The owners say business is down 80 to 90 percent at the Antika Grill, a Mediterranean restaurant in Montclair that is suffering like so many other eateries as the coronavirus spreads.
Chef Fady Ghazal, however, doesn’t flinch at the staggering losses. Neither do George and Nancy Amir, who are co-owners with him. Ghazal and George Amir, childhood friends from Lebanon, know what it’s like to struggle and grow up poor in a country of constant conflict.
So, when the coronavirus hit, it made them think about senior citizens, among the most vulnerable in this health crisis, and how they might be having a hard time getting a hot meal. Ghazal prepared 800 dinners – 300 for senior citizens in East Orange, Orange and Montclair, and another 500 for Toni’s Kitchen, a food ministry in Montclair that feeds people in need.
By the end of the week, Antika Grill will have served approximately 1,000 meals, Ghazal said, and there’s lots more on the way -- for as a long as this pandemic continues.
“Where I come from, we have a philosophy,’’ Ghazal said. “If you can help others, it’s very important to do it. That’s exactly what we’re here for, especially with senior citizens.’’
When the virus surfaced in the U.S., Ghazal said he called Montclair Mayor Robert Jackson, offering to help. His business partner reached out to Assemblywoman Britnee N. Timberlake (D-Essex) with the same idea.
Municipalities in her district got involved to figure out logistics, and Ghazal, who’s been in the food industry 20 years, tied on his apron and fired up the grill. He filled it with marinated chicken and lamb for kabobs while vats of yellow rice – about 200 pounds – simmered. The skewers were then placed in Styrofoam containers with eggplant and red pepper dips on the side.
An assembly line of volunteers, including Timberlake and Orange Councilwoman Donna K. Williams, packed up Ghazal’s made-from-scratch vittles, which took six hours to prepare.
Fady Ghazal, co-owner of Antika Grill in Montclair, in the middle wearing red shirt. Ghazal, a chef, prepared 300 meals for senior citizens in Orange, East Orange and Montclair. He made another 500 for Toni’s Kitchen, a food ministry in Montclair that feeds people in need
Volunteers pack meals at Antika Grill, a Mediterranean restaurant in Montclair that cooked food for 300 senior citizens in Orange, East Orange and Montclair. Another 500 was made for Toni's Kitchen, a food ministry in Montclair that feeds people in need.Fady Ghazal
East Orange Senior Services passed out the food to residents in senior buildings. Williams took care of Orange. Montclair coordinated with Toni’s Kitchen. Timberlake, struck by how the virus has taken hold, said seniors are not as mobile as they used to be and they’re on a fixed income.
“They may not have been able to stock up,’’ she said.
Witnessing communities banding together for its elders moved Williams to record a video on Facebook of Ghazal cooking and volunteers packing food.
“This is what community looks like,’’ Williams said.
Ghazal insists this is not about him or his 2-year-old restaurant. It’s about sacrifice, giving unselfishly to someone else, he said.
“Even though we’re suffering ourselves, we wanted to help,’’ he said.
Cooking with love comes natural to Ghazal. Amir said an old Lebanese expression best describes Ghazal’s culinary gift.
“If you have the breath for it, whatever you put your hands on comes out perfect,’’ he said. “He does everything from his heart.’’
Regardless of how long this goes on, seniors have an angel. He doesn’t have wings or a halo, but he has a grill and compassion.
“It’s not a one-time thing,’’ Ghazal said. “As long as it’s an ongoing problem, we’re going to stand by them.’’
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Barry Carter may be reached at bcarter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
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