By Camryn Bowden
When we think of food, we often think of the flavors and the composition, maybe the memories particular dishes evoke. But we do not often talk about how food can be a way of advocating for oneself, for one’s identity and culture.
Henry Hilaire is a local business owner, manager and artist. He has worked in prestigious roles as an animator at NickTunes and Budweiser. However, over the past year, he has moved his focus to his Blue Mermaid Gourmet Restaurant, the Haitian and Jamaican fusion eatery at 327 Oak St. in Uniondale, near the border with Hempstead. Whether it be the jerk chicken, the coconut rice or the black beans, Hillaire’s goal behind the Blue Mermaid is to introduce the local community to the cuisine that matters so much to him with good food. He also said he hopes his restaurant will help change perceptions of Haitians.
Hilaire escaped political instability in his teen years, leaving Haiti amid the fall of the Duvalier dynasty, which ended in 1986. Since coming to the United States, he has seen political tensions rise, sharing that the biggest issue during this past election season was democracy itself.
