Brandon’s Koren Hamilton has created a new locally owned business called Sandhill Natural Feel.  The key word being "natural" as she is selling everything from a tattoo sun protection cream, scented soap bars, homemade anti-aging skin creams and more which are made from all natural ingredients.  Koren’s business is just one month old and she got the idea from when she attended a local market in Brandon this summer where vendors were selling homemade soap, including a vendor from Niverville.  Hamilton states that she is a creative person when it comes to making things from natural ingredients. BDNMB.CA asked Hamilton where people could find and purchase her products. I opened a small business on Etsy.com where I currently advertise my homemade products, as this was probably the easiest of routes to get a shop started as well they sell customer’s products from all over the world. Having a small business owner as a neighbor certainly helped me with getting my shop set up and answering questions, as I had so many! The response so far has been better than expected, as I really didn’t expect some sales to come as fast as they did.   People can visit my shop at Etsy.com/shop/sandhillnaturalfeel.  I also post items on my business Instagram page  @sandhillnaturalfeel.  For purchasing, people can either order through Etsy (I do offer a free shipping code where I deliver to them) or message me with an order and I’m more than happy to deliver to Brandon. My products listed in my shop are made from all natural ingredients; Organic Shea, Cocoa, Mango, Kokum Butters and Coconut Oil as well as a number of other oils and ingredients in which I take these ingredients to create a final product, package them and post for sale.  Items I have made include; Body Scrub, Deodorant, Sunscreen, Heel butter, Body Butters, Tattoo Sun Protectant Cream and Homemade variety of Soaps. I just recently added a favorite, Anti-Aging Night Cream to my list of products and at this time, I believe these will be the main items I will concentrate on producing until I get a better idea of what customers are wanting. Koren feels right now her goal is to provide small business stores with her products to get the word out, in sddition to going to local markets held in Brandon and area.  Hamilton says she is having fun with this new venture and that is what is important. Tea Tree with hint of Mint Gift Box and Grapefruit & Orange Gift Sets Homemade Sugar Shea Butter Body Scrub, Exfoliating and Moisturizing Scrub

About a year ago at this time, we were fortunate enough to visit a little restaurant in Elgin, MB called The Burning Bale. The article we published following our visit ended up as the 2nd most viewed posting of the year (over 16,000 views to date) on our web site. In speaking with Chef Germain recently he said that his business, like all other restaurants, has been affected by Covid-19. While the traffic flow has remained steady at supper time, as his clients are tied directly to the agricultural community, he is missing out on the daily lunch travelers who typically would stop in on their way to a neighboring community. They have also cancelled breakfast for the time being, due to no seating being available in the restaurant. Even though the supper crowd remains strong, he said it is all relative to what it was before.One asset the restaurant does carry forward is the ever-evolving menu. Several items (additional wraps & Poutines) that used to be daily specials found their way onto the main menu at the start of summer. The restaurant first opened at the end of May 2019 and Germain now has a greater sense of what keeps people coming back. Over the last several months he has introduced new daily specials like a Mozza Steak Melt, Bourbon Pepper Steak Poutine, Tracksuit Burger, and a Chicken Parm Kaiser. Pizza sales remain especially strong. The restaurant also hosted a very successful New Year’s Eve menu and is planning similar for Valentine’s day. To see their hours of operation, full menu, or to see the daily specials, please follow their Facebook page. Sweet & Sour Crispy Chicken & Fried Rice w/ Slaw Mozza Steak Sandwich Melt Bourbon Pepper Steak Poutine Black dry brined pulled Pork...braised with a little bourbon and Dr.Pepper! Stream & Pasture .. Shore lunch style Pickeral with sliced Roast Beef Tenderloin..served with fries and dilly Coleslaw!! Burning Bale Pizza Chicken & Mushroom Neptune Soup ... it has chicken breast , mushroom, cream cheese and crab, lobster style pieces and sweet peas

Valentine's Day is always better with sweets. Courtney's Cake Creations (corner of 1st St and Patricia Ave) this year is offering a number of different options for those looking to purchase something sweet for that special someone in the life. They are offering their sugar cookie kits (pictured above) which includes: 1 dozen cookies, 3 kinds of sprinkles, 1 kind of candy and 3 bags of royal icing for only $30. These decorating kits are the perfect DIY family gift idea. Hot chocolate bombs (chocolate hearts filled with hot chocolate mix and marshmallows) are also available. Simply pour warm milk over them in a mug and they burst open with hot cocoa mix and marshmallows. Available in 3-packs: chocolate, Rollo, and marshmallow. Courtney tells bdnmb.ca that the chocolate bombs went over so well at Christmas time that she wanted to introduce them as an option for Valentine's day as well. hot chocolate bombs. Other Valentine specials include chocolate covered strawberries (6 or 12), a Valentine's day cake, and cookie boxes (cookie box has 3 large sugar cookies and 3 chocolates). Due to the popularity of the items featured for Valentine's day, pre-order sales (by February 10) are a must. You can visit their Facebook page to find out more information on the individual options and pricing details. 1doz chocolate covered strawberries Cookie box from Courtney's Cake Creations. Cookie box from Courtney's Cake Creations.

Brandon has an amazing array of local restaurants, with some pretty exciting food options to select from. From legendary prime rib to hearty sandwiches, here’s our list of "ten ridiculously tasty menu items you must try in Brandon." In no particular order. Philly Cheese Steak Nachos from The Dock on Princess. Beer braised beef, green and red peppers, caramelized red onions, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, cheese, drizzed with garlic aioli and a house made cheese sauce. Legendary Prime Rib from Albert's Bistro Family Restaurant. Served with choice of lemon roasted potatoes or rice pilaf and vegetables. (Photo: Facebook) Veggie Breakfast Bowl from Chez Angela Bakery & Cafe. Locally sourced seasonal vegetables with caramelized onions, swiss cheese, a horseradish mayo and a sunny side up egg served on their Country Style Roasted Potatoes. Roast Chicken Sub from Pizza Express & Submarine. Seasoned roast chicken, with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise & house dressing. Add bacon for that little extra kick. Birria Tacos from Sabor Latino Restaurant. Cheesy Mexican tacos with a generous amount of high quality pulled beef, fresh guacamole, onions, and cilantro consomé on the side. Sampler Pizza from Romana Pizza. Something for everyone with this beautiful pizza. 1/4 - Ham & Pineapple, 1/4 - Bacon & Mushroom, 1/4 - Pepperoni & Mushroom, 1/4 - Double Cheese Joe Beeverz Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich. Thin slices of sirloin beef sautéed with peppers, onions, mushrooms and topped with melty provolone and cheese sauce, served in a fresh baguette. La Cuban Torta from Los Brothers Street Food. Ham slices, sliced hotdog, 3-cheese blend, avocado, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, & mayo. Chicken Cacciatore from Marino's Pizza. Fresh tender chicken morsels combined with Marino's homemade cacciatore sauce, customized with your choice of pasta noodle, then smothered in mozzarella cheese Crispy chicken wings from Benny's Restaurant & Catering Services. Available in Sweet Chili, BBQ, hot & honey, Buffalo, salt & pepper, honey garlic, Arizona, and Cajun. To order one of these fantastic menu items visit Door Dash, Feastify, or SKIP the Dishes. Please note that note that some of the restaurants listed above offer their own delivery service therefore they may not be found on any of the apps. Please visit their respective web sites/Facebook pages for pickup and delivery information.

A popular and long-standing retail establishment in Brandon has announced that they will be closing their doors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hallmark Appleyard Manitoba Canada announced via social media on Wednesday that due to the devastating impact of COVID on their business, they would be closing up shop here in Brandon as well as their St Vital location in Winnipeg. "The devastating impact of COVID on our business is overwhelming," they shared in their Facebook post. The full statement can be accessed below. The company will continue to operate their Polo Park, Kildonan Place, Kenaston and Stonewall locations.