Saint Lucian Roots, African Influence, Canadian Impact: Chef Pamela Leonforde's Journey

Send us Fan MailGuest: Chef Pamela LeonfordeChef Pamela Leonforde left the corporate world to pursue her passion for health, wellness, and cultural preservation through food. Her mission: to shift how Black communities approach nutrition and confront chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.From Saint Lucia to Guyana to Africa, she has worked alongside tribal communities, blending ancestral traditions with plant-based nutrition and advocating for sustainable, culturally rooted eating.Now based in Nova Scotia, Canada, she is the founder of Café Caye Mangé—the province’s first Black female-owned plant-based café. Chef Pamela also leads a pay-it-forward meal program, collaborates with schools and community groups, and champions food justice and rural business resilience.In this episode, we discuss:- What it means to open Nova Scotia’s first Black-owned plant-based café;- Her journey from Saint Lucia to Kenya to Canada;- How her childhood shaped her path;- The ups and downs of entrepreneurship; and- Her advice for fellow entrepreneurs.Connect with Chef Pamela:Restaurant Location: 291 Main Street (Old Toots Building), Yarmouth, NSEmail: [email protected]: 519-943-5219Instagram: @cafecayemangeFacebook: Café Caye Mangé