I N V E N T OR Y
Feeding the Soul
Craving comfort food?
Cozy up with these low-
fuss foods made by B.C.
companies, with influences
from around the world.
by Alyssa Hirose
USE YOUR
NOODLE
Seeing the vibrant local
foodie community at
Victoria farmers markets
inspired Massimo
Buggini and Susie
Matthews to start a
delicious brand of their
own—the 15 years
Buggini spent working
as a chef in Europe
didn't hurt, either. Since
launching La Pasta
Triestina in 2019, they've
been serving up fresh
Italian pastas handmade
from B.C.-milled organic
durum. In-store and online
(
quality time
)
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 BCBUSINESS.CA 61
GOOD AS
HALAL
Rushd Khan says
it was tough to find
halal options growing
up in Canada, so after
working in his family's
restaurant and earning
his MBA from SFU, he
founded Barakah Eats
in 2018. The Surrey-
based company sells
gourmet frozen South
Asian foods—from
butter chicken to biryani
to nihari. In-store and
online
SOUPER TROUPERS
Growing up in Hong Kong, King Chan and Ka Wong considered
soup to be an essential item at the kitchen table. The pair founded
Yum Tong C Yuen shortly after their move to Vancouver in 2021,
aiming to provide some of that homey warmth to other newcomers
to Canada. Their dried Chinese soup packets are thoughtfully
prepared but simple to make: just add water. Online
£
PYRAMID SCHEME
Taste of Egypt is truly
a community endeavour.
Founder Mary Athanasios
credits the business idea
to her son, her daughter
assists her in the kitchen,
and friends support with
marketing. Athanasios
introduced a limited menu
in 2020, and her offerings
have expanded to include
babaganoush, falafel,
hawowshi and more. The
Salmon Arm-based biz ships
all over B.C. Online
WHAT A FILLING
Michelle Musey learned
how to make traditional
pierogies from her
Ukrainian mother-in-law
and launched Mama
Musey's Pierogi in 2020.
The Roberts Creek-based
biz sells heat-and-eat
pierogies with both classic
fillings and daring new
flavours (think spicy ghost
pepper, mac and cheese
and vegan mushroom
kraut). In-store and online
