Simon Daim Yar started off as a graphic designer and somewhere along the line went with his first love, being a professional cook.

Daim Yar, and his wife, Angela, own and have been operating the Olive Kebab, at 2836 Lake Shore Blvd. W., for the past three years and they have been making a name for themselves.

“Inspired by authentic recipes, we bring the unique and bold tastes of Mediterranean style cooking to our guests, without sacrificing flavor,” says Daim Yar.

He says their Mediterranean cuisine is created through harmony of ingredients sourced from nature.

He has picked up skills and learned about local dishes while cooking in Turkey, Lebanon and his native Iran.

Daim Yar was born in Iran and was sponsored to Canada by a family member. He worked for 20 years as a graphic designer for a large company.

He left designing behind when he arrived in Canada and immersed himself in cooking, his first love.

“I always loved cooking,” he says. “The more I learned the more I enjoyed cooking for other people.”

“People love our dishes because our food is healthy and very tasty,” he explains. “We only use the best fresh ingredients.”

The food is quite good judging from the mixed dish I had. It contains many healthy ingredients, like greens and grains, in a sumptuous good-tasting plate that does fill you up with a lot of energy.

“Our goal is to share the excitement,” says Daim Yar. “We invite you to fall in love with flavor by connecting you to the fun, food, and culture of Mediterranean cuisine.”

He says ‘we bring you fresh, quality, nutritious ingredients, you choose the savory, intense flavors to put in the mix.”

Olive Kebab can be reached by phone at 416-546-3264 or their menu is accessible at olivekebab.ca