Meet Myriam Beaulieu | Restaurateur, chef and Owner/Administrator of Group Homes

We had the good fortune of connecting with Myriam Beaulieu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Myriam, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
To factor Choublak’s success is to analyze many elements. In the food industry, providing choices to consumers is very important. As important, is offering a menu that is consistent, tasty while considering the value being provided. As a Caribbean restaurant, our foods are rich in flavor, colors and carbs, needless to say our work is cut out for us. In consideration with our clients, we prepare our foods with the best ingredients available to secure a health-conscious food delivery and keeping it authentic to the Haitian cuisine. To put it simply, Choublak’s success stems from being consistent, attentive to the public, trusting our instinct and not compromising quality over quantity.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
What sets my brand apart from others is that we are driven by what the public wants and desires. Hence, we offer an attractive atmosphere while enjoying good foods made with the best products. Foremost, I am most proud of my marriage and my children. I am also an owner of group homes that provide services to people with disabilities. I am a very persistent and resilient person. I always go after what I want and will not stop until I get it. Many doors have been shut in my face and many people have said No more than Yes to me. There is no easy achievement. Success is always the fruit of hard and long hours, days and years of commitment to a cause. My belief is that with hard work, consistent behavior and having a clear vision, are amongst the qualities that have brought me this far.

Some of the lessons learned along the way, one can never be presumptuous and that being a decent human being is still achievable. What the world should know about the name Choublak, is that it means Hibiscus and it is Haiti’s national flower. Hibiscus comes in many shapes and colors. It is versatile just like me and I am proud to carry the name in the food industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
South Florida has so many exciting places to visit and things to do that it is almost impossible to pinpoint just a few of them but I’m going to try my best. I love outdoor activities such as bike riding along the Markham Park Mountain Bike Trails in Sunrise, the View Park in Davie and of course C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines. Besides the bike trails, these parks offer other enjoyments: picnic areas, basketball courts, tennis courts, canoe/kayak rentals and much more. For the night life, I enjoy going and spending time at South Beach, it has a Caribbean vibe to it that reminds me of Haïti. One of the many places I love there is Mango with its multi floors of music, foods and drinks; wow I just love it there! Another favorite spot of mine is Lauderdale by the sea. With its vibrant and charming coastal look and let’s not forget the boutiques and restaurants. I can always be spotted at Aruba Beach Cafe, very friendly with a strong Caribbean vibe. Last time my girlfriends were in town for a weekend, we visited Kiki on the River and Juvia in Miami. The 1st night, we went to Kiki, a Greek restaurant with a beautiful waterfront view and traditional Greek cuisine, we had a fantastic time. We saved Juvia for last and it was amazing. From the rooftop, a large portion of the Miami vibrant life can be seen. it was a night filled with fun, lively music and succulent foods. We had a blast! Living in South Florida is very exciting in itself but coupled with these social activities, what’s not to love!!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
As a young girl, each summer my family would take trips to the country side, a province called Ouanaminthe located in the Nord-est department of Haiti. From the capital (Port-au-Prince) where we lived, it was an entire day of driving which included many stops along the way for bathroom breaks, to stretch out and to purchase foods. Though my mother would always prepare food for this long journey, My siblings and I could not wait for the main highlight of these trips, foods from Montrouis, a coastal commune in Haiti. Being a coastal communal section in Haiti, Montrouis attracts a lot of tourism and is home to several renowned beaches and hotels BUT most importantly, tastylicious foods that take your tastebuds on an ecstatic food tour. Remember I said my mother would pack foods for us. Well, let’s just say we were not appreciative of her efforts. As soon the car stopped at Montrouis, all containers were empty and ready to be filled with God sent foods from these merchants; and the biggest culprit was my dad. He was an avid food lover and he made sure we were too. So, my dad is the first person I attribute my passion for foods and for having that flaming desire to share Haiti’s rich cuisine with others. The second person that truly opened my senses to the culinary world is my maternal grandmother. My Lord, that woman could cook! She taught me how to measure foods, how to visualize foods through smells and how to create that wow factor that leaves people wanting more. I miss them both dearly as they have parted this world and are resting in peace. There are others along the way that attributed to my success but these two extraordinary people planted the seed and ensured it was well manicured for the long term.

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