C O N T I N U I N G H E R PA S S I O N
Hasija’s Kitchen
Food is a powerful force. At its base,
it provides simple nourishment, but it
represents so much more in the grand
scheme of things. Cooking a good
meal can provide relief after a stress-
ful day. It brings families closer
together. It celebrates our cultures,
achievements and milestones, and
most importantly, it can make a
person feel at home.
The latter is true for Hasija, a resident
of Chartwell Westbury Long Term
Care Residence in Toronto. When she
first arrived, she felt uncertain and
unprepared. She wondered what life
would be like in her new home. Will it
be easy to make friends? Will I be
comfortable? Will the food be cooked
to my liking?
The question of food has held great
significance for Hasija throughout her
life. In 1986, she and her husband
opened The Old Thatched Cottage, a
popular restaurant in Bloor West
Village and cuisine remains her
passion to this day.
We learned about her
history with the restaurant
and felt that her passion
for cooking was
something she could
benefit from
– Mark Recto, Program & Support
Services Manager, pictured
cooking with Hasija
Mark Recto, Programs & Support
Services Manager, noticed she was
feeling apprehensive about her new
surroundings and began brainstorm-
ing with colleagues about how to
make Hasija feel most welcome.
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“We learned about her history with
the restaurant and felt that her
passion for cooking was something
she could benefit from,” says Mark.
Together the team transformed a little-
used room into Hasija’s Kitchen, a bright
space featuring an oven, pantry, island
and every tool a cook could need.
Hasija is truly a chef again. She reviews
grocery store flyers to plan menus,
shops for her own ingredients and
cooks in her kitchen on a daily basis,
from baking bread to creating baklava,
chicken stew and roasted squash. She
also invites fellow residents and staff
to enjoy her meals with her.
Mark, who also loves to cook, often
participates with prep but the kitchen
is definitely Hasija’s domain.
“She usually tells me, ‘Just sit and
enjoy my cooking,’” he says.
Thanks to the caring and creative
team at the Westbury, Hasija’s sense
of belonging and relationships with
staff and fellow residents have all
been invigorated by her ability to
continue a lifelong passion.
“This experience has provided her
with a sense of joy knowing that she
can experience what she was able to
do before moving in to the Westbury,”
Mark says.
In Hasija’s own words, “I feel right at
home now.”