It was much more than a Taste of Haiti

I surround myself with people who are just as passionate about spreading the great news about Haiti as I am. When I agreed to be a media partner for Taste of Haiti, an event on May 11, 2013 to showcase Haitian food, the culture and topnotch chefs, I didn’t realize how much I’d learn from it.

Yes, I love food…who doesn’t? And especially Haitian food…it’s inevitable. As I arrived to the MOCA plaza in Miami, I saw the vendor tents and masses of people. I was excited to see the turn out, but I was so focused on getting food because I was starving! I saw one of my favorite members of the Haitian Culinary Alliance (HCA), Chef David Destinoble, cooking at his tent. I ordered conch fritters and papita. I never order fish anywhere I go, or fried food, but it looked so good and I was so deliriously hungry that I said, “I’ll take the conch fritters!” I’m so glad I did…it was SO GOOD, despite my guilt when 2 people asked me, aren’t you on a diet? (I am not, I eat super healthy regularly and talk about it way too much about it on Facebook, apparently). Not to mention it was only $5. My husband got fried red snapper and papita, which was also only $5. Good quality food and only $10 for lunch at an outdoor event is a super amazing price!

The next best thing was the chef cook off sponsored by Madame Gougousse. With a front row view as a photographer, I could hear, see and feel the pressure of the chefs as they created dishes in 45 minutes. The mystery ingredients were: cassava, yellow tail, chayote, corn meal (big grains) and pumpkin. Each dish looked amazing and I am sure tasted just as great! Every chef was absolutely a winner in my opinion, but the best dish went to Jovens Jean, an executive chef in Miami.

Super awesome bonuses:

• Chef Alain Lemaire has been a great inspiration for his leadership and motivating skills. I developed a great working relationship with him via the HCA and he has promoted this website so much, which I am forever grateful for! 
• I saw one of my favorite people, Frere Joel…a big supporter of The Real Haiti. He was a judge for the competition. 
• I got to meet Stevy Mahy and take a picture with her! I am a huge fan and she was a pleasure to meet. 

Taste of Haiti was more than just Haitian food. It was the most organized Haitian event I’ve been to, ever. Everything ran smoothly, people were having fun and happy. There was even entertainment for kids to keep them busy! I can’t wait to see what else they have in store for us. Thank you to every single person involved in this in every way from the sponsors, vendors and to each person who came to the event!