The YMCA of Greater Saint John has a new eatery run by two women who are newcomers to the Port City having come from Syria.
Mona Alrajeh and Hia Alrajel are running the new Middle Eastern Café, which opened its doors on Monday.
Mona, who worked as a chef in Syria and Lebanon, says she met Hia when they were living near each other in the city’s north end.
“My welcome team said to me, ‘this area have someone from your country, come with me and I introduce the lady.’ We know each other and connect together.”
The two women, who have been living in Saint John for three years, both have families of their own.
Mona is 30 years old with five children and Hia is 25 years old with two children.
The café features Middle Eastern fare which people know — like kibby, falafel, tabouli — and some foods they may not have heard of.
