Haitian Creole cuisine can be hard to find around the Puget Sound, but Jusmaine Maitre, of Juju’s Caribbean Kitchen is working hard to bring authentic Haitian dishes to hungry Washingtonians.

Maitre said Juju’s Caribbean Kitchen is close to celebrating its one-year anniversary. She said the business began as an Instagram page that showcased the Haitian dishes she made, many of them her own mother’s recipes.

Word quickly spread during the pandemic, beginning with friends and spreading to people she did not know. She said people began to ask where they could get the food.

That is when she knew she could make a business out of it.

Currently she does catering, pop-ups and delivery and pickup from a kitchen at 360 Corporate Drive N. in Tukwila. She said she hopes to eventually have her own food truck.

Maitre said the dishes in her menu rotate, but all of them are traditional Haitian meals.

She said one of her most popular dishes is Griot, or fried pork. She has recently introduced a Griot Sandwich, which includes a citrusy dressing that she doesn’t want to give away the recipe to.

Her menu also includes fried fish, goat and stewed oxtail. And of course, classic Caribbean side dishes like fried plantains and rice and beans.

Juju’s Caribbean Kitchen will have a pop-up at Dubtown Brewing in downtown Renton at 210 Main Ave S. on Saturday May 15, from noon to 5 pm.

Maitre said her last pop-up at Dubtown Brewing in April went exceptionally well for her, as people were very interested in trying the food. She said people kept asking when she would be back.

“Other people need to learn our culture,’ said Maitre “Everyone needs a taste.”

For more information or to make an order visit: https://www.jujuscaribbeankitchen.com/.