A Taste of Home and Heart: Café Caye Mange Brings Afro-Caribbean Vegan Flair to Yarmouth
By any measure, Café Caye Mange is a first-of-its-kind in Nova Scotia. Nestled on Yarmouth’s historic Main Street—inside the former and well-known “Toots” sweet shop—this vibrant café is serving up something the community has never seen before: a completely plant-based, Afro-Caribbean vegan restaurant. And behind it all is the determined and dynamic Pamela Alexander Leonforde, a chef, entrepreneur, and community builder who turned her culinary passion into a transformative family-run venture.
A Vision Rooted in Love and Purpose
The journey to opening Café Caye Mange—loosely translating to “House of Food” —began not with a business plan, but with a mother-daughter moment over a shared meal.
“My daughter said to me, ‘Mommy, you’re wasting your talent. You’re a chef and you should be opening a café in town to give people another option,’” Pamela recalls. Initially hesitant, Pamela found clarity in prayer. “I said, ‘God, if you open the way, I’ll do it.’ And so we opened the café. And the rest is history in the making.”
From that moment, Pamela and her family—daughter Amelia Faith and husband Tyrone—poured themselves into creating a welcoming space where community members and curious travellers alike could explore vegan cuisine with soul.
Not Just a Café, But a Movement
What makes Café Caye Mange truly unique isn’t just the food—it’s the philosophy. The menu is rooted in Pamela’s experiences as a vegan chef and health educator, shaped by her travels and her Caribbean heritage (Pamela and her family hail from the beautiful Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia).
The dishes are bold, vibrant, and infused with healing intention. Signature items include a zesty island vegan chick”n” burger on a brioche bun with plantain chips, and a hearty black bean and mushroom burger packed with nutrients. Comfort food lovers will find a gluten-free, cashew-based mac and cheese, and for dessert, Pamela’s handmade, sugar-free, dairy-free cakes topped with local ingredients like wild rose hip jam or apples from nearby Wallace Brothers Farm.
“Our menu is a synergy between the Caribbean and Nova Scotia,” she explains. “When you come to Café Caye Mange, there is nothing that is found anywhere else nearby.”
Café Caye Mange also offers specialty events like Caribbean-themed dinners, high tea with island herbs, and even vegan oxtail dishes made from locally foraged mushrooms—helping redefine what’s possible for plant-based cuisine in Atlantic Canada.
Pamela takes pride in watching the experience unfold firsthand. “I always try to pay attention to the first bite,” she says. “That’s how I can tell if they really like it. I’ll ask, ‘How was that experience for you?’ It’s important to me. It builds a connection.” That small gesture reflects the café’s true essence: care, curiosity, and community—one bite at a time.
A Family Affair
Though Pamela is the owner, Café Caye Mange thrives as a family operation. Her daughter Amelia handles the café’s social media presence and customer relations, while her husband contributes behind the scenes in the kitchen.
“This is a family business,” Pamela emphasizes. “Amelia is my front-of-house and marketing person—she’s amazing. And my husband, he’s always helping in the back. We all wear many hats.”
Breaking Barriers and Building Community
Café Caye Mange isn’t just Yarmouth’s only fully plant-based eatery—it’s also the first Afro-Caribbean vegan restaurant in Nova Scotia, and the first Black female-owned business on Main Street. But for Pamela, success is measured by more than firsts.
“This town has many fish and chips spots,” she says. “I’m not trying to veganize the town—I’m just offering a new and healthy option. I always say: try it once a week. That’s all I ask.”
Pamela’s deeper mission is about impact. Since opening, she’s volunteered at local high schools, hosted “Foods That Heal” workshops in partnership with the Tri County Women’s Centre, and served with the regional health board and the 100 Meals program.
“I want to create change. Nova Scotia has one of the highest rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in Canada. We need to think differently about what we eat. Food can heal.”
Powered by Local Support
Like many entrepreneurs, Pamela’s journey began with uncertainty and self-doubt—but support from the Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC), Ignite Atlantic, and others that helped turn her vision into reality.
She met the CBDC team at an Ignite networking mixer and connected with Shane Nickerson, her loan officer, who quickly saw her potential.
“I remember Shane telling me, ‘I believe in you.’ That meant so much,” she says. With support from CBDC, Pamela secured funding for crucial equipment and renovations. “The building wasn’t suited for food service—we had to get fridges, chillers, do renovations, and buy stock. CBDC made it possible.”
The support didn’t stop there. Pamela credits Doug Jones from Ignite for mentoring her through the early stages. “Ignite gave me a space to sit and to plan. Doug helped me make key connections. I’m so thankful.” She also credits Natalie Smith from the Town of Yarmouth, and local resident Chuck Smith for walking beside her during the start-up phase.
Looking Ahead
As she continues to grow her business and community impact, Pamela dreams of eventually expanding to Halifax and beyond.
“My goal is to build meaningful partnerships that help people live healthier lives,” she says. “I’m just one small person, but I want to be part of something bigger—something that changes how we eat, live, and connect.”
Café Caye Mange is more than a restaurant—it’s a beacon of wellness, creativity, and resilience. In Pamela’s words: “This is a gem. The plant-based world is growing, and we have a gem right here in Yarmouth. People come from all over the world—and they’re so happy to find us.”