A A

A Syrian family hopes its downtown Halifax restaurant will allow them to bring their culinary traditions and skills to their new home.

The restaurant will also add a new generation of chefs to the family’s cooking lineage.

“I started when I was 15 years old … All my four brothers and I are restaurant chefs,” Badie Alakkam, the owner of 902 Restaurant in downtown Halifax, said in an interview. “We established many famous restaurants in Damascus.”

The dining scene in the Syrian capital, their old home, was crowded with many successful restaurants before the Syrian civil war. One of them is Damascus Gate restaurant, the largest restaurant in the world with 6,014 seats, according to Guinness World Records book.

It took a lot of hard work for Alakkam to gain success back home. “In (only one restaurant) I worked full time for 18 years,” he said. “We cooked healthy and good food always,”

Rabie Alakkam runs the restaurant with his two sons Alaa (left) and Mohamad (right). - Maan Alhmidi

Two of his sons work at the Halifax restaurant. “My father has been cooking for more than 40 years, and I have been working with him for 10 years,” 27-year-old Alaa Elddin Alakkam said.

“Of course, I will pursue this job in the future after my father.” he said.

The son’s mother and sister help in the restaurant when their help is needed. His younger brother, Mohamad, who is still in high school, also works at the restaurant as a cashier when he can.

In Damascus, the family ran a catering service for big parties and weddings as well as working in some of Damascus’s most famous restaurants.

When the war broke in Syria in 2011, the family fled the country for Jordan. “I worked as a chef in a fast-food restaurant in Jordan for almost three years,” the father said. “After another three years (working as a cook) in Canada, we opened our own restaurant.”

The family arrived in Canada in September 2015. “We landed in Halifax at 9 p.m. At 8 a.m. in the next morning, we started working,” said the oldest son. “My uncle is a restaurant owner here and we worked with him.”

“Finally, after three years of hard work, we have our own place.” said Alaa.

“(Our restaurant) is a multicultural and Mediterranean cuisine restaurant,” Alaa said.

Mohamad Alakkam, 17, works as cashier at the restaurant. - Maan Alhmidi

The Syrian meals, including shawarma and kibbeh, are on the top of the restaurant menu. Asian meals, including tandoori and mandi, are also available in the restaurant, in addition to other Mediterranean meals.

“We are doing very well. And it’s a good beginning for our new business,” said Alaa.

The family members like the life in Canada and are applying for citizenship. “Life in Canada is quiet and safe,” the father, Badie, said.

In the meantime, the Alakkams are contributing their food preparation expertise to the Halifax restaurant scene.