Lauren Mentiplay, The Fainting Goat, Regina
 |
|
| Owned and operated by Chef Lauren Mentiplay, The Fainting Goat in Regina’s Cathedral Village community focuses on rustic gourmet fare, local products and ‘female-friendly’ menu choices. |
|
|
Lauren Mentiplay has always been fascinated by goats – especially fainting goats. That’s why she gave this catchy name to the first-ever restaurant she has owned and operated as a chef.
Mentiplay opened The Fainting Goat last September, after finally ending her on and off relationship with the finance industry. Although her first job was in foodservice – she worked at Kentucky Fried Chicken (now known as KFC) as a teenager – Mentiplay fell into banking after graduating from high school and earning her Certificate of Administration.
“I come from a family background where office work is what one aspires to do,” she explains. “However, I found the work emotionally draining and physically debilitating. It became clear after a time that I needed to break out and do something truer to myself and my passions.”
At 47, Mentiplay decided to follow her heart and attended Vancouver’s Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICA). After completing the Chef program, she extensively researched the ins and outs of opening her own restaurant, seeking advice from lawyers, accountants and business colleagues. Her son, who is also Fainting Goat’s general manager, helped with the early legwork.
| “I feel it is important to be part of a professional organization and the CRFA does a lot of important work on our behalf,” says Mentiplay. |
Mentiplay’s planning paid off. Since its opening, The Fainting Goat has been wildly successful. Located at 2330 Albert Street in Regina, Saskatchewan, the restaurant’s menu boasts rustic gourmet fare with Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, North African and Indian flavours. Intriguing dishes include naan pizzas, bison kebabs and fittingly, fainting goat samosas. But the cornerstone of Mentiplay’s menu has always been Saskatchewan-grown products. Despite challenges that stem from the province’s short growing season, she manages to source all her wheat, grains, beans and lentils locally. With the exception of Quebec duck, The Fainting Goat’s meat also comes entirely from Saskatchewan.
In addition to cultivating a local focus, Mentiplay has played with the idea of fashioning a more female-friendly menu.
“I find that most restaurant menus, particularly in Regina, are made by men for men,” she says. “My son and I have worked hard to create balanced menus that provide unique meat-and-potato choices as well as lighter or vegetarian options. The response from women in particular has been overwhelming – and where women go, men will follow!”
Having the opportunity to work closely with her son on menu design and restaurant management is an added benefit for Mentiplay. She cherishes the extra time she now has with her children, their friends and her community. However, Mentiplay cautions that working with family is not always fun and games.
“Because we’re such a close-knit group, personal issues can get in the way,” she explains. “Sometimes it’s hard to discipline friends and family.”
But Mentiplay’s biggest obstacles have come from external factors like financial institutions and certain government legislative policies.
“When you open a business, everyone – including the government – wants a piece of you,” she says.
With almost 20 employees, Mentiplay’s greatest challenge has been maintaining a skilled and motivated workforce, especially in the kitchen. Despite The Fainting Goat’s success, she has found it difficult to compete for talent with larger establishments and chains.
In anticipation of such challenges, Mentiplay joined CRFA even before The Fainting Goat officially opened its doors.
“I feel it is important to be part of a professional organization and the CRFA does a lot of important work on our behalf,” she says. “As a member, I have been kept informed of latest industry trends and issues through the association’s newsletters and trade shows. I also see them lobbying for the industry.”
For the first time, Mentiplay attended the 2010 CRFA Show in March. Not only did she make valuable business contacts, but she also got the chance to go out and enjoy some of Toronto.
So what’s next for her? Mentiplay has a new line of sauces in the works, which she is hoping to launch for retail sale by early fall.
* Story published in Canadian Restaurant & Foodservice News, June 2010