Fourteen years after emigrating from Cuba, Joel Exposito is finally the owner of his own restaurant.
Fresko Fine Foods at 642 Yates St. has been a mixed-food venue for several years under different ownership, serving pizza and Mediterranean dishes at a low price. Now, Exposito hopes he can bring more Cuban culinary options to the area.
B次元官网网址淐ooking just came to me naturally. I like it, all parts of the kitchen B次元官网网址� baking, cooking and serving people,B次元官网网址� Exposito said. B次元官网网址淓ven as a kid, I was in a boarding school in Cuba and always trying to help in the kitchen there.B次元官网网址�
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Exposito studied at a Cuban culinary arts school, and graduated to become a cook at a high-end hotel restaurant. ThatB次元官网网址檚 where he met a special Canadian woman.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a love story,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪he brought me here.B次元官网网址�
In 2005 Exposito moved to Victoria, where he quickly got a job as a cook at the Laurel Point Inn. He worked there for 10 years before staffing cuts cost him his job.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 when he heard a friend wanted to sell his restaurant.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 have the money to buy the business, but I bought half with the plan to buy the whole business in the future,B次元官网网址� he said.
As a partner he could learn about running a business, while working several other jobs to try to save up enough money.
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B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been doing all kinds of jobs: renovations, construction, landscaping, paving,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 tried to make money to buy the business and come back to the kitchen.B次元官网网址�
This April that dream became a reality. Exposito bought the other half of the business, and closed the restaurant for three months to do renovations before reopening at the end of July.
As clientele builds up, some of FreskoB次元官网网址檚 classic dishes, such as pizza, will remain on the menu, but some new additions are also ready to order. This includes some of ExpositoB次元官网网址檚 favourites, like Venezuelan arepas or Cuban sandwiches packed full of roast pork, ham, salami, bologna, Swiss cheese and a pickle, served with a soup or salad for just $10.
B次元官网网址淚 like giving people something with a reasonable price,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓verything in Victoria is more than $10 or $15. I want to have something like this where people can have a meal.B次元官网网址�
