Hurricane Matthew changed the lives so many. A lot of Haitians were displaced and were force to travel to other countries for refuge. Displacement is not easy for anyone. You loose your home and security and in the case of many Haitians you become a stranger in a foreign land.  

A local food stand in downtown Tijuana decided to help Haitians feel more at home in Mexico. The food stand formerly known for its quesadillas and delicious ranchero-style steaks has recently switched to an all Haitian-fare menu to give the growing group of stranded Caribbean immigrants a taste of home in Mexico.

Fausta Rosalía, owner of Lonchería Dulce, talked about why she transformed her business. Five Haitian women came to her stand and were not happy with selection of food, which was much different from the Caribbean comfort food they were accustomed to. Because they were far from home, stuck in a foreign land, and needed a familiar meal they approached Rosalía with proposition she couldn’t refuse. They asked her if they could cook themselves some food in her kitchen which lead the transformation of Lonchería Dulce from a Mexican food stand to a Haitian food stand. 

Since Tijuana is now the home of over 2,000 Haitians waiting for asylum in the United States, the food stand transformation has beneficial and currently has no plans of selling tacos or quesadillas any time soon.