Meet Jordan Marseille, a 30-year-old restaurant owner whose tempting Haitian food photos caused mass drooling on Twitter. His mom’s cooking tends to do that, he says.
And sure, 21K likes and 10K retweets might sway newbies to his Alberte’s Restaurant in suburban Lake Worth, but as Marseille puts it: “Bruh, Alberte’s was the go-to Haitian food joint before we went viral.”
It remains so despite the pandemic and despite the fact that Marseille had to temporarily close the dine-in services. Still, regulars line up for takeout favorites like legumes (hearty vegetable stew), Haitian griot (marinated and fried pork), spaghetti al' Haitienne (spicy Haitian spaghetti) and other traditional dishes.
“It’s been a different pace, but customers are very loyal to us,” says Marseille. “They love what we do and I’m just happy to be able to offer what they like.”
The local photographer and entrepreneur, whose family opened the popular Haitian restaurant in 2006, was raised throughout the tri-county area. In 2014, he took over the restaurant as owner and just recently renovated the place, expanding indoor seating and adding beer and wine.
Some of his favorite dishes, like the pwason gros sel (fish stew) and his own plantain-turkey sandwich (tender, fried turkey stacked with veggies between twice-fried green plantain slices), star in the photos he has tweeted. They’re “definitely a piece of art,” says Marseille, who uses his photography and social media skills to connect fans to the newfound popularity of Haitian food and culture.
It’s his way of showcasing the legacy of Haitian immigrants.
“We’re millennial Haitians, so right now we’re reaping what our parents have sown for us,” Marseille says. “Our culture is instilled in us but now that we are an Americanized population of Haitian people, we can cultivate and take what they did and take it to the next level.”
Inside the Lake Worth restaurant:
The moment you enter Alberte’s Restaurant, located in the southwest corner of Hypoluxo Road and Military Trail, you're hit with a dose of Haitian history before the marinated flavors even touch your palate. On the left side of the space there’s an infographic wallpaper featuring Citadelle Laferrière (a mountaintop fortress and World Heritage site in northern Haiti), Le Marron Inconnu (the Haitian symbol of freedom in Port-au-Prince), Cap-Haïtien Cathedral and Jean-Jacques Dessalines (leader of the Haitian Revolution).
The restaurant’s name, Alberte’s, is short for Alberta Marseille, Jordan’s mother, who was adamant about making everything “as authentic as possible.” So the restaurant makes “everything from scratch,” he says.
“My mom cooks - she’s a beautiful, great chef. Everything I learned is from her in the kitchen,” says Marseille, who's been in the restaurant business since he was 15 years old. “Most of the dishes you guys see me post [on social media], they might look crazy, but they’re definitely delicious.”
In normal times, Alberte’s is known for its popular brunch and dinner specials. During the coronavirus crisis, those specials are served to go.
The family opened another Alberte’s restaurant in Oakland Park in 2013. The two locales differ in atmosphere. The Broward eatery, which is open for dine-in service, hosts Haitian events and musicians while the Lake Worth location serves a “more come and go” clientele, says Marseille.
What drives him?
Family. Marseille, who usually gets up at 6 a.m. to get his workout in and make sure food and supplies are organized for the restaurant, says he’s modernizing what his family built.
“This is her [Alberta Marseille] dream. This what she built for us to take over,” he says.
His immediate family was part of the 1980s wave of Haitian immigrants who were determined to own businesses and enter the medical field. Through sheer grit and perseverance, they were able to establish themselves in the Haitian community and attract customers from “Florida’s melting pot.”
“The truth is Haitians came down here during the early 80s, and ever since then, our population has really increased in South Florida,” Marseille says. “The more acquainted people get with Haitians, especially in the workplace and stuff like that, the more popular and the more attraction gains toward our food.”
Who eats at Alberte’s?
The restaurant brings in a mix of locals, from young professionals seeking brunch to families and older Haitian food lovers seeking authentic dishes in a nostalgic setting. Thanks to the recent building renovation, the place is attracting a crowd that’s less niche and more modern and diverse.
But the roots of it are all about family, culture and traditional flavors. Marseille believes so strongly in the concept that he’d like to expand it throughout South Florida. He says he may even “test the market up north.”
IF YOU GO
Alberte’s Restaurant has two locations in South Florida:
-- In suburban Lake Worth at 4595 Hypoluxo Rd., 561-649-6766; serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
-- In Oakland Park at 1201 NE 38 St. (next to Funky Buddha brewery), 954-990-4360
