Dina Charyk has always been in the restaurant business. For 38 years she worked with her father, as a server in their family owned Italian restaurant in Aurora.
In 1994, her father was looking for a chef to add to his staff, when David Charyk, a red seal chef, came in looking to apply for the position. He was hired immediately, and began working for Dina's father.
At the time both Dina and David were experiencing their own heartache from previous relationships, and ended up bonding and becoming close friends.
“There was a little bit of flirting,” remembers Dina.
“Then one day we were crossing paths on the stairs, and he just kissed me,” remembers Dina.
After dating for about a year, they got engaged and married in 1997.
“I didn’t know when I got the job, I had to marry your daughter,” David remembers saying to Dina’s father at their wedding.
“So my dad did make a good hire afterall,” laughed Dina.
The couple moved to Bradford in the hamlet of Bond Head eight years ago, and opened their own Italian restaurant, Brick N Fire just three years ago on Holland St. West.
“It’s our baby," described Dina.
“We always wanted to open up our own (restaurant),” shared Dina.
She noted that working together can be stressful at times, but they try not to take work issues home with them.
“Communication is the key for sure,” she said.
“We’ve kind of learned how to separate business with personal,” she said, “especially with two kids.”
The couple has two daughters, aged 19 and 21, Elysha and Anastasia both studying at school.
Working in the restaurant industry means Dina and David are usually busy on most evenings and weekends, and holidays, so they make sure to take much needed vacation time in order to make time for family.
As much as possible, Dina and David like to do dinners at home or out with the four of them, and go on mini weekend getaways to places like Blue Mountain or Niagara Falls to spend time together.
Every year, Dina and Dan plan two large trips, one together, and one with the whole family. “Because couples do need their time together,” she said.
Just last month, after the busy holiday rush, the family went to Punta Cana to “reboot.”
The couple also enjoys working on home renovation projects together and enjoy spending a lot of their time outside in their backyard hosting BBQs and events during the warmer months.
For Dina and David, Valentine’s Day has always been a busy working day for them, but are used to it and are just happy to be working together as a team and being in each other’s company.
“Valentine’s Day, what’s that?” she laughed.
She noted this year they will be extra busy as the holiday falls on a Friday of a long weekend.
“We do try on our next day off to go out for dinner and do our own Valentine’s,” she said of the couple’s typical Valentine’s Day plans.
David will usually buy Dina flowers or other surprises randomly throughout the year, which Dina said she prefers than an expected Valentine’s Day present.
“That’s more special,” she said.
