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| SATURDAY APRIL 15 | SUNDAY APRIL 16 2017
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
NORTH SHORE FOODIE
Old-time values & kitchen table wisdom Country Kitchen has been serving customers for nearly 40 years BY STEVE SADIN DAILYNORTHSHORE.COM
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uests come to Country Kitchen for the food, but they stay to chat with the family members who have been making customers feel welcome for 39 years. “People ask why I work at the restaurant at my age, but I don’t do anything,” said Peter Dimitriou, owner. “I just read the paper and do PR. I tell people I am the tree in the desert and I just want to sit in the shade.” Peter knows Country Kitchen is in good hands, because his daughter Ruby Iliopoulos had a wonderful teacher. Peter explained that Ruby was taking business classes in school when her parents discussed selling Country Kitchen. But Ruby wanted to run the restaurant. Owners Ruby Iliopoulos and her dad, Peter Dimitriou, at Country Kitchen in Highland Park. BELOW: Mickey Mouse pancakes and egg white vegetarian omelet. PHOTOS BY JOEL LERNER “Ruby thought I wouldn’t like the idea because I was a male Kitchen was originally located helps with real estate and we have Ruby said the menu has barely chauvinist, so I said I’m willing to next door at 448 Central Avenue, several buildings in Highland changed over time. “I feel that if teach you and I’ll tell you what my where Baby Dreams is housed. Park. There’s nothing more pre- it’s been working well for all these parents taught me,” he said. “They The site at 446 Central Avenue cious than children and good years, you have to respect that.” said for a woman to run a restauwas a parking lot before a new health.” Country Kitchen also does its best rant you need eight hours to be a Country Kitchen was built to acRuby began helping out at to follow dietary restrictions. wife, you need eight hours to be a commodate a growing customer Country Kitchen in high School. Some of Country Kitchen’s mother and you need eight hours base about 30 years ago. Ruby said “My brother Dino, sister Maria newer items include: egg white to run the restaurant. When would dedicated employee Ruth Mazzeta and I were always working on the omelets, Mickey Mouse pancakes, you sleep? Then my wife said let began working at the original weekends unless we had basketball a variety of salads and a breakfast her have it and if she doesn’t like restaurant. or a church activity,” she said. sandwich. “The customers tell us it we’ll sell it.” It’s Peter’s strong work ethic “Every summer my parents would what they want to eat, and we are Ruby became the manager after that continues to keep generations go to Greece for about a month grateful to serve generations of she completed cooking school of loyal customers coming back. and when I turned 17 I’d open and loyal customers,” said Peter. about 10 years ago. “All of my employees make sure run the restaurant.” Peter is also hopeful that “Dad and I are both on the to let the customers know how Peter was raised in a family with Country Kitchen will continue same page with our business menvaluable they are and how impor- 10 children in Greece. In 1955 he to thrive for generations to come tality and we don’t have to explain tant their food is,” said Peter. went to Canada and became in- and is excited to eventually pass Country Kitchen is open from volved in the restaurant business the torch to his eight grandchilourselves.” said Ruby. “Our personalities are similar, as we both 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,which has with his brothers. dren. “We like Highland Park believe in hard work and we enjoy enabled Peter to spend more time Peter took three years of French and we put pride in what we do,” the customers.” with his family. Ruby said that in Canada and learned Spanish. he said. “I’m only as good as my Peter said customers have been when she was growing up, her dad “I wish that I could speak one last meal. The only allergy my coming here since the restaurant went to all of her and her siblings’ language properly and then I’d let family has is loneliness, but when opened in 1978. One customer is basketball games. the other ones go,” he said. the place is full of people it looks “If you don’t spend time with 102 and she still comes in with In 1967, Peter came to beautiful.” the children you have wild horses Chicago to open a restaurant with her great-grandson. “We have a connection with with no harnesses,” said Peter. “I’m his brother at Cicero and DiviCountry Kitchen is located at our customers and we give them a very tough father. My children sion. When the neighborhood 446 Central Avenue, Highland what they want,” Peter said. don’t lie or steal. We don’t take changed, he sold it and came to Park. For more information call: Ruby explained that Country anything unless we earn it. My son Highland Park. (847) 432-7500.