This story is part of the Comox Valley Record’s summer edition of Trio Magazine, published quarterly and available throughout the Comox Valley and at the Record office at 407D 5th Street in Courtenay.
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Born in Fiji and relocated to Vancouver at the age of two, Nye Mohammed credits his love for cooking to his single mother.
Fast forward to a few decades later and this culinary passion has blossomed into his first restaurant, Habibis Middle Eastern Cuisines, nestled in Courtenay's downtown core.
"My mom taught me how to cook and that's where it all started," explained Mohammed.
Initially cooking out of necessity to feed himself when his mother was away or busy, Mohammed's culinary skills first gained recognition during his high school years.
“At 16 years old my teacher had noticed that I was doing really well,” Mohammed recalled. “She offered me an apprenticeship and (asked me if I) would be interested in (cooking professionally) right out of school.”
After completing a three-year cooking program and gaining experience as a private chef for two decades in bustling Vancouver, Mohammed sought a change of scenery.
“I turned 40 last year and I was sick of the big city. I wanted to move to the Island. I wanted to find some nature, peace, and (quietude).”
First settling down in Campbell River, the chef kept dreaming about having his own brick-and-mortar restaurant. It’s after scouring the region for a suitable location that Mohammed finally landed in Courtenay.
As he started tinkering about his first foray into the world of restaurants, Mohammed sought input from local residents rather than imposing his own vision.
“I spoke to (people in) the Valley extensively and I thought ‘What does the Valley want?’ and ‘What's needed in this community?’ Middle Eastern cuisine came up a lot,” Mohammed explained. “People also said they wanted fresh and healthy food, made from scratch.”
“I wasn’t going to be one of those hoity-toity chefs from Vancouver who came to the Valley to do his own bougie thing or anything of that nature.”
With a clear objective in mind, the new entrepreneur had to create a menu that would reflect the community’s cravings.
“I definitely didn't want an extensive menu; I wanted to do a handful of things really well,” said Mohammed. “I was very particular about my choices of ingredients like rose petals, basil seeds, and (I wanted to propose) unique things people have not tried before.”
“I also wanted to do an affordable menu… so that people didn’t feel like it was out of their reach.”
Offering a variety of Middle Eastern staples like shawarma, falafels, and hummus, as well as a selection of drinks and desserts, Mohammed is confident that his menu caters to both the casual diner and the seasoned foodie.
Since opening its doors on April 20, Habibi has garnered rave reviews from the community on social media. Grateful for this outpour of appreciation, the restaurant owner admitted that meeting the public’s initial demand has proven to be a daunting task.
“I've gotten an immense response from the community. It's been super overwhelming but I'm very grateful for it too,” said Mohammed.
Initially managing the eatery singlehandedly during the first weeks, the owner has recently expanded his team by hiring two staff members. Aiming to reduce wait times, Mohammed also hopes this move allows Habibis to extend lunch hours to include dinner service in the future.
Despite the many challenges of opening his first restaurant, Mohammed now takes pride in welcoming the community of the Comox Valley and beyond into his kitchen.
“I'm gonna stay put for the next five years,” Mohammed said. “We'll see how it goes, but I'll definitely be here for a bit and give it a go.”
