities:

Hours during the LONG weekend (Canada Day):
1. Friday July 1st: 10 a.m. til 9 pm. (Salsa Flash Mob 5-6 pm)

Event info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/138905019852287/

2. Michael Williams open mic outside cafe 11 til 4 pm Michael Williams Presents Sunday Night

3. Women in Business event at EL SALON 10 til 4 P.M.:
https://www.facebook.com/events/482681968598141/

Saturday: July 2nd: 12 noon til 11 p.m. (Salsa Night 6-11) http://www.meetup.com/Salsa-Night-Noche-de-Salsa/events/231852410/

Sunday: July 3rd: 10 am to 5.pm. http://www.meetup.com/Salsa-Night-Noche-de-Salsa/events/231852410/

Learn more about all the exciting event organized by the Bronte BIA (all free) for visitors and families in the area: http://brontevillage.net/canada-day-2016/

Easter Hours 2016

#EasterHours2016

Our cafe will be CLOSED on Good Friday, March 25. Open for the rest of the weekend:

Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Salsa Night is on)

Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Participate FREE of this great activity organized for our children by the Bronte BIA:

http://brontevillage.net/events/easter-eggstravaganza-2016/

Resuming Spanish Lessons!

Update:

Glad to confirm that classes have started this past Monday – May 9, 2016 as programmed / Felices de anunciar que nuestras clases han iniciado como estaban programadas este pasado Lunes, 9 de Mayo, 2016:

 

Buenos dias:

Dora Rojas estara en nuestro cafe el lunes 11 de abril de 10am-11am  para responder a las preguntas que tengan sobre las clases de Espanol (todos los niveles). Algunos ya se ha registrado con ella pero necesitamos un minimo de personas para abrir una clase en grupo. Entretanto, si no pueden atender esta sesion, por favor contactar a Dora por telefono o email. Todos sus datos de contacto estan abajo. (Spanish without accents!) Gracias, Yury

English:

Dora Rojas will be at the cafe to answer any questions you may have with regards to the Spanish lessons we are trying to organize (all levels) – some people have already registered but we need a minimum number to start a group class, If you cannot make this session feel free to contact Dora either by phone or email with your questions! Contact info below. Gracias, Yury

Dora Rojas

www.unicasolutions.ca

Language Coaching

Learn In 3 Steps: Listen, Practice & Speak

dora.r@unicasolutions.ca

Tel: 905-334-7876

 

We have partnered with Dora Rojas from UNICA SOLUTIONS (www.unicasolutions.ca) to offer Spanish lessons for all levels like we used to have in the past!

Spanish over Coffee will start as soon as you indicate your interest to Dora via email at dora@unicasolutions.ca and let her know wheather you are interested in a particular level (see all the levels here: http://www.unicasolutions.ca/proficiency-levels.html).

Please confirm no later than March 19, 2016.

Also, please indicate what day of the week and time is best for you.

Normally, courses will be 14 weeks in length (2 hours / week) for a total of 28 hours p/ level.

Cost will be $294 (includes HST) which will end up being only $10.50 per class!

Maximum number of participants will be 10 for each group.

Lessons take place in our el Salon and there is potential for evening / day / week or weekend groups.

Dora’s phone number is 905-334-7876.

Looking forward to continue the SPANISH CONVERSATION CLUB every Wednesday (12 to 2 p.m.) with those of you who are already fluent enough to carry a conversation and to have many more joining Dora’s groups!

Yury  (416-568-5707)

Taste of Colombia

Great moments from ToC in 2015!

As we wish you a great NEW YEAR in 2016 and thank you for being our loyal clients, suppliers, employees and shareholders, we want to share some awesome moments we had in 2015.

• We received confirmation on Oct 5 that our business has been nominated for an OABE (Oakville Awards for Business Excellence): “The Morris Mercanti Restaurateur of the Year”
  If received, this will be our third award since we opened to the public in Feb 2012.  Gracias Oakville! It is nice to know people notice our daily efforts to create a place where everybody feels welcome and consider our little cafe as their home away from home. A place to not only sip the best organic / fair trade coffee in Oakville but make new friends, listen to great music, practice some Spanish and dance!

 

• Also on October 5 we were delighted to host our new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. We taught him how to make coffee for his supporters and important campaign volunteers. We all had a great time and were very pleased to have been chosen as the ONLY stop in Oakville on his busy campaign trail for Mr. Trudeau to mingle a bit with the community in a relaxed environment. See video below:  See photos here: https://tasteofcolombia.wordpress.com/2015/10/05/justin-trudeau-visited-taste-of-colombia-today/

 

• In June we were recognized with a Halton Newcomer Award in the business category by Halton Region – Newcomer Strategy.  See video and poster below: 

 

• We started our LIVE MUSIC series with Michael Williams in EL SALON (the multipurpose room attached to our cafe) every Sunday night and it has been awesome! Check out this Cogeco TV video:  Michael has an impressive line up of artists scheduled to perform during the year – stay tuned to our Facebook / Twitter pages for announcements. Romanyi Rota Gipsy Band was the last one to perform in 2015: 

Holiday Hours December, 2015

Hello all,

Here is a useful reminder of our Holiday Hours during this season:

Thursday, Dec 17 8 a.m. til 11 p.m. Christmas Party between 6 pm -11 p.m.

Friday, Dec 18 : 8 til 5 p.m.

Sat, Dec 19: 10 a.m. til 11 p.m. (Salsa Night!)

Sunday, Dec 20: 8 til 9 p.m. (Live Music with Michael Williams!)

Monday, Dec 21: 8 til 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec 22: 8 til 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec 23: 8 til 5 p.m.

Thursday Dec 24 and Friday Dec 25: CLOSED!

Saturday, Dec 26: 10 a.m. til 11 p.m. (Salsa Night is ON!)

Sunday, Dec 27: 10 a.m. til 5 p.m.

Monday, Dec 28: 8 til 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec 29: 8 til 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec 30: 8 til 5 p.m.

Thursday, Dec 31 and Friday Jan 1st: CLOSED!

Regular hours resume on Saturday, Jan 2nd and yes – Salsa Night in on!

We wish you all of you a happy and safe Holiday Season. May the new year be your best year yet! Happy 2016!

Sunday Music Night with Michael E. Williams 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Sunday Nights with Michael Williams @ El Salon
New live music series announced in Oakville!Sunday Nights with Michael Williams @ El Salon is a new series of live events that will feature both international and local artists playing an intimate show at El Salon / A Taste of Colombia at 67 Bronte Rd.Units 2 (Cafe) & #3 (El Salon). The presenter/curator of this series is former MuchMusic Host, Music Producer, Journalist, Musician, Media Personality, Educator; Michael Williams.
“I have always wanted a platform to present intimate shows in Oakville and have found the perfect venue in El Salon. The plan is to bring the best artist I know and pair them up with up and coming local artists. I will curate the series, interview the artist and occasionally play with friends.” Adds Williams “El Salon at A Taste of Colombia is the perfect place to relax, enjoy a coffee and hear some great music.”• On Sunday November 22; The series kicks off with a very special all Canadian double bill when Sunday Nights with Michael Williams @El Salon presents GORD DEPPE of The SPOONS & LOST and PROFOUNDAs singer, songwriter and guitar player for the Canadian band, The Spoons, Gord Deppe has been in the music business for over thirty years. Gord’s recently released best-selling autobiography “SpoonFed” tells the story of his life, The Spoons and how the two still intertwine today. Catch Gord as he tells the stories behind the songs and ventures out on his first acoustic tour. Offical Website / Facebook

The seminal Canadian folk rock band Lost & Profound recently released their critically acclaimed “Goodbye Mine” album. It marks the return to their signature melancholy-infused pop rock sound that originated in the 1990s, when signed to the international record company, Polygram. During that time had success with their single “Brand New Set of Lies” which earned them a Juno nomination in 1993. Offical Website Facebook

Show Details
o El Salon/A Taste of Colombia at 67 Bronte Rd (south of Lakeshore)
o Admission – $10
o Showtime: Sunday Nights 6.30 to 8:30pm
o Local opening acts start at 7pm

Watch the video of this great night done by Cogeco TV:

Plans are also in the works to have special music movie nights, jams, informative youth workshops and music lectures with myself and musicians who can share their wealth of experience with all who want to take their music to another level.

For more information, interviews with Michael and the artists contact;
David MacMillan – 416 457 8002 david.macmillan@yahoo.ca
Sponsored by – Yorkville Sound and Long and McQuade Music Stores.

PO

Sunday Nights with Michael Williams Romanyi Rota (6)

October: Hispanic Heritage Month in Canada

We have been invited to celebrate October: #HispanicHeritageMonth by HDSB – Sat Oct 31 @MotherTeresaOak

We have been invited by The Settlement & Multicultural Services
of the Halton Catholic District School Board to represent Colombia at this event because we are recipients of the Halton Newcomer Award this year and for being a Spanish local business. We will giving samples of our amazing organic, fair trade, shade grown and bird friendly Colombian coffee, some Colombian treats and having a very Colombian booth! We expect to have 200+ children from the Heritage classes that run on Saturdays and their parents. We are very grateful for the opportunity to represent Colombia at this event.

Christmas Party Latin Style! Save the date please!

Time: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Our amazing clients were enjoying their usual conversation and coffee this week and decided that we should start organizing the Christmas party now before everybody gets too busy! Inmediately we choose the date, one did the flyers, others talked of helping with the decor, others will bring treats and much more!
We want to take some time to say thank you and to share a moment with those we see all year: Clients, instructors who run their classes / events at El Salon, our incredible business partners and staff and amazing volunteers! So please try to set aside some time for this night, come and celebrate with us, let us treat you to sangria, treats and a bit of dancing!!!!!!