Couleur Café + Inc.: Sharing Haiti’s Culinary Heritage Through Food

This story is part of the Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada Retail Incubator Program, presented by RBC and supported by Meridian.

The program provides hands-on retail experience and business training to help immigrant entrepreneurs launch and grow their ventures in the heart of Ottawa.

As you explore the ByWard Market Vendor Village, you will discover more than delicious Haitian flavours. Behind Couleur Café + Inc. is a story of family, tradition, cultural pride, and a lifelong love of cooking.

For the founder of Couleur Cafe + Inc., Fabiola Pascal, the journey began in the kitchen with her grandmother.

“I started cooking when I was eight,” she shares.

Every Saturday, she would spend time with her grandmother preparing Sunday meals. She learned to cook small chicken parts while her grandmother prepared the main dish, and she also helped make Soup Joumou, Haiti’s traditional soup and a dish recognized by UNESCO as part of the country’s intangible cultural heritage.

Those early experiences sparked a lifelong passion for food.

As a teenager, she continued developing her culinary skills through mandatory cooking classes and even began selling cookies and patties at school. Although her father discouraged her from pursuing cooking as a career, believing it was more important as preparation for family life, she never lost her passion.

She went on to study Management while continuing to cook for pleasure, cater parties, and host gatherings for family and friends.

Eventually, a personal milestone helped turn that passion into a business.

For her son’s first communion, she decided to give guests homemade products as thank-you gifts. The response was unexpected. People loved the products and began placing orders.

That experience planted the seed for what would eventually become Couleur Cafe + Inc.

After moving back to Canada, she officially launched the business in 2023 with a mission to share her passion for food and Haitian culture with a wider audience.

Each Couleur Cafe + Inc. product reflects Haiti’s bold culinary heritage, with an emphasis on authentic flavour, balanced spice, and the traditions that inspired her from childhood.

For her, food is more than something to eat. It is a way to connect generations, preserve culture, and introduce others to the flavours of Haiti.

Building a food business in a new country has not been without challenges.

One of the biggest obstacles was finding clear and accessible information about the rules and regulations surrounding food production and sales in Canada.

Understanding licensing requirements, food safety standards, labelling rules, and other regulations was difficult, especially while managing the many responsibilities that come with starting a business.

The challenge continues as she works toward securing the necessary approvals and certifications, scaling production, and finding opportunities to distribute her products more widely.

Despite these obstacles, she remains committed to growing Couleur Cafe + Inc. and sharing Haiti’s culinary traditions with a broader audience.

One of her proudest moments has been being selected for the Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada Retail Incubator Program.

She initially applied on a whim, never expecting that her small, passion-driven brand would be chosen.

“I was really proud of myself that I tried,” she recalls.

Being selected validated not only her products but also her decision to take a chance on herself.

For her, the experience represents more than business growth. It is a reminder of the importance of courage, resilience, and showing up even when the outcome is uncertain.

The IEC Retail Incubator Program has helped her better understand the Canadian business environment and provided practical guidance on the foundations of running a food business.

Through hands-on training, she gained knowledge in areas such as retail strategy, pricing and financial planning, and brand presentation. She also learned how to position Couleur Cafe + Inc. for local markets such as the ByWard Market Vendor Village.

Perhaps most importantly, the program helped her see Couleur Cafe + Inc. not simply as a personal passion project, but as a professional food brand with real potential for growth.

Connecting with mentors and fellow immigrant entrepreneurs also provided encouragement, practical advice, and a stronger sense of belonging within Ottawa’s entrepreneurial community.

Her message to other immigrant entrepreneurs is simple: start before you feel ready.

There may never be a perfect moment to begin. Asking questions, seeking support, and learning along the way can make the journey easier.

She also encourages entrepreneurs to embrace their heritage. “Your food, your story, and your culture matter and they can build something extraordinary.”

For her, entrepreneurship is as much about cultural pride and courage as it is about business strategy.

Today, Couleur Cafe + Inc. is rooted in a tradition that began in her grandmother’s kitchen and continues through every product she creates.

From learning to cook as an eight-year-old to building a Haitian food brand in Canada, her journey demonstrates how food can become a bridge between cultures and generations.

Visit Couleur Cafe + Inc. at the ByWard Market Vendor Village to discover authentic Haitian flavours and experience the culinary traditions behind a business built from family, culture, and passion.

Explore Couleur Cafe + Inc. or stay updated on their latest products and projects. Follow them on Instagram @couleurcafe.ht to follow their journey as they continue sharing the bold flavours, rich culinary traditions, and cultural heritage of Haiti with communities across Canada.

This story is part of the Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada Retail Incubator Program, presented by RBC and supported by Meridian.