Elicia Noble-Lashley appears to be supremely conscious of the fact that people eat with their eyes first. This knowledge is evident in the careful arrangement of every dish she caters through her business, Elly’s Flavour Finesse.
A nursery school teacher, Noble-Lashley’s food business, which she operates from her home in New Amsterdam, Berbice, was recently highlighted on social media by popular beauty specialist Janica Sandy who was in the area and had stopped by to pick up one of her specially prepared meals. The result was that more people knew about Elly’s Flavour Finesse, but several who live in Georgetown and Bartica have been disappointed to learn that it is all the way in Berbice.
Cooking has always been a passion for the 33-year-old mother of three, who says that love is one of the ingredients in her food. She recalled that she prepared her first meal when she was eight years old, under the guidance of her mother. She vividly remembers cooking cabbage and beef for her family after her mother had done the most complex part of preparing the meal, which was pressuring the beef.
“My dad was always the one cooking for us,” Noble-Lashley told Stabroek Weekend. “I am the eldest of six and because of that I took on the role of cooking at a very young age. Mommy was never really the one who cooked and that particular day I remember my brother was sick and mommy told me to help her make the food. She had pressured the beef already and had cut up everything else.
“I used to always be in the kitchen with my father when he cooked and was always intrigued. Mommy had always said, ‘You look like you gon like cook’ so that day when I made the cabbage and beef, she decided it was the right time for me to learn to cook. I cooked it so perfect, she couldn’t believe it.
“After my mom discovered I could cook well, whenever daddy wasn’t around to cook, she would make sure everything was set and I was in a safe zone and she’d let me cook. [Later] I attended Berbice High School, where I studied Food and Nutrition. I had planned on becoming a chef but started a family earlier than intended. Then, I began to think about not following my dreams and wondered what am I going to tell my children about me not following my dreams.”
She applied for jobs in teaching and immigration and was accepted at both. However, she chose teaching as, according to her, she realized that pursuing a job in immigration would keep her away from her family for long periods. Noble-Lashley said she had hoped to be placed at a secondary school where she could teach Food and Nutrition but ended up at the Viola Nursery School instead. She subsequently attended the Cyril Potter College of Education and the University of Guyana (Tain Campus) where she completed a bachelor’s degree in Education.
Every now and again, during a holiday or weekend, she would host a barbecue or a fish fry as a means of earning extra income. Every time she did, people raved about her cooking and she began considering a food business.
Noble-Lashley revealed that she had always wanted to do catering, but because she did not have a restaurant or a food van, her pride got in the way and she delayed establishing the business. Her husband, who had always been a picky eater, never complained when she cooked him a meal. He had always been supportive of her and encouraged her to start a food business.
The entrepreneur shared that at one point she had even gone ahead and applied for a grant to start her food business but was unsuccessful. Finally, in February last year, she mustered the courage to take her passion for cooking to the next level and started Elly’s Flavour Finesse, preparing meals on order. A month later, the pandemic struck. Initially, Noble-Lashley was worried about how it might affect business, but found she had more time on her hands, as she was teaching from home. Her customer-base expanded also and business has been growing since.
“I can cook and cook and not feel tired. I know this is what I want to do. I cook with my heart. Everything I prepare is made with love,” she said.
Noble-Lashley said there are days when after teaching, she spends her afternoon making a nice meal because someone placed an order earlier in the day for dinner.
On the day Sandy posted Noble-Lashley’s food, the entrepreneur said her phone rang nonstop and while she was excited, she also felt discouraged because though there are many people who want to try her food, she does not have the perfect setup for them to dine. Some of the people who called told her that they had anniversaries and other special occasions coming up and wanted to know whether she had a spot.
Nonetheless, Noble-Lashley remains optimistic and said while the grant would have helped her achieve her dreams of having a restaurant faster, Elly’s Flavour Finesse will still get there.
“My dream is to someday have a restaurant in Georgetown. I see myself working to have that in the next ten years. And, I’m going to work towards it. God knows it; I’m not going to stop,” she vowed.
The businesswoman advises others to turn what they love doing into what earns them an income and promises they would never regret it.
Elly’s Flavour Finesse also offers cocktails, smoothies, and juices and Noble-Lashley also makes and decorates cakes.
To follow the business or place orders, persons can visit Facebook or Instagram @Elly’s Flavour Finesse.
