by Anthony Rifilato
"Eating is a social event for us," said Martine. "Just like it is for the Italians."
They had always wanted to open their own restaurant together, and two months ago the couple decided to go for it. Two weeks ago they opened Le Tropical Restaurant, at 1641 Grand Ave., a small gem offering Haitian, African and Latino cuisine and adding yet another menu to sample among the growing number of restaurants in Baldwin.
For the Toures, opening Le Tropical was not a whim. The couple, who have been married for eight years, said they have a solid background in the cuisine, and although they cook at home and travel regularly, their skills were honed in professional settings.
Abraham, a native of the Ivory Coast, worked in the restaurant business for more than a decade for the Riese Corp., a national restaurant management company that oversees popular food chains such as TGI Fridays and Houlihan's. Martine had her own catering business, and while she worked on her master's degree at NYU, she regularly catered events in the city, including the United Nations, a place she said was well suited to her culinary style.
But the dream of opening their own business together was always something they yearned for. "We decided to quit our jobs," said Martine, who recently left her position as assistant dean of admissions at Ross University in New Jersey. "It was a natural thing for us."
Last Saturday, Le Tropical held a grand opening, featuring live music and offering customers a sample of the many gourmet dishes on the menu, which include red snapper seasoned with herbs in a Creole sauce and roast pork and roast lamb chops marinated in a variety of sauces and served with mashed yams or plantains.
"The goat is excellent," said one diner, Mireille A. Pollon. "So is the rice and beans."
Also on the menu is poulet aux noix, or chicken with cashews and black rice with truffles; soupe du dimanche, or pumpkin soup with beef, vegetables and pasta; and Costillas BBQ, barbecued spare ribs.
For those who need delivery or are on the go, Le Tropical has a takeout menu and offers sandwiches including Philly cheese steaks, cheeseburgers and a Cuban sandwich, all for $5.50.
The restaurant also has a number of dishes for vegetarians, including accras, a dish of assorted vegetables. "A person will never miss the meat," said Martine.
The Toures' idea was to offer Haitian, African and Latino food in a comfortable yet chic environment. Le Tropical aims to attract those unfamiliar with the cuisine while filling a void for those residents who have immigrated to the U.S. by offering them three different culinary styles.
"We're trying to provide a different, tropical ethnic cuisine," said Martine. "Our idea is that you could fuse together three different cuisines and serve a common need, which is eating good food in a relaxed atmosphere."
Le Tropical seats 24 people in the small dining room, and can accommodate four people at the bar, which will serve only wine and beer. There is an eclectic mix of upbeat music ranging from Caribbean to salsa in a dimly lit and comfortable atmosphere.
Aside from researching a number of restaurants in the area, Martine and Abraham said that a lot of community input went into the look of Le Tropical as well, which they initially intended to be more upscale, with white tablecloths and large curtains.
"One of the things we decided is to never close the shades," said Martine, who said they opted for dark-wood tabletops, bare windows and spiral lampshades. "People would walk by and give us a thumbs up. They've given us a lot of encouragement."
The Toures plan on not only being an alternative to more mainstream fare in the area, but to become a staple in town. In the future, they hope to expand the restaurant to accommodate more customers, and in the summer they plan to open an outdoor patio, where customers can enjoy the restaurant's home-made juices and gourmet ice cream, all accompanied by service with a smile.
"We want the community to meet us personally," said Martine.
