SUMMERSIDE, PEI – A Summerside couple from Trinidad and Tobago are looking forward to sharing their culinary culture with islanders when their new restaurant opens in early August.
Harold and Arti Deonarines are third-generation immigrants from India who grew up in the Caribbean. Thirty-five years ago, the couple and their two children immigrated to Toronto.
“Of course, anyone who goes to Canada is for family reasons,” Arti said. “You want the best for your children. You want a better life.”
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Two years ago, after Harold retired, they packed up and moved again – this time, to Summerside. The couple wanted a quieter life than Toronto could provide, and, in particular, they wanted a home by the ocean.
“From one island to another,” said Art. “We’ve come full circle.”
When they moved to the East Coast, they didn’t start out with the intention of opening a restaurant. However, plans changed when Harold signed up for a course at the Culinary Institute of Canada.
In late 2021, the pair began creating plans for their restaurant. From those dreams, PEI Roti was born, located at Rr. Water 622.
“(Harold) likes to cook,” Art said. “When we lived in Toronto, he was always like, ‘let’s open a little roti shop,’ and I’m like, ‘no, there’s a lot in Toronto.'”
Moving to Summerside, then, where there are fewer Indian restaurants in the area, gave them the perfect opportunity to fulfill that dream.
The restaurant will focus on a handful of Indian-Caribbean fusion items, including roti – a savory Indian flatbread – and dua – a Trinidadian and Tobagonian street food.
Arti also loves potatoes and has tried to include them in as many dishes as possible, such as potato bites and her favorite alloo pie.
“You add chutneys, some hot sauce, you smother some chana on it and yum,” laughs Arti. “I’m hungry again!”
Cooking and culture
Bill Schurman, executive director of the Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce, said he is excited to see a new business being established in town and looks forward to exploring Indian-Caribbean culture.
“That’s wonderful. It is a sign that the health of our community is improving. There’s no question that culture, diversity, is something we all learn from and welcome,” Schurman said, adding that he hopes PEI Roti is just the beginning of more culturally diverse restaurants and businesses in Summerside.
While owning a restaurant is a new experience for Art and Harold, it is one that fills them both with excitement and confidence.
Hearing how excited friends, family, and strangers are about them also helps spur them on.
“The only cooking I’ve (done) is cooking at home,” Arti said. “My skills have developed over the years because, I have to tell you, even though I’m from the Caribbean, I’m not a spice person. I can’t handle hot sauce.”
She laughs, adding that she’s become bolder about the spices and will give her customers the option to add some heat.
Growing up, Art hated cooking – especially after her family pressured her to learn.
However, the more she cooked, the more she enjoyed “making something special” for her family and friends.
“Once you cook from your heart and soul and you’re cooking for people,” she said, “I don’t think you can go wrong.”
Kristin Gardiner is a reporter with the SaltWire Network in Prince Edward Island. @KristinGardiner
