The Turkey House Ltd

When Rita Johnson speaks about her longstanding family restaurant and deli, she does so with pride and passion. “Basically, this place is an extension of our home. Many of our customers are our friends and at this stage we’re now serving four generations of customers,” says Rita.

The Turkey House & Deli was conceived back in 1976 after Rita’s mother, Erika Siperko, was told by her doctors to eliminate all red meat and reduce the fat and cholesterol intake in her diet due to a diagnosed heart condition. As someone who was raised on elaborately flavoured European meats and shared those tastes at her gourmet deli and restaurant in Surrey, B.C., Erika was quite distressed over the idea of giving all that up. So with help from her family, she set out to recreate the favourite cold cuts, sausages and fresh meats of her European childhood with a healthy alternative.

“When Mom started, it was revolutionary,” says Rita. “People were only eating turkey at Christmas. Now people are becoming more educated and wanting to eat healthier. That’s quite an accomplishment.”

Though Erika has retired, she pops in once a week to visit and enjoy a home-style turkey schnitzel as she watches Rita, along with son Klaus and daughter-in-law Bonnie, continue on the tradition she started.

“I think we have it easier than Mom did,” says Rita.