How did this all start?
Bonjou!
My name is Nathalie Jean-Baptiste.
Yes! I know, my last name doesn’t get any more Haitian than that!
Who am I really? I consider myself a renaissance woman.
I looooooove learning new skills in any field possible:
Culinary, baking, painting, crafting, designing, writing, knitting,sewing. You name it! I often joke while saying “ I’m a tout bagay”. Which literally translates to:
“I’m an everything”.
Most say I’d make a great surgeon due to the agility in my hands. Sure, I can manage any tasks requiring detail and precision but it clearly explains my drive to venture in the kitchen with absolutely no experience. What better motivation than to share my culinary journey with you? To help you get better at things you probably thought you couldn’t do!
I guess by now, you’ve already figured out that I’m the cook and photographer behind “Pilon lakay”. This blog started 8 years ago as I realized that I knew absolutely nothing about Haitian cuisine. The food I grew up eating every single day. Go figure! Well, back home, I was never taught how to cook nor was I ever interested in being in the kitchen unless it involved baking. Instead, I loved preparing cakes and cookies.
(Shhhh! I still do).
After a couple of years in the US, like most of us immigrants, I missed food from home. The good stuff, you know! So I decided to take matters into my own hands and make of this a personal exploration of Haitian food. Boy what a journey it has been! While cooking up a storm in the kitchen, I wanted to encourage others like me to actually learn and explore Haiti’s gastronomy. I made sure my instructions were personal and beginner friendly. My recipe directions contain a lot more details than any other regular recipes. With a personal touch, it’s a depiction of my thought process when I do these many tasks. I’m sure you can cook anything on here! If I can do it, you can too! Come experience Haiti through your taste buds!
Meet you in the kitchen!
Love,
N.
Here’s a little bit more about me:
- I am an Artist painter
- I self published a children’s book
- I teach art
- I manage a frame shop in NYC
- I cater custom cakes
- I am a mother
PILON LAKAY 