The Leland Restaurant is getting a makeover and a little Italian flare.
Former head chef for four years at the Max Mine near Trout Lake, Rita Redavid, says her move to Nakusp was prompted by a positive change in her personal life, but also the idea of working long hours a day for much longer wasn’t all too exciting. The new restaurant will be called Caffe Lago Restorante.
“It’s exciting for me,” says Redavid, who is of Italian heritage and has been in the business for roughly thirty years.
She began in Vancouver in 1979 with her own restaurant downtown, and she stayed with the same company (thought not at that same restaurant) up until it was sold in 2006.
Italian cuisine can differ, just as in any country from region to region. Redavid says the menu decided upon has a little bit included from all regions, and she’s even gone so far as to important stock from Italy — one item being what she calls “the purest of olive oil.”
She is looking forward to offering more variety to the Nakusp cuisine scene, with ideas of using fresh organic produce from the local farmers’ market.
They would like to create more an atmosphere; Redavid says she hopes the patio will turn into a more romantic area for people to dine.
She added their menu isn’t completely Italian, either, and will try to cater to many people. Rita also plans to keep the menu changing to keep up that variety. Redavid also bakes her own pastries and sweets daily.
There has been a lot of work put into the effort so far. The kitchen and dining area were cleaned from top to bottom, painted, and the kitchen equipment was mostly ripped out and replaced with a few changes. The patio will be changed to be completely non-smoking and new chairs and tables will be both inside and outside.
“We’re very excited to see how the people of Nakusp will react,” she says. “We plan on supporting the community. We are here to stay.”
