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By Jennifer Foden
We chatted with the owners of a gourmet doughnut shop, a Mexican restaurant and an Indian gastro bar about what it’s like operating a food business in Durham Region.
Crave Doughnuts
Nicole Morais, founder and co-owner of Crave Doughnuts, a gourmet—you guessed it—doughnut shop close to downtown Whitby, started her business due to her undying love for the popular sweet treat. “I’ve always really, really loved doughnuts,” she says. “Like, kind of obsessed.” So, in 2017, Nicole and her partner, Jeremy Black, decided to learn everything about them. “That’s kind of where the business started,” Nicole says.
Nicole’s company has continued to grow over time. At first, she was a small home operation and sold doughnuts to family and friends. Then, as she started getting opportunities to sell at festivals, pop-ups and in breweries and cafés, she subleased kitchen space from local bakeries. “I needed to move out of my mom’s kitchen,” she quips. Then, in late 2019, she found a permanent location. Since then, the staff has grown from just her and Jeremy to 10 total. And, there’s more growth on the horizon: Nicole is opening a second location in Oshawa soon. (Editor's note: the Oshawa location is now open! Visit Crave HQ at 1115 Wentworth Street West in Oshawa and their original location at 102 Lupin Drive in Whitby.)
The doughnut shop offers pre-orders as well as walk-ins, but arrive early as they often sell out of their popular flavours. Speaking of taste, doughnut flavours range from honey vanilla to cookies and cream to cinnamon churro (inspired by her Mexican heritage) and they have seasonal flavours, too. In the fall, pumpkin spice cheesecake, apple bacon and crème brûlée can be found on the menu. As for the ingredients? “We try to source as local as possible,” Nicole says. They get their specialty milks from Sargent Family Dairy and their summertime strawberries from Watson Farms.
Not only does Nicole have a love for doughnuts but has a love for Durham Region, too. “We could go to Toronto,” Nicole says. “But we love it here because there’s so much opportunity for growth.” She also appreciates the support for small businesses via the Whitby Chamber of Commerce and Business Advisory Centre Durham. “Being here is not only smart for business, but good for the community,” Nicole says. “Durham needs more businesses like Crave.”
Chúuk
For Chris Argiro, the general manager of Chúuk, a Mexican bar and eatery close to Pickering’s waterfront, running a restaurant is in his DNA. “At this location, three generations of our family have operated their own restaurants,” he explains. “My grandfather opened the Big M in 1965, which was one of the only burger joints in Durham Region at the time. That eventually evolved into a full-service restaurant called Massey’s which my father ran for decades. Now, it’s my turn with Chúuk.”
The restaurant opened in 2018 and the menu features Mexican favourites like tacos made with heirloom corn tortillas, achiote chicken with poblano rice, sweet plantain, avocado and salsa, street corn with Cotija cheese and much more. There’s also a handcrafted cocktail list that ranges from margarita to sangria to an old-fashioned made with Nicaraguan rum.
While the Argiro family doesn’t have roots in Mexico, Chris says he looked at the community around him to inform what sort of business he should operate. What he saw was an influx of new people to Durham Region that had a desire for food beyond the American comfort fare of his family’s previous restaurants. “We’ve always thought of the restaurant as a reflection of the area,” he says. “As it changes, so have we.”
Chris was inspired by the vibrancy of Mexican food, so he did his research: from travelling there to visiting some of the best Mexican restaurants in North America to reading countless cookbooks. “If you’re really passionate about a specific cuisine or concept, guests will notice and your business will grow.”
As for the restaurant’s location? “It’s our home,” Chris says. “The residents of Durham Region have supported our family for almost 60 years. We couldn’t ask for a better community to grow with. The support we received during the pandemic made it clear to us that we were doing the right thing in the right community.”
Photo courtesy of Rangeela
Rangeela
Many years ago, Satya Siva Krishna Rapaka started his career in Information Technology (IT) in the United Kingdom, but always dreamt of working in the food industry. However, it was during a camping trip in Canada with friends when everything changed. “I made my legendary biryani and everyone polished off their plates,” he says. “It was here that my dream got a new lease on life and I put together a menu that had my traditional family recipes along with my own innovations.”
Armed with those recipes, Siva eventually moved to Canada, quit his stable IT job and started Charminar Indian Cuisine. “Little did I know what lied in store,” he says. Not only are there now seven locations of Charminar across Ontario, he has since started Biryaniwalla (an Indian counter service restaurant with three locations) and now Rangeela.
Photo courtesy of Rangeela
The word rangeela in English means colourful, vibrant and fun—and Siva’s goal was to create an environment that embodied that. “We want to help you unwind, celebrate and enjoy,” he says. The restaurant is located in McKay House, an iconic heritage property on Kingston Road, and serves dishes like pakoda, tandoori chicken and a variety of curries, to gulab jamun ice cream and Siva’s signature biryani. The extensive bar menu features cocktails like Second Setup (rye, clove syrup and bitters) to Fassak (tequila, jalapeno syrup, mango lychee juice and lime juice).
As for why Siva’s latest venture is in Durham Region? The reason is twofold. One, it’s his home. “I have been living in Durham for the past five years, so I wanted to give back to the community in a way I know best.” Secondly, representation. “Durham has quickly become an incredible hub for various Indian communities,” he says. “There is a huge gap in the market for this kind of business in this region. A proper sit-down Indian restaurant where people can come and let loose.”
Are you thinking about starting your own restaurant or food business? Support is available in Durham Region. A great starting point is exploring the resources available through the Business Advisory Centre of Durham. Looking for a location, food safety information or other resources? Get in touch with us.
