Food is such a rich part of culture, especially in Haiti. For our culinary trip we’ll taste traditional Haitian dishes —from street food to special occasion cuisine and cocktails — and then work alongside local chefs to prepare them. We’ll also spend some time with Singing Rooster (Kok Ki Chante), a social enterprise nonprofit that works with Haitian farmers to produce coffee. We’ll take a trip to their farming co-ops in the south and help them bring in this year’s harvest.
ITINERARY
Day 1, Saturday
Arrive in Port-au-Prince, where you’ll be greeted by our eager EIM guides. After getting settled into our guesthouse — Haiti Communitere (HC) – take a visit to a local garden to learn about some of the indigenous fruit and vegetables of Haiti. We’ll then go out to dinner, getting to know each other while sampling a variety of Haitian cuisine.
Day 2, Sunday
On Sunday we’ll spend the day relaxing on the beach. For lunch we’ll enjoy some of Haiti’s delicious seafood and sauces. Back at HC, we’ll prepare our first dinner together, learning how to make spicy Haitian spaghetti.
Day 3, Monday
After breakfast, we’ll head downtown to visit a local market and learn about Haitian history and its impact on food and culture. Under the guidance of HC’s head chef Yasmine, we’ll learn to prepare a variety of classic dishes including Soup Joumou — a pumpkin soup that’s come to symbolize Haitian independence.
Day 4, Tuesday
On Tuesday (weather permitting) we’ll leave Port-au-Prince and head south to the farming community of Thiotte. Here we’ll be greeted by our friends at Singing Rooster coffee, where we’ll learn more about their work and visit their farming co-ops. We’ll also have the opportunity to assist with making dinner and taste the dishes that are common in the region.
Day 5, Wednesday
On Wednesday we’ll be put to work helping the farmers from Singing Rooster bring in this year’s coffee crop. Sample tasks include harvesting coffee cherries, taking part in roasting and packing activities, and planting new seedlings for next year. You can choose to stay on the farm all day, or return early to help prepare dinner.
Day 6, Thursday
After a final morning in Thiotte, we’ll return to Port-au-Prince and get busy preparing our biggest dinner yet. We’ll learn how to replicate the Fish Kreyol from our beach trip along with classic sides including fried plantains and pikliz. We’ll then share our meal (including homemade rum sours!) with other friends and guests in a large, family style gathering. Afterward we’ll hit the town for an evening of live music and dancing.
Day 7, Friday
In the morning you’ll have the option to either rest or get your hands dirty with some gardening work. For lunch we’ll learn to make homemade patties – a classic Haitian street food. For dinner we’ll mix it up by trying the best pizza in Port-au- Prince and enjoying each other’s company in a low-key evening out.
Day 8, Saturday
Bid farewell to your new friends and head to the airport filled with unforgettable memories (and a full stomach!)
For more details about this trip including a packing list, check out our Details page.
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Don’t forget: Beyond creating employment, the proceeds from this trip will be donated back to English in Mind Institute – one of the only non-profit adult English schools in Port-au-Prince – allowing this important education to remain affordable. A portion of your trip fee will also be used to support Singing Rooster and Haiti Communitere’s incredible work in Haiti.