Meet Mikey and Natalie. They have lived in Kamloops for 6 years. They are the owners of Eats Amore, a delectable and esteemed food truck in Kamloops.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kamloops?
M:"I was born and raised in Fort McMurray, and moved to Kamloops almost 6 years ago."
N:"I was also born in Fort McMurray, but grew up in Kamloops. I went back up there in my 20's, but I've been here for almost 6 years as well."
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
M:"Natalie, and anyone who wants to go snowboarding."
N:"Mikey, our dog Aslan, and my friends and family."
What is your favourite local store in Kamloops and why?
M & N: "Red Collar Brewing, Scoopz, Orange Board Shop, Up Real Estate, The Bicycle Cafe, Jamaican Kitchen, Jardine's, and Viva to name a few. All because they have great people serving products that enrich our lives!
Describe yourself in one word.
M: "Curious." N: "Hungry."
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
M: "Japan to go snowboarding (with Jan/Feb conditions) sounds nice."
N:"Antartica with my brother so that we can say we've been to all 7 continents."
What is your favourite activity in Kamloops?
M: "Summer - biking, winter - snowboarding."
N:"Biking in the summer, and fitness classes at the Y in the winter."
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
M: "I embarrass myself all the time, I just laugh it off and continue on with my day."
N:"Why would I write that on the internet? Haha."
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
M: "Meeting Natalie (and her family) was a big change in my life, for the good of course. I find her to be an inspiring person."
N: "I find our customers to be a huge source of inspiration. I always want to make their Eats Amore experience memorable, so I'm always working to make sure whoever comes to the truck on any given day gets a great experience."
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
M: "I have a childhood filled with awesome memories of growing up in Fort McMurray in the 80's & 90's with a bunch of good friends (I'm still close with most of them today), and just playing outside all day everyday. Hockey, baseball, snowboarding, skateboarding, soccer, road hockey, biking, you name it. Then playing video games in the winter while it was -40C for a few weeks at a time. Too many good ones to mention."
N: "I always think about the big family cooking extravaganza's we used to have where my Nonni would be in charge, and all the cousins would be around to help our too. She was amazing."
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
We strive to have zero food waste produced at home, or from Eats Amore. So whenever we have extras, we like to give those to the New Life Mission to help feed the people that come through their doors. Whenever we are working with school based organizations that promote education on local agriculture and food systems, we try to cut their costs as much as possible. We also make donations to the Kamloops Art Gallery.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
M: "Everything, haha."
N:"Peoples attitudes, I want people to be kinder to each other."
Where would you sneak away to in Kamloops to spend some time alone?
M: "Any of the many bike trails"
N:"Sign me up for a mani/pedi and a Vietnamese coffee!!"
Where would you like to see positive change in Kamloops and why?
M: "I would like to a change in how the CoK is run, and there's an election coming, wink-wink."
N: "I would like to see a better food sharing system. The CoK is getting better, but a lot of food goes to waste, when we could be sharing it."
What do you think makes Kamloops great?
M:"The people. The ones I know in particular."
N:"Having lots of my friends and family so close, in such a beautiful area of the world. And summer time in Kamloops is pretty incredible."
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
M:"Three things that I want to do before I die - Try and be a better person everyday, make time for those I love, and have fun along the way. The rest will fall into place."
N: "Go to Antartica, Go to cooking school in Italy, and keep adventuring with Mikey and my family."
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
M: "I have a diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology from SAIT."
N:"I have a joint major in Poli-Sci, and Economics from TRU."
How do people connect with you, personally, through social media?
M:"Other than @eatsamore, I don't have any personal profiles online. I'm the one who responds to all of those accounts anyways."
N:"I have a Facebook account, but I'm terrible at responding to anything that comes in there, haha"
What is the name of your business/organization?
Eats Amore - Mobile Italian Cuisine
Why did you get into/start this business?
Because we wanted a change in our lives, and saw a niche that could be filled in Kamloops. We're still trying to figure it out.....
What is the goal of your business?
To take the food that this amazing region of ours has to offer, and make it a bit more accessible to the people of Kamloops and area. But more importantly, we want to use that food to make people smile.
What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
M:"I think that everyone can agree that their biggest hurdle in life is usual themselves. Staying on top of your own mind can be challenging at times, but I think my mind and I have a pretty good relationship."
N:"Trying to find that work/life balance."
What do you always find yourself saying?
M:"I love you."
N:"Ok"
Tell us your best piece of life advice.
M:"Don't believe the narrative that everyone is a unique snowflake. The sooner we realize how similar we all are, the sooner we become a bit more understanding and supportive."
N:"Don't sweat the small stuff, I still have trouble with that one."
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
M:"That's a tough one, I'd have to go with a roundtable luncheon consisting of Terje Haakonsen, Elon Musk, Steve Harris, Adrain Smith, and the guys from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard."
N:"Is it weird that I would just pick my mom....and maybe Lidia Bastianich cause she reminds me of my Nonni. But if Mikey's getting a big table, I'd want one too, and probably invite the rest of my family."
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
M:"Putting money into your local economy is never a bad thing. If possible, I would rather pay a little more for something I can get here in town and support a local business, rather than elsewhere."
N: "I like seeing familiar faces when I go places."
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
M:"I'm fairly proud of Eats Amore, but more so, I'm proud of the personal growth we've both seen since starting this business."
N:"Same-zies"
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
M:"Daniela Basile - easily the hardest working person I know."
N:"No disrespect to my mom, but I think Adrianne Erlandson (Scoopz) and Anthony Salituro (Jardine's, Viva, Pink Ribbon Ball) are super hard workers as well."
My choice for the KamloopsBCNow In Focus spotlight is:
Daniela & Ed Basile of SSOL Gardens.
Some general comments I would like to share are:
We are very appreciative for having been featured on In Focus, and we would like to thank all of our loyal customers out there, and an extra thanks to anyone who has recommend us to friends as well. And of course this all wouldn't be possible with the constant support, education, love, and meals that we receive from Daniela & Ed Basile from SSOL Gardens - thank you.
We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kamloops.
In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition of the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great!
