If you cook with Caribbean flavours, chances are you've seen an Émilie Cuizine video. Behind the name is Émilie Lafortune, a Haitian-born chef, cookbook author and co-founder of Le Goût de Ça. Here is her story.
From Haiti to Quebec
Émilie was born in Haiti, where she learned to cook at a very young age. Before settling in Quebec, she worked in restaurants in Argentina, where cooking became a true profession for her.
After arriving in Quebec in 2021, she began posting short recipe videos filmed in her kitchen. Within weeks, her colourful, generous dishes were making the rounds on social media.
Émilie Cuizine, a social media phenomenon
Today, Émilie Cuizine has more than one million followers on Instagram and TikTok. Her recipe for success? Approachable Haitian and Caribbean dishes with a personal touch: plantains, coconut milk, mango, passion fruit and, above all, flavour-packed marinades. She also won the People's Choice Award at the Gala Dynastie.
Le goût des Caraïbes, her cookbook
In 2024, Émilie published Le goût des Caraïbes : 75 recettes savoureuses et ensoleillées (Pratico Édition Cuisine), a French-language cookbook. From traditional griot to Caribbean-style birria tacos and fried plantains, she showcases the dishes of her native Haiti and makes them easy to recreate at home.
Le Goût de Ça: her marinades and sauces in a jar
With Le Goût de Ça, Émilie puts her flavours in a jar: a line of Haitian epis and sauces made in Quebec from her recipes.
- Tutipis: traditional all-purpose Haitian epis.
- Chilipis: the extra-spicy version, for meat and fish.
- Ti Manman, Cheta and Volkan: three hot sauces, from zesty to extra hot.
- Boukan: a spicy BBQ sauce with Caribbean flavours.
The Longueuil-based company is sold in more than 80 grocery stores in Canada, the United States and France (see our store locator). Émilie also pitched Le Goût de Ça on Dans l'œil du dragon (the Quebec version of Dragons' Den) and has introduced Haitian cooking to Quebec TV audiences.
Where to start?
To cook like Émilie, the easiest start is the Chili-Tuti duo, our two epis. For the full experience, the Combo 5 brings together the epis, two hot sauces and her cookbook.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Émilie Cuizine?
Émilie Cuizine is the name under which Émilie Lafortune, a Haitian-born chef living in Quebec, shares her Haitian and Caribbean recipes on Instagram and TikTok.
Is it Émilie Cuizine or Émilie Cuisine?
Her name is spelled Émilie Cuizine, with a "z".
What is Émilie Lafortune's cookbook?
Le goût des Caraïbes : 75 recettes savoureuses et ensoleillées, published in 2024 by Pratico Édition Cuisine.
Where can I buy Émilie Cuizine's marinades?
In our online store (free shipping in Canada on orders over $65) and at our retail locations.
