The Beacon Café features
mouthwatering fare
By Tangerine Clarke
It is now two months since
Shakira Gafoor and business
partner, Ramdeo Kumar reopened
the Beacon Café at 127
Carmichael and Quamina streets
in Georgetown, Guyana, for
indoor dining.
The re-migrants, from Canada,
who joined the restaurant
industry six years ago, were
forced to shutter their business
during the ongoing coronavirus
outbreak, loosing some of their
loyal customers in the process.
However, the owners of the
spotless Café, that serves creole
cuisine, are hopeful that their
signature breakfast and lunch
menu options, that include, Dhal
Puri, Indian/Asian fusions, Halal
dishes, stews, vegetables, fried
chicken, cook-up rice, Jamaican
dishes and other foreign cooked
grub.
The stewed pumpkin and fried
fish, paired with vegetable salad
and rice, certainly set the taste
buds of this reporter reeling.
All dishes are served with
local fruit juices, and purified,
and coconut water. Pastries also
make up the carte-du-jour.
The farm to table cooking,
said Gafoor, helps farmers who
are once again delivering produce
Celebrate Eid at Home
to Stop the Spread of COVID-19
Caribbean L 20 ife, APRIL 23-29, 2021
twice weekly to the Cafe,
after they too, were hit hard by
the coronavirus closures.
Lush palm trees decorate
the façade and sidewalk dining
area that leads to indoor dining,
accessible from 6:30 am – 5 pm,
Monday – Friday, and 6:30 am –
3 pm on Saturdays. Options are
inexpensive during the breakfast
and lunchtime only hours of
operation.
Gafoor told Caribbean Life,
now that sales are picking up,
the twosome will very shortly
launch their second outlet, that
will be located on Sheriff Street
in Georgetown, with a long term
goal of providing a full service
Café. This locale, will serve fresh
fruit juices, coffees, lattes, and
cappuccino, with a variety of pastries
to choose from.
Gafoor, a former sales associate,
who migrated in 2002, was
inspired to return to her homeland
after the passing of her husband,
who was a strong influence
in her life and help in her sales
career. Unfortunately, without
his help to continue in her pursuit
in this field, she chose her
other passion, love of cooking.
“When I returned to Guyana, I
didn’t think I could get back into
Sharika Gafoor, co-owner of the Beacon Cafe, poses in front
of the 127 Carmichael and Quamina streets, Georgetown,
location. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
sales, because I could not do it
alone, so a friend encouraged me
to pursue my passion for cooking.
I gave it a try, and I didn’t
regret it,” said the businesswoman
whose partner is a chartered
accountant, a great asset to a
successful business.
A dish of delicious stewed
pumpkin with fried fi sh over
rice, one of the many local
dishes served at the Beacon
Cafe in Georgetown. Photo by
Tangerine Clarke
• Keep your gathering small and
celebrate Eid al-Fitr with household
members only.
• If gathering in a group, wear a snug
fitting face covering to protect the
elderly and vulnerable.
• Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines,
including which groups are currently
eligible to receive one.
Eid Mubarak!
For more information, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus.
If you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, book your
appointment by calling 877-829-4692 (877-VAX-4NYC) or
visiting nyc.gov/vaccinefinder.
Bill de Blasio
Mayor
Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc
Commissioner
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