This is what Donna Carrier wants her customers to experience at her award winning café/restaurant, Bent on Food, and sister homewares store Bent on Life, both located on Isabella Street in Wingham.

Bent on Food was born from a love of great food and a strong desire to bring the region's producers together. An ever changing chef's selection board provides innovative ways to create meals from local produce.

The back garden, where the café grows some of it's own produce, will be reopening soon for customers to enjoy their coffee and meals outdoors. Likewise, Donna is hoping to return to supporting local musicians at the venue later in the year.

Bent on Life is housed in the original historic bakery, which has been restored with love to enable Donna to showcase a beautiful range of furniture, DIY accessories, homewares, gifts, and Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan.

Bent on Life is the only stockist of the chalk paints from Maitland to Mullumbimby. The product is so popular because surfaces need very little preparation. Donna can give you all the advice and help you need on choosing colours and how to use the product with differing techniques.

"I always wanted to upcycle furniture but I was always in a rush and didn't want to wait to sand and prime, so I found Annie Sloan's chalk paint," Donna says.

Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan is 98 per cent organic and fits with the Bent ethos of reduce, reuse and recycle.

Donna is thrilled to re-introduce kitchenware to the store, as with no kitchenware stores in Taree, there is a need for a stockist of quality kitchenware in the Manning Valley. Donna hopes to make Bent on Life the local kitchenware store and with such a large premises, there is room to expand as demand allows.

Scanpan, Avanti, Ecology, Kilner, Peer Sorensen are just a few of the kitchenware brands, and cookbooks sit tastefully amongst the mix.

Sustainable wares including bamboo and metal straws, eco friendly cleaning brushes, stainless steel pegs, keepcups and beeswax wraps are popular instore and Donna ensures that there is no palm oil in any of the candles ranged.

Other brands include Robert Gordon, Canvas + Sasson, Ivory House, LanternCove, Palm Beach and Urban Rituelle. Donna has worked with many of these suppliers for more than 10 years, and is always on the lookout for something a little different.

Visit for an old fashioned shopping experience, complete with gift wrapping and personal service.

Bent on Food is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Bent on Life is open 10am-4pm Monday to Friday, and 9am-2pm Saturdays.