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| Isidora "Dora" Elijio
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When one thinks about gastronomical desires, probably the first thing
that comes to mind is gourmet cooking or international cuisine. This
might be true for many, but in San Pedro there is a special home-cooked
meal that has gained the popularity of being the best to satisfy an
appetite that craves an authentic Belizean dish. We are speaking of our
Belizean rice and beans. What makes this dish more special is the love
and dedication put into the preparation of this hearty meal that is
savored by many locals and visitors alike. The rice and beans we speak of
is no ordinary dish, it is one prepared by this week's personality and
long-time San Pedro resident Mrs. Isidora "Dora" Elijio.
Ms. Dora, as she is known as, was born in Hopkins
Village on April 28th,
1943. Soon after, her family moved to Dangriga where she attended Sacred
Heart Primary School. Finishing school, young Dora stayed at home to help
her mother with the daily household chores until the age of 21 when she
went to live with her common-law husband Santos Elijio. Together they
have five beautiful children (two girls and three boys).
Ms. Dora's father would always tell her stories about
San Pedro and the peaceful life it offered. The stories motivated her to
move to the island with her family in 1978 in the hopes of making a
better living. Being no stranger to work, she immediately found means of
making money by selling Johnny cakes and Creole bread, going from
house-to-house. The community welcomed Ms. Dora and her wonderful cooking
with open arms. She eventually went on to add fish empanadas, fried fish
and rice and beans to her menu. All her homemade dishes were an instant
hit but what made it big, was her rice and beans. The key ingredient to
her cooking is the time and dedication she puts into its preparation.
Forget about the modern ovens, all her cooking is done on an open fire
hearth. The process is slow but the end product is finger-licking
good.
Many years ago Ms. Dora loaded her pot of rice and
beans, stewed chicken and potato salad on a wheel barrow and took it to
Central Park where she decided to temporarily set up business. The
response from the public and the tourists was overwhelming so she made
this her permanent location. Since then she has been selling her meals on
a weekly basis, rain or shine, from 8:00 p.m. until sometimes 5:00 a.m.
At the time Ms. Dora was the only food vendor at Central Park and her
food was sought after by the many late-night workers and party-goers
coming out of Captain Locos (Big Daddy's now). Her rice and beans is
complimented by a piece of fried plantain and home-made "peppa". Today
Ms. Dora can still be found at Central Park and her delicious food has
the same gusto it did twenty-two years ago. Some say Ms. Dora has become
a monument at Central Park and if by chance she doesn't make it there,
people immediately start asking of her whereabouts.
What makes Ms. Dora very dear to many is her pleasant
disposition and friendly service. After all these years she knows her
customers' liking and will make sure one gets the particular piece of
chicken desired and also takes time to ask, "do you want any peppa,
daaling?" She has worked tirelessly for twenty years now along with her
husband Santos and together they have managed to buy a well-deserved
piece of land and built their home.
Ms. Dora had fed thousands of people, leaving them
satisfied with the taste of her great cooking. She has also made numerous
friends, many who say she is the best of all the culinary artists in "Our
Community."
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