How COVID-19 landed Denzil a job
This composite photo shows Guyana’s own Denzil Washington attending to a pot of soup
Six months ago when the Coronavirus pandemic reached Guyana’s shores, Denzil Washington did not have a food business in mind. But it all started one day when an idea popped in his head, and he simply got up and ran with it.
“One day I sat down with the idea, cooked a pot of soup and drove around to sell it,” he told the BIG Smith News Watch, as he reflected on just how he started down the road of a cooking business.
Food ready for distribution
It wasn’t hard for him, because he grew up in a family with cooks. His mom, aunt and grandmother were all into the business, and growing up, Denzil would always be in the kitchen helping out. In fact, his first job was as a Fry Cook at KFC.
Denzil chose not to focus on all of the negatives associated with COVID-19, and instead sought to make the best out of his new circumstances. So when his transportation business became slow at the start of the pandemic, he thought that perhaps he could cook some food and go out to sell.
“Ever since Coronavirus kicked in, I fell into the food business. The start is always a little tough, but you can’t give up. You just have to keep fighting and try to build your business,” he said.
From his first pot of soup, Denzil has ventured into other menus, and also hosts many Bar-B-Ques and Curry-Ques, together with his partner who owns a wash bay on Norton Street, Georgetown. He has also added local fruit juices to the menu.
Although Denzil has a hired help, he does most of the things alone that are necessary to keep the business going. “I cook from home, drive and do deliveries. I would go to the arcade, markets, Orange Walk, different barber shops, and such places.”
Dhal and salted fish with rice anyone?
But by the end of next month, Denzil wants to be able to acquire a mobile unit and station it at Orange Walk and Regent Street, in the vicinity of Bounty Supermarket. However, this does not mean that he will stop his deliveries.
“People say things get tough and place get hard, but once you have an idea and you have something you want to do, even if you might not be in the position that you want to be; if you try and do what you have to, one day you will get what you’re looking for,” Denzil reflected.
He said he felt like giving up on many occasions, but never did.
“It doesn’t come easy, because nuff weeks I want to give up because you don’t see any profits. But I count it as blessings, because food itself is a blessing. If you don’t get it sold, you can share it and you feel good about giving someone a free box of food. So it’s always a blessing; never a loss.”
Denzil said he when she starts to operate the mobile unit, it will give him an opportunity to showcase all that ‘Delicious Taste Creole Corner and Soup Bowl’ has to offer.
“I am just waiting on the opportunity to excel in the business and get people to know about it,” he said, adding, “I’ve been into transportation for years, but the food is it right now. I think that’s my way to making it.”
He posts his menus on social media, and interested persons would usually reach out to him. He does deliveries in and out of Georgetown, and said he tries to make the cost as affordable as possible, charging as low as $300 around the city.
Local juices which are also part of Denzil’s operation
“It’s not easy to get up early, pack off, and deliver,” he observed. But the hard work is compensated especially on Sundays when he gets his biggest orders.
