When we think about the longest established restaurants in Belize, Dit's here in the City is the first that comes to mind: it's been opened for 60 years and counting. After that you might think of Chon Saan which opened up in 1974, and is 40 years old and counting. We're sure there are others across the country who've been holding up for a few decades, but certainly Elvi's Kitchen on San Pedro is one of the most famous. It's the flagship restaurant of that island town which probably has more restaurants per square foot than any other part of the country. But, while so many restaurants on the fickle island paradise come and go, Elvi's just keeps going, getting bigger, more popular and more specialised. We visited for their 40th anniversary celebration on Saturday:..
Jules Vasquez reporting
San Pedro's restaurant business is probably the most competitive in Belize, every delicate gesture is finely tuned, from presentation, to plating, to service, and, of course, to taste, and on San Pedro no one has done it better, for longer than Elvi's Kitchen.
On Saturday night, the iconic island restaurant celebrated its 40th anniversary, by inviting 100 guests, mostly family to celebrate the accomplishment.
But, really it's a celebration of Dona Elvia Staines, the matriarch of the family, a widow with a deft touch in the kitchen, and a knack for business.
She still prepares pastries and sauces for the restaurant.
On this night, she sat flanked by the island's political "A-Listers", the Area Rep., and the mayor but this humble, soft-spoken 84-year-old is most comfortable in the kitchen:
Dona Elvia Staines
"I'm old, but I like to do it. It makes me happy to help. I'm still doing the desserts - especially the pastries. I do it, with help I can do it. And I'm happy. I love it."
She's been loving it since the mid 70's when a hole in the wall burger shack slowly evolved into the island's most enduring, well-loved and celebrated restaurant:
Einer Gomez, Chairman - BTB
"But also what you have done for our country, you have established an iconic business. And in food, and everybody knows your place, everybody knows your food."
Danny Guerrero, Mayor - San Pedro
"Elvi's kitchen has been a signature of Ambergris Caye and Belize."
Einer Gomez, Chairman - BTB
"It is fantastic to know that you have established throughout these years, such an iconic business from humble beginnings. It is amazing how, all of this has come from your heart, and that is what counts."
And that's probably the key to their success - cooking with love - a practice passed from mother to daughter:
Jennie Staines, Chef - Elvi's Kitchen
"Cooking with love for me is having passion. Every onion or sweet pepper any vegetable that you hold in your hand, and the knife cuts into it, it's very important. Every cut, every detail that you do, every seasoning that you touch, it's done with measurements that come in your soul."
And, for that, Chef Jennie says her mother is her daily inspiration:
Jennie Staines, Chef - Elvi's Kitchen
"Every day when I am in the kitchen, simply with a frying pan you are there with me. In everything I make, you are there."
And what they make, is essentially, unmistakably Belizean - but with an international flair:
Jennie Staines
"We don't try to copy; we don't try to imitate any international cuisine. We keep our own, with our own Mayan, Belizean Creole, Garifuna everything we keep it simple and we just take it to another level. We reinterpret dishes and that's what we offer the tourists, and I feel being unique is what's the success of the restaurant."
And can that success continue for another 40 years? Chef Jennie looks to her son:
Oscar Pinelo, Elvi's Grandson
"Elvi's kitchen is 40 years old. But it's just the beginning. We're hoping for at least, another 40 years."
One thing all three long serving restaurants have in common is family: Elvis is preparing the third generation, Dit's is being run by the third generation while chon Saan is on the second generation.
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