American Dream Award Winner
Joseph & Matilda Novak
Novak’s Hungarian Restaurant
Albany, Ore.
Matilda and Joseph Novak endured war, work camps and hunger in their native Hungary. To avoid retribution for participating in a failed anti-communist uprising in 1957, they fled to the United States. When they came to California in 1957, they spoke no English and had only a wedding photo and the clothes on their backs.
Over the years, the couple worked a variety of jobs before discovering their American Dream in the restaurant industry. Matilda started as a seamstress, doing piecework in a factory. Joseph, who was trained in electromechanical technology, worked as a research analyst for a NASA contractor in California. They left the chaos of Los Angeles in 1970 to raise their family in Oregon.
In Oregon, Matilda spent 12 years as a cook at Myrl’s Chuckwagon, a buffet restaurant. Joseph worked several jobs before landing in research and development for a specialty-metal manufacturer. When he was laid off after 10 years, the couple’s daughter, Karen, convinced them to open a restaurant.
Matilda, with established culinary expertise, was responsible for cooking and baking. Joseph shopped, drummed up business, and as host, made people feel welcome. Karen worked in the kitchen, while twin sister Matilda waited tables. Their two brothers helped out at various times. Twenty-six years later, Matilda and Joseph remain involved in Novak’s Hungarian Restaurant. Karen is the official owner.
The initial years were challenging. Many people in the community were unfamiliar with Hungarian cuisine and associated “ethnic food” with pizza and tacos. But the Novaks won loyal patrons with their friendly, family atmosphere and high-quality homemade cooking. To give back, they provide free Thanksgiving dinners to those less fortunate and free Hungarian chicken soup to the sick.
Says Matilda: “Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought our life would turn out this way. The American Dream? We’re living it.”
