On Sunday December 13th, 2015 Orlando’s restaurant in Soufriere paid tribute to market vendors in Soufriere for their invaluable contribution to the tourism product in Soufriere. According to the award-winning and world renowned Chef Orlando, proprietor of the restaurant, the market vendors ensure that they are up early each morning to make available for purchase fresh local produce. “We often give recognition to the farmers and this is very important but the market vendors are also very important to the economy and the tourism product,” he said.
The restaurant sees its support of the vendors as also lending support to the Soufriere community out of which it operates. Sunday’s recognition took the form of a lunch as Chef Orlando and his staff said thank you and pampered their guests. Certificates and awards were presented and vendors delighted in some good steel-pan music.
Courts and Steve’s bar in Soufriere contributed to the event, which came just one day after Orlando’s restaurant marked its third anniversary: Orlando’s restaurant and bar has been in existence since December 12th 2012. “Though the business has been a challenging one it has been successful and is continuing to grow,” Chef Orlando said.
The restaurant was the first to stage a pop-up restaurant at the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival 2015 and has participated in numerous activities including the Food and Rum festival in Barbados. “Continuing with its success, Orlando’s restaurant was one of the top three restaurants named by TripAdvisor in Soufriere for the last three consecutive years and the business will continue to excel for the number one spot with its top class service,” Orlando told the STAR.
He is hoping that next year’s event can be firmly marked as an annual vendors award ceremony with more preparation going into making it big and better. And judging by the excitement that emanated from vendors last Sunday, they are no doubt looking forward to putting their best foot forward in 2016.
