Secret Bay Launches “Koudmen Kitchen” To Provide Meals For Dominica’s Frontline Healthcare Workers

UPDATE

Secret Bay and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort’s “Koudmen Kitchen,” an initiative committed to serving the Nature Island during the COVID-19 global pandemic, provided 1,454 meals to Dominica’s healthcare workers both in Portsmouth and Roseau since launching in early April. In addition to Koudmen Kitchen, Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort donated 210 room nights to members of the healthcare community during the month of April and provided 10 rooms for emergency accommodations. We are incredibly honoured to have been able to thank and support our frontline responders through this initiative.

During this time, it is incredibly important to all of us at Secret Bay that we rise up and support our Dominica community in every way possible. As we shift our focus to how we can best serve those fighting on the frontlines against COVID-19, we are proud and honored to have joined forces with our sister-property Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort to launch Koudmen Kitchen—a joint initiative to feed Dominica’s frontline healthcare workers during this pandemic.

Stemming from the term Koudmen, translating to ‘helping hand’ in Creole, Koudmen Kitchen draws on the leadership of multiple culinary experts, including Chef Grant Lynott, the Executive Chef of Secret Bay’s acclaimed Zing Zing Restaurant, and Fort Young Chefs’ Delma Cenac and Minavia Hazel.

“I’m honored to collaborate with Chef Delma, Chef Minavia and our collective teams to prepare meals for those fighting to protect us,” shared Chef Grant. “As it is said, we’re all in this together and food is my way to keep us all connected.” 

Supplying COVID-19 frontline healthcare professionals with 50 no-cost meals a day at four locations across the island takes a village—and this initiative would not be possible without the special support from Archipelago Trading, which is supplying food inputs, and 100% Green, which is providing biodegradable containers, as well as local farmers and fishermen and the delivery teams in Roseau and Portsmouth. Thanks to the united support from across the island, Koudmen Kitchen began its service on April 3 and will continue for at least the next thirty days.  

“[…] we wanted to refocus our efforts in a meaningful way that best serve those on the frontline working to the breaking point in the fight against COVID-19,” said Gregor Nassief, chairman of GEMS Holdings Limited. “I’m inspired and proud of our entire team.”