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A single mother from the Labrador Innu community of Sheshatshiu has returned home to launch a takeout restaurant, with a mission of home cooking and healthier food options.
After finishing a culinary program in St. John’s, Pishum Penashue has opened her business — Owenista’s Takeout — in the same spot her mother and aunt ran one years ago.
“It feels nice to give back to the community I grew up in and to serve healthy foods,” Penashue said.
She added there are people in the community struggling with diabetes, and having access to healthy meals made from scratch can be a challenge for some.
“Some meals don’t need to be deep fried and it could be made a lot healthier and just giving yourself better nutrients for your body,” she said.
“I like my kids to eat healthy, too, so I want that for everybody’s kids.”
Penashue makes pizza dough and sauce from scratch each morning, along with handmade burgers and poutines. There’s a healthy special each day.
Owenista’s Takeout has opened its doors in Sheshatshiu. Owner Pishum Penashue returned home after finishing her culinary program in St. John’s to open the business in the same location her mother and aunt had their own restaurant years ago. The CBC’s Heidi Atter visits the restaurant to find out more.
Revival of family business
The restaurant is in the same building where her mother and aunt ran a takeout business years ago. Due to health reasons, the two had to stop serving the community, said Penashue, adding it became her dream to bring it back to life.
“I remember when I first started my cooking course in St. John’s, I couldn’t sleep at night because I was so excited to start my own thing, like I am today. And finally the day has come and it feels really, really good, rewarding,” Penashue said.
“I feel like just continuing what they started.”
Family is at the root of the restaurant’s name. Penashue said her son Owen has always called himself “Owenista” as a nickname.
“He loves cooking with me in the kitchen, making pizzas with me and chopping up vegetables. He’d be like, ‘Oh, I’ll help you mama.’ So I wanted to name this place after him.”
Penashue began taking orders July 5. She said she was nervous there wouldn’t be much support, but that it’s been busy ever since.
She dreams of one day having a dine-in restaurant in Sheshatshiu.
“Right now it’s just starting off really small,” she said, adding she is running the takeout through the summer to serve people throughout Upper Lake Melville.
If things go well, she will continue into the fall.
“It’s just a takeout right now but it would be really nice to have a dine-in place so you could just sit and relax, like and enjoy the view and have a good meal.”
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