A success story; doesn’t everyone love to hear them? What about a Syrian Refugee family who immigrated to Canada and is now giving back to the country that welcomed them in. The Hadhad Family, had a successful chocolate factory in the middle east until a bombing destroyed everything they owned and they were forced to flee their country. They immigrated to a small town in Nova Scotia called Antigonish, which is less than 90 minutes from Jo’s Moms place……DAY TRIP!!
We all piled into the van (Nanny and Gramps in tow) and headed out. Now when we first arrived at the Google address, we were very surprised at how very small the building was, it looked like a quaint shed. But inside this tiny little building was a small room packed with CHOCOLATE!!!! Everything inside here promoted Peace, – the décor, the apparel, and most of all the chocolate, named for Peace.
Forgive and Forget, Turn the Other Cheek, Bury the Hatchet, One PEACE Won’t Hurt, the Harmony bar, the Resilience bar and sow the peace chocolate bunnies with a packages of flower seeds to plant.
Mr. Hadhad, the master chocolatier, was here today and with the help of his granddaughter shared some samples of his chocolate. Unfortunately, he did not speak any English, so he couldn’t share his story with us; which for my dad and I is the best part of any adventure. However, today we let the chocolate do the talking. You can check out Peace by Chocolate to learn their story. Where they lost everything, came to Canada and started over, and from this little building now have built and opened a chocolate factory that employs 25 people. Now really, how does it get better than that!
Not quite ready to let the adventure end for today, we tracked down on a brewery in the town of Stellerton, “Backstage Brewing company” (You know us it has been a few days since we found a microbrewery and no trip is complete with out it.) This little brewery was started by a musician who wanted to re-create the backstage feeling. We tried 4 of their own brews. “Hangover Helper”, “Little Sister”, “Stiff Hopper Lip” and the “Coffee Black Dog Stout”. I have always enjoyed the names!! Even got Nan and Gramps into the action. We really enjoyed this stop. Definitely a place to try again.
Chocolate, beer, and lastly we topped it all off with wings at The Thistle restaurant in New Glasgow. Notice the Chocolate was first! Always have dessert first!