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".
. .In fact, my store has been a 'home' to almost a generation of
people who like to think that they have worked hard, succeeded in
a big way, and deserve to be part of something rare and special.
. ."
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Boutique
Has Old-World Charm
A
small sign in the window beckoned me with the magic words "Chocolate.
. . food of the gods." Being a chocoholic there was no way I could resist,
so I reached for the door and opened it. As I stepped in a rich beautiful
aroma poured out, tantalizing my taste buds. I stopped and stood there,
looking around, feasting my eyes on luscious, melt-in-your-mouth chocolates,
while my mind slowly danced with memories of Switzerland at its chocolate
finest. It was just as if I entered a boutique nestled along a winding
fashionable street in Zurich, Bern, Basel, or Geneva. For me it was like
finding a gold mine.
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This
is where Toronto's "movers and shakers" come to shop… including celebrities
visiting Toronto. |
I
savoured a truffle, like a connoisseur wine-taster overjoyed with a rare
find, and for a moment I was lost in ecstasy. It was superb, fresh
cream, and every bit as good as I would expect in the finest chocolatiers
of the world.
The shop is decorated in an elegant European style that takes straight
aim at a "beautiful people" clientele, and there is a quiet emphasis on
"excellence" at every turn of the head. It is evident that the chocolateur
strongly believes in the philosophy that "to be good is not enough, if
one aspires to be great."
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But
no shop becomes great because of product alone. There must be an ambience
that clicks in and permeates the shop to make chocolate buying a pleasurable
experience. The shop goes all out to romanticize the products and provide
personalized service.
When I walked out of the shop I felt like I just bought a taste of the
best that life has to offer, and that I was pampered as one would expect
to be when shopping in the best shops in Europe. It this philosophy that
has for over 17 years separated Swiss-Master Chocolatier from the competition
and got customers to actually line up outside the door on busy days.
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click
to enlarge
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Let
our beautiful creations reflect the warmth of your welcome
(We
supply thousands of chocolate strawberries for endless social and
corporate events) |
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| Hand-painted
Ski Bunny |
Clowns on chocolate |
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Valentine’s
Day warning:
shop early
as the lineups often stretch to around
the corner, up to the coffee shop.
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The
very best for your Valentine. Scientists tell us "real" chocolate
has amazing appeal as it sets off the same chemical reaction in
the body as when we are falling in love — especially for females
".
. .I’ve watched kids grow up in my store. I’ve even
gone to their birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, and weddings, and
I’ve helped in their many celebrations of the joys in their
lives and shared in the sadness of their lives. Our store has
been a “home” to almost a generation of people who like
to think that they have worked hard, succeeded in a big way, and
deserve to be part of something rare and special. . .I’m
moved by the fact that we have succeeded to connect in such a
beautiful way with the community we serve. Looking back it has
been a relationship that comes from the heart, from both sides,
the way as I remember the relationship my parents had with their
customers in their business in the Swiss Alps, when I could barely
see over the counter. It’s things like this that defines
us as to who we really are — that is, it defines my store
as well as my clientele in a “beautiful people” way.
. ."
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"Life's
sweet memories"
are made of this |
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| Easter
Eggs with fresh-cream truffles |
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Some
of our friendly staff
Our popular giant Santa
outside the store
(RogersTV)
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Swiss-Master's
greatest achievement within the chocolate market? "...It
has to be the emotional attachment to the boutique by so many
wonderful customers." Above is a gift of 51 long-stem roses
to the staff by one happy customer the day after Valentine's Day.
Another beaming customer came back to ask how it feels to know
that "Swiss-Master has contributed to Toronto's baby population."
It's things like this that make serving customers at the boutique
a pure joy. |
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| Our
very popular 6-piece box |
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| A seasonal "piggy" creation |
Santa and a seasonal "sheep" truffle ...from editorial in
Home and Decor/New Homes/Condo Guide
November 2006
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Our pick
“Beautiful Person" for 2007
Louise Russo ..survivor of violent crime at its worst.
She not only forgave her attacker, but also rose to the challenge of educating youth that “violence is not the answer”!
It is stuff that great heroes are made of!
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| Above Ingrid is on her "second BiograhTV episode," this one "Changing Lives" with Louise Russo also |
In 2004, Louise was an innocent victim of gun violence. Caught in the cross fire, she was paralyzed from the chest down, and lost the use of both legs. A married mother of three, including a child with severe disabilities who requires assistance in every aspect of her life, (As Louise was shot this child was waiting for her mom in the car!) Louise is determined to stay positive and not be consumed by the obstacles she faces. Louise founded W.A.V.E. (Walk Against Violence Everywhere) in 2005 and works to encourage youth to be respectful, responsible and to take leadership roles in keeping their schools and communities safe. Louise is also an advocate for special needs individuals and serves on the accessibility committee with the Hon. David Onley. She is a member of the Justice Stakeholder Summit and The Ontario Bar Association, which develop recommendations on how to improve accessibility to Ontario’s legal system. Louise wants to inspire others, especially young people, to make good choices early in life.
In 2009 Louise is having a big fundraise ..and she could use help from all of us. |
Our pick
“Beautiful Person" for 2006
Jane Goodall, founder of the Jan Goodall Institute ..and a UN Messenger of Peace
..who reflected for me a serenity and kindness rarely seen.
The world for sure would be a better place
if we had more Jane Goodalls!
I was so privileged to have been in her presence.
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| Fundraiser for Jane Goodall ..who presented her observations on primates – that suggested to me a glimpse of how humanity must have been like in its gentle innocence long long ago. Did you know that if the mother of a baby chimp dies then the baby will be adopted by a close relative .. and if none, then total strangers will adopt it as their own? |
Our pick
“Beautiful People" for 2005
Some take a “dream” and make something special out of it. Randal and Elisabeth Linton took the reality of their daughter’s illness and tried to do something about the disease. Randal and Elisabeth are about as “Beautiful People” as you can get, and we were so touched with what they have done with their Sanfillippo Children’s Research Foundation.
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We were proud to be a sponsor at
The Sanfilippo Children's Research Foundation Gala
It was an emotionally-driven evening where
tears came easily for everyone
Here Ingrid with Elise, who’s parents formed this foundation.
It is a remarkable story of family, faith, and self-sacrifice.
Instead of succumbing, Elisa’s parents chose
to launch the foundation, where 98% of money raised
goes to support research.
www.alifeforelisa.org
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Our
pick
“Beautiful People" for 2004
THOSE WHO LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST . .
under difficult circumstance
It is about “young and old with difficulties” determined to live life to its fullest,
pushing beyond all boundaries. The picture says it all.
The only thing missing are tears of pride of those who look on.
click to enlarge
And if you have children do suggest to them
to volunteer for needy causes, as it's positive
things like this that shape and define a life in
a young person. What else is life about if you
cannot help those in “true” need?
"No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars,
or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit" . . . Helen Keller (deaf-blind . . a role model by every measure.)
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Our
pick
“Beautiful
People" for 2003
Medical professionals
around the world who put their duty to "SERVE OTHERS"
above personal concerns during the SARS outbreak
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| Above
Leo Steven, CEO and President of Sunnybrook and Women's
College Health Sciences Centre presides over SARS war room.
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Medical
professionals AROUND THE WORLD put their duty to "SERVE OTHERS"
above personal concerns during the SARS outbreak. And this dedication
of “all frontline physicians and healthcare workers”
is something we have to be thankful for. Throughout the epidemic
they worked around the clock in many cases, even when so many
things were unknown about the disease. For the first time most
faced the prospect of becoming infected themselves, and even worse
faced the prospect of passing SARS on to their families. And they
still performed their jobs recognizing they had a duty to their
patients. And yes, some did develop SARS and some died.
SARS took on a personal course at our boutique when many hospital
workers as well as relatives of patients came to shop, and we
got to know much of the personal side of their stories. Moreover,
Leo Steven, in above, is my brother-in-law and I saw the personal
toll it took on him.
Ingrid
Läderach Steven
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Our
pick
“Beautiful
People" for 2002
We salute the volunteer-heroes at Camp Oochigeas (for children with cancer) as our “Beautiful People for 2002”
Camp Oochigeas is a summer camp for “children aged six to sixteen”
who come to have a little fun in the sun. . .under some very difficult situations.
When
we visited the camp (both our daughters were volunteer counselors) we were
ready for some tear-jerking experiences. But what we saw was kids doing
what all kids loves to do, and that's having lots of fun. In fact, it was
PARTY TIME much of the time, with lots excitement and activities. . . living
one day at a time. And the counselors who helped make it all happen, who
gave so much of themselves, were young volunteers who just wanted to do
their share to make this world a little better place for the campers, all
of whom have cancer.
And
yes, there were sad moments we witnessed. But when we left we had tears
in our eyes not out of sadness but for pride in our daughters who helped,
and pride in all the volunteer counselors — who could have spent
their summer doing other things, maybe selfish things, perhaps even bitching
that this country does not do enough for kids to keep them busy. And after
we both wiped away our tears, we agreed that by all measures these counselors
were truly Beautiful People!
To
the right is a picture of our daughter, Jaclyn (with guitar), with other
counselors in her group, doing their silly best to distract campers from
pains and sorrows, and have them enjoy a little normal life at a campsite.
If
you have children do suggest to them to volunteer for needy causes, as
it's positive things like this that shape and define a life in a young
person.
The
camp volunteers also join in activities throughout the year, including
visiting their campers at hospitals.The camp website is: www.ooch.org
Ingrid
Läderach Steven
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Our
pick
"Beautiful
People" for 2001
At
a time when true heroes were in short supply
they gave the world lots of heroes to look up to.
NEW
YORK FIREFIGHTERS
Who
would have guessed that under that brassy
New York shell there is a heart of gold?
.
. . our spirits have been elevated because of these heroes.
``.
. .On September 11, as the World Trade Centre tragedy unfolded, the
store sat empty all morning until Läderach-Steven decided to close.
Just then, the customers descended. They said: `We had to come. We had
to get out and have a fix.` It`s almost like this place is a sanctuary.`
`` ......Jennifer Bain, Food Editor, Toronto Star, February 13, 2002.
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Our
pick
Canada's
"Most Beautiful Person" for 2000
Dr.
Euclid J. Herie, CM, MSW, LLD
President
and CEO of the Canadian National Institute
for the Blind (CNIB) 1983 - 2001:
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Here
is a person who cannot see, yet he knows the name of every truffle
in our showcase. And he will tell you on his next visit any mistake
you made on his choice of truffles during his last visit.
He is a happy and beautiful person. I tell him: "You may not see
but you have more vision than most people." He also has an unbelievable
sharp humour, and has a very active life - such as going on a horse-back
riding in the B.C. mountains and canoeing.
Dr. Herie brings cheer and sunshine every single time he enters our
boutique. He sets an example to all of us to "LIVE LIFE TO ITS
FULLEST!" |
Dr.
Herie's is a true champion of the world's visually impaired.
He is especially admired for his passion to instil “independence and respect”
for the blind. His leadership led the CNIB to win the inaugural SAP/Stevie
Wonder Award for Role Model Organization of the Year in 1998. In 1996
Dr. Herie was also elected president of the World Blind Union for a four-year
term. In this capacity, he represented more than 150 million people who
are blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind, from 160 countries.
Dr.
Euclid J. Herie back at CNIB in 2005 to launch his book “Journey
to Independence: Blindness– The Canadian Story”
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In
a world of so many “Give me!” people around us, especially those blessed
with youth and health who insist on seeing their
cup-of-life as “half empty” and who nauseatingly demand their right to
handouts and media attention, it is refreshing to find someone who gives
so much of himself to help others – and under so difficult circumstances
at that.
Dr. Herie, you are truly a "Beautiful Person," and a Canadian treasure,
and a powerful example for the world!
Ingrid Läderach Steven
Here is a link to "VoicePrint Broadcasting
for the visually impairment," that we suggest you visit: http://www.voiceprint.ca
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The
real beautiful people
You can't see with your eyes.
You have to learn how to
Look with your heart.
The perception of beauty is an act of understanding something fully. To
a mature mind everything is beautiful
"Beautiful People" are all around. They are everywhere you look. And they
can be in the mirror looking back at you.
Beautiful People: those who have fallen to pieces. . . those who have
known grief . . . picked themselves up. . . and are better for it when
they come out the other side. (Our biggest enemy as individuals and families
is, all too often, simply "self-destruction.")
"Ugliness can be as much a factor of how we see ourselves as it is of
how others see us"… quote from the website of the UGLY PEOPLE'S CLUB,
Italy
"QUICKEST WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR LOOKS?.....a smile!
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" . . .I appreciate your kind and thoughtfully gesture. Please
accept my best wishes to you and yours for good health and much happiness.
. ." Aline Chrétien.... 24 Sussex, Ottawa July 4,
2002
Some of our friendly staff
We offer old-fashioned service, even after Halloween
SOME
VIEWS ON "BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE"
"Beautiful
People" is more than a skin deep description
The
most "beautiful people" I have known are those who
have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss
and have found their way out of the depths.
These people have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding
of life
that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.
"BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE" DO NOT JUST HAPPEN
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