Sad news from the Cabbagetown BIA
It’s with a heavy heart that we share the news that Asokan Rasiah, chef and owner of the Peartree Restaurant, passed away this weekend.
Asokan has been a fixture in our community for over 30 years. He enjoyed participating in all community events and had gained the respect of everyone in our neighbourhood.
Asokan first moved to St. James Town from Sri Lanka in 1988, and on just his second day in Canada, Asokan got a job as a dishwasher at a restaurant on Parliament St. One month later he became a line cook there. Within six months, his passion for cooking was ignited and he became a chef. He loved the energy of the kitchen.
Asokan worked as a head chef for several years until the restaurant’s owners decided they wanted to sell. Asokan didn’t hesitate to buy it, and in 1993–28 years ago–he opened Peartree Restaurant. He’d later go on to buy the building and others in Cabbagetown as well.
He was a hard working, kind and generous man. Our sincere condolences to his family, friends and the entire Peartree family (many of whom have worked with him since opening day).
Asokan will truly be missed, but never forgotten.
“I see regular customers here weekly; the same people that were here on opening night. It’s a truly incredible feeling to know that these people have stuck by our restaurant for decades.”
– Asokan Rasiah
– The Cabbagetown BIA
