I don’t think I’ve ever shared the story of my parents first food business in Halifax in the early 80’s. After owning a corner store in a high crime area (multiple robberies, a gun pulled on my mother) my parents regretted their decision to come to Canada. 2 babies at home

They each worked shifts as a corner store needs to be open day until later in the evening. They had no money, they jumped at loud sounds, they were scared. They had no food experience but had a friend who cooked at Chinese restaurants. They leased a space

In the food court of the Simpsons shopping mall (I think it was called West End Mall at the time). Their friend told them what kind of food/combos to sell. The Chop Suey food they’d need to have. They never ate this food before. They barely spoke English and knew they’d have to

Hire “a local” to work the counter and take orders. A woman approached them in the mall as they were preparing to open. She was a single mom with a young son. She wondered if they were hiring. My parents told her when to start.

I was perhaps 5 or 6. I remember Cathy because she was white and blonde and the only adults I ever interacted with were my parents and a few of their Asian friends. She helped serve customers while my parents worked and their restaurant friend cooked.

It was a grind and the food court restaurant only lasted 2-3 years. I don’t remember much except that my brother and I often played in the storage room because we never had babysitters and spent hours running around the mall which was our 2nd home.

They have had a few food businesses but one that remained steady was selling Chinese food at the farmers’ market. When a shiny new market opened (the previous one was very grassroots and an authentic market vibe) they sold the cafe (coffee/soup/sandwiches) and made the

Market the FT business because it would be open throughout the week (not just a pop-up on Saturday’s). The busy days are really Saturday and Sunday when farmers and other vendors are there. My mom would often hire university students to help on the busy days. Their friend -

The cook who worked his entire life in Chinese restaurants and helped them set up the food court - returned to help cook on weekends. A few years ago the student working there was leaving to go home, my mom asked me to post the job. I had no idea where to do that. I posted it

On the market’s FB page, thinking that market customers who knew my parents might know of someone looking for a PT job. In one week I received one email. From a guy who said he wanted experience making Chinese food before he takes off to travel Asia for a year

Sorry, not worth training someone who is leaving in a few months. A few days later, with my mom asking for updates (not a lot of people are dying for weekend food prep jobs), I received an email. “Hi Pay, I saw your job posting. I used to work for your parents. My name is Cathy.”

She said she remembered me and my brother well. That she worked with them at Formosa Treats and was looking for PT work and would very much like to work with them again. This is about 35 years later. I called my mother, “do you remember Cathy? She wants the job!”

My mother: “Cathy? Yes, I remember. Ok, she is hired.”
Me: “No, no....meet with her first, you have to tell her the hours and the schedule.”
I replied to Cathy and said I did remember her and gave her my mom’s number.

They spoke and arranged to meet. There were tears (I’m not sure if one of them cried or both of them.) They were both young moms back then, trying so hard to support their families, not yet 30, now both seniors and grandparents.

I think the world works in such funny ways - to have brought someone back to my parents after so long. When I was home for a visit not long ago, their friend cooking, Cathy folding dumplings with my mom, she said “can you believe it’s the old gang? We’re all so much slower now.”

They all have their own injuries (a bad wrist, arthritis, sore backs), and they speak loudly (my dad’s softest volume is one that is basically shouting) but I am always entertained that it is the same kitchen crew, decades later.