Co-owners Ricky Casipe, Olivia Simpson and Adrian Proszowsk share their journey, inspirations and what lies at the heart of Restaurant Ricky + Olivia.
As an imaginative young girl, Olivia Simpson dreamt of opening a speakeasy … and who would have known that aspiration would become a reality, favoured by love, with the opening of Restaurant Ricky + Olivia?
As you walk through the entrance, you may mistake it for a retail store, but that is exactly what adds charm. It is a fun discovery with customized wine-tasting experiences, followed by a lounge and then the dining area with its open kitchen and patio.
A common question a guest might ask is “Who are Ricky and Olivia?” “We all are Ricky and Olivia,” says Simpson, meaning herself and her partner, chef and co-owner Ricky Casipe, co- owner and operations manager Adrian Proszowski and the entire team at the restaurant that brings their vision to life. Casipe explains, “I can only be creative to an extent; we need hands to execute things.”
The business has established a strong community fan base for its warm and playful flavours and has been featured by the Michelin Guide. The idea for this incredible space began with a dream conceived in love as Casipe and Simpson were co-chefs at a restaurant.
Given their hectic work schedules, they didn’t get to see a lot of each other, which led them to take a work trip and then do pop-ups around the city. What they thought would last a summer ended up being six years of pop-ups, events and honing their experience.
They were joined by Proszowski, who himself grew up in a big family, where good food and conversations meant so much. Unlike Casipe and Simpson, who each went to culinary school, Proszowski comes from a theatre background and brings his hosting and storytelling abilities to the overall guest experience. He shares some advice that has kept him going: “Whatever you decide to do, do your best at it and don’t give up.”
The restaurant is a testament to celebrating this idea. One of the positive consequences of doing pop-ups and working for others was that it gave them time to reflect on things they wanted to include and avoid for their business. They learned to be flexible, quick-thinking and accommodating.
The result of this hard work, varied experiences, and passion has been the creation of a space where everything stems from creativity and ingredients speak for themselves. Most importantly, as Casipe adds, “For us, Ricky + Olivia is an extension of who we are and our story.”
Because element in the restaurant is put together by people who believe in and are passionate about what they do, it feels like dining at your best friend’s house, where a sense of nostalgia and love invites the same dear friends to visit again and again, making heartfelt memories.
As an Ontario forward restaurant, they see partnering with local farmers as building relationships and discovering the great products available in Ontario. Casipe says, “For us, it’s always been this way. It’s not only a duty. It also makes us sharper at what we do.”
When asked what advice they have for aspiring restaurant owners, Simpson adds, “Go do it, but also don’t do it in a rushed manner. Learn from people who have put in that sweat equity before you, whether that is working a full-time job or testing the waters of your passion project on the side.”
The fall will see lots of events, new wine-tasting experiences and a bar program at Restaurant Ricky + Olivia. Casipe, Simpson and Proszowski hope to continue building strong relationships with customers and vendors. For them, this is still the beginning.
Passionate about growing the restaurant to its full potential, the three co-owners are all standing side by side, “where everyone is much more than hands and body; they are a part of creation and storytelling.”
