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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A new eatery in Fort Simpson is truly a family affair.

The Okrainec family opened Riverside Mobile Grill in Fort Simpson on Canada Day. The family members involved in the business include, from left, Megan Okrainec, Ashley Okrainec, Brad Okrainec, Merle Snider and Krista Okrainec. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Sisters Krista, Ashley and Megan Okrainec opened Riverside Mobile Grill on July 1. Their father Brad Okrainec and his wife Merle Snider are providing encouragement and support in the kitchen.

"We are very thankful for one another," said Krista, while taking a break outside of the grill on July 13.

The sisters had been considering getting into the food industry for approximately three years.

"All of us love to cook and are very family oriented," Krista said.

Knowing there was nowhere to buy a restaurant in the village, they decided to go mobile. The grill allows us to go where the market is, Krista said.

With support from the Deh Cho Business Development Centre, and funding from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Dehcho First Nations, the sisters purchased a mobile kitchen from a company in Mississippi and named it the Riverside Mobile Grill.

We wanted a simple name and something that reflected the community, said Krista.

"Business has been going great," she said. "The people are just wonderful."

The grill is open every day for the lunch-hour crowd and remains open until after dinner unless the food runs out, which has been happening.

Brad makes fresh hamburgers every morning using one-third of a pound of meat in each.

The grill has been selling between 75 and 80 burgers daily. The Hawaiian burger is one of the grill's best sellers.

"My dad is an awesome cook," said Krista.

The first weekend barbecue was also very popular.

The grill came complete with a rotisserie smoker barbecue, which can hold up to 400 pounds of meat. The family plans to fire it up every weekend to offer ribs and chicken.

The gill's current menu also includes items such as hand-cut fries, a variety of burgers, hot wings, sub sandwiches, hot dogs and tacos in a bag. There are plans to add other items including chicken burgers.

Krista said she and her sisters will be making a Facebook page for the business. We want to get feedback so we can cater to the community, she said.

Although the grill is less than a month old, the family already has plans for expansion. Next year they plan to open a smaller, second grill at the ferry landing to sell coffee and breakfast sandwiches in the morning and sandwiches throughout the day.

It's a prime location because there's no food services until Fort Liard or Fort Providence, said Brad.

The family is also already offering catering and barbecue services for any type of event. The current grill is expected to remain open until mid-October before closing for the winter and reopening in April.

Krista said the family is very thankful for the community's support so far.

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