With no previous experience in the restaurant industry, in 2016, Help Kitchen founder, Haitham El Khatib moved to Vancouver, BC and dove head first into building his first restaurant. Following a career in marketing and risk and crisis management, he was not ready for what was about to happen to his life. His daughter was born one month after the opening of his restaurant in early 2018 and he found himself juggling the demands of entrepreneurship with the joys and challenges of fatherhood. As if that weren't enough, his personal life was unraveling, his marriage strained under the weight of his newfound responsibilities and the relentless grind of restaurant ownership.

The initial excitement of opening day quickly gave way to the harsh reality of burnout. Haitham found himself perpetually exhausted, with no semblance of a social life and little time to savor the moments. Then, just as he was navigating the tumultuous waters of restaurant ownership, the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, turning his already challenging journey into a rollercoaster ride of uncertainty and adversity.

But amidst the chaos, Haitham discovered a lifeline: systems and a resolute commitment to hiring the right people. These two pillars became the foundation of his restaurant's resilience and success. With a relentless "hell yes" mindset, he assembled a team that shared his passion, work ethic, and determination to weather any storm and built foolproof systems that allowed them to excel at their jobs.

Through the trials and tribulations, Help Kitchen was born—a testament to unwavering determination, an ability to adapt, and a profound belief in the power of systems, data and technology. Today, Help Kitchen stands as a beacon of hope and guidance for restaurateurs facing similar challenges, offering not just consultancy services, but a hand to hold and a roadmap to success crafted from firsthand experience.