Mayor Hal Parrish and members of the Manassas City Council recently joined business owners Adiam and Veronica Musie to celebrate the grand opening of their restaurant, Vera’s Kitchen, in Historic Downtown Manassas. Located at 9255 Center Street, Vera’s Kitchen offers a variety of hearty entrees as well as lighter fare inspired by Veronica’s culinary experiences in her native Ethiopia.
Mayor Parrish’s remarks spoke to the dream of small business ownership. He recognized that the Musies’ dream is shared by many. Veronica Musie eloquently expressed her gratitude to “this great nation” for giving her the opportunity to pursue her dream, describing how she enrolled in various classes throughout Northern Virginia to further develop her culinary skills.
Born in Ethiopia and raised on fresh, nutrient-dense foods, Veronica knew she wanted to provide these meals to others after she migrated to the United States. She honed her skills while working at top American restaurants and managing authentic Ethiopian eateries before opening a successful catering venture.
The festive grand opening featured wonderful food, and concluded with Mayor Parrish offering the perfect toast to “Desta,” which means “happiness” in the Ethiopian language. Veronica and Adiam hope that their restaurant clientele will experience this happiness when they step inside their doors.
Vera’s Kitchen is open Monday through Thursday 8:00 a. m.-4:00 p. m., Fridays, 8:00 a. m.-9:00 p. m., and weekends 9:00 a. m.-9:00 p. m. They also cater weddings, office meetings and casual gatherings. You can reach Vera or Adiam at 703-479-7655 or at their website veraskitchendesta.com.
By Prince William Living (June 2018)