Wendy’s Fire

This is the story of a Guatemalan girl, named Wendy, who crossed the Mopan river with her brother when she was only twelve years old. She was scared and felt responsible for her sibling as the heavy rains of wet season flooded their little dory and brought them to Benque. Holding tight to the promise of an improved quality of life, with better wages and more possibility, her parents were waiting for them in Belize, along with her five sisters.

In the country illegally and unable to speak english, she made a pittance working at a banana farm in South Stann Creek. She worked inside packing the bananas and her boyfriend, Manuel worked outside in the fields. The two were married when Wendy was 17 years old and three months later, she was pregnant. Her grandmother had always told her that in a successful relationship, “one is fire and one is water” and as her story unfolds, you’ll see, there is no doubt which of the two roles she plays.

An opportunity and godsend came their way when the couple was offered a position running a vacation home in Placencia for a combined salary and room and board. A year after that, Wendy felt that she and Manuel were worth more than they were being paid, although their employer could not offer them additional wages. They left that position and ended up back at the banana farm working terrible hours and for very little pay, but this time with a young baby to care for.

They soon moved back to Placencia where Wendy worked in housekeeping and Manuel in construction. They rented their first home, albeit, a very tiny one, for $90 a month. Her second child, a son, was born and through the kids and work, her English improved little by little. She moved on to to work as a cashier at Olga’s grocery for $4/hour. She cleaned and packed shelves for four years and eventually, once again, she found herself feeling she was worth more than she was getting in return. She knew, deep down, she deserved a better quality of life than her job was providing her.

With her daughter riding her peddle bike alongside her own, she bagan knocking on doors in search of a new opportunity. Her first stop was the old Turtle Inn. Her second stop- Kitty’s Place. She made it as far as Rum Point before she met a Chef named Miles, who unbeknownst to her at the time, would help change the course of her life. He told her to show up to work at 6am on Monday to work with him in the kitchen.

She bagan by washing his dishes, from there she moved up to prepping food for him and one day he insisted she try waitressing. Wendy was unsure of herself, but he felt her kind personality and hard ethic would make her perfect for the role. Her English wasn’t 100% and she’d never been in front of house before, but the position offered tips in addition to her hourly wage, so she couldn’t refuse. It wasn’t long before waitressing transitioned into supervision and her salary was $6/hr in addition to the tips she brought in. Making more than she ever had and learning the ins and out of a restaurant, life was good.

As with all stories coming from Placencia, this one takes a turn in 2001 when hurricane Iris hit. The hotel was destroyed, her job reduced to cooking for staff who stayed on to repair and clean up the damage. Daily, she prepared scrambled eggs and beans along with what would eventually become her renowned fry jacks for the workers. Without service charge or tips, her salary was a fraction of what it had been and though she stayed for awhile, she knew she wasn’t making enough. Chef Miles, who had always believed in her passed away suddenly at this point and his words that she could one day open her own business rang in her ears. The fire inside her burned and she knew she was ready for more.

With the encouragement of her friends, Wendy did something she hadn’t foreseen. She rented a space near the point, where the thrift shop is now, and decided to start her own little restaurant. The bank wouldn’t lend her any money as she had no collateral and no experience running her own business, but she was determined. There were tables and chairs already there; she started with one stove and one fridge and she found two ladies from Honduras to work with her in the kitchen. Alicia and Naty.

In September of 2002, Wendy’s Creole Restaurant was born. Manuel, ever flowing with his wife’s momentum, would work construction by day and would peel and cut potatoes for her at night. They served burritos, salbutes, tacos and their best seller was fried chicken. From 7am to 9pm everyday, her and her small team worked to get the restaurant off its feet and it got better and grew day by day.

Wendy’s third child and second daughter was born in 2004. While pregnant, she hired more kitchen help, Blanca and Sonia. She trained everyone to cook like Miles had taught her and was determined to ensure everyone was paid fairly for their work. After six successful years of business, Wendy’s friend, Ruth, mentioned a plot of land she knew of that was for sale. Although Wendy was afraid, she was brave once again. She went back to the same bank, who six years before had refused her, and now with a successful business behind her, she received a loan that would cover the land, construction and to prepay ten months in their current location!

On June 30th, 2008, Wendy’s Restaurant took home the award for Best Dish at lobsterfest! Two days later they held a Grand Opening in what is their current location, built by Manuel himself. Very fitting that they won the 2018 Lobster Fest Best Dish award again this year on their ten year anniversary.

There are several morals to Wendy’s tale, you’ll see is that she was never willing to settle for less than she was fairly due. Armed with an intrinsic belief in her own value and a bravery that surmounted her fear, our Wendy stood up for herself and took risks time and time again. Although she’s the boss now, Wendy hasn’t forgotten what it’s like to work for someone else. She treats her staff like family, giving credit where credit is due- to Alicia and Netti and Blanca and Sonia who all still work for her to this day.

Through perseverance, hard work and fiery determination, Wendy’s Restaurant & Bar is a true staple in the Placencia landscape. A place where locals can get a different bowl of soup everyday of the week, bbq on Sunday and a different dinner special every night. Where visitors to Belize can get an authentic taste of our country and the local school children can get a lunch with a glass of juice for $5. Where groups gather and events are catered and where Wendy will be when you’re ready for fry jacks with homemade papaya jam or a piece of fried chicken.