Syrian refugees using their culinary skills at new Waterloo restaurant

CTV Kitchener: Refugees open restaurant Two refugees who were chefs in Damascus have found work at a new restaurant in Waterloo. Allison Tanner has the story.

Two refugees from Syria are enjoying a fresh start in a new city, in a familiar profession.

Nadir Hamrooni and Ahmad Hindi arrived in Waterloo Region earlier this year.

Before coming to Canada, both men worked as chefs in Damascus, Syria.

Now the owners of a new restaurant in Waterloo have hired the men to work for them.

Shawarma Royale, which specializes in Syrian food, recently opened on King Street North.

The owners are from Waterloo Region, but met their new chefs while volunteering with Syrian refugees who were new to the community.

Both Hamrooni and Hindi jumped at the chance to continue their profession here in Canada.

Speaking through a translator, Ahmad Hindi says shawarma is his specialty and has worked in the business in a number of countries already.

"I had a restaurant in Damascus that was doing very well. Then I moved to Jordan and had a business there. But I came here from Egypt where I had a restaurant that was working very well. So here I plan to do the same thing," Hindi said.

Nadir Hamrooni says although he is nervous, he is excited about the opportunity.

"I'm a little bit nervous. There's a big difference between here and back home but I'm so excited about the opening," he said.

Both men are learning to speak English so they can chat with their new customers.

With reporting by Allison Tanner.