OUR STORY

How we started

 

My name is Thabt Osman. I was born in a small village in Egypt. I had 2 sisters that were older than me and took good care of me when I was young. My mother died when I was an infant in a house fire. My dad worked as a butcher and raised the 3 of us with help of my aunt, and other family members. In my early 20's - I traveled to Jordan and played professional soccer as a goalie keeper. I traveled to the United States in 1989, when I was 26 years old. My dream was to be a professional soccer player in the United States, and own my own restaurant. From 2000 to 2003, I worked at a small Middle Eastern restaurant that was tucked away in Dinky Town called, Signature Cafe, in which I learned most of my Culinary skills there. In 1993, I opened my first restaurant, in the hearte of downtown Minneapolis off of Nicollet Mall and Marquette Avenue called, Valentino Cafe. It was a very busy little pizzeria cafe that sold homemade pizza and calzones. In 1994, I opened my second restaunrant in the Medical Art Building - Heartland Cafe. Once again, this restaurant quickly became well-known for the authentic Mediteranean-American Cuisine serving a wide variety of food selections. Between 1994 and 2002, I continued to open 4 additional restaurants, of which, 2 of them were cafeteria's within the Fairview Hospital Healthcare systems in the Twin Cities. As the economy changed, I sold several of the restaurant and closed few. In 2003, I opened a grocery store/deli in Minneapolis and a full service family style restaurant in Excelsior, Minnesota. I have explored many kinds of food venues and operations and at last as I am getting older and wiser - I have decided to take my knowlodge of many types of food on the road with my newest business adventure, a food truck - Pharaoh's Gyros. Pharaoh's Gyros has a great gyro's, philly cheesesteak sandwiches, salads, burgers, homemade humus, and more! Check us out this summer as we will travelling throughout Minnesota all summer long. Business has been doing well and I look forward to my newest journey with thoughts of adding on with additional food trucks and providing service to graduations, weddings, outdoor/indoor sports, and other events. In addition, I do a great deal of catering.