Ben Thanh Restaurants offers a great atmosphere to share all of your life’s moments. Whether it is a birthday party, or just treating someone special to dinner, we welcome our guests to relax and enjoy with a delightful dining experience. Our remarkable staff will serve and offer selections from our menu that will complement your palate, while our team of highly skilled chefs cook your meal to perfection. Our dishes are prepared with authentic herbs and spices from all parts of South East Asia.

Even if you are not familiar with Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, there is something for everyone at Ben Thanh. Our famous Vietnamese noodle soup, also known as “Pho”, has been a popular choice amongst our guests, while our Pad Thai is always a crowd favourite. Our menu includes vegetarian dishes, along with desserts and a great range of appetizers to pique your appetite. We also serve rice, noodles and vermicelli entrees that are sure to satisfy every taste bud. Even if you are unsure, our friendly servers are available to go over the menu options to ensure you are paired with a delicious meal to enjoy.

We welcome you indulge in our expertly prepared exotic cuisine at our elegant dining locations in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph.

Whatever the occasion may be, Ben Thanh is the perfect place. Visit our website http://www.benthanh.ca/ for more information on our restaurants and menu selections.

Kitchener: 519-742-3338
Waterloo: 519-880-9788
Cambridge: 519-622-7866
Guelph: 519-767-6668

Taking your vehicle to a reputable and trusted mechanic for servicing is an easy way to avoid potentially serious mechanical problems. While servicing your vehicle on a regular basis can seem like you are always spending money on your vehicle, in the long run it saves you aggravation, time and money and extends the life of your vehicle.

Following your vehicle’s maintenance schedules ensures that your vehicle will continue to run smoothly, safely, efficiently and reliably so you can enjoy driving your vehicle for a very long time. And when your vehicle is performing at its best it will use less fuel, saving you money on fuel expenses.

Regular maintenance is important so you want to be sure you take your vehicle to a licensed technician, even for something as simple as an oil change rather than a drive-through lube shop. When you take your vehicle to licensed technicians for an oil change, like the members of the Guelph Garage Owners Association, they inspect your vehicle and can identify and repair potential problems that could lead to a major repair in the future.

Depending on how far and how often you drive your vehicle on a daily basis can determine the servicing needs of your vehicle. A licensed technician will customize the maintenance of your vehicle to fit your driving habits so you can drive your vehicle with confidence.

Mark’s Auto Shop at 715 Speedvale Ave. W.  in Guelph, a member of the Guelph Garage Owners Association, is a full service licensed garage with trained professionals who can provide you with the regular maintenance you need to keep driving trouble-free. The technicians at Mark’s Auto are qualified to perform a wide range of repairs from tune-ups to brake and suspension repairs on a variety of the latest vehicle makes and models as well as classic and antique vehicles.

Back to the Guelph Garage Owners Association profile page.

Stains and spills will happen, but the longer you leave them the more damage they’ll do. When accidents do occur, you should get rid of as much of the excess as possible right away. Then you need to blot the rest out with a clean white cloth. Don’t ever rub what remains. You’ll only wind up grinding what’s left of the spill into the material. Remember there’s a difference between a spot and a stain. A spot sits on top or between the fibers. A stain, on the other hand, has penetrated the fibers themselves and is much harder to remove.

Being proactive is always a good idea and while there’s a regular amount of wear and tear associated with any of the carpets and upholstery you’ve got in your home, there’s a way to cut down on the ill effects. Traffic Lane Grey is the name given to that dingy look on material that’s seen a lot of use. Particularly when it comes to carpets, you can slow this process down by rearranging the furniture in your home to create little detours around heavily travelled areas.

Of course, vacuuming a few times a week will prevent dirt from getting ground into the fabrics.

Steamatic of Guelph has been looking after the furniture, carpet and air duct cleaning and restoration needs of the business and residential community there since 1987. Owners Valerie Poulton and Peter Hutchison are proud of providing complete customer satisfaction to their residential, commercial and industrial clients. See their services online at  www.steamatic.ca/guelph or call them at 519-836-7340.

Back to Steamatic of Guelph and Waterloo profile page.

Most industry experts say that moving is very much a co-operative effort between the moving company and customer. Preparation is definitely the key to a successful move. A good rule of thumb is the more the client does to prepare in advance, the smoother the job will go. This prep work ranges from disconnecting appliances and dismantling beds to removing mirrors from dressers.

Moving companies are paid by the hour. People wanting to minimize price and maximize the company’s performance can visit www.swanmoving.com to read an informative tip sheet. It offers helpful advice on how to save time and money when you do have to move. Following these steps enables the professionals at Swan Moving and Storage to do a better job. While not a “must-do” list, it outlines how an ideal client prepares for their move. Key information that assists Swan staff includes knowing everything that needs to be moved and whether or not items have been placed in the correct spot.

For more information call 519-821-6683.

Back to the Swan Moving and Storage profile page.

Of course, dressing for cold-weather riding isn’t as simple as throwing on a heavy coat and pants. While your wardrobe may differ depending on the type of ride and distance, layering makes the most sense in any cold-weather situation. Layering, usually with a windbreaker on top, gives you plenty of choice for temperature changes and it won’t impede movement.

A common but simple guideline is: It’s better to start out feeling a little cool than a little warm, because your body will generate heat over the course of the ride.

Perhaps most importantly, a good warm-up period reduces risk of cold-related muscle injuries. The simplest approach is to begin pedaling slowly until your temperature and heart rate have risen; you may need to allow more time to warm up properly. Never start by stretching cold muscles, otherwise you risk tearing or straining them.

Your bike deserves similar attention during the winter. Salt and sand on the roads can lead to corrosion of your bike’s parts, including the chain. Be sure to clean and apply oil to moving parts regularly and also consider investing in tires that will better grip the snow.

Winter riding also adds some extra safety concerns to the mix. While you may not have needed a lighting system to commute home from work during the summer, it’s important to remember that darkness sets in earlier in winter. Extra reflective gear on your clothing, helmet or bike will make your presence known to drivers, who are struggling with the same decreased visibility.

The bike experts at Backpeddling have all the tips, gear and accessories you need for fun and safe cold-weather riding. Visit www.backpeddling.com to browse their selection of new, used and antique bikes.

Back to the Backpeddling (King of Bikes) profile page

Check your windshield wipers and fluids – Seeing in a blinding snowstorm is much easier with good wipers that work effectively. Also make sure the heater and defroster work and that your antifreeze is topped up. And always keep your gas tank full to prevent the gas line from freezing.

Service your battery – Make sure your battery is fully charged and the posts and connections are corrosion-free.

Rotate your tires and check their pressure – Install winter tires and make sure they are properly inflated to ensure best traction and rotate the tires for even wear. Tire pressure decreases in cold weather affecting traction so check the air pressure in your tires regularly.

Check your brakes – Regular front and rear brake service will ensure you can stop when needed. If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle, have it checked; four-wheel drive isn’t usually needed during the summer but you will want to be sure it is working for the winter.

Prepare an emergency kit – Keep a winter emergency kit in your vehicle that includes a blanket, boots and gloves, an ice scraper, a small shovel, a flashlight, extra washer fluid, flares, jumper cables, first aid kit and a tool kit.

The trained professionals at True-Centre Auto Care at 479 Elmira Road North in Guelph offer a Winterization Package to prepare your vehicle for winter driving. A member of the Guelph Garage Owners Association, True-Centre is a full service shop with six licensed technicians, specializing in custom exhaust and repairs, front-end alignment and brakes and is an accredited inspection and repair Drive Clean facility.

Back to the Guelph Garage Owners Association profile page.

The website is the electronic business card of today and that’s where you need to start looking for a match. Remember that flexibility is important. Although you might only need the air ducts cleaned right away, the company you finally select should have carpet and furniture cleaning capabilities as well. Looking for and getting a firm that can do several things at once is a good investment for future needs.

Transparency is another critical factor. Because you might be looking for these services on the Internet, getting good contact information is essential. That generally means a customer support telephone number as well as some form of electronic communication – either an email address or a form.

Steamatic of Guelph has been looking after the furniture, carpet and air duct cleaning needs of the business and residential community there since 1987. Owners Valerie Poulton and Peter Hutchison are proud of providing complete customer satisfaction to their residential, commercial and industrial clients. See their services online at  www.steamatic.ca/guelph or call them at 519-836-7340.

Back to Steamatic of Guelph and Waterloo profile page.

Self-storage differs from other rental solutions in that it gives the owner complete control of the unit. It offers flexibility over situations where you sign a contract with a company and may have only limited access to your goods. You are also not locked into a long-term contract. Most self-storage lets you rent a unit for as short a period as a month. No one has to move your things or actually see what you put into storage. As long as the facility is open, you should be able to access your stuff.

Another big benefit is the wide variety of choice when it comes to size. Some mini units are barely the size of a small hallway closet. But you can also rent space large enough for boats or even RV storage. Generally, the smaller the unit, the smaller the price tag.

Swan Moving and Storage in Guelph specializes in temperature-controlled warehouse storage. The company prides itself on offering customers quality, dependable service. For more information call 519-821-6683, or email owner Mike Swan at info@swanmoving.com.

Back to the Swan Moving and Storage profile page.

Because the male anatomy differs significantly from that of the average female, bicycles require a perfect fit for optimum efficiency, performance and rider comfort, even the subtlest tweaks to frame geometry and setup can have a major impact on all three.

Positioning in the saddle will help determine the right bike for you. Because women generally have shorter torsos than men, they will have to stretch farther to reach the handlebars on a standard bike. Ladies’ bikes feature a shorter horizontal top tube, which may not matter much for short, sporadic rides but will keep you comfortable on longer trips.

The handlebar, one of the three contact points between rider and machine, also deserves important consideration. The stem, a horizontal bar that connects the headset to the handlebar, is longer on a standard bike. A shorter stem working in conjunction with a shorter top tube on the frame allows the average female rider to sit comfortably in the saddle. You could also replace the stem on a men’s bike with something shorter.

The handlebar itself is also wider on a men’s bike, to accommodate wider shoulders. Women may experience pain on long rides if they have to extend their shoulders just to manage a proper grip with their hands. On a ladies’ road bike, too, the brake levers are designed to work with smaller hands and shorter fingers.

The saddle is another contact point and here too the differences are subtle but important. Women’s saddles should ideally be slightly wider to relieve pressure and accommodate a wider gap between their sitting bones. But saddles are easily interchangeable.

Backpeddling’s qualified staff can help you find the right bike for your unique needs. Visit www.backpeddling.com to browse their extensive collection of men’s and ladies’ bikes.

Back to the Backpeddling (King of Bikes) profile page

Painting and de-cluttering is always a good idea but to ensure your home’s features and layout will truly be appreciated don’t overlook what could be a silent deal breaker – odour. You may not even notice it anymore but it could have potential buyers or renters turning away.

If you’re a smoker, pet owner or love to cook spicy ethnic foods it’s very likely that the walls, carpet and furniture in your home have retained a distinct odour over the years. And unfortunately while it smells like home to you it could make selling or renting out your home harder.

You might consider cleaning the walls, furniture and carpets to get out the smell or perhaps go as far as ripping out the flooring and replacing curtains, couches and bedding. While this might reduce the smell it won’t eliminate it and can be very expensive.

Odours are caused by microscopic off-gassing molecules that attach themselves to everything and are very hard to get rid of because of their sheer number and ability to embed in so many items and areas in your home. Masking odours with scented candles and fragrances is an inadequate solution that may irritate the respiratory systems of buyers.

BIOSENSE Environmental has a permanent high-tech solution that will eliminate all surface and airborne odour-causing molecules in your home as well as disinfect it. Odours are completely and quickly eradicated from all contents in your home, including the flooring, furniture, clothing, electronics and more.

For more information on how to get rid of odours that could prevent a quick sale, visit BIOSENSE Environmental at www.biosenseenvironmental.ca or call 1-888-502-5157 x 102.

Back to the BioSense Environmental Inc. profile page