Business Profile – Five Questions with Mama Sue

Five Questions with Mama Sue by Mai-Liis Renaud

Q. Tell us a bit about yourself and your family.

Hello, my name is Suzanne Lapensee and I would like to tell you a little about myself. I have a family of three wonderful children, two daughters, Cindy, Marie-Josée and a son, Max ages 25, 23 and 17 and my wonderful husband, Fern who is right beside me every step of the way. I couldn’t have made it so far without them. We, “the Fab 5” have been working together since the first day I opened. I am very proud of my family, and thank them from the bottom of my heart  

Q. When did you open your restaurant?

I opened November 16 2009.

Q. What is your background in the restaurant business?

I have been in the hospitality business for 40 years. Worked in french fries stands, in a pizzeria, a Chinese food restaurant, was a Manager in a smoked meat place, and also worked in a fine dining Sicilian restaurant. I’ve served all different kinds of food and learned to cook everything I know by paying attention to how everything was prepared. I learned a lot through those years and can cook almost anything!  My passion for cooking and baking is in my blood. I like to try anything new and am forever learning new tricks.

Q. Where did the name Mama Sue come from?

I used to work at Nav Canada in the tuck shop where the staff used to call me Mama Sue because I would always make something healthy for them to eat. II didn’t like them eating junk food all the time, so they thought I was just like a mother to them, that’s where the name came from.

Q. What is your specialty?

Mama Sue is a Family restaurant and our clientele tells us that we have a very good breakfast – they especially love our Old Fashioned Biscuit, my Grandma’s recipe. This is one of our new menu Items called Biscuit and Gravy. We also have the platter and specialize in our french crepe (strawberry banana or mixed fresh berries). Our healthy Breakfast is our biggest seller because our fruit does not come from a can. We prepare, cut and marinated it ourselves. We also have a lunch menu   with  a daily special including  soup, your meal, dessert, tea or coffee. Our specialties though, would be our Fish and Chip, Baby Beef Liver, which is very tender and melts in your mouth. And let’s not forget… our Desserts are freshly made –nothing from a box! Join us on Thursday, December 18th 2014 starting at 4pm for our Christmas Meal which  will include: Starter: Vegetable soup, Meal: Turkey, meat ball ragout, mashed potatoes, carrots and turnip, meat pie, stuffing, cranberry jelly, and turkey gravy. Dessert: Apple pie or pumpkin pie. Tea or coffee – all for $13.99 plus tax.