Cafe Mariposa: Cocoa on the menu

It's a story of family love and food. Meet the Guerrero family, representatives of all things Lopinot. From the cooca, to parang, to the strong famailial bonds, this story by CAROLYN K CORREIA gives insight into how love of family and food combines for a delectable experience. Get the full story in October 23’s issue of Newsday.

NESTLED in the idyllic village of Lopinot in Trinidad’s northern range is Café Mariposa, a local restaurant that serves all-organic, cocoa-inspired cuisine from beverages to appetizers to four-course meals.

The Guerrero family of seven sisters and one brother bring their passion for the hospitality industry to life and receive a special joy from their family-run business.

A village rich in history, with a population of approximately 1,400 residents and a reportedly low incidence of crime, eldest sister Brenda explains how many people arrived in Lopinot: “The Government was building a dam in Caura at the time and relocated all of the villagers. That’s how our grandmother’s family settled here.”

The café is situated obliquely opposite La Veronica RC Primary School on the main road. Brenda and their dad taught at the school which was built in 1946.

On arrival, I was greeted by two of the Guerrero sisters – Marcia and Brenda who shared their journey. “Our siblings Arthur and Bianca were the brainchildren behind the official launch of the café in 2001. We made the collective decision to rebrand in 2011 and include cocoa in our menu items, gradually catering for events, retreats, workshops, dinners, lunches, overnight guests and more,” Marcia says.