Above: the Taste of Haiti event in North Miami (All photos by CJ)

By Alexander Britell

MIAMI — Haitian cuisine was on full display Saturday at the first annual Taste of Haiti at the Museum of Contemporary Art Plaza in North Miami on Saturday.

The event, which was presented by the Haitian Culinary Alliance and the Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce, featured local and out-of-town vendors offering samples of the diversity of Haitian gastronomy.

“It’s awesome that we’re able to get a lot of Haitians under one roof,” said Carline Phanor, the founder of Men Pa’w Gourmet Hot Sauce, who was exhibiting her product at the event. “The food is delicious.”

Vendors ranged included local restaurants like the MOCA Cafe, Haiti’s Ministry of Tourism and Haitian coffee distributors like Saint Thomas University’s Cafe Cocano programme and new Haitian startup Kafe Pa Nou.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime, the City of North Miami and the Consulate General of Haiti in Miami also collaborated on the event.

“We’re able to try all of the diversity of different cultures, as far as from different parts of Haiti,” Phanor said.