Haitian Cuisine: A Cultural Treasure, A Shared Responsibility

By Samuel Georges

From Chef Leen to countless culinary artists across the globe, Haitian cuisine stands as more than nourishment — it is identity, resilience, and art served on a plate. Each dish carries the soul of a people who have endured, created, and celebrated through flavor. Our food is not just what we eat — it’s how we remember, how we gather, and how we speak without words.

Whether it’s the comforting aroma of soup joumou, the rich earthiness of diri djon djon, or the bold flavor of griot paired with pikliz, Haitian food is a sensory storybook. It tells of freedom, of faith, of generations, and of a culture that has always turned scarcity into beauty.

And for the Haitian diaspora — especially in places like Florida, New York, Boston, Montreal, Paris, and beyond — our restaurants are more than businesses. They are cultural embassies. These are the places where our story is told to the world, one plate at a time.

 Haitian Restaurants Are Our Embassies Abroad

For many people, walking into a Haitian restaurant is the first and only contact they’ll ever have with our culture. The smells, the music, the service, the language, the standards — they all become part of the story people carry about who Haitians are.

That’s why every detail matters. Every clean table, every warm greeting, every safe and delicious plate — it all sends a message:

This is Haiti

So when a Haitian restaurant like La Fourchette is shut down in Florida due to food safety and sanitary violations, the damage goes far beyond a temporary closure or a failed inspection. It’s a cultural setback. It reflects on our image, our reputation, and our efforts to build respect for Haitian excellence abroad.

 When One Falls, We All Feel It

La Fourchette, under the public leadership of Florence El Luche, has long been recognized in the Haitian community. While she may say she wasn’t involved in daily operations, as a public figure and entertainer, you don’t get to separate your name from your business — not when the business carries your image and your legacy.

If your name is on the wall, then your reputation is on the line — for better or for worse. And when things go wrong, the responsibility isn’t just legal — it’s moral. It’s cultural. It’s collective.

 A Personal Word to Florence El Luche

Florence, this is a moment that calls not for defense, but for discernment.

You are a talented woman. You’ve made a name for yourself. But in times like these, it’s not about how loudly we speak — it’s about how deeply we listen.

Please, with all respect:

✨Be humble.

✨ Stop talking too much publicly right now.

✨ Let your actions, not your explanations, lead the way.

Food safety is not a joke

It’s not an opinion — it’s the law. It’s public health. It’s liability. And in today’s world, lack of knowledge or training is not an excuse that holds up in court — or in the community.

No one expects perfection. But we do expect responsibility, especially from those who carry our culture on their shoulders. This is your moment to reset, to lead differently, and to show that accountability can be powerful and redemptive.

Food Safety Is Not a Detail — It’s a Duty

Running a restaurant is more than sharing good food. It’s about protecting lives.

Proper hygiene, clean kitchens, safe storage, trained staff — these are not extras. They are the bare minimum.

Not meeting those standards doesn’t just hurt a business — it risks the public’s trust in all Haitian establishments.

In many ways, food safety is a matter of national security — not just in Haiti, but globally. When these standards are neglected, it's not just a health issue — it becomes a reputational injury to the entire diaspora.

 The Way Forward: Leadership with Humility

Mistakes happen. But how we respond is what defines true leadership.

Right now is not the time to be defensive or to make excuses. It’s a time to:

1.- Take full accountability

2.- Fix the violations — thoroughly and transparently

3.- Hire qualified professionals who understand food safety and compliance

4.- Stay humble and lead by example

We must understand that our restaurants don’t just serve food — they serve culture. And that culture deserves to be protected, respected, and presented with excellence.

 A Call to All Haitian Business Owners

If you serve in the name of Haiti, serve with honor.

If your business represents our culture, represent us well.

The world may not know our full story, but when they taste our food, they begin to understand our soul. Let’s make sure what they taste is respect, quality, pride, and care.

Because every Haitian restaurant is a doorway to our heritage — and it’s on us to make sure that door is open, welcoming, clean, and worthy of the culture it represents.

 A Message to the Haitian Media & Online Buzz Platforms

To our Haitian journalists, bloggers, influencers, and online media outlets:

 You have every right to report on La Fourchette’s closure.

Freedom of the press is sacred — and no one should attempt to silence or intimidate you for covering this public matter.

However, we must also remember: with influence comes responsibility.

The goal of media and commentary is not to destroy, but to inform, question, and elevate our standards.

Yes, Florence El Luche is a public figure — well known not only in the Haitian community but also in the broader American scene. But exposing, mocking, and dragging her online will not fix what’s broken.

What will help now is pressure to do better, not humiliation for the sake of views. The violations happened — that’s clear. What matters now is what happens next:

1.- Will the problem be fixed?

2.- Will La Fourchette return stronger, cleaner, and more professional than ever?

3.- Will the owner take this seriously and turn failure into leadership?

Let’s ask those questions. Let’s hold Florence accountable — but also give her room to rebuild.

La Fourchette was not the only restaurant shut down for safety violations. And if we destroy every Haitian business at the first sign of failure, we destroy our own image.

Let’s report the facts. Let’s protect public health. But let’s also encourage our people to rise — not just fall.

 Our Culture Deserves Excellence

We carry the dreams of our ancestors and the hopes of our children.

We don’t have the luxury of mediocrity — we owe it to our people to strive for excellence in every space we enter.

When one of us succeeds, the world sees Haiti shine.

When one of us falls, we must rise together — stronger, wiser, and better.

Haitian food is a gift. Let’s serve it with the dignity it deserves.

Let’s protect our cultural treasures.

Let’s lead with care, courage, and accountability.

Let’s turn every plate into a celebration of who we are.