Cake, Love and Music
Stephanie Howell was born and raised by her mom, Kim Howell, in Port Credit. So enamored with the area, she can’t think of any other place she would want to live. She and brother William, who are only 11 months apart, attended Riverside Public School and then went on to Port Credit Secondary. “For a month each year we are the same age. Growing up people just assumed we were twins. We even played on the same soccer team for years,” remembers Stephanie. When she was 14, Stephanie was hired as a dishwasher at the Crooked Cue. “I worked under a chef named Garth, one night he decided to start teaching me the menu, eventually head chef Kevin McLaughlin moved me up to line cook.” She worked at the Crooked Cue for six years, at one point she even tried hostessing. “In the end I much preferred being in the kitchen, so I stuck with that,” says Stephanie. After high school Stephanie auditioned for Humber College’s Theatre Program, however, her spirit wasn’t in it. Not wanting to spend money on school until she knew what she wanted to do, she instead moved to Toronto to live and work. Living in the east end of Toronto, in the Beaches area, Stephanie was commuting to work at Spadina and Bloor. It wasn’t long before the unfriendliness of Toronto and the long time spent on transit each day took its toll and she moved back to Port Credit. “Here in port credit I am able to walk to work, as a result my day is much more peaceful,” says Stephanie. She loves that many of her childhood friends have also stayed in Port Credit and have opened bars, restaurants and other storefronts. “Everywhere I go there are friendly faces and people willing to stop and chat, I never feel alone,” states Stephanie.
Stephanie works at Port Credit Audiology; however, her passion lays in her side hustle. Howell for a Piece is her home bakeshop; she makes mega cakes that build on a mood or theme and out of this world candy. “My signature cake is red velvet with cream cheese icing,” says Stephanie.
Kim introduced Stephanie to candy making when she was 8 years old. It was working alongside her mom, learning how to work with chocolate, where she gained her attention to detail. “Chocolate is very temperamental,” says Stephanie. Her first clients were parents in need of baking for their children’s schools bake sales. Through word of mouth and social media, mostly Instagram, her reputation has grown and she now does all sorts of events, including birthdays, cake smashes and weddings. Her aunt will be taking care of all the flowers for her, “my aunt creates such beautiful pieces, so she has full control,” explains Stephanie. She knows that the flowers will be amazing and they will truly represent Stephanie and her fiancé Mike.
A Tinder love story, Stephanie and Mike met through on line dating. Stephanie jokes, “I am sure that it was my cats, Barb and Phoebe, that he liked more, as he continually liked photos of them.” Regardless, it opened the door to conversation and face to face dates. Three years later they are getting married. Originally from Oakville, Mike has moved to Port Credit. A sales representative for Michelin tires; he is also a music lover, he plays guitar and has a great voice, he does karaoke often and he’s been up to sing Bruce Springsteen at the Monday Night Jam. Mike, who couldn’t have pets growing up as his brother was allergic to them, has adopted Stephanie’s cats and he loves them to the moon and back. In the summer, Mike and Stephanie play baseball together. Stephanie loves how her mother has boxes of photos and memorabilia, and is a little sad that with the advent of technology we have lost these types of items. So she has captured screen shots of their interactions on social media and will create a book, so that guests at the wedding can get a little glimpse into their love story. Stephanie has so many wonderful memories of growing up in Port Credit. Her favourite, the anticipation she felt waiting for the opening of the Mississauga Waterfront Festival. She remembers watching from the schoolyard as the rides and attractions went up. “There are even photos of my brother and I in our stroller, it has always been a part of our life. The Southside Blues and Jazz Festival is another great event. There is always something happening here, I can’t think of what else you would want for your family!”
Written By Nicole Marrello Photographs by Chris Cabral
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