FRIENDS & NEIGHBOURS
Angie Kim and Isaac Jeon }} Connecting to the community through Japanese food
WILLIAM McGINN Writer-at-large
that would be more friendly to this community, and that The best customer by far, of Angie Kim and Isaac really worked well.” Jeon’s Teriyaki Town — at 10 years old, the first-ever All of their tables are four-seat booths, except a speJapanese restaurant in Kawartha Lakes — is Joan Philips. cial one set up near the back. Angie told the Advocate the Ever since the restaurant first opened its doors, Joan, restaurant is busy on Saturday evenings, so rather than then 84, began a tradition of showing up every Saturday. have Joan occupy a big booth during dinner rush, Angie Dinner service started at five, and she’d get to her parking set up a one-person table specifically for her. spot 10 minutes early. She no longer drives, but friends The restaurant gives off the feeling of being back drop her off, and she has continued the tradition by with nature, with all of its booths (both tables and seats) ordering takeout. She expects she’ll return through the made from the same dark brown doors when possible. wood, with a silver brick-shaped Before Angie and Isaac tile wall and a display near the roof moved to Canada in 2000 from of green plantation decorum. The South Korea, Angie was familiar side walls are dark golden yellow with the food industry. Trained and adorned with gorgeous paintas a nutritionist, she worked for ings, and the relatively dim lighting a dietitian and in a huge cafealso makes for a great atmosphere. teria. When she and Isaac immiAngie and Isaac keep serving grated to Canada, deciding to painting-worthy dishes with, in their start their own business was the words, “local produce, sustainable route they chose. They ran a Japfish, and innovative ingredients.” anese restaurant in Toronto for When asked what their personal 15 years, while Isaac operated a favourite dishes were, Angie said catering business, organizing the she really enjoys the dishes with dishes for various events across sushi, such as dragon rolls. Isaac Toronto: hotel relaunches, wedrecommends maki bento from dings and grand events. A marthe lunch menu, and their dinner keting manager for a construction menu’s best-seller combo. conglomerate in Korea, he made Outside the restaurant, Isaac new connections and established Angie Kim and Isaac Jeon of Teriyaki Town in Lindsay. loves sports, tennis particularly, and good relationships through the Photo: William McGinn working out in his at-home gym. catering business. Angie is a big fan of gardening, taking care of her own Angie had a friend from Cameron who knew restauvegetable patch. She is also beginning sewing, something rant space was available in Lindsay — a former VietnamJoan is teaching her after giving her a sewing machine ese eatery. They decided to take a chance and relocate. that she had owned and used for 40 years. It’s the same When asked where the name Teriyaki Town came from, machine she once used to knit two aprons for her favouIsaac said, “When we set up the restaurant, we felt this rite restaurant owners. town was not familiar with sushi and foods with raw fish, so rather than advertising that, we thought of a name
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