Joso's Croatian Seafood Restaurant in Toronto in Stephen Holt's interview with Leo Spralia

Joso would perform for his patrons as would visiting international artists like Jose Greco, Liberace, Nana Mouskouri , Harry Belafonte, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, Jose Feliciano, Joni Mitchell and many others.People were drawn to JosoâEUR(TM)s cafe for the unusual art, beautiful music, espresso coffees, pastries, sandwiches and charismatic hosts. Conservative Toronto meant no liquor was in sight however the odd patron would pop a bottle from their pocket to share!When the house was full, things were okay but the winters were long and cold and so were the profits.
About Joso
Joso was born in 1929 as the only child of a fishermanâEUR(TM)s son from Zman, Dugi Otok and raised by his mother in the Dalmatian coastal town of Zadar, Croatia, a small walled medieval city on the Adriatic sea. As a young child Joso had an intrinsic understanding and connection to the sea, which heavily influenced his development as an artist. It was pre-world war 2 , a very difficult time for everyone as the impending threat of war loomed. At the time of his birth, food was scarce and it was not uncommon to be breast fed until 4 years of age. Later in life, he would declare this fact as the influence for creating the very well endowed and curvaceous female forms that exist on the walls of the restaurant.
About Leo
Leo Spralja was born in Zadar, Croatia in 1953, the youngest son of Joso and AngiolinaâEUR(TM)s two children. LeoâEUR(TM)s passion for music began at the tender age of 9 when he began playing the guitar. He immigrated with his family to Toronto, Canada at the age of ten where he began his studies with Eli Kassner a renowned classical guitar teacher, who would continue to tutor Leo for the next 15 years. Leo would go on to win numerous awards for his expressive and extremely technical interpretations of classical music. His insatiable appetite for new forms of expression blossomed into a love of Flamenco music in his early twenties which led him to travel and live in Spain.

Here he immersed himself in the Flamenco culture where he became fluent in the language and the style. LeoâEUR(TM)s mentor has always been his father Joso, artistically and otherwise. Once the family acquired the restaurant Leo was thrown headfirst into the work and lifestyle of being a restaurateur. Guests could always find Leo cooking, serving, greeting and even serenading patrons with Joso on the restaurant floor. Married to Shirley with two children; Marko and Olivia whom now follow in his footsteps working in the restaurant today. Shirley became an integral part of the management of the restaurant and was tutored in the art of hospitality by the restaurant matriarch Angiolina. Together they now own and operate the business.
Source www.josos.com