Introduction
Food is more than just something we eat—it’s a story, a memory, a culture served on a plate. Haitian cuisine, with its bold spices, soulful flavors, and rich heritage, is arguably one of the tastiest culinary traditions in the world. Yet somehow, despite its excellence, it has remained in the shadows of the mainstream dining scene. That’s where the Haitian Cuisine Network (HCN) comes in. More than just a delivery service, more than just a business, HCN is a movement—a passionate, unapologetic promoter of Haitian food and culture, determined to bring the richness of our tables to the global stage. This is how we operate, and why we exist.
The Birth of a Vision
HCN was born in Canada, far from the shores of Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien, but close to the hearts of a group of Haitian entrepreneurs who knew something had to change. We would sit around and talk about how in every big city there were Thai restaurants, Indian buffets, Mexican taquerías, Italian trattorias—all celebrated and mainstream. Yet Haitian food? Often nowhere to be seen, or relegated to small, obscure corners where even fellow Haitians sometimes struggled to find it. It hurt to see that, because anyone who’s ever tasted a perfectly seasoned griot or a steaming bowl of soup joumou knows: Haitian food is in a league of its own.
For too long, we felt, the beauty of our cuisine—probably the tastiest in the world—was taking second place to other cuisines we knew, frankly, were far inferior. How could it be that Haitian flavors, which carry centuries of history and soul in every bite, were being passed over in favor of bland, forgettable fast food? That thought was painful. And that’s when the idea of Haitian Cuisine Network was born. Not as just another delivery company, but as a cultural mission disguised as a business.
Not Just Another Delivery Company
We looked at what was out there: Uber Eats, DoorDash, SkipTheDishes. They were everywhere, delivering anything and everything, but completely indifferent to what they were delivering. For them, food was just… food. A transaction. A number on a screen. But for us, food—our food—is our identity. That’s why we decided that HCN would be different. Yes, we assign delivery drivers. Yes, we operate an app and a website where people can order food. But the drivers and the technology are just the means to an end. The real goal? To bring Haitian food into the mainstream, to make non-Haitian people understand just how amazing it is, and to connect Haitian restaurants all over the world under one proud, unified banner.
Uniting Haitian Restaurants Across the Globe
One of the first steps we took was to reach out to Haitian restaurants—not just in Canada, but in the United States, France, the Caribbean, anywhere there was a chef cooking up diri kole ak pwa, tassot, akra, pikliz, lambi, and all the other gems of our culinary heritage. Too often, Haitian restaurateurs were working in isolation, without support, and without much of a platform to showcase their craft. We saw that, and we said: enough.
HCN operates as a connector. We bring Haitian restaurants into our network, giving them visibility and helping them reach customers they would have never found on their own. We take care of the technology—creating beautiful online profiles for them, listing their menus with photos that actually do their food justice, and making sure their offerings can be discovered by anyone, anywhere. No more hiding in the shadows. Haitian cuisine deserves the spotlight.
The Delivery Drivers: A Means to a Greater End
Some people look at us and think, “Oh, they’re just another delivery company.” But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. For Uber Eats, the drivers are the business. For us, the drivers are just part of the machinery that supports the real mission: getting more people to taste and fall in love with Haitian food. Sure, we vet, hire, and train our delivery drivers. We make sure they’re professional, on-time, and capable of delivering the food hot and fresh. But that’s not where our hearts are. Our hearts are in every kitchen, with every chef who finally gets to share their creations with a bigger audience. Our hearts are with every non-Haitian customer who takes a bite of griot and says, “Wow—why didn’t I know about this sooner?”
Spreading the Word: Beyond Delivery
To really make Haitian cuisine mainstream, we knew we couldn’t just stop at delivery. We invest heavily in promotion—through social media campaigns, events, tastings, and even collaborations with influencers and food bloggers. We tell stories. We share videos of Haitian chefs explaining their techniques, the history behind their dishes, and what makes them special. We create content that educates as much as it tempts the palate. We know that to win hearts and minds, people need to understand not just what the food is, but what it means.
We also work with restaurants to help them innovate and expand their menus when needed. We share insights on what dishes tend to resonate with newcomers, while staying true to authentic Haitian flavors. We offer photography and branding services to make their food stand out online. Because we know the sad truth: even the tastiest dish can be overlooked if it’s not presented properly. And that’s just not acceptable anymore.
Changing Perceptions, One Plate at a Time
Perhaps the most important thing we do is change perceptions. Haitian food has long been alienated from the mainstream—not because it’s not good enough, but because people just don’t know it yet. In many places, people still wrongly associate Haitian food with poverty or think of it as “too spicy” or “too exotic.” HCN exists to break down those stereotypes and replace them with one undeniable fact: Haitian food is delicious. Period.
We love seeing the reactions. A Canadian couple trying soup joumou for the first time. A young professional in New York biting into griot and looking up in surprise. A foodie influencer in Paris posting a glowing review of tassot kabrit. Those moments are what keep us going. That’s why we do what we do.
The Future of Haitian Cuisine Network
Our goal is simple but ambitious: we want Haitian food to be as common and beloved as Italian, Chinese, or Mexican. We want Haitian restaurants in every major city, thriving and busy, their owners proud of their heritage. We want non-Haitian customers to not just know about Haitian food, but to crave it. And we’re well on our way. Every day, more restaurants join our network. Every week, more customers discover us. Every month, more chefs get the recognition they deserve. And this is just the beginning.
Conclusion
The Haitian Cuisine Network is not just a company. It’s a mission. It’s a love letter to our ancestors who taught us to cook with heart and soul, even when they had nothing. It’s a celebration of the resilience and creativity of our people, who turned scraps into masterpieces and created one of the world’s richest culinary traditions. And it’s a promise: to never let Haitian food be overlooked again. Through every delivery, every restaurant partnership, and every new customer who takes their first bite, we are writing a new chapter in the story of Haitian cuisine—a chapter where we finally take our rightful place at the table.