Garden of Eat’n: Food for Thought and Creativity
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Garden
of Eat’n (6293 Quinpool Road, Halifax NS)
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Garden of Eat’n, a restaurant, bar and art/performance
venue, has been open for two years. Despite being on Quinpool Road in Halifax,
where one establishment can blend into the next, owner Ebby Gholami
has and is determined to defy the odds (some research suggests 60% of
restaurants fail within their first three years.)
Ebby and his team are already off to a great
start serving up their culturally eclectic breakfast, lunch and dinner menus of
tapas, mains, specialty drinks and desserts. Ebby says everybody who has come
in has been very happy—there is just the desire and need to expand their
‘audience’.
Glancing at the Garden’s guest book confirms the
many customers who have loved the ambience and food of local and international
flavours.
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Ebby Gholami, owner of the Garden of Eat’n
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For Ebby his vision from two years ago remains
the same: he wants his restaurant to be more than just a place to fill your
stomach. He wants it to be a hub for the community to meet, be socially aware,
to celebrate art, multi-cultures …to get people talking again.
From the local art and poems lining his walls to
the music and film events he’s already hosted, the Garden is indeed becoming
that space, that salon…that Café Nadari—a place for free thinkers and
expressers—he remembers from his days in Iran.
“The hours easily drift by in places like this. Calm serenity
eases through the faces of all who enter and surely on all those who leave.
Bellies full of the best food this city has to offer…truly.” ~ Excerpt from Garden of Eat’n guest book
Cultural Fusion
“Our food and coffee is love and
a true celebration of spices, flavours, colours and aromas symbolic of the
cultural diversity present in Halifax’s community,” says the Garden of Eat’n’s Facebook page. “Garden of Eat’n Buddha Bar
& Cafe takes pride in serving you delicious cuisine from different
cultures.”
Food described as love might sound like a
marketing gimmick or even a little hokey, except when you actually talk to Ebby
and encounter his genuine passion.
Ebby grew up in Iran one of 11 children. He often
helped his mother cook for their large family, as well as prepare ingredients
from scratch, like harvesting tomatoes from their garden, drying them in the
sun and mashing them into paste. Ebby recalls many fond memories sitting together
with his family and relatives sharing a meal.
It is these experiences that have influenced a
part of the Garden of Eat’n’s menu—recipes, passed down through the generations,
of diverse and colourful spices and herbs, produce and proteins—as well as an
atmosphere of sharing he longs to and has already begun to provide.
The Garden also offers Mediterranean, Acadian
and other locally and internationally inspired dishes, as well as vegetarian
and gluten-free options.
To keep the Quinpool Road establishment open
hasn’t been without sacrifice, however. Financial pressures and long hours have
been struggles, Ebby says. They’ve also had to adapt, through some trial and
error, in order to gauge what creates the best customer experience, without
compromising the underlying goals of “healthy social dining”, “evolve locally”
and creating a diverse community hub.
“Love it here, thank you. Every time I eat here, I try something
different and each time it is delicious.” ~ Excerpt from Garden of Eat’n guest book
“If somebody knows better and it can help us, we
are always open to learn and get feedback,” says Ebby. “We are constantly
evolving to try and incorporate healthier dishes and to use local and organic
ingredients as much as possible”.
The Garden will have new food and drink
offerings soon, such as daily lunch and supper specials, happy hours (including
non-alcoholic and alcoholic freshly squeezed juices) and a late night menu.
Their large patio, on the side and front of the restaurant will also be open
all summer.
“This place is absolutely epic and makes me incredibly happy.
Thank you for your gluten free options and amazing service…” ~ Excerpt from Garden of
Eat’n guest book
The Arts
“I invite the artists to come use our space and
make a difference,” says Ebby. “It brings people together. It’s not enough to
get together and be drunk in a bar and hitting on someone. Instead it’s about
real conversations.”
The Garden has opportunities for writers, poets
and authors, visual artists, musicians, actors, filmmakers and other creators
and performers to showcase their talent; even professors and intellectuals can
come give talks. The walls have already started to fill with local art and they
have audio-visual equipment, including a sound system and screen.
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Artists are welcome to make use of the space for
screenings,
performances, concerts, readings and more!
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“Gearing up with
our late menu and more bar options, our goal is to host something every night,”
says Ebby.
Ebby says they do not
have one fixed formula and are open to discuss any ideas artists and presenters
have for use of the venue.
The end goal is to
promote and celebrate artistic expression, where those in the audience are
encouraged to reflect and discuss. “We want to make it really creative,
imaginative and for it to have good energy, but relaxed with no pressure,” says
Ebby. “By just seeing that good flow of energy, I know good things can happen.”
“Thank you for the amazing food, soulful conversations and
somewhere I feel I can always come home too. You are all wonderful, beautiful
people and I am forever grateful for finding this little piece of paradise.” ~ Excerpt from Garden of
Eat’n guest book
People
Two years ago, Ebby said one of his main
objectives for opening the Garden was people—to create one of the
“arteries of Halifax’s heart” where everyone, no matter their age, race or
lifestyle could come and interact.
“Part of my mind is always focused on that
social aspect of our responsibility in life,” said Ebby during a recent chat. “I
want social awareness in myself. I would like the opportunity to talk to others
to learn from them. I think we’re missing those kinds of social opportunities.”
Ebby says his main pre-requisite for hiring
staff is that they want to contribute to the positivity of the space. As a
result, he feels blessed to have the people he does as part of his team. “I
tell my servers be yourself,” he says. “We don’t have any specific way of serving,
like placing plates on the table from only the right side or the left. I tell
them just to feel yourself and give that good and accepting energy to your
customer.”
“We want to continue to offer a place where
people feel as individuals that they are important and where they can meet
others,” says Ebby. “Some people might prefer to be within themselves, and not
interact, and that’s okay too. We are doing our best to create a place, with the
food and ambiance and activities, to give customers a great and different
dining experience.”
“Magical adventures are
to be had here among friends and lovers.” ~ Excerpt from Garden of Eat’n guest book
If you are an artist/performer/presenter and would like to
find out about how you can showcase your talent at the Garden, you can call,
e-mail or drop in (6293 Quinpool Road, Halifax NS) and talk to Ebby or any of
the staff.
Coming Up at Garden of Eat’n
Saturday Summer Slammer
This Saturday (May 31, 2014) 9pm – 2am
Entertainment includes music from Halifax’s Official Night
Owls, live performances, DJ and the launch of the new bar menu.
FIFA World Cup
June 12-July 13, 2014
Enjoy watching the World Cup games at the Garden with happy
hour drinks and a special World Cup menu.
