Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Emma's at the Estaminet




The Estaminet building is the longest running restaurant in Ontario. It first opened in 1910 by Emma Byrens and her husband, George. It has changed hands many times but since 1992 has been known as Emma's Back Porch.







There have been many fights discussions about the street where this restaurant sits, along with about a half dozen other not so historical buildings and developers wishing to tear them all down and build condos. It was a relief when the Estaminet Building was granted heritage status - and soon after, much needed renovations began.

One of the beauties of this location is its proximity to the waterfront with a big patio looking out over the lake. But, it is a sports bar so the inside is what you might expect. And packed with people during sporting events and weekends. The Water Street Cooker located in the upper level is a complete change of pace with an upscale dining experience which I can't afford.

After going to several of the Save Our Waterfront meetings, one thing I learned is that if you pronounce the name wrong - and many people do - some life long Burlington resident will tsk tsk under her breath that it is esta'-min-et not e-sta'-mi-net (fr: e-stä-mē-ˈnā) a French word meaning a small (and sometimes shabby) cafe selling beer, wine as well as coffee and snacks. It may have been the same person, now that I think about it (and it always seemed to be a she), but at every meeting, it happened.


Another experience of Burlington through the alphabet for ABC Wednesday

13 comments:

  1. Seems from Emma's face thsat she ought to be ENJOYING that beer she's holding more than she seems to be doing.


    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  2. It's the same word no matter how you pronounce it.

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  3. @Roger, she does look rather crabby, doesn't she?!

    @Nora, some people are very particular about pronunciation. and how can you really appreciate the historical significance of an establishment if you can't even get the name right?

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  4. Glad some renovations are occuring. I agree Emma does look a bit crabby.

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  5. Emma's sounds like my kind of place.

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  6. Emma looks like me (because of the cat) I am happy to hear that finally the old buildings were preserved, I hate when old once are destroyed to make place to ugly new buildings !
    Gattina
    ABC Wednesday

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  7. this building has character, like Emma.:p it's good that the community talks about preserving the place.

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  8. A beautiful structure.

    Rose, ABC Wednesday Team
    Extra

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  9. Emma looks a women who could handle trouble. I always love those ornate porches.

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  10. I'd be afraid to complain to that woman!

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  11. That looks a really interesting place to eat - we have nothing like that here in the UK - it is a very North American style architecture. Though I suspect hat over the years it "just growed"!

    Think I'd avoid saying the word if I was going to be "Tsk'ed" over!

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  12. @Gilly - Emma's is plainly easier to say and anyone interested in the history knows its original name. the architecture does make it look more like a house than a restaurant.

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  13. Always good to see historical buildings being preserved, even though sometimes there is some compromise involved.

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