Jo Fredell Higgins photo
In a small village named El-Monfia, one hour outside Cairo, Eqypt, Hasnaa Solmin was born. She eventually would have three brothers and two sisters. Her father was in banking and her mother grew bees to sell the honey. Once her father retired from banking, he bought a chicken farm.
Her grandfather told the young Hasnaa. “Whatever you like, resist. Whatever you don’t like, carry it.” Grandfather had a medical career and lived to age 84.
Grandfather knew of a family that had emigrated to America and, as was the custom, he planned an arranged marriage with Mr. Tobaa. Tobaa came to Egypt and he and Hasnaa saw one another twice before embarking to America and their new life.
Hasnaa could have rejected the arranged marriage, but out of deep respect for her grandfather and for the traditional customs, she decided to accept him. Both grandfather and mother died about the same time in 2000, so Hasnaa brought their love and wisdom to America with her in 2000. They had taught her well.
Upon arrival in the United States Hasnaa taught belly dancing and owned a hair and jewelry shop. It allowed her to save enough money to open her first Mother’s Restaurant.
Hasnaa knew her native Egyptian Arabic and fluent French, but not a word of English. For the next three years by reading newspapers and by help from various individuals who tutored her, she learned the English language. It is beneficent to the residents and visitors alike to the Fox Valley area that the family initially settled in Plainfield. Her husband works at the Braidwood nuclear plant as an engineer for Exelon. They have three daughters, Norhan, Yasmeen and Nadine.
Rooster statues greet every guest to Mother’s Restaurant, 2290 W. Galena Boulevard in Aurora and at 3755 E. Main Street in St. Charles. That is because, Hasnaa told me, that roosters wake us up in time for breakfast. Mother’s was voted the “Best Breakfast in the Fox Valley” area in 2008. If you are already familiar with Mother’s Restaurant, then you know the egg-ceptional skillets, homemade soups and crepes, pastas and seafood, and Panini sandwiches of quality and taste served there. Chicken salad and tuna salad are made fresh daily.
The mother hen is Hasnaa who likes to feed others. “I love people. I love talking to people. I love seeing people enjoy the food that I serve,” Hasnaa said. All foods are made fresh daily and with the best ingredients. There is no MSG or other additives in the food. It is healthy and tasty, said Hasnaa. The restaurant offers catering and space for private parties. She is host to a yearly anniversary celebration when all her regular customers are invited to a splendid repast.
Now, she is pleased to announce, that she will manage Yia Yia’s Pancake House, 2250 Harlem Avenue, North Riverside at Harlem Avenue and Cermak Road. The current owner is retiring and chose Hasnaa over many other candidates to take over the restaurant. Hasnaa has big plans to fashion this third “Mother’s” into the family restaurant so many have come to know in Aurora and St.Charles. “Come and try one of Hasnaa’s restaurants and you will be happy,” she suggested.
There are six cooks and 10 waitstaff at the restaurant on West Galena. Valentine is the head chef. Hasnaa treats her staff well and employees have been with her as long as 14 years. It is a family atmosphere. “Food is first, then staff,” she said. “We treat our customers with respect as almost members of the family,” she said.
The Sunrise Aurora Rotary meets every Wednesday at 7 a.m. and members have brought wall banners from their visits to Switzerland, Sweden, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and many other states.
“Because I am not sure how many days I have so I am nice,” Hasnaa said. “God watches all the time. If I have, I give. Life is very short and the customer is always right,” she said. She cited several examples of helping others without expecting anything in return.
Hasnaa is an astute businesswoman who left her native land without any reservations and has made a great success in the American restaurant business. “You don’t have as many chances in Egypt to become successful as you do here in America, so I am grateful for all the opportunities accorded me here,” she said.