Justine Vikse

Justine Vikse and daughter Peyton Lafrate, July 2018

The origin of the phrase “from little acorns do mighty oaks grow” is subject to some debate. Some accounts say it’s a 14th century proverb, others attribute the saying to an essay by D. Everett published in The Columbian Orator in 1797 who penned, “Large streams from little fountains flow, tall oaks from little acorns grow.” Either way, the adage captures the history of Warkworth’s SOS Lounge in a nutshell. Founder and owner Justine Vikse, "bar wench and food stylist", is "loving every minute of it."

She first moved to Trent Hills in 2012, operating out of a rented studio in Campbellford, until she opened the Serendipitous Old Stuff (SOS) storefront in Warkworth in 2014. At the time, Justine's business was all about antiques, both in raw condition for resale or refinishing by the purchaser and items already refurbished with her own creative Scandinavian and French Country touch.

A series of events came together to spark the creation of The SOS Lounge in its current incarnation. While on an antique sourcing jaunt in New York State, Justine ran across a business model that combined the sale of antiques with a bar and lounge. As it happened, her storefront lease was coming up for renewal at the end of 2016, and the premises that formerly housed The Garden of Eatin’ on Old Hastings Road were listed for sale at the same time.

Renovations commenced on the new premises and the reinvented SOS Lounge opened its doors to the public in March 2017. We chatted with Justine at the CKOL studios just before the big day about her decision to rethink her business and her plans for the lounge.

Charcuterie Platter

The interview clip will tell you that the original vision was to design a place where the community could gather for “socializing, booze and stuff.” The concept was a simple one. The environment would be filled with comfy furniture to create intimate conversation areas surrounded by antiques, curiosities and other items available for purchase. A fully stocked bar would tempt patrons with fine wines, beer and an assortment of standard and creative cocktails. The dining menu offered several varieties of charcuterie platters along with delectable desserts imported from Sweet Gallery in Toronto. Justine planned to rustle up one-pot meals “every once in a while”, loosely based on the Seinfeld Soup Nazi approach whereby one choice is the only choice as an alternative to the tapas-based regular fare.

Eighteen months later, the vision has been kneaded, reshaped and expanded. The popular charcuterie platters remain but the occasional one-pot meal initiative has developed a life of its own. There are now weekly gourmet offerings on Wednesday nights, which clearly require more than one pot, followed by Jumbo Wing Night on Fridays and a special repast on Saturdays. Traditional and elaborate breakfast and brunch choices are offered on Sunday mornings, as well as a Sunday Supper. Justine’s culinary prowess seemingly knows no borders, as she serves up elaborate concoctions from all ethnicities with confidence and applomb.

"I think I’ve always had a love for cooking in me," she recalls. "I actually have two chefs in my family background. Both grandparents. One I never met, one who had a huge impact on me. I believe it was her joie de vivre, and her no rules in the kitchen perspective. Plus my Dad is pretty kickass himself in a kitchen. I’m not a chef. I refuse to misuse a title that I never educationally attained. I’ll leave that distinction for the people who toiled away, and deserve it. However, I do like to be artistic in my hovel, and make things taste great."

The SOS Lounge is known for hosting sold-out special events, often with an amusing twist. A Redneck Sushi Night was held in November with such delights as Redneck Salad (poutine with bacon), Gooey Wraps, Mystery Meat Dumplings and Roadkill Sashimi (pork tenderloin, sirloin tip roast and coca-cola pulled pork). The event included live entertainment by musician Roy Borden Jr., stand-up comedy by Chris Clark and a hillbilly photo booth. "I also let Chris invade my kitchen to demonstrate his capability with dishes he created,” says Justine.

T&A Night at the SOS Lounge, November 2018

Earlier in the month, a T&A (Tequila and Appetizers) evening proved to be a great success as attendees sampled some of the finest-rated tequilas in the world paired with Mexican appetizers. "We had such a great time this evening at The Lounge with a group of fabulous adults who enjoy tequila," Justine posted at the end of the affair. "It was fun being around the fun they created amongst themselves, and within the room."

A young wedding event guest sporting a fascinator, photo by Montse Alvarado

SOS hosted an English High Tea Breakfast in May to mark the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Patrons were encouraged to dress in their finest fancies, complete with elaborate hats and fascinators, and gather to watch the televised event while nibbling on ever-so-elegant British delicacies after having been announced and escorted to their appropriately bedecked tables with pomp and circumstance. The event sold out so quickly that a second seating was added.

Holidays are also observed to the max at the SOS Lounge. Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day have all warranted special menus and, sometimes, accompanying events for the kids to make it a family affair. The St. Patrick's Day Irish Stew received rave reviews. A menu based on traditional Jewish cuisine was rolled out in early December to mark Hanukkah.
"Happy Hanukkah to The Lounge’s Jewish friends, and Jewish faith observers," Justine wrote. "The Festival of Lights is one of the most culturally delicious food celebrations recognized. It commemorates the sacred flask of scant oil that kept the menorah lit for eight days at the holiday by traditionally serving foods fried or baked in oil."

The festive season is, of course, being celebrated with the moxie one would expect. A free public holiday sing-along with Jeanette Mackintosh and Jordy Mac was held on December 8, accompanied by a special charcuterie platter and a number of custom winter cocktails. With her typical humorous slant, Justine is offering wagon rides with 'Bad Santa', departing from and returning to the Lounge on Fridays in conjunction with the town’s Magic Under the Stars event. "Just like Billy Bob Thornton, our Bad Santa is going to be crass, hurl insults, give you his guided interpretation of the wonderful town of Warkworth every Friday in December. However, if there are children along for the ride, he will be on his best behaviour, we assure you."

Imaginative Belgian waffles are a regular Sunday brunch feature

Blackberry Tiramisu

SOS Lounge, 161 Old Hastings Road, Trent Hills (Warkworth)

Young artisans at work, SOS Lounge

Justine also hosts creative registered workshops in the space for both kids and adults, from jewellery-making to antiquing ornate mirror frames. A group of young artisans gathered in November to create a masterpiece on an old car door to be displayed at the Lounge.

The masterpiece, November 2018

The John Cleats performing on the SOS outdoor stage, August 2018, Photo by Montse Alvarado

Last summer was a busy time for the SOS Lounge. In June, a “huge” furniture and accessory sale made room for expansion with a second lounge area. At the same time, the charmingly decorated outdoor patio became even more functional with the construction of a new stage for live entertainment. At the end of June, Justine partnered with Ian LeBlanc, founder of Upper Canada Axe Throwing, to start an Axe Throwing League in Trent Hills. Lounge patrons were able to try their hand at the sport on the SOS grounds on Friday nights throughout the summer. Justine also acquired a custom-designed outdoor smoker last spring which has been used throughout the patio season to prepare everything from ribs and sausages to bologna and burgers. The smoker figured prominently in a fund-raiser for The Bridge Hospice on Labour Day weekend which brought in over $1,300 for the cause.

Bob Leahy, HIV/Aids Activist, and the SOS team sporting their gay pride shirts, June 2018

The Lounge celebrated Gay Pride Month last June, urging local residents and other businesses to do the same.

"So tonight we introduced ourselves to our patrons wearing our solidarity shirts for Pride Month. Every Friday for the month of June the team at SOS will happily be donning our shirts to make a statement about LOVE=LOVE. We encourage others to join us at The Lounge in the same expressive vein of action," she said. "Just because the vision of tomorrow is inclusive, understanding, and built on the foundation of love."

The SOS Lounge continues to amaze and amuse with its food offerings, unique events and entertaining social media posts announcing upcoming specials. ”I love marketing my meals on social media," laughs Justine. "That’s the fun part. And if I can make someone giggle, or wonder about something that’s about to occur, then I’ve successfully executed my intention.” Live entertainment is an ongoing feature in all seasons. Local favourites Roy Borden Jr., Jeanette Mackintosh and Lauryn Alexandra Macfarlane are regular performers there, and the Lounge has hosted Nicole Lisa Craig and The Tanya Wills Quartet, both featured in this publication. Tanya appeared there as part of Westben Festival Theatre's Jazz Fringe Festival.

LtoR: Leah Kiar, Skyler Lafrate, Sarah Kiar, Hunter Lafrate, Justine, Peyton Lafrate, 2017

March 2017. Background Leah, Skyler, Peyton, Sarah, Hunter, foreground Justine

The Lounge was very much a family affair when it first opened its doors. Although daughters Leah and Hunter have now gone off to university, Leah still jumps in when she’s in town. Skyler, who also works at The General on Main in downtown Warkworth, toils at SOS part time as the "fry queen". “Peyton is my right hand girl,” Justine says. “For 15 years of age, she could single-handedly run the kitchen or the upstairs if I were to bow out, quite successfully.”

This photo was taken by Alison Neil as part of a fundraising effort for Autism. LtoR: Leah, Sarah, Peyton, Hannah, Skyler, John, April 2018

Hannah Clark, daughter of the owners of Sandy Flat Sugar Bush, works full-time at SOS in the off-season of her family's business, and a number of part-timers return from university or college when they’re able to do so. "I like to refer to myself as The Kitchen Troll," says Justine. "The kitchen’s in the basement, and I rarely see the light of the upstairs. I also have a few highly competent adult women keeping me afloat on the team as well as employees.”

She continues to put in brutally long days, both at the Lounge and on her days off. “My days are frenetic,” she says. “Usually 18 hours without exaggeration, even on my days off, but I’m connected to the process of the evolvement of this place. The Lounge is like a baby in its infantile stages.” She takes weekly jaunts to Toronto to hunt and gather the supplies for her culinary creations. “I actually take great pride in hand picking my ingredients and ensuring they’re of the utmost quality so that there is peace of mind in the realization that the foundation I’m beginning with is pretty near perfect,” she explains.

Justine and partner Scott Kiar

Justine lives in Warkworth with her partner Scott Kiar, who is a “fantastically encouraging man”, she says. "He backs my workaholic personality 100%.”

She has "lots of plans for the not-so-distant future", she confirms. "I’m a risk taker financially, but a cautious risk taker. I have children to provide for.....young women. More than anything, it is tantamount for me to show them that a female can make something of herself in this world If she shows diligence, passion, determination, and can be self-effacing enough to be able to laugh at herself through the trials, tribulations, and successes. They also need to understand the process is not always easy in life, but the reward of making others happy, will extend to making you feel self-fulfilled and elevated as a human being and professional. I think it’s important that in life one must be a little bit bad to be a whole lot good. I kinda apply this theory to most things I do. Whether it’s the unconventional interplay of certain ingredients in food, the cocktails we offer, or the social events I put together. All have this underplay of concept." One would be hard-pressed to find a better role model than Justine to exemplify this philosophy.

"Those who enter the doors of SOS Lounge may enter as strangers, but hopefully they enjoy our comfortable environment enough to return and visit us as friends," she notes. "If I can create that atmosphere for others, I’m happy, and I’m doing my job successfully."

The SOS Lounge is open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. In the interests of providing our readers with a little holiday cheer, Justine has shared a 10-second video of herself, hard at work in the kitchen with her kids during last year's festive season.
Click here to enjoy!

Links

Facebook, www.facebook.com.Serendipitousoldstufflounge/

Website, www.serendipitousoldstuff.com

Read more: Article by Sue Dickens, Trent Hills Now, April 2018