WHEN on the Corentyne, Berbice, be sure to check out El Paso Fun Park and Food Shop, located at #51 Loudia Village Public Road, a place to relax and unwind with a large benab and a trampoline for children.

It was an abandoned plot that was overgrown; a swampy dump that was later converted into a place where people can visit for good food, cold beverages and a place to relax.

Proprietor Lisa Archer told the Pepperpot Magazine that while growing up in the village, her mother always had a “sweetie” stand by the roadside and she used to assist and as she grew older, she had her eyes set on a similar small business.

The 28-year-old stated that they would prepare different dishes every day and have a variety for customers to choose from such as curried fish, curried chicken, fried rice with fried chicken, chowmein and pot-roasted chicken and curried beef, among others.

They have an in-house chef and to accompany the dishes, they have local fruit juices as well as carbonated beverages.

Archer reported that they started small and today they have a thriving food business and she is thankful to have grown from strength to strength, which was a result of her close-knit family.

Archer and her family are home-grown people from #51 Loudia Village and they reside in the back street of the community and have their food shop on the public road, which is next door to her brother’s house.

She explained that instead of a swampy plot, they have a play park where both adults and children have a place to visit free of cost.

Children at play on the trampoline

“The children do not pay to use the trampoline or benab, but you have to buy food and drinks and a lot was put into the place to make it what it is today,” she said.

El Paso Food Shop is a colourful place with bright colours and it is well-kept; a good place to visit or sit for a few minutes before embarking on your journey.

The benab is large and it is breezy with tables and chairs, the perfect place to dine.

At the El Paso Food Shop, all COVID-19 protocols are in place such as hand-washing, social distancing and wearing of face masks.

The small business is being managed by Archer, her mother and siblings and at weekends they would have a One Man Band and music and transform the place into a fun park and have a barbeque.

Vanessa the chef
Although she is from another village, #76 Housing Scheme, Corentyne, Berbice, she would spend a lot of time at #51 Loudia Village at the El Paso Food Shop because she is the chef.

The 49-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that she came from a family of chefs and good cooks and grew up in the kitchen preparing good food with her family.

As she grew up, she realised she wanted to have a career as a chef and went to sharpen her skills at the Carnegie School of Home Economics and was qualified.

The mother of five related that she has been cooking for the past 25 years and thoroughly enjoys her job.

Vanessa added that she is very passionate about cooking and is versed in making any dish which includes baking.

“When you are passionate about cooking like me there is no such thing as slaving over a stove, food is made with love and it is quite enjoyable,” she said.

The grandmother of five stated that she would start working from 06:30hrs to 14:00hrs daily then commute home.

Vanessa added that every day she would prepare different dishes, so on no given day would they have the same foods.

The Cake and Chips Man
Wayne Archer is the father of three and is well-known on the Corentyne corridor, because he would ride and sell cakes and chips daily from one village to another.
He would sell home-made salaras, pine tarts, cheese rolls, sponge cakes and pine slices, along with plantain chips and chicken foot with “sour.”

Archer would lend a helping hand selling in his family business, El Paso Food Shop and help to clean up the place daily.

He is conveniently located next door and his place is where all the cooking takes place by the in-house chef, Vanessa (only name).

Archer would ride his bicycle from #51 Loudia to Eversham villages and would return home after all his home-made cakes and chips are sold out.

He goes from door to door and is your friendly neighbour, who is making an honest living.