And all her food is always made fresh, something Burr credits her family and childhood for.
Her kids never liked eating cold food like sandwiches or deli meat, so she always cooked something hot. And growing up without a fridge or freezer also meant never eating leftovers.
“We buy it from the market — straight to the kitchen. Cook it, and that’s what you’re gonna have for the whole day,” Burr said. “And then the next day you cook. That’s how I got used to it.”
Burr said she is especially proud that her food has impressed fellow Filipinos, something that is harder than it seems, as many are good cooks themselves.
“One of the things about Filipinos, they can cook so (its) kind of hard for them to impress, like they always have that ‘I can do better,'” Burr said.
But even with high praise, Burr said when her husband suggested getting a brick-and-mortar space, she was still hesitant. Burr said he thinks he kept pushing for two main reasons: he saw her talent and dedication to her craft, and (maybe less pressing) he wanted more weekends off.
The Sheila’s Plate logo hangs above the new restaurant space at 10008-A Two Notch Road.
Sydney Dunlap/Staff
The new Sheila’s Plate
Burr’s husband helped her find the future Sheila’s Plate restaurant off of Two Notch. While still in the early stages, she’s already spent hours working to transform it from its former tenant, including peeling off giant baked potato-themed vinyl decorations.
Burr said her goal is that when it’s done, the restaurant will have an island vibe inspired by the southeast Asian archipelago. She’d like to have pictures from the Philippines and the country’s history on the walls, and maybe even a mural painted by her daughter.
Though her biggest goal for now is to get the restaurant open and start serving food, which Burr hopes to do by January. Right now, she plans to be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., giving people plenty of time to swing by after work.
While Burr said she is looking forward to having a place of her own and serving more people, it’s hard not to have worries when taking such a big step. But strong social media support and repeat customers on Sundays help her keep moving forward.
Dining and Cooking