Shereen Rashwan may be new to business ownership, but what she lacks in restaurant management experience she makes up for in zeal and creativity. On March 10, Rashwan is excited to become the new face of Bistro 290 in Niverville.

“My dream was actually to own a food truck,” Rashwan says. “I’ve always loved small cafes, too, and I just thought that would be so much fun [to own].”

While Rashwan grew up in the Niverville area, studies, work, and travel have taken her around the world. Immediately out of high school, she left for London, Ontario to get a degree in business. This eventually landed her a job in San Francisco.

But home is where the heart is, so she quit her job with the intention of spending a year travelling the world, followed by a return to Manitoba to seek new employment.

Six months into her travels, while staying at a hotel in Lisbon, Portugal, Rashwan got word about the imminent sale of Bistro 290 and made the quick decision to return home early and get started on a whole new adventure.

Upon takeover, Rashwan says the bistro will undergo a few minor changes to the interior and then reopen for business as usual on March 16. During the opening week, customers can expect a different savoury special every day.

There will be some menu changes, she says, but many of people’s favourite items will remain a fixture.

“I’ve been trying the different menu items every time I go in, and everything I’ve tried I’ve really loved,” says Rashwan. “So I don’t think that there’s any need to take [items off the menu].”

Most of the staff will be staying on as well, including the restaurant’s head cook.

“A lot of the people around town know her for her soups,” Rashwan says. “She’s amazing and I’m so excited that she’s staying on.”

Still, Rashwan has big plans for personalizing the bistro’s menu by adding keto and vegetarian selections. As a health-conscious person herself, she hopes to offer more made-from-scratch options, such as salad dressings, perogies, and desserts.

“Something that I’ve taken advantage of a lot while I was travelling was going to the small bistros,” Rashwan says. “I ate out every day, twice a day pretty much for six months, and that was part of my research… I want to incorporate a lot of the things that I liked.”

Some of the new menu items foodies can expect are the brie and berry sandwich as well as a buffalo chicken wrap. Breakfasts will include quiche, a salmon and cream cheese bagel, as well as everyone’s favourite: eggs benedict.

New to the Bistro 290 dining experience will be an assortment of appetizers for sharing with friends, including bean dip and garlic shrimp, to name a few.

But new menu items aren’t the only thing being launched on March 16. Diners can also expect longer hours, which will stretch to 9:00 p.m. every evening from Monday to Saturday. Sunday hours are yet to be determined.

With that in mind, Rashwan will add courses beyond just the soup and sandwich fare the restaurant has become known for. Entrees will include a quinoa bowl with falafel, pulled pork sandwich, perogies with cream gravy, and chicken fettuccini alfredo.

“I’m encouraging everyone that if you ever try some [menu item] somewhere and think we should have this, let me know,” Rashwan says. “I can very easily decide that next week that’s going to be the special and make sure that we have all the ingredients for it. I never want it to get boring [at Bistro 290].”

For the adults, a full selection of beers, wines, and cocktails will round out the full dining experience. The kids will be able to enjoy a unique kids menu plus colouring pages and toys to keep them busy while they wait for dinner.

Rashwan has hopes that the bistro will be a place for more than just eating out. In the near future, she expects to begin hosting events such as paint nights, sushi-making classes, a stand-up comedy night, or just about anything that might fill the entertainment gaps in the community.

“It’s definitely going to become a place where people won’t feel rushed,” Rashwan says. “I want it to be more than just a place where you stop and eat quickly. [I envision it as a place where] students can come and study and grab a coffee late at night. It’s definitely going to be a homey place.”