“I chose Belgium because my father lived in England, and I just wanted to be independent,” says the young Bulgarian woman.

The beginning was difficult. Arriving in Brussels without knowing French, Stela started working at the first café where she saw a sign saying they were looking for a waitress.

“I began working in a Turkish café, but since I didn’t know Turkish, it was very hard to communicate with the customers. Everyone spoke only Turkish, and that made things very difficult for me. I didn’t speak French either. I had to learn at least that language in order to manage and get by in Belgium,” she shares.

After gaining some experience in the restaurant business, seven years ago Stela Nedkova decided to open her own place in Brussels where she could offer traditional Bulgarian dishes. She made a business plan, rented a space, and with the help of her mother, who is a master chef, she started her restaurant venture.

“Bulgarian cuisine is at a very good level because it’s homemade food. Customers really like shopska salad, Bulgarian cheese, Snezhanka salad, soups, stews, dishes cooked in clay pots, and sizzlers. People from our community come here, but also people from other nationalities who appreciate Bulgarian cuisine. We have regular customers, but also many who come only once because they’re tourists visiting Brussels and don’t expect to find a small Bulgarian restaurant,” says the owner.

The restaurant is decorated in a traditional Bulgarian style. The interior recreates an atmosphere reminiscent of old Bulgarian houses and customs. All the furniture is wooden, and the walls are decorated with authentic rugs and folk costumes.

The staff in the restaurant is also Bulgarian.

“The serving staff can’t really be of another nationality, because they need to be familiar with our tastes in order to present the food well. And that can’t happen if you haven’t grown up with this food. I’m grateful that fate brought these people to me – they are all very responsible and professional in their work. I don’t see them as staff, but as my family. They didn’t come here because things were easy for them. When does a person choose to leave their homeland? Either because of some need, or out of a desire for a new beginning, as it was for me. Our destinies have come together, so to speak. Life has taught me that I must help. Because when I was in need, someone helped me, and that’s why I must help others,” says our compatriot.

“I can say that it’s not difficult. There aren’t any major requirements. You just need to be willing to work and be clear about what you want to do. The state helps a lot, as long as you want to develop yourself. If you want to open a company, you go, choose a name, and specify the activity you will be engaged in. Things happen very quickly. There is a checklist with requirements, and once you’re done with each point, your permit is issued very fast.”

What is the formula for a successful restaurant business?

“I insist on punctuality. We must respect the working hours written on the door of the restaurant. We must be consistent,” the young entrepreneur says firmly.

Stela Nedkova’s restaurant is a place where the Bulgarian community in Brussels gathers on holidays and weekends. People come not only to enjoy Bulgarian dishes but also to share their joys and worries, Stela says.

After 15 years in Belgium, does she still feel nostalgia for her homeland?

“That’s why we opened a Bulgarian restaurant – so we wouldn’t miss our country quite so much. We go back often; every three months we try to go to Bulgaria because our loved ones are there. We miss Bulgaria. In time, we’re thinking of returning, because our roots are there,” Stela Nedkova says with certainty.