Cocktails with KB | Patricia Roque

One of my first introductions to Hamilton was Acclamation Bar & Grill. I was dipping my toe into the city, and someone brought me there. (I honestly can’t remember who anymore, it was over 10 years ago!). Since then, it has been my first choice for meetings, a quick bite, dinners, family events, and everything in between. Over the years, I have had the privilege of getting to know Patricia Roque. Here is a woman who has given her life to the family business, and to this city. She is passionate, proud and exciting. Whenever I get to sit and chat with her, I leave feeling encouraged, motivated and inspired to do more and be more. Now, as the Roque family prepares to break ground on the Acclamation condos, a long-awaited family dream, I thought this was the best time to sit and chat. Over a couple of glasses of Pinot Grigio, in the newly renovated sales office for Acclamation Condos (the front of Acclamation Bar & Grill), we talked about Hamilton, family, food, and lessons we’ve learned. Grab a cocktail, or a glass of wine and enjoy!

If you could travel back to day one of your restaurant and have 15 minutes with your former self to commu- nicate any lessons you’ve acquired with the intention of saving yourself mistakes and heartache, what would you tell yourself?
I was 19! I wouldn’t want to butterfly effect anything. I like the way it turned out. All the heartache and mistakes have got me to where I am today.

How do you go from Roofing to Restaurant to Development?
My parents started the roofing business over 30 years ago from our backyard in the North end. With lots of hard work they were able to grow into the commercial industry and build a name for Roque Roofing. We are a roofing family, every uncle, cousin, and husband has worked on the roof. Moving into the restaurant industry was really a romantic dream for my father. When he came to Canada at 14, he rented an apartment on James St North. This is his street, the first he knew in Canada. Having such a large family meant that every night was an event but we really learned our catering skills from the Portuguese dinner dances. My parents were heavily involved in the Hamilton Portuguese Marching band. We would have these feasts for hundreds of people. My mom would cook and all my sisters and I would serve. I have been serving since I was 6 years old, you start off as the bread girl and work your way up to serving the soup. These days were normally 14-18 hour days. Yes, it was child labour, but it was for the church so I guess it made it ok. Joking aside, catering was something we all did well, and thought a restaurant would be a perfect fit. When we bought Acclamation and the buildings next to it the plan was always to expand to a banquet hall. As the design developed it only made sense to focus on the condos and we sadly removed it. Becoming a developer has allowed us an avenue to really give back to the street and city that welcomed my family over 50 years ago.

How do you conquer those moments of doubt that so often stifle or stop entrepreneurs?
It is in those moments I am grateful because I know I have the best people around me. I just talk it out, with my sisters, our staff depending on the situation and then I go home and spill it all to my husband Rick and he usually plays devil’s advocate for me.