It takes a village to bring the magic of Showman to life. In the past year, the Showman Family has expanded to include some of the country’s brightest, budding culinary minds. But, there are a few faces who have been at Chef Romero Dorsette’s side for several years, including his “right hand”, Chef Marquis Darling.

This is her story, in her own words….

The Down Home Island Girl Who Shines In The Kitchen!

“The first thing that I baked was a brownie. When I was 11 or 12, my mom purchased me an Easy Bake Oven, and I just had fun testing out different recipes, seeing what goes with what and how it turned out. And, my family loved it. They couldn’t believe that something that was cooked in that tiny, toy oven, with a lightbulb, could taste so good!

My dad always wanted to be a Pastry Chef, and I recently found a photo of that day. I actually had on my father’s shirt in that photo, so it was a bit of a surreal moment to realize how much of an impact that moment had on me, and how life can come full circle….

Growing up in Eleuthera, I always loved being in the water. Sometimes, when we have a free day, as a group, we go fishing. We just go to relax. The love I have for the ocean was always there, but while in primary school I got to attend the Island School. They taught us how to swim, and how to dive conch. We saw animals like turtles, up close, and learnt first hand how research teams tagged and released sharks… I’ve even caught my own lionfish, and I learnt how to properly clean them.

Through my cooking, I like to consider the benefits of the foods that I prepare. It is my goal to continue learning, and evolving as a chef – figuring out how different foods can not only be delicious, but healthy and healing.

Food can help us to feel better, make us happy, repair our bodies, and it has helped me to build a secondary family over the years. In highschool, my Home Economics teacher, Tamika Rahming, encouraged me to compete in cooking competitions, and to this day, I visit her every single time I go back home to Eleuthera. And, during college, I met Chef Mario and Chef Romero – two of my mentors.

I was actually working as an event helper when I first met Chef Romero. And, he must have seen something in me, because I’ve been a part of the Showman team ever since.

Early on in my career, I wondered what my mentors saw in me. I often wondered what I had that older, more experienced chefs didn’t. But, over time, I have come to truly appreciate, and respect the trust and bond that I have built in the kitchen. And, as I advance in my career, I hope to give someone else the chance that was taken on me.

Over the years, Chef Romero has pushed me, and encouraged me. He has given me a lot of responsibility, as well as guidance. He saw my potential, and he gave me a chance, And, now he is giving other young chefs opportunities, and has trusted me to help guide them along in the same way that he did with me.

He always said that he wants me to treat new team members like I was treated. So, I ask them questions….I ask them if they understand why something is done this way, or if they understand a flavor, or why an ingredient is being used or when it should be used.

At 23, I never thought that I would be helping other young chefs. But, I’m excited to do so..”

The Locally Grown Talent That Brought Showman eBistro Restaurant to life…