Ex-Con Staff at Conviction Restaurant

Conviction has not even been open for a year but has had great success and received a notable amount of publicity due to their unique new restaurant concept. In May of 2009, husband and wife Marc Thuet and Biana Zorich opened their fourth establishment, but the difference this time: the staff is made up of 13 former inmates that are working the front and back of house. The restaurant is somewhat of a social experiment that was created to give ex-cons the chance to get their lives back on track. Marc Thuet, the head chef and part-owner of the establishment who has personally had addiction problems in the past, has allowed this new restaurant concept to create opportunities for his staff and to help them start their lives over while they receive a steady paycheque.

A reality TV show has also been created in light of this one-of-a-kind restaurant; Montreal-based production company Cineflix has filmed and produced eight one-hour episodes that were aired on CityTV this past fall. The show is called Conviction Kitchen, and is based on the training of ex-cons with no culinary experience to prepare for the restaurant opening in only three-weeks time from scratch. The staff at the restaurant is made up of bank robbers, thieves, and various minor offenders who must prove themselves in this culinary boot camp to make this restaurant a success.

Conviction Restaurant will be participating in Winterlicious this year, from January 29-February 11, 2010. Dinners at Conviction during the festival are $45 and include an appetizer, main course and dessert. Conviction is open from Tuesday to Saturday 5:30pm to midnight, and open for brunch on Sundays from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Click here to see their Winterlicious menu.

Click here to see an interview with a few chefs from the show.

Photo credit: banspy