Inuvik (Sep 05/03) - While many of their customers may not realize it, a local fast food restaurant has a classically-trained French chef running the kitchen.

The Roost's chef, Samir Ouerghemi has been satisfying hungry appetites in Inuvik since 1991. - Terry Halifax/NNSL photo

Samir Ouerghemi studied cooking in his native country Tunisia -- a former French colony -- where he learned the art of the kitchen and became a Chef de Cuisine after three years of study.

After graduation he went to France to work a practicum at the four-star Meridian Hotel in Nice.

The school offered job placements to restaurants and hotels all over the world, but in 1987, Ouerghemi chose to come to Canada, because he could speak French.

He worked at the Ramada Hotel as Chef de Partie and then moved to Calgary where he met Mohamed Zidoune, who told him about a job posting at the Mackenzie Hotel.

"I had no idea what Inuvik was like," he recalled.

"I got off the plane and it was snowing very hard," he said. "I did not like it, I have to admit that."

He went to work at the Mackenzie, then the Eskimo and finally moved across the street to the Roost in 1992. His friend Mohamed owned the restaurant and allowed Ouerghemi to make any changes he saw fit.

"The first thing I did was change the menu," Ouerghemi said. "It was a very small menu before with only finger food. There was no steaks or pasta."

The pizza stayed on the menu, but they did add their own touch to the sauce and the crust that's made fresh in the kitchen.

They now offer Chinese food on the menu as well. He said they get business from most of the town.

"Almost 100 per cent of the town eats at the Roost," he said. "Some come every day, and some not so often, but they all eat here."

Two years ago Mohamed died on the front steps of the Roost and his son Nazem Elkadri took over the ownership, but still operates under his father's one rule.

"Mohamed never put his nose into my kitchen, but he always had one rule that no one should leave here hungry," he said. "The first day I started, he said, 'If he has no money, you feed him.' That's the man Mohamed was."

Married with children now, he now calls Inuvik home and enjoys seeing the regulars in the restaurant and on the street.

"I like this town; it's a small community and you know everybody," he said. "If I go on holiday or something, I always think about this place."