is chef/owner of Coconut Baby.
Are you where you’ve always wanted to be?
No. There is always room for improvement in all arenas of my life. I am happy with what I have accomplished so far and excited to see what else will happen within my lifetime.
What is your biggest professional challenge?
There is always a hurdle to overcome. My current challenge is taking the next step to open a space and raising the capital to do so. But I am confident that I will make it happen.
What is your biggest life challenge?
My health. I suffer with asthma, which can be debilitating at times but I try to incorporate activities to reduce my stress and take time to monitor and treat my symptoms when they arise.
When you look to the future, what do you see?
The launch of my new book Coconut Baby: Island Love On A Plate which showcases my original Coconut Baby recipes at Sharjah International Book Fair in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
What is your favourite pastime?
Creating new takes on traditional Caribbean and American dishes. This is something I inherited from my mum. As a child I watched my mother create culinary masterpieces based on her love of her traditional Caribbean foods, her eagerness to try new things and her awesome naturally gifted palate. I love the idea of creating something new and seeing people enjoy the dishes I create.
What is your favourite meal?
I love food. Period.
On Saturday nights, where are you likely to be?
At home preparing for the week. Unless I have an engagement of some kind, I like to use Saturday as my day to get organised.
What upsets you the most?
People that don’t have an open mind and/or are not willing to try new things. People are quick to say “I don’t like that!” and when you ask have they ever tried it, the answer is usually “No”.
What is your guiding philosophy?
Just be a good human. What does that entail? Just be nice to people. Think about how your actions might affect others. Be mindful of your role in this society and how to make it better. Hug people. Not random people though. Get to know them first. Or at the very least introduce yourself and then ask if they would like a hug. Don’t just accost people with hugs. That is weird.
If you had the chance to manage Barbados for a day, what would you do?
Encourage our children to follow their dreams and not force them to be “office workers” or “Government officials”. Everyone can’t be in an office and there is nothing wrong with positions in agriculture, the Arts, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and more. There are so many gifted people that were denied their true calling by being forced by society to “get a good job”. I believe that if you do what you love, to the best of your ability, the money will follow. (SC)
