Dixit Patel has found his spark.
After graduating from Northern College to be an electrician, he didn't want to pursue an apprenticeship. Instead, he followed his passion for cooking and landed a job in a kitchen.
For patio season, Patel is serving up food at Full Beard Brewing in his new food truck, Your Choice Culinary.
“I have my regular menu, eight-ounce burgers, briskets, pulled pork, ribs and chicken wings. I have a whole poutine part especially separate for poutine lovers like brisket poutine, hamburger poutine, chicken bacon poutine, pulled pork poutine, so all kind of poutines. Then regular sides like chicken fingers, onion rings, buffalo cauliflower,” he said.
If you love a good burger, but don't eat meat, there's a vegetarian paneer burger and a spicy seven-bean burger for vegans.
Patel moved to Timmins from Gujarat, India, in September 2019 and graduated from Northern College in 2021.
"I wasn’t fond of electrical stuff so I changed my field and I went with culinary because that’s what I love to do," he said.
Working in the camp kitchen at Coté Gold in Gogama, he gained experience cooking for hundreds of people. For the last 1.5 years, he's been working with Red Seal Catering.
RELATED: Chefs ready to launch amped-up take out menu in South Porcupine
Chef Jessica Bouvier, he said, believed in him and would give him weddings to work. Patel jumped at the opportunity to serve up food at Full Beard.
“They were looking for someone to take over this place and I’m looking for something to start … to be my own boss,” he said.
It was a chilly first weekend for Your Choice Culinary.
It opened last Friday, when there was rain and snow.
Still, Patel said people were stopping by to try out the menu.
A catering job and the post-Beer Fest crowd kept him busy the next night.
Your Choice Culinary is located at 219 Wilson Ave.
The hours are Monday to Thursday from noon to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Stay up-to-date with their menu and specials on Facebook.
