For Chefs By Chefs | Reconnecting: Chef Chris Kalisperas

Before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, #ForChefsByChefs Feature Chef/Owner Chris Kalisperas had been most known for his dine-in establishments Mamakas and Bar Koukla, which specialized in authentic Greek cuisine. When we last spoke to him, after province-wide foodservice restrictions and closures began, Kalisperas had begun operating a smash burger ghost kitchen within a fellow industry member and friend’s restaurant. Now, to much surprise, he doesn’t want to go back to dine-in at all.

“I knew I didn’t want to go back to Mamakas. Then, when the patios reopened last June, my friend needed his kitchen space back to operate at that level properly again so we went on the hunt for a space to open Happy Burger in its own spot. We found the space, everything came together and it worked out for the best.”

In his mind, Kalisperas knew it was only a matter of time before he’d need and want Happy Burger to have its own kitchen, both out of passion and logistical sense.

“We knew we were never going to stay in the ghost kitchen space for long, we knew it was temporary. I can’t thank them enough for letting us use it. It’s just difficult for a kitchen to operate dine-in and other businesses at once. If all concepts are doing takeout, it’s not much of a problem but once someone’s adding dine-in or patio service, you’re dealing with plates, dishwashing and calls for multiple courses. You need that extra room.”

Given the takeout boom of 2020, Kalisperas acknowledges the sudden saturation of ghost kitchens and the rise of smash burgers within them, but he doesn’t think it will last.

“When restaurants get to re-open properly, I don’t think these chefs are going to want to continue doing ghost kitchens. They’re going to want to go back to their usual business plan models: dining, wine service, patio, anything with people seated inside. Many of these ghost kitchen concepts were just to get them through the pandemic. I’m content doing this, I was done with dining, but for many of those currently doing ghost kitchens and smash burgers to survive, this isn’t their end-plan.”

As for what’s next for Kalisperas and Happy Burger, the answer was easy.

“Another location is next, it has to be just right though. We’ve been looking around for one that I’m comfortable is the one. I just want one more location and I’ll be happy.”

Let’s Flavour Together.

#ForChefsByChefs

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