Jannat Restaurant is owned by Mirlanbek “Mir” Nurmatov and managed by Kanatbek “Kanat” Satinbaev, who grew up together as cousins in the central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan before immigrating to the U.S. in the last 10 years, according to a city of Rolling Meadows news release announcing the grand opening and distinguished guests.
“We now have … a beautiful place on our Kirchoff corridor where individuals can come and see on our main street a great place to have wonderful meals, be with their families, their friends or even potentially business acquaintances,” Mayor Lara Sanoica said at the grand opening.
Officials noted in the release that Nurmatov, who speaks 10 languages, formerly lectured in linguistics at Gazi University in Turkey and sold a language teaching business when he emigrated to the United States.
When he arrived in this country, Nurmatov turned to entrepreneurship to open his first restaurant, Arzan Cafe in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, and had been operating five other businesses before opening Jannat Restaurant as his sixth, the release states.
“This is very important for me,” Nurmatov said at the grand opening, which also was attended by Bolotbek Borbiev, Krygyzstan Consul General in Chicago.
In response to demand from the large Kyrgyz community in the northwest suburbs who wanted a restaurant closer than the Albany Park one, Nurmatov partnered with Satinbaev to open Jannat, which serves Central Asian and Turkish cuisine, the release states.
“The restaurant is not just a business,” Nurmatov said during the grand opening.
The restaurant held a soft opening Nov. 3 and since then, he said, a Jannat patron proposed to his future wife, and others – including families – have come there looking to relax.
The restaurant’s staff includes four chefs native to Central Asia – two from Kyrgyzstan and two from Turkey, the release states.
“Kyrgyz food is essentially Silk Road and the ultimate fusion food,” Sanoica said during the grand opening. “This not only allows (more) options for our residents but for the entire northwest region and it is putting Rolling Meadows as a culinary destination in the future.”
According to Kyrgyzstan’s foreign ministry, approximately 26,000 Kyrgyz live in the United States and nearly 10,000 ethnic Kyrgyz – including 2,000 children born domestically – are believed to live in Chicago, the release states.
Officials noted in the release that the Kyrgyz Community Center in nearby Arlington Heights is one of two major Kyrgyz cultural organizations in the United States.
“I think this restaurant will become a symbol of unity,” Amanbaev said during the grand opening, adding that Jannat could offer different kinds of people and different nationalities a chance to talk and work together.
Kyrgyzstan shares land borders with China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and has a land area slightly smaller than South Dakota.
With a current population of around 6.7 million people, Kyrgyzstan had been annexed by the Russian Empire in 1876, became a Soviet republic in 1926 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved, the release states.
“When the people are working and giving service to each other, smiling … it makes me happy,” Nurmatov said during the grand opening, which featured a ribbon cutting and live entertainment including traditional music.
The new restaurant is located at the site of a former Taco Bell restaurant.
“We look forward to Jannat becoming a cornerstone of the Rolling Meadows community and making sure that Jannat has many meals and successes for years to come. Congratulations and we are so excited to partner with you going forward,” Sanoica said during the grand opening.
Source : Chicagotribune
